Online Only Male Shopper

by Catriona Whitehead

If you are a male, raise your hand. If you hate shopping, raise your hand again. If you would rather shop online and wish to know of some websites that offer "good quality, decently priced clothing," bend your ears this way.

TCO, thanks for your note. It would be my pleasure to assist you with any and all of your wardrobing needs from here on out. And I do not cringe at the thought of you wearing navy socks with black slacks. Lucky for you, mixing navy and black is no longer considered a faux pas--atleast, not currently.

Let me start by saying, level of quality equates to level of cost. I.e. super low price point equals super low quality. I'm not just talking about durability of clothing, either. Quality refers to fit and hand as well (hand being the way a fabric feels to the touch). Having said that, basic pieces--a black blazer, lightweight pullover sweaters, khakis--are worth investing more dollars. I'll tell you why. These are the clothes you wear repeatedly, and thus, rely on to last you each wear, to fit you nicely, and to feel comfortable. My point being, it is more cost effective for you to pay the extra $25 on that well made pair of pants than it is for you to replace that crappy pair in the same amount of time. Below, you will find some higher quality online retailers at lower-than-usual pricepoints to help you on your way to becoming a smarter dresser, both fiscally and physically.

For the straightforward dresser:
J.Crew.com contains a sale section. Not only does this brand offer a wide array of cuts and colors in buttondowns, slacks, sweaters, and blazers, but it's modern, easy to wear, good quality. If you're a student or teacher, you receive an additional 15% off all your purchases. I highly recommend the Ludlow Classic Suit Pant in Irish Linen, the Broken-In Chino, and the Cotton-Cashmere Sweaters.
P.S. If you live in the Philadelphia area, I'm a personal stylist at the JCrew in Liberty Place. Come work with me.

For the trendy dresser:
Asos.com offers a workwear section in today's cuts (aka lots of skinny and slim legs). Check out the Slim Chino in Brushed Cotton, the River Island John Pants, the Smart Shirt in Long Sleeve, and the Esprit Vneck Merino Sweater.

For the classic dresser:
Nordstrom has been around since 1901, resulting from a clear understanding of their customer and product. Check out the sale section on Nordstrom.com. Look at the Joseph Abboud Signature Silver Wool Suit, John W. Nordstrom Trim Fit Dress Shirt, Michael Kors Flat Front Pants, and the Boss Hugo Boss Crigan Pants.

For the multi-brand dresser:
ShopStyle.com provides various brands, at various pricepoints, that can be searched through by category on the lefthand side. Items that are on sale have prices highlighted in red (lo and behold, there's a pair of J.Crew men's chinos on sale starting at $19.99). I recommend selecting the "Sale and Deals" category and concentrating on the following brands: Theory, J.Crew, Hugo Boss, Neiman Marcus, Ralph Lauren, 7 For All Mankind, Paige, Vince, and Joes Jeans.

One more tip: shop for spring and summer-weight apparel during October and November. Items will be significantly less expensive.

Any questions?