Lands' End Desert Boot

Welcome back. Good weekend? Yeah me too. I mean duh, I just partied and made out with broads the whole time.

Okay so Friday I introduced you to Lands’ End Canvas (LEC, as I’m calling it). During their sale, besides this plaid poplin shirt, I also snagged a pair of suede desert boots. They were only $40, so again, what the hell, especially considering I could return them. 

This picture from LEC

I have mixed feelings about the desert boot. On the one hand, it’s no Clarks. I’m not big on the suede, because it’s not a great all-weather option. The crepe sole is sticky (I’ve never dealt with a crepe sole before), so it has the tendency to track some shit around. And my biggest complaint, and this is purely from an OCD/stylistically point of view, is that the toe is too big/boxy/chunky. It’s kind of snub-nosed, whereas I feel other desert points come to a rounded point, which I prefer.

Frankly though, those are all kind of nit-picky points. I mean, they’re all things to think about if you’re considering LEC’s desert boots, but on the other hand, I got exactly what I paid for. I knew they’d be suede. I could tell from the pictures that the toe was boxy. But the thangs were only $40, and at that price, I think they’re pretty damn good. I got what I paid for, but I’m comfortable with what I got for what I paid. If you’re considering desert boots, I’d probably recommend saving and grabbing a pair of Clarks. But if you’re pinching pennies to the max, and who isn’t these days, the LECs are a viable option at their price point. (By the way, went to Nordstrom Rack in KC this weekend. They had multiple pairs of Clarks' Beeswax Leather Desert Boots for around $70.)

As far as fit, I normally wear an 11.5 in Nike, which is like my go-to size barometer for shoes. I went with 11s here, because the reviews said they tend to run a bit big. The 11s fit fine, so going down half a size is probably a good idea.

Oh, and another thing. I wasn’t happy with the cotton shoelaces the boots came with (although I think these types of laces are common to most shoe companies, so it’s not unique to LEC). I ran down to a local shoe store, and for $7 I was able to get a pack of raw leather laces. I cut them to match the length of the provided shoe laces, then slipped them in to at least add a little upgrade. There’s always little shortcuts (tailoring, shoe repair, etc.) you can use to upgrade/extend the life of the clothes you already own. A small fix can be better than buying a whole new piece. 

More news as it develops,

MD

Lands' End Canvas

I know that in the past I’ve talked about how you should splurge on some good, quality stuff when you can, and I still agree with that. But there is a time when you can’t. I recently got my tuition bill and DAMN SON I am broke. I like menswear, but I also like food, and a bed. 

Keeping in mind I’m a man of the people, and I can’t afford all the bougie shit, I’m keeping my ears to the ground for good buys. I think I may have gotten one here. Peep this shit:

Okay, so at the beginning of summer, Lands’ End Canvas was having a big sale. Like a great one, or at least good enough that the low prices suckered me in to two purchases for things I didn’t really need, but I was like, “What the hell?” I don’t advise this line of thinking, but lay off me I’m not perfect.

I was nervous for a few reasons, one being I’ve never worn/tried on anything from LEC, so I wasn’t sure about the sizing. This is always something to consider if it’s your first time buying online from a company. Secondly, although I had heard good things about LEC’s quality at its price point, I’ve never handled any of their stuff myself. So I was taking a risk, but that’s what I’m here for. Let me take the risks, and you can learn from my mistakes.

The first purchase was this plaid poplin shirt. It was on sale for $20, and for $20? I mean fuck me, I’ll take my chances. Plus, after doing some research on Lands’ End (which you should always do some online research before pulling the trigger on something you’ve never dealt with), I was more confident. LEC is a subsidiary of Sears, and apparently Sears is pretty open about allowing you to return stuff in store. I called my local Sears just to double check, and the person assured me I could return the purchase (even though it was on sale, and usually all sales are final. BUT, I conveniently left that part out). 

Also, I was able to find that LEC’s sizing is pretty similar to J.Crew, a company I’m familiar working with. I’m a medium at J.Crew, so I went with a medium at LEC and the fit is pretty much the same. Any difference is negligible, at least on me. 

The quality seems fairly good. On the one hand, I got it for $20 so I wasn’t expecting anything fantastic, but I’m definitely pleased. From my handling/wearing it, it seems just like any other poplin shirt I own, and it has held up fine after a few washings. 

So there you go fellas, a new casual company with goods on the cheap. Not sure if it’s an exact competitor on par with J.Crew, but it’s definitely a viable alternative to some of their stuff. Keep LEC in mind next time your on the hunt for some casual shirts or shorts, and Ill keep you posted on any of their good deals. 

My second purchase from LEC was a suede desert boot- more on this Monday.

Peace out playas,

MD