Thanks to Amazon, we don't really have to go the mall anymore. Ever since their big acquisition of online shoe retailer Zappos.com in 2009, Amazon has been bullish in the fashion game, and over the past few years, they've quietly launched several house clothing brands including shoe brand Franklin & Freeman, and suiting essentials Franklin Tailored for men. All of this is important, because with a Prime membership you get 2 day shipping and free returns if things don't fit or aren't what you expected.
This season, they've released a new line called GoodThreads, which offers the simple casual basics we all need – like the good ol' OCBD (Oxford Cloth Button Down).
The OCBD is an essential part of any man's wardrobe. It's the most versatile shirt in your closet and is a classic basic for any casual situation. The OCBD goes great with dress slacks, khakis, jeans, or even shorts, and almost any kind of shoe – sneakers, loafers, chukkas, work boots, dress boots – you name it. It's also a great way to make that blazer or tie a little more casual (check out our previous post in which we preached the virtues and versatility of the OCBD).
What's the deal with GoodThreads' OCBD? Well, it's available only to members of Amazon Prime, but it rivals the ever-popular Uniqlo OCBD in price and quality, while also boasting free two-day shipping and returns. The Uniqlo OCBD has a bit of a cult following on the web, known for it's quality and modern, slim fit, and is $30 at full price. The trouble with Uniqlo? A lot of guys don't have a local store, meaning they have to deal with the shipping scenario of a standard retailer.
The fabric of GoodThread's OCBD is mid-weight, so it's wearable year-round, and the construction is solid, with only simple and classic variants and patterns. The shirts come in either regular or slim fit (which is two inches slimmer in the chest and waist), though the regular-fit is already slimmer cut compared to your average shirt, so I'd suggest their slim-fit only for especially skinny guys. I had to return the slim fits I ordered.
In addition to classic oxfords, they also have chambray, an attractive large-scale check, a smaller scale two-tone check, and a banker-striped shirt.
A note about their chambray: it feels a bit lighter to the touch than your traditional chambray, but it still looks good. More of a standard twill feel. If you'd prefer a more robust chambray, you could simply go for their oxford in the darker indigo, or venture to Gap or Uniqlo for other options.
GoodThreads also offers a small collection of dress chinos, in both regular and slim fit. Straight-leg, flat-front, cotton stretch twill; rivaling similar pants from Gap (but at only $30 a pop).
Also exclusive to Amazon is their “Buttoned Down” label, which offers decent-quality dress shirts for about $39. They come in button-collar, spread-collar (a bit more of a spread than your run-of-the-mill semi-spread), and they're also cut in both regular and slim. Amazon's push into affordable private-label fashion is already taking off – research analysts predict that Amazon will surpass Macy's this year as America's largest apparel retailer. They even have plans to launch a line of workout clothes to rival activewear brands like Nike and UnderArmour, which we'll definitely be on the lookout for.
Wearing and acquiring basics should be simple and easy. If you're in need of some classic pieces (like the OCBD) and you'd rather not have to go sift through another men's section or break the bank, give Amazon's GoodThreads a shot.
