Nordstrom vs. Lands’ End Canvas – Store Wars Semi Final

STORE WARS:  Nordstrom vs. Lands’ End Canvas

Starting March 13th and running through April 2nd, Dappered.com is hosting a bracket based tournament with the purpose of eventually crowning the all around Affordable Men’s Style Retail Champ for 2012.  For a full introduction see this post.  The bracket on the right will be updated as the tournament progresses.  Click on it for the full size.  Make a case for your preferred competitor in the comments section, but don’t forget to vote at the bottom of each match up.  On with today’s showdown:

Strengths:  Arguably the premier retailer for a wide variety of clothing, shoes, and accessories that land on the high end of what most would call “affordable.”  One of if not the biggest mass retailer to offer free shipping and free returns all the time.  The legendary “half-yearly” sales for men, and the additional markdowns that usually follow.  A sale section that’s usually decently well stocked.  Designer brand list has wild range.  In-house brands like Calibrate, 1901, and the plain ol’ Nordstrom line offer more than a few items with incredible looks and high quality for very reasonable prices.  Website is clean and easy to navigate.

Weaknesses:  They hardly ever have large-scale sales, so those higher than Macy’s-level retail prices won’t come down real often, if at all.  Could use a few more affordable suiting options.  Their in-house brand Calibrate seems to make blazers and jackets that look a little chopped/too short.

How they got here:  Easily beat L.L. Bean Sig. in the 1st round and then just barely squeaked by Target in the 2nd.
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Strengths:  Last year’s champion.  Nice, upgraded casual basics for good prices, and those prices can get dirt cheap when on sale/clearance.  From blazers to shirts, shoes to pants, you could put together an entire outfit of just them.  Handwritten thank you notes to first time customers, which has played a part in developing what appears to be a solidly loyal customer base.  Despite some complaints, the ultra-cheap, Alden-Indy inspired Crosby Moc Toe.  Their waxed cotton trip bag . Their guarantee.  Not only is one of their models an SI Swimsuit model, their swimsuits have appeared in the issue as well.

Weaknesses:  They seem to have lost a bit of their way, or perhaps they have some new strategy that reduces the number of items they produce and raises overall prices ($100 for a cardigan? $100 for… cargo pants?)  Blazers can fit a little big sometimes, and this season’s blazers look to be running real short in the tail.  Overall the brand is more fitted, certainly more so than Lands’ End, but not a true trim fit most of the time.  Used to run sales and codes often.  Now it’s more like a free-shipping-at-$50 code every once in awhile.

How they got here:  Bounced Brooks Brothers in the 1st, then pulled off the upset against J. Crew in the 2nd.

Your votes determine who goes on to the next round.  Cast your ballot below.  Voting ends at midnight ET.
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