Suitsupply vs. UNIQLO – Store Wars Rd. #1

STORE WARS: Suitsupply vs. UNIQLO

Starting March 17th and running through April 7th, Dappered.com is hosting a bracket based tournament with the purpose of eventually crowning the all around Affordable Men’s Style Retail Champ for 2014.  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: One of if not the most exciting addition to Men’s retail in the last few years. Suitsupply has quickly become the go-to place for many to buy a sharp suit that won’t completely wreck your retirement savings. $399 and $469-$499 isn’t cheap, but it gets you a lot of suit. Half canvas now starts at their lowest priced, $399 blue line. Fantastic attention to detail on construction. The Napoli fit is as timeless as it gets. Fabrics, even on their $399 and $469 lines, feel good if not great and move incredibly well. Yes, they do sell more than suits (actually, they sell just about everything for a guy’s wardrobe), but suits are what they do best. In fact, they might do suits better than any other retailer or brand for $500 or less. Free shipping & free returns in the U.S. makes them extremely easy to take for a spin. Their online outlet, while closed now, was something else while it was up and running.

Weaknesses: They’ don’t sell separates, so if you’ve got not-as-normal proportions, you’re probably out of luck. The brick and mortar experience might be a little… much… for some shoppers (every sales associate is awfully dandyfied). Every couple of years they seem to run a light-shock ad campaign. Their suits, while offered in numerous chest sizes and lengths, do have functioning button holes on the sleeves. So that can be pricey with post-purchase tailoring. Aside from the suits, their other stuff seems to be really expensive. Like $90 for a polo expensive.

 

Strengths: Another recent addition to the Western Hemisphere men’s style market that has become a favorite of many. Nice and affordable basics in trimmer cuts. Producers of the best slim fit OCBD out there at present time (especially when they drop to $19.90 on sale!). Their Michael Bastian polo collaboration. Plenty swear by their underwear. Probably the strongest #4 seed in the field, and while they’re in the “web” category this year, they’re expanding their brick & mortar footprint.

Weaknesses: Quality can sometimes be just so-so (but what would you expect at their price point?). Blazers and jackets have a tendency to not just be shorter in the tail, but downright chopped. Meanwhile, the sleeves can run too long on their jackets, while the button stance is usually a touch high. Website can be a little clunky to navigate, and sometimes they put awfully similar looking products on their website… that don’t match once you get them. Great basics but… they’re basic.

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

UPDATE: In a SQUEAKER… Uniqlo pulls off the first upset of the tournament!