Brands Spotlight: Taylor Stitch, Todd Snyder, Buck Mason, and more! - Topic of the day 12/9/24
Let’s discuss our favorite mid-tier menswear designers. What do you like about these brands? What do you dislike about them? What are some alternatives to these retailers?
103 Replies
Ive never not read "Taylor Swift"
nearly all of these brands land it the weird no mans land of "Kinda interesting, but not interesting enough for the price"
No man's land was the exact phrase that came to mind for me
james crew but expensive
i've seen a few cool looking details on these brands but never felt like paying up for them.
I like their fabrics and the construction is solid but portuguese flannels cuts make me sad.
this was my read on them as someone who has never been in a j crew
I can almost always find something better / more unique secondhand for less than a lot of these retail for
Maybe there is some value in these brands secondhand though if they fit your style. By in large though they are not my thing and I think their cuts are usually where they miss the mark and where nicer brands really differentiate
is universal works the good version of these brands
I like a lot of pieces from Todd Snyder, but I always get sticker shock (even browsing sale). Buck Mason, etc mostly just end up not being interesting enough to me. Taylor Stitch tends to have interesting fabrics but I find ~all of the details to be dated (slim-fit mainly)
walter summoned by the taylor stitch discussion thread
anyway j crew is literally better and more interesting than all the brands listed
disgree, j crew is often just cheaper
I think Todd Snyder is actually one of the most compelling in this space but the prices always kill me
Maybe beams plus is in the same range as these brands ? I've not seriously looked at these brands aside from the catalogues that without fail make it to my mailbox every quarter
I also quite like Todd Snyder's styling/lookbooks
My hatred for Taylor Stitch is growing bc it's preventing me from using "TS" to mean Todd Snyder
I had not heard of any of these brands before
see here
Agree w the consensus here its all just too expensive to want
For the same price you can get better/more interesting stuff second hand
I don’t own any but have purchased from taylor stitch for a few gifts for my old man over the years and from what I’ve seen I feel like they have one or two really cool textiles a year they use on shirts with weird (bad) cuts and everything else is kinda bland
Scratch that I had a chambray shirt I gave away after finding a james crew one I liked more for ten dollars my point still stands
I like the buck mason made in US tees and I think they’re not a bad value. Some of the collab stuff they’ve done is interesting as well but don’t own any of it.
Retail pricing of any mid to large size brand is always bad. The question is how bad and is the convenience a worthwhile trade off
Buck mason is perfect for my friend who (1) wants to look good but regular at work (2) doesn’t want to think about clothes very hard (3) wants to try everything on first (there’s a store in his city) and (4) doesn’t care about the price cause he has money
Kind of a specific conjunction of circumstances but I guess that’s their audience
Yeah I feel like they really target the millennial yuppies that read r/mfa or something back in the day. Tho Buck Mason has been pulling out the stops with influencer marketing recently
taylor stitch is the quintessential flat lay brand, in my experience
Todd Snyder was cool because he was Iowa-based but everything is exactly like you said, interesting but doesn’t justify the extra cost.
Also RIP Tailgate
It says quite a bit that these are lumped together when most Brand Spotlights are about individual brands. To me that implies a certain lack of “stuff” to uniquely talk about them individually
Buck mason has a cool belted raincoat with big patch pockets and the full saddle paperback chinos are good WW2 style chinos but not sure they are worth the price
Somebody posted some cream Todd Snyder cords like nine months ago and I wish I could remember what they were.
lay flat brand is so true lmao
I think it’s kind of telling they didn’t get individual threads, unless I’ve misunderstood something about how spotlight works
Lol never mind ninjury posted the same comment already
Heh all good
I’m new here, can someone define “lay flat brand”
Happy to find at goodwill
Brands that photo their clothes like this
They look fine until you put them on a body
Clothes that are so ass you need to lie down after seeing them
Makes sense. As the owner of a single Taylor Stitch piece. A piece that doesn’t fit me very well, I agree with this take.
Me after buying from a lay flat brand only to realize that the clothes are 2D
i believe they (my experience mainly being Taylor Stitch) try to appeal to the audience who is into "interesting" textures (normal but slightly cooler than usual) but for whatever reason is not so interested in a variety of fits, etc.
There's definitely something inherently very conservative about all of these brands
Need something you can wear to the office
But want it to be slightly cooler/different than the middle of the mall brands
yeah, i've been starting to realise theres a difference between seeing clothes laid flat down vs wearing them
The good fabrics wasted on not so good cuts (particularly, wimpy collars on shirts) is really common isn't it
I have two moleskin jackets from Taylor Stitch that are a great fabric, but probably wouldn't have paid retail for them.
TS and Buck Mason seem good if you just want some simple Americana jackets/ shackets/ coats.
Taylor stitch is very "ok"
I dont really have any beef with them but I do wish they would do more interesting cuts on their jackets and such
But I am no longer their target demo
wimpy collars should be classified as a crime
Strong agree on this.
Didn’t Todd Snyder say his relaxed fit pants didn’t sell as well?
not surprised if their target audience isnt into relaxed fits
I bought some Gurkha trousers from Todd Snyder literally the worst fitting worst draping pants of my life
It is impossible to make those look good
And now they’re charging like $300 for them! Ridiculous.
Lol. You can get so much nicer pants for 300
I only own a thrifted short sleeve button up from Todd Snyder as I find the brand overpriced. Their MET collab looks cool though:
Taylor Stitch will always be the Huckberry/Bespoke Post/MFA 2015 brand. Imho
That’s my gripe with Todd Snyder overall.
Cool that you did a custom colorway with Timex, why is a weekender $250 now?
Todd Snyder is great at Advanced Basics With a Twist when you get it at like 60% off I feel like. I have a bunch of their stuff.
Taylor Stitch always seemed too boring. I agree with everyone else on the shirt collars. And Buck Mason equally bland, though they seem to have stepped it up with interesting collabs (Bryceland's!) in the past year. I like their J.Press sweaters.
i own a lot from Todd Snyder, but almost all at ~50% off. They have a lot of sizes, great return policy and local store to return at, champion collab is great, and almost everything is good quality and fit. Hella expensive, so i only buy heavy discounts, but ive rarely been dissapointed so far.
Desperately need the shoes shirt LOL
this todd snyder jacket is beautiful but ain’t no way im paying 2k
https://www.toddsnyder.com/products/suede-blousson-bomberstone
Todd Snyder
Italian Suede Grant Jacket in Stone
This easy layer combines two of Todd’s favorite things: a sporty silhouette and a sartorial Italian leather. The latter is an incredibly lightweight and sleek lamb suede, fully lined in olive-hued bemberg fabric. Details include a versatile two-way zipper front and four pockets: two at the hip, with separate side-entry
I was about to buy a pair right now…the lightweight Gurkhas for like $100
Should I..?
Is it that bad?
No they suck lol
Even on the model photo they’re not flattering
The taper is awful…super sharp and then they hang off the leg at a weird angle. And they’re way too cropped. If they were just straight leg with a normal inseam that would be better, but even then the fabric is like really thin and wrinkles instantly
You can see here
Any recommendations on where to look for better ones?
I’d prefer to keep my budget under $200 right now
That and hoping Christmas sales or after bring some prices down
Try luxire?
Bronson mfg has ghurkas you could look at. https://bronsonshop.com/products/non-stock-12-5oz-mens-british-army-model-gurkha-bermuda-pants. (There is also another version with little cargo pockets)
Bronson Mfg. Co.
British Army Gurkha Bermuda Pants - Khaki
The key features of the Gurkha trousers are the two over-lapping belts on the waist band, the high rise, and its pleated design. The trousers get their name from the legendary Gurkha soldiers, considered to be the strongest soldiers in Nepal. The courage of the Gurkhas was praised even after Nepal was defeated by the British Empire in the Anglo-...
Gonna try that now
Wish me luck
😂
I've seen some photos of people wearing these and they look great. The straight leg is proper.
Also like why are they double pleated if they're so skinny and tapered lmao
I'll get the luxire option and bronson
not gonna waste my time getting low qual pants lolol
Might get some other stuff from todd instead
Red Tornado is another good option.https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255801096822009.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt
Corduroy version: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807775406271.html?
Gonna look into red tornado
And
Lux
I kinda want denim gurkhas
Do you know on how the sizing is for red tornado?
The AliExpress page has measurements. The jeans I bought from there was quite accurate to the measurements.
Gotcha! Also quick question if I’m like a 37 waist, do I go for the 36 option or the 38?
Probably 38 just to be safe. Also make sure there's enough room in the hip and thighs.
Ahh planning on losing my stomach tho 🤣
I’m skinny big belly
Also make sure the inseam is long enough
Will do! My inseam is usually around like 29-30 either way
I can always have it tailored
Good luck on your weight loss. Might be good motivation if you buy the 36
Thank you! Been eating carelessly a bit too long need to hit the gym
How hard is it to order off taobao
ill buy it from taobao
if its signifigantly cheaper?
actually how tf do i search for the gurkha pants on tao bao
http://e.tb.cn/h.TgIw6UeZWWkOTiV?tk=2v4n3zStSbV
You probably need to create an account to see it though
It's $48 plus shipping and additional fees there
Also might be too short for you (28 in inseam)
29 might be the perfect length for me
30 seems to drape down a tiny bit
I’ll grab the other ones first!
Canceling my order from Todd rn lmao
The total length is about the same for the denim one, it just has higher rise and shorter inseam
I thought the inseam for the regular was like 29? From what the chart says
The regular one is 2 inches longer in inseam but 2 inches shorter in rise than the denim
Isn’t the regular one like 14in rise
The denim one is 16in? :xd:
Holy it’s 16.5 rise lol
I didn’t even know pants went up that high 😂
Also is the main preference the regular fit? Or should I just size up on the slim black one?
That's up to you, though the slim has a shorter inseam.
Also depends on if you want tapered legs. The regular version is tapered, the corduroy and denim are straight/wide.
Thank you!
i was so exited when i saw these until i saw the inseam. that’s my biggest problem with bronson and the like, they would be cropped as shit
lol luckily I just have a big waist
I think 28 would be perfect for me
i think its very indicative of these brands, that the thread kinda devolved into a discussion of what to wear instead of these brands lol.
Tbf I’ll give credit to Todd Snyder for willing to accept a final sale item return
i got a pretty cool knit todd snyder tie? abd buck has some cool tailoring? but imo taylor is just basic bastard ++
Honestly I’m still on the search for high rise trousers lol
Bought a couple vintage Ralph Lauren’s but some do them aren’t actually high rise 💀
Gonna have to resell half of them
Always ask for measurements first
Just ask for the rise measurements and compare to pants you own
god, same
I might grab two of the red tornado gurkhas lol
Cord and wool ones 😂
i was this close to doing that until i realized they would be cropped to shit on me :/ which sucks bc i love them
I’m shaped oddly at 5’10 :xd: oddly enough might work fine
i have short legs for being how tall i am and it still wouldn’t work 😞
This is how a 30inseam looks
It be like that
I have gone thru so many brands of pants 💀
wdym
o yea ur fine
It took me like 6 years to figure out what high rise pants were
so i been buying pants that dont fit how i want them to :disgust:
talk about money wasted
oh no i completely get u…. i’ve always been tall and my pants have always been cropped/had no break on them and now im looking at it and all my pants are like an inch too short