I have limited experience, never having owned any of their stuff but at the moment I'm a bit broke so I have been thinking about getting an inexpensive summer suit from them. The quality of their suits seems to be a step above H&M et al, but of course nothing spectacular. I can't comment on their other products, but they are probably relatively better than their suits, as is the case with all the chain stores.

 

I find them to be just as you said: decent quality and a decent price for trendy items and styling.

They are about the best bet out there for affordable slim shirts, jackets, and suits. For $250, there aren't a lot of suit choices, but overall I think they are hard to beat if you are skinny and on a budget. I would compare them to Express more than I would Banana Republic, but nevertheless there isn't a whole lot of difference.

Handwork, canvassing, type of wool etc. aren't at question, of course... but they aren't bad and they certainly look better than one of the "$1200 Mantoni" suits we're talking about on another thread. []

John

 

quote:Originally posted by rach2jlc
I would compare them to Express more than I would Banana Republic, but nevertheless there isn't a whole lot of difference.

In the last six or eight months, Express has moved away from selling ties, shirts, and suits. That business model failed and the company is going after more of the Guess crowd.

 

Really? That's too bad; I was actually quite impressed with their "Express Design Studio" suits and shirts. Not necessarily ones that I'd purchase for myself, but I was happy to see that there were nice, well cut options at the $300 price point. I guess the problem is just that most Americans don't buy many suits. And, of those that do, there seem to be two groups: 1) those who will only buy a cheap suit because they couldn't care less how they look in it and 2) those (like us on the forum) who scour the earth in search of the best, whether or not we can afford it. As an academic, my salary vs. suit price point is probably about at the Men's Wearhouse level, and yet I'd rather wait, save, and search for a month or two around ebay or yoox in order to find Zegna or Canali.

As Express fits neither of these aforementioned categories (a little too expensive and fashion forward for the "don't care" crowd, a little too low-quality for the fashion lovers), perhaps that accounted for some of this failure.

John

 

quote:Originally posted by rach2jlc

Really? That's too bad; I was actually quite impressed with their "Express Design Studio" suits and shirts. Not necessarily ones that I'd purchase for myself, but I was happy to see that there were nice, well cut options at the $300 price point. I guess the problem is just that most Americans don't buy many suits. And, of those that do, there seem to be two groups: 1) those who will only buy a cheap suit because they couldn't care less how they look in it and 2) those (like us on the forum) who scour the earth in search of the best, whether or not we can afford it. As an academic, my salary vs. suit price point is probably about at the Men's Wearhouse level, and yet I'd rather wait, save, and search for a month or two around ebay or yoox in order to find Zegna or Canali.

As Express fits neither of these aforementioned categories (a little too expensive and fashion forward for the "don't care" crowd, a little too low-quality for the fashion lovers), perhaps that accounted for some of this failure.

John

Express is still selling some shirts, ties, and (I believe) suits, but nothing of the selection that they had a year or two ago. Right now, Express is very much into that whole black "chic" look.

I'm on about the same budget as you John. And it can be tough to find stuff.

 

Zara has some pretty good items - some reasonably nice fabrics if you search carefully and I even found some (at least partially) canvassed suits there a few weeks back. They're usually a step back from the cutting/bleeding edge of fashion that H&M and Top Shop aim for but you can guarantee that an item bought from Zara isn't going to look old-fashioned (unless that IS the current fashion of course!). That isn't going to appeal to a good chunk of posters here I know, but if you are looking for an up-to-date item, then Zara is a good place to look. I like them.

My only bugbear is that they only do Regular lengths (at least in my local store). No Short length jackets - they keep telling me they can shorten the length of the jacket, but I think that would just mess them up. So I don't buy as often as I'd like.

 

quote:Originally posted by Holdfast
My only bugbear is that they only do Regular lengths (at least in my local store). No Short length jackets - they keep telling me they can shorten the length of the jacket, but I think that would just mess them up. So I don't buy as often as I'd like.

As someone who wears a 40 short, I can agree with you. I would have bought more but all of their pants and jackets are too long.

 

quote:Originally posted by hockeyinsider

quote:Originally posted by Holdfast
My only bugbear is that they only do Regular lengths (at least in my local store). No Short length jackets - they keep telling me they can shorten the length of the jacket, but I think that would just mess them up. So I don't buy as often as I'd like.

As someone who wears a 40 short, I can agree with you. I would have bought more but all of their pants and jackets are too long.

I really don't understand Zara's business model on this. Everyone else makes Shorts (and Longs)...

 

Zara is the main brand of Grupo Inditex, a Spanish based clothing emporium founded in 1972.

https://www.inditex.com/en/

It terms of their business model, I can tell you that they are incredibly aggressive. It is very vertically-integrated. They produce everything, from the textiles to the final clothing items. Other brands in the group include Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka, Oysho, Zara Home, Stradivarius and Kiddy’s Class. They have over 2,800 stores in over 67 countries.

What is most amazing about Inditex is their ability to produce copies of renowned designers and have them on their shelves just a few weeks after they were originally presented on the runways.

In terms of quality, Zara is simply HORRIBLE. Women don’t mind because the price is low and they can re-do their entire wardrobe every six months, with looks inspired by Gucci, Prada, DG and the sort. As for Men’s fashion, it is OK to buy utilitarian jeans and the sort at Zara, but buying a suit and dress shirt there would be, IMHO, just like throwing your money away for two important reasons:

1) The quality is really bad
2) They are too fashion forward

The Group’s structure is pretty similar to Gap Inc. and, in terms of price and quality, their brands can be compared in the following way:

Massimo Dutti = Banana Republic (More classic stuff, a bit better made).
Zara = The Gap (Except The Gap definitely has an edge on quality, if you can believe it!)
Bershka = Old Navy (Old Navy is probably also better made)

My advice is: If you like to dress fashion forward and you don’t care about how long your clothes will last, then, by all means, shop in Zara. If you do want to invest in stuff which will hold through the years, then stay away from Zara.

 

Made me look - that was tricky of you. I thought there would be photographs of Zara Phillips.

 

quote:Originally posted by DressPRMex

In terms of quality, Zara is simply HORRIBLE.

Some of the casual wear I bought years ago at Zara was indeed poorly made, but their quality has improved by leaps & bounds of late.

quote:

Zara = The Gap (Except The Gap definitely has an edge on quality, if you can believe it!)

Does the Gap offer Super 120s suits? Wool & Mohair? I don't think that's a fair comparison. If you're talking T-shirts and jeans, you might have a point.

quote:

If you do want to invest in stuff which will hold through the years, then stay away from Zara.

Clothing is an investment? Personally I'm glad my clothes from the 80's and 90's have long since been retired.

 

The stuff that I saw from Zara in December and January is nothing like that of the Gap.

 

Agree with these guys. My experience with Zara has been recent (within 2 years or so) and I've always been impressed with the quality for the price. Perhaps it was very poor quality a few years ago, but at least recently it is quite decent at its price point.

I would take it over the Gap any day of the week.

John

 

My experience of Zara (London) is that they have very successfully differentiated themselves from H&M, Topshop/man etc by being distinctly less casual. The bulk of the shop floor is taken with trousers, shirts, jumpers, suits, jackets etc in more 'smart casual' (think slacks and jumpers, but smarter and more fitted than GAP) as opposed to t-s**ts and denim. To this end I have bought some great jumpers/knits from them. Shirts I have bought have not been as good, but generally for the money Zara is hard to fault.

 

I meant t-shiRts! Although I'm impressed that AAAC has an automatic censor function.

 

My experience of Zara in London is that the knitwear is good but the quality of some of the other stuff is questionable.
I don't mind Pull & Bear though (mentioned above).
I can't comment on the suits though as I've never bought one from them.
Personally I wouldn't buy a suit in that price range. I'd be afraid that the wrong dry cleaner could kill it instantly.

 

quote:Originally posted by DressPRMex

In terms of quality, Zara is simply HORRIBLE. Women don’t mind because the price is low and they can re-do their entire wardrobe every six months, with looks inspired by Gucci, Prada, DG and the sort. As for Men’s fashion, it is OK to buy utilitarian jeans and the sort at Zara, but buying a suit and dress shirt there would be, IMHO, just like throwing your money away for two important reasons:

I think you're greatly exaggerating. Zara's quality, while not at the top rank, is certainly pretty good for their price and I'd say superior to the Gap/BR. While I'm not going to compare my Zara shirts to my Lorenzinis or Su Misura (MTM) Zegnas, they're certainly every bit as good as the offerings from Banana Republic or J. Crew (or Prada...) and cut far more flatteringly to boot.