Foo - Lands' End

I just placed my first-ever independent order from Lands' End. I got tired of buying sheets and towels that weren't actually that cheap and started falling apart within less than a year (I'm looking at YOU, Ikea). Threw in a polo shirt, socks (black!) and a tie while I was at it. I feel like I've crossed some sort of Rubicon. Am I doomed to a sensible, reasonably priced, high quality, vaguely preppy and not-quite-fashionable future?

I never internet shop. Never ever. Helps me to save money by not impulse buying at the click of a button. And being in the hub-bub capitol of frenzied shoppers, you are definitely doomed.

It helps that it's really hard to get a mainland credit card, so I'm forced to use my overseas card for internet purchases. It's quite annoying to get money out of the country (though much easier than it used to be), so that cuts way down on my internet expenditures...

I just placed my first-ever independent order from Lands' End. I got tired of buying sheets and towels that weren't actually that cheap and started falling apart within less than a year (I'm looking at YOU, Ikea). Threw in a polo shirt, socks (black!) and a tie while I was at it. I feel like I've crossed some sort of Rubicon. Am I doomed to a sensible, reasonably priced, high quality, vaguely preppy and not-quite-fashionable future?

You're on the downhill path, friend. Soon, you'll have closet full of pique knit polos and casual slacks. Next thing you know, you'll be buying a pair of Top-Siders and wondering which argyle socks mis-match what shirt just enough to look good...

Oh wait, that's me. The upside is that so long as your size doesn't change, they'll last you from now until the next time the Prep Guy look comes back into fashion, around 2025. :D

I just placed my first-ever independent order from Lands' End. I got tired of buying sheets and towels that weren't actually that cheap and started falling apart within less than a year (I'm looking at YOU, Ikea). Threw in a polo shirt, socks (black!) and a tie while I was at it. I feel like I've crossed some sort of Rubicon. Am I doomed to a sensible, reasonably priced, high quality, vaguely preppy and not-quite-fashionable future?

Only if you can quote, without thinking, what the threadcount is ...

I have a vivid recollection of my father at dinner together with a Japanese and a British businessman, all singing the praises of Lands' End. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before I find myself doing the same. That said, I think it was the Square Rigger briefcase that prompted the conversation, and that seems to have been discontinued. I can't seem to find it on their site.

Only if you can quote, without thinking, what the threadcount is ...

Funny. I saw the 400 threadcount cotton sheets, but decided they were too rich for my blood. No idea what the threadcount is of the sheets I ordered, though.

I am wearing a pair of Year'rounder wool slacks and a no iron pinpoint shirt right now. I started ordering work clothes from LE about a year ago and wish I had done so earlier. Their tailor fit shirts and pants fit me much better than J. Crew and the other brands I was buying. Enjoy!

And I think you are mistaken: vaguely preppy might not be hip, but it is always fashionable (at least, that is what I tell myself).

I haven't bought anything from Land's End (or LL Bean) for many many moons now, but back in the days before J. Crew and so forth I often bout Lands End Polos...I thought they were very good quality for the money.

I've had LE Oxford shirts before (ordered for me, not ordered on my own), and while the quality was excellent, I didn't care much for the fit. For work clothes, I'll still head down to my cheap tailor at the fabric market. For now.

Yay, someone else who doesn't like IKEA. I just don't "get" IKEA. It's cheap crap that feels like cheap crap but priced higher than cheap crap. My friends have a $300,000 house in an upscale suburb, but it's filled with IKEA crap and I can't stand looking at it, let alone having to sit on it, eat at it, use it, etc...

I just placed my first-ever independent order from Lands' End. I got tired of buying sheets and towels that weren't actually that cheap and started falling apart within less than a year (I'm looking at YOU, Ikea). Threw in a polo shirt, socks (black!) and a tie while I was at it. I feel like I've crossed some sort of Rubicon. Am I doomed to a sensible, reasonably priced, high quality, vaguely preppy and not-quite-fashionable future?

Love Land's End. Buy alot of stuff from them. I love internet shopping... I hate going into real stores anymore. No more risk of diseases, coodies whatever. I generally buy all my bike clothes (Terry and Team Estrogen) and accessories and components (Jensen; ColoradoCyclist, Nashbar etc) online. CHeaper, no shipping, no CA Tax. THere's a key for me... no CA tax!

I do have a credit card dedicated solely to online purchasing. The limit is very low and its not tie to any of my major back accounts etc. You can also, as does many of my friends, use pre-loaded cards for this purpose. Just FYI...

Online shopping is the bomb! I get better deals and a heap of airline miles. Years ago I used to buy things from Banana Republic and Gap through sites that offered a load of miles and points. I would return the merchandise and still collect the points. I redeemed to points for airline vouchers and was able to fly to Argentina for free. I miss those days but still buy from REI.com for the online miles.
As far as bedding is concerned, I found the best deals to be at Overstock.com.

I probably have about 20 Lands' End dress shirts in my closet. Most of them oxford button-downs. Very nice shirts. Although Stafford from JCPenney also makes a nice oxford button-down.

Yay, someone else who doesn't like IKEA. I just don't "get" IKEA. It's cheap crap that feels like cheap crap but priced higher than cheap crap. My friends have a $300,000 house in an upscale suburb, but it's filled with IKEA crap and I can't stand looking at it, let alone having to sit on it, eat at it, use it, etc...

IKEA can be alright, if you're not getting their cheapest flakeboard garbage. When I split with my ex and left all our scavenged, mismatched furniture for her, I did what any guy with no style sense can do: Hit up the IKEA website and find an entire apartment's worth of crap that looks like it all belongs together, and spend less than $1500 on it.
Leather sofa, leather armchair and ottoman, glass top coffee table/end tables/dining table, 4 dining chairs, 2 bookshelves and a computer desk. A quick stop at Target for other easy to coordinate housewares, and I was set.

Not to Hijack but iirc, Ikea stuff wasn't bad or overpriced when they first opened in America. Then again, the store was usually empty back then, too.:rolleyes:

You all may look down on me for this, but I've been pretty happy with the sheets and towels I get from Target and JcPenney's. I'm pretty sure I paid no more than $5 for the last towel I bought several years ago.

Buying clothes there doesn't work very well, however. Aside from being generally questionably-styled, they don't fit. Apparently being in modestly decent shape makes me freakishly skinny.

I don't mind Ikea for basic furniture. I have a Billy bookcase, which I won't bother taking with me if/when I leave, and I bought an L-shaped couch second-hand from a friend. Probably wouldn't have bought it new. But the towels and sheets have been really annoying me. The hems are undone, the ends are all fraying and my pillowcases are torn. And the fabric doesn't feel that nice.

I hate shopping for clothes, so I love Land's End- I mail-order from them and I don't have to go to the store. I'm a teacher, so 'sensible and vaguely preppy' works very well for me at work, and I have stubby legs, so I love that they'll hem my pants to order without charging me.

In fact, I have a package from Land's End waiting for me at the apartment office right now. If I drove to work, I'd be home before the offices closes, but since I'm planning to bike, I'll grab it on Saturday.

Was expecting delivery today, now UPS says:
"A QUARANTINE WAS REQUESTED BY A GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY"

Clearly, my towels pose a grave risk to the health and safety of China's people. :notamused:

Was expecting delivery today, now UPS says:
"A QUARANTINE WAS REQUESTED BY A GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY"

Clearly, my towels pose a grave risk to the health and safety of China's people. :notamused:

It must be the lead.

Sorry...That's not entirely fair, but I couldn't resist.

Kind of weird. Have you ordered other stuff from US retailers before?

Turns out it was a brief quarantine. Just got the delivery this morning! And had to pay a LOT of duty :eek:. Last time I'll be ordering Lands' End to China for a while, I think.

Love Land's End. Buy alot of stuff from them. I love internet shopping... I hate going into real stores anymore. No more risk of diseases, coodies whatever. I generally buy all my bike clothes (Terry and Team Estrogen) and accessories and components (Jensen; ColoradoCyclist, Nashbar etc) online. CHeaper, no shipping, no CA Tax. THere's a key for me... no CA tax!

I do have a credit card dedicated solely to online purchasing. The limit is very low and its not tie to any of my major back accounts etc. You can also, as does many of my friends, use pre-loaded cards for this purpose. Just FYI...

Why do you hate the LBS?

Every few years I buy a new set of Lands' End flannel sheets from their overstock department online. The flannel sheets are the softest, coziest, most durable sheets I've ever slept on and they are quite cheap when ordered from the leftover colours in overstock. I don't care if my sheets are pumpkin, ecru, lemon, rosie dawn, I just don't care. What I do order are only the top sheets and use those as either a top or bottom sheet on the bed. That way I can even out the wear and tear.

I also live in their polo shirts. Same thing, I order from the overstock and buy whatever colour is on sale in my size. Their polos are sturdy as well and I am tough on my clothes as well as washing all of my clothes in cold water with unscented detergent (on sale) and no fabric softener or dryer sheets. I can wear the polos with jeans, cotton twill pants, walking shorts, track pants, a skirt (only if I must) with running shoes, skateboard shoes, sandals or even the occasional pair of real shoes. I dress the same way as I did when my mom dressed me when I was 9 years old. Yay me.

Fortunately ordering from Lands' End is even cheaper if I head over to a Sears store in Toronto and order my stuff there because I get free shipping if I pick up my order at Sears. Same with returns, I can bring back items (even overstock and sale items) at Sears and not be charged to mail it back to Lands' End. I do have to pay duties but considering the quality and the ease of returns, the duties are well worth it.

The only thing I don't order from LE are shoes. They never fit. *sigh* Me and my peasant feet.

Turns out it was a brief quarantine. Just got the delivery this morning! And had to pay a LOT of duty :eek:. Last time I'll be ordering Lands' End to China for a while, I think.

I wonder if you could just have them deliver it direct to you instead of China to Lands End then back to China?

I must be getting old because I think Land's End clothes look pretty sharp.

I wonder if you could just have them deliver it direct to you instead of China to Lands End then back to China?

That would be lovely, but apparently the polo shirt comes from Peru. If I could find the Chinese factory that makes Peru, I'd be set.