J-lin Zhang
The Pros: Beautiful clothes, well-made, great fit, something for everyone.
The Cons: Sometimes we wish it wasn’t so girly. (But we guess that’s what sister store Madewell is for.)
The Pros: Seriously perfect clothes that you will want regardless of the label sewn inside, from molded shoulder suits to perfectly worn in jeans to simple lingerie.
The Cons: Not available in the US.
The Pros: Great clothes and shoes, great quality, great design.
The Cons: Knock-offs aplenty. Still no e-commerce for US customers, although sources say that it will happen over the next year.
The Pros: Great men’s section: jeans, blazers, suits, and button downs all look way more expensive than they are. +J, Jil Sander’s line for the store, is affordable minimalism at its best. We’ve also loved their collabs with Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Costello Tagliapietra and more.
The Cons: Not available widely in the US; the customer service at the New York store is absolute crap. (Most of the time.)
The Pros: Lanvin x H&M. Need we say more?
The Cons: There are some really great pieces amidst a ton of not-so-great pieces.
The Pros: Amazing collaborations with the likes of Christopher Kane and Preen; perfect party dresses.
The Cons: It’s way more expensive in the US than it is in the UK due to exchange rates and shipping. And everything is so trendy that at some point you
The Pros: Incredible in-house collection that are just directional enough; collaborations with Steven Alan, Corpus, Paul & Joe, and more.
The Cons: Too many designer knockoffs; diffusion collections available in Europe are not usually available in the US.
The Pros: A fantastic collaboration with Pierre Hardy and soon, Valentino; creative director Patrick Robinson, who has been working his butt off to revive the label, which struggled in the aughts. Also, great fitting pants.
The Cons: Too many of the directional pieces get dropped before Robinson’s collection hits the floors. The stores are also poorly
The Pros: Unique basics available season after season; affordable.
The Cons: Creepy boss has ruined the business; sizing is sometimes funky.
The Pros: Cool, affordable clothes mixed in with pricier brands that are still within reach.
The Cons: Core collection doesn’t offer the best fit; limited availability.
