Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Guest Blogging Billabong on 34th Street

Weekly staff post below is brought to you by Jeffrey, who skeptically reviewed Billabong for me with interesting results...

We guest bloggers are assigned to stores, and I entered Billabong on 34th Street having previously never tried on a stitch of their clothing. The surf and skatewear brand had never really appealed to me before, but I was surprised to find a variety of sweaters, jackets, and tees that were fashionable enough to keep a New Yorker like myself from looking like a California wannabe.















My favorites were a graphic tee (above) that straddles the right side of the irony line ($25 in soft, 100% cotton jersey), a pair of greenish-beige skinny pants with surprisingly nice detailing, and a cotton/polyester blend jacket that has a convincing linen-like look and feel to it (both $64.50, below).















While pleasantly surprised by the styles, the sizing proved problematic. As a man in my mid-20s, I am young enough to remember my teenage body and how much better these clothes would have fit on the old me. I try to stay relatively trim, usually fitting into a 31” or 32” waist pant. At Billabong, I had to go up to a 34” to zip the fly, although the 32-inchers fit in the waist. The fit of the tee and jacket were also off. The body of the coat was perfectly fine, but I felt like my biceps were about to rip through the seams (and the Hulk I am not). These clothes are made for young men with board-thin frames.

Overall, the clothes, while surprisingly fashionable, were not good on a man of my shape. I ended up looking much stockier than I believe myself to be, but am convinced I could have pulled these off if I had a very slim build. In essence, the clothes are more sophisticated than the customers they are fit for, and I mean that in the very best way.

That said, I will definitely be going back to check out the wide variety of sneakers (GREAT selection of Vans) and the glass cabinet filled with some very smart looking Nixon watches.

Billabong, 112 W. 34th Street @ Broadway

3 comments :

39th and Broadway said...

Ha, Ha, My hubby loves this kind of style, (as he did in college) but as you mentioned the body changes...... and these clothes on a thirty-something don't quite work.

Unknown said...

The shirt looks good. I like the green one. ;D


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Kati said...

hahahaha jeffrey so funny.