Armani Exchange?

[landho]

Originally Posted by Jokerman

Damn. They had a nice black Slimfit button down shirt for $68. I guess I have to find some place else then.

Honestly, $68 is a bit steep to pay for a shirt of A|X's quality, but they (seem to) have sales fairly frequently. They can often be had for about $30 to $40.

That said, I generally like the cut of A|X button-down shirts more than most shirts around that spectrum (that is, so-called mall brands). Banana Republic shirts tend to be a bit boxier and longer, and the quality of BR shirts aren't anything to cheer about. (J. Crew may offer a decent slim-fitting shirt, although I don't know for sure; I have a couple of last season's flannels and they fit well, especially for flannels.)

A|X's stuff also tends to be a little more heavily branded and a little flashier, which is where (I think) a lot of the forum's animosty stems from. A|X does make stuff that isn't so ostentatious, and generally it's fine.

So, bottom line: I wouldn't ever spend $100 or so for an A|X shirt, because for that price you can get really good shirts if you look hard enough. But for $30 or $40, I'd be willing to get one because I like the cut and the length with the understanding that it's not going to be an outstanding shirt. But as a poster mentioned earlier, with the proper care, even a shirt of mediocre quality will last a while.

 

[Jokerman]

So far my luck in picking out brands I havent done so well. What about 7 Diamonds. They have another slimfit shirt but longsleeve for $69. Are they any better on quality control?

 

[ratboycom]

7 Diamonds is another amjack brand with piss quality and the fit really isnt what I would call "slim" on the majority of their stuff. 70$ is a rip for that brand when you can get them at the Nordstrom rack for like $20

 

[hermes]

i think the heirarchy is more like this:

armani alta moda ('couture') (i think it may be called armani prive now)
classico (blue label)
armani borgonuovo 21 (black label)
giorgio armani
armani collezioni
emporio armani
mani
a/x

 

[TheFusilliJerry]

Originally Posted by hermes

i think the heirarchy is more like this: armani alta moda ('couture') (i think it may be called armani prive now) classico (blue label) armani borgonuovo 21 (black label) giorgio armani armani collezioni emporio armani mani ------------------------------------------------------- [a/x]
fixed

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

Mass diffusion. It was a Japanese company that licensed his name; not sure what it is now. Most of it is crap, but there are occasional gems (mostly low key copies of Japanese pieces, most of that outerwear). Not worth it at all at retail, but on sale, some of it's not bad.
....

Agreed. I have some of their logo-free stuff; their constant sales, excellent customer service/returns policy and discount codes means that when you do find some decent things they can be quite a decent catch.

 

[Eason]

While I detest their logos and the people who wear them, I did win their $500 shopping spree a few months back and was able to pick up a white slim fitting shirt, a great car coat, and a few other items I regularly recieve complements on. My other favourite jacket, a moleskin military blazer, I also got form them on sale a couple years ago. Their outwear on sale is probably the best thing about them, and they do have good customer service/return policies.

 

[landho]

Originally Posted by Eason

While I detest their logos and the people who wear them, I did win their $500 shopping spree a few months back and was able to pick up a white slim fitting shirt, a great car coat, and a few other items I regularly recieve complements on. My other favourite jacket, a moleskin military blazer, I also got form them on sale a couple years ago. Their outwear on sale is probably the best thing about them, and they do have good customer service/return policies.

Yeah--with anything, there are gems to be found there among all the other rubbish. My main point is that A|X doesn't deserve the wholesale derision that it receives from most forum members.

 

[HanSoo417]

I agree that the stuff is way overpriced, but i sometimes find some nice stuff on the sale rack. I like the fit of some of their stuff. Its slim but allows for broad shoulders. That being said, I don't every buy anything of theirs that is crazy branded. I look for the simpler stuff thats on sale and occasionally, i'm very pleased.

 

[Fabro]

Isn't that the place where you can take your slouchy 80's suits with the gorge down around your nipples, and trade them in for a black T-shirt?

 

[anph]

If you like the way it looks, just buy it. Who cares whatelse. Don't be so quick to change your mind just because everyone doesn't like it

 

[Fade to Black]

Originally Posted by Get Smart

speaking of D&G, their latest s/s gear is pretty nice. The menswear suffers from good looking preppy gear that has big D&G crests sewn onto the chests, but the overall designs look very Ralph Lauren-y

The wimminswear they did right...the same "tennis club" aesthetic but no logos anywhere and really awesome stuff for the girls.

Tho D&G and A/X are 2 completely different beasts. A/X is basically the Gap with Armani's name licensed out to it. D&G is more like Emporio Armani, a basic designer diffusion brand that still commands designer prices.

+1. Walk by the D&G store pretty much every day on the way home and looking at the changing window displays i'm surprised at how nice some of it is. Dolce & Gabbana (main label) has always had pretty good stuff though...some loud and tacky stuff for sure, but the subtler pieces are always a treat.

Re: A/X yeah it is really horrible and don't see what people see in it other than the fact the word "Armani" is there. It isn't the cheapest option either, if i was shopping in that range i'd just get a bunch of basics from uniqlo and call it a day. Even Emporio Armani/Armani Jeans is full of crap, all logos and cheap feeling jeans. If you're gonna go Armani, I think Giorgio Armani is the only option worth considering. For S/S 08 there's some pretty nice fitting cotton trousers, blousons and sneakers that would be appropriate for a younger customer (usually i feel a lot of Armani may be more appropriate for more mature wearers). Armani Collezioni feels too stiff and business like, and not in a good way either.

 

[WhoKnewI]

A lot of the items in the store are awful, and most of the things are heavily branded. That being said, their outwear can be a good buy on sale. I bought a washed cotton M65 jacket in this greysih color, and it's one of my favorite coats. plus, its logo free.

 

[Jokerman]

Thanks for the help. I actually found a nice one in Banana Republic yesterday.

 

[ScrappyBoy]

A/X is armani, the fact that people sit here and think giorgio actually hand crafts the shirts they have... makes them stupid. He doesn't have much to do with the Armani line, Armani Collezioni is the line he deals with... most people on here cannot afford this as everyday wear.

It's armani, the quality is going to be decent, above average, but at the end of the day you get what you pay for.

It seems that people on here will try to act "high class" and claim that they're too good for A|X or A&F, but it's just everyday casual wear. You don't have to look like a super star all the time.