What can you tell me about Lands End? - YouLookFab Forum

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What can you tell me about Lands End?

Helena

Veteran

Hi there,

I am looking for some good-quality, cotton, washable, crewneck sweaters in nice colors and at a reasonable pricepoint - apparently hard to come by these days. I found a link to some at Lands End. They are "supima" cotton, look quite nice with a selection of appealing colors and the post I saw them in mentioned the quality was good.

I am Canadian and know nothing about Lands End - but for some reason my perception of it is that it is a very non-fashionable brand (Canadians - Northern Reflections pops into my mind although!!). Totally off? I am not going for fashion forward but just want to make sure they are not fashion-backward Up-to-date classic and age-appropriate for a 40-something is the goal.

Appreciate any thoughts and/or tips for purchasing from Lands End - TIA

Shopping

38 replies

Latest reply was from DonnaF

Anonymous

Well, Sears sells it , if that says anything

My mother used to get their catalogues as recently as last year so I would browse through them once in awhile. Lots of basics, East Coast vibe, nothing fashion forward.

Helena

Veteran

That's what I was afraid of Lisa!!! I'll tread carefully!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I buy jeans from Lands End. They have good quality basics, but I probably wouldn't dress head-to-toe in them.

RobinF

Veteran

I think they would be good for basics. The knits are usually nice weight, not too thin and a lot of the items come in petites. Not fashion forward though, for main pieces.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Not fashionable, really, though they try. Basics that seemingly never wear out, though. They have sales all the time.

Helena

Veteran

Thanks - so sounds like I might do alright with those tops, providing I plan to wear them with some up-to-date pieces - accessories or whatever?

Perhaps my style is just not fashionable *sigh* ... I think that's a distinct possibility!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good quality. Conservative styling for the most part. Runs very big.

They do EXCELLENT and affordable swimwear for curvy and plus size figures. They also do excellent puffer coats - but you will be sized out of their smallest size.

Author Linda

Veteran

I've worn Land's End since forever. True, they're not fashionable or on trend. I don't buy them for that. What LE does really well is basics. For whatever reason, their jeans always fit me perfectly, so I buy those a lot. As has been said, they wear forever. I have jeans from the 90s that are still in good shape, even great, just wonderfully soft now (and high waisted)., but the denim then was thicker and heavier. Now it' such thinner and has more stretch. Their cotton tees, if they fit the way you like, would be reliable and wash nicely for years. I have a cotton knit drifter that I love, cobalt blue, and after two years it still looks like new. Their outerwear won't win style awards, but it's well-made and warm.

What have never worked for me from LE are shoes, skirts, blazers and jackets, and active wear. Your mileage may vary.

Helena

Veteran

Thanks Angie - I was concerned about the sizing for me - I'll pop into Sears tomorrow and see if they have anything I can try just to test it out.

Thanks all for the input! It's good to think on the terms you've laid out - IE it's not fashion bit rather basics. Thx

retailgirl

Veteran

They have a shop in my local Sears and it looks like it doesn't belong there...it's bright and fresh and nicely merchandised, while the rest of the store (Sears) looks like it hasn't been updated since the 70's. It isn't a Sears brand, per se, but a company that was bought by Sears several, ( well, many several) years ago. A woman I work with had a cute navy and white stripe cardi on yesterday and she told me it came from there. So I agree with everyone, good for basics but no earth shattering fashion to be found there.

marianna

Veteran

I like them for outerwear. Puffers, down vests, etc. Sears usually has good sales on the Lands End line. I wouldn't pay full price.

lisaflex

Veteran

the quality is great! cant be beat at the pricepoint

kerry

Veteran

I do buy their swimsuits but not much else anymore. Unfortunately Sears in Canada no longer sells Lands End stuff. Returns are $8.95 US flat rate. If you can't find equivalent in Canada it may be worth the $ to have a try on.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Great quality. Return policy same as LL Bean (forever). Their Canvas line is a bit younger and more fashionable (and sized smaller than regular Lands End). I have a pair of espadrilles that have been worn very regularly that are still in decent shape after 7 years (maybe more) so it can depend on the item. Their cotton is heavier than most, but the cuts are quite often boxier. I like that I can order online for the whole family (and home) and return in Sears what does not work. If you do a return they give you an instore 10% off (on top of any other promotions) for that day.

Joyce B

Veteran

Their products are of excellent quality, they have good customer service and they stand behind their merchandise.

JAileen

Veteran

Sears bought them some time ago but I don't they own them anymore. Their quality is a lot higher than Sears. I bought swimsuits before we went to Hawaii. I bought a bunch of tops, bottoms, coverups, etc. They were good quality, and cute (navy polka dots and coordinating stripes) but not high fashion. Our Sears doesn't sell LE, but I was still able to return what I didn't want to Sears.

They are located in Wisconsin so I think they know cold weather.

Isabel

Veteran

I love LE. The quality is excellent and their guarantees are too. Everything has a lifetime guarantee. No questions asked. Sears bought them in an effort to upscale but botched the takeover. I think that they either have been bought or are about to be by someone else. I get swimwear, Ts, outerwear, rain gear, my favorite dresses are from them....

I wouldn't have any qualms with their stuff.

DonnaF

Veteran

I used to get seduced by LE's photos and the prices, but on my body, their cuts look frumpy. I think it's because I am smaller in the waist than their model so stuff looks boxy; I should probably shop at Talbot's (at a much higher price point) if I want the same look. As others have said, LE's stuff tends to last forever.

Anonymous

I have a few LE sweaters, and they're holding up well - no pilling so far. I wear the same size PS 6-8 that I always wear, so I don't find the sizes to run big. I go by the size chart. Unfortunately, they're changing their sizing, so I doubt I'll keep shopping there. PS 6-8 will become PS 4-6, and PM will be 8-10. Since I never wear size 4 or 10, that puts me between sizes. I don't like that at all. The styles are conservative, but I work in a conservative office. I guess I'll be doing without their sweaters once they make the switch.

Anonymous

Torontogirl, I don't think Canadian Sears have any Lands End in their stores anymore. Maybe the Eaton Centre?

karen13

Veteran

I bought a few things several months ago, mostly basics. Super easy returns in any U.S. Sears store, but it doesn't sound like that is an option for you. Things seemed to run a bit large. I fit a Petite XS in the 3 mock turtlenecks I decided to keep - I'm often a Petite small, or a Regular XS. Nice quality cotton that I wash and dry with no shrinkage noticed. The white one is not sheer, which is what I was looking for.

I have purchased Petite sized swimwear from them in the past, but couldn't find anything I liked this year.

Runcarla

Veteran

LE shopper from way back, like 25+ years, back when most of their stuff was 'made in America'. Quality was always great, and a wide range of sizes, including 'tall' for men and women, and slim and husky for children. I've been a little disappointed by their women's wear recently-thinner fabrics that don't wear as well as their older stuff, but there is a lot of that going around everywhere.

On the other hand ALL our bed linens, duvets, and covers are LE and their men's wear is very good. DH loves the fit of his LE dress shirts, and they launder beautifully. Also, LE is the only place where I can get long enough inseams for DS #1. Swimwear is good, and their rash guards are brilliant.

Can't complain about their guarantee. If you're not happy - at any time - return the item.

cheryl

Veteran

My puffer coat is from LE and i have had it for years and love it as much as the day i bought it and it has held up beautifully.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I agree with Runcarla. I haven't shopped there for clothes in a few years because I have been disappointed in the quality of their fabrics. I still have quite a few t-shirts from at least 10 years ago that have stood the test of time. Nice weight, drape, soft 100% cotton (I line dry them). Every time I tried to replace/renew them, I was disappointed. Same thing with sheets. They sell x-long, which works for college dorm beds. There was a big difference between the sheets I ordered for my kids. The oldest child and the youngest are 5 years apart. The sheets for my oldest are still going strong...I passed them onto my youngest, who started college this year, after returning a set I bought last August from Lands End. The fabric was so thin and didn't feel like it would last through a semester. Big disappointment.

But who knows, maybe they've upped their game, clothing-wise. When they're good, they are very good so I'd give it a shot if I were you.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I'm with DonnaF, same experience here. One of their appeal used to be the fabric quality, precisely. So if that is gone...

Chris987

Veteran

Agree with most of the comments. Styles are traditional and most items are high quality. They have tried to be a little more fashionable, but haven't made much of a leap.

They started as a sailboat equipment maker in the '60s and HQ is still in Wisconsin. Very similar profile to LLBean, which started by making hunting boots. Sears bought them in 2009, and spun off the catalog business in 2013 but still carries them in retail stores at least in the U S. You are right retailgirl, Sears ahs been in a bad funk for a long time but the LE parts of the store look good.

I've found the pants don't fit very well on me. Don't know what the typical body shape is for "traditional" but that's what they do. Also their quality has dropped a lot in the last few years, as others have said. I bought a puffer coat from them a few years ago that was below-the knee length and supposedly quite warm and found the down in it to be sparse and the wind blew right through it. I kept wearing it but should have returned it.

So check on the fit and quality but overall it's good stuff if you are looking for traditional. I tend to look for stuff at LLBean first since I have connections to Maine, but the are even more traditional (aka "frumpy") and don't try to be anything else. If you are looking for a basic pima cotton t-shirt that will last for years and not twist in the wash and it happens to fit you...this is the place.

And the return policy for both companies is the best you can find.

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

I've been a Lands End shopper for years, and I've got a pretty big collection of Supima cardigans in lots of different colors. Their quality has really gone downhill in the past couple years. The finishing work isn't high-quality like it used to be. I have always bought their sheets but the fabric is obviously cheaper (but the price continues to go up). I did get a wonderful pair of low-heeled nude court shoes last summer, and I bought a packable down jacket in two colors this winter. For most of the things I've always bought at Lands End, though, I've switched to LL Bean. The fabric and finishing and size consistency (and prettiness of colors) is just better at LL Bean than Lands End these days. Even their boat bags have gone down in quality - they used to stand up alone and last for years, and now they're floppy and I can tell the handles aren't going to last a decade, which is what they used to last.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I bought a lot of my mum's clothes there as she liked the preppy styling and the knit pants (not for fashion but for at home wear).

You will need to order xs for those supima knits. The crewneck tops in cotton are actually really nice quality most of the time. My mum had some of them and I actually kept a bright printed twinset to remember her by and plan to wear on Mother's Day.

If you are wanting a simple top to go under a jacket or to wear with your Kindergarten class, then these would fit the bill. Put a scarf or bling on top and it will do you.

Helena

Veteran

Suz you nailed it - that is exactly my plan. I'll give them a go thanks!!

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