Click-A-Closet: One Stop Wardrobe Shopping
Published by Alex December 14th, 2006 in Clothes. Share This
Consider, o gentlemen, the advantages of a new, not-quite-personal shopping service specifically designed for the fellows who want the cut and feel of a new suit or two but are beyond hopeless in their ability to aquire said threads for themselves: http://www.clickacloset.com/.
The gist is simple - “tell us your sizes and pick out a wardrobe package that best represents the style of dress at your work.” There are currently six packages to choose from: Casual, Business Casual, Business Casual Plus, Business Dress, Business Suits, and The Interview. Within these parameters are half-orders, something called ‘One Day’ options, seasonal selections, and refresher packages for the suit that has a fallen soldier (e.g. your shoes finally gave out, the slacks got hosed at the cleaners, etc)
They take all the guesswork out of what some feel is a very personal expression and aquisition process—all you really need is a tape measure and a bunch of money. If all you need is a belt and you’re for some insane reason unable to purchase one out for yourself, they can supply; if you need a full wardrobe, they can do this as well.
Prices range from $45 for a single belt, to $1780 for two business suits, and nearly every comprehensible variation in-between.
I’m chagrined. When I’ve got the kind of dosh to throw at a new suit or two, the last thing I want to do is buy without considering the look and feel of the material, the cut of the trousers, the drape of the jacket. But then again, I love to shop. Love it.
Whereas some gentlemen will make time for a tension-relieving round of golf, I’ll make time to hunt aggressively for a new coat. I imagine that both experiences are equally satisfying, depending on the performance in the field. Some folks come to NYC and want to be squired around by their local friends to all the sights and the best restaurants; mine invariably want to be taken to the best places for shoes and the like.
Am I such an anomoly in that I view the clothes I choose to wear in public to be a thing that represents who I am? Just as a painter shouldn’t have his assistant select which colors he uses, nor should a man have someone they haven’t even met select his shoes. I am chagrined and appalled about this service; your clothes are an immensely personal choice, and this is the style equivalent of cheating.
I’m reminded of a president who delivers a speech he didn’t write, reading it for the first time off of the teleprompter. Yes, it gets the message out, but I don’t trust that the message is necessarily authentic.
I know that other men, even fine men, will disagree; there is much to speak in favor of this sort of shopping experience. I refuse to entertain such notions, but I invite you to try.
6 Responses to “Click-A-Closet: One Stop Wardrobe Shopping”
- 1 Trackback on Dec 20th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
You may be an anomaly, but then we both are. I am considered by my friends to be right on the edge of not being straight anymore. They are incorrect of course, I just like clothes. And shoes. And spend a lot of money on grooming products. But man let me tell you, the chicks dig a well dressed man who doesn’t smell like Pert Plus and Axe body spray.
I don’t think the problem with Click-a-closet is the lack of shopping - it’s the insane degree of trust you’re putting in some stranger who’s never seen you to pick out clothes that suit you and that you’ll like. For you to want to go with them, not only do you have to not like clothes shopping, but you have to genuinely not care what you wear, as long as it’s a suit.
If you don’t like shopping, you can at least go into most halfway-decent menswear stores and tell the guy “I need to get a suit”, and even if you let him take it entirely, 100%, Click-a-Closet-esque, from there, at least he’s seen you and can make a decision on what would look good on you based on more than just your measurements.
Click-a-Closet is like having your mom pick out your clothes for you again, but this time, your mom’s blind.
Apologies if your mom was actually blind.
I think the idea has potential. I think the points of style, etc. are all valid, but I could also see the merit of paying someone $x and getting a kick start in the basics. But for $2k for two suits and some shirts, I’d want them to be tailored. (Esp. because I’m starting to think that custom-tailored shirts are worth every dollar extra they cost over the cheap ones, after all the too-short-arms and pockets-over-my-gut shirts I’ve been finding.)
Hi,
I’m Greg, the owner of this service. Thanks for your comments. They are all valid. I appreciate your views.
We HUNGER for someone to buy from us who’ll fall in love with the product we sell and then blog about it. Our customers so far have loved what we’ve sent. The products are first class (hence the price — not far from what you’d pay at a big box department store) and not stuff that “wouldn’t sell” otherwise.
Again, thanks for the (not too negative ;) ) writeup. If any of you guys want to try us out, there’s a no-questions-asked return policy. We are for real and we’d love some honest feedback.
Thanks!
-g.
I wonder how they size the suits and if they alter.. aside from that this is a great Idea. I would like the know the materials and such that they use for their suits. I think that this Idea has huge potential to move in house. I am curious to see how this works out.