Welcome to This Is Cute. We’re Jenna, Jayna, and Verena. We text all day about cute stuff so you don’t have to. If you're interested in seeing the previous and equally unhinged editions, they’re here. Today, we’re talking about (ew, sorry) borrowing from the boys. Because unlike every other facet of life, when it comes to clothing, sometimes men actually have the answer. And if you want the tl;dr, just scroll down. All products discussed are linked at the bottom in our very Cute Catalogue™️.
JM: Woooooooo! MEN'S! I woke up thinking about how basically my love of menswear boils down to just wanting to wear fuzzy sweaters. But that's ok!
VVP: I'm here! Wearing Girls of Dust pants in semi-honor of our discussion today. I know Girls of Dust isn't menswear, but they're obviously menswear inspired, and I think a great rec for anyone who wants a menswear vibe and doesn't know where to start. It’s like army surplus-inspired menswear but made for women. Say more about fuzzy sweaters though, because I know what you're talking about, but I also don't know many men who, right now, wear fuzzy sweaters. Though all my dream men from the 90s did, obviously.
JG: Men's sweaters are disproportionately fuzzier and more fun.
JM: It's very weird, because there are so many brands making fuzzy sweaters for men! And I agree. Who tf are wearing these? Other than me.
VVP: Men who wear Needles. (Love Needles.)
JM: But like, Howlin’ by Morrison has their Shaggy Bears. And J.Press has their Shaggy Dogs.
JG: Bradley has a Corridor one that's kinda fuzz-forward. Maybe it’s just that the graphic LOOKS fuzzy, as in out of focus. It looks like a carpet, in a good way..
VVP: Speaking of Needles, can I buy this?
JM: Yep! And I feel like maybe men's does more fuzzy because brands think women want to be smoothies. And they think men can deal with the scratch factor, which, ahem, they cannot.
VVP: Lol, brands DO want women to be smoothies.
JM: Right?? It's like, here's this ribbed smooth that's also probably cropped.
JG: And bell-sleeved.
JM: And a drop-shoulder! Even Uniqlo women’s is too fitted, which is where I first made the switch from women's to men's—and they actually lean fairly unisex. But the men's cashmere sweaters are a bill trill better and cooler than the women's! Men's—generally—is where you can take a trip to slouchtown. Where I am the mayor.
VVP: Wait, Uniqlo was your first switch? That feels so recent!
JM: It was my first major switch where I felt like I had found a secret shopping unlock.
JG: Same. I think I took a free one off the Lucky racks because we never had to return styling samples to Uniqlo. And I’ve been stocking up ever since.
VVP: Yeah, men's Uniqlo cashmere is a great secret source that you both introduced me to!
JM: I also feel like men's sweaters weren't as great for a while. Like 90s and 2000s men's sweaters were TOO big. You know what I mean? Just, like, an absolute BLOCK of yarn.
VVP: I think menswear has, overall, gotten more fitted and smaller over the years.
JM: I think it's gone more consistently back to, like, the ‘70s.
VVP: OK, so what do we like to buy from the menswear department? For sure sweaters.
JM: Absolutely sweaters from the places we mentioned, plus, Alex Mill and Todd Snyder and LL Bean! Oh, and FLEECES! Speaking of … I take it back. Patagonia was my first switch, because those fleeces are an entirely different beast. The women’s have definitely improved, but they still tend to look a little more performance-y to me, and the colorways aren’t nearly as good.
VVP: J.Crew men’s sweaters are always better than the women’s sweaters. I was wearing this one yesterday in yellow and saw my friend Zeb, and he was wearing it in Black.
JG: Mens sweaters are sturdier, heartier and in all-around better colors. J.Crew and Alex Mill are perfect examples of side-by-sides, where men’s are the clear-as-day winner.
VVP: Yes! Put a "men’s heritage cotton sweater" next to a "women’s heritage cotton sweater" and it's like, WHY?? But it's funny to see some women's styling come into menswear. Like ALD, which I think of as the most "menswear that is worn probably equally by women," loves a rounded-shoulder.
JM: Totally. Bode is another example.
VVP: lol Bode's homepage featuring Patrice.
JG: I also like men's—I don’t even know how you describe it—the Made in the USA New Balance hypebeasty athleisure stuff (ED NOTE: lots is on sale, like here and here)? and SNEAKERS, I mean come on. its hard out there for a tinyfoot!And I’m not even THAT much of a tinyfoot—I’m a women’s 7. But I feel like I fall in love with a pair of men’s sneakers on a weekly basis and discover the smallest men’s sizes sell out instantly (women size 9 and above, get these!).
JM: Yesssss sweats and sneaks, like these and these. I'm so glad I'm not a tinyfoot when it comes to shoes, because men's shoes are great. I've also gotten increasingly into men's outerwear. I think more women should own this J.Crew coat (boo sold out but this one is also very good and on sale!)
VVP: Outerwear!! Oh, that's good! And I have a J.Crew gift card. Am I a 42R?
JM: I think I prefer men's coats because they slouch in a good way, and sometimes are a better length. And you can find good vintage! Women's vintage is often like, nipped in the waist with a belt. So you look like a fancy bell. But men’s, in my experience, has better options, especially if you’re not sample size, and often (not always!) for less money.
VVP: But seriously I have no idea what 42R means. And the J.Crew size chart doesn’t either. Not helpful!
JM: Oh, I can tell you what size I have and you can take it from there. I usually just mouse around in JP's closet and do my sizing that way.
VVP: Well, I wear Nick's clothing a lot. Usually kind of sneakily. because he gets upset. Wants me to "give him room." But on the flipside, every so often, I buy something, and then all of a sudden find it hanging in his closet. So now who's mousing around?!
JM: Yeah, NICK.
VVP: But he has a Land’s End jacket that sometimes is just what I need to finish a fit and it doesn't make sense for us BOTH to have one.
JG: Yeah also because imagine if you were TWIN Landsing.
VVP: Mortifying! Which I think is what Nick's worrying about when he tells me to give him room. Like when I walk out of the bedroom wearing dark green surplus-y pants and a brown sweatshirt and he's wearing dark green khakis and a brown sweatshirt. And we both stare at each other.
JM: My coat is a 40L, btw.
JG: I really love a share. It's economical and fun and kinda cute!
JM: Yeah JP and I have on the same sneakers 75% of the time I don't mind it! I sort of like it?? Am I insane? Are we so codependent?
VVP: I mean, you share lipstick!
JM: I like that we look like it makes sense that we're together.
VVP: Hahahahah. A cohesive Maleri-Pack brand!
JM: Like in summer when we're both covered up head to TOE. Just two happy steamed clams.
JG: But I used to be annoyed when models in magazine articles would be like, “Oh, I just roll out of bed and put on my boyfriend’s Levis and don’t give a fuck and I'm hot!”
VVP: Jenna, that was the MOST annoying.
JG: Brutally annoying.
JM: Also, because as we were saying earlier, men's pants are a whole different thing. I love the ones I have that are the right size for me. But the "right size" for me is like 6 times bigger than my women's size.
VVP: Well, I think menswear doesn't do vanity sizing the way women’s does!
JM: Right! I mean, vanity sizing is dumb! And just all of it! Just make more stuff unisex!
VVP: This is a convo Nick and I regularly have. About how men's sizing has so many specifics—look at the coat sizes from earlier! And women are expected to just wear S/M/L in shirts and suits, too.
JG: Which all mean different things for different brands!
JM: It's so true. Fucking inseams, man. Can you imagine if we could CHOOSE OUR INSEAM?? What a world they get to live in.
JG: I honestly don’t even know what choosing an inseam means.
JM: It means not going to the tailor every single time you buy pants!
VVP: Okay quickly though—what other categories are we shopping from mens? Belts?
JM: Belts! Like this and this. Men's socks are great. Sorry, tinyfoot!. Men's PJs. Because women's PJs are also smoothies! I think men's pants can be tricky, and men's button downs
VVP: Oh! I sort of disagree. I like J.Crew and GAP mens button downs. Super duper oversized are the hottest. But I'm talking extremely oversized. Like, an XXL if you are typically a M.
JG: My Jungmaven tees!!! Best tee-shirt in the world. I think a good white tee was my white whale and Jungmaven men’s is the answer. Soft but not sheer, slouchy—but not like in a sexy-drapey way—great for layering, easy to tuck. Everyone needs one.
VVP: Okay, this Jungmaven thing ... I feel like you've both been secret tee-ing and I have fomo.
JG: I have them and Bradley has them. I dropped them in the beauty email and got heat for it from a certain few readers!! Because they said I had been secretee-ing. You need one or three!
JM: I have some Jungmavens but I need Jenna's white whale. The ones I have are different. They're fuzzier. I need this one.
VVP: Interesting that Jungmaven has women in the imagery.
JM: Yes! Smart move! PAY ATTENTION, EVERY OTHER BRAND. Oh. I like men's shorts, too. Like a cute drawstring waist short that hits above the knee. Because women's shorts can also be weird. They’re either underwear or bloomers.
VVP: lol bloomers.
JG: Yessss, the older I get, the harder shorts are.
VVP: Speaking of shorts, I have to run!
JM: Yeah, I mean I shouldn't be wearing shorts ever. But I still do.
JG: No, you absolutely should! We all should! Just not denim thongs.
VVP: Bye!!
JG: Bye, dudes.
JM: Bye, bro!
The Cute Catalog
All the stuff we mentioned in one cute place.
CLOTHES
Brain Dead Alpaca Sweater
Girls of Dust Pants
Howlin’ by Morrison Shaggy Bear Cardigan
J. Press Shaggy Dog Sweater
Corridor Floral Sweater
Needles Cardigan
Uniqlo Cashmere Sweater
AGOLDE Jeans
Alex Mill Cashmere Sweater
Todd Snyder Cashmere Sweatshirt
L.L. Bean Ragg Wool Sweater
J.Crew Cotton Sweater
Bode Cardigan
New Balance Hooded Sweatshirt
New Balance Crewneck Sweatshirt
J.Crew Sweatpants
J.Crew Wool Coat
Vintage Burberry Tweed Coat (please someone buy this)
Vintage Tweed Coat
Vintage Brown Wool Coat
Vintage Herringbone Wool Coat
Vintage Tweed Coat (last one, promise)
Land’s End Jacket
Sleepy Jones PJs
L.L. Bean PJs
J.Crew Button-Down Shirt
Gap Button-Down Shirt
Jungmaven T-Shirt
Jesse Kamm Pants
Faherty Cord Shorts
SHOES
Mari Giudicelli Sandals
New Balance Sneakers
New Balance x ALD Sneakers
Saucony Sneakers
Adidas Rod Laver Sneakers
ACCESSORIES
Alex Mill Web Belt
Vintage Leather Belt
Uniqlo Socks
And if you didn’t enjoy it—well, you know what to do. We’ll miss you, but we get it—we can’t even keep up with our own text thread, let alone someone else’s.