I was just thinking this TODAY! I live about 35 minutes away from LL Bean, and I was going to drive up and pick up a new fleece jacket. The last two I’ve had were both mens. Wasn’t crazy about the fit, but damn it, I don’t WANT to wear pink, powder blue or lavender! Navy, Dark Green, and my personal favorite, charcoal grey!
The clothing is great, the women’s color selection is ALMOST enough to make me want to go elsewhere!
I didn’t know they made fleece lined - now I have to get a pair!!
I have to agree with others about the color selection; I always find myself wanting the men’s colors. Once in a while I like ‘girly’ colors, but most of the time I lean toward the neutral/darker shades.
Clearly, I am the only one here who likes the girly colors! :lol: My only complaint is that I just can’t do jeans at my waist anymore - I’m too spoiled by how much more comfy the lower cut ones are (slightly lower - not the teenage below-the-hips models! :eek:)…
Fleece-lined, definitely. Better yet are the no-brand kind I found in a feed store. They fit better, were $20 cheaper and the fleece is super thick. Yum–one of the (only) good things about winter are those jeans! :yes:
[QUOTE=KayBee;3564139]
Randomly throwing a new question into the mix --Bean has some cute wool sweaters. Anyone wear them at the barn/riding? Are they too warm/hay & shavings magnets? Curious to hear…
Meanwhile, I sometimes buy the girly colors and end up using a heck of a lot Shout (with varying degrees of success) so I echo the call for more gender-neutral colors – and may I add that I think I look particularly fetching in chocolate brown (hint, hint)…
I can’t wear the men’s sizes. I’m too “womanly” shaped for that and if I buy the clothes big enough to fit me in the chest, they SWIM at the waist and make me look chunkier than I am. I’d rather highlight my, ah, generously proportioned self than look like a shapeless mass…
I haven’t tried riding in jeans. If I manage to get to a size 12, may have to buy a pair of the fleece or flannel-lined ones to try it out/reward myself.[/QUOTE]
The sweaters are great…just wear a light and shiny (like nylon) jacket over them to keep the hay from sticking!!
I will add a caramel apple pie to the bribery pack for her office! Remember: burnt orange, hunter green, burgundy (he he he).
I do have a couple of the girly colors for non-barn sweaters. I like that periwinkle blue color and I think I have a pale lime green one too. (bought the matching turtlenecks too 
) But…it would be nice to be able to choose the male’s colors too. Those aren’t an option. I get so sad when I’m looking through a new catalog and see some fantastic “uni-sex” item but on the sides where the colors are listed, all the colors I’d want or wear are marked “mens” only and all the colors for women are just way too light for barn work, outside work, riding wear, etc.
BTW…the men’s pajamas are AWESOME too. Top of my Christmas list this year is a new pair of Wicked Goods since I finally almost killed my last pair. And I wear those shopping, LOL!
Spoke to Fabulous Sister last night:). She loved reading all your comments (esp. yours, Misty!). She says that they have to appeal to the larger market and that is the one that wants/buys the more feminine colors. She said most items ARE offered in navy and black, though. She understands your request (hello, she has to listen to my requests/input all the time!) and said that the Spring line coming out might have stuff for you-she said it is a bit of nautical mixed with preppy. Maybe here will be some things in there that work. :yes:
I will ask her about the boot cut lined jeans :winkgrin:
Scotchie,
Years ago, my hubby and a friend were all set to go to Costa Rica and the friend had ordered a pair of boots from LLB. They didn’t come, didn’t come (we all lived on a very tiny Caribbean island so who knows the real story ) and LLB came through, sent another pair, and off they went.
Now I’ll have to order a pair of fleece jeans, not only for me, but hubby too.
They’ll make that late night trek to feed warm beet pulp slurry much more enjoyable.
Count me in for liking the “manly” colors, too. Slobber and pink or ice blue just don’t do well together.
Great story, 3Dog! They have great customer service, that’s for sure. Funny you mention Costa Rica- Fabulous Sister is taking my family there for Christmas! (did I mention she’s The Best?:D)
Scotchie,
Hubby and friend went in 1989 before it was “discovered”. I opted to stay home since they were just wandering around the country hither and yon. Their favorite place was a $2 a night hotel on the slopes of Arenal (sp?). They took the train to the Pacific Coast-the one that stops at every little town.
Hope you have a wonderful time-hubby would move there in a minute, but of course it has changed a lot since he was there. I think ex-pats have to live in specific communities now. Before they could buy a house/land anywhere.
Very, very safe and beautiful country.
I LOFF my Fleece Lined Jeans, and wear them every day in the winter, with silk long johns underneath, and alpaca wool socks! I have one pair of LL Beans, two pair of Ladies Rugged Wear Wrangers, and one pair of men’s Rugged wear Wranglers, and the men’s fit me the best! The womens on me make me look about 50 pounds heavier, as they are cut generous, so they are not exactly flattering on my 5’2" frame. The men’s pair fit me like they were made for me. Note to self: find another pair of those MEN’S Wranglers in fleece lined!
How do they know the broader market does not want those other colors?
Have they tried it?
Do they assume that all the burgundy turtlenecks they sell are really for men?
Fabulous Sister is trying to help- but remember, Bean has to be functional AND fashionable. It’s a big world out there and she had to market to it- here is her response:
boot cut is a good idea but it is one of our smallest selling styles, by far, so unfortunately not worth the SKU investment for us. I have to say, I DO think we have really functional women’s outdoor clothes! I just looked at some of our best selling fleece outerwear pieces, such as trail model and super 200 which I would think would be good for the barn on a winter day. In addition to pretty colors, the women’s styles also come in charcoal gray heather, black, navy, eggplant and brown.
Eggplant? That is a color?
Hellloooo we want burgundy, green, etc.
I am glad SHE thinks their fashions are appropriate. She has heard from people who want to wear them for real life things (barn work) and they are telling her other wise.
Scotchie:
I think your Fabulous Sister has a difficult job - trying to sell to the masses AND keep her sister (and all her horsie friends) happy and satisfied. No mass seller can afford to maintain a product line for a small market, especially in these times.
That said, there are growing numbers of women who work outside, or play VERY hard, who would appreciate colors that don’t show every bit of soil or animal slop.
We used to have three companies we could count on: LLBean, Lands End and Eddie Bauer. The other two lost their way and abandoned their roots, as far as I’m concerned, and struggled financially as a result. LLBean has stayed the course and should be able to pick up market share in the “women who play/work in the dirt” market.
Anyway, she’ll do what she can, for which I’m grateful.
Wow- Trub- Bless your heart.
[QUOTE=trubandloki;3565138]
Eggplant? That is a color?[/QUOTE]
Eggplant is dark, dark purple and is one of my favorite colors to wear around the barn, and for riding. :yes: Don’t diss my color.
Back at you!
I am a major LLBean buyer and have been for over 20 years. Half my wardrobe seems to be from them! I got rid of my fleece lined and replaced them with the flannel lined because I found the fleece ones too bulky and restrictive in moving about. The flannel is soft enough and roomy enough that you can add a silk underlayer if you want more warmth. Wish they would bring back those nice reversible winter jackets they offered a few years ago where you just turn up the cuff to get the right sleeve length. I would definitely buy another one (or two); great for riding and for going about town.
Love those swiftriver products; great quality for a low price; keep them coming!
[QUOTE=stryder;3565230]
Scotchie:
We used to have three companies we could count on: LLBean, Lands End and Eddie Bauer. The other two lost their way and abandoned their roots, as far as I’m concerned, and struggled financially as a result. LLBean has stayed the course and should be able to pick up market share in the “women who play/work in the dirt” market.
Anyway, she’ll do what she can, for which I’m grateful.:)[/QUOTE]
Ditto. I also used to love Banana Republic back when they made real clothes for outdoor folks…and have since turned into a trendy teen brand with chintzy fabrics. Sigh.
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