Ithaca is a terrific little college town, but it is seriously lacking in a rich shopping district. The Shops at Ithaca Mall provides a modest and ultimately subpar offering. The Commons’ only real gem is Urban Outfitters on E. Green St. Therefore, to stay on top of the fashion game at Cornell, it’s imperative to go digital: take shopping into the wonders of the web.
JackThreads.com is THE site for any man who enjoys browsing for cool clothes online. JackThreads requires signing up with an email and password to access their extensive sales, but it is well worth it to surf the latest and greatest in streetwear and contemporary styles. Literally any piece of clothing can be found here (shoes, watches, necklaces, shirts, pants, jackets, ties, bowties, socks, underwear, pocket squares, suits, etc.), and the prices range dramatically so anyone can find anything within their budget.
Express.com is very much like the store, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Express always has an impressive lineup of sleek clothing, but what takes the cake for me is their collection of dress shirts (they’re called 1MX shirts). All year round, Express keeps a consistent supply of dress shirts of all colors (Azalea? No problem! Teal? Can do!), and best of all, all sizes. Express understands the immense variety of body types among men, so it includes sizes from XS to XXL, as well as styles like Slim Fit, Fitted Fit, Modern Fit, Tall Fit and more. Unfortunately, Express has the notorious reputation of being outrageously overpriced. However, Express.com has many special deals and sales practically every weekend, and if you play your cards right, you can often apply multiple price reductions to one purchase.
Not many men know that Forever21 has an ample Men’s section. Not every Forever21 store has integrated this section, but it is available online at Forever21.com. This store is known for being cheap, in price and also sadly, in quality. However, Forever21 seems to be upping its clothing standard lately. For men on a tight budget (as I know we college kids all are), Forever21 provides some nice-looking clothing at an affordable price. Just be wary of sizing issues and check the measurements, because Forever21 is sometimes inconsistent.
Asos.com is a thriving hub showcasing all facets of the evolving fashion industry. It has a bourgeois, European aura and an assortment of attire that would dazzle any man. Also, asos.com is all about the little things. You can filter by brand, product type, size, price range and color. There is always free shipping, even for returns. Each piece of clothing has a runway-style video clip, so you can see how it looks in motion. For steals, go to the SALE section (up to 70 percent off!), click on what type of clothes you want and sort by “price low to high.” You’re bound to fall in love with something.
These are only a few excellent sites for men’s online shopping. Honorable mentions go to: topman.com, zara.com, yesstyle.com, urbanoutfitters.com and karmaloop.com. If you really like a site, don’t forget to sign up for an account with them. Oftentimes, they give you a special discount just for being a member, and they will send you notifications on all the hot new sales. So get going! Check out the fashion world right from the comfort of your own bed.

