LandsEnd.com Review

I love L.L. Bean, but a lot of their clothing is designed for serious, New England winters spent hiking, skiing and snow-shoeing. When I lived in Vermont, that was fine. Now that I live in San Francisco, I don't really need goosedown mittens tested to -32f. I do, however, still love to shop. Being a plus-sized woman can make finding high quality, good-looking, affordable outerwear difficult. Enter Land's End. Their clothing isn't as rugged as L.L. Bean, and most of it is not intended to keep the wearer warm while camping in the frozen tundra- and they don't pretend it is. Land's End specializes in well-made, great-looking clothing that's appropriate for everyday use. Prices are very reasonable and they have some of the most polite, helpful customer service reps I've encountered. That most of their clothing is available in larger sizes (over 14) is a real plus (no pun intended.)

I really like that I can shop for myself, my partner, my nephews and my parents...all from one retailer. As I said, L.L. Bean makes great stuff, but it doesn't really make sense for me to spend a fortune on a hat or gloves that my nephews will outgrow - and maybe even lose - by next winter.

I have to give a special shout out to the Land's End line of faux shearling outerwear. I've always wanted a sheepskin coat, but $700 for a coat is way out of my budget. Land's End makes a great-looking line of faux shearling products that look like the real thing, are incredibly warm, and are machine washable. I bought my mother one of their faux shearling coats, which she just loves. It only cost $99, looks great, and can be popped in the machine when it's dirty. I have a pair of faux shearing gloves and a faux shearling hat, both of which are toasty warm and comfortable, and both of which look like the real deal.

I used to order from their catalogue, but I now use the Land's End website. It's really well organized and easy to use. I like that they provide photos of different angles of their products, so there are no surprises when your merchandise arrives.

Summary

Land's End is a great shopping site on many levels

• Fine quality clothing
• Great customer service
• Great prices
• A large range of sizes
• A good website interface