a cable crewneck) in various warehouses per wrinkle, and it breathes. It’s also seasonless,
region starting in October. durable and resists heat, cold and wind. Best
(Pat’s tip: A very limited run of a stun- of all, it exudes a timeless attitude that can take
ning blend of 90 percent virgin wool/10 per- you from jeans to evening wear.
cent cashmere, fully lined men’s Kirkland Jack Weisbly, a Costco vice president, notes
Signature casual jacket is also now in pro- that there are three grades of leather, ranging
gress in just a few warehouses per region.) from superior A to a lower-quality C. The A
For slacks, think wool grade, with its matte finish, soft and lightweight
To me, no piece of men’s clothing says hand and blemish-free, tight-grain texture, is
more about the wearer than a handsome pair the only grade acceptable for Costco garments.
of finely woven, 100 percent wool dress slacks. All three classic cuts come in black only, and
Wool is naturally stain resistant, and pure all are fully lined.
wool slacks retain their original shape better To me, it’s the distinct detailing added to
than slacks made of other natural fibers. More these lambskin jackets that makes all the dif-
important, they’re just so darn classy. ference. For example, the three-quarter-length
I gave my friend Kenny, who is a fabulous jacket has a stand-up collar, two inside secure
dresser, a pair of Italian-made Kirkland Sig- pockets, slightly slanted outside pockets and
nature men’s wool dress slacks last year as a sturdy metal zipper for continued durability.
gift. He reports that when he took them to Iknowfrommyresearchthatsimilarthree-
a well-respected men’s specialty tailor for quarter lambskin jackets sell for as much as
alteration, the tailor was impressed with the $550 in high-end clothing stores, whereas
quality and workmanship of the Costco Costco’sisjust$119.
slacks … as well as with the price. Charles summarized the ever-expanding
I’m not surprised that my friend’s tailor Kirkland Signature clothing program (see
appreciated these Costco slacks; after all, this “Kirkland Signature’s fall clothing lineup”
is the type of wool and construction used sidebar) as follows: “Costco’s goal is to cre-
by designer brands such as Giorgio Armani ate exceptionally fine, high-quality garments
and Zegna. that go beyond the best sold by high-end
Available in various warehouses this fall, retailers, at prices the competition would never
the Kirkland Signature slacks are filled with be able to touch.”
Old World craftsmanship. Made in Italy (con- I’d say that Costco, like Aesop’s trusty tor-sidered the world capital of quality woolen toise, has outsmarted quite a few national-textiles) of the finest soft merino clothing-brand hares with this wool, they feature double-pleat Kirkland Signature clothing front panels, 11/4-inch cuffs, rein- line. Wouldn’t you? IC forced buttonholes, lining to the knee and alterable seams.
Measuring the
difference
The price for the slacks remains the same as last year at $39.99 (similar brands run as much as $175) for either solid colors or subtle fancy patterns.
Top it off with leather
For the first time, Costco is offering Kirkland Signature men’s New Zealand lambskin jackets in three styles in many warehouses across the country. The short version and bomber style arrived this summer, but still to come is the very chic, versatile three-quarter-length, full-cut leather jacket.
* Survey taken in Seattle-area store, July 2004
Since Kirkland Signature items represent a phenomenal clothing value, savvy members keep their eyes open for new arrivals. Costco makes every effort to keep the clothing tables well stocked, but supplies are sometimes limited or not available at all in some warehouses. My advice is to stay alert and remember what happened to Aesop’s hare—if you snooze, you lose!
Watch for these items now and in the coming months at your local Costco.
Men
Item #771309 Wool/cashmere jacket Item #763088
Item #7153555
Item #798618
Item #789544
Item #637703
100% wool dress slacks Item #762667(solid)/7626666(pattern)
Jeans Item #167129
Briefs and T-shirts (Assorted item numbers)
Unisex
Shearling roll-top slippers Item #792325
Shearling scuff slipper Item #795649
Shearling boots Item #691478
Kids
100% polyester flame-retardant micro-fleece sleeper Item #759767
Shearling boots Item #796548
What’s so great about a leather jacket? Leather doesn’t
Do you have a question for The Connection’s Buying Smart reporter, Pat Volchok? Contact her at: buyingsmart@costco.com
References:
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