When I first moved to America, I had no idea of store names and had no idea where everybody buys things to fill up a home or fill up my belly. I also had no idea about which brands to trust and which services were worth paying for… so here's a running list!
You should know: Some of these are referral links, which give me a little kickback if you click on them, but that's completely up to you (you can search for them instead of clicking).
These are genuinely the things that I have around my apartment or in my cupboards though!
Clothing brands I recommend (and use myself)
I'm a 30-something-year-old man and in general, I like buying quality clothes without spending too much on brand names or logos. So here's where I get my basics:
For basic t-shirts and shorts
I use Uniqlo. I love Uniqlo because they sell the basics and they do them well. For the winter, I've talked a lot about HEATTECH underwear (which I recommend HIGHLY) and my drawers are filled with their plain t-shirts and shorts.
For shirts and slightly nicer pants
I buy everything that Bonobos has on offer. I own basically every single shirt style they have because they fit me so well and once I've found a brand I like, I just keep going back. Their shirts are comfortable, and they come in cool patterns (for those of you out there like me who want to wear a shirt that isn't just blue check, this is for you!)
For business suits
I also go to Bonobos! Seriously, these suits are VERY nice and their incredibly affordable for the quality they are. Couldn't recommend them more (and they have sneaky pockets everywhere).
For business shirts
I've found Charles Tyrwhitt to be a winner. I love the Bonobos shirts for casual but for a business shirt, Charles Tyrwhitt has been my go-to for high-quality and very customizable shirts. Get the length, cut, fit, style, everything exactly how you want it.
For Jeans
I loooove my Nudie. I have three pairs of Nudies and they repair them for their whole lifetime (not to mention they recycle their denim). Comfiest jeans I have ever worn. I know they're not cheap, but they're worth it.
For socks (of all sizes and shapes)
I buy Bombas. Bombas are known for two reasons: Good socks that come in all sorts of colors and styles, and also their donation platform where for every pair of socks you buy, they donate a pair to a homeless shelter. I have the holiday ones, the wool ones, and the Sesame Street ones!
In case you get sweaty (and need an undershirt)
I highly recommend Thomson Tees for the summertime. These shirts are amazing, you can sweat all you want and your shirt won't get wet patches under the arms! They are lined and hide nicely under all your other shirts.
For everyday shoes
I'm basically obsessed with Allbirds. I own too many of these shoes. I own seven pairs. SEVEN PAIRS. I've never had 7 pairs of anything. I have two pair of the summer Tree Runners, two pairs of the winter Wool Runners, two pairs of High-Top Mizzles, and one pair of Tree Toppers… It's insane… But I want more…
For boots (winter, cold weather, or just trudging around)
I would recommend Sorel or Ugg. Spend money on boots. Even if you're a thrifty shopper for everything else, this is where the money is worth it.
For jackets and cold-weather gear
I use Uniqlo for everything underneath but was also recently told about Noize. Canada Goose is lovely but it's very expensive so find a good brand that doesn't rely on the label! Noize use recycled non-animal material and I think that's pretty cool!
For glasses and sunglasses
I wear Warby Parker! I always thought of glasses as really expensive but turns out, they don't have to be! These are great value for money and all I wear now. Right now I've got the Hayden in two colors!
Women's Clothing Brands
Recommend brands for corporate clothes: J Crew, Banana Republic, Tahari, Zara, Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack
Hardware stores
Home Depot & Ace Hardware
Brands and items around my apartment
In our apartment we generally buy practical bits and pieces:
Amazon… I mean… It's got everything… I don't really like it, but it really does have everything you need for your apartment. Amazon Basics will cover you for everything you need when you first arrive.
Get yourself an Amazon Prime membership when you first land as you're going to make heavy use of it!
Food & Grocery Brands
For your every day shopping you've got Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Other major super markets include Fairway, Key Food, Westside Market and Citarella.
I found your article very interesting even though I don’t know the brand names!!
I have a question do you still have any clothes that you had when you were living in Oz?