Nautica Menswear Review
I tried out Nautica menswear, and this might be the best jacket I've worn this year.
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If the idea of a capsule wardrobe intrigues you, you are not alone. There's something very reassuring in knowing that you have all of your bases covered, and what's more, that you can mix and match different pieces together and still look put together. The challenge, though, is finding those basics—and more importantly, finding the standout pieces that will help those basics shine. I'm no stranger to Nautica. The brand was a wardrobe staple for me growing up in the nineties, and on occasion, I've returned to their offerings to stock up on versatile wardrobe essentials like polo shirts and sweaters.
Admittedly, it'd been quite some time since I perused the offerings at Nautica, so I was thrilled when they reached out and asked if I'd be interested in testing products from their fall men's line. Over the past few weeks, I've had the absolute pleasure of testing out the Sustainably Crafted Classic Fit Deck Polo ($60), the Quarter-Zip Nautex Fleece Sweatshirt ($70), the Navtech V-Neck Sweater ($70), the Slim Fit Ripstop Jogger ($90), the Sustainably Crafted Crewneck Sweater ($98), and the Reissue Colorblock Packable Jacket ($128). See why I was blown away by this stalwart of American sportswear.
What is Nautica?
Nautica’s Sustainably Crafted Classic Fit Deck Polo doesn’t just fit like a glove—it’s designed to make less of an impact on important resources.
Founded in 1983 by fashion designer David Chu, Nautica is an American apparel, homewares, and fragrance company. They're defined by their classic prep-influenced style, affordable price point, and dependable quality. The Nautica aesthetic is perhaps closest to that of Tommy Hilfiger or Polo Ralph Lauren, but always with an unforgivingly northeastern US perspective.
Nautica offers everything from jeans, to underwear, to blazers, and sweaters. Clothing from the brand is accessibly priced, with outerwear typically ranging from $90 to $270, denim between $50 and $100, and T-shirts from $20 to $80—and the brand often holds sales that bring those prices down considerably. In addition to both men's and women's apparel, the brand also offers childrenswear, shoes, and linens for the home. Recently, Nautica branched out into the sustainability space with their Sustainably Crafted line of clothes, designed from what the brand claims are "lower-impact materials" like recycled polyester and Tencel Modal.
What I like about Nautica Menswear
The clothes are well-made and comfortable
The Nautica Quarter-Zip Nautex Fleece Sweatshirt is a great basic fleece to have on hand whenever the temperature drops.
When I tried on the samples Nautica sent me, the first thing I noticed was the quality of each piece. These clothes are made well and seemingly made to last. Admittedly, I don't get rid of a garment until it's falling apart at the seams (my pair of Adidas Stan Smith sneakers quite literally have holes in them, but I still wear them at least once a week). I can tell that these are the sort of clothes that I would be able to hold onto for years. They're constructed well, made of heavy, durable textiles, and are made in evergreen styles that aren't totally trend-driven.
One of my favorite pieces of the bunch is the Quarter-Zip Nautex Fleece Sweatshirt, which came in handy during those early days of fall when the temperature dipped. The fleece sweatshirt is soft, insulating, and serves as a clean slate for accessories or as a layering piece. Unlike most fleece sweatshirts, this Nautex version doesn't have any pockets, which was upsetting. But otherwise, it's a versatile piece that I reach for almost every single day.
The Reissue Colorblock Jacket is the jacket of my dreams
I’m smiling because the Reissue Colorblock Packable Jacket is my new favorite thing to wear.
To be fair, I knew that I'd adore the Reissue Colorblock Packable Jacket from the moment I saw it on the Nautica website. Like any proper millennial, I can't let go of the past, and this jacket—pulled directly from the Nautica archives—has all the throwback style I could want in a silhouette, yet still somehow feels thoroughly modern.
This jacket is lightweight and functional—it's water-resistant, features a concealed hood, and has an elastic hem that keeps the fit close. But the red, white, and blue colorblock and the slightly oversized fit recalls some of the brand's most iconic styles from the '90s. Not only have I worn this jacket at every opportunity, but I've also taken an absurd amount of selfies in it because it's just that special.
What I don't like about Nautica menswear
There's a slight discrepancy in sizing
As a man of size, I appreciate Nautica's generous size range—most of their menswear is available up to a 3XL. More importantly, the size chart seems accurate and the clothes fit true to size. To be perfectly honest, sometimes I have to brace myself for disappointment when trying out new clothing brands because of vanity sizing (or worse, totally inaccurate size charts).
I was genuinely surprised to find that almost everything that Nautica sent to me not only fit, but in an XL, felt like it was tailor-made to flatter my body. The only exception was the Navtech V-Neck Sweater, which was shockingly small. The lightweight, stretchy sweater feels great on the skin, but I'd suggest buying one or even two sizes larger than you usually would to make up for the unusual fit.
Is Nautica menswear worth it?
Absolutely
The Nautica Slim Fit Ripstop Jogger is made to last and easy to style.
On the whole, I was thoroughly impressed by Nautica's menswear collection. So much so, in fact, that I've already ordered the Quarter-Zip Nautex Fleece Sweatshirt and my beloved Reissue Colorblock Packable Jacket so I can keep enjoying them once I've returned the samples. Their clothes are made well, make a visual impact, and allow you to relive some seriously impressive throwback style moments. What more can you ask from your clothes?
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