ROBERT DYER
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Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive
How much angst could Wallace and Gromit have avoided, had there been a Bonobos Guideshop in their neighborhood?
Bethesda is fortunate to have one now on Bethesda Lane, but hurry, because Bonobos won't be here forever. That's right, our Bonobos shop is a temporary one for the holidays. After which, it will close and move to a permanent Georgetown location. The good news is, if you come in now, you can get sized, and be able to order online after the shop moves.
After stopping by during the Guideshop's grand opening yesterday, I can tell you that the hype about Bonobos is true. When you come in to the shop, by appointment or walk-in, an expert Bonobos Guide will provide a personal shopper-quality assistance in finding your perfect size and styles.
In my case, it was Jamie, who gave a grand tour of the store and explained some of the secrets of why Bonobos pants fit so well.
Inside the guideshop, you'll find the original washed chinos that started it all in the center of the space. By the window are corduroys ranging from staid to inventive. Witness the "critter pants," or the holiday season-appropriate Hanukkords, emblazoned with a pattern of menorahs.
In the front corner is the expanding Bonobos Golf line, with polos and golf pants that have a special stripe that keeps your shirt tucked in!
The left wall has dress shirts and formal suits, the latter starting in the mid $600s. While everything sold here ships to you for free in 2 days, Bonobos will recommend tailors who can make any adjustments your suit might need.
Next to that are the office-friendly weekday pants. Yes, there is one pair for each day of the week.
On the back wall, you'll find the premium denim and travel jeans. Finally, they have accessories like neckties and scarves, as well as sweaters and jackets.
I started by trying on a Jet Blues pair of the washed chinos, in the slim-straight version. And I became a Bonobos believer in the process. Yes, the pants really do fit as great as they say. At $88, they are more expensive than - for example - Dockers. But it is well worth the price, because Dockers rarely fit properly, in my experience.
When I moved to the denim, surprisingly that fit just as well. Part of the secret, as Jamie explained, is that the waistband is contoured to fit the natural shape of the body. From my test, the cut of the pants is also more flattering overall than your standard, off-the-rack "business casual" trousers. If you've compared the cut and fit of a Lacoste polo shirt to an XYZ store brand, you know there's a difference, and that's the type of experience you'll have with Bonobos.
In conclusion, I think I am definitely in the target audience for the Bonobos Guideshop concept: Tired of shopping for pants and jeans that don't fit, or having to try on 100 pairs to find one that does. But skeptical of dropping a sizable amount on an internet shopping site, without any way to know if they really fit like they say.
Having gone in and tested it for you, if you're in that category, you're likely to enjoy shopping at Bonobos. Many of the styles are similar to what you're wearing now, but they fit great. And with the in-store option, you can be sure you are satisfied before buying. But there are free returns, so you can still ship them back if you change your mind.
So stop by before the holidays are over. I'm disappointed we'll be losing Bonobos after that, because of the severe lack of dedicated men's apparel shops around the Row.
Bonobos: where even Wallace and Gromit will have a hard time finding "The Wrong Trousers."
