Tyler Jurelle

ASOS Menswear Review & Recommendations (2023)

I am excited to write about a clothing company that has made such a positive impact on my life at a crucial time. I also believe they have made a positive impact on the lives of millions of other young people around the world. That company is called ASOS, an online fashion retailer based in London, England.

In this article, I will share my review on both the ASOS company and their men’s clothing. After my review, I will share my highly recommended ASOS men’s clothing. I include this section because ASOS has a vast inventory that can be difficult to sort through. The ASOS men’s clothing I strongly recommend is meant to help shoppers make their search through ASOS inventory easier.

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About ASOS

ASOS is the largest online fashion retailer in the world. They sell over 850 brands, both major and small brands, including their brand ASOS DESIGN. Based in London, England, they ship to almost every country around the world.

According to their website, their primary market is young people in their 20s and 30s, like me. The abbreviation ASOS initially stood for “As Seen on Screen”. Its tagline was “buy what you see on film and TV.”

The founders Quentin Griffiths, Andrew Regan, Deborah Thorpe, and Nick Robertson wanted to start a clothing brand that sells clothes and accessories which celebrities were seen wearing. Although Quentin and Nick came up with the idea of ASOS in 1999, the company did not launch until June 3, 2000. It was not until 2007 that ASOS men’s clothing launched.

Global Expansion

In late 2010, ASOS begins its global expansion. First, they launch three international online shops in France, Germany, and the United States. By September 2011, ASOS launches three more online shops for Australia, Spain, and Italy. Also in 2011, ASOS launches its iPhone and iPad app. By 2012, ASOS opens its international offices in both Sydney, Australia, and New York, NY.

To help facilitate ASOS’ global growth, their main fulfillment center in Barnsley, South Yorkshire employs over 3,500 people. Also, they have an in-house customer support center in Leavesden, England. I will have more to say about their fulfillment center and customer support department later on.

ASOS Marketplace

In 2010, while ASOS is expanding globally, they also launch ASOS Marketplace. With just 20 brands at the time of its 2010 launch, they have grown to become a leading online platform for independent brands and vintage shops. According to Vogue, ASOS Marketplace allows boutiques, vintage collectors, individuals, and designers – established or unknown – to trade from their own virtual market to customers across the world.

Today, the ASOS marketplace showcases over 800 boutiques all over the world. Their product range includes 90s vintage sportswear, global boutiques, hand-made jewelry, and more. According to ASOS, the marketplace allows them to get ahead of new trends before other known retailers. As a result, they attract customers who are early adopters and looking for authentic clothing they can’t find elsewhere.

How to Join ASOS Marketplace

ASOS Marketplace is an ideal marketplace for anyone owning a vintage boutique or their own brand and looking to increase global sales. For 20 British Pounds (which equals around $24 in U.S. Dollars), your vintage boutique or brand will have access to ASOS Marketplace and all the features it offers.

However, you must meet these requirements before joining:
  • Must own an independent brand or a vintage boutique.
  • Must sell clothing, accessories such as bags and jewelry, and shoes.
  • Must have at least 15 styles in stock at all times.
  • All product photos must be shot on a person and in natural daylight.

Once on the marketplace, boutiques must maintain at least a 90% rating. Also, they must always provide excellent customer service. Failure to do so can cause removal from the platform.

Why ASOS?

ASOS is a great company to shop for men’s clothing because they sell everything you would find in other stores. Not only are there more options to choose from, but the prices are affordable. It can be a one-stop-shop for all your clothing needs. In fact, seeing what ASOS has to offer can boost both optimism and confidence.

Why optimism and confidence? Well, you can feel optimistic that you finally found a clothing store that can satisfy all your fashion and shopping needs. Also, clothing can make or break one’s confidence and self-esteem.

Why I Personally Like ASOS

I personally like ASOS because they help me solidify a style that is unique to me, that I could be proud of and confident in expressing. As weird as it may sound, I struggled with this for a long time.

As a teen, I could not afford all the clothes I saw online or in a store and wanted to own. Either I did not have a job at all or keep a job long enough to truly invest in my ideal closet. As a result, when I did have money, I had to carefully choose what clothes to buy. I had to buy clothes that I could wear on multiple occasions and with different looks. To simply put it, all my clothes were basic.

When thinking about what few clothes to buy, I would consider quality, look, and price. This is why my go-to stores at the time include H&M, Forever 21, and PacSun. They sell clothes that are trendy, but also basic and affordable. This allowed me to buy clothes that look good and prolong ownership for as long as possible. However, ASOS came in and changed the game for me. I could buy everything I need in one place and at the right price.

Diversity & Inclusion

One reason why I love ASOS is that they are all about young people. They sell all types of clothing and accessories for all types of young adults. It does not matter if you are short, tall, skinny, heavy, or identify as LGBTQ, ASOS has something for everybody. Also, they sell all types of casual, business, and other trendy looks.

What specifically attracted me to ASOS was the diversity of the models on its website. All the ASOS models represent all types of people. Many of them are not your typical ‘industry standard’ looking models. All ASOS models come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Also, they all have different physical shapes and sizes.

By having a diverse pool of models wearing their clothes, ASOS easily achieves its goal of representing its target market, ALL types of young people. As a college graduate with a major in Business, this is a good marketing strategy. In fact, all clothing brands adopt this type of marketing, if they have not already.

Seeing the diversity in ASOS’ models inspires me to take my modeling pursuits more seriously. Despite not having an ‘industry standard’ look (so I’ve been told), ASOS proves that you do not have to look a certain way to make it in the fashion industry. I was even surprised to learn on ASOS corporate website that they have a Model Welfare Policy. This policy helps support and protect the model’s physical and mental well-being. I wish I could travel to the United Kingdom and model in ASOS men’s clothing one day.

My ASOS Experience

Overall, my ASOS experience has been good. For the most part, I believe they are a good company. I can always find what I’m looking for, in or close to my size. They have a wide range of styles to choose from and are always adding new styles. With their fast and easy shopping experience, ASOS allows me to have decent clothing to better express myself. Most importantly, their prices are great, and shipping has not been bad for me.

I first discovered ASOS men’s clothing in 2017 while attending college. During this time, I was well into a new chapter in my personal life that includes new friends, new experiences, and an overall new perspective on life. Most importantly, college is where my sense of style and wardrobe begins to mold and mature.

Clothing can make or break a person’s self-esteem and confidence. Knowing how to find the right clothes is key to feeling confident. ASOS certainly helped provide that key to more confidence. They have good-looking fashion items for all men and for any occasion.

As mentioned earlier, my fashion style began in high school. This was a time when all I could do is look at clothes online because I could not afford to buy most of what I liked. In fact, in high school, I would browse online and shop at stores like H&M, Forever 21, and Urban Outfitters. However, ASOS solidified my look because they have the same styles as H&M, Forever 21, and Urban Outfitters. ASOS expands on these brands’ styles, giving me more options to get creative when deciding what to wear.

Shopping Experience

Since discovering ASOS men’s clothing, I purchase a variety of shirts, pants, suit separates, jackets, and shoes. While ASOS sells so many brands, most of what I own is from their own brand ASOS DESIGN. In fact, I prefer ASOS DESIGN items because they are just as stylish, comfortable, and of good quality as other brands. Also, ASOS DESIGN items are more affordable than the other brands they sell.

Inventory

ASOS has a large inventory of men’s clothing to choose from. With over 850 brands, including their own ASOS DESIGN brand, they have everything you need for any occasion. If you’re looking for something to wear for school, work, a special event, or around the house, ASOS has it. Also, the prices are affordable. 

Since ASOS inventory is so vast, it can be difficult to search through all of it. Both the ASOS app and their search filters do make searching for what I need a little easier. However, there are times when I feel like I’ve missed an item I would want because I did not search long enough.

Another thing about ASOS inventory that can be an issue for some is how quickly certain sizes can sell out. With ASOS men’s clothing, small and medium sizes are likely to sell out fast. This is usually the case for new products and styles that a lot of men want.

Quality

Honestly, the quality of ASOS clothing can vary. My best quality example is the ‘River Island Tall Suede Chelsea Boots in Black. These boots are one of my very first ASOS purchases in 2017. Although these are not ASOS DESIGN boots, I still own and wear them today. The quality is still intact, I only must do a simple wipe down to maintain them.

On the other hand, I have purchased ASOS men’s shirts and pants that did not last as long as the River Island Chelsea Boots. After about a year or so, plus a few laundry cycles, some items did shrink, fade, or wear out. Some people I know have also experienced the declining quality of their ASOS purchases within six months to a year. The number one reason for this is because a lot of ASOS clothing is made of cotton. At the same time, others have received poor-quality items upon arrival.

An issue I often have is having to exchange clothes because they were either too big or too small. This is usually a common issue with shopping online. However, I tend to make this mistake often when shopping online at European stores because I forget that many European sizes fit differently than American sizes.

Discounts

Another aspect of ASOS I like is their discounts. ASOS is always giving a discount to their customers. In fact, ASOS’s most consistent discount is their 10% off student discount. Their target market is young people who are most likely students. Their student discount has always come in the clutch while I was in college.

ASOS gives their 10% student discount to students who register for it on their website. A school email address is required to verify student status, plus the expected graduation year. Once verified, students will receive their own 10% off discount code. That code can be used for every ASOS purchase until they graduate.

Aside from ASOS, two third-party services also provide 10% off every ASOS purchase for students. The two services are called Uniday’s and StudentBeans. They offer discounts for various companies exclusively for college students. However, students must verify their enrollment in school to use both.

Shipping & Returns

The quality of ASOS shipping service can vary. Overall, it is fast, cheap, and sometimes free. While I personally have not had any shipping issues (knocks on wood), other customers, including some of my own friends, have.

To be fair, some of ASOS’s shipping woes stem from inclement weather to the sorting, handling, and delivery by the shipping carriers. However, many customers have expressed shipping issues that include:

  • Slow order processing at ASOS fulfillment center. This can lead to a longer delivery time.
  • ASOS fulfillment center messing up customers’ orders. This can include shipping the wrong size and/or item.
  • Customers paying additional customs fees. ASOS does disclose that these fees are possible. However, based on customer feedback, ASOS may fail to disclose these extra fees when they should.
  • Any or all the above.

It is important to understand that ASOS is a large global retailer that processes thousands of orders per day. As a result, some orders are bound to slip through the cracks and mess up. If there is an issue with your order, ASOS makes it easy to contact their in-house customer service.

Premium Delivery

Currently, I subscribe to the ASOS Premium Delivery service. Originally only $12 per year, now it is $19 per year. With this service, I get unlimited and free standard and express shipping. Yes, this service does include free next-day delivery.

While there is no minimum order value required to use this service, there are other restrictions to keep in mind.

  1. Free next-day delivery is not available for all addresses. If it is available for your address, the minimum order value is $50.
  2. Certain brands may have delivery restrictions.
  3. My subscription is locked into the ASOS USA store. This means I cannot use Premium Delivery in another country.
  4. The shipping issues outlined above are still possible.

If you want to use the ASOS Premium Delivery service, check your zip code. Doing so will let you know if you can benefit from ALL this service has to offer, including free next-day delivery. Also, contact customer support if you have any issues with shipping.

Returns

ASOS return policy is not what it used to be. In the past, ASOS would offer free returns for all its products purchased within 45 days. This return window is longer than many other clothing stores. If customers request to return something within 28 days, ASOS gives them a full refund. However, return requests made after 28 days until 45 days will receive a gift voucher for a future purchase. Either way, all shipments included a free return label.

By 2019, according to Vox, things began to change. ASOS no longer wanted to make it easy for customers to buy multiple items, assuming that some or most will be returned within 28 days. It is bad for business because too many returns mean:

  • Less profits
  • Increased labor costs
  • More markdowns and items out-of-stock
  • Bad for the environment

ASOS processing so many returns can cause stress on staff who must process them. It’s bad for the environment because returns require transport via large trucks. Also, since many returned items don’t get restocked, they end up in landfills.

Now, ASOS still allows free returns within 45 days of purchase. Everything I wrote earlier still applies except for free return labels. ASOS no longer includes free return labels in all order shipments. They now ask customers to cover the delivery costs to their warehouse.

Final Thoughts

My only advice for ASOS, out of concern, is to never lose sight of quality products and customer service. I say this because as ASOS continues to grow since my first purchase from them, the number of complaints I read or hear about is growing. A lot of the complaints range from poor quality products to shipping issues. Sometimes, I will also come across a complaint about a bad customer service experience with ASOS support staff.

For example, one of my best friends had a shipping issue where they never received their ASOS order at all. They should have received a full refund. However, ASOS customer service refused to give it to them.

Another thing ASOS could do differently has more small and medium sizes in stock. Obviously, they are ASOS’ most popular sizes. Therefore, they should ensure more customers have the opportunity to buy their most popular clothes in the size they desire.

Conclusion

Aside from the issues mentioned above, I still support ASOS and what they stand for. To me, they are still a reliable source of a wide variety of trendy and affordable clothes. Their emphasis on diversity, inclusion and social responsibility will always stand out to me.

A few times per year, I update my wish list on ASOS.com to save what I come across and would soon want. I have decided to share my wish list below this article for you to check out. The goal for my wish list below is to provide an alternative to searching through their massive inventory on their website. I only display ASOS products that are actually on my wish list. These are products I like, would like to own, and recommend you check out.

I hope you enjoyed this review and hope you can find some inspiration in ASOS as I did. Again, they have something for everybody. Leave a comment below or send me a message with any thoughts or questions you have.

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My ASOS Menswear Recommendations

Thank you for checking out my official wish list for online fashion retailer ASOS. This curated collection features all ASOS Men’s clothes I would like to own and recommend to you. Instead of spending hours searching through ASOS’s massive inventory on their website, consider searching through my recommendations on what to buy.

Disclaimer: This post does contain affiliate links. This just means I will earn a small commission if you choose to purchase any of ASOS men’s clothing featured below via the links provided. Do not worry, there is no additional cost to you. Please read my full Disclosure for more details.

Shirts

ASOS sells thousands of different shirts for men. Designs include basic, name brand, popular culture, and more. No matter what the vibe is, there is a shirt for any occasion. If you need a shirt for your next party, brunch, interview, or just to have, ASOS has your back. Their shirt collection includes short and long sleeve t-shirts and button-up shirts. Check out the ASOS men’s shirts I recommend below.

T-Shirts

ASOS’s large collection of t-shirts is what attracted me to them. As stated above, they have a t-shirt in every possible design for every possible occasion. Unfortunately, they sell thousands of t-shirts. As a result, this makes it hard for me to feel confident in my purchase decision. I feel like I’m missing out on other styles. My collection below features shirts I come across during my search that catches my eye.

Short-Sleeve Button-Up Shirts

I look forward to wearing short-sleeve button-up shirts in the late-Spring and Summer seasons. These shirts are great for the beach, brunch, or a semi-casual occasion. Specifically, I love a good vertical stripe button-up t-shirt more than a standard t-shirt. To me, they balance semi-formal and casual better.

Long-Sleeve Shirts

Normally, I do not pay too much attention to long-sleeve shirts. In most cases, I feel that t-shirts worn with a hoodie or jacket are enough. However, if a long-sleeve shirt catches my attention, I may consider buying it. The design of the shirt is what will determine if I want to buy it or not. My collection below features the long-sleeve shirts I am considering.

Long-Sleeve Button-Up Shirts

ASOS’s long-sleeve button-up shirts are another collection I like to browse through. They have hundreds of uniquely styled options for any occasion. Also, this collection includes great alternatives to their short-sleeve collection. For example, their long-sleeve vertical stripe shirts are just as good as the short-sleeve. Not to mention, they have so many options for work and casual shirts in various fits.

Outerwear

Unless you live near the equator, you are going to experience some level of cold weather. Lucky for you, ASOS has outerwear for all levels of cold weather. Also, their collection has outerwear for any occasion. Below are all of my suggestions for ASOS men’s outerwear.

Hoodies & Sweatshirts

One thing about me is I love both a good basic hoodie and a well-designed one. In fact, my love for streetwear fashion includes graphic sweatshirts. Check out my recommendations for the best-looking ASOS men’s hoodies and sweatshirts available to purchase now.

Cardigans & Sweaters

Cardigans and sweaters are a great addition to formal workwear. ASOS has plenty of good pieces in its collection. Check out my top picks below that are available to purchase now.

Jackets & Coats

Readers that live in parts of the world that get cold can benefit from this collection. ASOS is actually one of the first men’s clothing brands I shop at to sell a variety of jackets and coats at decent prices. Their collection includes various styles of jackets and coats, including bomber jackets, puffer jackets, denim jackets, overcoats, parkas, and more.

I’m from New Jersey and it does get cold here. As a result, I am always looking for some quality jackets for fall nights and a coat for the brutal winter. I’m actually long overdue for a new one. Check out my collection of ASOS men’s jackets and coats that caught my attention below.

Pants

This may sound funny, but when I check out a new clothing brand, if they sell them, the first place I go to is their pants collection. I do not know why I check out a store’s pants collection first to determine if they are worth continuing to check out. It may be because I lowkey always feel like I never have enough pants. Either way, I will look for if they sell my style of pants, judge how they look, and consider their prices. My go-to style pants are skinny and slim.

When I first discovered ASOS, the first collection I went to was the Jeans. Next are their Joggers and Sweatpants. Finally, is their dress pants and chinos collections. For the most part, I like what I saw and proceed to the shirts. Check out my wish list collections for all of ASOS men’s pants, in the order in which I viewed them for the very first time.

Jeans

The very first ASOS men’s collection I went to is their jeans. I liked what I saw, they had a lot of skinny jeans at the time. However, many jeans look like what I could easily get in a physical store. Also, now ASOS jeans collection includes more baggy jeans. Although, ASOS does have some good pairs of my style of jeans that I do like and did add to my wish list.

Joggers & Sweatpants

ASOS men’s joggers and sweatpants collection stands out to me. They do have a variety of looks from different brands. However, their ASOS DESIGN joggers and sweatpants are my absolute favorite. First, they are the most affordable in the collection. Second, they look just as good as the name-brand joggers and sweatpants in the same collection. One of my early ASOS purchases is two ASOS DESIGN skinny joggers and I still own them today.

Pants & Chinos

ASOS’s men’s chinos pants are still one of my go-to pants for many professional events. Despite them being borderline casual, you can still look formal in them. I did own a pair of dress pants from ASOS DESIGN before. It did last for a couple of years. Check out my wish list for ASOS men’s pants and chinos. I do intend on purchasing more soon.

Shorts

I do not know why, but I struggle with finding a good pair of shorts. Below are some shorts from ASOS that did catch my attention. I recommend them to you in case you like what you see.

Footwear

The most important part of a person’s look is what they are wearing on their feet. If your shoes are not on point, it throws off the entire outfit. Thankfully, ASOS has a good shoe collection. So far, I own two pairs of shoes and I am enjoying them. In fact, I still own my very first pair of shoes from ASOS, purchased in 2017.

Boots

My very first pair of boots from ASOS is the River Island Tall Suede Chelsea Boots in Black. I purchased these boots back in 2017. One year later, I purchase ASOS Chelsea Boots in Brown Suede. To this day, I still own both of these boots. ASOS sells high-quality boots that look good. Also, they come in a variety of styles, such as Chelsea, lace-up, and more. I hope you will like the boots I added to my wish list below.

Dress Shoes

Normally, I can find a decent pair of dress shoes at a physical store. However, I really like the ASOS loafer’s collection. A few pairs of them have made it on my wish list.

This post was originally published on: 08/15/2019
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