15 Great Pieces From Unlikely Brands

Image via NBK Fashion

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Abercrombie & Fitch

The branding train wreck that is Abercrombie & Fitch has been on the upswing since its series of crushing financial quarters. Basically, a series of stupid moves has caused the company to turn itself around, and the choice to adopt something like jogger sweatpants means that it's willing to step out of it's comfort zone. If you're looking to dip your feet in this trend instead of diving right in, this may be the place to pick up a pair.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Hollister

Hollister is the must-have surf brand for those who have never even held surf wax, much less a "surfbort." With its ever-present seagull logo, it's nice to see the mall staple put its usual branding procedure in the backseat and provide its disciples with a simple pocket tee. The best part is, you're probably not going to regret being seen wearing this shirt in public after you leave junior high either.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Old Navy

Old Navy isn't bad necessarily, if anything they're just boring. What isn't boring is this lightweight bomber, with a cut that looks like an edited down version of something 10 times its price. A synthetic navy exterior and chambray pocket detailing, including the bonus sleeve zip pocket, make this well worth the price.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Wrangler

Brett Farve is a sponsor for Wrangler, and while he's a great quarterback, his perspective on denim isn't the first that you'll be fiending for. Wrangler is very guilty of instigating the continued use of the cardinal sin of poorly fitting jeans, the bootcut leg. Surprisingly though, this slim leg (and shared name with OG country star George Strait) makes this a workwear jean that's worth your time.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Aeropostale

A sartorial champion of middle schoolers and basically no one else, Aeropostale is rare when it comes to fire gear. This activewear hoodie draws comparisons to more innovative athletic labels, and with flat seams, a lightweight stretch composition and several pockets, this is choice value for running gear you'll actually run in.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Affliction

Wow. It is really difficult to find an Affliction…anything…that doesn't have some gaudy, over-the-top design on it. A diamond in the rough, this printed tee has no branding on it, making it a clear winner in the brand's online shop. We can't, unfortunately, guarantee it will fit properly on those without brolic bicep muscles.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Express

Express is the embodiment of what middle America thinks of European fashion. It's loud, it's over designed, and doesn't fit right. This tailored button up proves to be more Gitman Vintage than Dolce & Gabanna, with a modest, but playful print that you could wear in front of your friends no matter where you are in the flyover states.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Skechers

The official shoe sponsor of mall walkers. While this is a blatant rip of the Nike Roshe Run, if you're really on the move, maybe these will be mistaken for its Nike-sourced inspiration—if passerby don't catch the giant “S” logo in the center of the shoe.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Tommy Bahama

Tommy Bahama is really only acceptable when you've reached that point in your golden years where you really don't give a sh*t what anyone around you thinks. However, with a decent floral print, and slightly less obnoxious buttons, this one can hop off the fishing boat and come ashore.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Vineyard Vines

Vineyard Vines is a prepster's dream wardrobe. Strangely, they've added this chore coat into the lineup, and with a durable canvas outer and contrast collar, this coat could actually get some work done around the boat that every Vineyard Vine stan dreams he could own someday.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Crocs

If you've ever worked a crappy part time job, you're likely to find yourself in a position where you'll need some durable shoes to work in. While Crocs are notorious for their “hole punched” toe, these actually resemble some black-on-black Converse lows (which are actually timelessly cool) and are more durable with a strong leather build. Who'd ever think that Crocs would make a workwear sneaker that doesn't go with scrubs? Cheer up young man, put a little time behind the counter in these bad boys, and you'll earn enough get some kicks that are actually worth your hard earned money.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Southern Tide

Students of the Southern Ivies are likely to be the biggest proponents of this brand's existence. Like many of its contemporaries, Southern Tide falls prey to the “Polo Embroidery” branding on the chests of its shirts. This shirt gets points for being a pretty solid plaid that you can wear layered up. If you're really self conscious about the fish on chest pocket, you can always tie it around your waist and keep it moving.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at True Religion

If Affliction is the go-to brand for gaudy tees, True Religion is the brand for back pocket embellishments. These skinny fit black jeans are all black everything, and the simplicity makes them a lot easier to pull off than most of the other fits on the brand's roster.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at TapouT

It seems like TapouT spent more time guzzling muscle milk and flexing in the gym than studying when it came to designing wearable apparel. This t-shirt, with the word “Team” across the front is really as good as it gets from the MMA-centric brand, as it's so ambiguous, it could pass for one of those shirts that says “College” across the front.

Where to Buy: Buy it now at Ugg Australia

Ugg boots are synonymous with whiny sorority girls and those too lazy to care in the wintertime. The men's options are a widely-known pass amongst those who respect their footwear choices. These Leighton boots however, coming in a variety of suede colorways, are on par with the classic crepe-sole Clarks Desert Boot. If you're looking for something a little different than the classics, this may be your suede chukka come autumn.