Get Ready to Get CLAD: An Online Shopping Experience Fit for a Man Launches at cladmen.com

FRISCO, Texas, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CLAD today unveiled its new online retail concept, www.cladmen.com, a modern menswear resource designed to address the challenges men face when shopping online. Driven by consumer insights derived from over a year of research on the underserved online menswear market, CLAD offers the best designer brands in menswear and advice and product recommendations from the editors of Esquire magazine, the authority on men's style. CLAD represents a new generation of editorial commerce: a first-of-its-kind collaboration between an editorial publication and an online retailer working together to create an online shopping experience from the ground up.

"The modern American man is style-conscious but not necessarily style-savvy. He understands the power of being well-dressed but doesn't always know how to harness that power for himself," said Will Swillie, president of CLAD. "CLAD understands why and how men shop—and, most importantly, that most would rather be doing something other than shopping. With our edited selection of premium brands and style advice from a trusted resource like Esquire, men can be confident they will find style that fits their lifestyle so they can do less shopping for clothes and more living in them."

The authority on men's style for almost 80 years, Esquire is the first magazine to take an active role in the creation and development of a retailing business. Four times a year, the magazine will run a 16-page promotional digest called "The CLAD Report," in print and on Esquire.com. The CLAD Report interprets Esquire's take on fashion trends utilizing the clothing and accessories available from CLAD, giving the site's inventory an editorial point of view. In addition, Esquire will lend its editorial voice and style expertise on cladmen.com.

"Over the last five years, Esquire has worked hard to expand the definition of what a magazine is and what our medium is capable of," said David Granger, editor-in-chief of Esquire. "Like all magazines, we recommend products that will improve our readers' lives and incite desire. It's long been time for the magazine industry to take the next step and begin to allow our readers to take action based on that desire."

The CLAD Experience:

Experiencing CLAD means, literally, "dressing for distinction," and encapsulates the site's commitment to offering style and advice to today's modern American man. Aimed at men ages 25 to 54, CLAD is a full-price retailer presenting a comprehensive selection of apparel, accessories, watches, and footwear. The site features a well-curated assortment of both established and up-and-coming menswear brands that cover a broad range of styles from tailored clothing to jeans and t-shirts. Top designer brands include John Varvatos®, Michael Kors®, Billy Reid®, Jack Spade®, Rag & Bone®, Vince. ®, 7 for All Mankind®, SPURR®, Victorinox®, Lacoste®, Levi's®, and Cole Haan®. Exclusive items created under the CLAD label are also a part of the assortment.

In addition, Esquire provides style tips and advice in the site's "Damn Good Advice" section and highlight "Esquire Picks" throughout the site. Esquire.com also links from its popular style blog directly to CLAD. Esquire has hired an editor of CLAD-related content, Seth Howard, who will work as a liaison between the magazine's editorial staff and the CLAD merchandising teams, led by Gray Madden, VP of merchandising and fashion direction.

CLAD has also introduced an innovative feature to the site that will help men coordinate their clothing.  The "Looks" tool pulls together apparel, accessories and footwear to create a complete wardrobe across a variety of brands.  Men are then able to purchase that entire look with the single click of a button.  "Looks" also dissects occasion-appropriate dressing and seasonal trends to help men construct a style statement that is truly their own.

Beyond the site itself, users can also interact with CLAD on their facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/Cladmen) and by following @Cladmen on Twitter, to get the latest style tips and updates on deals and promotions.

About CLAD

CLAD (www.cladmen.com), a modern menswear online resource, is a strategic partnership between J. C. Penney Company, Inc.'s Growth Brands Division and Hearst Magazines' Esquire. Launched in November 2011, CLAD offers coordinated looks from the best designers in menswear, and style advice from the editors at Esquire magazine, the authority on men's style for almost 80 years.

About Esquire

Esquire (www.esquire.com), published by Hearst Magazines, is the most-honored monthly magazine in America. Over the past 14 years, it has won a total of 15 National Magazine Awards. Its Web site and e-reader applications have been similarly honored—Esquire won the first-ever National Magazine Award for iPad applications. In addition to its U.S. flagship, Esquire publishes 22 editions around the world.

SOURCE CLAD; Esquire