So I kept seeing hype about that Loewe 2023 menswear line everywhere, ya know? My feeds were flooded. Decided I needed to actually see what the fuss was about, check if anything was worth the crazy price tags.
Starting Point: The Rabbit Hole Dive
First thing, obviously, I hit up Loewe’s official site late one Tuesday night. Scrolled through their “New Arrivals” section like a man possessed. Took forever! The page loaded these giant, artsy photos slowly. Annoying, but kinda pretty. I immediately zeroed in on a few things everyone kept talking about:
- Those balloon denim jeans everyone called “puddle jeans”. Seriously weird.
- The super oversized shirt jackets – looked like wearing a tent, honestly.
- The sneakers with the weird, squished heel and chunky soles.
- And a leather shirt that looked surprisingly soft.
Spent like an hour just staring at the details, zooming in until it got pixelated. Saved the links for the stuff that made me pause.
Checking the Hype Against Reality
Okay, virtual browsing done. Time for reality check. Saturday rolled around, hit the flagship store downtown. The place was… intimidating. Super minimalist, felt like walking into an art gallery. I felt underdressed in my normal gear. Took a breath and just asked about the specific pieces I’d saved.
- Balloon Jeans : They felt heavy. Seriously heavy denim. Tried a pair on in the fitting room. Felt totally ridiculous. Could barely walk without stepping on the hem. Laughed at myself hard. Fun to try, absolutely zero percent wearable for me.
- Oversized Shirt Jacket: The fabric was amazing, really thick cotton, super well-made. But holy smokes, the size. Put it on and looked like a kid playing dress-up. Swamped me. Sales associate suggested sizing down, but even then… nope. Too much fabric.
- Squishy Heel Sneakers: Felt way lighter than I expected. The sole was comfortable! But the heel… that weird collapsed leather bit. Just looked odd on my foot. Stared at my feet in the mirror for ages. Couldn’t decide if it was cool or just awkward.
- Leather Shirt: This was the surprise. Touched it – buttery soft leather, way lighter than a jacket. Tried a black one on. Fit was actually sharp. Felt expensive (duh), and surprisingly wearable. This finally clicked.
Spent a good hour and a half in that store just touching fabrics and trying things. Sales guy was patient, gotta give him that.
The Real Test: Pulling the Trigger
Left the store buzzing but empty-handed. Needed to think, and maybe check my bank balance. That leather shirt stuck in my head though. Next day, kept thinking about it. Logged back onto the site. Looked at photos of people actually wearing the pieces on Insta – not just the posed models. Seeing the puddle jeans actually styled normally made them seem slightly less insane. Still not for me.
Drove myself crazy for three more days. Went back mid-week, quieter this time. Walked straight to the leather shirt. Tried it on again. Felt great. Looked at the price tag. Winced. Hard.
Here’s the thing: It wasn’t cheap. Not even close. But that feel, that cut… it got me. Took a deep breath, told the sales guy “Alright, I’ll take it.” Swiped the card, felt the sting, but also this weird thrill. Walked out with the bag, feeling fancy and slightly nauseous about the cost.
Living With It
Have I worn it? Yeah, a couple times. It’s a statement piece, gotta be honest. Feels amazing. Gets stares – maybe good, maybe confused? Who knows. The quality is undeniable though. That Loewe vibe is strong with this one. Rest of the collection? Some wild, unwearable-for-me stuff, but finding that one piece that clicks… makes the whole exploration worth it. Still look at those balloon jeans sometimes on the site and just shake my head.
