Deal of the Week – Seiko SNQ085 USA Sport Perpetual Calendar Watch – $94.71

Under $100

If you need a bit of a watch fix, this is the weekend to get one thanks to Amazon’s huge Labor Day Watch Sale.  One of the best picks has to be this Seiko.  Most Pulsar (the step down Seiko Brand) watches cost more than this.  Plus all the details are right enough to melt the cold distaste I have for most stainless steel wristband watches.  They look good on some guys, but not so good on guys like me.  This one would look great on anyone.
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Most Popular Post – Ask a Woman: Meet Beth

Quite the popular post.

Gee whiz.  Wonder why?  Glad to have Beth aboard.  She’s down to earth, she’s not snarky like a lot of advice/perspective givers, and she’s ready to field whatever questions you might have about men’s style, what women like, what they don’t like, and why… well… you can fill in the why.  Email your questions to askawoman@dappered.com and she’ll pick one each week to tackle.
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Most Discussed Post – Steal the Style: Brooks Brothers Slim Suit Fall Look

Great Look. Get it for a third of the price.

The above look could be yours for $1800.  Or, with some more than acceptable replacements, you could get the same look (shoes still included) for around $600.  But where can you get a slim fit button down collar shirt for under $80?

The guys at Askmen.com’s Fashion Department have put together a pretty solid list of their six favorite shirts under $50.  They broke the list up into three categories: shirts for the office, casual shirts, and dress shirts.  I’m not too sure what the difference is between shirts for the office and dress shirts, but it looks like their definition of a “dress” shirt is a shirt you could go out for a nice dinner in.  But you could also still wear it untucked…  I think?  Click the link below for their list, then c’mon back for reaction.

Click for the Askmen.com List

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Like I said, a pretty solid list.  But there are a few things to disagree with.  Here’s what they got wrong, and acceptable replacements… in the humble opinion of this Affordable Men’s Style website writer.

A.M.: Express French Cuff – $49.50 | Dappered Suggests: K.Cole French Cuff – $46.99

Express shirts (left) are great. Just not for the office.

The Express 1MX is a great shirt.  But they can be a pain to keep ironed, the collars are always a bit too tight for a tie,and their sleeves are strangely short.  By about an inch.  And that’s a critical flaw when it comes to a french cuff shirt, because what’s the use if your sleeves are so short, that no one will ever see those cuff links?  Stick with the Kenneth Cole French Cuff that was suggested in the “What is Black Tie Invited” post.

A.M.: Gap Double Gingham – $49.50 | Dappered Suggests: Land’s End Gingham – $34.50

Plaid just isn't as versitle. Stick with Gingham.

First of all, that’s not gingham.  It’s plaid.  And second, almost $50 for a casual shirt from the Gap?  I don’t think these guys spend too much time shopping for deals.  Plaid is a little too loud to throw on under a casual blazer, so stick with actual gingham.  Land’s End Canvas has a fitted poplin shirt that comes in a bunch of colors and patterns.  A lighter blue gingham will let you wear this tucked or untucked, with chinos and a blazer, or with just jeans.

AM: Uniqlo Slim Tuxedo Shirt – $29.50 | Dappered Suggests: Express 1MX Gray – $49.50

The Express 1mx belongs here

This is where the Express 1MX does it’s best work.  AskMen claims the hard to come by Uniqlo Tux shirt could work with dark wash denim or something as formal as almost black tie.  If you want a deep gray that can go from jeans to dressed up, this is where you could use an Express 1mx.  Plus, no goofy pleats in the front of the shirt.

Other than those three, Askmen.com hit a lot of our favorites.  Including the Michael Kors power dress shirt, which they nailed on the size issues.  Get one of those taken in and you’ll be bulletproof.  For cheap.

Happy Labor Day weekend.  The unofficial end of summer is here (thank goodness) and when it comes to sales, this particular weekend is usually reserved for discounts on big ticket items like furniture.  Amazon has come to the rescue of those of us not looking for a new dining room set, and instead has marked down a pretty good sized selection of watches by 20%.  Just for this weekend.  Not a bad deal considering many of them dip under $200 or lower.  So screw that new storage ottoman you were contemplating and consider a new watch for fall.  No extra labor needed from you this weekend… we’ve already gone through the stack and picked out the best of the sale.

All watches for this sale are sold direct through Amazon, not some third party retailer.
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Bobby Jones Black Leather Special Edition – $105.30

Color and pattern without the loudness.

For your last round of golf for the season.  And since the tonal argyle pattern is subtle, feel more than free to wear it year round.  Nice lookin’ for just over $100.
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Seiko SNQA85 USA Sport 100 Perpetual Calendar – $94.71

Great looks and heritage brand. Ridiculous price.

Some of us unusually fairer skin types (okay, pale) just don’t look right with a stainless watch band.  It starts to look a little too much like jewelry.  But thanks to the dark dial and dark outer rim on the case, this Seiko should work on anyone.  The band links are a nice medium width and the triple date window is a great detail.  Plus, it’s under $100.  Take that Invicta.
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TX  T3B941 730 Series Classic Fly-back Chronograph – $320.00

Getting closer to affordable.

What normally costs you $450 if you buy direct through TX (cough, Timex) will only run you just over $300 this weekend.  Not a bad deal if you love the look of the Fly Back Chronograph.   For more on TX watches and their brand as a whole, click here.
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TX T3C396 500 Series World Time – $274.21

A bit different but in a good way.

Yes, it’s a second TX.  But this one is unique for a number of reasons.  First, it’s under $300.  Second, it can tell you the time in any of the 24 different time zones.  And third?  Look at that crown.  Nice.
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Nautica N21003G Eclipse Chronograph – $150.88

For the weekend or more casual office.

Sporty, with just enough color, and an easy to like price.  Plus, it’s a box set that comes with two extra wristbands (orange and silver) and a watch band spring bar tool.  You might never use those other two bands due to their brightness, but it’ll be nice to have a spring bar tool on hand.

Sale lasts through Monday September 6th.  Free Super Saver Shipping included.  20% off discount shows up at checkout.

Could it be?  Could the Macy’s house brand INC finally be ditching some of its outrageous, over the top with embellishments, way too young leaning, past?

Not if these ridiculous jeans are still carrying the brand name.

But between their affordable blazers, and a solid Linen Suit that appeared earlier this year, they’ve been on a pretty good run.  And now with the release of their fall line (see the Zoolander-esque vid at the bottom of this page) we all get to see what could end up being the top option for a sub $100 three season coat.

The new Theo Coat from INC has plenty of trench influence (double breasted, gunflaps, collar details) but no belt or cuff buckles.  Macy’s.com claims it’s cotton and hits around mid thigh.  Plus, it’s not an “Everyday Value” so promotions and coupons can be used on it. $89 quickly becomes $71 with one of the many 20% off coupons they send to the masses each month.

Those jeans are awful, but this coat could be a major step in the right direction.

Now prepare yourselves for some serious Blue Steel.

Maybe you and your significant other have called it an early night after a nice dinner out.  Or you’re starting your weekend off with an early morning cup of coffee and the paper.  In either case, probably not the best time for GWAR.

You want something contemporary, but still laid back so you can relax.  But you also don’t want to sacrifice every last point on your man card by throwing in a Norah Jones CD.  Especially if you’ve got a young woman at your place.  Might as well open a bottle of chardonnay and talk about the latest Twilight move at that point.

The good news is that you do have options in that genre that aren’t entirely stripped of testosterone.  The better news is you don’t have to look far for them.  Here’s three of the best.

Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid – $9.61

Dappered Drinks Correspondent (and a guy with much better taste in music than I) Ben Madeska originally suggested I pick this one up.  That was a few years back and it hasn’t seen a lot of time out of the CD player since.  The most up-tempo song on the disc, Grounds for Divorce, might sound familiar since it was used heavily to promote the George Clooney / Brad Pitt / Coen Brothers weirdfest that was Burn After Reading.  It’s a terrific song, but isn’t reflective of the tone for rest of the album.  The songs range from sweet sounding (Mirror Ball, Weather to Fly) to lightly tense (An Audience with the Pope, The Fix).  Best on a cooler evening with a book and the desire to make a dent in a bottle of port.
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Robert Plant & Alison Kraus, Raising Sand – $12.99

Proof that an incomparable woman can change a guy personally or professionally,   Brit Robert Plant takes on molasses smooth American bluegrass with a woman who appears half his age.  Really.  The same guy who once sang “Squeeze me baby, till the juice runs down my leg” with Led Zeppelin, gets taken gingerly through 12 tracks of mandolin, steel guitar, and banjo by Alison Krauss.  If her voice were a whiskey, you’d develop dependency issues.  And even though Plant sounds (and looks) like he’s been drinking something similar for the  last four decades, it’s a freak pairing that works out more than well.  Here’s to hoping they make another.
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Broken Bells, Broken Bells – $11.88

Like Raising Sand, Broken Bells is at first glance a whacked-out collaboration which then unquestionably delivers.  James Mercer from The Shins handles the stuff he’s good at, and Danger Mouse warps it all into something incredible.  Like a rear-wheel drive pickup on a deserted icy road, this thing floats.  But at a decent speed too.  There’s a lot of play in every song, and the dip and flow is engaging.  Trippy, but not depressing, you can put on this CD for just about any occasion.  We’ve even used it for when friends would come over for dinner.  It’s worth listening to a few times in a row once you first get it, and the music video for the first single “The High Road” gives you a good idea what the whole project is about:
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Macy’s has launched an interactive feature called “A Gentleman’s guide to style” with the first chapter being all about suits.  It’s a short quiz that attempts to help you find the right fit for your body type and personal style.  Of course they want you to buy one of their suggestions at the end (they are a business after all) but it’s worth taking a spin through even if you already know what brand and style of suit fits you best.

Let’s give this thing a run and see what suits it spits out for me (5’10″ / 165lbs).  I’m hoping the Macy’s style robots running this thing show me the suit the guy in the intro is wearing (see below).  Don’t think I’ve ever seen that one before, and it looks like something I’d like to add to my collection.  My answers are underlined.

Question 1:  What’s your Build?

• Regular
• Athletic
• Slim
• Big & Tall

I’m no body builder by any means, but getting out and running with the dog and hitting the gym is one of my favorite things to do.   Athletic it is.

Question 2:  What’s your Style?

• Classic
• Modern

I really don’t know what to put here.  My suits are all two-button with modern cuts and close tailoring, but I prefer classic colors and patterns.  I guess I’ll go with modern.

Question 3:  What’s it For?

• Work
• Social Event
• Formal Event

Again.  Not sure.  I think a work suit should also fit right in for a dressed up social event.  No?  We’ll pick “work” and see what happens.

The Results:

I actually got ten results but these are the top four.  Not bad, being that I’ve sung the praises of the Alfani RED line for awhile now on this very site.  Also impressive?  The first suggestion given for my style seems to be the same suit the intro guy is wearing.  I think.  Is he wearing the same Alfani RED Grey Sharkskin?  Looks like it to me.  Not a bad option for $275 if it is.  Thanks Macy’s.

Click here to take the quiz.  Click here for a closer look at the Alfani RED Medium Gray suit.  And post-quiz let us know what suit the Macy’s Suit Quiz suggests for you, and if you think it was a decent match for your style.

By Dappered Drinks Correspondent Ben Madeska

Please. Someone get this puss a Guiness.

Summer’s winding down, but we still got some hot days ahead of us.  Here are some dark beers to finish up the summer and transition into fall.

I don’t like summer beers.  I don’t like the taste of hops.  I’ve tried, but it’s with increasing dread that I anticipate each summer when restaurants and breweries start trotting out their over-hopped monsters and watered-down lights.

I understand that there’s some historic sense to drinking hoppy beer in the summer.  Hops act as a preservative, so back when the British Empire had to get barrels of beer to their far-flung colonies it made sense to hop the hell out of them so the beer would survive the sail (hence the ‘India’ in the India Pale Ale).

But in these days of refrigerated freight there’s no reason not to enjoy dark beer year round.

First off, let’s deal with the myth that dark equals heavy.  Yes some stouts are made to help you survive Siberian winters, but many people I know who should know better still refer to beers like Guinness as meals in a glass.  Guinness Draught has less alcohol than other standard summer beers like Corona and even Miller and Bud Light, and significantly less than most Pale Ales and IPAs.  In my experience a cold pint of Guinness is one of the most refreshing drinks available on a hot day.

Dark beers go great with summer food too.  Beyond anything off the grill, from hamburgers to tuna, the lighter stouts and porters are natural match for shellfish.  I highly recommend trying them with raw oysters.  I once had a waiter try to talk me out of this, claiming the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Great Lakes I ordered would overwhelm the delicate taste of the oysters.  This porter is so tasty and easy to drink, I think it’d go with just about everything, and it only improved the oysters.  Don’t be intimidated by cowardly waiters.  They are not to be trusted.

A favorite and readily available dark summer beer is Negra Modelo, a Munich style Dunkel Lager.  This comes out of Mexico and is usually the best beer choice at Mexican restaurants.  The taste is touch sweet with flavors of caramel and molasses and, like most darker beers, pairs great with mole poblano sauce.  For a step up in quality in this style of beer try Warsteiner’s Premium Dunkel.

Smoked beers, like Stone’s Smoked Porter, can be acquired tastes.  Some taste like nothing so much as a kielbasa smoldering in a campfire.  Just a touch of smoke in a porter like this one from Stone, however, makes it a perfect compliment to BBQ.

It's not too late to enjoy one of these outdoors.

With work boot/blue collar/lumberjack style making a full blown renaissance, it’s not too surprising that Ralph Lauren is offering a $500 made in Italy luxury boot that will be worn by men who wouldn’t know what to do with an axe in their hands.  But the fact that a high end designer has made an almost virtual copy of a widely available and much cheaper alternative is something of note.

Would Ferrari make a knock off of the new Ford Fiesta?  Probably not.  But hey, Porsche does make an SUV.

The cheaper alternative is made by Palladium.  And they’re the company that invented this style of leather, canvas, and rubber sole desert boot.  Originally made for the French Foreign Legion, the rubber bottoms were durable enough for a lot of marching, and the canvas sides let the wearer’s feet breathe.

The pair you see at the top of the page is the all leather version and available for $85.00.  Want something that’ll breathe better?  Go with the Pampa Hi Canvas for $55.00.  Or if you want the direct canvas/leather combination that has inspired the R.L. Ransley, the new Pampa Hi II is also now available for $75.00:

You might think those shoes look great, but she thinks they’re bland.  You might be convinced the earrings you bought her will knock her socks off, but she ends up quietly wishing you would have given her… socks.  When does chivalry become annoying?  Are red roses old and tired?  Does she hate your facial hair?  There’s an endless number of questions that demand a woman’s perspective, and now you can get one through us.

Her name is Beth and she’s, you guessed it, a woman.  She’s also honest, genuine, and ready to represent the fairer sex.  If you’ve got a question that needs the female treatment, chances are you’re not the only one who wants to ask it.  We’ll post some questions and her responses each Thursday. And don’t worry, your identity will be protected too.  Get in touch with Beth by sending her an email at:  askawoman@dappered.com

Now let’s get to know her.

Any hesitation with being barraged by emails from random guys?
None at all–I think it’s great when men invest time and interest into what they wear.  I wish more men did.

Say you’re sitting at a nice bar enjoying a drink.  Is it a cocktail, glass of wine, or beer?
It’s probably an Absolut gimlet.

Say you’re enjoying your gimlet, & a decent looking guy walks up and offers to buy you a drink.  Too cliche?
That’s a classic move; I don’t think it will ever go out of style.  It’s certainly better than staring at a woman for two hours and never making a move.

Your favorite article of dressed-up clothing is…
A great pair of red heels.

Your favorite article of dressed-down clothing is…
For serious dressing-down (like a night on the couch) I like enormous sweatpants paired with an enormous sweatshirt.  Doesn’t that paint a pretty picture?

What do you think as a woman, when you see a man who has put some care into how he presents himself?
Caring about what you put on your body is a form of self-respect.  People have been interested in style, and have used style to communicate things about their lifestyles, personalities, and backgrounds, for centuries, probably longer.  It’s a way to tell the world (and yourself) that you care about who you are.  I see confidence and self-respect when I see a well-groomed, well-dressed man.  (By the way, this doesn’t necessarily mean a man in a suit–you can be well-dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater.)

What do you think as a woman, when you see a man who has put too much care into how he presents himself?
All things in moderation, right?  We’ve all seen a woman or man walk into a room, looking fantastic for a split-second…and then s/he begins to fidget.  She flips her hair every five seconds; he smooths away every wrinkle on his shirt every time he moves; she’s applied way too much spray tan and looks orange; he is more interested in catching his reflection in the window than in making eye contact with you.  When style or grooming becomes a distraction instead of something beautiful or flattering or compelling, it’s gone too far.  It says narcissism and shallowness.

Diamonds, pearls, or something else?
Pearls.  Diamond shapes, colors, and cuts fluctuate with trends, but pearls are always classic.

What percentage of men can actually pull off a gold watch without looking extremely cheesy?
Yellow gold?  You have to be very old or very tan to pull off such a big piece of yellow gold jewelry.  If you insist on wearing a yellow gold watch (and you are neither an octogenarian nor of Spanish descent), it should be a muted gold color, more champagne than daffodil.

Do women really look at a man’s shoes?
YES.  I once heard a woman say she was looking for two things in a man–good teeth, and great shoes.

What’s your pick for the worst male fashion or grooming trend from the last 20 years?
I can only pick one?  I guess I would have to pick something from the vast array of hair crimes that have been perpetrated on the public’s delicate eyes: the rat tail, the mullet (btw, there is no such thing as a fashion mullet, fellas, so don’t be sporting one in 2010), the Kurt Cobain greaser, the Christian Siriano (you have to be a gay fashion designer or a parrot in order to pull off that spiky crest of nonsense on the top of your head).

What’s an article of clothing that every man should have in his closet?
A pair of flattering, well-fitting, in-style jeans.

Seems like guys have it easier when it comes to dressing well.  What’s the toughest part about being a woman and getting dressed?
Most articles of clothing that flatter or are fashion-forward are also uncomfortable or not practical for a typical day.  I wear a lot of outfits with a belt cinched around my middle to define my waist.  Looks awesome, feels…not-so-awesome when you’re sitting for several hours at a time and you have a band of leather digging into your side.

Don’t be modest now.  When men pay you a compliment, they’re most likely to compliment your…
I’m 5’8″ so men most often comment on my height.  I also have dark, thick eyebrows (think Jennifer Connelly, not Groucho Marx) which garner a lot of compliments.  And my striking wit, of course.  ;)

You sure you still want to do this?
Bring it on.

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You heard her.  Send an email to: askawoman@dappered.com

Woe. Woe is me. I am full of woe.

First of all, does anyone else want to knock these Topman models upside the head?  For God sakes, don’t look so despondent.  Who knows when that annoying melancholy Debbie Downer face became acceptable for retail models.  But sh*t.  Keep it to the runway.  These wispy kitten farts are the saddest excuse of male homo sapiens the world has ever seen.

And second, shouldn’t the coat be made of more than 5% wool to be classified as “Wool Mix?”

All criticisms aside, it’s a great looking coat.  The key with patterned outwear is to keep the coat dark, and the pattern simple.  This does both.  The buttons look like those leather one’s your Dad had on his old corduroy jacket.  Y’know, the one with the elbow patches.  Free shipping since the coat costs more $150.

Now somebody tell that kid to cheer up.