Orange gets no respect.  No one drives an Orange car (there are exceptions.)  Red heads get picked on.  And the Burnt Sienna Crayon always went unused in the box of Crayolas.

The key is moderation.  If you’ll be covering a good chunk of your body in this color, stay away from true, Syracuse-style-orange, and stick with colors that are more copper or rust.  If you want something as bright as a bag of carrots, limit its use by way of accessories, clothes you’ll layer over, or sub colors in patterns.  Still not a believer?  Examples follow.  Just don’t wear these all at once or you’ll sprain an optic nerve.

The Sweater:  Banana Republic Merino V-Neck – $44.62 w/ BRBOOST ($59.50)

Want white? Skip the tee and stick with a button up.

One of the best V-necks out there.  BR is perpetually on sale, but their Merino V-necks are honestly worth full price (just don’t tell them.)  Wait for a code of course.  25% off is good.  30% off is usually worth jumping on.  The collars on these don’t dip super deep like their silk/cotton/cashmeres.  Slightly fitted.  Could be tighter, but if you’ve got a little around the middle, then you’ll be happy.  Perfect under a black moleskin, blue wool or cotton, or grey tweed blazer.  25% off code BRBOOST expires 1/31.

The Tie: Thomas Pink Made in Italy Silk Knit Tie – $59.00 ($105)

Not too collegiate looking.

Still a splurge ($59 for a tie is pricey for most of us) but made in Italy and the silk knit is something that can work year round.  Notice that even though it’s a minor piece, like a tie, the dominant color isn’t orange.  Wear it with a medium to lighter grey suit.  Extra points if it’s flannel.

The Pants:  L.L. Bean Signature Bean’s Canvas Cloth Pant – $69.00

A real unique color.

Expensive, but the perfect blend of not too baggy and not too slim.  Leaning more towards roomy, but if you’ve got bigger legs, then you’ll appreciate the extra room in the thighs.  Straight legs.  Great darker orange color.  Ships free and plenty sturdy.  Hang out for a 15% off (or even 20% off) code and you could end up real happy.  (Want a much trimmer fit?  Go with Rugby’s Vintage University Chino.  The color is more of a true orange, but they cost just under $40.)

The Dopp Kit:  Marc New York Canvas Dopp Kit – $19.97 ($59.50)

It'll stand out in your dimly lit bag.

Hard to get more subtle than a bag that’s inside of a bigger bag most of the time.  Tough to find in this color, but the Marc New York Canvas Dopp Kit is a combination of waxed canvas and leather trim.  That’ll do.

The Socks:  Gap Thick Stripe Socks – $7.50

Keep the rest of the outfit toned down.

They’re like Target’s Merona socks.  Only a few bucks more expensive.  Don’t pay full price.  Wait for a sale.  And even then, maybe wait until you need something to tip you over the $50 free shipping threshold for another item.

The Watch:  Seiko Orange Monster – $170 – $200

Underwater visibility = priority

A favorite of the dive watch / affordable automatic crowd.  Beastly in it’s proportions without getting too big across the dial.  Rubber band, nice thick bezel, and the orange dial sets it all off.  Image credit: Daystar.

The Shoes:  Hawkings McGill Wingtip Boots – $54.99 ($88)

Cognac leaning orange. Still plenty of brown tones.

Deceptively good looking for the price.  Hell, GQ even featured them in a slideshow (not sure if the photog/editors knew how cheap they are before they snapped the shots.)  They’ve held up extremely well for me with one exception.  The toes scratch up easily, but a bit of colored shoe creme will hide that damage.  A steal for the price.  Jeans.  Awfully good with jeans.  Ships free since U.O. gets it to you at $50.  Full review here.

The Bag: ASOS Canvas Barrel Bag – $31.33 ($62.67)

Hard to miss. Not the best for carrying large amounts of unmarked bills.

Cheap.  Real cheap.  And at 23×16.5×13.4 it’s got some good size to it too.  Big enough for the gym and then some.

Do you stay far away from orange?  Should anything be added to the list?  Leave it below…

Head to the airport with an all nylon duffel and you’ll look like you’re on the way to a weightlifting tournament.  All leather weekend bags can get real expensive real quick.  Working both leather and nylon or canvas into one bag can be ideal, and while close to $300, Blue Claw’s made in the USA Worton Weekender is a rare find that balances durability and distractingly good looks.

Contrast.  Gotta love that contrast.  Made from non-rip ballistic nylon and imported leather, the lighter tan option combines 21st century materials with a golden age of travel color scheme.  The leather is surprisingly thick.  It’s the real stuff.  No barely-leather melted down pieces on this thing.  The substantial quality of the leather adds a noticeable but not cumbersome weight.  The strips down the side panels make it look like anything but some old gym bag.  Light leather on a dark background might not work for everyone, so they offer a darker leather option too.

Carry-on approved, Blue Claw Co. claims it “fits in a regional jet’s overhead bin.“  That may be true, but stuffing this thing to the gills might make that fit close to impossible.  It’s not a small bag, and there’s plenty of room for more than a day or two away.

Just one criticism and it’s minor.  The thick leather on the top of the bag doesn’t seem to allow the opening to spread all that wide.  So while it looks and feels awesome, at first it’s a bit awkward getting things in and out while avoiding the teeth of the zipper.

If almost $300 is too steep of a price, or maybe you just don’t need all of that 21.5″x11″x11″ space, they do offer a slightly smaller, rounder style duffel for more than $100 less.  Another option is their overnight bag, which offers about half the space of the Worton and comes in at $198.  A dopp kit, shoe bag, and garment bag are also in the Blue Claw Co. Arsenal.

Made in the USA, tough as nails, and great looking.  Nobody loses here.  Except maybe the poor guy behind you getting off the plane who’s stuck lugging a torn up old duffel with a puma on the side.

Win it: To enter for the Blue Claw Co. light leather Worton Weekender, send your first and last name in an email to contests@dappered.com with the subject: Worton.  One entry per person.  Deadline is 11:59pm E.T. on 1/31/12

UPDATE:  Congrats to Chris C. who won the drawing for the Worton Weekender.  Thanks again to Blue Claw Co.

The Dark Leather Worton Weekender as carried by someone much better looking than most.  For the full pic as well as more pics of her (and the Worton in action) head to the Blue Claw Co. Facebook page.

Made in the USA from Bison leather.  Guaranteed for life.  Dimensions are 12x22x11 which means it has just under 3000 cubic inches of space inside.  Plenty for a weekend trip.  Also comes with a shoulder strap.  Pinky toe would be surrended by way of simple surgery, complete with anesthetic.  The choice of which toe is surrendered is up to you.  NOTE: Duluth Pack is not offering to, nor would they ever exchange their terrific goods for body parts.
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…….

 Well?  Would you?

Someone might label you a carpetbagger, but then again you’d have to have had carpet made of Lumberjacks.  (The finest of all carpets in the world no doubt.)

It’s a traditional doctor style, with a reinforced bottom and those over the top buckles.  Even though it’s a “plaid flannel” exterior, it doesn’t seem to be natural.  Polyester and with faux leather polyurethane trim.  But that’s why it’s under $80 (and ships free.)

At 20″ wide it has almost 2,000 cubic inches of space, so it’s not miniscule.  But would you carry it?  Or is it a little too Al Borland meets Grandma Ma’s over-sized purse?

Leave your vote in the comments section below…

Meanwhile, if you want the plaid in a more traditional duffel style, Ralph Lauren’s “Denim & Supply” line has one on sale for just under $100.  About the same space inside, wool/poly/acrylic blend.

We’re heading into a major travel season.  You’ll need something to put your clothes in, and all the better if it’s something that’s as inexpensive as this.

Not too gymish to take on a vacation, and not too vacationy to take to the gym.  Over 2,000 cubic inches of storage space, so it’s big enough to be a true weekender, and stacks up well against a standard sized duffel from Hilfiger.

The straps are a soft but fake leather-like material, and while the exterior isn’t Kevlar strong, it’s not paper thin either.  Plenty sturdy enough to hold clothes, shoes, and maybe a bottle of wine or something else heavy.  The interior is a red candy stripe, but getting to it shows the one drawback:  The zipper is kind of flimsy.

Available in grey over at Maxton Men for $55 with free shipping (everything ships free there, and more on Maxton Men soon.)  Same price at Need Supply Co. but you’ll get nailed with $6.95 shipping.

Want to support a company that makes their gear here in the U.S.?  For a few bucks more, see the Primer Magazine approved Possibilities Bag from Beckel Canvas.  A little smaller but made in Portland.

Code expires 11/7/11.  Free Shipping at $125 with a nice flat rate of $5 for purchases under that.

Rugby is one of the few brands that starts off way too expensive, but eventually they’ll dip to a level that’s somewhere between a good and a great deal.  It’s just a matter of waiting, then blowing past the stuff that has the Rugby logo plastered all over it.  All of these picks have minimal logos (if any) and all are already on sale.  The extra 20% off code INSIDERSONLY makes them worth a look:
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Engraved Tie Bar – $23.70 ($39.50)

Nice lines.

Might be one of the best looking tie bars out there.  Started out just shy of $40, went on sale, and with the extra 20% off it drops under $30 shipped.  There is a “R” logo on the back, but nobody should see that.  Nickel and 2″ long.

Shetland Elbow Patch Cardigan – $61.44 (128.00)

Pockets have reverse pleats.

Suede patches at the elbows, leather buttons, and half off?  It’d be tough to find something like this, in wool, at a similar price point.  Three colors to pick from, all of which are traditional fall/winter earth tones.

Vintage Slim Cords – $38.16 ($79.50)

Available sizes will depend on the color.

Another half off potential steal.  Don’t know about Rugby’s fit on their slim cords.  (Fellas?)  Button fly and “standard rise” waist.  They do look pretty trim, but hopefully not skinny.

Herringbone Newbury Jacket – $190.40 ($398)

Yes, but can you FEEL the pattern.

The greater the contrast between the colors made to use the herringbone, the bolder the jacket is going to be.  And this one is pretty bold.  Three button front with flap pockets at the bottom and a patch pocket up top.  Cut in a “classic” silhouette, so tailoring will most likely be necessary on arrival.  All wool exterior.

Striped Pocket Oxford – $31.99 ($59.50)

Hey look. A shirt.

Just a blue and white striped button down collar oxford.  All sizes available, decently cheap, and still under $40 even after the $5 flat rate shipping is applied.

Oxbridge Piped Fleece Blazer – $77.99 ($178)

Thurston Jr. apparently likes his ties quite short.

Holy Crap.  Who’s headed to the Henley Royal Regatta this year?  Requires a certain type with a certain level of unflappable confidence to pull off.  Embrace the sh*t your pals will give you.  Because it will be given.  Wear it out of total prep context with some jeans and a not too starched shirt.  A challenge, but a cheap one.

Canvas Messenger Bag – $100.80 ($168)

Centered top handle is always a plus.

14″ long so it won’t fit every lap top, but the olive canvas and leather look better than good together.  Remove that shoulder strap and it’ll look professional enough for a laid back work environment.

Winter Hunting Cap – $35.70 ($59.50)

Would never look right with the piped blazer.

No logo on this one.  Maybe.  No logo that’s visible at least (again, from what we can tell.)  Lower back may or may not do a good job of keeping your ears, or the tops of them at least, from freezing off.  Nice work with the green in the plaid.

Lambswool fingerless gloves – $23.70 ($39.50)

Yes, but my palms are toasty.

Fingerless gloves don’t work for everyone (since, y’know, some are bothered by cold finger tips) but if you live in a world where touch screens are inescapable, and those smart finger tip gloves aren’t your cup of tea, these would make a good looking punch of color at your wrists.

Leather Bowling Weekend Bag – $238.80 ($398)

Vintage and high end looking.

Over $200 but leather and has that killer painted stripe down the side.  Nice work with the flap over snap placket up top as well.  Ships free.

Surcingle Striped Cotton/Leather Belt in red or green – $35.70 ($59.50)

And now in affordable territory

Tempting but too expensive when they first came out.  Now even more tempting in that $25 – $45 belt wheelhouse.  Leather up front and striped canvas around the back.  Like a summer belt that’s made for fall… or something.

The Splurge:  Striped Cashmere Scarf – $88.80 ($148)

Black and cream on cashmere.

All right all you cashmere fans.  Again, plenty of us don’t understand the fascination.  But the simple pattern on this scarf is nothing short of terrific.  Still pricey with the discount.

The extra 20% off code INSIDERSONLY (which how inside can it really be if it’s on their website?) expires 11/7

Code expires Thursday October 27th.  Watch yourself on those “final sale” items which can’t be returned.

Indeed we just did this.  It was only a few weeks ago that J. Crew ran one of these extra 30% off Sale / Factory codes, and it was then that it seemed as if this would become a once a month thing.  And now they’ve gone and done it twice this month.  ‘kay.  Part trick and part treat maybe.

The good news is that we all get an extra 30% off if we’re in the market for something like the items below.  The bad news is that the next time you want something from J. Crew’s lower FACTORY line, you’re probably best waiting for one of these sales.  Lots of new stuff from Factory, and all items from Factory ship free…
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Factory Blackwatch Tie - $20.65 ($39.50)

A holiday appropriate tie that doesn't sing. Hallelujah.

Already on sale and with the free shipping it drops to the price of a tie from thetiebar (including shipping from them.)  A not emaciated 2.75″ at its widest point.  Wool poly blend in a particularly fall and winter ready pattern.

Factory Lambswool Suede Palm Gloves – $18.55 ($26.50)

Still not vegan friendly.

Maybe your budget isn’t allowing leather gloves this year, or you maybe want a backup pair for when leather gloves look out of place.  Under $20 shipped for black lambswool gloves with a contrasting brown suede palm will more than satiate that want.  Also available in grey.  UPDATE:  These actually aren’t on sale on the Factory site (while the rest of the site pretty much is) so they aren’t available for the 30% off.  They do ship free though.  Credit Adam (and Adam) in the comments for noticing.

Factory Bags:  Laptop – $45.15 ($69.50) | Weekender – $61.60 (98.00)

Really, really cheap.

At this price you’ve got to wonder if one day you’ll be walking through an airport, all of the seams will give way at once, and your belongings will go rocketing out onto the concourse forcing you to leave your bags unattended (TSA will have your rear for that) so you can pick up your gear that landed half way into some overpriced generic t-shirt shop.  Or maybe they’re built just fine, and with decent care they’ll last plenty long.  Looks great for the price.

Factory Sweaters:  Merino Striped V – $34.65 ($49.50) | Lambswool – $31.15 ($49.50)

Ba by texture: Left - "baa" and Right - "BAAAAAAAA"

The FACTORY solid merino might be one of the best, most affordable sweaters of the year (they’re plenty smooth and fit decently through the sides with a close to perfect V depth) but the fact that you can get a striped version, or, a warmer more casual Lambswool crewneck for around the same price is certainly worth a mention.  Over generalized sweater fabric breakdown utilizing NES Ice Hockey player types can be found here.

J. Crew Selvedge Twill Sportcoat:  Black – $139.99 | Navy – $104.99* ($278)

A 3-button fall INC ultra light upgrade?

This could have made an interesting “would you wear it” item.  Has an interesting look to it.  Ludlow fit, but the lapels on the black in the photos look even skinnier.  *NOTE:  This one is weird because the Navy is a FINAL sale (no returns), while the black appears not to be.  Limited Sizes available in the Navy.

J. Crew Sherpa Lined Fleece Jacket – $61.60 ($98.00)

"Bottle or draft?" "Got a can?"

Has a bit of a Carhartt look to it.  Now available closer to a Carhartt price with the code.  Proof that clothes which would look most appropriate raking leaves don’t have to look terrible.

J. Crew Point Collar Gorham Check Dress Shirt – $41.65 ($79.50)

Gorham? I barely know him.

Down to a reasonable price and available in neck and sleeve measurements.  Speaking of, a good size selection is available but count on them to move pretty quick.  Maybe.

J. Crew Suede Bucks in Grey - $90.99 ($165)

Depending on color, Bucks can work outside of summer.

These are a final sale item.  Barring any particularly nasty weather, you can pull off bucks during this time of year as long as they aren’t gleaming white.  “Rockface grey” which is the color these claim to be, should do just fine.

Also worth a note:  The Factory Thompson Suit (still says ship date is January?) and Factory tweed sportcoats are also, as always, on sale.  The 30% off J. Crew Sale and FACTORY items code OURTREAT expires Thursday 10/27.

Set the tone before you even leave your place.  Get your stuff in something better looking than a gym bag.  Any of these should do.  One should be fine for the light packers, two should do it for trips that take more than two nights.
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Frost River Flight Bag – $120 – $140

All aboard.

If you prefer the look of rugged over urban polish, then this is probably the best deal in weekend luggage.  Made in the USA, incredible waxed canvas exterior, and leather accents that are incredibly soft for the price point.  Comes in either plenty big (small) or “I might not come back” (large).  Full review here.

Ted Baker Bowling Bag – $74.90 ($150)

Does come with a shoulder strap.

Faux leather all the way but has just enough character and a low enough price.  Nice TB retro logos on the hardware.  Nothing fancy here, just a simple, extended bowling bag shape.

Ernest Alexander Duffel – $180 w/ code DAPPER ($225)

Bright red also available.

Available through Bonobos so you know the shipping (free and fast) and return policies.  If only all barrel style duffels looked this good.  Could be less if you bought one of those half price deals Bonobos ran recently.

Bellino Voyager Duffel – $92.99 ($116)

Available in brown or black

The costs stay low thanks to the brushed twill exterior that sort of resembles suede.  Leather accents on there too.  Contrast stitching and a real good reputation over at eBags.  Get it through buy.com and you get the lower price.

Lands’ End Canvas 1963 Trip Bag – $140.00

Tough with plenty of room.

Could be more like $110 if you were able to snag one of those LEC Living Social deals.  Big.  Not enormous, but at 18x12x15 it’s big enough to get you through an extra long weekend.  Waxed canvas feels great in your hands, leather accents, and it appears to be built for the long haul.  Rugged side grab handle pays homage to true duffels.

Fossil Jackson – $165.99 ($198)

Overstock has these two colors on sale.

Finding an all leather duffel under $200 is not the easiest thing in the world, and Fossil’s Jackson weekend bag is one of the few worth considering.  The leather quality won’t blow your mind, but many guys swear by it and it does stand out from the crowd.

L.L. Bean Signature Medium Zipper Duffel – $150.00

The mid sized option.

Also comes in a small and much larger size.  Waxed canvas exterior, leather bottom and handles, and plenty of room on the interior.  Unless you’re gunning for the navy or black color, or you’ve got some kind of L.L. Bean credit card that gets you points or something, you might want to get the Frost River instead.

Ossington Houston Duffel – $159.99 ($239)

Nice Stripes

If memory serves, these have been floating around on JackThreads for awhile.  Jackthreads might have it for around this $160 price or it might be a little less (can’t recall).  Some waxed canvas, some leather, and nice stripes.

Ben Sherman Small Duffel – $25.00 ($79.00)

All black is $25. With brown is shown here.

This one is a little on the smaller side (1200 cubic inches) so it’s probably best to be used as a second bag and not your primary.  But if you pack light?  Can’t beat the price.  Looks and feels just fine for $25.

Banana Republic Weekender – $198.00 (but can be had for $138 at 30% off)

A solid win for B.R.

Unlike their shoes, the BR weekender has had nothing but glowing reviews online, and if you’ve seen and held one in-store you know it’s not half bad.  Large too.  22x15x10.  Available in black as well.  Always on sale.

Seil Marschall Tote – $175.00

As good as a tote can get.

The “in good company” stuff on J. Crew can be over-priced and/or an eye roller.  This might be one of those.  Unlike most tote bags, this one comes with a zippered top.  Tough as hell looking sides and handles.  Made in Germany by a heritage brand.  Expensive, and small at around 1400 cubic inches.

The monster splurge:  Saddelback Duffel – $537.00

That'll do.

Damn.  I mean… damn.

And you?  What’s your preferred luggage for a quick trip out of town?  Your personal pick goes in the comments.

“I would like to have seen Montana” – Capt. Vasili Borodin

There’s something about a well designed duffle with those flap over buckles that screams luxury Western train travel.  Not that there’s much luxury train travel going on anymore, but you get the idea.

*Rue La La currently has the Cole Haan in Brown and Black.  C. H. is owned by Nike so there’s no telling where it’s made.  And despite the good looks, the leather, and the more than half off price, it’s still up there as far as cost is concerned.  (For more on Rue La La, head here.)

The Duluth Pack option gives you that same 19th century luxury feel at a relative bargain price.  It’s made in the U.S. (Duluth MN), guaranteed for life, and comes in eight different color options.  It might look a little less polished in shape and form, but a lot of us will like that.  It’s canvas but comes with a leather bottom.  And if you’re really looking for an all leather duffel?  They’ve got one of those too, in a larger size, for about the same price as the Cole Haan.

Both the C.H. and Duluth Pack are perfect for weekend trips, with about 2,000 – 2,500 cubic inches of space (with the Duluth Pack beating out the C.H. by about 300 cubic inches.)  If you plan on being gone for more than a few days, Duluth pack makes a much larger version for only $25 more.

So which one would you rather stuff your gear into?  The all leather dressed up Cole Haan?  Or the American made, guaranteed for life, canvas and leather stunner from the shores of Lake Superior?  I have a feeling this won’t be close, but still… leave your pick and why in the comments below.

The Medium Sportsman’s Duffel in Navy, “Great Lakes”, and Khaki

“HERETIC!”… That’s probably what all the Saddleback addicts are screaming right now.  And with good reason.  Saddleback is impressive.  A 100 year warranty, style straight out of Tombstone, and a long list of happy customers.

But it’s good to re-examine every once in awhile.  Here’s what the Jack Spade has going for it:

• Exterior is a more city ready “tropical weight cotton suiting” fabric
• That grey plaid.  Damn.
• The top handles are perfect
• Corners don’t look slouchy
• Great hardware
• Much lighter & slimmer than the Saddleback
• Built with cushioned laptop sleeves inside
• Could save $90 on it through Bonobos if you pick up an $80 credit for $40 through Gilt City, then be a 1st time customer by clicking here and getting a $50 off coupon code.

But even after you jump through the hoops, $305 is asking a lot for a Jack Spade imported brief.  And hang on now, check out the photos of a similar bag over here.  Those sharp corners don’t look as sharp.  They look more like my $50 Ben Sherman bag.

Saddlebacks are made in Mexico of U.S. leather… plus with that the 100 year Warranty…

Forget it.  The Saddleback wins in a walk.

Maybe.

Your thoughts?  Got a preference?  How much would you spend on the Jack spade?  Leave it all below…