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Affordable Men's Style

GQ’s Twenty five bargains under $25 – Summer 2010

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GQ’s Wear it Now – Twenty Five under Twenty Five Dollars

Big kudos to GQ for continuing the trend of offering some more affordable items to their demo.  Seems like someone in their building figured out that most of us can’t afford the majority of what’s advertised in their magazine.  ($1,400 Tote Bag / Murse anyone?)  Click through their 25 picks under $25 below, then c’mon back for the official Dappered.com take and to leave yours in the comments section.

Click for the GQ Slideshow
Click for the GQ Slideshow

The GQ 25 under $25 w/ The Official Dappered.com Take

1. Converse One Star Swim Trunks: $19.99 – Yes
2. H&M Boat Shoe: $25.00 – No.  Can’t wear socks with them.  You can with these.
3. Old Navy Short Sleeve Plaid: $19.50 – No.  Not when this one is $10.00
 4. Alfani RED Striped Knit Tie: $24.99 – Emphatic Yes
5. Free Authority Hat: $14.99 – Eh.  If hats look good on you, then yes.
6. H&M Slim White Pants/Denim: $19.95 – No.  And they’re not “available at” H&M.com.  Nothing is.
7. Havaianas Top Flip Flop: $18.00 – No
8. BDG Bold Stripe Tee: $18.00 – No.  Too ten-year-old boy looking.
9. Land’s End Beach Towel: $15.60 – A beach towel?  Sure I guess.
10. Brooks Brothers Stripe Watch Strap: $14.50 – Yes.
11. H&M Shorts: $19.95 – Yes. Again, not available at HM.com
12. Heritage 1981 Hooded Sweatshirt : $23.90 – No.
13. Topman Stripe Belt: $15.00 – Yes
14. Calvin Klein 3 Pack Brief: $18.38 – Yes
15. Marc Jacobs Tee: $24.00 – No.
16. Merona Socks: $7.99 – Yes. But these are better.
17. Urban Outfitters Plastic Aviators: $10.00 – No.  An emphatic No.
18. Tommy Hilfiger Boxers: $19.98 – No.  Try these instead.
19. H&M Chambray Work Shirt: $24.95 – Yes
20. Land’s End Canvas Pocket Square: $9.50 – Yes
21. Urban Outfitters Black Plimsoll: $24.00 – Yes.  Nice Kicks.
22. Armain Exchange Deep V-Neck Tee: $20.00 – Hell no. Death to v-neck t-shirts for men.
23. Marc Jacobs Suspenders: $9.00 – No. No, no, no.
24. IZOD shirt: $19.99 and Topman Tie: $20.00 – Yes to the shirt with tailoring.  No to the too skinny tie.
25. H&M shorts: $19.95 – No. Way too short.

Your turn.  What say you?  Leave it in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. I actually like wearing v necks if i’m going t-shirt + jeans (or shorts). I wouldn’t wear one of those deep v necks, though.

    Also, thanks for hitting on the point that H&M is basically unavailable to most of the country, since (for some reason i can’t understand), they don’t offer online shopping in the US&A. Many times when i read lists like this, 1/2 the items are from H&M or Uniqlo (also, no online shopping).

  2. I agree with Steve on both points, V-necks (Calvin Klein, not the stretch kind) and damn H&M and Uniqlo. Is Club Monaco online, we have one of those in my town?
    I’m even guilty of wearing these cheap “vintage V-necks and tanks” from Gap on the weekends not to work etc. They have nice colors for summer.

  3. I think that the general (and rightful) disgust for deep-v necks a la American Apparel or Ed Hardy shouldn’t taint the classical, plain white v-neck. I think it’s a classic American style, and one that is very handy in summer for those of us who live in hotter climates. The department store $10 5-pack of Hanes white V-Neck Tees is my go-to around the house shirt, and (as long as it is still fairly new looking) can easily work for a trip to the store or a night in with the guys.

  4. I just finished P90X… and damn it, for the first time in my life, I’m wearing a V neck — and I don’t care who complains! But hey, a deep V neck seems a little too much for me.

    Actually, I find normal V necks rather stylish with the Martin and Osa blazer that I paid too much for, and completing the look with a pair of rigid Levis.

    Rethink the V neck, especially when it suits your body type — and if you don’t have chest hair like Chewbacca. Too much hair makes anything look wrong.

  5. I’m not close to Chewy… but I’ve got some hair. On a scale of 1 -10 with 10 being a wookie I think I’d be a 5. And I think it’d just look… odd.

  7. Joe, there’s always manscaping 🙂 And no I don’t mean shaving it off, as that’s pretty effeminate (imo). Using one of the many electric shavers you have recommended you can just trim the hairs down closer to a 2-4. It’s itchy for like a day but then it’s fine.

    That said, I too have no problem with a not-too-exagerated V neck from time to time. And Kyle, nice job on P90X, I’m about a month into the program myself atm 🙂

  8. Not to get too descriptive about myself, but… I’m probably 2-3 inches of chest hair length max. And it just feels weird to me to be “showing that off.” To the world. Now, one thing I haven’t disclosed yet, is that I’m pretty white. Not ghostly but Northern European for sure. So the lines of chest hair stand out even more. Probably the same reason why I don’t unbutton any farther than the top button on an oxford like the 1mx or the Gap Gingham I’m wearing now. Could I go one more button down? Sure… but if gravity pulls that shirt the wrong way, everyone gets a little too much white and hair. And nobody wants that 🙂

  9. One last thing. I’ve got about 8 v-neck sweaters. Really like those. A lot. But always a shirt underneath…

  10. Haha, 2-3 inches, that definitely deserves some trimming. I am not hairy to begin with, maybe like 1-1.5 inches in the thickest part, but I trim down to under an inch (not much under). It makes a big difference in my opinion and looks much better but not obviously groomed. On my 1MX shirts I have been wearing 2 buttons undone and it does show a little amount of chest hair but since it is trimmed it isn’t obscene. It’s just been too damn hot to wear an undershirt or button that 2nd button.

    I’ve been using the Philips Beard Trimmer and highly recommend it. The #1 setting literally does make the perfect stubble (the package wasn’t lying!), and the other settings (up to #9) can be used for.. other things :). I think I use #6 on my chest when I need to.

    Oh how the comments on this article have evolved.

  11. I believe Target sells a device called “The Man Groomer.” Maybe that deserves a future article after some use or experimentation, Joe?

    And Joe — I’m jealous of the chest hair-thing, since I have about nine of them in varying degrees. If I had it, I’d go shirtless (jk). But then again, there is nothing wrong with taking a electric razor guide and planing it down a bit.

    Bryan, keep up the P90X effort. It’s worth every bit of sweat. I went from a 34×32 to a 32×32, and it’s wonderful to have the problem of buying new jeans. My hope is that you’ll have the same problem… except I P90Xed my way out of about $400 in Kenneth Cole dress slacks.

  12. I just don’t have the chest follicle density for it to be a problem, so, planing it down would be way more trouble than it’s worth. One to two inches isn’t even hairy. It’s just… there. Plus, I still wouldn’t wear a v-neck tee. I’m just not a fan of em’. And as far as other, uh… “areas” (that’s including the face…) I’ve sworn by these three utensils for a good long while now.

  13. 2 – Boat shoes are supposed to be worn without socks. They’re boat shoes.
    11 – I just got some of those shorts (in a solid blue though), they’re great. Button fly on shorts!
    19 – Almost bought this on the weekend. $10 on sale (getting ready for fall already). Maybe I’ll have to go back and get it. I have been thinking about it since then.

  14. By the way, I would not order anything online I haven’t already tried on to make sure it both fits and looks good on me.

  15. Can someone help me find #3. Old Navy Short Sleeve Plaid: $19.50. I can not seem to see it anywhere on the Old Navy site.

  17. thanks for hitting on the point that H&M is basically unavailable to most of the country.