Top 5 Most Wanted – January 2011
Consider these to be power rankings. Whether you’re looking for gift ideas or a quick upgrade for yourself, expect these to come around about once a month. The best of the best, which you may or may not have seen already. Agreements, disagreements, and additions are more than welcome in the comments section below.
Click here for the top 5 most wanted lists from previous months…
.
5. Lands’ End Canvas Silk Knit and Silk/Wool Ties – $14.99 (reg. $39.50)
Good grief… Fifteen Bucks? I can’t see myself wearing purple, other than when wearing that tie. The gray or navy silk/wool blend ties will go with almost anything. Clear into the warm weather too.
.
4. Ted Baker Hake Slim Derby – $124.00
(reg. $155)
Ted Baker = British silhouette with a bit of funk. These are going to be too modern for some. Not an every day pair, but a pair you wear when you really want your feet to stand out. Free two day shipping as well.
.
3. L.L. Bean Signature Cord Blazer – $124.00 (reg. $155)
The INC cord blazer is gone, and so is the Old Navy ultra-affordable option. But the first signs of spring are a lonnnnnng way off for most of us. Killer cut, functional buttons at the sleeves, nice price. Especially if you get the matching pants and make a suit for under $190.
.
2. Ralph Lauren Buffalo Plaid Cartridge Bag – $126.75 (reg. $295)
At just 12″ long it’s too small for almost any laptop. And that’s most likely a major factor as to why it’s on sale. Just not enough people hauling 12 gauge shells around anymore. But if you do? Or you’ve got say… an iPad? (Or maybe you’re the rare soul who carries around both shotgun shells and a tablet) Not a bad bag for that job at all.
.
1. ESQ by Movado Round Filmore – $195.00 | Black Dial Chrono – $395.00
Of course it was too good to last. The round case ESQ Filmore was inexplicably $55 cheaper than its smaller, rectangular shaped cousin. Hell, the gold version is going for almost twice as much on endless. But the sub $200 find at Macy’s is no longer available online. There might still be a few in store at the $195 price. For the black Chronograph, pushing $400 is absolutely a reach. But the watch is nothing short of perfect. (First mentioned in the affordable & ultimate guide to black tie)
The note about knit and wool ties is exactly what I’ve been trying to tell my friends! It’s never so much about the pattern or color, but the texture that you can really mess around with to create the image you want.
I like the idea of a knit tie but what can I wear it with?
I don’t think the problem with the cartridge bag is that it is too small for you laptop. On top of iPads and other tablets, there are a ton of netbooks and smaller laptops that would fit in it.
The problem is that, as the computers get smaller, our bags have shrunk down to purse size. It seems like manufacturers realize this by trying to use military or overly-manly names for these bags. I mean, “cartridge bag”? Really?
I think we, as a society, are going to have to eventually accept the man-purse or embrace another way of toting our crap.
Well Andrew to give you a little insite as to what I have done with my most recent get up with a silk knit tie. For New Years party I wore a Thin Silk Knit black & grey burberry pattern tie with a TX8 fitted Express grey shirt along with my black thin notch lapel blazer two button, to go with my dark wool trousers and swuede clarks desert boots. also threw in a tie bar to seal the deal. it looked stunning.
Meeting somebody who carries 12 gauge shells and an iPad would be fascinating. And that ESQ black dial is pretty sweet!
Cheers,
Ben
These items strike me a bit too trendy for the style this site seems to go for. I feel like even a year from now, if you purchased the buffalo plaid bag for example, you would never wear it again, as that moment has passed.
@sartorial: The bag? Maybe. The rest of it? Really? I think the last thing anyone would call my sweater vest wearing self is trendy. But… hey, it’s all in the eye of the beholder.
@Andrew: Summer suiting, dark wool suits in a more casual setting, Under a V-neck with chinos, and although some frown upon it, I wear a few knit ties with 501s, extremely well tailored dress shirts, with a casual blazer on top (molehair/tweed/chino).
Joe – I think a knit tie, oxford button-down, wool sports coat, chinos or jeans, and a pair of Indy boots is one of my favorite looks.
@John S: That’s about as close as I get to a personal uniform. Not always the tie though. Lots of Svests under the sports coats for me.
Hey Guys, I realize this is a bit of a thread jack, but I have been combing this site (particularly with your ‘search for the perfect wingtip series’) and others for recommendations on a versatile pair of brown wingtips that will look just as good with chinos and dress slacks as they will with a pair of 501s. I have had my eye on BR’s San Marco’s in brown (which I love) that Joe has endorsed here, but I am concerned that they may be too dressy for jeans. My other choices are these Florsheim Veblens or these suede wingtips from J. Crew which I worry if they are to casual. Any thought Joe or anyone else on these or any other suggestions? Unfortunately none of them are available locally so i would be taking a shot in the dark online.
Thanks! Love the site!
Joe is the king of trendy. Almost everything posted on here is some new trend he is trying to flaunt. Like that slightly-updated-but-perfectly-classic watch he listed above. Look at that gawdy thing!
*end sarcasm*
But seriously, not too crazy about the bag (can’t even fit a laptop; what is it, a man purse?). I do agree that it might be something you use a few times then forget about. Everything else is spot on. Good finds.
@alex: Thread jack away. Thanks for the compliment and for asking. I think the BR San Marcos in brown could work with jeans. What’s your plan for up top on your torso? Blazer? Sweater over a button up etc.? But the suede wingtips look awfully cool too. The Florsheim Veblens seem to be the midpoint between the other two options. And… if I might suggest… they’re as risk free as online shopping gets. Endless offers free overnight shipping, and they’re very much available via Endless, for the same price. Plus, if you don’t like em’? Endless picks up the return shipping charges too. Also… not sure if those Banana Republic shoes are in store where you’re at, but I don’t think they’re available online in brown anymore. That decision might have unfortunately been made for you…
@ Joe Thanks for the reply. My daily get up includes a blazer and button up w/ or w/o a sweater.. Jeans or chinos below. Occasionally I dress it up a little more with dressier slacks but that it the exception not usually the rule. I was fortunate enough to find the brown San Marcos locally, so I can try those out.
If I had the cash, I’d totally go for the Alden long wings what J. Crew offers but no way I’d spend $500 on J. Crew shoes (or any for that matter), so the Florshiems caught my eye because they seem very similar to the Aldens. I agree that they seem to split the casual/dressy difference between my other two choices, just unsure which of the three styles would work best with the type of clothes I wear most. $160 is a lot of coin in my book so if I’m gonna spend it I want to be sure I will have ample opportunity to wear them. Maybe I’m jast asking too much from one pair of shoes!
@ Alex, i think you will def get alot more mileage out of the Floreshiems, those things are feresh…I saw them and thought DAMN!! those are some really nice shoes…+1 on the Veblen’s
@ joe, the sweater vest is not trendy, but I did not see it on THIS post. I was stating that the items here seemed a bit too trendy from past posts.
These ESQ watches don’t do it for me. I’m a personal fan of Nixon (at pop and modern styles to outfits, good price and quality) and Fossil (classic designs, affordable). But as you said, to each his own.