Best Bets for Under $75.00 – March 2011
Seventy Five dollars. That’s a lot of money. It’ll get you a couple pairs of Levi’s, a nice dinner out, or a couple months at your local gym. Seventy Five dollars. It is a lot of money, especially if you spend it right. Ten picks follow, all under $75, and some of them are much, much less.
1. Eight Mossimo Athletic Fit Polos at $9 a piece (reg. $10)
Because ten bucks wasn’t cheap enough for the second best fitting polo out there? Should be on sale in stores too. Athletic fit, 100% cotton, (UPDATE: 60/40 on the solids. Heathered are apparently 100%? The hell? Credit to JB in the comments for catching that) and you can get the spectrum for under $75.
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2. Ray-Ban RB2132 New Wayfarer – $74.43
(reg. $119)
You’re lucky to find these for under $100. So for under $75 with free two-day shipping and returns? That’s incredibly rare. They’re a standard. Only available for this price in black. See a full rundown here.
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3. PF Flyers Center Lo in “Natural” – $49.95
For those that don’t wear and keep a pair of lighter sneakers on hand all year long, now’s the time to think about dusting off the old one’s or investing in a new pair. These come with a rigid toe bumper and noticeably more cushioning than Chuck Taylors. Nice colorful heel detail too.
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4. Weber Rapidfire Chimney Charcoal Starter – $17.99
Because unless you’re a hardcore griller, you’ve probably taken the last few months off from your BBQ. This thing allows you to skip lighter fluid all together (yay for less chemicals). Put the charcoal in the chimney, and light a piece of newspaper at the base. Some swear by sprinkling a little olive/vegetable oil on the paper. Wait a bit and all your coals are evenly hot. Averages 5 stars out of 255 Amazon reviews.
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5. Sovereign Code Navy & Orange Stripe 2.5″ Tie – $19.50
Orange will (again) be in a lot of places this year, but don’t go hog wild or you’ll look like a Tennessee Volunteers die-hard. Sprinkle it in sparingly. Got a grey suit? Great. This’ll work. Double points if it’s a lighter grey.
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6. Red Envelope Monogrammable Leather Watch Case – $39.99 (reg. $49.95)
So you’ve got a few watches. If you’re just throwing them on a nightstand or dresser, you might want to keep them away from dust and the risk of knocking them off those pieces of furniture with one of these. Holds 8.
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7. Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights “Pardon Me” – $10.97
If you’re having a group of friends over for an indoor/outdoor party, or you’re driving around with the windows down… and your choice of music is Ray LaMontagne? You might want to cheer up. This could help.
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8. Hawkeye Supply Co. Coated Cotton Work Brief – $49.50
Behold the poor man’s version of Jack Spade. Coated canvas with a reinforced tarp bottom. Like I said. Behold the poor man’s version of Jack Spade.
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9. J. Crew FACTORY Navy with White Pindots Tie – $29.50 (reg. $34.50)
Khaki cotton suit. Off white summer suit. Light Grey wool suit. Charcoal wool suit. Black wool suit. It’s a tie that goes with almost everything. Chinos and light sweaters, blazers and khakis too. Great width at 2 3/4″
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10. Lacoste Canvas Logo Belt – $39.00 (reg. $65.00)
Going with the brightly colored fabric belt trend from last season and taking their foot off the gas just a touch. More muted colors, non slip grommets (thank you) and a logo that’s at least a little subtle.
For other best bets under $75 from previous months, click here.
A word about J.Crew Factory ties. I just ordered that same tie (with the same pattern). The navy pindot pattern’s great, but the tie is awfully thin and flimsy. This has two consequences: First, I have to improvise a triple-four-in-hand in order for the knot to appear to be normally-proportioned. Second, the tie doesn’t hang straight down, and instead awkwardly twists and bends slightly to one side.
Love the watch case… bought one for my guy for Christmas. Great for style and storage!
Really like the wayfarers but I’m holding off for some gold aviators.
http://www.ray-ban.com/usa/sunglasses/rb3025/l0205
What color shirt with the nacy tie and an off white suit? White?
Customary Slim, I too was disappointed with the quality of a J. Crew tie (NOT from the Factory Line either). The tie has a beautiful madras pattern, but is just too thin to provide a respectable knot. All I really know is a 4IH, so maybe there’s a trick I’m missing. But, darn it J. Crew – can’t you make your ties a little more thick and sturdy?
Wayfarers finally ordered.
Charcoal Starter is a must.
My wife got me a pretty sharp (but cheap $$) watch case for Christmas that also has a drawer to keep rings, collar stays, lighter (though I don’t smoke), etc. I dig it.
To each his own, but please keep your windows up this summer. Aside form the scantily clad “gypsy” chick, there is nothing enjoyable about that video.
Heh. Like you said: “To each his own.”
They have the new wayfarers in all the colors on Amazon, including the tortoise/dark lenses for $74.00. In both sizes too.
http://www.amazon.com/Ray-Ban-RB2132-New-Wayfarer-Sunglasses/dp/B0029U15S0
the belt is pretty nice and I will probably end up buying those sneakers.
Shame they don’t seem to do the 2132’s in a polarized lens. Although it would add to the price, would make them much more practical, rather then just stylish!
John,
Any idea where your wife picked up that case? I’m in the market for something just like that.
@Adam She got it at Bed Bath & Beyond, but it doesn’t look like it is available on their site anymore. You might do some searches for “watch case drawer” or the like on amazon/ebay.
@Joe Rereading my post, I clearly left my manners in bed this morning. Sorry for being a dick.
Spotted this tie as an outlet store upwards of a month ago. I was thrilled to see it but felt similarly to customaryslim. Unforgivably thin and awfully cheap feeling. I had to put it down as in my opinion its falls very short of warranting a $30 price tag.
I’ve sprung for http://tinyurl.com/navywhitedot – I’ve been really pleased with the knit collection at TheTieBar.com and in my brief research quality seems to be constant with their line.
cheers
I want that tan Lacoste belt. I already ordered a blue LEC web belt, but I could still use a tan one.
No offense taken. Like you said, to each his own. And I? Dig the bass players sideburns. (On him. Not on me man. Whoa.)
Joe, great choices and I see you keep going back to the wayfarers. Sadly, they just don’t look right on my face and I have become a Maui Jim nut. I don’t know if you wear glasses, but I was wondering if you had considered doing a piece on glasses frames. I have been trying to update the look of my glasses for a couple of years, but I keep chickening out and falling back to my tried and true Brooks Brothers wire frame. In my case I need a frame with a small lens, because my prescription puts me in the “coke bottle” category, but I would love to experiment with something new.
Yeah, frames are really a unique thing depending on face shape. Far as I can tell though, those new wayfarers are as close to “looks good on almost anyone” territory. Key word? Almost.
Now, I myself don’t wear glasses. Yet… but I have friends that do and they swear by these guys:
http://www.warbyparker.com/ Probably too retro for you? They actually send you sample frames to try on, get a feel for, and you then send em back. I think the wait time though is pretty brutal (they got popular, fast.) And the pair my friend owns don’t look retro at all. They just look great…
Thanks, I will give them a shot, it looks like their “Nedwin” frame would be safe start into chunkier non-wire frame. Like I said I have been really chicken about changing my glasses, because they are something you wear with everything. Plus, I honestly have an horrible sense of personal style, that is why I come here. 🙂
Oh, yeah and excellent recommendation Johnathan Tyler, I have had him on rotation for a couple of months and am still not tired of it. I would also add Volbeat to that BBQ mix, they are a Danish band with a bit of a Johnny Cash sound to them…actually, they do Dead Man’s Tongue better than Cash.
Volbeat is a really fun band, but a point of clarification; “Sad Man’s Tongue” is a Volbeat tribute to Johnny Cash. Not an actual cover. The lyrics are sung to the tune (albeit an upbeat version) of “Folsom Prison Blues”. It’s a fun song. But to suggest that “Sad Man’s Tongue” is actually better than Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” is……something.
The Mossimo polos are not 100% cotton, they are actually 60% cotton 40% polyester.
Good catch. Updated…
Endless.com Friends and Family event. 25% off (minimum purchase of $100) with code MARFFEVT
Ends 3/18
Thanks John.
I picked up that lacoste belt at marshall’s for $15, exact same belt. They had the tan also, just not in my size.