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.
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1. Lands’ End Canvas Italian Silk Knit Tie – $12.50 (reg. $39.50)
Lands’ End Canvas has brought back their “classifieds” section in which clearance items get marked down drastically throughout the week. The longer the items stay in stock, the cheaper they get. Remember the black and purple LEC tie? Same one here, without the purple. Perfect width, great feel, and ties an amazingly nice knot. Ships free on Wednesday 6/15 with the code WEDNESDAY2 and the pin 8566
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2. Johnston & Murphy Brennan – $73.97
(reg. $129.95)
Yes these get a lot of play here. But they’re incredibly comfortable and just different enough. A touch over $70 ain’t a bad price either. Ships free if you choose super saver shipping.
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3. The Men’s Store at Bloomingdale’s Pima V-Neck – $17.54
(reg. $79.50)
Full marks to Kathan for sending in the style tip on these. It’s just a pima v-neck sweater, but “The Men’s Store at Bloomingdale’s” has earned a good rep. Haven’t seen it in person, so fit is unknown. Nine, count em’ nine colors to choose from. Shipping is $6.00 (unless you spend $100, then it’s free). They ding you on return shipping too.
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4. Leather NATO Watch Straps – About $20.00 a piece
Nylon and grosgrain is nice and all, but the extra beef (pun not intended) you get with the leather NATO band is pretty unique. Find some old watch you never wear anymore, rid it of the worn out band, and lace your choice of black or brown leather strap through the spring bars.
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5. Jack Spade Monza Single Fold Slim Wallet – $35.00 (reg. $50)
Most guys carry around a brown, plain, bifold or trifold. Consider instead a forrest green, perforated (just like the steering wheels on old sports cars), super slim wallet like this one. No surprise Jack Spade makes it.
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6. Kenneth Cole REACTION Cotton Blazer – $39.99
w/code SUMMER (reg. $99.98)
Old Navy isn’t selling their ready to be beat to death cotton blazers right now (they’ve got a linen blend though). So if you’re looking for something that’s light, relaxed, and airy, this seems to be the best dirt cheap option. A little big through the middle, so could use some tailoring, but feels surprisingly good.
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7. Seiko 5 SNKK31 Black Dial
& SNKK25 White Dial – $70.00
Like the kid brother of the SNZJ 5-series. Might be a little too business casual for some, so consider getting the links out of there and instead swapping in a leather band with contrast stitching. Smallish dial at 38mm, nice arrow-point hour hand, and with a bit of customization? These could look pretty slick.
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8. A good set of Collins Glasses – $35.99 via Williams-Sonoma
You wouldn’t drink a glass of wine out of a red plastic cup right? (Some of you, don’t answer that). Just about any summer drink should go in these tall and lanky glasses. Check your local thrift store for ultra cheap options.
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9. Alfani Moon Plain Toe Lace Ups – $76.49
(reg. $89.99)
A surprisingly nice casual lace-up from Macy’s Alfani brand. Burnishing in person isn’t that noticeable, the leather feels okay (it is under $100) and they’re strangely comfortable. Something you’ll reach for when going out in denim.
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10. Fifth&Brannan Multi-Plaid Pocket Square – $35.00
$35 is a good chunk to spend on a pocket square but this one is worth it. Here’s why: Fifth&Brannan is the brainchild of Katie Wintrode, who is Barron from The Effortless Gent’s better half. It’s as grassroots as a brand gets. She’s hands-on designed it all, the fabrics are top of the line, and everything is made right here in the USA. Public shop launch isn’t until June 20th, but you can still take 15% off with the code firstlook. Then fill out their feedback form here.
For other best bets under $75 from previous months, click here.
Love the Seiko 5. Really considering getting it.
Fifth & Brennan must be laying down the advertising money/merch on dappered, bigtime.
Good news everybody – the LEC tie is coming up $12.50 now.
Turns out it is part of their “classifieds” clearance section. On Friday, if there are any left, the price will drop to $10.
Because a blog-friend and occasional guest contributor’s brand new business venture gets a shout, Joe’s getting paid off by Barron/Katie? Holy uncharitable assumptions, batman!
Because a blog-friend and occasional guest contributor’s brand new business venture gets a shout, Joe’s getting paid off by Barron/Katie? Holy uncharitable assumptions, batman!
Also use code MJ11 (pin 4423) to get $10 off $50 and free shipping.
Also use code MJ11 (pin 4423) to get $10 off $50 and free shipping.
I decided to break out of quartz watch-dom and picked up a Seiko 5 recently. I am actually stunned at the accuracy of the movement. I have lost less than a second in the five days or so that I’ve been monitoring it, and that’s out-of-the-box with no regulation.
From what I can tell, most other people don’t seem to gain or lose more than about 8 seconds per day on their new Seiko 5s. Usually closer to 4. So, obviously, I lucked out with my particular movement, but that’s still pretty amazing for <$100 automatics. Plus I simply love the way my watch looks. I was going to get a Maratac Zulu strap for it but I actually like it so much on the SS band that I plan on keeping it this way… for now.
Anyway, that's just a lengthy way of saying that Seiko 5s are a killer choice for affordable automatics.
thanks for the code just used it and it works…
you can get that pocket suqare for 22 bucks including shipping from the tie bar
Ben; my similarly affordable orient “aviator” watch seems to have not lost more than a second a day in the month and a half that I’ve been wearing it. Still is on the same minute as my iphone after 45 days, so that seems to be <1 second per day. I'm shocked. I've got the seiko 5, also, but haven't been wearing it yet. Once I get my bevy of crazy-colored watch straps I ordered, that white-face 5 will be getting some serious play.
Nice call. Fixed the price above. Free shipping no minimum with the code WEDNESDAY2 and pin 8566 for today.
Love that tie, I think I’ll need to pick it up!
Glad to see the shout to F&B. I bought a tie and pocket square from them on their private opening.
While a slurge, at $92 for the tie, it was well worth it. Definitely my favorite tie and the quality is top notch.
**I am not affiliated with them at all and just recently ran across effortlessgent and F&B.. Just like to support an entrepreneur with a quality product**
Some of you guys are awfully cynical. But that’s completely understandable, being that many sites are like digital versions of Star Jones (http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-11-10-star-jones_x.htm). That’s not how we do it here though. In fact Michael, the opposite of what you’re saying is true. I (not we, not Dappered LLC, me, the Joe guy personally) donated a couple bucks to Katie’s venture through their kickstarter push: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/520014532/fifthandbrannan-fall-winter-2011-collection So if anything, I’ve given her money. Not the other way around.
I do believe Katie is making some pocket squares for donors at a certain level, but that’s a bonus and beside the point for me personally. I’m a big fan of people who want to do something, then go out and do it. And she’s doing it. And I’m happy to support that. Hell, I’ve never even exchanged an email with her. But Barron and I have collaborated a few times, and I’m a big fan of his and how he handles his business. Katie seems to be cut from the same cloth.
And speaking of cloth, that pocket square is pretty sweet looking too. Just bright enough, great color combination, made in the USA by a designer who has bootstrapped her way to the launch of her own line.
As far as other brands/retailers laying down ad money and merch? There are a total of zero direct advertisers on dappered (but that might change in the future). If there were, their ad money would go towards ads, not content. Whenever a brand/retailer asks if they can send along a sample for us to try and then keep, we always, always ask if we can give it away instead. If that’s not an option, we ship it back.
We’re honestly trying to stay as unbiased and independent as possible because that’s just good business. If we start getting greased with freebies and let that influence our judgement, then we’re dead. Because I think… think… it’s the somewhat/kinda down-to-earthness and honest opinions found on this site that makes it go. For what it’s worth.
Any other questions: joe@dappered.com
Looks like the black knit tie sold out at LEC.
Sold out!
That was fast.
dismiss comment, didnt realize joe was supporting a locale boutique, i love small businesses so i totally support the smooth look PS
Well said Joe. The advertspam-free nature of Dappered really makes it a nice place to browse and comment on articles, and I personally appreciate your full disclosure policy on things like Gilt membership.
I think that some of these sharp aversions can be remedied by providing both a “frugal” and a “splurge” option with all of your best-bet picks and a little commentary/support for each. Many of your readers are here for the tagline “Affordable Men’s Style”, and will shriek at a $35 pocket square. Maybe side-by-side it with a tie-bar option and explain why it’s better?
The code still works, which let me get
thispoplin shirt for $6.50
It told me excluding clearance…
Just an FYI….I don’t have a Sears nearby that carries LEC but a friend hipped me to a local Sears outlet (mostly appliances) that now carries lands end and a small amount of LEC. They recently had a sale with all accesories for $1 and no clothing more than $7. I picked up several of their web belts and one black and one blue of the above knit ties (like the purple and black version, made in Italy) all for $1 each, a lands end nylon raincoat for $7 and an LEC sweater, list $60, now $30 for $7.
I don’t know how this compares to lands end outlets, but it might be a nice option for people who don’t have access to one.
A set of good collins glasses? I whole heartedly concur. Best way to enjoy Campari and soda on the rocks.
yea, but you will still get the free shipping…
That’s good to hear. I’m thinking about the Orient “homage” to the Rolex Submariner on a nylon strap as a casual alternative to complement my dressier Seiko 5. We’ll see how things go, though. Too bad even the “cheap” watches make for such an expensive habit….
Yeah, I waited too long. Kicking myself for missing such a great tie. The black/purple stripe version is one of my favorite ties.
i’m sure you know, but order orient direct from orientwatchusa.com, and use one of the multiple 50% off coupons available (“dapperedjune” is one of ’em) if you’re getting one. I’m actually considering selling/returning my seiko 5 and getting a different style orient, after being so happy with this one. Plus, I don’t really like the hands on the seiko; too clunky.
Hi guys,
Joe, thanks for featuring a Fifth&Brannan pocket square here on Dappered.
While it would be nice to pay Joe off for promoting our goods, we’re simply not that flush with cash
Just to address MaxMan6’s comment about being able to purchase similar pocket squares elsewhere for cheaper, I don’t disagree. In fact, I picked up a three pack at Target a couple months ago for like $10.
Fifth&Brannan, however, isn’t Target. We’re a boutique operation entering the very expensive world of high-end menswear. Quality comes with a price, and we pay for it as designers and creators of this brand.
I won’t bore you with specifics, but here are three points I’m proud of:
1.) our pocket squares are handmade by the label’s designer (and not outsourced to China, India, or some other Third World country)
2.) we buy small quantities of fabric and we pay a premium for it. Our fabric is woven in Japan at some of the world’s best mills, so you’re guaranteed a quality piece.
3.) our small two-person company operates out of San Francisco, and we keep all our production (even what we don’t do ourselves) here in the city. We’re contributing to the local economy and will continue to do so despite it being the more expensive option (than, say, outsourcing to China).
Every choice we make regarding our brand, from design to production, comes at a premium price, but we are happy to do this because we feel good about using the best materials we can, and we feel good about spending money that supports businesses within our community.
If you guys have any questions, I’ll do my best to answer. barron(at)fifthandbrannan.com.
By the way — the Kenneth Cole blazer is now 36.99 online without any codes. I needed a small (not available online) and found one at macy’s in store — the price was 60 in store with the current 1 day sale happening for father’s day (today/tomorrow). They were nice enough to sell it for 45 after showing them the online price which is the same as online with shipping.
Great deal, love the blazer — wont need much tailoring for me.
lots and lots and lots of ‘shouts’.
And where are these “lots and lots of shouts?” I haven’t noticed them…in fact, if I hadn’t been reading EG, I wouldn’t even know what 5&B is. I did a google “site:” search, and only found this 5&b link, but maybe my google-Fu is off, or limited by iPhone, as well as my memory being off.
That, or you’re a curmudgeonly skeptic.