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Affordable Men's Style

The $1500 Wardrobe – The Rest

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The Rest – The $1500 Wardrobe Part V

Building a wardrobe is almost always a process and not a one weekend affair.  But what if you had to blow up your closet and start from almost scratch?  Sure you’d keep a few things.   Maybe have your tailor make a few tweaks, and keep a favorite pair of beat up boots.  But what about the rest?  Suppose you were also on a strict budget of $1500.

Over five weeks we’ve explore some of the best options for remaking a budget friendly guy’s wardrobe one section at a time.  A lot of these will be basics and necessities (but not underwear or socks).  It probably won’t be easy, some corners will be cut, but the total budget is set at a strict $1500.  Let’s see how far we can stretch it.
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The Stainless Watch: Seiko 5 SNZJ63 – $142.45
Close enough.

Damn it Amazon.  You completely wrecked my plan.  Of course these Seiko 5s have been getting a huge amount of play on this website, but why jack the price up on the nothing short of perfect black dial/outer ring SNZJ59?  Closest alternative is the orange accented version seen here.  But it might be a bit risky with ultra-conservative attire.  Still a looker that works 95% of the time.  (Another option: This Bulova for $140.  It’s a quartz, but looks sharp in person)

 

The Leather Watch: Timex 50s Vintage-Style Leather Strap Watch – $39.97icon (reg. $95)
The J. Crew Timex Alternative

For the times when a watch with orange on the dial just won’t work.  Was $100, now just $40, a timeless face (which does a fine job telling the time) and that textured crown is nice.

 

The Pocket Squares: Target Merona Patterns – $5.00
These + a white = great start.

For ten bucks you can more or less be set on non-white pocket squares.  Sold as handkerchiefs.  Iron and starch em’ up so they fit in your pockets and they’ll provide that extra bit of contrast and pop.  If you don’t already have a plain, clean, crisp white pocket square… well there’s always the corner of a bed sheet?

 

The dressed down tie: TheTieBar Silk Knit 2″ Tie  – $15.00
And goes just as well with a wool suit too.

You probably have neckties coming out of your ears, but what you might not have is a simple patterned knit tie that’ll pair well with almost everything.  The white stripes are thin and spaced perfectly.  $15 via thetiebar.com

 

The Card Case: Ralph Lauren Suffolk Slim Leather Card Case – $34.99 ($45.00)
Black or brown. Black is the safer play.

As Merlin put it in the opening minutes of Top Gun:  “We’re on Vapor… we’ve gotta land this thing…”   With just over $30 left, options for a plain card case are almost non existent, but thankfully this thing just went on sale.  Like, yesterday.  Perfect for when you’re heading out and want to keep your cards in your inside jacket pocket and not in your usual billfold in your back pocket.  Logo is stamped and tonal, and thus, not too intrusive.icon

TOTAL COST: $237.41
CASH REMAINING: $0.35

And with nothing more than one quarter and one dime to rub together, that’ll do it.  You can’t even make a call from a pay phone for thirty five cents anymore.  You can’t even FIND a payphone to make a call from a payphone anymore.
For The Entire $1500 Wardrobe, click here.

Comments

  1. I feel a sense of accomplishment, even though I had nothing to do with it. 🙂

  2. I can’t help but note that shipping costs and taxes put this ensemble WELL over $1500 😉

    Still, a well-done, varied and thoughtful list. Thanks for the entertaining posts!

  3. I really enjoyed this series.  Would be nice to have another of some sort.  Maybeeee, if an additional $1000 just fell in your lap what would you buy.

    Unfortunately, I have spent too much money reading this site every morning, but hey, whats another $1000?

    Also, for white pocket squares, look right next to those patterned ones at Target.. Picked up a pack of 6 for same price as the 3 patterned ones. Thanks!!

  5. Twas this morning.  Sale items on Nordstom have super limited stock most of the time.  Looks like someone snatched it up.

  6. Well of COURSE 🙂  But, as shipping costs can vary, so can taxes, (by state) etc… so, running all the scenarios just would have been a nightmare.  Glad you liked the series.

  7. I actually thought the Seiko 5 with orange accents was the best-looking of the bunch, but I guess I’m sort of a “pop of color” kind of guy.

    P.S. This is totally unrelated to anything, but does anyone else notice a tiny smilie-face in the very bottom-left corner of the page on Dappered? I just spotted it and now I can’t seem to tear my eyes away.

  9. Hahaha. I thought for a second there, that the smiley face was some dirt on my screen.

  11. Joe, I have been on a 2 year fitness/diet regimen that has seen many pant sizes change, so I have been watching this wardrobe series pretty closely. Lots a great ideas and I can’t wait till around August when, if everything goes to schedule, I will hit my target weight. So, thank you for this series and keep up the good work. 

    That said, I would like to add that the Saddlesback Wallet (http://www.saddlebackleather.com/categories/90-Wallets-Small/products/1710-Leather-Wallet-Small-Dark-Coffee-Brown)is better feature/look wise and has the same 100 year warranty as all their gear, for $6 less.

  12. TechCrunch also projects a subliminal happiness: http://techcrunch.com/  (although theirs is dead center at the bottom).  Word is, it’s part of a plugin that we use. 

    Although we do encourage people to smile and make eye contact.

  13. Someone in the continental United States is complaining about shipping costs? Damn, I’ll gladly trade places with you anytime. I can’t even get stuff shipped to me in Canada at any cost at times!!