Top 5 Most Wanted – October 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. Top Photo Credit
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5. Dents Leather Driving Gloves – $60.00
Blame it on Drive. Blame it on a summer that’s dragging on too long for some of us desperately awaiting fall. Price is decent, red piping is nice, great style that’s not over the top.
4. Nautica Heritage Ties – $23.00 – $55.00
Not available on-line but seem to be widely available at Macy’s brick and mortar locations. Retail is $55, but since this is Macy’s, they’re perpetually on-sale. Hat tip to Lance F. who sent in an email on Friday saying it appears these are half off in at least some locations. A good enough of a price to him that he picked up these three. Nice.
3. Rugby Cotton Charcoal Stripe Vest – $74.99 w/ MATCH2011 ($148)
Not everyone is the waistcoat type. And yes they seem awfully pricey for not having sleeves. But this one from Rugby has a ton going for it. All cotton so it can be worn year round, the back is also cotton and not the standard shiny silk/poly fabric, and it’s casual enough for jeans but the grey will make it easy to dress up with dark chinos. On sale and now an extra 25% off with the code MATCH2011 with 10% of the price going to their “Match Rugby” fund.
2. Citizen BL5250-02L Perpetual Calendar Eco-Drive – $240.00
Been around for a few years and always seems to be priced in this range. It’s hard not to be impressed with Citizen’s Eco-Drive power system. Right for fall and would look great up against anything wool. Dial is actually a deep blue and not black. The style of watch you reach for when your lighter summer watches get set down for a few months. (Photo Credit)
1. Mercanti Fiorentini Double Monk Strap – $139.95
Well sonofa… Just when those of us who’ve been looking for double monks (under $200) thought our chance had passed when the Magnannis sold out, these come along. From the Mike-Konos-like DSW house brand Mercanti Fiorentini which is made in Italy. Sometimes these DSW brands are incredible for the money. Sometimes they miss. Got a pair on the way for a full in person so standby for that. Also available in black.
Hey Joe, How is the general fit on Mercanti Florentis? True to size?
I would like to see someone pull-off driving gloves.
I’m feelin those monks, but I think I’ll wait till the full review before I pull the trigger. Hoping they don’t have a plastic look.
I’ve looked for those ties at my local Macy’s a couple times, but no luck. I guess our Macy’s isn’t big enough for the good stuff.
I’m a large black man and I think I pull off my black and brown driving gloves. I picked mine up at nordstrom (50$). I really like the red piping on these but it probably limits what I’d wear them with.
Hey Jason, I feel your pain. Our Macy’s also seems to lack many of the lines I’ve seen in bigger markets. Specifically, gents seems to get the short end of the selection stick. Especially where shoes are concerned.
those double monks are seem killer – anyone know how Mercanti fits (hopefully not narrow), and how is DSW’s return policy?
I have some Mercanti oxfords and they are in fact a little slim. Not incredibly so but just a hair. They are, however, a great shoe for the money. I have never had any quality issues and the leather is surprisingly nice for the price point.
I second the Nautica ties. I actually own that solid grey depicted in Lance F.’s link. I also have a couple others, but man I do love them. They keep their shape well thus far. I also picked mine up on a 60% sale, so it made them quite reasonable.
I would also like to add the first hand experience with Tommy Hilfiger Vintage Tie line they have out in Macy*s. I have a couple of their 3” vintage ties that are wool, and they are excellent. Keep an eye out for both.
I think they would look best with something like a tweed blazer and a tie. If you wear them with something that looks too “racy” (like a moto jacket and tough-guy boots, for example) then it will just look like you’re trying way too hard. Keep the rest of your outfit smart casual and maybe a little retro and it should work.
Very interested in the monk-strap review, my Magnannis are arriving today but I’d also like a monk in black. Hopefully the review is up before the Allen Edmunds sale is up because I’m also considering the single-strap Norwich. I’ve been something of monk-strap obsessed lately.
Lots of people saying they’re not sure about pulling the driving gloves off. I think they’re a wonderful quirk that, like a straight edge razor, just exudes manliness. You have to wear them giving the impression, “Why WOULDN’T I drive with these on?”. At my work there is a wonderful, older british chap who drives his late 90s Honda Accord always wearing a pair of very fine gloves. He does drive slightly less than conservative though, so maybe that helps, too.
I own a pair of black Fiorentini wingtips I bought from DSW about a year ago. Run just a tad large. Wouldn’t even say a half size big, but just enough feel a little slip, especially when wearing thin dress socks. Nice shoes though, and those double monks look slick as hell.
Wait…you’re not saying you’d actually wear them when not driving, right? I mean, isn’t that kind of the whole point of functional stuff like this? Driving gloves are for increased grip on the steering wheel, not for keeping your hands warm. These particular gloves just happen to also look dope.
Oh man, those Nautica ties. I picked up the blue gingham one a couple weeks ago and it’s taking all the self-control I have not to go straight to Macy’s after work and buy a couple more. I just spent over 200 bucks on clothes so I really can’t!
Mercanti Florentini are decent shoes. I bought the long wing wingtips a month ago and they seem quite good. Plus, DSW has a very generous return policy (60 days) so order away!
They’re true to size for me. 10.5s fit like a 10.5 on my foot. Been wearing the hell out of these: https://dappered.com/2011/08/the-best-looking-dress-shoes-under-125/ and not a blister or anything yet. The double monks should show up in the next few days… review next week I think.
Exactly. Driving gloves are for Driving.
…hence the Glove Box.
No, I wouldn’t wear them while not driving. But everything else I would wear (while driving) would be non-racing clothes, rather than trying really hard to look like a racer. That’s the point I’m making. If you wear too much driving or racing-oriented gear, it will look you’re wearing a costume. The same goes for many quirkier items of clothing – you’ve got to balance unconventional with conventional.
P.S. FWIW, “driving” gloves can also be used to describe gloves worn by cowboys/cowgirls in the course of “driving” cattle.
P.P.S. The “driving” gloves I keep in my car’s glove box are these. Because there’s nothing like a pair of $10 thinsulate gloves to save the day when you get into your car when it’s 20 degrees and realize you’ve forgotten your gloves in the house. But I do a lot of driving in the cold and not a lot of racing, so there you go.
A previous Mercanti purchase wasn’t too slim. DSW does ding you on return shipping though. You can return in store for free and exchanges are free too.
Loving those double monks…until I clicked the link. Why, oh why couldn’t have been a round toe. Oh well, maybe that’s why it’s half price. I hate the flat/chisel/pilgrim/whatever-you-call-it toe.
I couldn’t pass on the Nautica ties. I like to wear ties pretty often and casually, so I try to stay away from mostly silk/shiny one. These met my criteria beautifully being mostly cotton and wool.
As always, Target is a good place to check for ties if you can’t find the Nauticas at your local Macy’s – I found one fairly similar to those Nautica ties with charcoal grey, navy blue, and red rugby stripes last time I was there. It’s silk but it’s got a bit of a textured weave to it so it isn’t shiny or overly formal.
I picked up some of the Nautica ties at TJ Maxx the other day for $13 a piece. You may want to keep an eye out at your local store, they’re a steal at that price.
Yeah; I felt the same.
Yeah, I think Tjmaxx and the likes are always a good place to buy ties. They have the Ben Sherman Slim ties that goes for 40+ on Macy’s for around 9-12 bucks. I bought 4 of them the other day.
I agree. Unless you’re driving an antique Bugatti I think you’d risk looking like a serial killer wearing those.
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