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When it comes to style options, Spring just isn’t Fall. But unless you’re married to your favorite wool topcoat, it’s hard not to feel a moderate sense of “this is awesome” when the temperature cracks 50 for the first time since weird kids were knocking on your door demanding candy.
Now, “essentials” is a pretty severe term. These, as always, are more like suggestions. The stuff that’ll have you looking great and more importantly feeling comfortable now that we’ve stored the bulky lambswool sweaters, but still haven’t shelved our favorite jeans. Your additions, (again) as always, are more than welcome in the comments..
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The Lightly Loud Sportcoat: J. Crew Linen Navy Glenplaid – $168.00
Light in fabric, light in color, or both. And try to throw a pattern in there somewhere. The INC ultra lights from last year accomplished this on the cheap. The GAP/BR light grey options are both in stock and go on sale plenty. But it’s the J. Crew Italian Linen Navy Glenplaid that has the early lead for blazer/sportcoat of the season.
A water resistant, mid-thigh trench: Tasso Elba – $99.99 – $139.50
You want something that’s either a cotton/poly blend, or has a bit of a coating on the cotton that’ll shed water. Double breasted looks great here. Mid thigh or just above the knee is perfect. Here’s a few options:
- Banana Republic – $118.80 w/ BRNOW40 ($198) – This is a steal. Code = 40% off one full priced item, today (3/7/12) only. As good as it’s probably going to get. Full review here. Credit Mike in the comments.
- Tasso Elba Water Resistant – $99 – $140 – Check in store first. Good for the price. Glen plaid too.
- ASOS Grey Trench – $134.29 – Grey, funky cuffs, and no word on water resistance.
- Shades of Grey – $79.99 – $286 – Lucky you if you’re a large. otherwise, you’ll pay for it.
An unembarrassing umbrella: Totes – $20.00 | J. Abboud Houndstooth – $29.94
That dinky little turqoise number might get the job done, but she won’t be too impressed if you open that up on your rainy night date. You want something between compact and enormous golf monster. The Macy’s Tote’s Gentleman’s/Stick umbrealla is the champ, but the Abboud comes in patterns like chalkstripe and houndstooth, even though it feels a bit cheaper in your hands.
Grey Suede Desert Boots: Johnston & Murphy – $97.99
| Clarks – $110
Grey goes with almost everything. Even pair these up with a cotton suit for a dressed down post-work look. Jeans, of course. Stretch your cords until the last breath of winter is gone. Should do just fine with all manners of lighter colored chinos. Sizes are getting short over at Endless. More sizes for $99.99 through J&M for now.
The Stretch Cord Belt: Martin Dingman “Beck” Belt – $49.95
They’re a cleaned up version of thicker, nautical cord belts that you’ll also be seeing everywhere. The colors are a little more toned down and the cords are a little smaller in diameter. Woven but w/out the woven leather Dad belt look.
The Striped Light White Sweater: L.E.C. – $60.00 | Target Merona – $28.04 ($33)
Depending on your location, there might still be another couple months of layering/sweater weather left. Once the sun comes back out and the trees start to green up, you’ll want to slowly start to stash those black and charcoal sweaters in favor of something lighter. Don’t go all white all the time, but a white or off white striped sweater can breathe a lot of life into a sweater drawer that’s been in mourning since September. The L.E.C. sweater ships free with the code CLASSIC and pin 1020 (free shipping over $50) but you’re probably better off waiting for a sale.
The Shoe Color: Rich Browns, Cognac, and Oxblood
Dark Brown is great. And you’ll even find an almost unheard of appreciation for black shoes on this website. But now’s the time to lighten up that footwear and get rich. Clockwise from Top Left:
- Florsheim Cromwell – $144.00 w/ code LINK20 ($180)
- Giorgio Brutini Medallion – $69.95 (Ships free w/ SHIPR. So cheap, they’re a big risk)
- Eduardo G Florence Loafers – $149.96 w/ code ALFEB2 ($375 – Code expires 3/7)
- Allen Edmonds Weybridge Walnut Calf – $249 ($335)
A Slightly Different Polo: Express – $44.50 | Original Penguin – $59.00
Solid, well fitting polos should be the casual torso foundation for most guys during the warmer months. But finding a polo that’s a little different is a nice way to break the rut. Maybe the placket is a different color like the new Express Signature polos. Or like Pengin’s “Earl Polo,” it has some decidedly retro stripes. Maybe it’s a chest pocket with a button flap. Just keep it cotton, trim, and not too over the top. Wait for sales on both of these.
The Pocket T-Shirt: American Apparel – $18.00
Graphic tees are too… y’know. And plain crew or v-necks can sometimes look a little blank and/or underwear like. Enter the pocket tee. Don’t go sticking pocket squares in there, but feel free to use it as actual storage. Notecard & Pencil for the grocery list, sunglasses when you head inside somewhere, that kind of thing. Now only if Target’s Mossimo would make one. J. Crew Factory has a decent cheap option too.
The Tie: This one from Nordstrom’s 1901 – $39.50
A man in a red, white, and blue knit tie might not make the most intimidating presence, but it’ll look awfully slick with that khaki colored cotton or linen suit you’ve got on the first real warm day of the year. More subtle color combinations can be found here and here. Cheaper red/white/blue options are over here & here via thetiebar.com.
The Beer: An unfiltered Pale Ale or a Cloudy Looking Weiss
We’re drifting out of stout and porter territory, but we’re not quite to Pacifico weather yet. An unfiltered pale ale like Manny’s from Georgetown Brewing, or a weiss with some stink like Hacker-Pschorr combines sweeter, more citrus leaning flavors with a fuller not-quite-chew-worthy-but-gettin’-there body. Photo Credit
The Sunglasses: Squared Off Aviators – Ray Ban Caravan – $104* – $125
While the balanced proportions of the Ray-Ban New Wayfarer will never go out of style, an Aviator with squared off, non droopy lenses mean all business. Keep the shine on the frames to a minimum if possible. If you’re the type to scan sites like Gilt, Rue La La, and Beyond the Rack, you can snag a pair of Ray Ban caravans for under $90. A few options here:
- Ray Ban Caravan – $130 – The expensive standard. Gold is widely available and silver seems to only be available in a few places. Maybe try Eddie Bauer during a site-wide sale?
- AO General – $42.99 – The not so expensive standard
- Emporio Armani – $110.00 – Tortoise available with thicker ear pieces
- Cole Haan Pilot – $95.00 – Well they look decent…
- Mossimo Silver Metal Aviators – $16.99 – Haven’t seen em’… could be brutal.
The Music: Pandora‘s Black Keys Station
You get everything from Zeppelin to JJ Grey & Mofro to John Lee Hooker. Not a bad thing to call up on the stereo and play with the windows open.
Your turn guys. What are you looking forward to the most, stylistically speaking, about the upcoming spring?
Top Photo Credit: Gardener41 And yes, those are Ray-Ban Caravans for those keeping score at home.
BRNOW40 gets you 40% off the BR trench coat on March 7th only. Free shipping > $50 so $118.80 out the door.
The Knottery has a braided belt that’s made in the USA for $37.50 here:
http://theknottery.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=272
Also check out their cool lapel flowers that are back in stock
That J.Crew jacket looks nice.
But the Banana Republic jacket you recommended below is still my pick for sportcoat of the season. http://dappered.com/2012/01/gap-inc-goes-30-off-3-2-1-picks-from-each-brand/
Second on the recommendation of the American Optical General. Just got mine in the mail the other day, and they feel like they are more solid than even Wayfarer-style plastic frames.
I’ll see you your Manny’s Pale Ale and Hacker-Pschorr and raise you an Alpha King Pale Ale from Three Floyds and Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen
I could use a few lighter-colored items in my wardrobe. Everything I have is dark (black, brown, navy, charcoal, burgundy). I think a chino sport coat and a beige or heather grey sweater would be a great addition.Also, I really need some shoes. Those are good picks, but once again, nothing in my tiny 6.5D.
Does it bother anyone else that the shoes are actually listed COUNTERclockewise from top-left? It took me like 20 seconds to figure out, sheesh!
The Mad Men polo by Banana Republic is a good choice.
I feel like American Apparel has gone way downhill lately. I get the idea, but it’s become overpriced rather than affordable, particularly with the drop in quality I’ve seen.
I prefer J.Crew tshirts, which I’ve had a good experience with. I go with an XL slim tee, at 6’3, 220, which is a fitted-but-not-muscle-shirt for me.
Any of those trenches would be fantastic, if only they came in Blue/Navy… sigh. Does anyone have a good lead on a mid thigh and up trench? I tried Asos twill trench but it was porous.
Haha, same thing. Took me a minute. But, I also ended up clicking on each link to figure out the puzzle, so props to Joe.
Great Review of the trench by Tasso Elba, I recently purchased this over the past weekend. Macys had it marked at 130, with 30 percent off. Stacking that with my 20% coupon for being a card holder really made it a great deal. I was very surprised by the OTR fit and trim lines it gave. Armholes are slim as well as high, and I can also fit my suit jackets and blazers underneath them. I may need to get the sleeves shortened a bit somehow but that is the only thing needed.
You can get free shipping at Land’s End (and canvas) with no minimum by using promotion code SPRING and PIN 284. Good through 3/8/2012
I picked up the Tasso Elba trench from eBay back in November for $50.
There’s usually some still floating around there as well.
Sizes fit true to size as well.
Seconded on the BR trench. So close to pulling the trigger on this today. 40% is hard to pass on.
My wife managed to snag the Tasso trench for me last summer on clearance for $30. I’m in the rainy NW and I wore it all winter. It won’t shed a ton of water, but it’s a great coat if you use an umbrella or you’re not spending a lot of time out in the rain.
That’s an awesome deal. Thanks Mike. Updated the post above, credit given, thanks much!
Not my intention
There were a few different incarnations of that graphic, so it got garbled up along the way. Thanks Shally and Mike. My apologies. Fixed…
That is one fine bird.
You can even stack BRSAVE (20%) on top of the 40%. I’d love a trench coat, but not much rain here to get one.
Yeah, I was going to mention this. Five, six, seven years ago it was a company I felt great supporting. They paid their employees a living wage and the quality was excellent, the fit was great, and they weren’t too overpriced. Now the quality has gone way downhill, they sell some really expensive stuff that’s not worth it, and the fit varies like mad. I bought a couple AA polos last year on sale, size Large, and they were like absolute effing TENTS compared to the polos I bought from them years ago. Never again. That brand is done.
(All that said, I do still appreciate that their clothes aren’t made in a sweatshop. I don’t care if they are using illegal immigrants, at least they’re paying them great.)
Oh, and I can’t figure out why, but I have a violently hateful reaction towards that J Crew jacket. Maybe it’s the color? I feel like glen plaid and that color are not matching at all.
Yeah, LEC has had continuous free shipping promotions (usually only for orders over 50 though) for at least a month now. Awesome. I’ve bought six shirts from them in the last couple weeks, all of which I absolutely love.
BR friends and family starts the 18th too. Up to 5 items, 50% off.
No love for Randolf Engineering? I just picked up polarized aviators from Gilt for $99. Non polarized can be had for $110 msrp.
As far as spring goes, two words: boat shoes.
What is the 40% off Banana code good for? There are exclusions I believe…
If you want to look like a fraternity brother douche canoe.
Easy Brandon. Boat shoes aren’t my thing either, but let’s not throw around douche canoe. It’s such an awesome term, I hate to see it overused.
excuses excuses….. 😉
Just got it and added BRMAD25 (Gotta have the card). Grand total less than $95
That made it $100.27 out the door, but alas, I wasn’t able to pull the trigger. Not much rain here either and I’d rather roll to work with a cardigan or sweater I can take off in place of a coat.
The Giorgio Brutini Medallion – $69.95 is tempting. Anyone have any experience with this line?
Only when they are paired with some cargo shorts and and open stitched crew neck henley.
It’s just too bad that the umbrella has a shipping fee equal to half it’s price. It makes the easily affordable, attractive purchase maybe not so worth it.
I’ve bought a few shirts and a few pairs of shoes which are on ridiculous sale right now. Boat shoes for $30, the Montrose hiking boots for $40.
Yes, sir. I’ll play nice. Besides, my favorite bar room game is to guess the over/under on how many boat shoes are in the house.
Don’t wear desert boots with shorts? I though that was what they were originally designed for.
I kinda like the J&M Headley Chukka at same price better than the Runnell.
How many fraternity brothers do you know that fits that stereotype?
Just got the Tasso Elba khaki trench yesterday for $76 at Macy’s! not as nice as the BR material, but for that price I just couldn’t pass it up.
Express polos are 40% off…
I ordered these and they just arrived. And, well… meh. At $70 I’ve gotten great looking leather shoes, so I was optimistic. But these $70 leather shoes are certianly $70 leather shoes. The first thing that I noticed when opening the box was the glue smell. I serioulsy should not operate any heavy machinery for a few hours. And the only thing transforming the their appearance of average leather into crumpled plastic is about an hour’s worth of wear. I will be returning these and my search for similar looking shoes just shifted into the $130-$200 range.
I found a pair of squared aviators at target that I believe were Merona or Mossimo but not the ones shown here. They look great, especially at the price of $16. They are also gold, which I like.