Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale for Men – June 2012
It only happens twice a year. And yes, scarcity can play a role in the level of desirableness (AKA: Abscence makes the heart grow fonder), but Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale for Men is a rare combination: A wide variety of brands, deep discounts, and free shipping both ways. Proof can be found below…
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To Boot New York Firenze Wingtip – $199.90 ($325)
Wingtips but none of those sawtooth/pinked edges or perforations. Hm. Out of the box for sure, but Made in Italy and super sleek. Thoughts? Too untraditional at retail but worth a look at just under $200? The burnishing too much on the tan? Made in Italy. Rubber sole.
Wallin & Bros Linen/Cotton Speckled Sportcoat – $129.90 ($198)
There’s some potential here. Would have loved to have seen it buttoned instead of unbuttoned and just draping there at the guy’s sides. Description calls it “lightweight, trim-fitting”. Sounds good so far. Linen and cotton blend.
Calibrate Trim Fit Dress Shirt – $38.90 ($59.90)
As true of a trim fit as most mass produced “Trim fit” shirts get. Collar isn’t as substantial as some would like, but between the good slim fit and no chest pocket, this one has a lot going for it. That, and there’s a serious lack of dress shirts on sale during this Half Yearly Sale. Sizes are getting limited. More here. (Note that the “trim” fit calibrate shirts aren’t quite as tight as the “slim” fit calibrate shirts. Those slim fits also come with a much smaller, modern collar.)
Brooks Brothers University Card Case – $17.90 ($28)
Now, a super-affordable way to change it up for the warmer weather. Currency slot and two card slots.
Brooks Brothers Pebbled Card Case – $37.90 ($58)
And for those who’d rather not have that sporty stripe. Nice pebbled texture on this one.
Calibrate Cotton or Wool Plaid Sport Coat – $159.90 ($245)
Both in a “perfect with jeans” medium to lighter grey. Will these continue the unfortunate too short in the tail trend calibrate blazers have been sporting lately? Not sure. But at least shipping both ways is free.
Converse Jack Purcell – $39.90 ($59.95)
Not a bad price at all for JPs, especially when you consider the free shipping both ways. Looks to be a version that comes with a more relaxed canvas upper, but one that hasn’t been quite pre-roughed up.
Herschel Supply Co. “Walton” Duffel – $99.90 ($150)
Basic but not boring. Decent sized at almost 2400 cubic inches.
Brooks Brothers Elbow Patch Slim OCBD – $49.90 ($79.50)
Well that’s a bit goofy. Allegedly a slimmer fit, even though it hangs off the model (doesn’t help that it’s untucked.) If you’re layering, those plaid elbow patches would only make rare appearances…
Calibrate Trim Fit Cotton Blend V-Neck Sweater – $33.90 ($69.50)
There was some hemming and hawing, but in the end… it was kept. And it’s holding up really well. Quickly becoming an unexpected new favorites. Full review (complete with both hemming and hawing) over here.
1901 Knit Ties in Blue with Pink, Blue, or Lilac Vs – $25.90 ($39.50)
Real relaxed, but can be easily dressed up. A slimmer 2.25″ in width. The in-house brand 1901 has a bunch of their knit ties on sale right now, including some mid-sized dots, bolder stripes, and thinner stripes.
Gordon Rush Kendall Slip On – $119.90 ($195)
Italian leather, perfect shape, and nothin’ else to get in the way.
Life after Denim Cotton Blazer – $84.90 ($128)
It’d be hard to find a more casual blazer than this, and if it were fall, it’d be a lot more tempting. Cotton, sorta chopped looking in the length, and a two-button front. Color looks like it fell off a Carhartt jacket.
Calibrate Bird’s Eye, Lorenzo Uomo Argyle, Nordstrom Cushion Foot – $5.90
All $5.90 a pair, all a cotton blend of some sort, and all just interesting enough without getting drunk on the interesting-sock-trend. The Lorenzo Uomo pair are made in Italy.
Polo Ralph Lauren French Stripe Socks – $10.50 ($14)
Meanwhile, for those who’d like to channel their inner Wicked Witch of the East…
Polo Ralph Laruen Telly Driver – $66.90 ($98.95)
Nice. RL’s Telly Driver for less than what RL will usually sell it for on sale, and since it’s through Nordstrom the shipping and returns are free. It is a driver, so note the rubber on the back heel.
Torino Woven Stretch Canvas Belt – $56.90 ($85)
Not cheap, but they are made in the USA and seem to nail all the details. Leather trimmed.
Allen Edmonds Clifton Lace-Up – $199.90 ($295)
There just aren’t as many Allen Edmonds on sale this time around. Cap toe Blucher in three colors: The walnut and black shown, and a real deep burgundy.
John W. Nordstrom Trim Fit Dress Shirt – $52.90 ($79.50)
Notice the proportion of the collar compared to the rest of the shirt. Not gonna look right if you like to go tieless, or, you’ve got a bigger noggin that would dwarf such a thing. Kinda pricey even when still on sale.
Skagen Slim Black Dial – $55.83
through Amazon ($65.90/$110)
Slim, minimalist, and inexpensive. Even more so if you order through Amazon.
Cole Haan “Paul” Suede Chukka – $129.90 ($198)
The bright shoes thing can get a little crazy a little quick, but a deeper, richer version of an otherwise retina burning color can be a real good way to go. Instead of fire engine red, you get burgundy. Not bad. Navy and grey also available.
Dekko Mode Cotton/Linen “Modern” Blazer – $199.90 ($295)
Has some potential, but it better at almost two hundred bucks. Fabric shows its linen up close.
BOSS Black Jam/Sharp Navy – $499.90 ($795) | Z Zegna Plaid – $899.90 ($1,400)
And here’s the problem with the suits in this sale. They’re either right around $500, which is up above an extremely well reviewed/appreciated entry level SuitSupply Suit, or they’re so far up there even on sale they’re still out of reach.
Thoughts on this one? Good? A little disappointing? Better than the one last winter? Leave it all below.
I spotted at least half of the articles posted here this morning. Nothing really impressive. The only thing I would maybe consider is the sneakers.
Do you know if they run true to size?
I skimmed the website and some of the items have been on sale at the same price for weeks. I give it a meh….
I noticed that too. They dumped a lot of new stuff in, but some of the things are the same ol’ price they’ve been at for awhile…
10.5 has felt like 10.5 to me in Jack Purcells in the past.
Tragically disappointing.
Not very impressive. Disappointing.
I was in the market for a white button-down so I picked this up, (not bad at $32):
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/nordstrom-smartcare-tri-twill-sport-shirt/3154156?origin=category#BVRRWidgetID
Apparently it runs a bit small/slim, so hopefully there won’t be too much extra material like most “regular fit” shirts.
My wallet will remain firmly planted in my pocket.
Since when are chest pockets on a dress shirt undesirable? Call me a nerd, but I find them useful. I have a shirt or 2 without them & I feel naked when wearing them. I also don’t care for the missing placket trend. When both of those are AWOL, IMHO, the shirt is sans character.
I can’t seem to find the AE Clifton on the AE web site. Does anyone know the last they’re built on?
I’ll vouch for the terrific quality of those John W. Nordstrom trim fit dress shirts. But you can get them under $40 sometimes if you’re lucky.
I’ve been eyeing several items in anticipation for the sale, and it seems like everything was marked down a few weeks ago… If you didn’t jump on anything earlier, I guess you get double nordies points.
No pocket or placket is traditionally considered more formal (cleaner lines). I’m with you, but it does seem like the trend is to significantly blur the distinction between casual and formal these days. Insofar as I’m concerned, this is the beginning of the downfall of society …
Allen Edmonds.. we can just wait till July 20 for anniversary sale and pick up the Park Avenues and Strands for $209 if you don’t already have it. There’s some blucher wingtip on sale for Half Yearly right now also not listed. The Clifton is great at work with business casual, not a fan of it with suits. I have a pair but wouldn’t mind another one.
I’m looking to get a good quality pair of shoes for my upcoming wedding in October. A local shop is selling all AE and Alden shoes for 20% off. So I can pretty much get any style they carry for $250 or less. Would it be worth the extra $50 to pick up something like the AE Strand in walnut over these Cliftons? Or if one had a preference, which AE or Alden shoe would be their first purchase?
(My best pair of shoes right now are sadly a leather Steve Madden chukka boot…)
If you have no proper shoes to wear with a suit, then I don’t think a walnut Strand is the best shoe to start with. The light color and the brogueing make for a very rememberable shoe, as in, “Hey, you wore those shoes last time!” It’s a nice looking shoe but I don’t think it’s one that you’ll want to wear often.
If you’re trying to build a proper shoe rotation, look at the plain toe or cap toe balmorals like the AE Park Avenue or Fifth Avenue. Those typically are the standard suggestions for someone starting out.
A brown captoe would work best, like Drew said. If Aldens are a reasonable price, spring for those.
Thanks Drew and Greg. Just the direction I was hoping for.
Stephen, is this anniversary sale online? Also, do you know if the Fifth Avenues will be included?
I personally don’t have a problem with it either way, but I know plenty of guys don’t like em’: http://dappered.com/2011/08/style-debate-dress-shirts-pocket-vs-no-pocket/
Last year’s sale included so many awesome shoes and I didn’t pull the trigger on any, which has haunted me for the better part of the last year. Consequently, I’ve been antsy to see this and sale offerings all week and I was all ready to grab some premium shoes. To echo the sentiments expressed supra, mega-disappointing sale this time around. Bummer.
Thanks for the tip on the Jack Purcells.
I second what Drew said.
Good advice from Drew and Greg…
Go for the Alpha Khakis – pretty solid @ $40
I like the wingtips, but if I had $200 for shoes today I can think of a half-dozen pair I’d get before them.
I sell suits at Nordstrom. From my perspective (as a seller) I suggest you come in and buy your hearts out.
But really this is a clearance sale and it’s mostly the crap left over. Noone’s calling their heavy-hitting customers and asking them to come in to the store. Come in for the anniversary sale in mid July for discounted rates on new fall/winter merchandise. That’s the real sale.
The anniversary sale is terrific, and looking forward to it. In the past, the half-yearly-sales have at least had a good selection of house brand merch (Calibrate, 1901, Nordstrom) on deep discount. Dress shirts and the like. But that’s speaking from an online perspective since not everyone lives near a Nordstrom. Thanks for the perspective. Much appreciated!
What is with those slip-ons? Many articles I have seen on this site and others seem to be against slip-ons like these.
I just picked up the Clifton shoes from Nordstroms for 149. They were willing to match Lord and Taylor’s 25 percent off coupon. Good deal I think for my first pair of quality shoes.
I saw the price list for Nordstrom’s anniversary sale, and the Strands were listed at $219. The McTavish, I think Park Avenues, a tassel loafer and a split toe will be on sale then too.
I tried on the Clifton and Players, but I didn’t really care for them. I really want to hold out for a closed-lacing shoe. Really nothing caught my eye at Nordstrom, which bummed me out.
Now, that’s awesome. I suppose it was in-store? Too bad no l&t in CA.
no I ordered on the phone
What coupon are you referring to? I can’t seem to find those Cliftons on the Lord and Taylor website either.
Stephen/Nicholas is this confirmed? I’m thinking of ordering them from nordstrom and getting an adjustment of some sort in that case.
The salesman had a price list he showed me with the Strands at $219. If you have a Nordstroms debit/credit card, you can pre-order and get them July 11.
Hi Nicholas. Thank you for responding. Would you know if the walnut colored Strands are included?
That’s a safe bet. They’ll probably have black in stores too. Brown might have to order since you don’t see brown Strands often.
meh. glad i bought 2 pairs of Allen Edmonds last year.
Hmmm, I am tempted to get a pair of these but my reservation lies in the fabric itself. How well does it hold up after a little wear? I’m a little afraid of the fabric looking worn and “frumpy”
Those Allen Edmonds look great. i need those.
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