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5 Favorites – Reader Nicholas Crawford

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5 Favorites from Dappered Reader All-Star Nick Crawford

It's almost too much to ask me to save the worldSure it’s just stuff.  But stuff can make life easier, more enjoyable, etc…  Every so often we ask one of our favorite people to rattle off their five favorite things.  This week you’ll find favorites from some of Dappered’s most active readers.

When not taking care of and arranging the fickle beasts that pump oxygen into our atmosphere (Tree and Landscape contractor), Nicholas Crawford is roaming the well behaved halls of Dappered Threads as one of its moderators.  Or, y’know, tending to his family (he and his wife have kids.) 

It’s easy to tell that Nick genuinely likes life.  He’s also the Dappered Threads user archetype: Quick with an idea, slow to judge (read: never) and fun as hell to interact with.  Extremely glad to have him on board.
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#1. Vivarti Socks – $15.00 – $18.00

“I bought a gift box of these for my Dad, and he talks about it every time I talk to him.  They’re so good that I bought three pairs for myself and wear them to pieces.  Actually, The Rollover started fraying immediately but has since stopped and is still my favorite sock for a gray or black suit.  If you buy only one, get The Hedgistan.  Aptly named.” 

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#2. This $5 thrifted navy blazer


“Yes.  You can find one of your own.  It’s not as unlikely as being left as the sole surviving male on Planet Earth after the apocalypse, and the only female left to repopulate the earth is Christina Hendricks.  It’s not as unlikely as buying an item before Joe features it on the site (only was able to pull it off once with this cardigan here)  But it will take a lot of visits to a lot of thrift stores before you land something that’s in perfect condition, perfect for you, and $5.”  (Left: Before tailoring.  Right:  After tailoring)

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#3. One (or two) good ties


“I actually have two ties that I bounce between.  One is a red knit tie with navy dots from JackThreads which has long since sold out.  The other is this navy pindot tie from Indochino.  No need to over think this.  Get a relatively boring solid tie with subtle accents like that, and you’ll have a workhorse that makes it easy to match and easy to pack for a trip.  A h/t to my own name – try the Nicky knot.”  (Photo Credit:  Molly Kreeger Photography)

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#4.  Sharing economy sites like TaskRabbit, Zipcar, Zimride, and SideCar

“I moved with my family from Milwaukee to San Francisco in April with one car, no job, and a limited supply of savings.  Using these sites, I’ve got an extra vehicle when I need it (ZipCar) and can provide rides with the one we have when I’m already driving around (SideCar & Zimride).  With TaskRabbit, I have a steady stream of work doing jobs that people post to the site.  In no small way, this has revolutionized my life.”

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#5.  Surrendering the Fit Fight (shown: Uniqlo Linen Blazer, size small)

I used to always by clothes that were a size Large.  Then I tried Mediums…and now I wear mostly Small without losing a pound.  If you’re at the beginning of your journey, I encourage you to surrender the fit fight and buy what fits you instead of what size you think you are.  Goodwill might miss out on a pile of donations, but your wallet will thank you!

For Previous editions of “5 Favorites” see the archive here. Very Top “5” Photo Credit: Gunnar Bangsmoen

Comments

  9. I figured we would be seeing NC on here. Good choice with the navy pindot tie – it is by far the most versatile tie out there.

  12. That’s right – the patterned red/blue shirt was from Express. I don’t usually fit their smalls, but there were two on the clearance rack that had arms longer than the rest by an inch that fit me perfectly.

  13. This is quite the honor for me. It feeds my narcissism to ask me what my favorites are, but it’s fitting that it comes full circle on the site that kick-started this whole journey for me!

    One correction – I am guilty of being judgmental of thin cardigans!

  14. I battled my fit for years before finally admitting to myself that I am a Medium. The impact this newfound self awareness has had on my appearance cannot but overstated.

  15. The Vivarti Rollover sock: “The Rollover is a dress sock that reminds your colleagues to treat cautiously around you. The statement you receive when wearing these cosks will leave the room when you do. Your boss may become intimidated from the the new you, but that’s ok, because you should be rolling over into his job any day now.”
    I am now a fan of Vivarti socks.

  17. Any particular reason you like the socks? Especially considering they start fraying not long after you buy them?

  21. I think it’s the checkerboard style of The Rollover that made it prone to the frizzies. It worried me at first, but it hasn’t gotten any worse than the first couple of washes, and it isn’t remotely noticeable when I’m wearing them. Mentioning the fraying was more of a heads-up than a red flag.

  22. I highly recommend googling for some coupons for Vivarati Socks, if you’re interested. I remember them having a 40% off sale earlier this year, and PIN15 should still work for 15% off.

  23. Thank You Nick for the mention!

    As for The Rollover – this specific sock was constructed slightly different than the rest of the styles we carry, to account for the intricate design. As Nick mentioned, the fraying is not visible when wearing them.

    In the future, all Vivarati socks will be identical in quality to the other styles we carry, and we will not manufacture any socks where fraying is possible.

    If anyone is ever unhappy with their Vivarati socks, please contact us (info@vivarati.com ) and let us know, and we will definitely make it up to you!

    Next month we will be featuring our new Winter 2012 collection. Make sure to sign up for joining the newsletter on our homepage to be alerted when they are available and learn about any promotions. – http://www.vivarati.com

    – The Vivarati Team

  24. i really don’t get how one goes from a size large to small. Were you really that off to begin with?

  25. Haven’t forgotten the thin cardigans debates. It’s a Threads highlight. Way to go, moderator. I enjoyed your picks.

  28. The tie linked in the post is $39. This one is navy with mini red dots – a pretty nice look too. Sometimes these companies…seems so simple to make the versions that only the expensive brands have.

  29. I’ve got family that will use it as a point of pride that I should be ‘at least a large, maybe an extra large.’ They don’t understand that if it fits, the size on the label don’t matter none.

  32. You must have relatively short arms… That’s always been the issue for me. Medium or small will typically be closer to what I need in terms of circumference, but the length of the arms is never long enough (I’m also 6’1″).

  33. I have found a few pin-dot ties that were cheaper (I think one was DKNY). It looks pretty good, but the main issue is that the cheaper ones often develop pulls quite quickly. Any comments on the blue pin-dot you got from Indochino?

  34. I can’t buy long sleeve shirts in a small, as a rule. The Express shirt in the photo is a small, but the sleeves were an inch longer than everything else on the rack so it caught my eye and proved to be one of my favorite, best-fitting shirts.

    I buy everything else in neck/sleeve sizing, and I can only do that at Brooks Brothers because they are the ones that make 14.5/34 shirts in Extra Slim Fit.

    Short sleeves, polos – doesn’t matter then!

  35. Haha! Thanks! It’s my go-to interview outfit when I want to say, “I’m capable of running this show” with a red tie plus the dots to show that I don’t take myself seriously.