The $300 Outfit: Cleaned Up Rugged

There’s a $1500 wardrobe, and then there’s these.  Three hundred dollars is a lot of money, but once you start adding shoes and layers like a blazer or piece of outerwear, three hundred bucks can be a reasonable number.  Each outfit will be built for a specific overall look, but still be made of versatile items.
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GAP Admiral Blazer – $89.60 w/ GETSTARTED ($128)

Wasn’t impressed with this thing at first glance online, but don’t go completely to sleep on it.  It’s pretty damn good in person, and it’s the perfect ultra-dressed down option for those of us who are hooked on blazers.  It’s one of the few sportcoats that won’t generate ribbing from your dressed-down pals if you happen to wear it to your favorite bar to watch a game.  It’s sort of a poor-man’s version of this from L.L. Bean Signature.  Only the GAP admiral is dressed down even more, with a shorter drop in the jacket and a subtle gun-flap like stitch line on the upper right chest.  79% wool and 21% polymade.  It’s a bit like a non-cotton version of the jacket Bond wears during the third act in Skyfall.  A 2/3 sorta roll/fold that looks much better in person (at least it did with the blazer seen here) than it does on the GAP model.  Size shown: Medium.

 

J. Crew Factory Washed Shirt in Payette Tartan – $24.15 w/ SCOREMORE ($59.50)

It’s a plaid with some red in there, but you’re not going full Borland.  The lightness of the placket will be a nice center-anchor for the shirt, while the rest of the pattern that’ll show under the blazer will be the darker red and blue.

 

Timex Brass/Black ionic plated – $70.00

A new offering from Timex.  Couldn’t dig this one up on Amazon (but that doesn’t mean it’s not there?).  Full price at Nordstrom, but it ships and returns free.  38mm diameter.  The grained leather strap gives it texture without the too-dressed up feel a croc embossed strap would have given it.

 

Johnston & Murphy Headley Suede Chukka – $88.00 w/ ALTHANKS2 ($165)

Death, taxes, and there being more than a few decent pairs of marked down J&M shoes on Sierra Trading Post.  Perfect shape and deep brown shade for those who want to give suede boots a shot, but don’t want anything too weird.  No, they don’t match the watch strap perfectly, but that’s more than fine.  Suede is a different texture than standard leather, so you get a little more leeway there.  If you’d prefer a more traditional, leather boot, STP now has the Timberland Earthkeeper’s 6″ City (non-zip) boots for $90.40 w/ the code.

 

jcp Slim Straight Denim in Rinse – $22.00 ($30.00)

Stunningly good for (now) just over twenty bucks.  Color is dead on perfect, there’s no obnoxious back pocket stitching, and the fit is pretty close to a Levi’s 514 slim straight.

 

Military Surplus Web Belt – $6.04 (Amazon Prime Eligible too.)

Web belts are one of those things you should always head to your local Army/Navy surplus store for.  It’s an easy & obvious match, stylistically speaking, for this outfit.  Ships free if you have prime.

Total Cost: $299.79
A good outfit for those nights when you want to blend in, certainly not be overdressed, yet still look good.  Plus, you can wear each piece pretty easily with other items in your closet.