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 potential 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: andrew_j_w .
5. Claiborne Double Monk – $60.00 | Mercanti Fiorentini Half Brogue – $139.95
It’s the less fortunate man’s Neumora and Strand. Fingers crossed that the good folks at jcp put out a brown version of that monk at some point. Hat tip to reader Walé for catching these in store and shooting a pic over. Meanwhile, the not pictured Mercantis just came in to DSW, and has that codetastic price of $139.95. Every so often they run tiered sales that’ll knock $25 off that retail price. If you can snag a pair then, that’s about as good looking and as well built (even though they’re glued) as it gets for under $115. Made in Italy too.
4. B.R. Vintage Straight 5-Pocket Pant – $55.65 – $62.65 w/ SPRINGAIR
Looks like BR has resurrected something awfully similar to their outstanding 5-pocket pant of years past. A terrific replacement for jeans, in a less bulky but far from wispy thin fabric. Going to see a lot of use this summer. No word on why the charcoal pair is listed as “black”, or, $10 more than this trio over here. Hat tip to reader Eli for sending in the style tip about the grey pair. The 30% off code SPRINGAIR expires Tuesday 3/5/13.
3. Calibrate Cotton Pocket Square – $12.50
That right there is the definition of just different enough. An extra detail like that grey stripe adds some character without going full dandy. Would look terrific up against a blue on blue on blue outfit, or, any number of summer suits. A Nordstrom house brand, and since it’s sold by Nordstrom, it ships and even returns for free.
2. Ernest Alexander Spencer Nylon Brief in Copper – $90.00 ($225)
Hits that tactical-urban-rugged/refined-subtle-color… thing… perfectly. Fits 15″ laptops, it’s padded, has some leather details, and those straps can extend if need be.
1. J. Crew Italian Linen Herringbone Blazer – $328 ($348) (& waiting on a 30% off code)
The warm weather option when you have to bench your favorite wool navy blazer. Even with a 30% off code it’s still as much as a suit from Macy’s. Ouch. Floating chest piece, nice off the rack fit, and double vents in the rear. So… what would you pay? Too expensive even with a (potential) extra 30% off? Leave it in the comments…
BONUS: A code that’ll actually work on the new B.R. Cotton/Linen Suit – $380.00
Nope. BREXTRA30 does not work on the suit jacket. Banana Republic has really jacked up the restricted pieces for their codes as of late. More often than not, suit jackets and blazers have been on their long list of exclusions. It’s pretty early in the year to be thinking summer suit, but if you’re in the market, now’s not a bad time to start watching for a code that’ll actually work on these. 62% cotton, 38% linen, cut in their tailored fit. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to get in on the summer suit thing on the cheap: JCPenney to the potential rescue?
Good news on the BR suit. I just found out this weekend that BR’s Friends and Family event is coming up on March 14-17. 50% off up to 5 items in-store, 30% your total purchase online. The only exclusion is the Mad Men collection. So if you know anyone who works at BR, ask them for a code. All employees can email the codes to 20 people.
Took a chance on this suit this weekend, won’t receive it for 2 weeks because of back order but very interested to see how it is. http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/suits-sportcoats/claiborne-slim-fit-khaki-suit-separates/prod.jump?ppId=ens6002500003&catId=cat100250022&deptId=dept20000014&N=1260%204294965414&topDim=Brand&topDimvalue=claiborne&dimCombo=Brand%7CFit%7C&dimComboVal=claiborne%7Cslim%7C¤tDim=Fit¤tDimVal=slim
I found the coat in my local store over the weekend, but oddly enough they did not have the matching pant so I could only try on the coat. My usual 40R fit me very snug. Wanted to try a 42R for comparison but they didn’t have one on the rack.
It was a nice-looking coat, especially given the price. Assuming the matching pant fits me well, I will be purchasing this suit soon.
Just bought this black calf leather double-monk: http://www.shoebuy.com/giorgio-brutini-24845/565484 $67.xx shipped after a 20% off coupon SPRING13 (banner of site). Calf leather, finer grain, looks better in person and with a much better toe.
I found the same to be true with that navy cotton peak-lapel claiborne slim fit jacket that Joe commented on a couple weeks ago. 38R (my normal size) was too snug in that jacket. The Claiborne slims just seem to run smaller than most. I still found 40R to be too big though.
Wearing a pair of Stafford Wingtip boots right now (the Camlin) and I don’t regret these one bit. Probably in my top 5 favorite pairs right now. See more use than two pairs of Allen Edmonds that I was lucky enough to have. Haven’t seen those calibrate shoes in person, (Wale sent in the pic) but if you tuck the straps in, they’re sure to look sleeker. Plus, their new suedes are terrific for the price.
Sorry the BR wingtips didn’t workout. Which ones did you buy? I’m not a fan of these, and thought I made that clear in the post: https://dappered.com/2012/06/in-person-banana-republic-leather-wingtips/
But hey, some people feel like they can get away with inexpensive shoes (I’m one of them) some aren’t. Certainly not the last time this’ll come up. Thanks for the comment KRome.
Would one be able to apply this code to items that we have someone order for us while in-store? This would help out the Tall size wearing crowd a lot…
This was way back like late 2010 or early 2011. I will try to dig it out
Probably the San Marcos then: https://dappered.com/2011/05/the-1500-wardrobe-shoes/
Shoes for around $100 aren’t going to look and feel like Allen Edmonds, Alden, etc… but not everyone can lay down the cash for, as you put it, “real” shoes (c’mon now… that’s not fair) It’s difficult to try and hit everyone’s balance of affordable and stylish dead on every time, but I remember seeing the black pair of those BR San Marcos in person and thought they were pretty sharp for $100. But everyone is going to have different experiences, and sometimes a pick is going to miss the mark. Like I said, thanks for the comment, and appreciate your readership!
Yes, if the item is being shipped from another BR store and not an online order. We call this a “charge send,” where the employee checks the inventory system to see if the size is available at any other stores, then calls the store to verify the item is there and place the order for the item to be shipped to your home. The 50% off would apply.
yes, the san marcos. i totally understand what you’re saying and the audience you are catering to. i really like your site and i have purchased and enjoyed many other items that you have posted (and other people have pointed out in the comments).
and believe me, for a long time i could not even dream of paying more than $100-150 for shoes… but once i got myself my first pair of better constructed shoes (a plain captoe made by alfred sargent), i realized i had been throwing away money for years buying the cheap gluejob shoes with material that i can barely call leather. now some of the other shoes you’ve posted actually look pretty nice, especially for the money. but the clairbone double monks pictured above … really look like $60 shoes
Are those 5 pocket BR pants similar to the Bonobos travel jeans in that they are more of a lightweight denim material? I loved the Bonobos travel jeans but the fit on those was not right for me. I’d grab these BR pants if they are a similar concept.
pretty good sub for a strand there.
great shoes are really hard to find “cheap” unless you are talking about inconsistent quantity sources like yoox or ebay, and those you can’t reliably reference in articles due to low quantitites.
Would the jacket be a good purchase by itself (i.e. wearable as a sport coat)? I tried on the navy jacket in a 38 but it was too long and they don’t sell different lengths (a short would have been perfect). I see the this one is available in a 38 Short, so I’m interested in the jacket (but not in the polyester pants),
Sooooo… you want to e-mail me a code, right? /me bats his eyelashes.
I need a summer suit this year. I know it’s early yet, but we’re at the point that stores are rolling out their wares. Any chance of a comparison post soon with some relatively budget-friendly options?
Ya took a shot in the dark on this, $70 for the jacket and $30 for pants, if it works out then great. I’m really hoping the jacket isn’t too snug but I’ll let everyone know about the whole suit when I receive it. I’m 5’11 175, athletic build with broad shoulders size 32 waist, if I don’t wear slimfit shirts and jackets, they’re way too baggy. Have trouble finding clothes sometimes that fit so I’ll be really happy if this does. How’s the material of the jacket, it looks pretty nice in the pictures I saw given the price.
I second this
I would, but I don’t know how to do PMs on here. I actually have more than ten codes I havent sent, but it has to be emailed and I don’t think people want to put their actual email addresses in a comment thread.
Well, other people might not, but I get enough spam that a little bit more isn’t gonna hurt anything, especially not at a secondary e-mail address.
james.westbury@gmail.com
<3
if you still have any codes could you send me one too wconnorcraig@gmail.com
If anyone has one of those F&F codes,, I’d appreciate it… – Nickrut@gmail.com
Ive got an address i use just for occasions like this, so If you want to send one my way, I wouldn’t complain: spamwilliambarrett @ gmail