Most Wanted Affordable Style – March 2013

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

 

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 Wal© 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?