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. Florsheim Doon Suede Wingtip – $79.95 ($100)
A new arrival on Florsheim.com and… on sale at DSW. Lots of potential for such a low price. If you’re usually conservative with your shoes, spring & summer is the time to take a few risks. Cheap suede always trumps cheap leather. Deep sweep on that wingtip too, without going full longwing back to the ankle. Meanwhile, anyone catch the half-brogue double monks from Aston Grey? Aston Grey’s quality is usually a step above other $100 and under shoe brands.
4. Banana Republic Tailored Fit Cotton Linen Blazer – $198.00
A new arrival that you might have to wait awhile to use a code on (blazers/suit jackets, now almost always excluded). But if you CAN… it’s worth a look. Arms are nice and trim, armholes are on the high side, and button stance is great. Sleeves seem to be a touch long, but the buttons are non-functioning. Yes, there is that accent stitching around them, but there’s some good space between them and the end of the sleeve. The fabric is an Italian made, almost 50/50 blend of cotton and linen. Lining is an almost 50/50 blend of poly and viscose… which is good, since viscose actually breathes a little. Not a ton, but a little. But with that nice fabric comes a bit of weight. So wearing this in dead-of-summer searing heat probably isn’t the best idea. For that, you’d want something unlined and ultra light like Suitsupply’s mega expensive ($349) Copenhagen Cotton/Linen Brown Check Sportcoat.
3. Bespoke Post Weekender II – $45.00 + Gulf Wax – $7.69
Bravo to Chris R. for coming up with the idea to wax the Bespoke Post Weekender II bag from April. It’s a terrific bag on it’s own, but it’s totally unstructured. After applying all of the blocks in the box to his bag, it’s now waterproof and stands up on its own. He says it’ll take a bit of banging around to loosen it up (or maybe a hot day or two outside) but this is something more than a few of us might try ourselves.
2. Bols Genever – $29.99
Closely related to gin, but swaps out the pine and much of the citrus (all?) for a bready characteristic. Distilled from corn, wheat, and rye, then blended with a juniper berry distillate and the final result is this 42% ABV intriguer. Definite malt but… crisp at the same time? A strange one, but a good one. More on its history over here. Refreshing in an Original John (not Tom) Collins. More on that in the recipe section over here.
1. The Hamilton Ugly Duckling Duo: Mechanical Field – $265
| Pan Europ Chrono – $1200
One of these looks like a campfire smells, the other bleeds 1970s racing style. Both will make a lot of guys furrow their brows and stick their lower lips out in “those are… fuhhhgly” disapproval. Green dial on the field, and it’s a mechanical so you’ve got to wind it to keep it going. 38mm in diameter. The Pan Europ is a bit of a beast at 45mm in diameter, but the lugs are just 20. The difficult to find blue dial version is getting awfully close to a Monaco. 60 hour power reserve. 60 week checkbook wrecking price.
I do like that blazer, but personally, I think this one probably is going to be a bit more summer and wallet friendly: http://goo.gl/QMET
Ah Bols, that brings back some memories.
I too have been boisterously hammered.
I had given some thought to getting one of those Beckel Canvas War Bags and some Otter Wax and going to town. If you get the hang of it there’s a lot of stuff out there (trenches come to mind) that you could get for relatively cheap and upgrade to old-school lux status with some wax or oil and a hair dryer.
Damn you bud!
Anyone have experience with the weekender bag? I just subscribe and cancel? I was considering one of these: http://tinyurl.com/cfuwgfv
I would say the whole point of getting something with the lighter natural leather color is allowing the leather to age and darken and develop character, which won’t happen here, obviously, because it’s not real leather.
*hug* shhhh, sshhhh it’s ok, it’s ok.
Ah. I would prepare to spend the better part of the weekend and a little frustration hand waxing that bag. Especially if applying a whole package of it.
Is it really that bad without the wax?
I’ve used the bag for 3 short weekend trips since I got it. It has no stiffness to it and when empty, it sits in a heap of fabric. However stuffed with clothes sitting in my backseat it seems just fine. Waxing it sounds like a lot of effort when I can just throw everything into my frost river bag instead.
This works, really nice to get 50% off entire order on BR, some really great stuff, picked up a bunch of chinos and casual button downs. Go to the link and follow the directions works flawlessly, hope this helps everyone
http://www.reddit.com/r/frugalmalefashion/comments/1beti9/br_50_off_possibly_more_if_you_have_discounted/
Funny, I ordered this Seiko 5 in green on green last week
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LTAY1U/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Similar dimensions. Price fluctuates, but I hit it at 52 bucks. And auto rather than a stem winder (which strikes me as a pain in the butt). We’ll see what it looks like in person. I’m sure it’s not Hamilton nice, but I bet it’s better than 1/5 Hamilton nice
Very nice. I’m looking for a clean, simple weekend at the cottage watch right now.
Just picked up a pair of the grey florsheim from DSW last week. They’re very nice, but the foam sole is a bit softer than I’d have hoped. They seem like they might wear fast.
The Hamilton is about as good as it gets on a military field watch, with a great hand wind movement to boot.
I was highly impressed! It’s a $45 bag that feels like a $200+ item. The canvas appears to be solid and has held up perfectly since I’ve had it(2 months? – multiple weekend trips) Soft yet sturdy leather for the handle and straps.
Alas, I am working at home today,watch was delivered to office. Will pick up tomorrow and report back
The Seiko came today total winner. Not real big, but I’m fine with that. Nicely packaged. Looks good, fired right up (was actually running just from the jostling of opening the box). Totally worth 50 bucks.
I went ahead and bought the Aston Grey double monks and am happy with my purchase. I really wish the toe matched their Mercer wingtip which to me is the perfect modern shoe at an affordable price. The toe is a little more squared off but aside from that the color is rich the fit is great, and seems like a good quality shoe for the under $100 market. I always have some kind of DSQ coupon so i got $30 off those to get them for $79
I think grey would be more versatile in general but navy might be more casual if that is what you are looking for
I think grey is more versatile but navy is more casual if that is what you are looking for
The Hami is nice but why spend $265 on a Quartz when you can get an automatic one for a bit more?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hamilton-Khaki-Field-Mens-Brown-Leather-Swiss-Automatic-Watch-H70455533-/310645764593?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item4853ee31f1
It’s not quartz. It’s a hand-wind. Annnnnnnd boy, I wouldn’t trust buying from that seller. Looks really sketchy.
Thanks for the reply, Joe. I don’t know how I missed on “mechanical” in the title.
I’m thinking about doing this to my Weekender II bag, but it’s unlined, and I’m worried the wax will get on my clothes inside the bag. Thoughts?