Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

Most Wanted Affordable Style – May 2013

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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.  Top Photo Credit: andrew_j_w .

5. Tissot Automatic III – $381.36 ($550)

Clean, mean, and mechanical/automatic.
Clean, mean, and mechanical/automatic.

A newer arrival to the Tissot T-Classic lineup.  A cleaner, more minimalistic version of the PRC-200 day/date.  Gone are the numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9.  The crown gets minimized too.  Case stays in the more classic range of 40mm or just a touch under, so fans of larger watches, note that it’s far from a beast.  Sapphire crystal and automatic movement.  Currently fulfilled by Amazon so at least they’ve got skin in the game.  More at the official Tissot site here.  (Got a bigger budget and want something more casual?  Know that a few of the Christopher ward Aviator style watches are on sale for 15% off w/ FLIGHT15 through 5/7.  That includes the C10 MK1.  Full review on that one over here.  Hat tip to Paul R. for the style tip.)

 

4. Transcript Suede Bucks – $110.00 or Tassel Loafers – $99.95

Slimmed down summer shoes.
Slimmed down summer shoes.

The heck is “Transcript”?  A new Nordstrom house brand?  Guessing it’s not, being that these shoes come in European sizes.  But they also come with a more European silhouette.  Many a summer buck can look clunky.  These look much slimmer.  Nice to see some cool greys worked in there among the usual earth tones and navy.  Some guys hate tassel loafers.  Others might take a pair for a spin this year since they look a little more elegant than a standard penny.  Ships and returns free through Nordstrom.

 

3. The Great Gatsby Soundtrack – $11.99

From Jay-Z to Bryan Ferry to Nero
From Jay-Z to Bryan Ferry to Nero

Available for purchase tomorrow, and you should be able to stream it on NPR’s site here.  Movie hits theaters Friday. The expectations are so high for the film that it’s almost (almost) destined to disappoint. Here’s to hoping it lives up to the soundtrack. Advanced listens/releases are incredible. Highlights: “$100 Bill” by Jay-Z, Beyonce + Andre 3000 on “Back to Black” (the song at the start of the 3rd trailer), the agonizingly vulnerable, almost to the point of being pathetic, “Over the Love” from Florence Welch, and the late night fog that is “Together” from the XX. There are plenty of up-beat interludes that sample early 20th-century standards (will.i.am + The Charleston + someone that sounds like Britney Spears?). But the songs that resonate are a slow-death, violent kind of sexy. Full review soon.

 

2. Mr. B’s for Aldo Montano – $99.98 ($200)

Out of season, but lots of sizes.
Out of season, but lots of sizes.

Meanwhile, in fall suede footwear… Almost a poor man’s version of these.  Quality won’t be half bad either.  The Mr. B’s page claims all of their shoes are made in Europe, and these sure look like they’ve got a true welt on em’.  Going to be too hot to wear them for awhile, but a hundred bucks?

 

1. The Wedding or College Grad Gift Monster Splurge – Tiffany Metropolis Cufflinks – $300+

She got an engagement ring, right?
Happy life event.

And not just the cufflinks, but engraved with that specific Gotham-font shown above (and in their catalog over here).  But that font doesn’t appear to be available when you jump to their engraving options on the product page.  Might take a call to customer service to see what’s up.  Art Deco for your wrists.  Last cufflinks you’ll ever buy or have purchased for you.

Want more most wanted?  Click here for the top 5 most wanted lists from previous months. 

Comments

  5. My hopes/expectations for a movie have never been so split. They are simultaneously unattainably high and extremely low. The soundtrack is pretty great though. I think it will fit the movie well.

  8. I wish those Transcript loafers came in a penny style. I’ve been looking for a sleek suede loafer, but I’m not sure I can pull off a tassel.

  9. 300 dollars for cufflinks – what’s affordable here?

    Anyway, loafers question- how do u wear them with long trousers? The trousers front goes on your socks and not on your shoe and it looks half way

  11. Also note that they would go with nearly everything and would literally last you for the rest of your life. I am not a cufflinks person, but if I needed some, why not get one great pair that would go with everything?

  12. Greg, it seems that some readers here do not appreciate the concept of long lasting well made goods.

  13. The watch is nice, but I’m sure similar watches go on sale for that price all the time.

  14. I’m not really that big on the styling. its kind of meh. I’d rather go for an orient or Christopher Ward watch

  15. I think there’s room on both sides. I mean, how many times has this site suggested glued shoes? I’ve had great luck with glued shoes. But I love my Allen Edmonds at the same time.

    I know it’s easy to criticize (too expensive! too cheap!) but if there’s some soon to be bride (or groom) out there who sees those and maybe gets them for her/his husband to be? Well then, hey now. Win.

  18. I’m pretty unimpressed with the soundtrack. It’s so discordant — opens with some trap music, into some eurodance, then BOOM LANA DEL REY.

    I’m just hoping it’s in movie order and that that’s the reason it doesn’t flow.

  19. Got these as a present from my girlfriend (sans engraving). Short of a several thousand dollar watch, these are the kind of special luxury that will last the rest of your life.

    As a man, if you’re gonna own something from a jeweler as iconic as Tiffany, these are that something.

  22. That was my initial thought. Whether or not I like the movie, I just have the feeling that the sound track will fit the movie based on the spectacular scenes in the trailers. I’m not actually that big on many of the artists on the soundtrack, but I think it will fit.

  24. Well, I’m not sure that such an Investment in cufflinks, even be it for your whole life, is the first priority when on budget. There are other 300$ things us young men usually need more.

    However, it is a fancy twist and I bet it feels great. If I had more chances to wear cufflinks, I’d consider such a puchase (however, I still don’t think it’s ‘affordable’).

  25. Fair enough. I can definitely see that. I’m a sucker for quality made goods even if it creeps out of the realm of “affordable.” Mostly, I just wish I had a reason to wear cufflinks and the cash for these!

  26. Completely agree. Even if the items listed truly are quality investments, the fact that the soundtrack is basically the only thing listed at less than $100, this month’s piece probably should have left “affordable” out of the title for most of us.