Look, nobody’s crying here. It’s just stuff. But, well, some of these things seemed to get the boot way too early. Maybe… just maybe… someone will see this list and bring some of these things back. Got a personal most-missed item that didn’t make this list? Add it, and any alternatives to these now extinct goods in the comments section.
Mossimo Trim Fit Polos
Forget the absurdly low price ($10), these were widely available, cut perfectly, and the plackets hit the placement sweet spot (not too high, not too low). They got shuffled out awhile back in favor of a Merona branded slim fit option with wonky proportions. The tail was super long, the collar was oddly big, and they just didn’t fit or feel as good. Target is still making Mossimo Athletic fit polos, but now they have a logo on them. Please Target. For the love of the style Gods. Don’t take our Mossimo athletic fit tees next.
The Alternative: For ten bucks? There isn’t one.
DSW Mercanti Fiorentini Plain toe Oxfords
These used to go for $120. Proof that less is more. Made in Italy and durable despite the soles being glued. Seems like DSW’s Mercanti Fiorentini is favoring busy bluchers/derbys instead of the super-sleek true oxfords like the model shown above from a few years back.
The Alternative: They do have a very similar option in a cap toe with some pinking.
Codes that work on Banana Republic Blazers/Suit Jackets
The wool linen number on the left was going for $266 with a code last spring. The blazer at right was around $150 (Italian cotton too) last fall. BR used to be a solid place to land a suit in the mid $200s and blazers for around $150. Not anymore. Now it’s extremely rare to find a code that’ll actually work on jackets at Banana Republic.
The Alternative: J. Crew Factory Thompson suit separates. But the button stance is noticeably lower.
The every-so-often style related groupon.
This seems like forever ago. When’s the last time you bought a groupon anyway?
The Alternative: As far as other groupons go? Like colonics and manicures?
Ron Johnson as CEO of JC Penney
Has to be said. The return to sales and coupons has seemingly ended in an overall price increase. The litmus test is the OCBD from the maybe soon-to-be-defunct jcp brand. They were $25 which was a complete steal. Ron Johnson gets punted out of the stadium and… bam… they’re up to $40. They’ve dropped to under $25 online from time to time, but that price includes shipping. In store is all over the place. From many a perspective, it’s a mess. In retrospect, they probably never could have succeeded under Ronnie J., but for the demo that reads this site, that time period in which he was there sure was nice.
The Alternative: Mike Ullman, who was the old CEO, is now the new CEO. And it’s still a mess. Wooster’s gone too. Who knows if they’ll try to keep on keepin’ on with the upgraded look of the men’s stuff.
The Stafford Ashton Wingtip + Camlin Wingtip Boot
Speaking of jcp’s demise. Maybe it’s just because it’s summer, and therefore the boots (shown above after an application of black shoe creme) aren’t available… but the Ashton Wingtip is also no longer in stock. Some have reported these reappearing in-store. Here’s to hoping they bring them back, as well as develop similar ultra-affordable models with great toe shapes, good leather, and solid durability.
The Alternative: None. These were $50 – $60. A stunningly low price for a great pair of boots or shoes.
The Seiko SNZJ Series
When’s the last time a new design surrounding the tried and true Seiko 5 movement came out anyway? A poor man’s Omega Speedmaster. Would go for around $150 – $200.
The Alternative: The SNZH series.
Macy’s INC Ultra-light Shirt-weight cotton blazers
Ultra light, ultra inexpensive, these used to sell for between $35 – $65. Off the rack fit was better than good, and they were super breezy and all cotton. Still have a couple in the personal rotation (the micro check and glen plaid seen here), and they see a ton of use in the summer. Now it seems like INC makes mostly synthetic blazers with goofy details, and when there is a cotton or linen blend, more often than not it’s lined in polyester.
The Alternative: At a similar price point? There isn’t one.
Bonobos sales + codes
These still roll around every once in awhile, but certainly not like they used to. A few have speculated in the comments that this was a smart strategy by Bonobos… get people hooked on their products when they were able to be snatched up at a bargain, and then let the codes ride off into the sunset. Gotta wonder what % of the customer base went away as well. They sure seem to be doing fine (they’re currently over 300,000 likes).
The Alternative: Keep an eye on their facebook page. They throw their fans code-bones every once in awhile over there. They’re usually awfully specific though (take $100 off a certain trench for example).
The Allen Edmonds Fairfax
Just weird enough. A wholecut with a medallion and perforations that sweep down along the side. Oddly modern + traditional all at the same time. These dipped down to around $200 at Nordstrom Rack a year or so ago. Now long gone.
The Alternative: The Vernon is along these same lines, but the uniform punches for the perforations make them lean more modern.
The Ocean’s Movies
Major inspiration (except for Rusty… “tell him he dresses like a gigolo!”). There have been few movies that have come along where you say “screw the plot, I just wanna watch this.” The remake of Ocean’s 11 was great. Now, Ocean’s 12, and to some extent Ocean’s 13, is very much a screw-the-plot movie for some. Unlike Rocky, Die Hard, and Brett Favre’s career (fool), the George Clooney / Steven Soderberghy Ocean’s series could have kept on going far beyond its expiration date. They’re fun as hell. And they make no apologies for being so. The chemistry between the actors is off the charts. They’re slick, sharp, and fun to watch. I’d take 14, 15, and 16 if they wanted to make them. RIP Frank… ’nuff said.
Citizen Eco-Drive AT0550 Silver Dial
Why. WHY… did they discontinue the silver dial version of this watch? For around $200, it was one of the cleanest, sharpest looking chronographs out there. Perfect for wearing with a suit and easily dressed down with jeans. They’re still making a rose gold/black dial version, as well as a brown on brown
The Alternative: Citizen’s CA0331 white dial for $195
those birds eye view shots are not flattering for brogue boots. makes them look wide and stumpy. they look better photographed from the side.
No honorable mention for Twinkies?
Lands End Canvas pants that actually fit. In the first few seasons those of us with athletic frames could buy slim, well-tailored chinos for $20-30. Now all that is offered are the Comer and Elgin pants, which are tighter than Levi’s 511s, have absurdly low rises, and go for $50 full price. Good for really skinny folks, I suppose, but totally useless for everyone else. What gives? Why only offer only one fit of pant in an entire men’s lineup?
I miss the Fairfax, but at least I got some Ashton’s. I also picked up three more blazers at JCP on clearance yesterday before they go back to sucking.
I know it’s nitpicking, but I miss Target having a 75% low clearance mark instead of the 70% it is now.
How’s the fit on the athletic fit vs the trim fit on the Mossimo polos? Similar? Thinking of picking up one of the striped varieties (that doesn’t have the logo).
Really surprised they have them in extra-small for us short & skinny dudes. More big retailers need to have this option (looking at you, Land’s End).
Can’t speak for the extra-small, but the medium was lonnnnnnng on my 5’10” frame.
With you on this one. Their 608 fit, which is what most of their pants are made in, is REAL slim. The 628 is more of a straight cut, and I wish they’d have more options in that one.
Everyone likes a little junk lips right? Right….?
If I’d have known those Target polo’s were going to completely disappear, I’d have purchased 4 in every color and vacuum sealed them. As it is, I have one left in heathered navy that is worn as sparingly as possible.
Their 608s are perfect for my skinny legs.
I’ll throw in for Indochino vouchers, too. Those used to be aplenty but are now extinct with so many similar M2M companies cropping up.
Well, they’re coming back this July, so..
I got four of them two summers ago, at $8-10 each and I’m sooo glad I did. I had no idea they’d be a virtual collector’s item. Mustard, green, sky blue, and maroon.
Amen on the wonky pant sizes. Even their classic fit was tight on me, and I consider myself pretty average (for an American).
At that rate, it’ll stay in your closet longer, but it won’t get worn anymore often. It’s like staying in the store longer because you’ll have to give up your prime parking spot when you leave. Just be glad about having had it, wear it through, and move on. You’ll get all the wears out of it that you otherwise would, and then you’ll have room in the closet for the next great thing. At least, that’s how I see it.
as of Friday there was a size 13 fairfax in the downtown DC Nordstrom Rack. $200ish.
Target has to be secretly happy about JCP’s decision to throw their lot back in with people who don’t care about wearing clothes that fit properly, because otherwise Target was going to have some serious competition on its hands.
I miss those $329 for a suit, shirt, and tie vouchers. I suppose that helped make Indochino so popular… but now that their suits are in the $450 range, it’s hard for me to justify spending that instead of going to Black Lapel or Suit Supply… especially with their button stance issues.
That said, I’m still super happy with my Indochino suit purchases (one charcoal suit, one midnight blue tuxedo)
Bonobos still has good deals from time to time. I think it was only a month or so ago they had the 35% off clearance or whatever. Ended up netting two great pairs of pants for great prices.
I actually have two INC lightweight blazers (mini gingham and glen plaid), tags on – brand new, that I have been meaning to try and return for store credit.
Might toss them up on the threads.
Oh snap. What size??
Yup – I think there are plenty of options for $10 polos if you catch a sale. Uniqlo is always running sales at that price and the fit and construction are top notch.
I think the gingham is a Medium and glen plaid a small. Will have to double check.
*single tear*
Haven’t bought from Bonobos in awhile. I have three pairs and I love their pants, but new pairs are not worth $75-90 to me.
I think they’ve overpriced the market a bit. I’m hoping a competitor comes in and makes similar pants in the $50-60 range.
Lands End had a good thing going with Canvas before they decided to take it more upscale and muck with the fits. It’s a big missed opportunity IMO.
How do you like the midnight blue tux? That is what I have in mind for whenever I get married – what options and collar did you get?
Yeah. I used to pick up LEC stuff all the time (maybe 2 years ago?), but now I very rarely find anything I’m happy with. They upped prices, messed up the fit, and have somewhat fallen off of my radar. If I put on 608 fit, it looks like I’m wearing tights.
I absolutely love it. Great feel, looks gorgeous in the sun, and I’m not kidding you that every time I’ve worn it, I can notice people checking me out. I can upload a photo when I get home if you want.
I did the most classic look (basically what Daniel Craig wore in the Macau scenes in Skyfall) – one button, full satin lapel (not just lining), shawl lapel.
Are the Merona with the long tail and the Mossimo with the logo made of the same jersey material? If they are, I’m in.
Post over on threads with pics, sizes and prices. I am interested in the ginham.
Wait… Indochino is now letting people pick full satin lapels instead of just the edges? Nice…
I remember it used to only be lining, too.
Great choice on the shawl! I’d love a pic if you could put one up.
The Fairfax, as well as the Hastings, can still be found at some Nordy Racks; well at least at the one close to me. I’ve tried them on several times, but they just fit me quite suckily (IIRC, they’re both on the 5-last – which my feet HATE). I’ve seen them in black, chili and (I *think*) brown – but can’t recall which color(s) for which model(s) – still going in that $200-220 range. They’ve seemingly been there a long time. I think folks just tend to go with the more standard issue AEs. Generalizing, of course. Dunno.
I *did* snag a sweet pair of black Vernons about a week ago there, though. They were marked even further down to $159, so yeah… couldn’t resist. Different for sure, and some may not dig those differences, but I sure do.
I think it’s actually the opposite. I bought mine a year ago and, as a special request, they did that for me. Shortly after, from what I’ve heard, they stopped doing that.
The Mercanti are my favorite dress shoe ever. The fact I can’t find a new pair–I bought one pair, in brown–is something that I vex over at least once a month. When I saw the the picture in the post above, my hopes were suddenly raised, only to be dashed a paragraph later.
How the heck these shoes aren’t available more often and elsewhere is a complete mystery to me.
The soles on the pair I bought lasted a solid year, at which point I had the re-soled with thick Italian leather that take a lickin’ and keep on going!
I totally missed the halycon days of bonobos sales/groupons but I think their jeans are well worth the asking price. I wouldn’t say the same for their chinos even though its their standard bearer. The jeans are high quality and if you fall in their target fit range they fill a huge void in the casual wardrobe. Hang around and eventually you can snag them for 30% off even though I didn’t have the patience for it.
I am so scared they will kill the mossimo athletic fit t’s that I think I buy a new one every time I go to target. Fit is better than jcrew and almost as soft for a fraction of the cost.
RUGBY. C’mon, guys.
I have a couple of the new Mossimo’s, they’re not bad (logo is not obnoxious at all) BUT they are nowhere close to the perfection that was the jersey-knit Mossimo athletic fit. I never knew a polo shirt could feel like a t-shirt in the summer & be layered with cardigans and sweaters for the fall/winter. So diverse. Excuse me, someone started cutting onions in here…
Here we go.
I was in Target the other day and tried the Mossimo athletic (which seems to come in logo-free jersey in a striped configuration) and the Merona, just to see for myself how they fit.
Wow. I have no idea what kind of person either was cut for. The Merona was snug in the upper body, but it felt tolerable enough. The sleeves on the other hand came right down to my elbows, which I found not just a strange look, but a very strange feel in that fabric. The Mossimo was a mess- super long as you said, snug across the shoulders to the point of being unseemly, and a bizarrely proportioned collar. (For ref, I’m 5’7″, 180#, about 43″ chest)
It’s really a shame; I have a pile of Mossimo tees that I really like and having Target-priced polos to add to that would have been great.