Seventy Five dollars. That’s a lot of money. It’ll get you a couple pairs of Levi’s, a nice dinner out, or a couple months at your local gym. Seventy Five dollars. It is a lot of money, especially if you spend it right. Ten picks follow, all for $75 or under, and some of them are much, much less.
1. TheDailyHookup Deal: $65.00 gets you $135 at Ledbury
The deal through TheDailyHookup costs you $65, and you get $135 in credit at Ledbury… which is something. Ledbury shirts are fantastic. The lowered second button is precisely placed, so when you undo just the top it looks perfect. Most shirts look stuffy if you have just the top undone, yet unbuttoning two can leave you looking cheesy. The fabric, collars, and buttons are also top of the line. Made in Europe (Poland) from Italian fabrics. Slim fit isn’t mega skinny, but does taper nicely. If you’re interested, do this: Head to Ledbury’s website first. Look at their inventory. Their prices can vary, and it costs $10 to shorten sleeves. They honestly don’t offer a ton of sizes, and not every color + fabric is offered with multiple collar styles. A few slim-fit picks:
- The White Royal Twill Worker – $65 ($125)
- The White and Blue Windowpane – $65 ($135)
- Seen above, The Blue Fine Twill Slim Fit – $65 ($115)
Since this is a deal website, you DO have to hand over an email address to create an account with them. Vouchers have to be used by December 31st to get the full $135 value, which is nice, since sizes/stock can be limited. Might want to email Ledbury to see if they even offer your size, if it’s not already listed.
2. Ray-Ban New Wayfarer in Honey & Black – $75.00 w/ GiltCity deal
Another half-priced deal. Head to Gilt’s version of Groupon, “GiltCity”, nab yourself the $50 for $100 in credit deal, then head to the website OnwardReserve.com. These are the 55mm version. The smaller 52mm is also available. Retro without going full Clubmaster. Standard tortoise shell & black versions are also available.
3. UNIQLO Premium Cotton Polo Shirt – $19.90
Was just on sale for $14.90 a pop last week, but still absolutely worth it at twenty bucks. Super soft cotton, a great cut, and the pocket on the chest breaks it up just enough. Only problem is the shipping. Seven bucks? Stick it in a bubble envelope and send it parcel post. Sizes are scattered depending on the color. Shown above: dark grey in size medium.
4. Peweter Rounded Hip Flask – $75.00
Pricey, but a looker. Made in England from Peweter. Nice curves. Holds 5.75 ounces. Fill it with your favorite and take it to your pal’s poker night or when hitting the golf course.
5. Nike “Sweet Classic” Sneaker – $40.20 ($60)
Well they nailed the name. Want something with a bit more visual-sugar than a blend in sneaker like converse or PF Flyers? Here they be. Nice contrasting swoosh up against the white uppers, with some fat cushioning around the ankle and a tan rubber sole. Not going to breathe as well as canvas (those are leather uppers) but could become a quick favorite. Ships/returns free thanks to Nordstrom, and part of their massive Half-Yearly sale for men. More picks here.
6. Phigvel Maker’s Co. Horsehide Key Holder – $59.00
Expensive, awesome, and out of stock. Turning to the throbbing brain that is you guys in the Dappered readership. Looking for something similar, cheaper, and readily available… Ideas?
UPDATE: Thanks to the good folks at Hickoree’s for letting us all know that they have a couple of these in different shades in stock. A lighter natural can be found here, and a navy over here.
7. Broker’s Gin – $19.99
Summer and Scotch don’t usually go together (there are exceptions). It’s the clear stuff that most of us are turning to. And for twenty to twenty five bucks, you can’t beat Broker’s. Citrus forward but well balanced, it’s a London Dry that makes a terrific martini or G&T (especially if you splurge and go less sweet with Q Tonic).
8. jcp jersey polos – $9.99
All over stripes, a bold chest stripe, or just piping at the collar… at post time they’re on sale online for $9.99. Strongly consider sizing down. That striped polo on the left is a small. Here’s a comparison between small and medium. Fabric is super soft, collars are decent, and the button placement on the placket is just fine. Skip the pique, since cheap pique polos can feel stiff and fight against your movements. Jersey is the way to go.
UPDATE: They jacked the price up on many of these overnight, and the stripes are now sold out. Probably worth making a swing through a brick & mortar location if you’re nearby and in the polo market.
9. Audible.com
– $7.49/month for first 3 months ($14.95 after)
Summer means getting outside and/or hitting the road. Tough to read if you’re in motion like that. But the newish to the Amazon family Audible.com has collected a bazillion audio books and has made them available for download to iPods and the like. Their subscription service is pretty solid too. Their “gold” membership is $7.49 a month for the first 3 months, $14.95 a month thereafter, and you get one audiobook at that level per month. You also save 30% on any audiobooks you purchase beyond that monthly allotment. You can cancel at any time and you still keep your books. More on their plans over here. Road trips and hikes with the dog just got even better.
10. Original Penguin Earl Volley Swim Trunk – $65.00
It’s hard to find a pair of swim trunks that hit these three points: Shorter than your normal shorts but not a speedo… has a mesh liner… and doesn’t have scrunchy elastic at the waist. The OP Earl swim trunk nails all three. 6″ inseam, lined, and the waist ties like a pair of board shorts. A bit on the expensive side, but you also get exact waist size measurements instead of Small, Medium, Large, etc… So not only do they look great and function on all levels, they’ll actually fit… instead of poofing out in the wind and water.
For other best bets under $75 from previous months, click here.
jcp striped polos…. ”
We are sorry, but this product is not available at this time.”
already sold out?!
American Eagle has trunks just like those Penguins on sale for $17.49 right now. I posted in the Threads about it, but figured I’d do it again here because I love my pair(s).
I’ve been eyeballing Ledbury for a while, and this deal may be what makes me pull the trigger. Does anybody have any experience with them?
Oh also, free shipping no minimum. This is also available in a bright striped version: http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?catId=cat90074&productId=0133_5830_008&cid=AEO_CSE_K4720&mr:referralID=189ff850-d740-11e2-9389-001b2166c62d
The Dappered effect.
I have that style of key case. I saw it the same place you did, couldn’t afford it and sourced a cheaper version on Etsy.The leather from the etsy one was nice, but the design is a bit bulkier than it needs to be. I also have a vintage one I found at an antique store. The vintage one is about perfect dimensions, but the leather was too old and flimsy, so it disintegrated in short order. I’m planning to design one based upon the dimensions of the vintage one. Once I have a working prototype I will probably sell them in my etsy shop. I have to figure the cost of materials and labor, but i figure the cost will come in closer to $20 than $60.
For swim trunks also look at Bonobos trunks which also hit the same 3 points. Mine fit a little tighter in the thigh than I prefer, but I have big thighs. I think this years might have snaps rather than ties. the tie waist was a good thing, giving a bit of adjustment for a snug fit.
Quality is superb. Their cuts are pretty generous, though. I’m 5’10”, 175 pounds, relatively fit… I ordered one slim fit shirt at my normal neck size, and one slim fit shirt at a full size down. Even the sized-down shirt was huge on me. Just tons of excess fabric in the torso and arms.
Like I said, no complaints about the quality. They were fantastic shirts. If you’re relatively skinny and like a good close-fitting dress shirt, the current Ledbury options probably won’t cut it for you. However, after speaking with a Customer Service representative, they do have plans to release a more fully fitted lineup at some point in the future, though I don’t really know any details about that.
Perhaps those polo prices were a Father’s Day sale? What’s left has jumped to $20.
Those Ledbury sizes are next to useless! What is this? A shirt for ants?
I see what you did there.
here’s the link to the one I bought. I’m reasonably satisfied with it, though like I said I see room for improvement. https://www.etsy.com/listing/95427571/extremely-convenient-keychain-key-holder
For the key-holder, there’s an even smaller metal version that was recently funded over Kickstarter. Should hopefully be available for general sale soon:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2065501355/smartkey-free-your-pocket
Not quite as swanky looking, but I’m hoping will considerably cut down on pocket bulk.
Nice! What’s the “printed eagle at back hip” look like?
On the black version, it’s pretty subtle. Just dark gray on black, about the size of a quarter. The eagle is bright blue on my striped ones, but again pretty small and pretty unobtrusive.
Plus, if anyone looks that closely at the eagle, they’ve clearly already checked out my butt, so there’s that.
While I cannot vouch for the quality of the AE shorts, I picked up a pair of the Penguin’s earlier in the summer and they are fantastic. Great fit, and the mesh liner is way more comfortable than the Nike swim trunks I used to wear as a kid – you know, the ones that are crazy scratchy and stick to your junk…
That doesn’t entirely surprise me (re: the generous proportions). For a company that basically sticks with one sleeve size per neck size, and only gives you the (extra cost) option to shorten the sleeves, it seems like they would need to make it accessible to more people – hence the extra fabric.
Joe, if that is you in the Ledbury picture, could you please give details on that marvelous jacket and pocket square?
I would be interested in such a product, and purchasing from a Dappered member would be more important to me than a few bucks.
FWIW, I definitely like the style of the Penguins more, but can’t justify the price right now. Glad to know the quality is there, though, for when I can fit them in the budget.
Big fan of Broker’s. I’ve seen it for as low as $18.
I’m curious, is the price on the UNIQLO polo a permanent price, or is that a sale? Definitely thinking about pulling the trigger on the navy option, but I’m just wondering if I should do it now, or if the price will drop even further/go back up if I wait too long?
And nothing longer than a 35″? Lol wut?
The pocket square looks like the Fifth and Brannan one he includes in posts every once in a while.
Hi Dappered!
Glad you guys like the Phigvel Key Holders. We still have some in Natural and Navy, with more Brown and Black on the way.
http://www.hickorees.com/brand/phigvel/product/horsehide-key-holder-natural-hickorees-exclusive
http://www.hickorees.com/brand/phigvel/product/horsehide-key-holder-navy-hickorees-exclusive
Sooooo, Old Navy has Slim polos for $7.50 (that appear to be legitimately slim/skinny based on reviews). The sizes are getting a bit picked over by now (I think the deal started a few days ago). I realize ON quality probably isn’t the best, but I have to imagine it’s at least in the ballpark of H&M, Uniqlo, JCP, etc.
I highly doubt you’ll find slim polos for cheaper than this just about anywhere. The only way you might is if you wait and hope you find something that hits the sale section and has a stackable code, a B&M clearance rack or at a thrift store.
EDIT: Link to the ON polos – http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=303718022
Ledbury looks awesome, except that there is no size that is even close to fitting me…
16.5? That’s the biggest size they have? Interesting.
Re: UNIQLO polo: Is that the youth medium size?
That flask is a looker! May have to go with that to replace the one I have… or use both of them!
I agree the bonobos are great due to the snap fronts the penguins look nice but the drawstrings rather than a fitted waist turns me off. For those that don’t know, the bonobos has a drawstring on the inside as well.
Good call on the pocket square.
Jacket is my Indochino Essential Grey suit jacket, and the pocket square is from Fifth&Brannan. Got a pack of three when I supported their kickstarter project.
Great. Thanks, Joe. Awesome look…as always.
+1 for Audible. I find that I get through books in about half the time when I listen rather than read, simply because listening can be done at the gym, in the car, and while cleaning or cooking. Weirdly, I think listening to an engaging audio book helps me get through long runs better than music.
Great call- I have found nothing to rival Bonobos swim trunks.
They just had a sale on polos, but have been rotating between those, OCBDs, linen shirts, etc all summer.
Not a bad buy at $20, but if you can wait then yes, the polos are likely to go back on sale some time within the next couple of weeks.
I finally got arround to doing these. They are now up in my etsy shop in both Horse Hide and Oak Tanned leather. https://www.etsy.com/listing/167539128/slim-horse-hide-leather-key-case