When did everything get so expensive? Prices sure seem to be on the rise, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few impulse-buy priced, yet still worth having in your collection items out there. Ten of the best, each under ten, are below. Feel free to leave any current favorite sub $10 picks of your own in the comments.
TheTieBar White Linen w/ Navy Border Pocket Square – $10.00
Solids are great, but don’t be afraid to work a border-equipped pocket square into your routine. It looks extra good this time of year, that shock of white + a bit of color added for contrast. Doesn’t have to be used exclusively with conservative suits either. Try one with summery stuff like a khaki chino suit or light grey linen blazer. Photo above is one Liam Neeson wearing a TheTieBar pocket square in the April Issue of GQ.
J. Crew Slim Fit Broken in Pocket Polo in Spearmint – $9.99 FINAL ($39.50)
Don’t sleep on green shades that get the “mint” distinction. It’s one way to work a color that’s not blue/grey/brown into your wardrobe, isn’t hard to pair with other items, and adds color without going full neon. Cut in their slimmer fit, and from their “broken in” cotton jersey fabric. UPDATE: Sold out…
Reeds Ginger Beer – $1.33ish per bottle
Ginger beer is a little like tonic water. Not all brands/recipes are the same, and you’ll find a variety of opinions from who likes/dislikes what. Reed’s comes across as one of the more drinkable options. Still sweet (there’s a whopping 37g of sugar in one of these things), but not syrupy or pixie-stick sickly sweet. The “extra” refers to the 26 g of ginger, instead of the usual 17 g used. Great for the designated driver, the expectant mother, or the person who just would rather not have an alcoholic beverage.
Banana Republic Luxe Dot Print Sock – $7.50 w/ BRPICK2 ($12.50)
The thickness of BR socks is somewhere between a true dress sock and a smushy athletic number. There’s extra cushioning there, plus they seem to stay up with consistency compared to many other sock brands. As far as the pattern goes, stripes get plenty of play. Why not dots? 50% cotton, 50% Modal (a type of rayon). 40% off with the code BRPICK2, which seems to work on all Men’s stuff, with no exclusions? Again? Used to be blazers and BRPicks and a bunch of other stuff would always be excluded from Banana Republic codes? What gives BR?
Jack White – “3 Women” – $1.29
Yes, Jack White can be a little… uh, ornery sometimes. But the guy can rip it up sonically. Organ. Blondes, Red Heads, and Brunettes. And… wait, this is a (thorough) reworking of a song that came out in 1928? Whatever the origins, it’s a hell of a song to turn up and drive with the windows down to.
Target Hawthorne Dopp Kit – $11.24 ($14.99)
Admit it. Some of us are still using zip-loc bags when we go on vacation and need something to keep our toothbrush, razor, toothpaste, etc… separate from the rest of our clothing. Now there’s no excuse. Plenty of dopp kits are outrageously expensive (aiight, that example is an extreme). This one is dirt cheap. Ten bucks. Sold not just online, but in many Target stores. Canvas exterior and poly interior.
Martin Codax Albarino – $9 – $12
Quite possibly one of the best warm-weather wines out there. Dry & crisp, a little tart, and anything but those syrupy sweet wines that make most guys stick to red… or beer. It’s a clean, Spanish white that goes extremely well with spicy dishes… or spicy weather. Seems to show up at Costco, but not just at Costco.
Of All Threads Cork Card Case – $6.00 ($25)
Guys just don’t swap out their wallets like most women do with purses. We get one, and we stick with it. That said, a lot of us are forgoing heavier leather accessories (belts for example, shoes for another) as the weather warms up, and this would fit right in with that strategy. Or, use this as your business card case. Should be nice and lightweight, and super cheap. On sale through the membership flash-sale site Jackthreads.
J. Crew Factory Camo Web Belt – $7.49 FINAL w/ EXTRA50
Has the camo trend burned out already? Even if it mostly has, this isn’t anywhere as aggressive as a camo blazer or even necktie. It’s a casual belt. Perfect for wearing with shorts, or, jeans & a t-shirt when the weather finally cools off. A clearance item, and thus, gets the 50% cut with the “Extra50” code. Final sale though.
Toddy Cloth “Gingham Style” 5×7 Smart Cloth – $9.99
Summer is smudge season. Sunglasses, smartphones, tablet screens, etc… Sometimes it looks like your shades have been attacked by a flock of hands that just powered through a KFC, touching every last extra-crispy in their path. Enter the Toddy Cloth. There are a few of these lens/screen cleaner cloth companies out there, but the Toddy Cloths are worth noting because they really do work. One side has a microfiber surface for heavier jobs, and then a smooth side to polish up. Plus, some of their patterns are downright pocket-square-appropriate.
Got a favorite, ultra-cheap style buy that’s worth sharing? Leave it in the comments below…