The $1500 Wardrobe Part VI – The Alternatives

Alternative Options – The $1500 Wardrobe Part VI

This year’s $1500 wardrobe wrapped up on Friday, but as always, it was far from perfect (there is no “perfect” way to do this). The budget remains the same, but here are a few other ways to spend that same pile of cash. The math below each item reflects savings / extra costs as we go down the list of these alternatives..
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Suits: Buy ONE suit instead of two, and make it the $399 Charcoal Suitsupply

There’s certainly an argument to be made for owning one well made suit, instead of two cheaper suits. But while most would say make your first (or only) suit navy, we’re going with charcoal. Navy just wouldn’t look right at a funeral. It’s more dashing, while charcoal leans serious. And while life is for the living, and therefore you don’t want to build an internet article about a hypothetical wardrobe around someone who has bought the farm, get the charcoal anyway.

Savings vs. original wardrobe: +$26.99. Dang. Was hoping for a bit more
Money left to spend: +$26.99 

 

Pants: Buy a pair of trousers. L.E. Tailored Fit Year-Rounders – $62.30* ($89)

Ah yes. Trousers. Seems like a few believe that wearing your suits more often, instead of investing in a pair of wool trousers for the $1500 wardrobe, is truly stupid. Oh come now. But, let’s buy a pair of wool trousers. The Lands’ End Year Rounders are extremely well reviewed and a staple for plenty. Made from merino wool. Cut in a trimmer silhouette yet still far from inappropriate for a conservative office. Five shades, and you can get em’ hemmed (cuffed or uncuffed) within a 1/4″. *NOTE: This price reflects the target price of 30% off. Might have to wait a bit for a 30% off reg. price code, but they do happen with some regularity. UPDATE: They launched a 25% off Friends & Family code this morning: FAMILY25 & 1804. Drops them to $66.75

Savings vs. Original wardrobe: $0.00
Money Left to Spend: – $35.31. Bah… back in the hole. Time to make up some ground

 

Blazers: Skip the causal cotton option from Target, which was $44.99

WE NEED TROUSER FUNDS. Look, there’s nothing wrong with wearing a sweater & shirt with jeans/chinos/trousers. But a jacket, even a casual one, will usually look sharper. They clean up your lines, and make you look stronger & more fit. But we already had a navy wool blazer in the original wardrobe (from UNIQLO),so, just wear that one more often.

Savings vs. original wardrobe: +$44.99
Money Left to Spend: +$9.68. Back on the right side of the ledger!

 

Shoes: Skip the Burgundy & go with brown oxfords: Mercanti – $149.95

Burgundy just might be a little too risky for those assembling a wardrobe from almost scratch. (Besides, let’s just assume you’re gonna win the pure-sex-on-toast pair from Herring we’re giving away. THINK POSITIVE MAN.) Fair enough. DSW’S Mercanti Fiorentini brand makes solid quality shoes for the mid to low $100s, and while the soles are almost certainly glued and not Goodyear Welted like the Jack Erwins, they should hold up with reasonable care. Still a true oxford, so plenty dressed up, but still possible to wear with jeans and the wool blazer. These aren’t a traditional dark brown, but instead a lighter cognac. When you have to be conservative/toned down, wear your black shoes.

Savings vs. original wardrobe: +$45.05
Money Left to Spend: +54.73. Aw yeah. Put on your swim trunks. We’re going Scroogin’!

 

Pants: Add some Cords in a warmer tone. GAP Tailored Cords – $41.97*

Lots of blue and grey in the $1500 wardrobe. Lots. So, we’ll use this extra cash to warm up the closet. Not a 5-pocket/jean like cord, but a dressier setup with the pockets. Real easy to dress up or down. *NOTE: Another “target” price here. Surprising that the current 30% off code “JOY” excludes cords. Hang out for one that doesn’t exclude this fall staple style, and you should get them for around forty bucks.

Savings vs. Original Wardrobe: $0. But, we had it to spend.
Money Left to Spend: +12.76.

 

Get a pocket square: TheTieBar White Linen w/ Navy Border – $10.00

That’d be the precise square right there ^ from TheTieBar, in the April issue of GQ. A little border goes a long way for a pocket square, and linen adds more texture than cotton. If you don’t mind mixing your blues (it actually looks quite good) try the royal blue cotton option for eight bucks. Should look dynamite along side the UNIQLO blazer.

NEW TOTAL WARDROBE COST: $1497.24
CASH REMAINING: $2.76

Head on over to the archive for this year’s entire $1500 wardrobe series.