What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. So we’re in March. Some of you are starting to see signs of spring. Some of you are hoping, HOPING, the approaching storm is the last major snow of the year. Eventually we’ll all get to that point where winter is starting to fade, but it’s not quite spring. Mornings can be cold, but if the sun comes out, it might be warm in the afternoon on the way home. Here’s one way to add in some lighter weights and colors once that (finally) happens.
The Blazer: UNIQLO Linen/Cotton Blazer – $79.90. 63% linen and 37% cotton. Also appears to be unlined. So summer weight for sure, but in an icy fog blue that won’t look out of place now. It’s UNIQLO, so expect longer than normal arms and a shorter than average tail. J. Crew’s Italian cotton blazer would also work here.
The Button Down: J. Crew Factory SLIM Washed Shirt in Stone-Blue-White – $29.50. Like the blazer, there’s some color here, but it’s slightly de-saturated. Standard gingham on a slimmer cut.
The Sunglasses: Warby Parker Polarized Madison – $95. A classic shape, but with polarized lenses and free shipping & returns. Prescription (single-vision) will run you $150.
The Gloves: Ralph Lauren Diamond Stitch gloves – $49.99 ($88). It’s that time of year where gloves are still a necessity in the morning and evening, but the heavy coats can start to stay in the closet. It’s also the time of year where gloves (and hats, and scarves) tend to go on sale. These are lined, so they’ll be warm, but they’re not massively insulated, so they still look decently trim.
The Coat: GAP Cotton/Nylon Mac – $76.80 w/ SAVE ($128). One of the best pieces of sub $100 outerwear in a long while. Real simple, but real good. Always on sale. Not warm, but it’ll keep the wind and rain off you. Review here.
The Boots: H&M Leather Chelseas – $79.20 w/ 2958 ($99). It’s still a little early & messy for loafers, so Chelseas (that you don’t mind getting messy) are a good play here. Also available in a dark brown for those who think the lighter cognac shade’s a little aggressive. Code 2958 is one of three tiered codes H&M has running through today.
The Jeans: Levi’s 505 in Tumbled Rigid – $39.99. Or, as always, whatever your favorite pair of dark denim happens to be.
The Watch: Christopher Ward Malvern Chrono MKII – $345. Pricey for a quartz, but it’s a stunner. Big fan of the silver dial version. Plus, at 39mm in diameter, it fits in with the slight shrinking of watch dials that we’ve seen in the last year or so (even though the Malvern has always been on the more modest size for a modern chrono) Swiss, Sapphire Crystal, and free returns within 60 days.
The Belt: Banana Republic “Vintage” Leather Belt – $32.75 w/ BRGREAT35. Vintage in buckle style, not age. One can assume. The more casual the shoe and the lighter the shade of leather, the less necessary it becomes to match your belt to your shoes (unless you’re Meat-head Rob Lowe, and your shoes and belt are white). Always on sale. Note: That BRGREAT35 code might not work for everyone, as it might be one of those “select customer” codes.
The Briefcase: Jack Spade Wesson Leather File Case – $179 ($348). Not a bad price for an all leather, simple, professional looking brief. Hang out for an extra 25% off sale items code and it’ll drop to well under $150.