10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Wool, Whiskey, Leather & More

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.

 

Tricots St Raphael Quilted Nylon Front Sweater Jacket – $47.99

Big thanks to AngusM on threads for pointing out these jackets as a much more affordable altnerative to Bond’s alpine jacket from SPECTRE. Unlike the 7 Diamonds version originally suggested, these have the more true-to-007 style horizontal quilting. But do note that the knit portions are cotton. And that’ll be a deal breaker for some, especially if you’re going to use it outside in any kind of weather. Available in black or Charcoal via Macy’s. The wool option might cost more, but it’ll breathe better and still keep you warm if it gets wet. The cotton? Not so much.

 

Charles Tyrwhitt Slim Fit Moleskin 5-pockets – $71.10 w/ RMNST10 ($79)

Perfect for the cold weather ahead. Moleskin is velvet’s matte, crew-cut brother. Super dense cotton, with a very short nap. Kinda like cotton’s version of nubuck. Flexible like a pair of cotton pants should be, but the fabric has got some real beef to it. Perfect shade of versatile grey here. Want something in brown? Try the Lands’ End moleskin 5-pockets in “Umber.”

 

J. Crew Silk Dotted Scarf – $59.50

Stay with me here. It’s not going to be for everyone, because in some circumstances a silk scarf can look pretty pretentious… but in other circumstances it can be really elegant. If you’re the type that hates having to lug a coat around during the holidays, consider wearing a silk scarf. When placed under a suit jacket or sportcoat, it can look pretty slick while worn indoors, then can keep the wind off your neck when you move on to the next location. As long as it’s not bitter cold out, a silk scarf and some gloves can go a long way. No, you don’t have to go full ascot. Just drape it around your neck and you’re good. And at 50″ long, it appears to be designed to do just that, since it won’t be jutting out from the bottom of your suit jacket as long as you’re of average height. Again, it’s not for everyone. So if you’re rolling your eyes? Then don’t bother. It’s pretty old-school-cool, so it can look costumey if forced.

 

Target Merona Cable Turtleneck – $34.99

Another more affordable alternative to an item in SPECTRE that caught a lot of eyeballs. Cheap, but what the heck is it made out of? No word on the Target website, and an in-store search came up with bupkis. Has to be cotton, right? Or a blend? Maybe a wool-nylon blend? That’s probably a little optimistic at that price. At least it ships and returns free between now and Christmas, thanks to Target’s holiday shipping policy.

 

Abbyhorn Oxhorn Moneyclip – $30.00

A good option for those that don’t like the flash a metal money-clip can bring. Still plenty visually interesting though. Made from sustainably sourced Ox Horn, each clip is unique and has different variances of shading and marbling. Sold via Bespoke Post.

 

Knappogue Castle 12 Yr Single Malt Irish Whiskey – $50ish

Can be a little tough to find, but worth searching out. Great for the Irish Whiskey fan on your Christmas list, or, if that person is you… perfect for sipping on while watching Peaky Blinders. Aged in Bourbon Oak for 12 years which ends up producing a nicely mellow, super drinkable (almost too much so) Irish Whiskey. Citrus forward and more clean than earthy. Bright. A drop or two of water might open it up, but a cube of ice might be too much. Something to start with. Not something to end an evening with.

 

JF J. Ferrar Leather & Knit Gloves – $14.39 w/ SAVALOT2

Gettin’ that mixed-media glove style done for cheap. Also, that wrist strap is a nice, speedy-looking touch. Leather palms with flecked polyester knit tops. Might be something to dump in the ol’ online shopping cart to trip a free shipping balance.

 

Target Merona Wool Blend Plaid Bomber – $62.99 w/ MERRY ($69.99)

After saying it’d be available in August, it took forever for this thing to hit their website. But, it’s there now. 55% Wool, 35% Polyester, 10% “Other” fibers. Always with the “other” threads. Guessing it’s not gold spun from straw by Rumpelstiltskin. At least it ships and returns free. Snap front, ribbed collar and cuffs, and that dark plaid looks terrific.

 

Bonobos Slim Fit Jeans in Dark Resin Rinse – $72.36 ($108)

Almost twice the cost of a pair of Levi’s, but if you’re loyal to Bonobos and/or like the way their seats fit your caboose? Then might be worth jumping in at this price. Their denim can be a little hard to find on sale, so nice to find them in Nordstrom’s sale section. Slim fit here. Also available in straight fit, but sizes are pretty picked over. Ships and returns for free.

 

Timex Chesapeake w/ Blue Nubuck Strap – $45 or Stainless Bracelet – $52

One of Timex’s newest models, and it nails the simple but still interesting thing. Available with a blue dial and blue nubuck strap, or with a black dial on a surprisingly good feeling stainless strap. It does have the loud “tick” that some Timex movements can suffer from. So, if you’ve got a particularly sensitive ear, know that it’s not all that quiet. Great design to these, with scalloped out hands, simple indices, and a crown that’s not forgettable.

Want to win one? Sign up here to win either the blue dial or black dial w/ stainless strap. We’ve got four of em’ to giveaway (two blue, two black) and we’ll draw four winners. First winners drawn get first choice, so know you might not get to pick what you get if you’re drawn after the first two. One entry per person. Deadline for entry is 12:59 PM ET on 11/17/15. 

UPDATE: Congrats to G. King, L. Cuculis, D. Maluendes, and E. Amaya who all won one of the Timex Chesapeakes!

For other Best Bets under $75 from previous months, click here.