10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Light Layers, Spring Accessories, & 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.

 

Canvas by Lands’ End Rugby Stripe Crewneck Sweater – $79

No, it’s not under $75. But close enough. And despite all of their new “Canvas by Lands’ End” stuff having the “Excluded from all promotional discounts tag…” most of us believe it’s just a matter of time before this new collection goes on sale, no? I mean… it has to, doesn’t it? Mid-gauge knit, a slim fit, and big bold stripes. Perfect with summer weight chinos for a cool, early morning with coffee and a book/the paper during a weekend getaway. (Photo credit.) 

 

H&M Cotton Half-Lined Sportcoat – $59.99

This plus some white jeans or chinos and a pair of suede bucks = a cheap and easy Kentucky Derby Party outfit. But beware. H&M sportcoats can be cut comically short in the tail, and that looks to be a likely drawback here. And the button stance/lapel dip seems to be off too. But at least it’s just half lined, and it might be lined in a cotton fabric at that. Nice summery shade of blue, and the shell appears to be oxford cloth? Patch pockets and self fabric elbow patches.

 

Blue Claw Co. Buy One/Give One USA Dopp Kit – $30.00

Thirty bucks gets you a made in the USA, waxed canvas dopp kit, AND a service member on board the USS Donald Cook gets one too? Excellent. And just in time for the warm weather travel season.

 

TheTieBar Royal Blue Gingham Cotton Pocket Square – $10.00

It’s arguably the best, most versatile pocket square for the spring & summer months. It’s less rigid than an all white cotton or linen pocket square, and the royal blue looks great with everything from the palest of greys to deep khaki & straw to the darkest navy. It should also help you get more use out of your somber charcoal suits, now that the sun’s out. Just ditch the tie, wear a pale blue or white shirt, and pop one of these colorful pieces of cloth into your breast pocket.

 

John Wick – $4.99 via Amazon

It’s a comic book that somehow manages to be somewhat believable. Hyper-violence aside, it’s also a lesson on respecting those who just don’t like being screwed with when they go out of their way to keep a low profile. If you’re going to start something, you better be sure you can finish it. Otherwise, it’s just a lot of trouble for everyone. Let sleeping dogs lie.

 

Banana Republic Striped Shawl Sweater – $65.98 FINAL ($140)

Finally a solid price for this thing. But it is final sale. So no returns. The starting asking price of $140 was way steep. But it’s dropped and dropped and now it’s an extra 40% off at checkout. Soft but not spongy, and super comfortable, all while sportin’ a couple of pretty slick stripes. It’s not cheap, but it’s a winner. A really nice, transitional layer for early spring, and will come in handy for after sundown nights on the patio come summer.

 

J. Crew Cotton Stretch Web Belt in Navy, Black, or Green – $39.50

Casual, but not overly bulky like many stretch belts. Just 1 3/8″ wide and wears even a little bit smaller. Great with shorts, chinos, and jeans. Big fan of the new forest green option. Made in the USA too. Often on sale.

 

Old Navy Jersey Henley Tee – $11.95 w/ BIGSAVE ($14.94)

More interesting than a plain tee, while it doesn’t dip as low as many a v-neck. Contrasting sleeves and placket keep it looking more like a casual short sleeve shirt and less like underwear. Inexpensive to start, and almost certainly will be up for codes and promotions.

 

Campari Apertif – $26.99

We’re slowly drifting away from those cold evenings where pouring whiskey in a glass and calling it good feels oh so right. Or, at least most of us are drifting away from those days. Warmer weather calls for more refreshing drinks that often have less alcohol. (No need to have that ethanol keeping you warm from the inside out, right?) So a bottle of Campari is a very, very solid purchase as we head into summer. Try an Americano on a lazy Sunday afternoon, a Negroni to get your appetite up pre-dinner while out, or just Campari and soda if you’re pacing yourself. More recipes here.

 

Target Merona Shorts in Solid Chambray or Striped Oxford – $24.99

Looks like Target got a few more options in for their well-liked “Club” shorts by Merona. It appears that there’s just not as many oxford cloth options as there has been in the past? For example, all of those solid shorts claim to be more of a chambray-like fabric? The striped version on the right claims to be oxford. Might be worth popping in store to get hands on with each fabric.

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