10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Waxed fall Jackets, Leather Double Monks, & More

Seventy Five bucks. That’s a lot of money. It’ll get you a couple pairs of Levi’s, a decent casual dinner out, or a couple months at your local gym. Ten picks follow, all for $75 or under, with some of them much, much less. Expect these round-ups on a monthly basis. Got a tip on something for under $75? Send those in to joe@dappered.com.

 

H&M “Premium Quality” Double Monks – $79.99

Just a hair over the $75 ceiling, but with the often-in-effect 0040 free shipping at $40 code, we’ll take that into account. Their “premium quality” shoes rarely disappoint. BUT… and it’s a big but (she had dumps like a truck, truck truck)… these aren’t suede. And cheap leather almost always underwhelms, whereas cheap suede often over performs. Got a pair on the way for review. Standby.

 

Gutting and Organizing your Closet – FREE

Summer is just about over. And that means for better (yay!) or worse, we’ll be spending less time outdoors. That means, as animals, we best start preparing our sheltered habitat for more use. Take a look at your closet. Is it a disorganized disaster? Now’s the time to fix that. As you’re putting your warm weather gear into storage, SERIOUSLY consider investing an hour or two into really going through your closet, and figuring out what needs to go, what can stay, and how it can be a better, overall, storage area for your wardrobe. An hour or two invested on a Saturday or Sunday will save you oodles (oodles!) of time in the long run. Crack a beer (or two) and get after it. Here’s our three part series on doing just that.

 

Timex T2N565AT Dress Chronograph – $70.40 when 20% off ($88)

But… but… but where is it? Sold out at post time. Haven’t seen this thing on Amazon yet. Don’t recall it launching on the Timex site. Is it soon to come to the states? Has it already passed us by? If the latter is the case… well damn. That’s a real looker.

 

Totes “Gentleman’s” Wood Handle Umbrella – $20

Because you’re gonna need one a hell of a lot sooner than you may think. Enough space for you and a date. Hooked handle means you can throw it over a wrist and still have that hand free for opening doors, pushing elevator buttons, Krav Maga, etc.

 

SLIM J. Crew Lambswool V – $69.50 | UNIQLO Boiled Wool Crew – $30

Most of us stock our fall wardrobes with merino wool sweaters. They’re lightweight, strong, relatively itch-free, and are super easy to layer. But that doesn’t mean having a thicker, coarser lambswool sweater or two on hand is a bad idea. Far from it. Good for those unusually cool to cold days, and great for around the house/at the bar with friends.

 

Sperry Top-Sider Salt Washed Striper CVO – $55.32

Just because we’re heading into boot season (thank goodness) doesn’t mean sneakers get stored away with shorts and swim suits. Classic canvas sneakers are perfect for around the house, as well as out and about when the weather isn’t too dreadful. These? Built like a brick outhouse. Substantial, but still flexible canvas. Thick rubber out-soles. Reinforced eyelets and nicely thick laces. Leather accents. Plus, the extra cushioning around the tongue and heel area is a nice touch.

 

Putting some of your photos to Canvas: CG Pro Prints – $9.99 and up

Even if you’re less than excellent with a camera, (whether it be a DSLR or the camera on your phone) just about all of us have taken a pic and thought: “that’d look pretty slick on the wall.” Been using CG Pro Prints for years to do just that, and they have yet to disappoint. Their interface for uploading images, picking a canvas size, then cropping/centering is super easy to use. And processing/shipping is decently speedy too. Just make sure you’ve got a high enough resolution to the image you’re trying to upload. Last thing you want is a clunky, easy to pick out the pixels image on your wall.

 

J. Crew Factory Merino Wool Cardigan – $49.50

Made from slim but strong merino wool. Not bulky. Not clunky. And the lack of pockets on the front keeps you out of grandpa territory. The kind of cardigan even “I’m not really a cardigan guy” types would wear. The kind of thing to wear when a casual sportcoat would be too much.

 

L.E. Quilted Barge Blazer – $55.99 w/ BUDDY30 & 9024 ($209)

Part of last year’s best fall outerwear list (don’t worry, currently working on this year’s). A bit of an odd duck, but a good duck all the same. Waxed cotton body from Scotland. Wool/cotton sleeves.. Corduroy collar & elbow patches. Cut in a sportcoat style but it’s very much outerwear no less. Jacket as a whole has a nice, high-quality feel in your hands. Lots of sizes left, and will drop well under $75 the next time Lands’ End runs a code that can be applied to sale items. UPDATE: And just like that, there’s a new code and pin running. BUDDY30 and pin 9024 takes 30% off due to a friends and family sale. Thanks to Brandon D. for the tip!

 

Moroccan Chicken and Carrots via Sunset Magazine

I know a few of you are going to raise an eyebrow at this being in the best bets. But hear me out. This is a dynamite date-night at home/staying in meal. Especially in this early autumn period, where big hearty stews feel too heavy, yet we’re all looking for something with more flavor. Its has tons of flavor, it’s great to make with a date, and its like comfort food without the guilt (no heavy starches or deep frying here). Pretty sure I could eat this every day for the rest of my life, and be happy. Here’s some extra tips for making it from our Make it For Your Date series.

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