Nordstrom Fall Clearance 2016
Is it as good as the annual Anniversary sale? Nope. Is it as good as their half-yearly sales that happen in summer and right after the holidays? Nah. Is it still worth giving Nordstrom’s collection of on-sale goods a good solid look during one of these seasonal clearances? Absolutely.
Its been said before and it’ll be said again. In a struggling traditional retail world, Nordstrom is still doing a lot of things, perhaps all the things, right. Great house brands. Terrific curation of higher end, yet not totally out of reach for most, stuff. Free shipping and free returns on everything, all the time. And no “final sale” stuff. The one knock against em’, if you can call it that, is the sheer length and breadth of their inventory. The sale section is 50 some odd pages right now. That’s a lot of scrolling. Here’s one interpretation of the best of the best for men, when it comes to the almost 3500 items in this thing:
Bertucci ‘A-4T Aero’ 44mm Watch – $137.98 ($230)
Somewhere between an aviation style and a field watch. Hard not to love that 4 o’clock crown placement. And assembled in the USA believe it or not. Beefy leather strap.
Calibrate Trim Fit Dress Shirt – $39.90 ($59.50)
Stretch cotton. Extremely well reviewed. Trim fit. Perfect shade of blue. It does appear to have a true spread collar, so going sans tie with this thing might be a bit of a challenge.
A.E. Neumok – $199.90 ($275) | Madison Wingtip – $249.90 ($385)
Couple of casual-leaning wingtips. The Neumok is real casual. About as casual as a lace-up can get, despite being a true oxford. But should look great with chinos, cords, and dark denim. The Madison is more of a traditional wingtip, but the blucher styling means it’s more of a business casual shoe. Might not look quite right with a suit.
Bensol Trim Fit Half-Lined Wool Sportcoat – $176.98 ($295)
Versatile shade of dark charcoal. Patch pockets help keep it from looking like an orphaned suit jacket. Just half lined. Hard to ask for more than that, especially when it’s wool and under two hundred bucks.
Ted Baker Striped Socks – $8.98 ($15.00)
Sometimes, bold socks can be a bit obnoxious. These don’t seem to drift into that territory though. All the colors play nicely together. The blocky stripes are even and spaced well. So, if you like bold socks, these wouldn’t be a bad addition to the collection. You even get two socks for the asking price!
To Boot New York ‘Medford’ Double Monk Strap- $259.90 ($395)
Made in Italy. Not quite as bullet-proof as a pair of Allen Edmonds, but still a high quality shoe all the same. Perfect toe shape.
To Boot New York Varden Single Monk – $259.90 ($375)
And now a single monk for those who still favor buckles over laces, yet like a little less flash than what a double monk brings. Still made in Italy.
Nordstrom Smart Care Slim 100% Cotton Chinos – $45.90 ($69.50)
Nordstrom’s in-house, reasonably priced chinos. No stretch here. All cotton. Tons of colors.
Michael Kors Oxford Box Quilt Coat with Inset Bib – $195 ($325)
Looks like this could be a poly alternative of the super expensive jacket Bond wore in Skyfall? Has that technical hunting look to it. Also available in navy.
J. Mason 44mm Leather Strap Watch in Brown or Black – $128.98
Jack Mason? Just a brand name. Nothing heritage going on here. But they do know how to make a nice looking watch. Big fan of the onion style crown on these things. 100 meter water resistance. Retail price is $215 for one of these things.
Vince Camuto Wool Blend Topcoat – $249.90 ($398)
Check out that ticket pocket. A nice, less expensive alternative to the navy Charles Tyrwhitt option that won best in show this year. No navy here, sadly. But they are insulated. 63% wool, 21% polyester, 10% rayon, 6% other fibers is the make up of the shell.
Paul Smith ‘Gerald’ Chelsea Boot – $236.98 ($395)
For the fellas who really like Chelseas. Made in Portugal. Simple and sleek shape. Pebbled leather. Paul Smith stuff ain’t cheap. And while these aren’t cheap at $240, they’re much more affordable than you’d think a pair of Paul Smith shoes would get. Also made in a snuff suede, but those are all but sold out.
Skagen ‘Kruse’ Nylon Crossbody Laptop Bag – $150.75 ($225)
Yes, Skagen does more than watches. The Danish brand also does some small leather goods and canvas gear, like this briefcase. Hits the three high points most smart casual briefs should have in the 21st century: #1. Two top grab handles (so you don’t have to sling it over your head like a true messenger bag.) #2. a shoulder strap for when you need it, #3. an exterior that balances business casual with a professional color palate and shape.
To Boot New York Brentwood Wingtip Boot – $239.90 ($395)
For those that don’t have the cash to fully invest in the Dalton from Allen Edmonds. Made in Italy. Rubber sole for grip. Also available in black.
Jack Mason Chronograph on Reg. or Nato Strap – $164.98 ($295)
A couple more Jack Mason watches, this time with a chronograph function for each. Good looking leather bands here too, especially that dark brown (maybe with a tiny bit of burgundy to it? Maybe?) NATO strap.
Sperry Striper in Reg. – $38.96 or Salt Washed Canvas – $35.96
Sperry does a really nice job with their canvas kicks. Flexible but still substantial, with a rubber outsole that holds up quite well over time.
Fossil Drifter 44mm Chrono – $80.98 | Bertucci A-2T 40mm – $107.98
Wrapping up how we started… with a watch (or two) with a not so normal case shape. Horween leather on the Bertucci too. Fossil normally runs $135, with the Bertucci usually going for $180.
The Nordstrom Fall Clearance event runs through 11/13. Not quite sure what happens after that. Further reductions? Who knows.