Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 5/30/2014

Alright, folks, we've made it through another one! So here we go:

"Every weekend, check in on the blog for a collection of the best (read: my favorite) deals and steals on the interweb for some quality shopping over the weekend. Have any to add? Share them in the comments or shoot me an e-mail. Also, if you're biting on any of these hooks, I'd love to hear about it!"

Nothing to ramble about today, so right to the deals:

Extra 15% Off at Brooks Brothers (code EXTRA15):
Brooks Brothers is running a nice 15% discount, which isn't huge, but when you apply it to some already-marked-down clearance items, you can snag some really good finds. My first pick is this OCBD:

Solid Oxford Donegal Sport Shirt | Brooks Brothers

Yeah, I know, you guys are probably getting tired of seeing OCBD's here, but this one is a bit different, with a donegal fleck to the solid white pattern that I don't think I've seen anywhere else. To me, it's a great way to add some variety to your shirts without losing the versatility of a classic white button-down. At just under $30 with the discount (originally $70), it' not hard on your wallet either.

I also spotted this raglan-sleeve pullover, discounted to around $50 from $120:

Raglan Crewneck | Brooks Brothers

First off, this thing just looks damn comfortable. Like, I wish I had one on right now. On top of that, I'm digging the cream color and the contrast ribbing and stitching. The whole combo shouts 'beach layering' to me - a perfect way to warm up on a cool summer night.

Last, take a look at their selection of slim chinos. Nothing mindblowing here, but I've noticed that brands tend to only put their wacky, go-to-hell pants in the clearance section, so it's really nice to see a lot of great staple colors like khaki, mid-brown, grey and dark green. 

Slim Fit Chinos | Brooks Brothers

These are part of their 'Red Fleece' line, which ensures a slimmer, more modern fit - really don't think you can go wrong with these, especially marked down from $90 to just $38.


Up to 40% off Select Styles and Gap:
Gap, like J.Crew, seems to constantly have some sort of sale going on, but this round really seems to focus on spring/summer styles - and with the great weather we've been having (finally), I've got my eye on a few pieces. First up is this oxford popover in a horizontal stripe:

Modern Oxford Popover Shirt | Gap

I'm honestly loving everything about this - the popover shirt is my latest obsession, and a perfect alternative to the polo (slightly less sporty, more preppy, bingo). Horizontal stripes shake things up and add a kind of beachy vibe, and the modern tailored cut ties it all together. Currently $36, this normally runs $45.

Next, I pretty much always include a pair of lived-in chinos when I recommend picks from Gap - they are just so comfortable and the fit is spot on. This time around, they've got a pair in this color they are calling 'gale green' running $42 (down from $60):

Lived-In Slim Khaki | Gap

It's a bit earthier than mint, but greener than a forest or olive, so it has a nice seasonal flair without standing out like a sore thumb (you'd be perfectly fine wearing these to the office). 

Last, I'm thinking of picking up a pair of white jeans - I wanted white chinos for the summer, but every pair I try on is see-through, so I'm leaning towards opting for denim instead: 

1969 Slim Fit Jeans | Gap

It's not a look I usually rock, so I don't want to spend a ton of money, just in case I don't put it to much use. $46, down from $70, is certainly do-able, plus I have a pair of slim jeans from Gap and was really happy with the fit, whichI found to be between Levi's 511's and 513's. 


Jack Spade via HauteLook:
HauteLook is Nordstrom's flash sale site, very similar to Gilt or MyHabit. This week, they've got Jack Spade on sale, which is pretty awesome cuz Jack Spade makes some great stuff, but is generally pretty far out of my price range. Their line puts a heavy emphasis on luggage and bags, and while there's a decent selection on Haute, I was actually drawn instead to a few really fantastic looking ties. The first one that caught my eye was this silk tie with a small houndstooth check:

Alain Houndstooth Silk Tie | Jack Spade via HauteLook

I love a good houndstooth pattern, and while you see it more often on suiting materials, I think it looks great on a tie. The scale on this one is small enough to look almost solid from a distance, but get up close and you see the mix of red white and blue (a nice touch for 4th of July, perhaps?). Grab this one for $55, down from $130.

Keeping on scrolling, I was also caught by this pastel-striped tie in 100% linen:

Peele Stripe Linen Tie | Jack Spade via HauteLook

The colors and the fabric come together perfectly to make an incredibly summery tie and an effortless way to really embrace the season. The washed out blues and reds remind me of an oxford cloth, which I think gives the whole thing a very preppy vibe, which is right up my alley. The linen option is even cheaper than the silk, at $41 (originally $100).

Last, I picked out this orange and blue striped tie. Remember our article on how to work trendy-yet-abrasive orange into your wardrobe? Here's another great way to do it:

Graham Striped Silk Tie | Jack Spade via HauteLook

The blue stripes tone down the orange, making it less in-your-face and much easier to match with the rest of your closet. I'm also really digging the raw silk and the slubby neps peppered through the fabric, which really adds another layer of visual depth. This one is also priced at $55, originally $130.


Uniqlo Weekly Promotions:
I'll wrap things up with just a quick shoutout to these chinos from Uniqlo:

Slim Fit Chinos | Uniqlo

I picked up this exact pair when I was in San Francisco last month, and they've become one of my favorite pairs. The dusty blue (kind of like those green ones above from Gap) is a great balance between bold and subtle, the fabric is very comfortable, and the slim fit has just the right taper below the knee. They are always damn affordable, but are knocked down by an extra $5 to just $25. Just do it. Wait, that's Nike...oh well.


That's all folks! Unless you have some deals to share in the comments...hint hint...

Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 2/21/2014

The deal: "Every weekend, check in on the blog for a collection of the best (read: my favorite) deals and steals on the interweb for some quality shopping over the weekend. Have any to add? Share them in the comments or shoot me an e-mail. Also, if you're biting on any of these hooks, I'd love to hear about it!"

And the steals:

End of Season Sale at J.Press/York Street:
J. Press and their younger brother, York Street, are both offering some awesome end of season deals...so many in fact that I'm having a crazy hard time trying to decide what to highlight (thus, I highly recommend checking out the whole selection on both sites). Honestly, there's a ton of great stuff, so I picked two items at the ends of the spectrum. First, from York Street (the slimmer fitting of the two), there is this fantastic looking navy overcoat in a highly desirable (read: soft and warm) blend of wool and cashmere: 

Classic Top-Coat | York Street

At $295, it's still an investment, but when you take a look at the original price of almost $1000, it's for sure a steal. Ignore the foolish pants this model is wearing...and damn if that coat doesn't hit all the right notes. Ticket pocket, three button closure, hits a bit above the knee, available in navy and grey...plus, since it's a York Street offering, it will fit slimmer than something from the standard J. Press line.

Which is the very reason I picked this classic-prep striped tie as my recommendation from J. Press. Obviously, since it's neckwear, you don't have to worry about losing the slim fit. Even without 'fit' to worry about, I thought this tie would run wide, but it's 2.75" at it's widest, which is actually my favorite tie size - not quite hipster-skinny, but still proportional for a slim guy.

Leeds University Tie | J. Press

This one hits the other end of the price-commitment spectrum at less than $20, but the original price of $70 hints at a much higher level of quality than other options in the $20 range. The pattern is super preppy, which I actually dig, and while the burgundy/dark green colors are maybe just a bit Christmas-y, they are also just generally seasonal.

Ok, ok, so there were so many great things that I had to include one more. I was just showing my girlfriend the Todd Snyder + Champion crew neck sweatshirts and telling her how much I was coming to like the chest pocket. Then I saw this one from York Street, and the more I consider it, I think I actually like this option even more: 

Vintage Reverse Sweatshirt | York Street

Originally, the York Street sweatshirt goes for $135, pretty close to the Todd Snyder price, but now it's on sale for only $34. That's just crazy. 


Free Shipping (and Clearance Section) at Levi's:
Levi's is currently offering free shipping, which is especially good news when combined with the fact that they have a ton of stuff already marked down to some awesome prices. For example, they have their iconic denim trucker jacket marked down from $88 by more than 50% to just $40:

Slim Fit Trucker Jacket | Levi's

This one is the dark blue rinse, but they have a few others as well. Offered in a slim fit, it will be a versatile and timeless addition to your wardrobe. Wear it as a light jacket in the spring and fall, and carry it into winter as a layering piece. 

These wool/cotton blend jeans aren't quite as good of a bargain, but I'm fascinated by the idea. Wool jeans? Well, at least partly wool? I've seen jeans with a minor percentage of silk before, but this takes things in the opposite direction. With this never-ending winter, making your jeans a tad bit warmer wouldn't hurt.

501 Original Fit in Wool Denim Rinse | Levi's

Like I said, not as crazy cheap as the trucker jacket, but still offered at a significant discount, down to $60 from $128 (again, over 50% off there, folks). In the classic 501 fit, which is always a popular choice.


Up to 50% Off Select Styles at Banana Republic:
Banana Republic is offering up to 50% off, and once again, they have just a ton of stuff on the list. Definitely worth browsing through, but I locked onto this dot-print button-down shirt because it'd be so great to stop thinking about winter and start looking forward to spring...sigh. If you step back (or look at the smaller picture), it looks solid, but up close it actually has a pretty bright, almost bold pattern.

Slim-Fit Soft-Wash Dot Print Button-Down | Banana Republic

The pattern itself will be perfect for a spring or summer casual option, but that solid-from-a-distance appearance keeps it from being in-your-face. Best part? At half off, it's barely over $30 (just $32.50).


Jack Spade Accessories at Gilt:
I love Jack Spade style, so I was excited to see them pop up on Gilt. I was kind of disappointed to see that the bags were still out of my price range, until I found this pair of cashmere gloves. Discounted down to only $45, which is cheap for gloves in general, let alone cashmere, I was expecting some sort of crappy, 5% cashmere blend. But no. Well, yes. It is a blend, but a whopping 92% cashmere???

Tommy Cashmere Gloves | Jack Spade via Gilt

At one-size-fits all, these are sure to have a bit of stretch, which means that the final-sale caveat shouldn't be too big of a risk.


New Arrivals at Spectre & Co.:
We reviewed Spectre & Co. last year, and I was a big fan of their dress shirts. I've kept in touch with founder Jeffrey Zhang since then, and he gave me a heads up on some new additions to the shop. As always, they're bringing everything at pretty spectacular prices, so we'll end this list of deals and steals with a few from them. One of the big areas they've branched into has been accessories, with scarves earlier in the year, and just this week the addition of belts. They have some in solid colors with contrast edging, but my favorite are these braided belts:

Dark Brown Braided Belt | Spectre & Co.

I've been on a big braided belt kick lately...funny, I always thought they were kinda dorky looking when I was a kid, but now I love them. While I have one that I got for next-to-nothing at the thrift shop, it's pretty beat up, and I'm definitely thinking of updating and upgrading to one of these, especially with the $50 price point.

Also, not necessarily a new offer, but recently re-stocked, I'm going to grab one of their white OCBDs. Like all of their standard shirts, this guy will only set me back $45:

Washed White Oxford Button-Down | Spectre & Co.

The white OCBD should be a staple in every man's closet, but I've recently found a renewed love for them. I find myself wearing my few multiple times a week, so I've come to decide that I can't have enough of them. Therefore, finding an affordable but high quality option is awesome. Soon, they'll be adding ties for $35, and I'm pumped to see what they've got.

Shopping for Stylish Tech Accessories

I'll start off with a little background: As you all know, iPhone 5S came out recently, and the lines were out the doors and the shipping times through the roof. I was perfectly content to wait out the rush and buy mine in good time....until my iPhone 4 decided to stop charging. One day after all the new iPhones went out of stock. Long story short, I was stuck with a little candybar go-phone with no camera, no music, no keyboard, and feeling a lot like Stringer Bell with a burner (boom, 'Wire' reference). Fortunately, ATT way overestimated the time it would take to get me my phone, and a mere week later I had it in my hands.

Since I had the phone shipped to me, I didn't get a chance to pick out a case in the store. Lucky for me, I didn't have to look to hard to find one online. I bought my girlfriend a nice leather case from J. Crew last year, and I've been admiring their iPhone 5S cases for a hot minute, and voila, same day I get my phone, J. Crew Factory does a flash sale (something like 30% extra sale plus free shipping). Needless to say I was on that case like rainbows on an oil spill (I heard that line in Malcom in the Middle the other week and have been using it every chance I get). I ended up with this beaut of a case in navy leather:

From J. Crew Factory 

Pretty much two minutes later, one of my coworkers came over to announce he had just ordered his phone, and started to lament about his own search for a case. We quickly got into a conversation about how lame all of the go-to options are. If you walk out of Best Buy or and Apple Store with an iPhone case, chances are pretty good your phone is going to be twice as big, five times uglier, and look like it's wearing crocs. Somewhere along the line, all the big tech companies decided that everyone wanted their phones padded and wrapped in the ugliest rubber boxes money could buy.

So, the point is, these aren't your other options. If you know where else to look, you can get a functional and fashionable case, which is so nice, since your phone is one of those things you ALWAYS have and people are bound to see. Here are my suggestions:

First and foremost, don't look at companies dedicated to tech accessories. Their expertise is in making things work, not necessarily making them look good. They might try, but that's not where their training lies. And honestly, it's not that hard to make a case that works. Instead, go to the people who are experts at looking good. In other words, go to your favorite fashion and apparel sources. Nine out of ten apparel stores has an 'accessories' section, and if they do, you're bound to find some iPhone cases.

J. Crew, obviously, is one of my favorite sources. They have a good selection of classy and well designed cases for both men and women. On top of that, they are very reasonably priced (rarely higher than one of those ugly boxes from the super-store), and very often go on sale (or show up on the Factory outlet shop). I suggest picking one out online and then stopping by your store to pick it up (unless you get lucky with a free-shipping code like I did).

Jack Spade is another great option. They are already very well known for their protective but styling outerwear, bags, and luggage, so it only makes sense that they'd be able to do the same for phones. Their options run a tad bit higher, at about $40 a pop, but are still very reasonable. My favorite is this one in a 'book cloth' material (whatever that means, it looks nice).

From Jack Spade

If you want something with a print on it, try this guy from Original Penguin. Yeah, it's the logo, but I love penguins so I had to pick this one. I'm sure you can find some other options as well. This lil guy sells for around $40 also:

From Original Penguin

Back to leather, you can get a even classier with one of these options from Bonobos, which are made from Italian leather and have a great luster and depth to them (if that's your thing), but clock in over the $60 mark. These are currently only available in the iPhone 4 dimensions, but I'd expect to see options for the 5 and 5S arriving shortly:

From Bonobos

Keep shopping around and the opportunities are endless. You can even find cases in the uber-luxurious $300+ range from designer brands like Burberry and Saint Laurent (check out Mr. Porter for some of these as well). Have something really specific in mind? Last year I was trying to find a tweed covered case, searched all over in stores to no avail, only to find dozens of options on Etsy. I ended up sticking with the case I had for one reason or another, but I always keep Etsy in the back of my mind as another option.

Do you have the cajones to go case-less? If not, how do you protect your phone? Is your priority style and looks or functionality and ruggedness? Tell us about it in the comments!