Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 5/16/2014

Okidoke folks, got friends on their way for the weekend, so I'm on a time crunch and will be keeping my commentary to a minimum. Still have some great deals for y'all. First, the spiel:

"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 now the deals:

Shirts Only $29.50 at Charles Tyrwhitt:
People who like Charles Tyrwhitt love Charles Tyrwhitt. I have a few of their shirts, and I'm a big fan myself. Best part is, their shirts normally run a whopping $60, but are often discounted down to $40. This time around, they are dropping prices even further to only $30. The other great thing is that, while not custom, they do offer the same patterns with several different options - so if you see a shirt in slim fit with regular buttons, chances are you'll be able to grab it in extra slim fit with french cuffs for the same price, if that's your thing. My first pick is just a classic, white shirt in a twill fabric:

White Twill Dress Shirt | Charles Tyrwhitt

This is just the perfect dress shirt. Again, available in a few fits, and even a few different collar options, but this one in the extra slim fit with a spread collar would be my choice, hands down.

Next is this fella in a blue puppytooth:

Royal Twill Puppytooth Dress Shirt | Charles Tyrwhitt

Puppytooth is just a cool name to being with (logically, it's houndstooth on a much smaller scale). I love the way that it looks solid from a distance, but up close has a lot of visual depth and is an interesting pattern. Grab it while it's hot.


Bespoken at Gilt (plus, $25 off with our referral link):
I haven't had the chance to try them out yet, but Bespoken makes some very stylish stuff - in fact, I believe they were one of GQ's "Best New Designers" or whatever they called it last year, which meant they did a pretty affordable collab featured at Gap - nice, since their regular priced goods are pretty expensive. Gilt has some great pieces knocked down with some serious discounts. Still not cheap, but some of the options are cool enough to be worth a little extra dough. For example, this tie, which is legitimately made from selvedge denim:

Skinny Selvedge Denim Tie | Bespoken via Gilt

I've seen chambray ties all over the place, but never selvedge denim, and I kinda dig it. The dark blue with the dots is a perfect pattern, stylish but versatile, and the peek of the selvedge ID on the bottom is kinda badass. Marked down to $60 (like I said, not cheap, but cool, and originally $130).

I'm gonna leave this one at just that pick, but check out the other options, lots of blue, and lots of summery patterns. Get $25 off is you sign up with our referral link.


40% Off New Arrivals at J.Crew Factory (prices as marked):
J.Crew Factory doesn't really need an intro. As usual, it's J.Crew's outlet line, so similar styles at lower prices. They just added a slew of great summer duds, and we picked out a few favorites. By far, the top of my list is this unconstructed blazer in 100% linen:

Thompson Unconstructed Sportcoat in Linen | J.Crew Factory

Not only is it just a great-looking summer blazer, but this may very well be the first JCF blazer that doesn't come fully lined! Even their other linen options are lined throughout, so this is perfect, especially if you've had your eye on an unconstructed Ludlow but haven't been able to part with the cash, as this one is currently only $118.

I'm also really digging this Hawaiian shirt in bright blue:

Short Sleeve Washed Shirt in Hawaiian Leaves | J.Crew Factory

Hawaiian shirts are back in style this year, but you have to be careful, and this one hits the right notes. The leaves aren't huge and flowery, the collar is button-down as opposed to wide points, and the colorway is simple. Currently about $39, down from $65. 

We'll throw in one more here, with these red oxford cloth trousers in their slim Bedford cut:

Slim Bedford Pant in Oxford | J.Crew Factory

Oxford cloth pants are no joke the most comfortable things in the world, but still look sharp as hell. I have a pair in blue, and am trying to pick up a pair in red this summer - these may be the ones, and at $45 they are cheaper than most other options out there.


Factory-Second Shoes from Allen Edmonds:
Last, I just want to point you all to the brand spanking new Factory-Seconds site from Allen Edmonds. Previously, you had to jump through some hoops to get the seconds inventory from AE, but they finally caught up with the internet age and have their inventory available online. Keep in mind that these are seconds, which means they have some sort of flaw or blemish that keeps them from being sold at full retail. However, most examples I've seen have been close to perfect, with flaws being very minor and sometimes impossible to find. Definitely worth a look if you're looking to grab some new kicks. I'm not going to recommend anything specific, as the options are numerous and the selection depends heavily on your size, so just check it out yourself!

And that's a wrap - have a great weekend, check back on Monday for more, and share any of your own 'Deals and Steals' in the comments below!

Wearing Orange (and Other 'Uncooperative' Colors)

Struggling today...not enough sleep, early afternoon migraine, it's been rough. Anyway, keeping it short this Wednesday (and pulling pics from Instagram), we're taking a quick look at how to rock the color orange. Earlier this year, when all the designers were busting out their new collections at the fashion weeks, the menswear world was all about orange as the color of the season, which is challenging, because it’s also inherently bright and bold, and therefore kind of hard to work into an everyday outfit. Fortunately, there are some moves to try that will allow you to incorporate the color in your wardrobe without taking any huge style risks.

Editors Note: Since deciding to write this article, I've noted that this trend didn't necessarily take off, and orange isn't the ubiquitous tone of the season that I came to expect - maybe it is yet to come, but regardless, you can adapt these same tips to other bright colors that you may be tempted to experiment with.

The first route we can suggest is to just tone down the brightness and boldness that make orange a tricky color to work with from the get-go. With a lot of other bright colors, we often suggest washing them out or opting for more faded or pastel versions, but with orange we suggest going the opposite direction, instead looking for darker, over-saturated, 'burnt' shades. That rusty orange color actually works a lot like a lighter shade of brown, and plays great with blues (lucky for me, since my wardrobe has a lot of blue in it already). You can get some great chinos or shorts in this color (try these from Bonobos, on sale for just $38 - and $25 off with our referral link - or these from Topman for something a little less bright), but my go-to move has been this vintage tie that I scored off eBay:

Got this bad boy on eBay for something like $3.00. A new favorite!

You can get a similar look with this number from The Tie Bar (at only $15, it makes a relatively low-risk trend-testing option).

Knitted Silk Tie in Rust | The Tie Bar - $15

Our other recommendation is to use orange in very small splashes, and mate it with similar, but more commonplace and classic colors. My girlfriend gifted me a bright orange tie clip last fall, and I've been loving to play it off a slim tan leather belt and tan suede boots:

Not the best pictures, but you get the gist.

The leathers are both bright in their own way, and when worn with a monochrome blue ensemble, they inject this punch of color at regular intervals - shoes, waist, torso. Among other options, I could see this working quite well with red and oxblood or burgundy.

So there you have it - my words of wisdom for the day before I go nurse this clinging headache - migraines, man. 

How do you all rock bright, 'uncooperative' colors? Do you have any orange in your wardrobe? What's your favorite way to work it into an outfit? Hit up the comments section!

Outfit Post - Saturday at the Dog Park

We finally had an absolutely beautiful weekend here in Chicago, so Christine and I took advantage of the weather and took a long walk to Wiggly Field (yes, that's the official name) with our puggle, M.C. Hammerpants (yes, that's his real name). As we were walking, it dawned on me that I rarely post really casual outfits on here, and most of what you see of me is in my work or more dressed-up weekend duds, so I figured this would be a good chance to feature a really laid back (but still sharp) look:

If you'll recall from my list of summer style goals, I decided recently that I wanted to start wearing chinos more in a casual setting, as opposed to turning to denim every time I'm off duty. I grabbed these Alpha Khakis from Dockers with just that in mind...the bright color is a little bit much for my law firm day-job, but it's a perfect summery punch of color for a weekend look. I love the fit of Dockers Alphas, but they are just a tad long on me. Since I haven't had the chance to hit up the tailor with these, I rolled the cuffs, which added an extra casual vibe to the look and emphasized the bare ankle (one of my favorite parts of summer).

Up top, I picked this striped tee that I got during the last big Bonobos sale for about $10 (similar here). Not only was it a steal, but the blue and white stripes give a nautical vibe that is very on-trend for spring (and summer, and fall, and pretty much all the time except dead winter). I really like it in this combo as an added bit of color that stays neutral and subtle enough to not come off as clownish in combo with the bright pants.

I also said I wanted to step up my summer footwear game, and I'm in the process of doing so with some Jack Purcell's on the way from Mr. Porter. Meanwhile, though, I really can't go wrong with my Sperry Topsider boat shoes. I picked these up last summer and wear them all the damn time and they just keep getting better and better. In fact, I used to be really OCD about keeping my kicks pristine, but after these got covered in mud at Lollapalooza, I kinda accepted their beat-up-ness and since then have really come to love the personality that some hard wear can give a pair of shoes. I'm also rocking a pair of Pact No-Show loafer socks, which I consider a must-have for the summer, and allow me to kick it sockless without worrying about gross, stinky feet and shoes.

Last, as I was stepping out, I realized it wasn't quite as warm as I thought, especially in the shade. Instead of bringing a light jacket, which honestly would have been a bit much and I would have ended up carrying most of the day, I made a smart choice by throwing on this Frank & Oak OCBD. It's one of my favorite pieces from F&O (you all know my love of an OCBD by now), and I wear it all the time, whether it's to work with a knit tie and a blazer, or on the weekends with jeans and some Chukkas. Here, I took it to new territory by kind of using it as an extra-light jacket. While I normally steer clear of the untucked and unbuttoned look, using this as a jacket let me lighten up on the sartorial 'rules' and embrace the laid-back nature of the look (and the gorgeous day).

For accessories, I topped things off with my brown braided leather belt, which has become my favorite thrift-store find. I literally spent about a dollar on it, and I think it's become a signature part of my style (more on that later). The Form*Function*Form watch that Christine gave me last year was the perfect finishing touch, and was a spot-on match for the brown leather of the belt and shoes. I love that this watch straddles the casual and at least semi-business line very comfortably - I'll wear it with jeans and a Tee one day and with a dress shirt and blazer the next. Versatility is key, my friends.

Anyway, ended up really happy with the 'fit, and had a fantastic day - we hung out at the dog park, took a leisurely stroll home through Lincoln Park, stopped in for cocktails and bacon-wrapped dates (and some treats for the pup) at a neighborhood cafe, and just soaked in the summery Chicago vibes.

How do you relax, sartorially? Do you have a go-to casual look, or are there new trends you are trying to work into your rotation? Share in the comments!

Outfit Details:
T-Shirt: Bonobos (similar) (use our referral link for $25 off)
OCBD: Frank & Oak (use our referral link for $25 off)
Chinos: Dockers Alpha Khaki
Shoes: Sperry Topsider (Editors Note: You can grab these on sale right now at Nordstrom for just $60. Great deal, I'm grabbing a pair if I can).
Socks: PACT No-Show Socks
Watch: Form*Function*Form via Huckberry
Glasses: Grant frames by Penn Avenue Eyewear
Belt: Vintage Thrifted, suckas.

Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 5/9/2014

Woof. This felt like a really long week. All the better that it's finally time for some weekend fun - and maybe some weekend shopping? Here it is:

"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!"

Alpha Khaki Collection Sale at Dockers:
I feel like we've been throwing Dockers on the Deals and Steals list a lot, but we've always focused on their (awesome) pants. There are still plenty of chinos on sale, especially if you are up for venturing beyond the Alpha Khaki collection, but this week I was really caught by their other apparel. They've had some really stylish stuff running, but it never ends up in the sale section...until now. First thing that caught my eye was this casual button-up shirt in a perfect-for-summer madras-y plaid:

Wrinkle Twill Shirt in Coral | Dockers

They are calling it 'wrinkle twill,' but I'm just interpreting that as their version of seersucker, which makes this bad boy all the more tempting, especially as we just had our first 'hot' day of the summer here in Chicago and my mind is finally full swing focused on hot-weather duds. Normally $68, this shirt is going for just $41.

Definitely take a look at the rest of their tops - along with some other nice shirts, they have some good-looking sweaters and other knits, if you are looking to stock up for next fall. Back to the pantaloons, I noticed these 'City Khakis' also listed under the Alpha collection:

City Khaki in Navy Smoke Stripe | Dockers

They aren't described as Alphas in the product details, so I'm not sure if that's a mistake? The fit sounds similar, with a slim cut and taper below the knee. Regardless, I'm kinda digging them...the microstripe, again, seems like a play off of seersucker and will look very seasonally appropriate this summer. The 'permanent crease' will dress these up a bit too, I can see myself rocking these with a nice summer blazer. At just $40, down from $68, these might be hard to pass up.


Additional 25% Off at Brooks Brothers (code FF25):
Brooks Brothers, one of the original pioneers of American prep style, is having their yearly(?) friends and family sale, knocking down pretty much all their prices by another 25%. Brooks Brothers is usually a bit out of my budget, but when you combine that discount with some already-great sale prices, things get affordable fast! First off, if you happen to be a size large or bigger, please buy this popover oxford:

Solid Oxford Popover Sport Shirt | Brooks Brothers

I want it, so bad, but they've been sold out of my size forever. This was a great deal even before the F&F discount, which takes the final price to only $30 (originally $80). I'm kinda obsessed with popovers this season, and they are hard to find at an affordable price, with this classic and risk-free of a style. Jump on it.

Brooks Bros is one of those brands that names all their fits actual names (as in, not just 'slim' and 'regular' or 'classic,' etc.). They also have a lot of them. Just know that Milano is their slimmest fit, and probably the one you want. Lucky us, they have some nice Milano fit chinos in the sale section as well:

Milano Fit Vintage Chinos | Brooks Brothers

Originally $100, the sale price combined with the additional discount marks these down to a crazy low price of $22.50, which would be a steal almost anywhere. Classic colors like navy and khaki are contrasted with a bright mustard, so you have some safe options and a bold kicker in there too. 


Extra 30% Off at J.Crew Factory (code SALE30):
J.Crew Factory is at the discount code game again, this time offering 30% off sitewide. While the whole site is worth a browse, I headed right for the clearance section to see what I could get dirt cheap, and I was disappointed. Their leather plaque belt has been very highly recommended to me as an ultimate go-to dress belt:

Leather Plaque Belt | J.Crew Factory

Normally the price doesn't dip far below the original $40, but with the discount it's currently all the way down to $12, which is kind of insane. So just buy it, don't even think about it (ha! horrible advice for budget-conscious shoppers, I know). 

I was also pretty delighted to see chinos in the clearance section, and even though they only have this 'apple green' color, as opposed to your more standard chino colors, I'm actually a big fan of the color:

Slim Broken-In Chino | J.Crew

It's light and bright enough to really take on that spring/summer vibe, but is a bit more grounded than a full-on mint or teal. Even better, there are tons of sizes available, which doesn't tend to be the case for JCF clearance. Along those lines, I always check out the accessories for one-size products, like these socks (bright, yes, but also under $3 a pair).


Dharma Eyewear at Touch of Modern:
So, Touch of Modern is a modern design flash-sale site. Full disclosure, I've never actually bought anything through them, but I've been getting their e-mails for years and always enjoy checking out the beautiful products they sell. After all that time, this sunglass collection is the sale that might make me actually try them out. Never heard of the brand before, but I'm really liking this style:

Karma in Indian Summer | Dharma Eyewear via Touch of Modern

It's got that vintage-y modern vibe, with the keyhole cutout and Persol-ish shape - but I'm taking a poll here, what do you think of the color scheme? I keep seeing shades with that clear-ish acetate frame, and the more I see it the more I like it - but is it too bold for me? Is this specific example tastefully done? Please, chime in! I'm horrible at decisions and could use your help!

Regardless, they also offer the same frame in a much tamer tortoise-shell color:

Karma in Tortoise | Dharma Eyewear via Touch of Modern

Normally $100, these are already competitive with Warby Parker, but Touch of Modern is offering them for only $70 - and they have all the attributes of a quality pair of sunnies (polarized lenses, 100% UV protection, shatterproof, hell, they're even inspired by Radiohead). Sounds like a winner to me.


Lastly...
DON'T FORGET - Sunday is Mother's Day!
Treat her to something special! Flowers are never a bad choice and are sure to brighten any Mom's day. Delivery can get expensive, but lucky for you, From You Flowers is offering free shipping (a $15 value), but only through midnight on Friday, so act fast! 

So there you have it, shop away! Also wanted to mention quickly that I had the pleasure of writing a product review of some goods from Gagliardi for Effortless Gent. The review went live this week, and focuses on a great plaid summer blazer - definitely worth a look, plus they are hooking EG readers up with a discount! Check it out over here, and let me (or Barron) know what you think!

Proper Cloth Made-To-Measure Shirting Reviewed

The Brand:

As per the usual, I'm going to let Proper Cloth do the talking here, rather than just regurgitating their history back at you. From their website:

"The original idea was simple: make it easy for men to buy dress shirts that fit perfectly. 

In October 2008 we launched the first version of propercloth.com and sold our first shirt. We were not an instant success. The first couple years were particularly humble. We didn't come from fashion. We didn't have any contacts. We had a lot to learn. We made a lot of mistakes. We were bootstrapping with credit cards and small loans from friends and family. Our manufacturing was antiquated and slow. Our selection was limited. Our website was confusing. Then there was the financial crisis... 

But we stuck with it. Listened to our customers. Networked in the industry. Solved problems. Improved our systems. Became experts on patterning and construction. Fabric and styling. Photography and user interface. Supply chain and logistics. Our growth has been strong and steady, but we've kept our team relatively small. Five people. Really. Seph, Yura, Brittany, Harrison and Chris. We’re based in New York. We do all of our design and customer service at our space in SOHO. We’re profitable and growing. We’re not in a rush to expand and we won't use near sighted tactics to get results. We're focused on the long term. We're committed to building a lasting brand and business. We have thousands of clients. We love what we do."

The description goes on in more detail, but the takeaway is that they came here to make damn good shirts, that are damn easy to buy, and to build a continually evolving company that understands that style is about more than just clothing. They wrap it up with a line I especially dug:

"The right clothing can help someone realize who they are. Stories are how we understand the world around us. Clothing can help tell those stories. "

For more information regarding the history and values of Proper Cloth, as well as the variety of fabrics, customizations, etc. that they offer, head over to their 'About Us' and read up.

The Order:

I went into great detail about the process of customizing a made-to-measure shirt in this recent post featuring the Proper Cloth website, so I won't re-hash too much of that here, but I will provide the details of my order once more:

Fabric: Thomas Mason Light Pink Oxford
Collar Style: Soft Ivy Button Down
Cuff Style: Soft One Button
Pocket: One Chest Pocket
Placket: Soft Front Placket (although I'm very tempted to try out the popover)
Yoke: Split Yoke
Buttons: Tall Mother of Pearl
Monogram: Back of Collar in Burgundy

I chose a very expensive fabric (mainly because I wanted to feel the difference it made), which clocks in at a starting price of $140, but their standard options - which aren't shabby at all themselves - start at $85 and include both basic fabrics and more on-trend picks like denim and chambray.

A few more notes regarding the ordering process: I have to say that the Proper Cloth website is one of the prettiest MTM systems I've seen - most are clunky and unattractive, but Proper Cloth managed to squeeze a custom ordering system into a sleek and modern website. On top of that, they've provided some great additional resources, especially their 'Reference' page, which includes information like 'How a Dress Shirt Should Fit' and 'Dress Shirt Construction.'

As far as sizing goes, the folks at Proper Cloth suggest I try out their new smart-sizing algorithm. I was a bit hesitant, as I like to use the self-measuring option (just feels more custom that way, and can be a better judge of the quality of customization that you get), but I took their advice and am damn glad I did (I'll expand on this in a moment). The system itself was a breeze, with just a few questions about your body and your preferred fit. After the survey, measurements are generated, and then you are given the opportunity to tweak them as you like. I slimmed down the cuffs, and maybe adjusted a few things by very minimal amounts, but for the most part I decided to test their algorithm, and...

The Fit:

...and hot damn, this shirt fits incredibly. I have had some really good results with other made-to-measure companies, but this shirt is by far the best-fitting in my closet. Shoulders, chest, and body are all spot-on, and I usually expect those to be, even on a first order. 

Seams end right at the shoulder. Minimal excess fabric in the chest.

No billowing at the waist, slim through the torso.

What impressed me most was the perfect fit through the sleeves and cuffs, both in width and length. This has always been an area I struggled with, whether it's OTR shirting or MTM shirting - somehow I always end up with something off just enough for it to bug me. 

Sleeves stay slim through the forearm and bicep, with high armholes.

Length falls perfectly on the hand, and cuff width is appropriate.

I was also impressed with the length. I think some made-to-measure brands cut their shirts overly long to avoid having to re-make something cut short. This doesn't usually bother me, as it's never crazy long, and I usually go tucked anyway. However, it can be a bit of a nuisance on more casual shirts that you may want to wear untucked from time to time. Again, Proper Cloth hit the sweet spot, as this shirt is just long enough to stay tucked when I want it to, but the perfect length to wear untucked as well.

Tucked, un-tucked, the choice is mine.

When it comes down to it, I go into my first MTM experience with any company expecting to have to make at least a few tweaks to my pattern in order to get the perfect fit, but Proper Cloth dialed me in on the first try, and like I said, I'm impressed.

I'll take a minute here, too, to point out that Proper Cloth does offer a perfect fit guarantee, so if the fit hadn't been so great, I could have sent it back for a remake. It sounds like they offer a lot of assistance on this end - if you know exactly what you want changed, you just let them know, but if you just feel its 'off,' you have the option of sending in pictures or even calling and chatting so they can help you find the problem areas. Sounds like good stuff, and I kinda wish I could have given it a test drive, but I can't complain about perfection.

The Construction:

Again, everything here is pretty darn top notch. The stitching is straight and even, and I can't find any loose threads, snags in the fabric, or anything else to mar to finished product. Even the monogram is tastefully done, well centered on the collar, and shaped and stitched cleanly.

Monogram, collar stitching, and minimal branding on tag.

Clean side seam and reinforcing gusset.

Neatly stitched placket and buttonholes.

I'm definitely glad I went with the tall mother-of-pearl buttons. They look so much nicer than plastic, and are thick enough that I'm not worried about them breaking anytime soon.

Sturdy MOP buttons with clean crisscross-stitching.

The collar and cuffs are soft and un-fused, as I specified, and I think lend very well to the slightly-rumpled Ivy prep style. There is enough substance for them to hold shape, but not to look starched or too structured if I'm going sans jacket and tie.

Look at that gorgeous collar roll.

I'm also really loving the way the shape of the collar came out. The roll is very distinct, but it captures that ivy-league, vintage prep style perfectly and is exactly what I had in mind. I do think it makes things a bit more casual than even a standard button-down collar, but that's what I was aiming for when designing the shirt.

And that's really my only beef - and barely beef at that: the fabric is a bit dressier than I anticipated. I knew that Thomas Mason fabric would be higher quality (and should be, at that price), but was still expecting something heavier and rougher, as most oxford cloth tends to be. This fabric, instead, does have a little bit of sheen to it, and is lighter than I expected, but to be honest, these are both probably good things that will only increase the versatility of the shirt.

In all other regards, the fabric is very nice, which you would expect from Thomas Mason. The hand is soft and comfortable, but still holds a press well enough to look sharp of you're dressing it up. It does wrinkle a bit easily at the elbows, but it doesn't hold creases very strongly so all it takes is a quick iron at the end of the day and it's good as new. As I said, the weight is definitely a bit lighter than your standard oxford cloth, but is still thicker than a poplin or broadcloth alternative. Lastly, the pink color works out very well - I'm not opposed to pink at all, but I think the over saturated and bright shades are a bit too much for me. This color is more muted and works very well with the laid-back style, so I'm happy!

The Service:

When it comes to customer service, the entire process was a pleasure. While the fit guarantee is actually pretty common among MTM clothiers, their offers to really help you walk through adjustments seems like a step above and beyond, and one that I like to see. Proper Cloth makes other good moves throughout the order, like thorough e-mail updates as you shirt goes to the factory, gets packaged, and is shipped. The total turnaround was better than average as well, with the shirt arriving only seven days after I placed the order (Proper Cloth quotes a 10-16 day wait on their site, which is already well below most MTM companies). Since I didn't have any issues with the shirt, I can't speak too much for their customer service (and I gotta count that as a point for them), but all correspondence I had with them was prompt and polite, so no complaints here. 

In Conclusion:

When it comes down to it, I'd say that the only real downside to ordering from Proper Cloth is the pricing. They do have much more affordable fabrics to start with, but they lack some of the discount options you can find at brands like Modern Tailor. That said, my biggest complaint with Modern Tailor has been the quality of the fabrics, so this might just be worth it. The resulting fit and the quality of the construction definitely hold up to the expectations that come with a price point like that, so if you think your particular fabric is worth the price, Proper Cloth won't let you down. I even admittedly opted for a higher end cloth as I wanted to see the difference between a Thomas Mason OCBD and a Target OCBD, up close and personal, but could definitely have been happy with something closer to their starting rate of $85. 

To put it most simply:

Pros: Easy Measuring System; Customization Options; Fabric Selection; Turnaround Time; Fit; Quality; Construction; Perfect Fit Guarantee. Not much not to love.

Cons: Price. Really, I can't think of anything else here, and to be perfectly honest, you get what you pay for.

Editors Note: If you are interested in purchasing a shirt from Proper Cloth, use our referral link for a discount on your first order.

So there you have it. Have any of you tried Proper Cloth? What were your thoughts? Anyone with other MTM shirting companies to compare? Chime in using the comments or our social networks.

This was a sponsored review, and the products reviewed were provided to me free of charge. The article, however, remains objective and unbiased and is published without prior editing or review by Proper Cloth. While I love to be given products to review, don't worry, I will never endorse a product I wouldn't wear myself. 

Summer Style Goals - The 'To Do List'

One of the more popular posts last year went over a ‘To-Do’ list that I had written and then promptly forgotten about. I won’t dig up too much of the old details, but the conclusion was that it can be really helpful to have a few well-defined goals, even if they are just lurking in the back of your head, to make sure that you keep yourself moving forward, always progressing, never going idle. I was going through the archives the other day and happened across that post again, and decided it was time to update a list, especially for the spring.

• Wear chinos casually (instead of jeans) - Don’t get me wrong, I love jeans, but that might be the problem. I have maybe two pairs that I rotate through, and don’t see a need for a whole lot more. However, I end up wearing those two pairs of jeans almost every day that my office doesn’t require business-casual. It’s an easy move when you want to dress down, but I know there are other options. This summer I’d like to try to start wearing chinos and trousers casually. The challenge will be dressing down the rest of my outfit to keep from looking too stuffy in a casual environment, but I’m up to the task.

• Wear a blazer more often, casually - Last year a big goal of mine was to wear a blazer as more than just a light jacket - i.e. something you wear during your commute or while you're outside and then take off for the rest of the day. I’ve really latched onto that one, and now wear a blazer all day long almost every day. This summer, I’d like to extend my blazer use to cover my casual wear a bit more. I already like to dress down the shirt and tie (rocking an OCBD, knit tie, jeans and a blazer is my go-to), but I’d like to go even further and start wearing blazers regularly with wholly casual items like T-shirts, polos and Henleys.

• Incorporate more hot-weather formal wear - When it gets hot, my formal game tends to wilt a bit. I end up going out in shirt and tie but no jacket (sheesh, I know a lot of fellas say this is a big no-no, and while I’m not a stickler for the rule, I do try to avoid it), or wearing boat shoes any chance I can get. This year, I’d like to learn how to combat the heat with my clothes, rather than just by shedding them. A lightweight suit is definitely on the horizon, as well as some linen trousers and shirts to accompany the lighter blazers I already own.

• Step up my summer footwear game - Last year I was a Sperry’s ADDICT - and all summer long it was either my dress shoes for work, or my Topsiders. Still absolutely love my boat shoes, but this year, I’d like to add a few options so I can have variety (spice of life, and all). I’m thinking a pair of white canvas shoes and a pair of lightweight suede loafers will round out the rotation quite well, but I’m thinking about something in black too for those days I’m not feeling quite so bright and cheery.

• Pare down my wardrobe - My closet is stuffed to the gills right now, and it’s driving me (and more importantly, my girlfriend) crazy. Unfortunately, I’ve already gone through and gotten rid of the things I straight up don’t wear. Now, I’m left with my workhorse clothing that I need to keep, and then a large smattering of slightly misfitting items. Most of these I’ve held on to with the plan of getting in to a tailor to fix, but then could never decide if it was actually worth it. My (late) spring cleaning goal is to take all of those items out of my closet, and only return them if they’ve been tailored. Anything that hasn’t made it to the tailor by the end of the month is hitting eBay.

So, once again, I’m jotting this list down and tucking it away somewhere. In a big part, I’ll most likely let this slip my mind for the next few months, but just the fact that I did write it down will keep it semi-on-my-mind all the while, and hopefully by the time fall hits I’ll be able to look back at this and be satisfied with my progress.

What are your current style goals? What are your methods for long-term improvement?

Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 5/2/2014

Womp womp, it's almost the weekend! You know what that means:

"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 we've got some really good ones this week:

Sale Items at Imogene + Willie:
I've been yearning after this brand ever since I saw them featured on ESQTV's Alternate Route. Unfortunately, their retail prices are a bit out of my budget. Fortunately, they have some really nice items in their sale section that are way more affordable. For example, I have my eye on this Henley, normally $145, but now just $40:

Men's Henley | Imogene + Willie

Sure, it's a basic item, but it hits all the right notes. It's slim fit, and looks to be just the right thickness for a spring layering piece. I also love the natural/ecru(?) color - although the styling on the model is a bit funky.

They also have this fantastic chambray shirt, which would make a solid casual option year round:

Carter Chambray | Imogene + Willie

I've professed my love for chambray in previous posts, so it's no surprise that a high-end chambray at an affordable price would catch my eye. This guy is regularly $225 (hot damn), but now you can grab one for only $40.

Promotional Prices at Uniqlo:
So, if that $40 chambray is still too steep for your taste, Uniqlo has you covered. Their chambrays start cheap at $30, but for a limited time are available for a pretty unbelievable $15. 

Chambray Long Sleeve Shirt | Uniqlo

At a glance, it's identical to the Willie + Imogene option. In reality, you'll be missing out on some of the details that make the I + W shirt so...well...awesome (double-needle chainstitch construction, bartack-reinforced chest pockets, genuine shell fisheye buttons...things I don't even necessarily understand but sound damn nice), but you still end up with a helluva nice looking shirt. Take note that it is not a slim fit, but I usually even get the slim options from Uniqlo taken in a bit, so it's not really an extra charge.

Now, I'm halfway pumped about this one and halfway pissed, cuz I literally just got this two weekends ago for full price...but I really can't be that upset since my lovely girlfriend bought it for me as a gift. Anyway, I think I raved enough last year about Uniqlo's linen/cotton blazers for you to have gotten the point. They are lightweight, super comfortable, and ridiculously affordable at just $70. Now, they're even more irresistible as they are knocked down to a crazy $50. All the linen/cotton options are on sale, and you can't go wrong with a solid (like the navy I bought last year), but my favorite is definitely the one my gal gifted, in a light blue houndstooth pattern:

Linen Cotton Slim Fit Jacket | Uniqlo

It's just enough of a pattern to be interesting, but not so bold that it's hard to wear. I've been rocking it with an OCBD and a knit tie, or even just a white henley, and feeling sharp while doing it. If/when they go out of stock, Uniqlo tends to be pretty slow to re-up, so grab one while you can.


Sale Items Up to 70% Off at GANT:
Like Imogene + Willie, GANT is a brand I really enjoy but can rarely afford, so I'm excited when I see things pop up in their sale section that I really like. This slim OCBD in an indigo madras-y plaid balances dress and casual (generally more laid back, but good enough to wear with a tie), as well as fall and spring, and we all know how much I value versatility:

Indigo Oxford Check Hugger Original Button Down | GANT

At $41, down from an original price of $135, it's definitely a steal and definitely within the range of do-able prices.

I'm also really digging these twill pants, mainly for the color, but also for the $54 price, regularly $180:

Stick Boy Broken Twill | GANT

The green is perfect for spring...it fits in great with the color schemes I discussed a few weeks ago - along the same lines as the hunter green that was all the rage in the fall, but injected with just enough brightness to match the improving weather.



Aaaaand I'm actually going to cut it short this week, cuz as I'm writing this on Thursday night, every other sale I was going to mention ends today. Sheesh!

I will give a quick plug though, I've just started taking advantage of the various discussion forums for purchasing items directly from other stylish gents - for example, I'm getting a pair of like-new, light rinse Levi's from a fella on Reddit for $10, shipped. Boom. You can also find guys selling things on StyleForum, Dappered's Threads, and (I believe a relatively new site) Grailed. Of course, selection is hit or miss, but if you're patient and diligent you'll get some damn good deals.