Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 1/3/2014

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!"

Before I get into it, once again, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 2013 was a blast (hey, I launched Wide Eyes, Tight Wallets, so you know it was a good one) and I'm seeing even greater things to come in 2014. OK, since your wallet might be hurting after a little uninhibited NYE spending, here are this week's deals and steals:

Up to 70% Off at ASOS:
ASOS is one of those perfect places to try out new trends, as they tend to have pretty fashion forward styles at very affordable prices to begin with. Add onto that 70% off and you'll be walking away with some snazzy duds for practically pennies. While tons of brands are stocked, I usually find the best deals from their house brand. For example, have you been looking to dip your toes into the wonderful world of plaid suiting? This blazer, regularly $155, can be snagged for just $78:

Slim Fit Suit in Brown Check | ASOS

With the trousers clocking in right around $35, you can get the whole suit for just over $110, which is about as good of a deal as you will find. Granted, these things are mostly polyester, but if you're experimenting and not ready to fork over big bucks for quality on something you might not even like, this is a good way to experiment. Also, if you do some digging, you can find some ASOS suiting with higher quality materials for a bit of a price increase.

ASOS is also great for closet staples like tees, socks, underwear, you name it. Again, these will start cheap, and with the sale running, go for practically nothing. I just bought one of these scoop-neck tees for less than $5.

Scoop Neck T-Shirt | ASOS

Mint green is one of my go-to spring colors, so I know I'll get plenty of use out of this when it starts to warm up. Extra bonus, ASOS offers free shipping and free returns, so I bought just this T-shirt and didn't even notice the divot in my checking account.

Up to 70% Off at Topman:

This is practically the exact same sale. Topman, like ASOS, offers very 'Euro,' fashion forward styles at relatively affordable prices, although sometimes sacrificing higher quality materials to provide a low price point (though a bit less so than ASOS). After you dig through some garish graphic tees, you can find hella nice bargains, like this lambswool-blend sweater that I just ordered for $20 (normally $80):

Textured Lambswool Rich Sweater | Topman

I'm all about sweaters in the winter, and I think the unique texture/weave on this one is a great mixture of casual and stylish. I'll definitely be layering up with this to take the dog to the park or for a night out playing pool.

Topman also has a bunch of jeans and trousers on sale, if you can find your size. Again thinking towards the warmer months, last year I was really looking for some inexpensive, light-wash jeans for sunny days when raw denim just doesn't seem right. These vintage slim jeans would fit the bill perfectly:

Light Wash Vintage Slim Jeans | Topman

Unfortunately, the sizing is very limited, so I'm gonna have to sit on these and pray someone returns a 30R...


Trashness Dress Shirts:
In all honesty, I have yet to try this brand out, but they popped up on my Instagram a few days ago and I'm pretty set on trying them out. They have this great-looking dress denim shirt with a spread collar (another piece I've been looking for), and while it isn't on sale, all their shirts are under $50.

Spread Collar Denim | Trashness

Plus free shipping worldwide?? It's a stingy menswear fiend's dream. A lot of the shirts come with pretty extreme cutaway collars that I don't think I'm quite down for, but there are enough options with this more subtle spread that are right up my alley.

I hadn't heard much about the brand, so I dug around for a few reviews. There's not a ton floating around the net, but what I read was pretty positive for the price. I specifically saw their OCBD's mentioned, and when I do make an order, I'll probably grab one of these as well.

OCBD White | Trashness

The review I read said these were thick but soft, which is perfect for a spring/fall shirt. Plus you can never have enough OCBD's in classic blue or white.


MR PORTER 50% Off Sale:
Sales at Mr. Porter are always a big deal. The discounts also tend to grow over time, and here's hoping this sale does the same, because even at 50% off, most items in the store are still out of my price range. However, there are definitely some affordable deals to be had. For one, I'm considering this thermal Henley from Billy Reid:

Thermal Waffle-Jersey Henley T-Shirt | Billy Reid via MR PORTER

It's clocking in at just under $50 (regularly $95), which definitely isn't cheap, but might be worth it. Not only will the burgundy color look great on it's own, I'd probably do exactly what they suggest in the item description and use this to layer up under a warm (but maybe itchy) sweater.

I also love to browse the accessories section during these sales and grab a pair of nice socks that would normally be way out of my price range. For example, $25 for a pair of socks, even Corgi socks, made from Egyptian Cotton, is a bit extreme for my tastes, but $12.50 on the other hand, is quite do-able.

Dog-Patterned Cotton-Blend Socks | Corgi via MR PORTER

There are many more classic patterns (stripes, solids, some flowers, etc.), but I'm a huge dog-lover and these are awesome. I'd rock 'em with pride (and my feet would thank me)!


Aaaand I'm gonna leave it at that this week. Shop away, share any more good deals here in the comments!

Origins and Shopping Picks: Harris Tweed

I've long professed my undying love for everything tweed, and I think I can safely say that Harris Tweed is the best in the game, and won't get many arguments. However, I was just thinking the other weekend that it's another one of those terms that I didn't really know the meaning behind. Is it a brand? A mill? A fella with a loom? A few hours on the web and I had my answer...thank you, Google, for being you.

So, Harris Tweed. Turns out, it isn't really any of the things I thought it was, exactly. Rather than being, like I suggested, a brand or supplier, it's more of a class of the textile. In fact, there was even a Harris Tweed Act of 1993 (hot damn, style legislation? badass...) that laid out the definition of 'Harris' tweed:

"Handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides." - from The Harris Tweed Authority.

It was this act that established the Harris Tweed Authority in 1993, but the HTA merely replaced an even older regulating body. You can actually trace Harris tweed as far back as the mid-1800's, when Lady Dunmore, widow of the Earl of Dunmore and landowner of the Harris Island in the Outer Hebrides championed the progression of the local cloth into a country-wide textile industry.

In 1909, the Harris Tweed Association (predecessor to the Harris Tweed Authority) was formed to inspect and regulate the production of the tweed, and the famous Harris Orb was created to mark approved materials. Since then, The Harris Tweed Association and now the Harris Tweed Authority have continued to strive for the highest quality of cloths, and have adapted and developed through the ages in order to remain accessible, relevant, stylish and deserving of their acclaim.

The Harris Tweed Orb that marks every piece of the fabric approved by the Harris Tweed Authority.

So what is it that sets Harris Tweed apart? The Harris Tweed Authority says:

"The rare character and beauty of Harris tweed is attributable to the fact that it is the only fabric produced in commercial quantities by truly traditional methods anywhere in the world...
...Unusually, our wool is dyed before being spun, allowing us to blend a multitude of colours into our yarn. With each thread containing a myriad of different colours, a cloth of great depth and complexity is produced...
...Soft, tactile, breathable, warm, colourful, sustainable, adaptable...the old image of coarse, scratchy dour tweed simply does not exist these days."

Today, the Orb is still a mark of some of the best tweed fabric in the world, soft yet durable, stylish but rustic. A tweed suit is about as gentlemanly as you can get in the colder months, with an undeniably rakish English (or Scottish) vibe. These days, you'll find the material used for everything from pants to hats to iPad cases. Here are some of my favorite products out there sporting the Harris Orb:

J.Crew Ludlow Suit in Harris Tweed: You have no idea how much I lust after a Ludlow tweed suit. Someday, when my bank account is a little heftier, this will be a gem in my closet. It's definitely not cheap, but if you have the dough, this suit will never treat you wrong. Jacket pictured below, pants here. 

Ludlow Suit Jacket in Herringbone Harris Tweed | J. Crew

ASOS Harris Tweed Pea Coat: ASOS consistently churns out affordable and stylish duds, and this looks to be no exception. It's a bit shorter than your traditional Pea Coat, but it looks sharp as hell. It's already relatively inexpensive at $245, but ASOS offers sales pretty often. (For example, ASOS currently has a Cyber Monday deal offering 30% off sitewide with code GIMMEMORE...might be a good time to snap this up!)

Harris Tweed Peacoat | ASOS

Stetson Harris Tweed Ivy Cap: Newsboy caps like this can be hard to pull off, but when they work they are one of my favorite looks when it comes to men's hats. A nice one in Harris Tweed will keep your head warm without mussing up your hair all willy-nilly like a wool beanie. Cop this bad boy at Amazon for $55.

Classic Harris Tweed Ivy Cap | Stetson via Amazon

Hennessy and Sons Tweed Dog Collar: During the gift-giving season, pet products are an awesome go-to. I'm admittedly obsessed with my pup, but nothing makes me happier than spoiling the little guy. A tweed collar is a great way to share some of your sprezz with your furry friend for a mere $60 (or a friend's furry friend).

Harris Tweed and Leather Dog Collar | Hennessey and Sons via Amazon

Ness Blaeberry Harris Tweed Purse: This one is for the ladies (once again, with gift-season upon us, trying to help you all out with your shopping lists). This number spices things up from the standard grey tweed with an electric blue plaid (and no, 'Blaeberry' is not a typo...don't ask me...) that your sister/mother/girlfriend is sure to love. Available at Gretna Green for $40, along with some other alternatives if this isn't your cup-o-tea.

Blaeberry Harris Tweed Purse | Ness via Gretna Green

Of course, Harris Tweed isn't the only option out there, but if you have the option, it's definitely the way to go. 

Do you have any favorite tweed pieces? Share in the comments below!

All information regarding Harris Tweed found at the Harris Tweed Authority website.