Showing posts with label Allen Edmonds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allen Edmonds. Show all posts

Monday, July 21, 2014

Sale Spotlight - The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Nordstrom carries a lot of high end, crazy expensive items, but they can also be a great source of discount finds for the budget shopper - especially if you can hit up one of their three annual sales. Their Anniversary Sale launched on Friday (the morning after I wrote up the Deals and Steals for the week), and while it's actually vaguely underwhelming, there are still a number of good deals to be had, so I rounded up a few of my picks:

Shoes:
Probably the best/most items are in the footwear category, and it's one of the few opportunities to get a heavy discount on kicks from brands like Allen Edmond's and Sperry's. Speaking of, my first pick is the Allen Edmond's Park Avenue cap-toe oxford, clocking in at $243 from an original price of $345.
Park Avenue Oxford | Allen Edmond's via Nordstrom
Sure, not exactly cheap, but that's over $100 off the MSRP, and the Park Ave is a fantastic go-to dress shoe. It's easily formal enough to wear with a suit, but versatile enough to rock with some chinos, or maaaaybe jeans (although that's a bit of a stretch). The styling is classic, the shape is a perfect balance of sleek and round, and the AE recrafting program allows one pair of these to last a lifetime.

My second choice is another pair of go-to Allen Edmond's; the Strand (a wingtip brogue):
Strand Oxford | Allen Edmond's via Nordstrom
With the slightly higher starting price, and just a hair cheaper of a sale price, these are a bit better of a deal, and kinda the perfect mate for the Park Avenue's. The brogue details are great for those days where you want to break out of the box just a bit, while still remaining classy and work-appropriate (and these can be work with a nice pair of dark denim). Personally, I prefer these in the darker Bourbon color, but the Walnut is pretty highly coveted among the menswear crowds. It might be a bit less versatile, and is definitely a bit bolder, but as I mentioned, still wholly office friendly.

Changing brands, and heading towards the casual side of footwear, you can pick up Eastland's Stratton 1955 Penny Loafer for just $138 (originally $230):
Stratton 1955 Penny Loafer | Eastland Made in Maine via Nordstrom

Eastland falls in around the same range as G.H. Bass, Sperry's and Sebago, but this particular pair comes from their higher-end, 'Made in Maine' line (and we love when companies manufacture in the USA). The black pair, pictured above, is a bit more casual with contrast stitching and sole, while the burgundy option is a little shinier and a little dressier. Either will perfectly round out a classic prep outfit of chinos, OCBD and blazer (one of my all-time favorite combos). The tag is a bit goofy, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hard to remove, and then these are an undeniable winner.

Our last shoe recommendation is probably my favorite: Sperry Top-Sider Authentic Originals in classic brown for just $60 (regularly $90).
Authentic Original Boat Shoe | Sperry Top-Sider via Nordstrom
I think I got my pair during the MR PORTER sale last year for around $50, but beyond that, this is easily the best price I've seen for what has become probably my most-worn pair of shoes (just browse through my Instagram if you doubt me). Wear them with no-show loafer socks and these things are unbelievably comfortable, and are a big step up from sneakers for a more adult casual summer look.


Pants & Jeans:
After leaving the shoe section, the good deals are harder to find. We did manage to pick out a few pairs of pants, like these Dockers Alpha Chinos:
Alpha Fillmore Slim Fit Chinos | Dockers via Nordstrom
If you're a regular reader, or follow me on Instagram, you know that Dockers Alphas make up a good chunk of my personal chino selection - due to a perfect slim fit, a durable fabric and construction, and an unusually reasonable price. That price gets even more reasonable here, knocked down from $68 to $40 (and remember, free shipping, as always from Nordstrom). There are four colors to chose from, all of which are definitely viable picks, but these dark blue (but not quite navy) are my favorites (I've got a pair in my shopping cart right now).

The other solid find from the pantaloons department are these jeans from Naked & Famous:
Weird Guy Slim Fit Raw Jeans | Naked & Famous via Nordstrom
Another pick that certainly isn't cheap, but still a great deal, these are coming in at $103 (originally $155). I don't believe they are selvedge, but they regardless promise to be a solid pair of raw denim (Naked & Famous is pretty widely regarded as a go-to entry brand for high end denim). I have to dip my toes in the waters of said high end denim, but when I do, I'm relatively certain it'll be a pair of N&F, and I'll be lucky to find a deal like this.


Socks & Underwear:
Our last section of picks. First up is the Tommy John V-neck undershirt:
Cool Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt | Tommy John via Nordstrom
We did a whole write-up on picking the right undershirt for the job, and the Tommy John V-neck was a solid winner in my book. I was able to pick up the bargain (albeit slightly lower quality) version at a Nordstrom Rack, but this here is full-fledged top-notch version, regularly pretty expensive at $40 a pop, now much more reasonable at $26. Might still seem like a lot for an undershirt, but I think it's worth it - slim fitting and thin enough to be invisible under a dress shirt, long enough to stay tucked in, and made from a soft and stretchy pima cotton blend.

And finally, while it might be hot as heck now, you know colder months are never far away, so don't forget to consider some cozy steals like these SmartWool socks:

New Heathered Socks | SmartWool via Nordstrom
SmartWool is a lifesaver come winter (well, toe-saver at least), but can put a dent in your wallet at close to $20 a pair. These are knocked down to $13, and definitely worth stocking up on a few pairs while the sale is on. Check out the full SmartWool selection for other colors and styles, but I think the above pair in a solid navy are the most versatile.


And that's it for today, folks. By all means, browse the rest of the sale, and keep an eye out for further markdowns and/or added items - while we didn't see a whole lot else that excited us, you may find some hidden gems! Happy shopping.

As always, we'd love to hear about any steals you score in the comments below.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

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!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Essential Winter Shoe-Care Tips

We've done a post about the importance of taking care of your shoes, and just like that time, I'm going to avoid a general 'how-to' since a quick Google or YouTube search will get you all the info you need to know. However, there are a few extra tips that we felt were crucial enough to getting through the winter that we wanted to write up a quick post for y'all.

Shoe Trees
Cedar Shoe Trees | Men's Wearhouse
These are important all year, but doubly so in the winter. Mainly, they help the leather in your shoes maintain it's natural shape as it dries, avoiding creasing and cracking. Through the winter, you're just that much more likely to come back with some snow stuck to your soles, or slush in the seams of your precious leather footwear, so be extra sure to shove a pair of shoe trees in them as soon as you take them off. Shoe tress can get expensive, but there's really no need. Stick to cedar, and if possible get split toes, and you're good to go. Men's Wearhouse has a nice looking pair that goes for just $20, and you'll often be able to take a chunk out of that with a good sale. I get mine at Nordstrom Rack, where I think they run just $13.

De-Salt
While your stuffing your shoes with trees, it's also really important to give your kicks a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth as soon as you step inside. The salt that your local city or town or what have you applies liberally to the streets and sidewalks will do extra murder to your footwear, staining and drying out the leather in ways far worse than just water. Avoid any excess damage by wiping your shoes clean of any salt build-up before it has a chance to really set into the leather.

Save Your Suede
Combo Suede Brush | Allen Edmonds

Water and salt won't necessarily ruin suede as immediately as many people think, but it's still rough on the material. At the very least, you can end up with spots from the salt and weird lines from uneven exposure to water (or snow, or slush). We have two quick recs here: First, don't be afraid to fight fire with fire (or water with water, in this case). Often, applying a moist cloth evenly to the whole shoe will help remove stains and get rid of unsightly lines. Second, get a suede brush! The rubber nubs are great for working salt and other crud out of the leather, and the stiff wire bristles will restore the 'nap' of your suede to looking almost like new. Suede brushes are dirt cheap at shoe companies like Allen Edmonds (think $6.50 and free shipping), but in a crunch you can use a rubber eraser and plain wire brush.


Just some suggestions to help you make it through these cold and dreary months without stifling your style!

Ed. Note: Between writing and publishing this post, I also purchased waterproofing spray from Allen Edmond's. It's inexpensive at ~$7.00 a can, silicone free (better for your leather), and so far is working great on my suede boots. It's usually highly recommended around StyleForum, etc., and I'm inclined to agree.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Investment Pieces

I'm really happy to finally be at the point in my life where I can start thinking about investment pieces. These are pieces where it is 100% worth it to not bargain hunt your way into a product, to find the cheapest bang for your buck, or go for quantity over quality. Rather, these are pieces where you want to splurge, because you buy ONE, and that one item will never go out of style and never wear down on you.

Now, when I say I'm at the point in my life where I can start thinking about these things, I mean two things. First, I don't necessarily have the money to go out and buy and investment jacket and investment boots and investment yadda yadda yadda right now (this is still Wide Eyes, Tight Wallets), but I do have a little padding with each paycheck that I can put towards saving up for those really worthwhile purchases.

Perhaps even more important, I am confident enough in my personal style as well as my own sartorial education to be able to pick out pieces that I know I will want to wear forever, and will look good forever. After all, it's pretty pointless to shell out for an expensive, durable jacket, only to have it go out of style and out of favor in a year.

I also have to include a small caveat. These are all items that are worth investing in if you have the money to invest in them. For example, later I'll discuss denim as an investment piece, but if you need a pair of dark blue jeans and only have $40 in your budget to cover them, don't freak out, open a line of credit, and go into debt to get that awesome pair of $100 (or $200) jeans. Shop within your means.

OK! All that out of the way, here is the list of investment pieces going onto my wish/save list:

Boots - This is probably first on my list, but largely because I have an almost fetishistic obsession with these Allen Edmond's Dalton boots. They are just so perfect that I can't bring myself to settle for even a temporary inexpensive alternative. Nope, I'm holding out for the real deal, and baby, this is it.

Dalton by Allen Edmonds | $395.00 at Nordstrom


Coat - A good winter coat is an easy choice for the 'investment piece' list. First, the truly classic styles have never gone out of favor. Your pea coats and chesterfields will be as safe as a purchase now as they were ten years ago and will be ten years from now. On top of that, a winter coat is an item where style and functionality are equally important and equally hard to find at lower price points. If you want to stay warm (especially in a city like Chicago), and not look like you're wearing a glorified garbage bag, you're going to have to shell out a few bucks.

Grafton Coat by Rag & Bone | $895

Shoes - Another easy addition to the list. I've done great for a while grabbing some fantastic used shoes off of eBay, but at some point I'd really like to purchase at least two pairs of brand new, high quality dress shoes. Why is brand new important? There is a layer of cork between the insole and actual sole of every shoe (well, to my understanding), and this layer forms to your foot over time, like memory foam, but more permanent. If you buy used, no matter how nice of condition the shoe is, that cork layer is going to be formed to someone else's foot. Why is high quality important? Much like a good coat, a solid pair of shoes from a renowned brand like Allen Edmonds or Alden will never go out of style and will last you a decade.

Limited Edition Alden Cadet Cordovan Bluchers | $657.00 at J. Crew

Jeans - One of the biggest eye openers for me as I learned about menswear was the realization that holy hell people pay $200 for a pair of jeans! Even more importantly, I realized that there's actually a difference between a $200 pair of jeans and one that only costs $50. Again, this comes down to two things: the right $200 pair of jeans will 1) never go out of style; and 2) last forever - are you noticing a theme here?

A.P.C. Petit Standard Slim-Fit Dry Selvedge Denim Jeans | $205 at Mr. Porter


Watch - I've never been a watch guy myself, but even I can tell the difference between a cheap Timex and something of more esteemed quality. Don't get me wrong, a Timex will serve my purposes nine times out of ten, but one day I want to own one nice timepiece that I can bust out on special occasions when I really want to look and feel like a boss.

Burberry Silver Ceramic and Stainless Steel Watch, 42mm | $795.00 at Bloomingdale's


A Bespoke Suit - Notice how I said 'A.' That means one. Sure, someday it'd be killer if I could afford to have all of my suits made custom, but even if I never reach that sort of baller status, I'd like to own at least one fully bespoke suit before I die. As a menswear enthusiast, I can't tell you how many articles I've read reveling in the pure joy, comfort, and confidence that comes from having a suit of the finest fabrics cut and sewn for you alone, and that's a feeling I want. Now, due to the nature of 'bespoke,' I obviously can't pick out an online example for you, but you can imagine it...I'm thinking a warm brown, in a wool-cashmere blend, peak lapels, brown nut buttons...ah I could go on and on...

I'm sure there's more to this list, and hopefully I continue to improve my socio-economic status throughout my life and in turn get to add more items to this list, but right now, these are the things I'm ready to save and splurge on.

What's on your list? Any overlaps with my list? Anything you'd add or remove? Share in the comments!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

A 'Wide Eyes, Tight Wallets' Fall Preview

I know I just wrote last week that there is still plenty of summer left, but one of my favorite things about men's style and fashion is getting to enjoy todays trends while already looking forward to tomorrow's. That in mind, here is a quick preview of the things I'm looking forward to that will come with the cooler weather.

Cardigans:
I love sweaters in general, but I'm especially particular to cardigans, and they are one of my favorite layering pieces. I love the way that a cardigan transcends the casual/formal border. For example, throw one on buttoned up under a blazer, and you have a dressed-down three-piece. Wear one loose over a tee and you have a bit classier of a sweatshirt jacket. I've been meaning to try out the brand Scotch and Soda, and I've got my eye on their dark-red cardigan to mix things up in my sea of greys and blues:



Shawl Collars:
This kind of goes along with cardigans and sweaters, but I can't wait to get back to my addiction to shawl collars. Can't really tell you what I love so much about them...but I think it has something to with the smooth line that the roll of the shawl makes, adding heft to a sweater without making it bulky or cumbersome. J. Crew offers a shawl neck pullover with a nautical stripe pattern, which would fulfill another of my latest obsessions:



Tweed:
I've honestly been putting off buying another summer blazer in anticipation of getting to invest in some great tweed options. Tweed has been one of my favorite fabrics since before I even knew anything about style, which goes to show how great it looks, even to the untrained eye. On top of that, I don't think tweed has ever gone out of style, nor will it. If I go custom (which I will, if I can afford it), this brown number from Indochino is high on my list:



Heavy Denim:
One of the sartorial leaps I have yet to take is getting into high quality denim. As the plethora of denim-heads out there will tell you, there's a world of a difference between a pair of $50 Levi's from Macy's and a pair of selvage jeans constructed from heavy, raw Japanese twill.  Summer was definitely not the time to try these out, but come fall I'm definitely picking up a pair that I'm sure will quickly become my go-to non-business pants. Gustin makes some great-looking, affordable selvage jeans, and just announced that they will be regularly stocking their Japan Classic line (most weaves are limited releases):



Boots:
This one is a big IF in my book, mainly dependent on IF I can ever afford them. I tout thrifted and eBay'ed shoes left and right, but at some point you gotta invest in a pair of high quality, new shoes that will form to your feet and be an investment that will pay off for years. I fully plan on making my first pair some wingtip brogue boots (especially appropriate for dealing with Chicago winters here in the windy city). I've heard nothing but great things about Allen Edmonds' Dalton boot, and would give an arm and a leg for my own pair:




And to top it all off, and bring a lot of these together, Layering. The highlight of pretty much any menswear enthusiasts year, the options that come with colder weather are like a friggin playground. I honestly get giddy just thinking about it...blazers on vests on sweaters on shirts, wool on cashmere on denim, contrasts and compliments, the options are really endless. After trying to pare everything down as much as possible during the sweltering heat of the summer, finally getting to layer again is a pleasure

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Easy Transitions

I've written before that my personal style, when I have full freedom to express it, rides the line between casual and formal. My lifestyle doesn't call for a whole lot of formal attire, but I like to dress up the casual pieces I wear in order to stand out and put my best foot forwards. This usually means something like jeans with a shirt and tie, patterned dress shirts instead of plain white or blue, or desert boots and chinos matched with a sport coat and tie.

Another reason I love to wear this kind of style, is that when you are balancing that line, it's easy to tip it in one direction or the other with just a few small changes. For example, yesterday I had a full day of work at the law firm, followed by the quickest of trips home before heading to a Deer Tick concert back downtown.

A few things to note: For those of you who don't know (but I'm sure most of you can imagine), the dress code at the law firm is definitely not casual. The specific firm I work for is much less strict than most, but jeans are not an option, collared shirts are required, and I personally wear a tie every day. Now, also for those of you who don't know, Deer Tick concerts can get just a wee bit rowdy. And I fucking love Deer Tick, so I'm not going to sit on the sidelines and quietly nod my head while John McCauley and co rock out onstage.

Therefore, yesterday's progression of events required some quick wardrobe changes. Here, the KEY word is 'quick.' Check out the before and after pictures, to see just how quick I was able to move from office to rock concert:

Here is the original office attire:



The transition really only took a few changes. First, I ditched the blazer, especially as I anticipated it to get a little warm in the crowded venue.


Before (Work Attire)
After (Concert Attire)
I did decide to stick with the tie. The concert was at a weirdly nice venue, considering how rough-edged Deer Tick can be, so I wanted to keep a little bit of class. I did lose the tie clip though, and unbuttoned my top button for a little looser of a look.

Next, I switched out the shiny black Allen Edmonds for my Clark's, which are much more durable and not quite as stiff (even though I think my AE's are pretty damn comfortable themselves). Most importantly, I won't care if (I mean WHEN) someone steps on my shoes.
Before (Work Attire)

After (Concert Attire)
Along with this, I also swapped the black dress belt for a more casual brown one that I've had for forever.

Before (Work Attire)

After (Concert Attire)
The final product was rock-ready, but still sharp (even if I look a bit dweebish in this picture...):



The great thing is, I could have taken this even farther without having to do much more. Swap out the grey chinos for a pair of jeans; rock a slim tee instead of the button-up; go tie-less, but keep the jacket. It really lets me judge the occasion and dress accordingly without having to stress out about having another entire outfit laundered, ironed, and ready to throw on in the 15 minutes I have at home. The changes are all minor, it's in no way a new outfit, but it's specifically adapted to the situation at hand.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

WIWT - 3/20/2013

In fashion, there tends to be a misconception that, in order for an outfit to be interesting, it has to be colorful. Not only does this lead to some crazy color combinations (contrast can be good folks, but everything in moderation), it also tends to lead to a general neglect of the use of texture to give depth to an outfit. True, a combination of ‘all monos’ - monochrome, monotone, monotexture, tend to fall pretty flat and can fail to make any sort of statement whatsoever. However, you can create an interesting, maybe even exciting outfit just by playing with textures.

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Take this look I wore today. You will find (almost) nothing but grey in this outfit. Charcoal grey pants, light grey sweater, mid-grey shirt, grey tie. All one color, and arguably the least ‘exciting’ color out there. The difference lies in the attention I paid to the textures of each individual item. You won’t see a similar textured piece of clothing next to another anywhere in this outfit. The cotton, dark grey trousers cozy up with the thicker, light grey cotton knit v-neck, which lays nicely over the grey chambray shirt which stands out with a hint of sheen, but is balanced again by a thick, robust wool tie.

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I topped it off with just the subtlest pops of color…it might be hard to see in the picture, but the tie has ‘cornflower’ blue pin stripes, and I threw on a pair of grey socks with similarly light blue stripes as a bit of a visual surprise if you get a glimpse between my cuff and shoe.

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Like I said, what keeps this outfit from blending into a big grey mush is the texture variation (one more time - cotton twill to knit cotton to chambray to thick wool). Even the black belt, when you can see it under the sweater, helps to break up the outfit into very distinct pieces.

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I have a special place in my heart for this outfit right next to my special place for all things grey. Something about the color just appeals to me, fashion-wise (might have something to do with my longstanding love affair with Tweed). I’m often frustrated with the problem of too many grey items of clothing and therefore am giddy as a school girl when I can find a way, like this, to throw on all the grey layers I can think of and make it really work. Far from blending into the background with this outfit, I actually get more compliments with this combination than many of my brighter, preppier looks. On top of that, I feel much more weather-appropriate wearing this on a cold windy Chicago day that I do putting on that pastel tie I have set aside for the upcoming spring warmth.

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The whole point is, think outside the box! If you want a more interesting outfit, don’t automatically grab the brightest color in your closet! Experiment, try different things out, and see what works. For all the ‘rules’ of menswear that I love so much, there are a million ways to break and bend them and look great. By the way, I love these socks. So much that I took extra pictures of them. And posted them to Instagram earlier today. $4.00 at Nordstrom Rack, thank you very much!

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Today’s Outfit (I think I forgot this section in the last WIWT post):

Shirt: Frank and Oak
Sweater: American Eagle
Tie: The Tie Bar
Pants: Frank and Oak
Socks: English Laundry
Shoes: Allen Edmonds

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

WIWT - 3/13/2013



Ladies and gents, proud to present the first ‘WIWT’ post from Wide Eyes, Tight Wallets. For those of you new to the lingo, WIWT = What I Wore Today, and is, well, if you don’t get it I’m not sure I can help you. Anyway, I figured I may as well put the new camera to use, so these should become a regular feature (and the photo quality will get better as I figure out all the tricks on this camera and set up some better shooting locations).

I also really wanted to show off this tie, which very well may be my favorite that I’ve gotten from Tie Society (Tie Society review forthcoming). I’ve been really digging the dots lately and love the shiny-light blue/raised white dot combo, plus the tie is just darn well made, you can tell from the way it knots and hangs….just look at that dimple. Golden. Also notice the tie length (previously addressed in this ‘Fashion Faux Pas’ article)- hits right at the belt - muy bueno.

I will say that I need to have the shirtsleeves taken in a bit as they are a bit long and loose, but it hasn’t bugged me enough to actually take them to a tailor yet. So get off my back already.



Todays ensemble:

Pants: Frank and Oak
Shirt: J. Crew
Tie: Bear vs. Bull (courtesy of Tie Society)
Socks: H&M
Shoes: Allen Edmonds

Monday, February 25, 2013

Shoe-Shine Sundays (Your shoes will thank you)


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I already told you how important it is to take proper care of your proper clothes. Well guess what, your kicks need care too (unless they are, literally, Kix, then eat them. With milk. Which is caring in it’s own, milky way). I especially felt this was important to mention after yesterday’s post regarding buying shoes on eBay, because it doesn’t matter how good of condition those new used shoes come in if you dont take proper care of them going forward. The two most important things: shoe trees, and regular polishing. As someone who, until a month or two ago, had never had or done either of these things, this can seem a bit daunting at first, but really, I’m not here to tell you how to do these things, but rather to insist that it’s SO EASY. And kind of fun. Shoe trees are a piece of cake. Grab a pair of unfinished cedar trees with a full heel (you only need one, and you can get them for about $12.00 at Nordstrom Rack), and you’re good to go. Simply put them in your shoes right after you take them off. There’s no need to store them in shoe trees, it’s really just important to use them for about the first hour after wearing. This allows the leather to dry in its natural shape instead of shrinking, creasing, etc. as the moisture comes out. If the shoes are particularly wet, stuff them with newspaper first. DO NOT try to dry your shoes near heat, as it will cause the leather to crack.

Polishing is really just as easy, and just as cheap. You can get all the supplies at your local Target or Walmart or shoe store or anywhere really, but if you’re lazy like me, you can order quality brushes and polishes (Kiwi!) at AllenEdmonds.com (free shipping!) for around $5 a brush. Pick a day on a weekend, spread out some newspapers, pull up the you-tube instructional video of your choice, and get to polishing! You’d be surprised how easy it really is, and like I said it’s kinda fun. There’s a definite sense of satisfaction when you’re all done and holding a shiny-new pair of shoes in your hands. By the second time I did it, it only took my about 15 minutes. And if that’s really all too much for you, you can get shoe shines all over the place, and they only cost a couple dollars. Just make sure to shine and condition your shoes once a week if you are wearing them regularly (I shine mine while I watch the Walking Dead every week. Zombies and shoe shine….aaaahhhh, smells like a Sunday)!

I’m no expert, so I won’t give you a shoe-shine walkthrough, but take this as encouragement that, with all the resources out there, shining your own shoes really is something anyone can do and feel good about. If you have any questions, though, I will be more than happy to (attempt to) answer! Shine away, my friends.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Shoes Fo' Po' People

A theme of this blog is the recurring problem that as one becomes more enlightened to the ways of looking good, one’s taste in clothes (and then things, and then women….haha) gets more and more expensive. Unfortunately, not all of us have the financial means to keep up with those tastes, which leaves a lot of us with the problem of not being able to afford what we we want, but knowing too much about the alternatives to want to settle.

This post adresses what, to me, provided the biggest gap between want and ability (besides maybe custom/bespoke suits, but I guess I don’t really need one of those at this point in my life): Shoes. It really seemed to me that, unless I was willing to throw down close to $300 on a pair of Allen Edmonds, I was relegated to fake leather, synthetic soles, boxy toes, and every other sign of sub-par footwear. Then, I found eBay.

Ok, that’s a bit overdramatic. I already knew about eBay. But, I had never really tried to use it to buy clothes and shoes. I’m still iffy about buying clothes (too much of a gamble regarding unseen stains, snags, stretches, and, worst of all, smells), but I have found eBay to be a goldmine for finding high quality shoes in good (not new, but good) shape for extremely affordable prices.

My advice before diving in:
  1. Know your shoe size: This whole thing really only works if you can confidently bid on a pair of shoes without worrying if they are going to squish your toes. I know I am a size 10 D, and so far have not been let down (size-wise) by anything with those measurements.

  2. Stick to leather shoes: This goes back to my aversion to clothes and shoes that smell like other people. Decently cared for leather shoes smell like, well, leather. Running shoes, sneakers, etc., these things tend to smell like sweat. And feet.

  3. Know the brands you like: It is way more productive to search by brand than by shoe type. If you search for “Brown Loafers” you will get way too many results and half of those are gonna piece-o-shit shoes. Stick to quality brands, and search using those names. I have a list of brands that I routinely check for on eBay. These are brands I have worn and loved, or are reputable brands that I have seen on other forums with styles that I know I love.

  4. Look for damage to the uppers as well as wear to the soles: Damage to the uppers is probably the most important, as it is very hard to repair deep scuffs or scratches. Soles and heels can always be repaired and replaced (as long as they were leather to begin with), but just be sure to factor that cost into your budget if need be.

  5. Set yourself a standard price limit, and use the filters: My method is to, every few days, start a search under ‘Men’s Shoes.’ I slap on a price filter and a size filter (I usually run with $50 max, size 10D), and then just start plugging in those aforementioned brands.

  6. Lastly, stick to items ending that day: You can find a lot of great deals, but you will also see a lot of great shoes starting at really low prices and then skyrocketing in the last day or two of the auction. You will be disappointed over and over again if you start bidding too early. Look for auctions that are ending soon, or have a Buy-It-Now option (this is just basic eBay shit, so get with it, people!)
Applying those guidelines, I have started to build a hell of a shoe collection. Here are my recent buys:


I scored these nice, Johnston & Murphy wingtip brogues for $35 and free shipping. While Johnston & Murphy is bit below Allen Edmonds as far as quality goes, these shoes came in great condition for $35. The sole is barely scuffed, the heels are only lightly worn, and the leather uppers are in perfect condition. They are a little stiff, but I’m hoping with regular polishing and conditioning they will soften up nicely. These shoes normally run $175 on the Johnston & Murphy website.



I had been really wanting a new pair of brown shoes (mine were, horrifically, a bit square toed), so I went after these bench-made Brooks Brothers cap-toe oxfords and brought em home for just $45 (plus $10 for shipping). These show a little more wear on the soles, but the uppers are in great condition and they are very comfortable. I also love that they work casually and formally equally well.



My favorite shoes are these black, quarter-brogue Allen Edmonds I bought for ONLY $25!!!! I love Allen Edmonds, and tend to use them as a scale against which I measure all other shoe brands (so get used to it). I also love these shoes because they were part of the beginning of my wardrobe upgrade and are my first nice shoes. This was when I broke away from long toed, or square toed, or synthetic, or other crap - shoes and landed with a classy, comfortable (the leather on these is incredibly soft), and versatile pair of dress shoes. Couldn’t. Be. Happier.

Lastly: I JUST (as in just yesterday) received a pair of Original Clark’s Desert Boots via eBay (for a slim $35 + shipping/handling). I haven’t gotten to wear or photograph them yet (with my shitty iPhone camera, I feel like saying ‘photograph them’ is a little misleading, but still…), but I guarantee a full report soon! Shop well, friends.