Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 9/25/2014

The weekend nears (weird that I'm still excited about that, considering I don't have a 9-5 at the moment), and that means it's time for Deals and Steals! Here's our '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!"

I'm still pretty damn pumped about this fall weather that is slowly (but surely) heading our way, so here's another fall-centric list:

30% Off Fall Jackets at H&M (and free shipping with code 2288):
Editors Note: Damn, looks like the 30% off has ended already. Thanks to @mh1990 for pointing this out below. Looks like free shipping is still on through tomorrow, but can't grab that extra discount. Lamesauce!
Couldn't be happier about this sale, especially considering my H&M mention in last week's Deals and Steals. Remember how I said I'd be keeping a watch out for discounts to stack with the free shipping code I pointed out in that list? Well, here's that discount! It's not site-wide or anything, but there are some great fall outerwear options included - even that same blue baseball jacket has been marked down to $42 from $60. I went ahead and selected two new picks for this week, as well. First up is this blue canvas parka, regularly $50, now $35:

Canvas Parka | H&M

I've mentioned that my personal style has slowly been shifting from sharply tailored to a bit more rugged and casual (in part as I transfer out of a law firm work-place). As I've been making that shift, I've been digging the rustic look of a canvas parka more and more - and the best part is it won't look half bad over a blazer, either.

I also think this duffel coat in a rich burgundy color is fantastic:

Duffel Coat | H&M

I love the duffel style and the great color, but what's especially cool here is the way they've adapted the coat for fall, rather than winter. I have a great Gloverall wool duffel that I wear all winter, but is heavy, wool, and definitely too much for these transitional months. This coat, on the the other hand, is made out of a cotton canvas fabric, which a) makes it much more fall-appropriate - ready for rain, not snow, and b) let's them keep the price down to $70 - actually, now below $50 with the discount.

Just act fast, as the free shipping code is only good through 9/27.


Extra 30% Off Final Sale Items at J.Crew (code PICKASALE):
Man, J.Crew manages to make it onto this list almost every week, and I'm not complaining. However, to shake things up a bit this time around, I turned my focus away from their main line and took my picks from their higher Wallace & Barnes line, or their co-branded 'In Good Company' items. From Wallace & Barnes, the first thing that stood out was this shawl-collar cardigan:

Wallace & Barnes Indigo Shawl-Collar Cardigan | J.Crew

You already know I love shawl collars, so this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. That said, I usually stick to solid colors, as I think that patterns like stripes, etc., make the look too casual (and I love throwing a shawl-collar cardigan over an OCBD with a tie for a cozy dapper look). This one, however, manages to inject some 'fun' with the color block front, but stays sharp enough for my tastes. Like most good things, originally expensive at $150, but knocked down to just over $90 with the discount.

Also from Wallace & Barnes, I'm digging this take on the bomber jacket - it's like an higher-quality, but maybe more casual version of the cheaper options from brands like H&M:

Wallace & Barnes Colorblock Bomber Jacket | J.Crew

I dig the subtler color-blocking, the faded blue tones, the grey trimming, and the fact that it just looks cozy. If this was in my closet, it'd probably be my first grab for any of your standard-fare outdoor fall events - from tailgating to a cookout to a stroll in the park. Regularly a whopping $188, now a more manageable $112.

Not into the fall colors, or just want something brighter? Turning even farther from J.Crew's main line, this jacket by Penfield (in the 'In Good Company' collection) might just hit the spot:

Gibson Jacket | Penfield for J.Crew

The water-resistant Gibson jacket by Penfield is often highly sought after, and (if I'm not mistaken) often hard to find below full price, so this is a great chance to grab it in a vibrant yellow for a solid discount (down to $98 from $150).


New Arrivals at Uniqlo:
Not a proper sale, per se, but I told y'all I was excited for fall arrivals from the always-affordable Uniqlo, and they've recently added some duds that have made it onto my wishlist. First up, it's the first appearance of their seasonal tweed blazers! And damn, do they have some sharp designs...my personal favorite is this blue window-pane:

Tweed Slim Fit Jacket | Uniqlo

Sure, it's bold, but it's a casual blazer anyway, so you have more room to get funky. I'd rock this, for sure, and rock it hard. The only downside is that the material is not 100% wool, but it's so damn affordable they might just get a pass on that one. Currently full-priced at just under $100, and also available in a grey window-pane, as well as a few more neutral solids.

Scrolling down to the knits, I'm not surprised to see tons of great sweaters coming into play. I'm sure I'll grab a few of the insanely-affordable lamsbwool cardigans, or the very popular merino v-necks, but this cable-knit is the one I've got my eye on now:

Heavy Gauge Cable Crew Neck Sweater | Uniqlo

This may just be my memory failing me (call me out if I'm wrong), but I don't recall seeing these cable-knit and patterned options last year, so I'm especially happy to see them show up here. Love how cozy this looks, especially in the marled blue color. Even at a full price of $40, it's a hell of a bargain.

Lastly, I've had my eye on a Uniqlo wool chesterfield top coat to get me through the winter for a couple of years. Every year, though, either they don't have the coat when I'm looking, or they're sold out in my size/color, or something, so I'm really trying to jump on that train fast this year. However, Uniqlo has made a few changes - both of which I dig. First, they are finally offering it in a camel color:

Wool Cashmere Chesterfield Coat | Uniqlo

Now, again, I may just not remember ever seeing a camel color, but I'm pretty sure this is a first, and I love it. Not in-your-face by any means, it's still a step away from your standard grays and blacks and will help you stand out in style. Second, they added a cashmere blend to their wool fabric, which, sure enough, raised the prices marginally. That said, $150 for a cashmere/wool top coat? Still a damn steal. And that cashmere is only going to make the coat more comfortable and warmer.

All right, we're calling it quits after that one, before I'm tempted to spend all the money I have set aside for rent and bills! Have a great weekend, and happy shopping.

Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 9/20/2014

Super busy round here, but still made time to put together some great deals before the end of the weekend! Keep an eye out over the next week or so, got some new product reviews on the way, as well as some cool editorials and new 'Know Your Patterns/Fabrics' additions. Meanwhile:

"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!"

Getting pumped about the cooler weather, so we're back to all-fall styles this week. And the deals:

Extra 30% Off Sitewide at J.Crew Factory (code SALE30):
Not a hugely unusual sale for JCF, this one is still a biggie and applies to everything on the site. The possibilities are endless, and JCF has a ton of good stuff in stock right now, so I limited my own picks to the new arrivals, which, of course, are full of great fall duds. Even with that limit, I found a ton of great stuff, so we're going to spend some time on this one! First up are their slim flannel workshirts, which come in a variety of plaids and checks. My favorite is this pink and grey style, marked down to $35 from a starting price of $65:

Slim Flannel Workshirt | J.Crew Factory

I love a good fall flannel, even in very earthy 'fall' colors, but the brighter color scheme on this one could be a refreshing reprieve from the fall doldrums. I feel like last year the flannels were at least hard to find in slim fits, so it's nice to see that these are available in both the slim and the regular. 

Next, adding some weight to the top layer, I've got my eye on this grey tweed work shirt, running $47.60 (down from $88):

Donegal Tweed Workshirt | J.Crew Factory

I'm real big on casual jackets this fall, and a 'shacket' like this is high on my list. I love anything tweed, but tend to see it used more for tailored clothing, and I dig this more casual application. Lighter than most fall jackets, but heavier than most shirts (and from a warmer wool blend), this will make a great layering option as the temps just start to dip. It only comes in a regular fit, not slim, so it may be boxy, but that might also be just enough room to allow for a layer or two underneath. Check it out in person if you can.

Keeping moving up the warmth scale, this new selection has a number of toasty lambswool sweaters. Merino wool is often the sweater fabric of choice, especially for slicker business-casual styles, but lambswool is just that much warmer. Maybe even too warm for early fall, but come winter, when it gets bone-chillingly cold, a sweater like this will become a go-to:

Lambswool Sweater | J.Crew Factory

Here, the colors are for the most part very appropriately earthy, but this green, again, steps a bit out of the normal cold-weather color schemes with a little punch of brightness. It's not summery by any means, but just like the flannel shirt above, could be a cheerier outlier. Lambswool often isn't cheap, but these are marked down to $35 from $70, making them very easy on the wallet as well.

Alrighty, almost ready to wrap it up with JCF, but still have one more, which is probably my favorite on the list, this shawl collar cardigan:

Donegal Shawl-Collar Cardigan | J.Crew Factory

I freakin' love shawl collar sweaters, and actually got to bust one of mine out for the first time this year last night. The nice thing about a cardigan, too, is that the warmer lambswool is easy to pop off if you get too toasty inside. In these fall months, you can even wear it as a light jacket, and then as a mid layer when it gets colder. Again, not usually cheap, but discounted to $56 from almost $100.

Ok, enough with JCF, I guess. There are plenty of other great options, from tweed blazers for under $120, to slim chinos for $35, to camp socks for just $8.75, and everything in between. Check it out.


Free Shipping at H&M (code 2288):
Just a free shipping code (no other discounts to stack), but this is a good chance to grab some of H&M's always-cheap stuff without having to trek down to a store. One of my personal fall favorites from H&M is their shawl-collar cardigan:

Melange Cotton Cardigan | H&M

Looks like this one is cotton, so it won't be quite as warm as the option above from J.Crew, but that $40 base price is damn hard to beat. I have a very similar one from last year's line, and wear it all the time. I'm also a big fan of the slightly-outside-the-box reddish color available this year, although a more standard grey/blue is available as well. 

I'm also a fan of the trendier jackets from H&M - a great chance to test out something a bit outside of your personal style zone without betting the bank on it. I'm thinking about picking up this baseball jacket:

Baseball Jacket | H&M

Again, the base price (this time at $60), is much easier on the wallet than most of the competition. Dig the deep blue color, the bit of shine, and the contrasting white trim - could be really sharp at a tailgate or other fall outing.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for some discounted prices to go with the free shipping (fingers crossed). I'll keep ya posted!

To wrap things up, got two choice pieces of fall footwear at super-bargain prices:

Florsheim Veblen on Clearance:
I've heard the Veblen described as the poor man's Alden Longwing Blucher - which is one my personal grail-wishlist items. Regardless, I think it's a beautiful shoe - not a sleek european brogue, but a chunkier, American style shoe that will look perfect under a pair of heavier fall trousers:

Veblen Longwing Brogues | Florsheim

Even the starting price of $180 is pretty damn nice, especially for a well-reviewed Goodyear welted shoe. Now, Florsheim is letting them go for just $125 - super hard to pass up (and still over the $100 free shipping threshold)!


Stafford Deacon Wingtip Boot on sale at JCPenney:
I wholly think nice leather boots are something worth splurging on, but it can be hard - not only to fork over the money, but to feel like you can actually wear a pair of $400 shoes in the snow, slush and rain that come with boot-weather. If you need a pair to just beat around without worry, the Stafford Deacon from JCPenney is hard to beat:

Stafford Deacon Wingtip Boot | JCPenney

Surprisingly well-styled for a bargain boot, these are pretty wildly popular on sites like Dappered, and seem to be a pretty good bang for the buck. Poke around the web for some information on sizing, as their previous iteration, the Camlin, tended to run pretty large. Regularly $100, these are knocked down to only $65, and a 15% off code (CREDIT33 - make that 20% off with a JCP credit card) puts them at a wildly-affordable $55.


And that's all, folks! Like I said, tune back in next week for some exciting new content, and in the meantime, enjoy the fall!

How To Test a New Trend

Menswear folk preach timeless style all the time, and you'll read on many blogs tons of advice and comments instructing you to avoid trends. In general, I tend to agree - to an extent. Yes, timeless pieces are just that - timeless - and as such, will probably be the more long-lasting versatile pieces in your wardrobe, and as such, are the ones worth investing in. However, trends shouldn't be ruled out entirely. For one thing, some of those trends do end up graduating to timeless status. If we never tried anything new, we'd still be wearing togas, or caveman skins. Even classic style evolves, and that can't happen without people trying new things. Also, timeless can get boring...sometimes you need to jump off a cliff and do something exciting, new, and fun.

So how do you go about testing a new trend? My recommendation is to dip your toes in the water before you dive in (although I did just make a reference to jumping off a cliff...). The trick is to find a way to try out a new style without investing yourself so heavily that if, as many trends do, yours falls to the wayside in a few months, you're out a chunk of change and stuck with some expensive and now useless crap.

With that in mind, you'll want to treat these trends exactly the opposite of how you treat timeless pieces. Instead of focusing on construction and quality, and saving your money to invest in a truly worthwhile piece, look instead for quick fixes - inexpensive options that embody the heart of the trend but don't require you to hand over a month's pay. Skip all the painstaking research, go with your gut, but go cheap.

For example, I've really been digging this microtrend lately of stark black and white outfits - especially in more casual terms. It's definitely a more street-wear friendly look, which isn't one I usually go for (tending instead to stick to a nice preppy/prepster balance). I'm thinking black jeans, some black leather trainers, a bright white tee, and a black bomber jacket. Something like one of these looks:

John Legend (photo via Créme de la Créme) | Anthony Urbano (photo via Closet Freaks)         

I've been so tempted to try it out, but I'm almost certain it's not going to be a strong player in my 'fit rotation, and might even just be relegated to a few wears. Therefore, I'm not even starting to look at premium denim, designer sneakers, or classic bomber jackets (I would spend some $$ on a tee, but only because everyone can use a white tee, and I'll rock that part for as long as it lasts). 

Instead, I'm going as cheap as possible. I just grabbed a pair of lightly used Levi's on eBay for around $12 (shipping included). If it weren't for those, I'd pick up this pair from H&M (a store I usually skip). I found a bomber jacket at Forever 21 (where I also wouldn't normally even consider shopping) in an especially fashion-forward mixed-media for only $30 . I actually already have a white tee that I copped from Bonobos, on sale for around $10, but you can score one for the same price at Uniqlo year-round. Even the trainers, I'm grabbing for just $45 at Vans. Voila, an entire (on trend) outfit for well under $100 (which wouldn't even cover the shoes for a 'timeless' ensemble):

This way, no matter the outcome of my little experiment, I'm only out a small amount of money. If I like the look, I can take some more time and spend some more money to get pieces really worth being proud of, and swap them out for my cheapskate options over time. If I'm not so fond of the look, like I said, little skin off my back (way less than if I went high-end on everything right off the bat). 

Dressing Sensibly for the Occasion

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Cider Summit here in Chicago at Navy Pier with my girlfriend. She's a huge cider fan, and I generally am not, so I decided to really cater to her interests as a Christmas present, and am glad I did. The event was a blast, and I got to taste ciders that were made and used in ways I had never heard of (my favorites were a hoppy cider, and one brewed with bitters that clocked in at 18% ABV and is meant as a cocktail mixer). 

I really had no idea what to expect as far as the venue and dress code went. The website didn't give a ton of background, and while I've been to Navy Pier many times, I hadn't been in this part of the building before. Add to that fact that we were maybe supposed to get some heavy snow right around when we'd be heading back, and I was in a bit of a conundrum as to what to wear!

In cases like these, I think it's always your best bet to go as sensible and as versatile as possible. I kept that in mind as I picked out my 'fit, and I'll break down the decisions I made. Here is what I ended up with:

The most important thing I decided I wanted to make sure I included was some solid layering. It was cold outside, but not too cold, and the venue itself, while indoors, could have been anywhere from toasty warm to shiveringly cold (I was at a beer festival last winter that had huge, industrial doors opening to the outside, and while they closed them after the event started, the place never really warmed up). Therefore, I thought layers would offer me options to deal with any level of warmth in comfort.

I started with a J.Crew OCBD that I just got off eBay. Thanks to having a good knowledge of my measurements I was able to get this perfectly-fitting, already tailored shirt for next to nothing. It's got a red stripe that is a nice shake-up from my standard whites and blues. I figured it would make as good a base layer as any. If you aren't as lucky to find one used, Brooks Brothers has some of the best Oxford shirts around.

On top of that, I decided to wear my chunky cardigan from H&M (it looks like they are all out of the wool option, but they have it's lighter twin here in cotton). I'm not a huge fan of H&M, but this is one of my favorite pieces. The wool/acrylic blend is soft and warm, but most importantly it comes on and off easily, and light enough to cart around if need be. This would be my deciding middle-piece, depending on how high they cranked the heat. 

For pants I went with slim dark Levis, my go-to for the weekends. I knew this wouldn't be a formal event by any means, so denim was a perfectly safe choice, but I kept it sharp with the dark blue wash, just cuz that's how I roll. Just to be safe, I threw some long underwear underneath, opting for cotton over wool so I wouldn't overheat once I was inside.

I think I was really smart to leave the heavy wool jacket at home, and instead opted for a lighter, waxed cotton parka from Frank and Oak. Like I said, the weather wasn't horribly cold, and the forecast of possible snow made the waxed cotton a great choice. I was a little worried I'd be chilly, but thankfully the OCBD/cardigan combo underneath gave me some good insulation. 

A pair of L.L. Bean boots on the bottom finished things off. The snow didn't hit as bad as I was expecting, so I might have been ok with something a little less heavy duty. Even still, I'm happy with this choice, as I wasn't concerned about them getting scuffed in the crowd, or spilled on and mussed up as I got (admittedly) a little bit sloppy. Mmmmm....cider....anyway! Rocked these warm (but cheap!) boot socks from Target, which have been my go-to this winter.

Perhaps more important than what I did wear is what I didn't wear. For example, I was a little tempted to rock a blazer instead of the cardigan, but the sweater was definitely the way to go. Aside from the fact that a blazer would have been far more annoying to carry if it was warm enough to need to take it off, I also guarantee I would have spilled on it, and a sweater is far easier to clean than a jacket that would need a trip to the dry cleaners. 

Also, like I said, while I may have been a bit cozier on the commute, I was smart with my choice to forgo my wool duffle coat that I've been loving all winter. The heavy wool coat would have been a pain to lug around dry, but if it had gotten bogged down and wet with snow, having to carry it around the event would have been a huge damper.

Even the shirt was a smart, and deliberate choice over the other options in my closet. When I wear a cardigan, I'm often inclined to wear some of my shirts that are queued up for  a trip to the tailor as they run a bit baggier. The cardigan hides the fact that they are loose around the waist, and I get to wear some pieces I wouldn't be wearing on their own, purely due to fit. However, I stuck with a slim shirt that I love wearing on it's own, just in case it ended up being so warm that I wanted to ditch the cardigan.

In the end, the point here is that this is in no way a flashy look, or even very fashion-forward at all, but there was still a lot of thought put into each piece. The end-game was casual and easy-going, but hit all the right notes, both in terms of style and functionality. The best part of having thought this through so well was that, once I got going, I didn't have to think about my clothing at all and could just enjoy myself! 

Here are a few pics we shot while enjoying ourselves at the event:

Starting things off!

Hmm...picture is a bit dark, but it's hard to criticize when your photographer is a random stranger!

Wow, JUST noticed I took a picture of the Seattle logo, not the Chicago one...this was towards the end of the event...

Of course things got a little silly...

...but we just like to have fun!