Trench Coats – Part One
The season for trenchcoats has arrived. Check out some below from Indochino:
$299
$249
Archive for March, 2009
Mar 18
1 Comment
How to save money without looking like you are.
I have recently been asked how I am able to still buy clothing and accessories in the current economic state and why I even promote buying such “luxuries” when most cannot.
The entire reason behind this blog is to guide my readers towards looks that are affordable and functional even if you make $30,000 a year and have to pay the mortgage and the bills. Part of waking up and facing this big bad world is having confidence and style. For me, affordable fashion doesn’t mean looking cheap or buying items made from inferior materials. It means looking great and feeling great that you did not spend your years savings on one piece of clothing.Plus, when you leave for work or school in the morning if you look good you exude an air of confidence that can be sensed from across the street.
As I stated in a previous post, I have paid off all my credit card debt and destroyed all but one card. All that money I was paying in minimums and interest now goes into my ING account.
I cannot express how free this has made me feel. I urge all of you to concentrate on this first before making anymore purchases with your credit cards. I was getting sucked into that world and the debt was not going away. It wasn’t until I started to attack the debt full on that it started to fade. I packed lunches, didn’t go out, sold old clothing and accessories on E-Bay, and put all of my extra income into destroying my debt; all the while still dressing well because that made me feel good.
One way I was able to do that was buying two essential pieces every man should own: a Grey suit and a Navy suit,. Both of them I found at Daffy’s. The Navy suit was $99.00 and the Grey was $120. I paid for the Grey one with Christmas money that was given to me and the Navy with cash, not credit. With those two essentials I had an entirely new wardrobe because I used them as seperates as well as full suits. Don’t have a Daffy’s in your part of town? Go to Marshalls. Then go to the tailor. I guarantee you will not go above $300.
When I used to DJ I did something called “crate digging” where I would sit for hours in a record store and literally dig through all the vinyl to find the best sounding stuff for a great price. I have merely applied that passion for finding great music to clothing and I think if you dig hard enough, you can really find what you are looking for and not have to worry about how you are going to pay it all off at the end of the month.
Try and use this blog to your advantage. It is a tool for you to wake up and put on something that makes you look in the mirror and say, “God damn, I look awesome” and still be able to buy yourself a morning cup of coffee.
Until next time,
Dennis Cahlo
Editor At Large
Indochino Suit Has Arrived – Brief Update
My Indochino suit arrived today and there are good and bad aspects of it which I’ve listed below:
1. SHIPPING: Expedited shipping is REALLY fast! They had the thing here overnight.
2. FABRIC: EXCELLENT quality of fabric. It is much better than anything from H&M or even my favorite Daffy’s. I ordered the Charcoal Performance Suit which is made from poly, but honestly cannot feel the difference between this and my light weight wool suits. Very impressive.
3. CONSTRUCTION: Flawless and beautifully stitched. Honestly, for the price this is just gorgeous.
4. FIT: Here is where things have gone awry. Maybe my measurements were off, but the suit is really baggy – too baggy. I normally fit in an off the rack 36-38 and this fits more like a 40. I thought it would have come more fitted but I’m going to have to get alterations done by Nancy (my tailor). I must say, I think they cut the suits EXACTLY to your measurements and not to fit your body. The good thing is, rather than off the peg, the waist fits well, the hemming is spot on, and the alterations should be minimal.
PLUS: Indochino does offer a “perfect fit” guarantee in which you can just send back the suit with the alterations you need done and they will fix it all for you for free. I’m choosing to spend extra and go to my tailor because I know she’ll get it right.
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Probably one of the best online experiences I have had…ever. Honestly.
Overall, if I had to get a suit from them again, I just might. What they seem to give to you is a great “template” suit. By this, I mean it generally fits my body’s measurements and I’ll just need to take it in here and there.Unlike off the peg, all the stuff that counts fits…like the waist. That was damn important.
If you are feeling adventurous, go for it. Even if you need to alter the suit, it’s still going to cost you less than $500. And that, my firends, ain’t bad.
Stay tuned for photos of my tailored Indochino suit as well as an interview with their CEO Kyle Vucko.
**FOLLOW UP**
Just got back from the tailor. She’s going to take everything in. She could not believe the excellent quality of the fabric and overall construction. She said the shoulders were an amazing fit and the next time I order from INDOCHINO to take down all my measurements by 1/2 an inch. So if you take the plunge, definitely go 1/2 less on your measurements and MAKE SURE TO SPECIFY what you want in the appropriate questionnaire box. THANKS! – Dennis Cahlo, Editor At Large
Mar 13
H&M Linen Suit – $90
This is my Thom Browne-esque linen suit from H&M. I took the lining out of the blazer so now it’s kind of like wearing air. Should be great for the summer:
H&M Linen Suit: $90, no tailoring
The New Ipod Shuffle…An Idea
The new IPOD SHUFFLE is so beautiful. I think that not only will it make for an excellent new companion to any musically inclined commuter, but also serve another great purpose as a money clip.
I may buy one just for that reason.
$79 - music plus a great moneyclip/cardholder.
Shoe Trees – A Worthwhile Investment
As I guy, I know how it is. You get home, want to throw your shoes off and lay down on the couch for a bit after a long day. But if you look closely at your nice leather shoes bunched up in the corner of your apartment (or house if you don’t live in NYC) you may see a tiny bit of moisture leaking from the creases embedded in them.
That, my friends, is a tear. A tear shed for the long hours of service they provide only to be shoved in a dank, dusty corner at the end of the day.
The best investment to prolong the life of your shoes are shoe trees made of CEDAR. Cedar is excellent because not only does it soak up excess moisture from your shoes, but it also wards off offensive odors. You should continue to treat your shoes right even when on the road. PLASTIC shoe trees are better for travel because they are less bulky. You can most likely find them at your local CVS for $5.99 a pair.
Below I have provied a link for some cedar shoe trees for only $12.99 from Stacks and Stacks Homeware:
$12.99 from Stacks and Stacks
