Cheap Sites, Good Buys!

It's official! Uniqlo (www.uniqlo.com) has gone ecommerce! Now, you can buy nice, inexpensive clothing without breaking the bank. I wrote about this website before, because I was amazed at how they were able to offer such high quality clothing for such low prices. SInce they have opened their online store I can't stay off their site. WIth lambswool cardigan sweaters in multiple colors going for $29.90, how can you not take a look at this store? It has definitely been added to my favorites.

Another site that I've mentioned in the past has also added to their arsenal of products and that is The Tie Bar (www.thetiebar.com). They have added to their line, brace yourself, "Socks!" Yep, I said socks. Believe it or not, they are some pretty cool socks. Again, if you don't believe me take a look for yourself. They have some interesting footwear that will definitely make people take notice when you sit down and cross your legs. For only $8 bucks you can get a signature sock without paying Tom Ford prices (no disrespect to Mr. Ford, but for shock value and quality comparison I had to reference his brand). Once you go on this site I'm sure you will buy more than a pair of socks, so just be prepared to spend anywhere from $50 to $100, but the great thing is you will receive at least 6 to 12 items. The reason being is that nothing is more than $15. Now tell me that isn't better than spending $100 on one tie?

So don't go spending unnecessary money on clothes, because of the expensive brand name. You can get nice quality clothing for less and not cramp your fashion style.

A Woman's Nose!

There's nothing like the scent of a woman when she passes by. We can see them coming from a mile away, but it's their aroma that captivates us and makes us want them even more. Well, the same goes for us men. Women like a well groomed man, but a man that wears a nice fragrance conveys to a woman that he has his shit together; at least from a grooming and hygiene perspective.

It's amazing how a fragrance can strike up an innocent conversation, but lead to sinister, sexual motives. If  you're trying to create a lasting impression on someone from the female persuasion Spicebomb, by Viktor & Rolf, will do the trick. I never thought that Viktor & Rolf would out due their fragrance Antidote, but lord and behold Spicebomb is like no other. This fragrance holds all day and will definitely garnish the attention of the women in your surroundings.

You can grab a bottle at Neiman Marcus (neimanmarcus.com) and Nordstrom (nordstrom.com) for $75 for 1.7 oz and $95 on a 3.0 oz. Again, it holds well so don't bathe in it. I guarantee when you wear this fragrance to work or out on the town women will be attracted to you like bees to honey.

Dress Fresh For Less

In this down economy everyone is trying to cut back on their expenses in every area; from the cable bill to the grocery list. One of the first things I did was try to figure out how I could maintain my fashion style, but at a lower expense. I believe in saving for rainy days, but I also believe in enjoying my life and one of my vices is clothes shopping. I like nice things like the next man, but I don’t believe in paying absurd prices for simple things and to me selling clothes is the biggest mark up racket out there.


Why does Tom Ford charge $645 for a dress shirt? Can it really be worth every penny or is it the price that makes us want to buy it? Or is it the price that subliminally persuades us to believe that his shirt feels better than less expensive shirts? It’s not like I’m going out and buying Tom Ford clothes anytime soon, but boy do I love his collection. So how can I get the Tom Ford look on a budget and still receive clothes that are not only nice looking, but comfortable and durable?

You will be surprised at the numerous clothing stores and websites out there that cater to people like me. My first gold mine was finding “thetiebar.com” online after reading about them in my GQ magazine. I was hesitant at first when I saw they were selling ties for $15 bucks, but when I kept seeing them over and over again in GQ I thought; what could 15 green backs on a tie hurt? So I took a chance on them and to my fashion benefit their ties are nice quality. For a quarter of the price of a J Crew and Banana Republic tie I was able to purchase a tie of the same quality and I would put their ties up against them both any day. FYI: they also sell bow ties, tie bars, pocket squares, and cufflinks.

My second come up was when I ran across “uniqlo.com” online. Again, I was perusing through one of men’s fashion magazines and notice their link in an advertisement. They had several items that I liked off the bat, but not knowing the quality of the material and construction made me kind of leery. The only way to find out was to purchase something and hope for the best. I bought a lambs wool cardigan sweater and to my pleasant surprise it not only fit perfect, but has maintained its look and construction for several years now. I can’t say that about some of other sweaters that I paid twice or three times as much for. Unfortunately, they stopped accepting phone orders, but will open their online store this fall. I can’t wait!

These are just a couple of clothing websites I use at this time, but hopefully you might find them beneficial. Another to be on the lookout for is “joefresh.com.” This Canadian store is mainly located in New York and New Jersey, so if you’re in the area check them out. Something tells me the quality of the clothes in their store is impeccable; especially for the price. Hopefully, they will be going to ecommerce soon. Overall, I hope these stores save you some simoleons and keep you looking fresh.

Not Your Grandpa's Allen Edmonds!

A friend of mine swears by Allen Edmonds shoes, but they never seemed like my type of shoe. In fact, I always thought they were for old men that put comfort before style. I'm sorry to sound so harsh for all of you loyal Allen Edmonds fans, but that's the truth. Without question, Allen Edmonds are very comfortable, but until recently they lacked the style I was looking for. Now the new and improved stylish Allen Edmonds I can definitely rock.

The three styles that caught my eye were the Neumok, Cronmok, and the Aberdeen. First, the Neumok is an oxford wingtip that will have everyones eyes looking at your feet. This traditional shoe will grow old with you and remain relevant with you as well. It comes in six colors (blue, brown, olive, and red leather; also in snuff and tan suede). The first on the list to buy will be the Blue! Happy Birthday to me!

Next on the list will be the Cronmok. The Cronmok is the high-top of the Neumok. Yes, I said high-top! The boot will get the same looks from others as the Neumok. It will have you either walking around with your pants legs rolled up or wearing shorts so everyone can see them. Unfortunately, they only come in the blue, tan, and brown leather unlike the multiple colors of the Neumok. Needless to say, the blue leather will be in my closet soon. I know, why would I buy both the Neumok and Cronmok in blue? One look and you will see why!

Last, but not least is the Aberdeen. It's another wingtip, but with a more casual feel. The mini-lug rubber sole makes this shoe a great shoe to wear with jeans or khakis, but still feel stylish without feeling over or under dressed. It comes in three colors (smokey grey, dark brown, and tan wax leather).
The smokey grey is my favorite and will definitely find it's way into my closet with the others.

I have to say I've been converted to an Allen Edmonds fan. I look forward to wearing these shoes as well as what Allen Edmonds has to offer in the future.