Put This On

It’s On Sale: Drake’s Neckwear

Exquisite Trimmings has a 20% off sale that applies to all of their items in their store — just use code EX20.

This includes their entire batch of spring-summer neckwear from Drake’s of London. There’s a lot of cool fabrics for the sunny season in tussah and shantung raw silks, linen-silk blends, and grenadine fabrics with stripes and dots. 

Of course, there are plenty of other accessories to check out, too, and for customers outside of the United Kingdom, VAT tax will also be subtracted (20%). Go check it out.

-Kiyoshi

It’s On Sale: Men’s Accessories

Three online retailers are having end-of-the-season sales right now on every kind of men’s accessory you can think of.

The first is at Linkson Jack, who is having a (near) storewide sale. They’ll discount European taxes for customers outside of the EU, so if you live outside of Europe, you can expect an additional 20% off once you hit checkout. My favorite items include these E&G Cappelli ties (note the range of grenadines), Abbeyhorn oxhorn combs, and handsome leather cases for eyewear. E&G Cappelli ties are 100% handmade, constructed with a light interlining, and produced out of a small workshop in Naples, Italy. I think they’re some of the finest ties in the world.

The second is at Exquisite Trimmings, who will also discount for European taxes. I like their Drake’s ties, particularly the green wool and striped navy raw silk you see above. The first would go well with dark brown tweeds while the other can be successfully worn with tan cotton suits.

Finally, Berg & Berg is having a storewide sale. Some of their scarves are quite handsome, and I like their selection of belts. I have a braided belt similar to the one pictured above, and enjoy wearing it in the summer with khaki chinos, colorful madras shirts, and brown loafers.

Sales Roundup

Four notable sales today:

• Exquisite Trimmings, an online retailer of high-end men’s accessories, is having a sale from now until the end of the weekend. Customers can take 25% off with the discount code 25OFF. That’s on top of the ~20% discount they give for customers who don’t have to pay VAT (European taxes). Shipping is also free. Note the code works on everything except hangers and issues of The Rake. That still leaves plenty of things, however, such as neckties, pocket square, and gloves from high-quality makers around the world (including Drake’s, Rubinacci, and Dents). The code even works on stuff that has already been marked down from a previous sale. 
• Brooks Brothers just dropped stuff in their sale section to 70% off. The selection is slim since it’s all leftovers from last summer, but there are a few things here and there. These extra-slim-fit linen shirts, for example, are on sale for $40. You obviously can’t wear them now but, you know … summer will come again. 
• I get most of my cedar shoe trees from Sierra Trading Post. You sign up for their DealFlyer newsletter, wait for those 35%-40% discount codes to drop, and buy as many pairs of shoes you want for ~$11 a pop. However, those models don’t work so well for boots. For boot trees, I shop at Cedarville Store, who right now is having a 20% off sale with the check out code Snow (expires Tuesday). Note, if you only need one pair, it could be cheaper to go through Zappos, who will ship them for free.  
• FInally, LL Bean is having a 30% off sale on their famous “Bean Boots,” which rarely get discounted more than 10%. Their offer is good for today only. 

They’re On Sale: Fine Men’s Accessories

Two excellent sellers of fine men’s accessories are running sales right now.

The first is Linkson Jack, who is giving a 10% discount on ox horn accessories, belts, and ties with the discount code TENG+. Leather portfolios can also be had for 15% off with the code FIFTEENG+. That puts this ox horn comb at $18 and ox horn brush at $54 (once you discount for European taxes). Ox horn combs have an advantage over plastic ones in that they’re less damaging to your hair, don’t carry static, and are simply just better looking. You can read an article I wrote about them here. 

Note that Linkson Jack always includes free worldwide shipping, but their coupon codes end Sunday night (London time). 

The second is Exquisite Trimmings. Though it’s not technically a sale, they just added free worldwide shipping and VAT discounts for anyone outside the EU. VAT, as you probably know by now, is the ~20% tax included in the listed price on most Western European goods. Some stores discount that for non-European customers, but some don’t. Exquisite Trimmings just moved themselves into the first camp, which is nice. They carry ties, pocket squares, and cufflinks by some of the world’s best makers, such as EG Cappelli and Rubinacci. Shaya, the proprietor of the company, tells me that he has a stock of Drake’s accessories coming in soon as well. 

Online Discount Shopping

Since writing at Put This On, I’ve made an effort to talk about how men can build wardrobes on tight budgets. My posts on strategic spending and affordable basics, for example, were written in that spirit. With so many blogs and magazines focusing on outrageously expensive items, I think it’s important to talk about more realistic acquisitions. Men can still look well dressed without spending thousands of dollars a year on clothes. 

If you want the most affordable deals, companies such as Land’s End and J. Crew are probably good places to start. J. Crew is a bit expensive at full retail, but much of their company branded inventory (i.e. non-third party stock) is discounted by 50% or so at the end of the season. 

For something a bit better, you’ll have to turn to online discount houses. This is where higher-end brands tend to be sold for 10-40% of their retail value. Granted, given that these items are extremely expensive in the first place, the sale prices can still be somewhat hefty. However, if you’re looking for high quality items at a better price, these are the places to search.

• Flash sites: This model is perhaps the most well known - discounted items are offered at some site for a limited time only. The biggest flash site is Gilt Groupe, but there are many others. Check MyHabit, Jack Threads, Belle & Clive, Ru La La, Ideeli, and HauteLook. The stock at these places really range. There’s a lot of junk, but also everything from Jack Spade to Finamore. If you sign up for an account, some sites give you the option of receiving emails from them, which means you can more easily stay on top of their sales each week. 
• Clearance houses: Things that couldn’t sell at retail are often sent here for clearance. Yoox and Three Different are two of the bigger online clearance houses. Again, there’s a lot of junk, and they apparently style their models blindly, but if you know your brands, you can pick up some very good deals. If you don’t, do a little research on StyleForum. 
• Online discount boutiques: In addition to the big clearance houses, there are smaller boutiques that acquire their stock through a variety of different means. Malford of London, Virtual Clothes Horse, Shop the Finest, and eHaberdasher are very good ones. There’s also Exquisite Trimmings, which focuses on neckties, pocket squares, and scarves. The inventory at these places tend to be better selected than the big discount houses.
• Discounted footwear: A Fine Pair of Shoes and eBay seller sausages234 are two very good sources for discounted shoes. Grapevinehill is mostly unremarkable, but they carry Ralph Lauren footwear, some of which is decent. Finally, there’s Classic Shoes for Men. The photos there aren’t as nice as the ones at the aforementioned sites, but the stock is just as good (if not better). The proprietor, Mr. Sevan Minasian, noted that he’ll throw in a free gift with your order if you mention our site. 
• Us: Kind of goes without saying, but there’s also our eBay roundups and Inside Track newsletter. The first includes customized search links to help you find deals on eBay and the second has sales announcements every week. But you already knew that. 

Now, I’m sure few people will remember all those sites next time they’re shopping for something specific, so I suggest you bookmark them somewhere and save them for later. You could save yourself some considerable money if you do. 

(Photo above: An inside look at Gilt Groupe’s warehouse, taken by Notcot)

E&G Cappelli’s Coming Webstore

I know of maybe four or five neckwear operations in Naples, but only two are particularly special. The first is, of course, E. Marinella, a house as well known for their ties as the people who wear them. The second is E&G Cappelli, who is less internationally famous, but no less exceptional. On my first day in Naples, I had a chance to visit E&G Cappelli and meet its proprietor, Patrizio Cappelli.

Cappelli’s “shop” is more of an atelier than a boutique. It’s located within a courtyard that has a somewhat hidden entrance off of Via Mille and a main entrance off of a small street called Via Cavallerizza. It’s not easy to find and not meant to attract off-the-street foot traffic. The building itself reminds me of the research center I work at, and the space inside is sparsely decorated. Despite its unassuming nature, however, businessmen and style enthusiasts alike have passed the word of how exceptional these ties are. 

Most ties, including those made by luxury-end makers, feel pressed and somewhat crisp when they’re worn. Cappelli’s, on the other hand, have a enjoyable human quality to them. The ties are made with a softer interlining, the edges aren’t pressed, and handsewn stitches at the back are more readily visible (particularly around the neck area, where it’s looser in order allow more give). All in all, Cappelli feel a bit more distinctive. They wear a bit softer and gentler, and have an appreciable artisanal quality to them. I picked up two wool herringbones while I was there and they’ve since become some of my favorites. 

In the past, you could only get E&G Cappellis in one of two ways (at least that I know of). The first was to visit E&G Cappelli’s atelier in Naples and the other was to order from A Suitable Wardrobe. In more recent times, you could also go to Exquisite Trimmings. Patrizio tells me, however, that he’s planning to launch an online shop sometime at the end of February. Prices will be about $115 for ready-made and $145 for bespoke. I didn’t get a chance to ask if a 20% VAT discount will be given for non-EU customers or how much shipping to the States will be, so those prices may fluctuate. There were also some bow ties and scarves available in the shop, but I don’t know if those will be offered online. 

These prices are, of course, on the luxury-end of the market, but for those who are already paying for Drake’s and E. Marinellas, E&G Cappellis are definitely worth adding to the collection. Without overstating it, these are some of the best ties I’ve ever seen.