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It’s On Sale: Orlebar Brown Swimshorts

My favorite brand of swimwear, Orlebar Brown, is on Gilt today, with swim shorts at about 1/2 off retail (so ~$119-125). Orlebar Brown’s trunks fit trim, and feature darts at the waistband to give shape, engraved side tabs for adjustable fit, and a zippered back pocket to keep belongings. I have a pair of swim shorts in their Bulldog model, which is mid-length, though the Setter might be better for someone with a more athletic build. 

It’s On Sale: Rugby Ralph Lauren & Luciano Barbera 

There are two flash sales of note today: Rugby Ralph Lauren at RueLaLa and Luciano Barbera at Gilt.

The Rugby selection is limited, but they do have a few sweaters and a tartan duffle coat that I think looks like a nice alternative to all the solid colored coats you typically see. You should also know that Rugby’s own online retail site has added further price drops to their sale section, too, where you can buy a tuxedo jacket, pants a shirt for $520 altogether. 

The Luciano Barbera selection at Gilt has several fall sport coats that look ideal, however, the price is a bit steep. I know $700 isn’t exactly chump change to most people, but it’s almost a quarter of the retail price (if Gilt is to be believed). 

-Kiyoshi

Gilt has travel- and full-sized Davek umbrellas on sale right now for about $45 and $69 respectively. Davek’s aren’t hand-crafted or anything, but they’re certainly leagues above the cheap $15 variety you might find at a drug store. They’re a bit more modern looking than the “classic” options, which may or may not be to your liking. One thing I really like about them is that the company provides a lifetime guarantee. Nice to see a manufacturer stand by their products. 

If you’re one of the few people left in the world that doesn’t have a membership to Gilt, you can use our invite here. 

Some New Navy Socks

I recently picked up some over-the-calf navy socks from Kabbaz-Kelly & Sons and The Hound Clothiers. Navy, as you’ve read a dozen times by now, is the easiest color to wear, and that holds equally true for socks as it does for sport coats. You can wear these with almost any color of trousers and not give the matter too much thought in the morning.

I can only think of a few exceptions. Sometimes, lighter colored trousers, such as tan or light grey, seem to pair better with similarly colored socks or at least something that matches the day’s shoes. For example, last week I wore a navy wool sport coat, light blue shirt made from an end-on-end cloth, sand linen trousers, and a pair of dark brown derbies. Navy socks here made the trousers look a little lost for some reason, so I put on a pair of dark brown socks and things looked a bit more balanced. 

For some bit of a visual interest, a few of my socks feature subtle, conservative patterns. Above are pin dots and herringbones by Marcoliani, and a pair of “slash fashion herringbone” by Bresciani. Marcoliani’s herringbone borders on slightly too bright, but I think they still work with slightly more casual ensembles. The others are dark and subtle enough that they could work with almost anything except a business suit. I wear these under dark olive glen plaid, charcoal windowpane, and plain mid-grey flannel trousers. I think they’re a nice way to have fun with your socks without crossing over into wacky.

If you’re on the market for such dress socks, I highly recommend Marcoliani and Bresciani. They’re a bit expensive, but from my experience, also the best made anywhere. A more affordable alternative is Pantherella, which comes up on Gilt and Sierra Trading Post for about $7-12 a pair every so often. Just make sure you get over-the-calf versions. They don’t slip down, so they’ll never expose your bare, pale calves when you sit down or cross your legs. That, in my opinion, should always be a requirement of dress socks.