Put This On

It’s On Sale: Allen Edmonds Factory Seconds

Allen Edmonds is having a sale on all factory second shoes and closeouts, with discounts ranging from 15% to 40%. That puts their black Park Avenue oxfords at $199 and brown Strands wingtips at $229.

As many readers may know, factory seconds are shoes that didn’t pass quality control, but the “defects” are usually incredibly minor (like a small nick at the heel or something). Most of the time, you can’t tell why the shoe was rejected, even on close inspection. 

There are other deals, of course, but you’ll have to inquire. To do so, call one of Allen Edmonds’ outlet stores. We usually refer people to the one in Brookfield, Wisconsin, who you can reach at (262) 785-6666, but you can find other outlet stores by using the store locator at Allen Edmonds’ website.

When calling, you may also want to have their website ready so you can easily look up the names of models. 

Two Closeout Sales

Two stores are having closeout sales at the moment, both with pretty good deals.

The first is at Pockets Menswear in Dallas, Texas. The owner is retiring, so everything in the store must go. Things at this point are discounted about 75% off. Nelson there tells me they have

• Zegna shirts for about $120 (sizes 15.5 through 17, and medium through extra-large)
• A few Incotex pants for about $70 (sizes 32 through 34 waist)
• A couple of Boglioli sport coats for about $500 (sizes 44 and 46 in US sizing) 
• Lots and lots of ties from brands such as Luciano Barbera, Zegna, Nicky, Seaward & Stern, and Altea. There’s also a couple of E. Marinellas left, but not many. Prices for these are about $45. For ease of ordering, I’ve included ten photos of some of their inventory. When you call, you can tell them something like “I want the brown tie on the left hand side of picture 8” (or something like that). Note, in pictures 1 and 3, those are mostly wool knits, but there are some in silk. 

When you call, ask for Nelson. He’s familiar with Put This On and the photos above, so he’ll be able to sort you out. Their phone number is (214) 368-1167. Nelson said it’s fine to call today and next week, but ideally not over the weekend, as they get super busy then. 

The second sale is at Independence in Chicago. They’re selling off all of their Swims Premium Classic galoshes and pricing them at $60. Colors available include orange and black. Again, you have to call in the order, however (the number is 312.675.2105). Ask for Timothy. 

Three Mid-Season Sales

A few mid-season sales worth mentioning:

The first is at Ralph Lauren, who’s having a “private sale” event with discounts of up to 40% off. If you shop before May 2nd, when the sale goes public, you can also get an extra 15% off at checkout. I particularly like the dark brown loafers you see above, which come in at about $300 after discounts. 

The second is at TM Lewin, who is having a “five shirts for $160” promotion (thus putting shirts at $32 a piece). I recommend their slim fit. It’s neither skinny nor full, and it’s tough to find a better shirt at that price point. This is a great option if you’re on a budget, especially if you need to build a work-appropriate wardrobe quickly. 

Finally, Brooks Brothers is having their Friends and Family sale from May 8th until May 11th. You can expect discounts of about 25%, with some exclusions (shell cordovan shoes and Edward Greens are usually not included in these sales). This might be a good time to pick up some of their oxford cloth button down shirts, if you’ve found that they fit you well. 

It’s On Sale: Allen Edmonds Wingtips

It’s probably just my personal preferences, but I don’t think all wingtips look great with a suit. I tend to favor wingtips with closed lacing, like the Allen Edmonds McAllister above, just because the lines look a bit sleeker when paired with a suit that’s business appropriate. While not as formal as a plain captoe, it would still look good in any environment where a jacket and tie is required. 

Allen Edmonds is currently having a sale on select models, offering 15%-30% off. The McAllister is on sale for $249, down from $345 with free shipping. Sale ends Monday, April 29th.

-Kiyoshi

It’s On Sale: Isaia at STP

The discounter Sierra Trading Post is best known for their outdoor goods, but they’ve also got a few high-end surprises in their stock, like Isaia suits and sportcoats. I’ve noticed that they’ve gotten in about twenty models lately, which have been added to a pretty extensive stock. The sportcoats mostly retail for around $2500, and are marked half price at STP. Sign up for STP’s Deal Flyer service, and you’ll get regular coupons which should knock that down a further 25-35%. A great deal for one of Italy’s finest ready-to-wear makers.

It’s On Sale: Lands’ End dress trousers

It’s still a chilly spring for many of us, but it’ll soon be sweltering summer and wearing wool trousers will perhaps be slightly unpleasant. Instead, consider picking up a few pairs of odd trousers made in linen or linen-cotton blends to keep your legs cool and still looking dressed up. 

I’m a fan of Lands’ End’s trousers as an inexpensive option for the workhorse dress trouser in their tailored fit. They’re not overly slim and you’ll likely want to take them to a tailor for alterations, but on a budget they’re a good deal, especially on sale. 

Currently, Lands’ End has 25% off all dress shirts, suits, trousers and ties. The trousers above are $59.25, down from $79.

Plus, you can get free shipping with code SPARKLE and PIN 4305 on orders over $50.* 

I have three pairs I bought last year and wore them quite a bit. The fabric was great on the linen-cotton pairs, which seem to hold up against wrinkles a bit better than regular linen — but are still cool enough to wear in the heat. I would offer the suggestion, however, of sizing down perhaps 1”-2” in the waist, as they seemed a bit vanity sized if my memory is correct from last summer. 

-Kiyoshi

*Note: This post has been corrected. Originally, I thought there was an additional 25% off the sale price with the code. The 25% is already applied and the code is for free shipping. Apologies for the confusion. I still think the trousers are a great deal.

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: Brooks Brothers Black Fleece Shirts

It’s rare you find an oxford-cloth button-down collar dress shirt in green these days, at least in the heavy fabric that Brooks Brothers uses, of which I’m a fan. The mint-toned shirt from their Thom Browne-designed line is currently on sale for $78 (down from $195) along with many other Black Fleece dress shirts, which all seem to be 60% off at the moment.

I think the shirt would look great for spring and summer under a seersucker or beige linen jacket. Sadly, my too-long arms don’t work well with Thom Browne’s sizing, but those of you with more normal or shorter proportions should check out what’s available.

The shirts feature mother-of-pearl buttons and all appear to be made in the U.S.A., unlike the majority of Brooks Brothers shirts these days. If they fit you, I think they’re a decent deal considering they’re $10 cheaper than the price of what Brooks Brothers retails their dress shirts.

-Kiyoshi

It’s On Sales: Warm-Weather Shoes

Bloomingdale’s is having their Friends & Family Sale right now, where you can get 20% off almost all items with code FRIENDS. It’s worth looking over their Polo Ralph Lauren, Billy Reid, Barbour and other sections, but I thought I’d point out two somewhat cheap warm-weather casual shoe options. 

This pair of boat shoes from Sperry Top-Sider comes to $68 with the discount (down from $85). I bought a pair of these several years ago and they lasted me about two summers of constant, near-daily wear. The sole is pretty much destroyed at this point at the heel, but it has yet to come unstitched and the leather laces haven’t broken. I’ve been pretty pleased with the value I extracted from them. 

And I would also check out the Tretorn Nylite, now $52 down from $65. I bought a pair last year on clearance in white and wore them this weekend during the warmer weather — sockless, of course. The cushioning is insanely comfortable and the shoe is very light to wear. They look great with casual chinos and a polo or rugby. 

Sale ends Sunday, April 7.

-Kiyoshi

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