Dappered | Thrifting 101: Five Quick Rules + What to Look For

[Dappered | Thrifting 101: Five Quick Rules + What to Look For]() --------------------------------------------------------------- - [Thrifting 101: Five Quick Rules + What to Look For](#1) - [The Best in Affordable Style from the Month that Was – September ’18](#2) - [In Review: The Charles Tyrwhitt Blake Stitched Suede Wholecut](#3) [Thrifting 101: Five Quick Rules + What to Look For](r/Dappered/~3/N83WeLv6OcE/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 02 Oct 2018 03:00 AM PDT About the Author: Oral Blankson is an early 30-something whose hobbies include menswear, restaurant critique, public speaking, making new friends, and striving to be a better, more intentional man. Thrifting as defined by Urban Dictionary: “When one visits several different thrift shops, second-hand shops, and vintage clothing stores in the hopes of buying several items of cheap and unusual clothing and other items.” 80% of my wardrobe is thrifted. Suits. Dress shirts. Ties. Slacks. Shoes. You name it – I’ve thrifted. Thrifting is great way to build or supplement any wardrobe with good clothing for cheap. Below, some hard & fast thrifting rules, and items which are usually a hit. Rules: - Check stores often, as donations are made daily. Hop on the interwebs and find local thrift stores. Goodwill, Salvation Army, or mom-and-pop stores. Be diligent, persistent, patient, and prepared to dig for gold! - Check garments thoroughly. Sometimes holes, stains, or damages are beyond repair. Thrifting only works when a garment requires little-to-no work after purchase. - The dressing room is your friend. I’ve lost money by not trying something on, later realizing it doesn’t fit. ALL SALES FINAL. - Thrift in affluent areas. Better area = better selection. I’ve even found clothes donated from local cleaners, or brand new donations from Target. - Shop sales. Thrift stores will run “50% off Tuesdays” or senior citizen discounts. I wasn’t afraid to have my parents buy clothes for me – like the 20 cent slacks below! Stick to those five rules and you should become a seasoned, successful thrifter. But some categories of clothes can be mined more than others. Here are what I consider to be the safer/more successful bets when it comes to the racks at thrift shops, with examples of my own personal finds: SLACKS: Producer Pant by Express – $.20 ([$69.90 – $98](//www.express.com/exp/search?q=producer+pant)) [Producer Pant by Express | Dappered.com] Average Cost: $4.99 Slacks are my #1 draft pick. There’s usually a pair of grey, brown, navy, or tan slacks to be found. Get the correct waist size – sometimes taking in the waist/seat compromises overall fit. Leg width and hem are easily altered (you might find some 70’s bell bottoms!). These pants were purchased within a 5/$1.00 deal, so these were actually 20 cents! SHIRTS: Polo by Ralph Lauren French Cuff Dress Shirt – $4.99 ([$145]() [Polo by Ralph Lauren French Cuff Dress Shirt] Average Cost: $4.99-$6.99 You’ll usually find a white/pale blue dress shirt, or causal button-downs in stripes, ginghams, etc. Make sure neck size and sleeve length fit. You’ll find slim fits, but a tailor can reduce side billow inexpensively. SHOES: Alden Loafers – $14.99 ([$543]( [Thrifted Alden Loafers] Average Cost: $4.99-$19.99 If your thrifted shoes look like they’ve seen better days, all you need is some elbow grease. Take a Sunday afternoon, play your favorite record, crack a beer, and [follow these steps to restoring the look of your shoes](. Soles need restoration? A cobbler can help. Thrifted shoes, including repairs, are still cheaper than buying new. The loafers above were never polished, showcasing excellent purchase condition. Sometimes I’ve even found brand new shoes. TIES: Various ties for $18 ($500ish) [Thrift store ties] Average Cost: $2.00-$6.00 I exclusively thrift ties. Most expensive? $6.00. Cheapest? 29 cents! The usual suspects: Stripes, repeating/neat patterns, and old school 80’s patterns (i.e. The Wolf of Wall Street). Great way to create or augment a tie collection, and [you don’t need as many ties as you think](. Ties from Left to Right: [Robert Talbott]( [Brooks Brothers](//www.brooksbrothers.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-brooksbrothers-Site/default/Search-Show?q=ties&pmin=1%2e00&start=0&sz=24&view=viewAll), [Paul Fredrick](, [Jos. A. Bank.](, [Lauren by Ralph Lauren](. ff/Dappered?a=N83WeLv6OcE:NUC7YWf3tu4:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=N83WeLv6OcE:NUC7YWf3tu4:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=N83WeLv6OcE:NUC7YWf3tu4:gIN9vFwOqvQ [The Best in Affordable Style from the Month that Was – September ’18](r/Dappered/~3/Cp5DVziZfXs/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 01 Oct 2018 02:00 PM PDT A wise man once asked: [“What the hell just happened?”](And for good reason. There is value in looking back. It gives us all a good gauge as to what is good, and more importantly, what is not good, going forward. Sure, the “[clip show](” is mostly a cheap (affordable?) device to create new content out of already published stuff. But it’s also a good way to catch up in case you missed something. So [cue the flashback music](. Here’s the very best from the month that was… [Best Sale: Nordstrom End of Summer Clearance]( (exp) [Nordstrom]( This was much better than a standard clearance. It was far, far more than just picked over warm weather stuff. Instead, it featured a LOT of items that were in the Anniversary Sale, which had since seen further discounts. So cool weather stuff with prices slashed up to half off, just in time for fall? And it all shipped and returned for free? Not bad at all. [Best Individual Item Deal: Loake Kempton Chukkas – $199.99]( FINAL (exp) [Loake Kempton Chukkas]( These are lifers. Something you’ll reach for and lace up time and time and time again. Goodyear welted and made in the UK. They’re also very, very hard to find on sale here in the states. Yet somehow Massdrop was offering them for just under two hundred bucks. The problem? They’re final sale. And final sale shoes are a tough ask for a lot of us. Because you’re screwed if they show up and they don’t fit just so. [Full review of the Kempton can be found here](. [2nd Best Individual Item Deal: Spier & Mackay Core Suits Restock – $328]( [Dappered.com]( Nice wool, lined in Bemberg, half canvas, timeless lapels, easy to tailor sleeve cuff buttons, and two fits to pick from. That’s a LOT of what you want in a suit for under $330. But Spier & Mackay can go pretty long stretches without restocking popular colors (navy, medium gray, charcoal, medium blue). And they were out for a good long while. Good to see their core suits back in stock. Closest competition to the Spier & Mackay core suits would be Suitsupply’s blue line at $399. But many guys don’t like the functioning cuff buttons on Suitsupply, and the pants on SuSu suits can be REAL tight if you’ve got some thickness to your lower half. The contemporary fit from Spier solves that. [Most anticipated upcoming new arrival: Spier & Mack Shoes?]( [Spier & Mackay Shoes]( Holy buckets. Goodyear welted, made in Portugal, and by the looks of the teaser photos from [the Spier & Mackay Instagram](, these appear to be both timeless and super eye catching at the same time. Word is that these should hit the Spier site in a few weeks? No word on a price yet? [Most Head Scratching Debut: J. Crew Factory / Mercantile on Amazon]( [J. Crew Factory / Mercantile on Amazon]( J. Crew Factory (or Mercantile, whatever you want to call it) debuted on Amazon this month. Prime fulfilled and everything. But, and it’s a big but, it still doesn’t look like they’re gonna price match codes and promotions with the regular J. Crew Factory site. So… yeah. What’s the point then? I don’t care if Jeff Bezos personally comes to my house and installs a Star Trek style replicator that can give me instant JCF clothes on voice command… I’m still not paying [$49.50 for a JCF chambray shirt](, when [the same bloody shirt is almost half the price on the J. Crew Factory site](//factory.jcrew.com/p/mens-clothing/shirts/chambray/flex-chambray-shirt/H5014?color_name=classic-wash). [Best Press Conference Style: Fitzmagic]( Well, [it was fun while it lasted](. Full marks to [Desean Jackson lending]( (making him wear?) his stuff to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Good luck to all who try to pull this off on Halloween. [Thing that most became a “thing”: Knit Sportcoats]( [Dappered.com]( Knit sportcoats have been popular for a few years now, but it seems like this website really embraced them, fully, in September. Bummed that [the Good Man Brand option from Nordstrom]( is sold out, but [Target still has theirs]( and [J. Crew has an all wool option](//www.jcrew.com/p/mens_feature/newarrivals/sweaters/american-lambswool-birdseyeknit-sweaterblazer/J8218?color_name=navy). [Word that marketers used the most in terms of branding: “Good”Â]( [Good Man brand]( (Nordstrom.) [Goodfellow & Co]( (Target.) [Goodthreads]( (Amazon.) That’s a LOT of Good roaming around out there. [Most Wheelhouse Post: 10 Men’s Style Essentials to have in Navy]( [0 Men's Style Essentials to have in Navy]( Suits, socks, ties, and more. Also, [catchy song alert.]( [Best Content Ripped from the Pages of Threads: Stereotypical Dappered Outfit]( [Dappered.com]( Big thanks to the guys on threads for getting together and making fun of us… I MEAN… providing content. Anyway, fun was had by all. Nice work guys. Just don’t come cryin’ to me when there’s a baby boom in 9 months time, okay? [Best Puppers: Matilda our Podcast Model]( [Matilda]( Very attentive. Good listener. [12/10](. Would listen to any/all podcast suggestions from this doggo, but she’s pretty quiet. Likes to keep things to herself I guess. H*ckin’ good new segment all the same. [Best Shoe Mashup: Banana Republic Suede Chelsea Sneakers]( [Banana Republic Suede Chelsea Sneakers]( These are stupid comfortable. And the suede is pretty darn rich looking in person. Not bad if you’re trying to look a little more contemporary, but don’t feel quite right wearing Stan Smiths to work. Should go on sale in the not too distant future. [Best Annual Autumn Feature: Best Fall Sportcoats]( [Best Fall Sportcoats | Dappered.com]( Lots of flannel and brushed stuff this year. Tweed of course too. Not a ton of corduroy to start the season. But it did seem like the fall-specific sportcoats were a little less quick to roll in this time around? Still, lots there if you’re the jacket type and want to get something specific for the cooler weather. [Number of Times Neil Diamond was mentioned: Once]( Nobody reads the intros to sale posts anyway, do they? Look, the man could write a song. [Hope he’s doing well now that he’s stopped touring](. Everybody now: YOU MAKE ME SING LIKE A GUITAR HUMMIN!! Feeling Nostalgic? [Here’s the archive]( containing previous editions of Best of the Month that Was. ff/Dappered?a=Cp5DVziZfXs:GvSjeJ0AKoo:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=Cp5DVziZfXs:GvSjeJ0AKoo:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=Cp5DVziZfXs:GvSjeJ0AKoo:gIN9vFwOqvQ [In Review: The Charles Tyrwhitt Blake Stitched Suede Wholecut](r/Dappered/~3/M-B72paWtrE/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 01 Oct 2018 08:00 AM PDT [C. Tyrwhitt Blake Stitched Suede Wholecut – $159.20]( w/ EXTRA20 ($199) NOTE: The 20% off code EXTRA20 expires today, 10/1/18. UPDATE: At post time this EXTRA20 code doesn’t seem to be applying? It was set to expire later today. Strange. I was always under the impression that Charles Tyrwhitt has two levels of shoes. [First was the “imported” variety](, with stiff leather that’s not bad if you get them on a good sale. [The second was higher end, made in the UK shoes.]( (Which I think Loake makes for them?) Both levels are Goodyear welted. But it seems that there’s a third level, shoehorned (HA!) in-between those two levels. [Made in Portugal]( and instead Blake stitched, they’re also a heck of a nice price when on sale, but not so fancy that you’ll have to promise your first born in order to get your feet into a pair. [In Review: The Charles Tyrwhitt Blake Stitched Suede Wholecut | Dappered.com]( Wholecuts. Simple. Timeless. Some would even say sexy. These suede wholecuts are a fine representation of that mid-level from Charles Tyrwhitt. The suede uppers are fine. Nice, but not amazing or super buttery soft. I saw a small uneven spot on one of the uppers, but you’ve got to be looking for it. Hard. There’s no stupid burnishing here. The subtle, simple, stiff-upper-lip British-nature of the deign team is coming through here. They passed on sanding down the toes and heels for a faux-worn look. And we thank them for that. [In Review: The Charles Tyrwhitt Blake Stitched Suede Wholecut | Dappered.com]( Nice shape but not pointy or over elongated. They’re described as a “square” toe, but I don’t think that’s accurate. There’s a bit of a rounded chisel, but squared off they ain’t. They’re slightly elongated, but I can see more conservative types being plenty happy with the overall shape as well as the toe on these things. [In Review: The Charles Tyrwhitt Blake Stitched Suede Wholecut | Dappered.com] Blake stitched, so probably not best to wear in soaking rains or snow. Sizing seems true. They’re nicely comfortable out of the box. Maybe that’s the lighter more flexible Blake stitch construction at work, or the flexible suede, but I don’t see any break in time. None. Fit seemed true. A 10.5 D US (they showed up with a 9.5 UK sizing stamp on them) fit great. No wide sizes available at this time. Just a regular width. [In Review: The Charles Tyrwhitt Blake Stitched Suede Wholecut | Dappered.com]( Solidly soft suede. Not the most luxurious stuff, but plenty fine for the price. Since all CT products are shipped from the UK, you’re on the hook for outbound AND return shipping. $12.95 to get them here, and a prepaid $5.95 label for any returns. But considering the competition (I frankly just haven’t had good luck with Meermin,) $172.15 for these shoes feel more than reasonable, and they’ll see plenty of use with the cooler weather on the way. They’ll look great with jeans, medium gray suits, navy trousers, the works. [In Review: The Charles Tyrwhitt Blake Stitched Suede Wholecut | Dappered.com] ff/Dappered?a=M-B72paWtrE:rxRMANmY4Yc:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=M-B72paWtrE:rxRMANmY4Yc:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=M-B72paWtrE:rxRMANmY4Yc:gIN9vFwOqvQ You are subscribed to email updates from [Dappered Style Mail](). To stop receiving these emails, you may [unsubscribe now](. 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