Dappered

BR Factory Traveler Jeans in Straight Fit – $44 ($115) Over the past few years Banana Republic’s cheaper diffusion line, Banana Republic FACTORY, has been a standard around these parts (blazers, sweaters, jeans, etc.) Prices are low, and the styling is similar to what big brother Banana Republic delivers. But we’ve gotten a couple of reports that BR Factory’s quality may have gone wonky.

Spier 100% Merino Chunky Shawl Cardigans – $228 Size shown at the very top of the post is a medium on 5’10″/185. All hail the Chunk. 100% Australian Merino heavy gauge knit. Lots of colors. Spier’s legendary chunky shawl collar cardigans are back for another fall & winter, and while they’re more expensive this year (no surprise) they’re still built like a brick outhouse. Oh Captain my Captain. 100% Australian merino wool in a chunky knit. Double-knit collar for that extra “hug” around your traps.

Sales that deserve some attention heading into the weekend or a bit earlier. Five of the better sales are below, plus bonus sales if need be. Included are a few picks worth pointing out. As significant of a new batch of goods Nordy Rack has acquired in a while. Remember, as this is Nordstrom Rack and not mainline Nordstrom, free shipping won’t kick in until $89. And returns will cost you a pre-paid shipping label, unless you can get it back to a brick and mortar Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack location.

Nordy Rack: 49% off select Frye Leather Jackets As a man who married a gal who is basically Snow White to the greater animal community, gives diplomatic immunity to house spiders, and has developed a deeper relationship with a squirrel (Frankie) than her husband has with most people… I don’t love the idea of using animal carcasses for apparel (not sure why shoes feel different.) Especially after this past week, as I was called into action to put a maimed squirrel (thankfully not Frankie) out...

What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. Football, finally seeing a break in the heat, and a few days that feel almost cold. This is arguably the best time of year for dressing well. We’ll do three fall style scenarios over the next few posts, starting today with a casual but still intentional look, here with none of the pieces costing more than $100.

Some days I just want to give up. Pick a brand. Any brand. Either prices are up or quality is down. Sometimes it’s both. And often stock is low or slow to get replenished. Boo-hoo, right? Yes, we could all buy less stuff. Materialism is shallow. But a reduction in that shallow materialism can quickly become a seriously deep issue being that consumer spending is almost 70% of the US economy. Inflation is outpacing wage growth. Borrowing costs are the highest they’ve been since the great financial crisis.

Flint & Tinder Waxed Trucker Jackets – $328 NOTE: See here for our full review of the F&T waxed trucker. Is it even fall until these things rise back to the top of the collective rugged-men’s-style consciousness? They’re the most popular thing Huckberry carries. These jackets are built extraordinarily well, made here in the USA, and the fact that Pedro Pascal wore one in The Last of Us certainly doesn’t hurt either.

For many of us, this is the best time of the year for dressing well. Fall (and winter) provide ample opportunities for layering, mixing in different fabrics, and dressing with intention and/or trying something new. Here are 50 of the best looking new arrivals for men, with affordability in mind. NOTE: Some of these prices might feel higher than normal. It can take a bit for sales and promos to kick in.

The Thursday Handfuls are great, but what if Monday (or Tuesday) rolls around and there are a few sales that can’t wait until the weekend? You’ll find three of the best, with a few picks from each, to start the week below. Nordstrom: New items & markdowns added to their End of Season Clearance • Paul Fredrick Wool Shirt Jacket – ($399) • Ships/returns for free via Paul Fredrick. Think of these as wool chore jackets.

BR Factory: Up to 50% off + addit. 40% off  (9/13-9/14) Most of you know the drill, but if you don’t, here’s the drill: Banana Republic’s step-down/more affordable line BR Factory is like other “factory”/outlet mall born brands. Translation: They’re almost always having a big! Huge! GIGANTIC! sale. The key is to be able to distinguish what the best sales truly are: Under 50% off MSRP when all the discounts are taken = mneh. 50% – 60% off is good.