Goodwill Hunting

As always, I like posting my latest finds for your enjoyment. I haven't had a lot of time since the Fall started to go thrift shopping, but I have gotten lucky on the few times I did manage to go over the semester. Here are some of my favorites from the past couple months, sourced from Goodwill stores, local hospice shops, eBay, and a few other places.

While my recent finds might have originally retailed for as much as $1,750 in total, by shopping in the style of the Thrifty Prep...we now have that money to spend on more booze er, textbooks for Spring semester!

Shown here is a Nicky Milano grenadine tie, an Italian maker esteemed for their high quality neckwear. This one was only $1 for me, but retails for approximately $165.
Also pictured is a eBay BB OCBD I picked up for about $50, and the Southwick jacket I scored a while ago for under $10.

Brooks Brothers Cashmere sweater purchased on eBay. These retail for about $400 when not on sale, so I was happy to snag this one for ~$30. Also pictured, a BB buttondown I found over the summer for $4.

Tie Society Review

I recently had an opportunity to do a review of the tie-rental service, Tie Society. The company operates on a fairly straightforward model-- you subscribe based on how many items you want at a time, create an online "closet" (akin to a Netflix queue), and the ties are sent to and from your residence at no additional cost. 

Contrary to popular belief, this start-up emerged before Taco from "The League" pitched the idea 

Tired of wearing the same old paisley tie to every wedding? Wishing you had that perfect regimental stripe, or perhaps a seasonal tie for Fall/Winter gatherings? Tie Society has you covered. 

Autumn Leaves

It's well into Fall in New England, a time where pastels have been swapped for plaid and beach days for bean boots. Here are a few combinations I've worn over the past few weeks. Expect more photos to come, it's full-on Patagucci season and the colors on campus are getting pretty wild.

Some quick shots:

Land's End OCBD with a Robert Talbott tie

Same sweater, different regiment.

Robert Talbott Repp tie that approximates the BB#4 stripe 

A vintage Orvis tie, worn here with BB shirt and V-neck

The same tie in an orange and green theme for Halloween. PRL sweater and BB gingham shirt

And what are prepsters drinking as the weather gets cold? 

If you can find it, Newport Storm--it packs a punch.

Crikey!

My collection of thrifted (and eBay) crocs from the past year. 

Certainly some of the nicest fabric available for polo shirts.

Spent: $4-12 ea.

Retail: ~$600 

Hitting the Target

So, you might question what a big-box retailer has to do with a blog about traditional style, but Target stores, despite their discount nature, actually, on occasion, have some prep-friendly items. Even prepsters need to buy laundry detergent and clothes hangers from time to time, but on a recent visit I eyed a few items that were actually pretty impressive in their own right.

"At least we're not as terrible as Walmart"

Outlets

Outlet stores are a curious facet of American consumerism. Traditionally, outlet stores or Factory Stores, were connected directly to the merchants factory, as a way to distribute their products directly to customers. Perhaps the best example is the L.L. Bean outlet in the company hometown of Freeport, Maine, which has remained open in the same location since 1917.

From the outside, this looks like a store, but the L.L. Bean outlet is actually the size of a small European nation. 

What has your experience at outlets been? Tell us in the Comments section of this article.

Continue Reading

The Thrifty Prep Guide to Ties

"A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.”
-- Oscar Wilde

     Ties have been the mark of a well-dressed man for decades, and probably will remain so for years to come. While some see the necktie as the noose of a conformist society around the neck of the free man, and others as incessant fathers-day gifts that are worn maybe once or twice a year, a true gentleman knows how to use ties to their advantage, adding just the right amount of color or pattern to complete a given look.

Truth be told, there are lots of unfortunate ties out there, and as with any part of a wardrobe, there are considerable differences in quality to be aware of as well. In this write up, I'll try to describe the most essential ties for your collection, which brands to look for, how to wear them, and what to wear them with. After reading this article, you should be able to pick up any tie (be it in a department store, thrift store, or your Grandfather's closet, and instantly be able to judge not only the build of the tie, but also the finer qualities and stylistic details that make it special.

Quick access to parts of this guide:

• Materials (The inner-workings)

• The Knot (How to tie)

• Length and Width 

• Styles (Stripes, dots, seahorses)

• Makers (What to look for in a brand)

• How to Buy (At a thrifty price)

Continue Reading