J. Crew Double Monk Straps

It was only a matter of time that J. Crew jumped on the dub monk strap trend. This is, as far as I know, one of the first attempts at offering an affordable monk strap shoe. I know Run of the Mill is dropping their made in Italy monk today, but that is going to run you about 400 bones. J. Crew's seem to be their standard Gifford lace up sans laces plus monk straps. The straps look like they should be pulled over a bit more across the shoe, but overall this is a pretty good deal for a pair of leather soled double monks. Coming in at $255, this is as much of an entry level monk as there is. Plus, J. Crew has a %20 coop out there to throw on this.

Moncler Gamme Bleu F/W 2011

The Moncler show is always one of the most anticipated shows of fashion week, and I think that Thom Browne delivered yet again. I really like the classic English hunting inspiration and the setting for the show. Browne's use of tweed and hounds tooth is great and I love the suede patchwork on a lot o the trousers and jackets. I'm also a huge sucker for quilted anything. I think there's a pretty high demand for quilted jackets, and a lack of them in the market. I wasn't feeling any of the hats that were seen in almost all of the shows this season, but that comes with the territory. I don't really understand why no other designers or labels aren't trying to emulate TB's use of wool and down and in outerwear and tailored goods. When I see some sort of wool an down coat, I generally love it. Maybe we will see some more of this in the future, but for now I'm stuck wishing I could drop a few G's on one of his blazers.

(Images via GQ)

Junya Watanabe F/W 2011

Overall, it seemed like Milan and Paris Men's Weeks were relatively lack luster. While I'm not one to take all my cues from the runway, I feel myself a bit disappointed after seeing all of the collections. One high point has to be Junya's show. No crazy "showy" aspects to his presentation, though I'm not positive everything is entirely wearable. The Fair Isle blazers were one of the stand out items from all of the shows. I love the patch pockets on them, and he incorporated the Fair Isle pattern well in a few other pieces. I love his pattern mixing and attention to detail. Not sure how much of it the average guy could pull off, but it's still some really cool gear that I'd love to get my hands on.

(Images via GQ)

Murray's Pomade

It's been a while since I've been posting, but I hope to be back and posting regularly now. I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday an New Year's as much as I did. I picked up some great new products over the break, and I'm really excited to do some posts on them. One of the best pickups has to be Murray's Pomade. It's an awesome hair wax that keeps your hair in place all day and gives you that classic Draper look, but without all of the shine. I really love this stuff because of how well it holds up, and it doesn't give your hair that crispy feeling that most gels do. I got a small jar around Christmas and have been using the hell out of it every day, yet it still looks like I have a full container. Not too bad for a product that costs around two bones a jar.

Get GQ for $4

Sorry for the recent hiatus, it's been a rough couple of weeks. Tons of great deals out there on Cyber Monday, here's a good one. Hit up Tanga to get a GQ subscription for $4. Enter the code SLICK. Hope to be getting some posts up this week.

More J. Crew S/S 2011

More pics have been popping up over the Internet of J. Crew's S/S 2011 collection. The GQ Eye posted a comprehensive set of the looks. I'm liking it more each time I check it out. The Superior Labor bags look awesome, as do the Alden's and all of the bucks. It really is a lot of the same stuff we've been seeing, but who cares when that's fine knits, slim cut blazers, and tailored pants? Check out the Toggle coat.

Gilt's Massive Secret Sale Site

The Choosy Beggar posted a link to this special part of Gilt's site that has never been seen before. I have no idea how you access it without this link, but it is incredible. It features a $14,$22,$44,$88, and $188 racks. Since I found this site late, most of the stock was gone, but it looks like it started out with a legit stock. I found some Black Fleece, Jack Spade, Huge Boss, Y-3 sneakers, and Brooks Brothers Heritage gear. I'd check back often as I do not know when they update this part of the site. There is also a massive shirt sale going on today. A lot to navigate through. As always, if you aren't a part of Gilt, here's an invite. Enjoy.

J. Crew Spring 2011

Bold on the Street posted some pictures from J. Crew's Spring 2011 line. While I am not expecting anything particularly groundbreaking from J. Crew, this line doesn't appear to be anything special. Don't get me wrong, it all looks good and the styling is spot on; it is just a bit of the same stuff we've been seeing. A couple of items look interesting like the navy tux and some patchwork chino pants and shorts. I think I see a pair of navy suede bucks in there as well. One of the models has on a pretty cool denim-inspired jacket and some sort of indigo bag (maybe a collaboration of some sort). I love my a/w gear, but it's always nice to look ahead to what the next season has in store.

(images via Bold on the Street)

Up and Coming Label: Penny Stock

Outside of a handful of stores and labels, I have found that there are very few options for younger guys on a budget to find quality clothing. While I am a proponent of buying quality and buying less, I can rarely afford buying the gear from guys like Bastian, Thom Browne, and Cucinelli. Over the past year or so, a promising brand has been popping up in stores and the blogosphere. Penny Stock Clothing is a newer label who offers a considerable amount male wardrobe essentials at an extremely affordable price. The guys behind the brand are extremely conscious of quality, fit, and the market itself. They offer a hand full of well-crafted classic pieces that are in almost anyone's price range. All of their items are made with quality materials and feature details found on far more expensive pieces. Check out their cheeky look book on their site, its good stuff. There's a reason why stores from Blackbird to Urban Outfitters and sites like Sartorially Inc. and Valet have featured this brand. Keep your eyes out for a hands on review of some of their gear in the next couple of days.

Wrap it Up

Tommy Ton's most recent collection of photographs for GQ was a pleasant reminder of how awesome scarves are. With the many different and unique ways to tie them, they can really add something to your daily attire. I love a cool fall day where a nice tweed blazer and scarf is the perfect combination to keep you warm. I've got a pretty large scarf collection thanks to my sister who struck a cashmere gold mine on the cheap in Florence. While it's extremely common, and most people hate on it these days, I really love my traditional Burberry check scarf. It keeps me warm and the pattern kicks up a solid piece of outerwear. Step up your game this fall and wrap it up.

(Pictures via GQ.com)