Polo oxford you Liberty of London gingham tie | Levi's 541 denim | Sperry Top-Siders 

Polo Ralph Lauren seersucker sport coat and gingham shirt | Countess Mara vintage raw silk tie | Levi's 541 denim | Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses | Sperry Top-Siders 

Polo cashmere cableknit sweater, plaid shirt and houndstooth tie | Brooks Brothers oxford chino | Sperry Top-Siders 

Polo plaid shirt and nautical tie | Levi's 541 jeans | Rugby shawl sweater | AE socks | Sperry Top-Siders

Today at the Thrift - Top-Siders

I've been quite fortunate to come across two new pair of boat shoes in the past few months, one from Sperry, the other from Rockport. However today, on a hunch, I visited one of my favorite thrift shops and found these Top-Siders for $2.99. Just my size, they're in great condition with the exception of a few scuffs to the leather. Most surprisingly, the soles still look new and have almost no signs of wear. My boat shoe days are over until spring, but I'm glad to have yet another pair in the rotation when that time comes.

Astounding Amaretto

I have several pair of boat shoes from brands such as Ralph Lauren (the premium shoe line, not Polo), L.L. Bean, Sebago and Sperry. While each of these companies produces quality shoes, nobody makes boat shoes like Sperry. The classic Top-Sider has been in my rotation for years. When my sole ripped and the time came to pick up a new pair, I scoured shoe sites for the best deal and found nothing under $55. I had decided to give up my search until December, when even the classic model is relatively cheap. 

Then, I found this one and only pair of amaretto Top-Siders at Macy's for $16. It turns out somebody ordered these from Macys.com and returned them to the store. Given that this particular color isn't carried in store, the shoes were marked down to $30. Following a coupon and two discounts, I took these home... and I still can't believe it.

Argyle and Oxford

Amidst weeks of snow, wind, and bitter wetness, a few days of sun have burst through. So the other day, I just had to break out some spring gear when temperatures hit the sixties. 

Polo Ralph Lauren striped oxford - $20
Polo Ralph Lauren linen tie - $1
Brooks Brothers argyle vest - $15

Not pictured:
Polo Ralph Lauren khaki chinos - $30
Merona light blue socks - $2
Sperry Top-Siders  - $35

Questions From the Audience - Basics

Where do you buy your basics, and what rules of style apply? Tees, socks, etc.?
I stick to solid tees at all times, which I wear only underneath other shirts. I've seen several blogs recommend packs of heather grey v-neck tees to wear under shirts. Why grey as opposed to black or white? Black absorbs heat, while white reflects light and may show through your overshirt. Grey keeps you cool while absorbing light. I have no problem with this choice, aside from the fact that those Hanes or Fruit of the Loom multi-packs are cheap for good reason. The shirts are quite flimsy and wear out quickly. I prefer v-neck tees from Club Room at Macy's. These run $9.99 but you can generally purchase them under $7. If you check Macys.com on a regular basis, you can load up during a sale at under $4 a piece. The tees are 100% cotton, very soft, quite durable through wear and washing. 

I appreciate more variety in my sock selection. Target's Merona brand puts out a wonderful selection of quality socks each season. You can pick up combo packs under $6.50 and individual pairs under $3. Club Room also offers excellent socks under $5 a pair. I find the two brands to be similar in overall quality and variety, and at almost any time you can find styles on clearance for practically nothing. Discount stores like Marshall's and T. J. Maxx offer designer selections between 30%-75% off original retail. I most often buy any Polo socks here, as well as boot socks and athletic socks. I just bought my first few pair of Woolrich boot socks at Marshall's, and I've found them to be very soft and thick but uncomfortably warm. I enjoy athletic socks from standard athleticwear brands such as Adidas and Puma.

Also, a Wish List item for the day.


Sperry olive suede brogues.


Please discuss.

Two Pennies, a Buckle and a Boat

Two pennies, a buckle and a boat walk out of a shoe store... and into a bar? Anyway...

The time has come to stock up on summer shoes. My previous casual rotation included both Ralph Lauren and L.L. Bean brown leather boat shoes (had to retire my Top-Siders the year before), Ralph Lauren orange leather boat shoes, Cole Haan brown leather tassel loafers and Bass brown leather Weejun loafers. Clearly, aside from the splash of orange, things were a bit bland. I had purchased nearly all my shoes from thrift shops over the last few years so I didn't mind setting aside some cash for new things this year.

I'll start off with an old standard, the penny loafer, in navy.  I realize navy/blue shoes are somewhat trendy right now, but with such a deep shade I'm still playing it safe. These come from Sperry and feature the classic Top-Sider sole and overall construction.

It's hard to find decent green boat shoes. Why have I been wanting green boat shoes? No idea. However, I found what I wanted between these Top-Siders and the loafers that come next. I have plenty of GTH gear, but had been lacking shoes that say the absurd colors alone of these shoes will kick you in the face.

While my Top-Siders get plenty of use around water, they're not the most comfortable to walk around in all day so I highly recommend durable gel insoles that won't be ruined when wet.

Polo grain leather penny driving mocs in a green that matches a Jaguar I hope to drive in the next few years. The Jag will of course be my starter car leading to a Ferrari, at which point I'll obviously need bright red driving mocs.

Aside from my black Allen Edmonds bit loafers, I had not a single pair of casual black shoes. Though I don't frequently wear black, I figured it was time to stop beating up on my nice bit loafers and find something a little more relaxed. That thought brought me to these mocs from Polo. Immensely comfortable like the style above, I've found these work perfectly with dark denim and a bold polo.



After some Google searching and coupon hunting, I managed to nab each pair for under forty dollars. Cheers to being thrifty without hitting up the thrift shops.