Recognized by GQ, Put This On, and Dappered, This Fits focuses on exceptional values in quality menswear. My name is Aliotsy Andrianarivo. I started This Fits in 2010 as a personal set of visual bookmarks, and it's grown into something much bigger than myself. What a ride. To get in touch, email me: [email protected]
14 Valentine’s Day Picks for Her with the Amex Platinum Saks Fifth Avenue Credit
I was musing the other day about when I’d make the time to pick up a gift for my wife for Valetine’s Day, avoiding both the seasonal markup on bouquets and the rush of panicked husbands and boyfriends on February 13th.
It occurred to me that this scenario is a perfect use of the biannual $50 Amex Platinum Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and I was surprised I’d never thought of that before, given the luxury department store’s considerable inventory in jewelry, home goods, and gifts.
I’ve put together 14 picks from Saks as a Valentine’s gift guide, all under $75, and added them to my dedicated page on the Amex Platinum Saks Credit.
You can see all the picks below.
Adriana Orsini Brilliant-Cut Sterling Silver Stud Earrings, $75
This are the top-rated jewelry item under $75 at Saks, averaging 4.5 stars after 20 reviews.
Lula's Garden Cupid Garden 2-Piece Succulent Set, $38
How cute is this? A succulent gift set for Valentine’s Day, with a heart-shaped succulent! The 3-piece Valentine’s set is $48 and perhaps a better use of the credit, but it doesn’t come with the heart-shaped plant.
kate spade new york Heart Goldtone & Cubic Zirconia Studs Earrings, $48
Chocolate Covered Company Belgian Chocolate Berry-Grams, $52
kate spade new york Goldplated & Cubic Zirconia Mrs. Necklace, $58
kate spade new york Gold-Plated Initial Pendant Necklace, $58
MarieBelle Handmade 16-piece Dark Chocolates, $56
La Maison du Chocolat Chocolate Pralines, $42
Yoku Moku Double Chocolat Au Lait Cookies, $18
MarieBelle 20 Piece Dark Chocolate Truffle Box, $43
Stew Leonard's Brownie Indulgence 20-Piece Gift Set, $59.99
Nest New York Rose Noir & Oud Reed Diffuser, $54
Maude Burn 3-Piece Massage Oil Candle Set, $54
OY-L Lavender Bath Salts, $20
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
Amex Platinum Saks Fifth Avenue Mega Post: $100 off $200+, 10% Rakuten Cash Back, Updates to $50 Credit Ideas
Use code SGDEC21SF for $50 off every $200 you spend. Promo expires Tuesday, December 14.
TL;DR? See All My Picks for the Amex Platinum $50 Credit
We’re in the last few weeks of 2021, meaning those of you who hold the American Express Platinum Card only have a few days to use the July-December $50 Saks Fifth Avenue credit.
(Not sure what I’m talking about? Check out my introduction here.)
My curated picks for using the $50 credit is one of the most popular pages on this site, so I’ve gone through and updated it, adding new items and removing a few that are out-of-stock. In addition, I’ve added a new $200-$250 tier to help you take advantage of a specific promotion that expires soon (more on that later).
Today offers a unique confluence of promotions for those of you using the credit.
10% off Rakuten, plus $30 referral bonus
Rakuten is offering 10% cash back today for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases. In addition, if you sign up as a new Rakuten user through my referral link, you’ll get an extra $30 cash back (I’ll also get a $30 bonus). American Express Card members can also opt to receive cash back in the form of Membership Rewards points (personally, I see that as effectively a 10% bonus on top of the cash back). You can sign up for Rakuten by clicking here.
$100 off your first $200+
Through Tuesday December 14, Saks has a promotion for $50 off every $200 in spend, up to $500 off. Stacked with the Amex Platinum Saks credit, that’s effectively $100 off your first $200-$399 in spend. Here are a few I’m liking in the $200 to $250 range; you can see all of them on my $50 credit idea page.
Home
"Oh wow, I like those!”
That was my wife’s comment when she saw me scrolling through Saks’ Home items in the $200 to $250 range. Saks really shines in this area; but what works for you depends very much on your own taste in decor. I have a few picks below, but highly recommend checking out the Saks Home section yourself.
Nambé Aura 45-piece Flatware Set
That’s enough for eight people plus some serving utensils. There are a handful of Nambé sets for exactly $200; see them all here.
Zia Pia Magnum Rainbow Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ceramic Jar
An olive oil reviewer at The Infatuation received this as a Christmas gift and called it “hands down, the best present”, noting the bright flavor and stylish ceramic bottle.
Nespresso by Delonghi Coffee and Single-Serve Espresso Machine
$207.20, from $259.
Petrossian Kaluga Huso Hybrid Caviar, 30 g
Staub 3.75 Quart Essential French Oven with Lilly Lid
Loving the intricate patterning on the lid. $219.99, from $339.99 retail.
Christmas Time 6.5-fit Prestrung Artificial Christmas Tree
I’ve linked to a Pennsylvania Pine prestrung with lights; many more trees available here.
Menswear
$200+ is where mid-tier casual menswear brands tend to get more interesting (think: AMI, APC, Officine Generale, Polo Ralph Lauren).
Polo Ralph Lauren Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
Saks promo + Amex credit + 10% Rakuten cashback bring this under $100, from a retail price of $298. Personally, I’d be mildly concerned about pilling for cashmere sweaters that retail for under $400 or so, but sub-$100 is still good value for PRL cashmere.
APC Petit New Standard Jeans
Bringing these iconic jeans down to 2010s-era pricing.
The North Face Mountain Parka
Polo Ralph Lauren Cashmere Drawstring Pants
Are these ridiculously indulgent? Yes, yes they are.
UGG x Telfar Fleece Robe
Man, that thing looks comfy.
New Items in the $50 to $150 Range
If you’re looking to spend closer to $50, I’ve added a few new items to that tier as well.
Royce New York Zip Leather Card Wallet, $80
If you’re the kind of person who optimizes the credits on your Amex Plat, you probably carry a lot of credit cards around. This wallet’s for you.
Polo Ralph Lauren Touch Quilted Field Gloves, $68
Polo Ralph Lauren Long-Sleeve Cotton Jersey Hooded Tee, $55
Not really my thing, personally, but it’s hard to ignore the 4.5-star customer rating after 58 reviews.
Saks Fifth Avenue Collection Auto Doorman Umbrella, $55
If it wasn’t for one person who got an empty package from Saks (???), this umbrella would have a 5-star average customer rating.
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
25% off Rogue Territory Supply Jacket and other Outerwear at Stag Provisions
Pictured above: Supply Jacket in Blanket Lined Waxed Tan Ridgeline
BUY: Rogue Territory Supply Jacket at Stag Provisions, starting at $206.25
A surprisingly popular post on This Fits this year was a sale alert for a flash sale at Stag Provisions on Rogue Territory Supply Jacket.
So I figure a lot of you will be glad to see that the Supply Jacket is included in Stag’s one-day outerwear sale today. The discount is 25%—matching the flash sale discount back in March—and is automatically applied in checkout.
The jackets are designed and constructed by Rogue Territory in Los Angeles, with cool details throughout and made up in either waxed American waxed canvas or Japanese selvedge denim. Fit on these is slim; Stag recommends sizing up one.
All Supply Jackets are included in the sale, except the unlined Tan Waxed Ridgeline (likely it’s become a bestseller after its appearance in No Time to Die).
Sale ends midnight tonight.
BUY: Rogue Territory Supply Jacket at Stag Provisions, starting at $206.25
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
If you’re a first-time Spier & Mackay customer, you can get 20% off your first order with my referral code 33UGHT.
Spier & Mackay’s new arrivals for fall have started going live over the past few days, and they are killing it with this season’s knitwear.
Building on their reputation for offering quality classic menswear staples at an accessible price point, this season Spier & Mackay once again taps into the classic menswear zeitgeist—consistently delivering pieces that excite menswear enthusiasts.
Their new merino cricket sweater ($98)—which caused a sensation when they teased it on Instagram Stories a while back—sold out within hours. Not really my thing, personally, but there’s a waitlist for a restock in October.
Merino Aran knit crewnecks ($98) debuted shortly thereafter—and again, many sizes promptly sold out and switched to waitlists. This is definitely more my thing: I’ve been keeping an eye out for a textured deep green knit to wear with my brown calfskin bomber jacket.
Chunky shawl cardigans ($198) dropped yesterday, and ... you’ve probably figured out where this is going. These were introduced last year and sold out within weeks; this season most sizes and colors sold out in hours. Waitlists are opening up, again with a restock expected in October.
The story is much the same for most of their other knitwear releases: a short-body deep V-neck ($98) meant to be worn with high-rise trousers and turtlenecks ($58), sleeveless cardigans ($58), and long-sleeve polos ($68) made up in fine merino and ideal for layering with tailored jackets.
What’s going on here? Spier & Mackay’s owner Rick has mentioned in the past that they’re impacted by the global shipping container shortage brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s speculation over on Styleforum that the company opted for much more expensive air freight for a small number of pieces to kick off the fall season, with the rest following by container a month or so from now. But there’s another, complementary explanation: there’s a lot of demand for what Spier & Mackay has to offer.
So you can take this post as a friendly warning of sorts: if there are Spier & Mackay sweaters you’re looking forward to this season (like the lattice knit turtleneck at the top of this post), it’s probably best to buy as soon as they drop. If you miss out, you can cross your fingers and hope that Spier & Mackay’s shipments make it through the global supply chain snafus. And you can almost certainly bet that whatever restocks will not make it to the sale section before selling out again.
If you’re a first-time Spier & Mackay customer, you can get 20% off your first order with my referral code 33UGHT.
BUY: SPIER & MACKAY FALL NEW ARRIVALS
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
Extra 20% Off Select Luxury Watches on eBay: Rolex, Omega, Cartier
Use code SAVE4FALL for an extra 20% off select tech, home, and luxe items. $25 minimum purchase; $500 maximum discount. Offer expires Monday September 20.
Pictured above: Omega Speedmaster
While I’ve been casually looking for a Tank-style vintage dress watch over the past few months, I’m not really a luxury watch guy and am quite satisfied with my Orient Yellow Mako.
That said, I know many of you are into watches and may appreciate this offer from eBay: an extra 20% off select tech, home, and luxe items, including watches.
I’ve already poked through the “select” menswear options (not worth linking), but the watches may be intriguing for enthusiasts.
Here’s a saved search of eligible watches, filtered for notable brands:
Cartier
Hamilton
IWC
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Longines
Panerai
Patek Philippe
Rolex
Tudor
Seiko (...luxury?)
Since I’m no watch expert, I’m certain there are reputable brands that I’m missing; click through the link and use the “Brand” filter to include additional brands in the search.
Be sure to look out for watches with eBay’s “Authenticity Guarantee” badge, and note that the $500 maximum discount means you’re maximizing the offer for watches in the ~$2,500 range.
20% OFF SELECT LUXURY WATCHES ON EBAY WITH CODE SAVE4FALL
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
MR PORTER Sale is Now Up to 60% Off and Actually Feels Kinda Manageable
MR PORTER kicked off their massive spring/summer sale a couple weeks ago, and have now made their first round of further discounts, adding more merchandise to the sale and further reducing price to as low as 60% off.
I’ve previously written about how the scale of the sale makes it overwhelming to sort through. And although the current iteration includes over 7,000 products (down from 13,000 when the sale went live—sorry, guys) from hundreds of designers, to me it somehow feels more manageable than in past years.
A helpful change at this point of the sale is the addition of two new pages.
New to Sale merchandise is from a pretty short list of designers (Acne, Berluti, Brunello Cucinelli, Dunhill, Jacquemus, MR P., Nike, and Serapian).
Further Reductions, including the merchandise that’s now up to 60% off, features a much longer and more interesting list. Here are a bunch of my favorites:
A.P.C. - Parisian casual staples.
Albam - London casual staples.
Alex Mill - American casual staples (is there a theme here?) Founded by Alex Drexler (son of famed J. Crew CEO Mickey Drexler) and J. Crew/Madewell design director Somsack Sikhounmuong.
AMI Paris - More Parisian casual staples.
Aspesi - Italian label best known for their outerwear. I like this navy cotton A-1 bomber jacket.
Baracuta - I’m liking the classic G9 Harrington jackets made up in alternative fabrics like suede and wool tweed
Barena - Laidback Italian tailoring.
Bigi - Handcrafted Milanese ties, often with interesting textures.
Blue Blue Japan - everything is blue (they’re known for their use of indigo dyes) and it’s designed and made in Japan, so the name is apropos. I love the texture and detailing on this shirt jacket. All sizes are still available, a rarity this late in Mr. Porter’s sale.
Boglioli - Unstructured Italian tailoring. My Boglioli cotton jacket has been a casual spring/summer staple for nearly a decade.
Brooks England - English cycling accessories, including some lovely leather backpacks.
Caruso - My favorite ready-to-wear Italian tailoring brand.
Chimala - Japanese label inspired by mid-century American workwear.
Common Projects - Iconic Italian sneakers. Of course the white Achilles Low isn’t on sale, but other models are.
De Bonne Facture - I dare you to read Derek’s recent piece on the brand and not be inspired by their approach to sustainable, ethical fashion.
Drake’s - Iconic accessories brand that’s expanded to a complete wardrobe. Tip: Drake’s collaboration pieces also available through Aimé Leon Dore and Mr. Porter’s house brand Kingsman.
E. Marinella - Handmade Neapolitan ties from a third-generation family business.
George Cleverley - Goodyear-welted English shoes.
Gitman Vintage - Well-made American shirts based on archival designs.
Golden Bear - San Francisco brand specializing in quality outerwear.
Howlin’ - Knitwear designed in Antwerp and knit in Scotland.
Inis Meáin - Luxurious knitwear from the namesake Irish Aran isle.
John Smedley - Fine (as in, not chunky) English knitwear.
Johnstons of Elgin - Scottish cashmere accessories.
Kingsman - Mr. Porter house label with a focus on luxury tailoring. Great collaboration pieces from Drake’s (ties and pocket squares) and George Cleverley (shoes).
Lock & Co. Hatters - Well-made flat caps and trilbys.
MR P. - Mr. Porter’s “citified casual” house label. I’m really liking their suede trucker jacket.
Officine Générale - Accessible yet still interesting French style.
Outerknown - Casualwear label founded by surfer Kelly Slater.
Private White V.C. - Fantastic English outerwear.
RRL - Ralph Lauren’s vintage/workwear/Western line. I’ve been eyeing this cotton/wool/linen rollneck sweater.
Sid Mashburn - Best known for their American-Italian tailoring with a Southern flair, but I’m liking a lot of the knitwear in this sale.
Valstar - Famed for their suede A-1 bombers, but don’t sleep on their overshirts and trucker jackets.
Vetements - I honestly don’t “get” Vetements, but I want to point out that their Hug Me Bear shearling slippers are still available.
William Lockie - Well-made Scottish cashmere accessories.
There are many, many more brands both in Further Reductions and in the general sale section that haven’t got additional cuts yet. I’ve also left off a few favorites that only have one or two items left. It’s definitely worth taking a moment to browse your favorites on the All Sale Designers page.
BUY: Up to 60% off at MR PORTER Sale
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
Drake’s just launched another Archive Flash Sale, offering up to 60% off retail prices for just 48 hours.
Note that these archive sales have become incredibly popular in the past year, often overwhelming Drake’s website. If you can’t get through, come back to this post every half-hour or so and try again.
Pictured above: Drake’s Fawn Tuscan Tweed Jacket. 100% wool, Made in Italy (likely by Caruso, my favorite RTW Italian maker). All sizes from 38-44 in stock at time of writing.
A long-time menswear favorite for their accessories, in recent years Drake’s has expanded their offering to include a near complete men’s wardrobe, under the tasteful and timely eye of Creative Director Michael Hill. Each season’s collection builds on its predecessor, harkening to Drake’s roots in classic menswear while also acknowledging what well-dressed men want to wear now—a mix of casual and formal elements that exudes ease and laid-back confidence. You can get a sense of what this means by looking over Drake’s perennially-inspiring lookbooks.
And with the return to social events and the office feeling imminent day by day, the archive sale is a great opportunity to pick something that reflects their aesthetic at a more accessible price.
As I’ve written previously, keep an eye out for “unfinished” tailored jackets in this sale: they’re going for one-third less than their regular jackets, but are actually a better option due to easy sleeve alterations.
Click here to visit the Drake’s Archive Sale now.
See below for more picks I managed to save before the site went down.
Brown, Black, and Blue Overcheck Wool Jacket, $595 (from $1,495)
Sage Green Japanese Ripstop Cotton Jungle Jacket, $395 (from $775)
Charcoal Cashmere Submariner Roll Neck Jumper, $455 (from $775)
Paraboot Avignon Brown Grain Split-Toe Derby
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
$40 off $40 + extra 15% off at Brooks Brothers, Madewell, and more through Rakuten
Through Monday May 17th, cashback site Rakuten is running two enticing promotions:
15% cashback at over 500 stores
For new members, a $40 bonus if you join through a referral link
The offers are stackable, making this the best I’ve ever seen from Rakuten, even better than their 11% cashback + $40 offers back in November.
The $40 bonus requires that you make a $40 purchase from a store within 90 days of signing up, and is available exclusively through referral links like mine.
And while the $40 referral bonus is obviously not available to existing Rakuten members, 15% cashback is available at a number of stores familiar to This Fits readers:
Brooks Brothers
Lands’ End - I’ve been meaning to write about this season’s tailored fit madras shirts, including a cool shibori patchwork version.
Mack Weldon
Madewell
rag & bone
Theory
Taylor Stitch
Wolverine - The original 1000 Mile boot can be had in Rust Chromexcel for under $200 after stacking 15% cashback and the $40 bonus.
Verishop - Never heard of this shop until today, but they carry a decent selection of brands, including Allen Edmonds, A.P.C., and Greats.
Click here for the full list of 15% cashback stores.
And of course, Rakuten is available at plenty of other stores like MR PORTER, and J. Crew, just not for 15% off this week. You can still earn the $40 bonus, though.
Again, both the 15% cashback and $40 bonus promotions end on Monday, May 17th. If you’re not yet a Rakuten member, you can earn the $40 bonus through my referral link.
Spier & Mackay: Free MTO Full Canvas Upgrade (ends tomorrow), Extra 20% Off Sale Sportcoats
Through tomorrow, Friday May 7, Spier & Mackay is offering a free full canvas upgrade on made-to-order (MTO) suits and sportcoats. Normally a $150 upcharge, full canvas construction adds shape and structure to a tailored jacket.
No promo code is necessary for the discount; simply pick "Full (FREE UPGRADE)" as your "Jacket Canvas" option.
Click here to create a MTO suit, and click here to create a MTO sportcoat.
Pictured above is my first MTO sportcoat from Spier & Mackay: a full-canvas Neapolitan cut jacket made up in Die, Workwear!'s legendary limited-run "summer tweed". Along with functional cuffs and patch hip pockets, I requested two "off menu" customizations in the order notes: a Milanese buttonhole (included free with full canvas jackets), and a patch ticket pocket. Everything turned out beautifully.
Remarkably, in spite of lingering pandemic-related disruptions to supply chains, the jacket was shipped just over 5 weeks after I ordered it. And evidently my order isn't an anomaly: Rick at Spier & Mackay says right now they're averaging 4-5 week turnarounds on MTO tailoring.
When I shared this picture on Styleforum and Instagram (follow me here), a number of people expressed surprise that Spier & Mackay still has the "summer tweed" in-stock. They do, but it's not easy to find: on the fabric selection page, search for "summer" to pull it up.
As I've noted before, I don't recommend ordering MTO from Spier & Mackay until you've tried their ready-to-wear (RTW) jackets. There are few guardrails in online MTO to keep you from entering bad measurements. When it comes to making adjustments for fit, I think most men are best off buying something that fits pretty well off-the-rack, and then depending on the expert eye of a local tailor for further adjustments. Spier & Mackay’s RTW Slim and Contemporary fits should meet this need for most men.
Once you’re familiar with Spier & Mackay RTW, you’ll have a better sense of what adjustments to make (if any) for MTO.
With that in mind, it's worth checking out Spier & Mackay's flash sale on sportcoats this weekend.
Through Monday May 10, they're offering an extra 20% off sale sportcoats with code SC20. Notably, many jackets are not marked final sale, meaning you can try them out and return them if they don't work out. That includes the Guabello navy hopsack blazer pictured above: about as quintessential as you can get for a first tailored jacket.
Finally, while I don't think this will stack with the current offers, if you’re a first-time Spier & Mackay customer, you can get 20% off your first order with my referral code 33UGHT.
BUY: Extra 20% Off Spier & Mackay Sale Sportcoats
BUY: Free Full Canvas Upgrade on Spier & Mackay MTO Suits
BUY: Free Full Canvas Upgrade on Spier & Mackay MTO Sportcoats
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
Spier and Mackay: 15% off Custom Suits, Sport Coats, Trousers, and Shirts
BUY: Custom Suits, Sport Coats, Trousers and Shirts at Spier & Mackay
Use code CUSTOM for 15% off. Promotion expires Sunday March 21, 2021.
Through Sunday, Spier & Mackay is offering a 15% discount on their made-to-order (MTO) products, including suits, sport coats, trousers, and shirts. This is a good opportunity if you’d like a Spier & Mackay garment:
made up in your specified measurements, especially if you’re hard to fit
made up with fabrics or options not offered by their ready-to-wear (RTW) collection
made with a full canvas chest, which is offered with only a handful of their RTW options (read here on why full canvas is desirable)
Regarding that last point, I’ve noticed that the promotion stacks with existing discounts on select fabrics, meaning you can have a MTO, fully-canvassed suit starting at just $431: about what you’d pay for an entry-level half-canvas RTW suit at other retailers. By contrast, fully-canvassed suits often start north of $999 at those same retailers—if they offer them at all.
My Own Experience with Spier & Mackay Custom
I ordered my first MTO suit from Spier & Mackay in late June 2020, taking advantage of a free full canvas upgrade offer. I’d wanted for some time to pick up my next full-canvas suit from Spier & Mackay, but my size always seemed to be sold out.
Here’s a little-known thing about Spier & Mackay’s MTO program: while their online interface is quite robust and packed with customization options, you can request further “off menu” customizations by leaving notes in the comment area before submitting your order. In the case of my suit, I asked for a Milanese buttonhole, a shorter inseam (their interface only goes down to 30″), and lowering the button stance if possible. I also asked for advice on the fabric, as I was trying to distinguish between three different shades of dark grey from the same mill—a hard thing to do online.
A few days after placing my order, a representative from Spier & Mackay reached out to me with a “yes” on the Milanese buttonhole and shorter inseam, a “no” on lowering the button stance (a difficult change for their factory to make from the base pattern, I’m assuming), and advice on the right fabric to choose. I appreciated the knowledgeable, helpful, and personalized service.
The suit was delivered in 10 weeks—longer than their average turn-around time of 7-8 weeks, but still remarkable to me given the considerable shipping, fulfillment and supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It looked great, and the details and measurements I’d requested were spot-on.
I did find one quality issue: on the trousers, the outer corner on one of the pocket bags was accidentally sewn into the outseam, rendering the pocket unusable and causing it to fold over and bulge out. I took pictures of the pocket and sent them to Spier & Mackay, asking if the error could be fixed by a local tailor or seamstress. They confirmed the issue was small enough for me to have repaired locally, apologized, and offered to compensate me with store credit if I sent a picture of the receipt. Certainly a satisfactory resolution for me.
Overall, my experience with Spier & Mackay’s custom program was a positive one, and I plan on having future custom garments made.
Final Thoughts and Tips on Spier & Mackay Custom
For those of you who are considering going custom yourselves, here’s some advice based on my experience with custom garments from Spier & Mackay and other makers.
Don’t try MTO until you’ve tried Spier & Mackay RTW. There are few guardrails in online MTM to keep you from entering measurements that lead to a bad fit. When it comes to making adjustments for fit, I think most men are best off buying something that fits pretty well off-the-rack, and then depending on the expert eye of a local tailor for further adjustments. Spier & Mackay’s RTW Slim and Contemporary fits should meet this need for most men.
Once you’re familiar with Spier & Mackay RTW, you’ll have a better sense of what adjustments to make (if any) for MTO.
Do take advantage of special requests and Spier & Mackay’s knowledgeable staff. It’s surprising how accommodating Spier & Mackay can be with special requests left in the order notes. Along with the hemming and Milanese buttonhole mentioned above, other customers have been able to request patch ticket pockets, extra shirring on spalla camicia shoulders, and even a lower lapel gorge. Customer service will let you know what can’t be done, and in my experience they gave good guidance on fabrics when online photos weren’t sufficient.
Don’t forget Spier & Mackay’s under-appreciated advantage: taste. Spier & Mackay is often lauded for offering great value: well-made garments made from quality fabrics sourced from reputable mills, all at a very competitive price. However, I think what’s occasionally lost in this is their great taste. You can depend on Spier & Mackay to have a finger on the sorts of garments that excite today’s classic menswear enthusiasts, while also having a firm grasp on what does or doesn’t work together. A quick scroll through their sport coats, for example, shows far more hits than misses.
As with measurements, in online MTO there are few guardrails for taste. Spier & Mackay won’t prevent you from ordering an unstructured Neapolitan cut triple patch-pocket sport coat made up in a worsted charcoal pinstripe with light brown horn buttons—but for most men, such a garment won’t serve you well.
All that said, if you’ve got a handle on your measurements and a good sense on the kind of garment you want, I highly recommend Spier & Mackay’s custom program.
Don’t forget to use code CUSTOM for 15% off through this Sunday March 21.
BUY: Custom Suits, Sport Coats, Trousers and Shirts at Spier & Mackay
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
Pictured below are a handful of jackets commissioned by Jesse Burzminski in a collaboration with Marling & Evans and Spier & Mackay, showcasing the breadth of their customization options.
48 Hours Only: 25% off all Rogue Territory Supply Jackets at Stag Provisions with code SUPPLY.
BUY: Rogue Territory Supply Jacket at Stag Provisions, starting at $221
Stag Provisions is offering a rare sale on Rogue Territory’s versatile and much-loved Supply Jacket, knocking 25% off MSRP in a 48-hour flash sale.
The jackets are designed and constructed by Rogue Territory in Los Angeles, with cool details throughout and made up in either waxed American waxed canvas or Japanese selvedge denim, depending on the model. Fit on these is slim; Stag recommends sizing up one.
The sale includes the Supply Jacket in Waxed Tan Ridgeline—Stag’s all-time best-selling jacket—along with Stag-exclusive makeups like the Waxed Black Ridgeline and Blanket-lined Waxed Tan Ridgeline.
Sale ends Thursday March 4 at midnight.
BUY: Rogue Territory Supply Jacket at Stag Provisions, starting at $221
Rogue Territory Supply Jacket in Waxed Tan Ridgeline
Rogue Territory Supply Jacket in in Waxed Black Ridgeline
Stag Exclusive
Rogue Territory Supply Jacket in Waxed Olive Ridgeline
Stag Exclusive
Rogue Territory Supply Jacket in Waxed Grey Ridgeline
Stag Exclusive
Up to 80% Off: Drake’s Archive Flash Sale Tips and Picks
Here’s a little something I’ve noticed in the Drake’s Archive Sale: near-identical versions of the same tailored jackets are listed twice—but one version is $200 less!
Take the jacket pictured above, a brown houndstooth with blue overcheck that I’d say is the star of this sale. Here it’s listed at $595, a fair price and a 60% discount off the $1,495 MSRP.
The same jacket is listed here at $395! The difference? The pricier jacket comes finished with functioning cuffs with holes finished for the buttons, while the more affordable jacket comes with unfinished cuffs, meaning you’ll need to take it to a tailor to have the buttons sewn on and, if you’d like, buttonholes added.
This is amusing to me, as I actually much prefer jackets with unfinished cuffs over jackets with functional cuffs, since sleeve alterations get much trickier (and expensive) once buttonholes are cut. So the “unfinished” jacket is more affordable and the better option for me!
While Drake’s tailored clothing is great (I believe it’s manufactured by Caruso, one of my favorite Italian makers), they’re of course best known for their accessories, especially their ties. The latter are priced at $85—not bad for discounted Drake’s neckwear, though I wish the archive sale included more striped ties. You can’t go wrong picking one up if you see a design you like, but here are a few other things I’m liking.
Todd Snyder’s winter sale moves into its final days this weekend, offering discounts of up to 75% off retail after stacking the 40% off code SALE40.
Included in the sale are these fully fashioned ribbed turtlenecks, made from 100% merino wool sourced from the Italian mill Tollegno. They look to be great pieces worn on their own or layered under tailoring and outerwear. They’re also still in stock in very useful colorways.
The solid ivory turtleneck is most versatile for both tailoring and outerwear; I especially like it with brown sport coats and olive field jackets.
The solid navy turtleneck should go well on its own with grey flannels, or with a grey herringbone jacket and brown flannel trousers. Solid olive would work with similar colors.
For something a bit bolder, I also like the idea of wearing the navy-and-white striped turtleneck under olive outerwear.
Surprisingly, unlike many of the garments in the sale section, these are not final sale, and thus returnable if size or fit don’t work out for you.
Sale Alert: Wallace & Barnes European Combat Jacket, $74.99 (from $198)
This jacket was one of the most popular items featured on This Fits this month, even at the full retail price of $198.
Maybe it’s the cool look of the slanted chest pockets. Or maybe it’s the goofy Wallace & Barnes fishing club patches.
In any case, I expect a lot of you will be happy to learn that it’s now marked down by over 60%, with sizes XS, S, M, L and XL still in stock. Use code SHOPSALE for the discount, and look out: all sales final, so no returns or exchanges.
BUY: Wallace & Barnes European Combat Jacket by J. Crew, $74.99
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
BUY: Sanders Crepe Sole Black Suede Chelsea Boots, $179.40 (from $395)
Todd Snyder kicked off their final, final winter sale over the weekend, offering an extra 40% off sale merchandise with code SALE40. These “made in England” suede Chelseas from Sanders are included.
Black boots are a bit under appreciated in menswear circles. While not everyone could or should wear black suede boots with a suit, they should work with less formal tailoring in a “city” color scheme—think tweed or flannel in navy, grey, cream, and perhaps olive. Yes, even with a crepe sole.
These boots should go well with casual outfits as well. I’ve been wearing grey denim a lot lately, and these seem like a perfect complement. If you want more versatility, the Sanders Chelseas are also available in snuff suede and waxy brown suede.
BUY: Sanders Crepe Sole Black Suede Chelsea Boots, $179.40 (from $395)
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
American Trench Heavy-weight Italian Merino Waffle Knit Crew
If the American Trench Southwest-inspired sweater I posted about a couple weeks ago was too bold for you, you might find this more to your taste.
American Trench’s Waffle Knit crew is made in Brooklyn using the same whole garment knit technology as the Southwest sweater. Unlike the latter’s superfine merino, the waffle knit is made from a heavyweight merino wool sourced from Italy, knit in a toned-down texture. It comes in colors that are less bold but more versatile than the ochre I favored for the Southwest sweater—and it’s probably a heckuva lot warmer.
Available in camel, navy, silver, and rust melange.
BUY: Waffle Knit Crew in Italian Merino by American Trench, $206.25
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.
I first wrote about the CLAE Bradley Low sneaker two years ago. On the lookout for a minimalist white court sneaker for refined casual outfits, I was drawn to the Bradley’s clean lines, full-grain leather uppers, available half-sizing, and relatively affordable price.
At the time, I went to pains to emphasize that the Bradley is not a true alternative to the quintessential Common Projects Achilles Low: the soles aren’t stitched, the finish not quite as fine, and, well, aesthetically it’s closer to the Common Projects Achilles Retro Low anyways. But then, the Bradley retails for about a third of what a pair of Common Projects does, and you can often find the Bradley steeply discounted at HauteLook and Nordstrom Rack.
Since writing that post two years ago, the CLAE Bradley has become a regular part of my shoe rotation. I wear them two or three times a week, don’t baby them (they’re often my go-to for running around the park with my kids), and they’ve held up well.
The Bradley comes in a surprisingly versatile number of variations. While I personally like the neoprene heel accent and ecru sole, an all-white version is available for you true minimalists. There’s also a mid top version, a stitched-welt version (honestly not a fan of the contrast welt), and even a vegan version.
BUY: CLAE Bradley Sneaker, $150
I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.
