Men's watches like the Shinola Runwell, AKA bargaining down my husband

E fell in love with the Shinola Runwell watch with either a blue or green dial and a brown leather strap. The watch is classic, clean, round, and easy to read.
I like the look of the watch, too.
What I did not like was that it was $550 and does not look like an expensive watch to me. It is a nice watch, and a sturdy one, but not a dress watch or one that you could wear with a suit or to a fancy occasion.

I asked him if I could have a little time to try to find one he liked nearly as much but for much cheaper, and he said ok. I knew I was in for a challenge since he was so enamored of this watch, but I found a bunch that I thought captured some of the look but less than half of the price.

First, let's look at the one he really likes:

$550 Shinola Runwell with green dial and brown leather strap

One thing E did not love about this watch was the large diameter of the face, which he wished was smaller.

Here are some that I found that are a little smaller but still easy to read, round, and have a cool non-traditional dial. The main thing E wanted was to avoid having "a boring watch."


$78 Fossil Men's watch DE5000
The bold numbers on this reminded me of the Runwell, but E didn't like the case shape.


$129 Fossil men's watch ME3018
While I was looking at the former style, this one caught my eye because I thought it was cool with the exposed gears, and even though it was not what E had in mind, he liked it a lot too.



$185 V03B Watch with green face
The perfectly round dial and green color made me think of the Runwell, but E didn't like this color of green and said it was "too military."



$89 Invicta I-Force 14786
The shiny and brighter blue color of this appealed to E, but not as much as the original one he was looking at. Too boring still.




$99 Invicta Lefty 1513
I thought he might like the number style and steep bevel on this one better, and he did, but still no dice.


$99 Hugo Boss Blue 1512790
Still on my blue kick, I found this which I thought looked more professional and still a fun color. "Just let me buy the one I liked."



$357 Victorinox 241290 Watch
Come on, this one is pretty damn close to the original, no?
"It's just as expensive as the one I like!"
-"No, it is $200 cheaper and that is a lot of money."


$65 Timex Easy Reader
"Oh I like that one, how much is it?
-$65.
Okay. But I wanted the leather strap. That strap is dumb.
-I can get you a leather strap on Amazon for $10. Here are 3 choices.
Fine."

YAY, SAVED $490!!!
Thanks, timex.

Wooden watches

E and I have been looking at watches a lot recently, and I decided that even though I really am not a fan of how they look on me in general, I might be willing to try wearing a wooden one.
They are so cool!

Check these out:


$70 Ronica men's watch
Leather strap, 32mm face
I like the grain on the face and the rounded edges of the dial.


$50 Quartz wood watch
Leather strap, 32.5 mm face
This has more contrast between the face and the dial wood colors, and looks a little more beat up.

$109 Tense sandalwood womens watch
Sandalwood, with leather strap, 26mm dial
The variation in the wood color on the dial and the lighter color wood on the face all work together well.

$109 Tense sandalwood mens watch
Wooden chain strap,
This looks clean and light and well-made.



$75 Sioux City Tri watch
leather strap. 45mm dial
These watches were a successfully funded Kickstarter project that are now being produced and sold. They have a few designs but I like this one best, and I got myself one.


$85 Analog Watch Company carpenter
Speaking of Kickstarter, this one goes til November so you can still get in on the ground floor and get a watch for $85 instead of over $100.
They are made with a solid wood case and a veneer over leather strap, for an all-wood look. They are also biodegradable.



$279 Mistura Avanti
Crazy modern design and shape.

3 nice bags from LL Bean

I think of LL Bean as the reliable but kind of fugly place where I would get fleeces in jr high.
But recently I went on their website and found that they now have some good looking and durable bags that I would be interested in buying if I ever needed another bag (hint, I don't for a long long time). 

Also, they still have those boxy sweaters and fleeces if you want your body shape to me more "refrigeratorish."

Let's take a look at this Triple-Needle line that I like:

$159 Triple Needle Messenger bag
"Timeless styling and supple, full-grain leather bottom and trim mean its good looks will hold up over the years as well. Lined with butter-soft chambray cotton in a classic stripe pattern. Antiqued-brass hardware and leather zipper pulls. 13½"H x 17"W x 6½"D. Imported."

The leather straps and metal buckles aren't just for show on these bags, they actually hold things together and make the bag stronger.

$179 Triple Needle Tote bag
13½"H x 17"W x 7"D
 Same fabrication as the messenger bag, but this one has top handles and a zipper that closes all the way. It's a little deeper too.
The pockets inside make this bag great for me. I hate totes that just are endless pits of crap where you can never find anything. Having the computer pocket and a few others is nice. Also the fact that when it falls over it won't spill all the contents out on the sidewalk because of the zip closure.

$129 Triple Needle Shoulder bag
14½"H x 11½"W x 2½"D
This is the smallest of the 3 and the one that I would be least likely to buy or wear. It's a little too masculine and utilitarian for me to wear in this way, and I would rather wear a purse for something this size. But if you are not a purse person, then this might be a good unisex carry all bag.

Word to the Wise: Best Made Co Sample Sale

Best Made Co. is a store that sells a diverse collection of clothing, bags, camping supplies, axes, and random accessories.
They partner with suppliers to make durable versions of essential tools. The thing that is supposed to tie everything together is quality craftsmanship and items that you can pass down.
If you are someone who like the Buy For Life mentality, this is a sale you should check out.

Deal: Markdowns on enamelware, first aid kits, apparel, tools, and more.

When/Where: Thursday, July 25 through Friday, July 26. Daily 12pm—4pm. 36 White St between Church St and Broadway (646-495-9930)


Some items that might be there:

Seamless & Steadfast Enamel Steel Cups (Set of Two) / $32 

 

 

 

 

Seamless & Steadfast Enamel Steel Utility Pot / $32 

 

Metal First Aid Kit [large] / $89

 

 

The Standard Sweatshirt / $89 

 

  Wa-Basami Thread Cutter / $28 

 

The Best Made Bar of Soap (pack of three) / $30

 

Why you should shop at H&M instead of other fast fashion places

It's a given that fast fashion (big retailers who sell cheap clothes that rotate stock quickly) is not generally a good thing. Buying lots of low quality clothing that you then throw out is not the best way to go about saving the environment.

It's also pretty clear, though, that fast fashion is sticking around and offers many advantages to the buyers who want these clothes (including me).
For trendy things that will be out next season but I want to try now, or crazy colors that I might regret later, I don't want to spend a lot of money and I don't need the garment to stand the test of time. That is why I shop at fast fashion stores.

But some are much better than others, and it seems like H&M is the best of the fast fashion stores, in terms of working conditions for its employees and environmental sustainability.
So my advice is to shop there instead of F21, Mango, Strawberry, etc.

Here is why:
WORKER'S RIGHTS:
H&M was not always very good. In 2007, workers in Manhattan gained the rights to unionize and improve labor practices.
In 2011, H&M had improved enough to join the Fair Labor Association "a non-profit organization that focuses on improving working conditions from a human rights perspective in factories around the world."
After the collapse of the Bangladesh factory in May 2013, H&M signed a worker's rights agreement (also signed by Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Izod) that gives workers a say in their conditions and requires more stringent and frequent safety checks. Notably, many other companies including Walmart did NOT sign this.
Info from H&M on their worker's rights programs.

SUSTAINABILITY:
Bad: In 2010, they were caught dumping brand new unused merchandise into the trash that could have been donated. The good news is that they have made large steps in reforming and becoming more sustainable.
They now have a sustainability department headed by Helena Helmersson and have plans to increase their organic cotton consumption more than 20% and other environmental programs.
H&M also started a recycling program called Don’t Let Fashion Go to Waste to take used clothing from any store and process it into new garments. In exchange for bringing in used items, customers get a coupon for 15% off a new H&M item. This has resulted in more than 3.2 million garments being donated to charitable causes.
The Conscious Collection started in 2011 using recycled and sustainable fabrics, and that is the best to buy if you are looking for guilt-free (or reduced guilt) clothing.
There was a large program to reduce water used in the manufacturing process which has already saved 450 million liters.
"Lofty goals abound at H&M, including plans to source 100 percent of electricity from renewables and zero discharge of hazardous chemicals. This year, H&M hopes to have 95 percent of the waste handled in their warehouses to be recycled."

Many companies like to "greenwash" or seem like they are making improvements and pat themselves on the back, but H&M seems to put their money where there mouth is and actually do something.


Ok, enough about the policies, let's look at some clothes from the current Conscious Collection instead!

$7.95 Basic Jersey Tank Top in organic cotton
I like the blue and white striped version of this, or the gray and pink or plain blue.
The shoulders are wide enough to hide your bra straps, which is nice.

$9.95 pack of 3 briefs in organic cotton
These undies are 95% cotton which is great and comfortable.

$17.95 Men's sport shorts in recycled polyester
Good workout shorts that dry quickly.


One thing I've learned from writing this post is that it is realllllllly hard to shop online at H&M for their Conscious Collection. I will be writing them a letter about how they should add it as one of their filters and overall categories to sort by as well.

Two map print men's shirts from UO

I wandered into Urban Outfitters recently and saw these two men's shirts which I really liked!

Since E has a bunch of shirts already and the move has made us both not want to acquire anything, I didn't get him either. But they are so cute! Maybe you can get them.

Also they are both on sale and under $20, so that is nice.



$14.99 NYC Subway Line Tee (was $28)
Online there is only size S left, but in person in the store on 14th and 6th ave there were plenty of other sizes to be had.
This tee was super super soft to touch.


$14.99 Hawkings McGill Montauk shirt (was $44)
This is a lightweight button down with tiles of a map of Montauk on it.
I like the black and white with little touches of red color scheme.

Birthday presents from Sephora

My birthday is coming up (June 13th!) so I was just looking around Sephora to see what some nice presents to buy myself might be.




$75 Sephora Favorites make up kit ($179 value)
This kit comes with 10 products that look full size or almost full size.
The only one I've tried so far is the Nars blush, which I love. I could use the second in my travel makeup bag, or I could be generous and give it to someone.
 I'm most curious about the Josie Maran oil, the Benefit mascara and the Stila liner.
Here is what the kit includes:
- 0.035 oz Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder
- 0.06 oz Sephora Collection Microsmooth Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Black Light
- 0.16 oz NARS Blush in Orgasm
- 0.5 oz Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
- 0.5 oz Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
- 0.33 oz Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
- 0.3 oz Benefit They're Real! Mascara
- 0.15 oz BUXOM Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Sandy
- 0.016 oz Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
- 0.33 oz Kat Von D Saint Eau de Parfum Rollerball

$72 for 2.5oz AnnaSui Flight of Fancy eau de toilette
I tried this perfume about 4 years ago when it was at Urban Outfitters and I really loved it but couldn't commit.
Since then I've been stalking it and thinking I might one day buy it.
I can even forgive that the name of the perfume is written in Papyrus, the most overused of fonts. 
It smells very light and floral but complex.
Sephora says it has notes of: Lychee, Java Lemon, Yuzu, Rose Blossom, Star Magnolia, Purple Rain Freesia, Amber Crystals, Skin Musk, White Woods.

 
$30 Sun Safety Kit ($210 value)
This comes with so much stuff! Mostly in travel sizes, and mostly sunblock, but also some makeup and bb creams. It's sold out now, but you can sign up to be notified when it comes back in stock to get it.
The set comes with:
- 0.03 oz bareMinerals® Original Mineral Veil Broad Spectrum SPF 25
- bareMinerals® Mini Flawless Application Brush
- 0.5 oz Boscia® Self-Defense Antioxidant Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30
- 0.3 oz Clarins UV Plus HP Sunscreen Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 40
- 0.25 oz Dr. Brandt® Signature Flexitone® BB Cream SPF 30
- 1 Towelette Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare™ Alpha Beta® Glow Pad™
- 0.5 oz Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Daily Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 40
- 0.5 oz Lancôme Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF 30 Cream
- 0.5 oz L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Hand Care SPF 20
- 0.16 oz Miracle Skin Transformer Miracle Skin Transformer Face SPF 20
- 0.5 oz Ole Henriksen Protect the Truth SPF 50+
- 0.5 oz Origins A Perfect World™ SPF 25 Age-Defense Moisturizer with White Tea
- 0.5 oz Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skincare Max Sheer Day Moisture Defense® Lotion SPF 30
- 0.169 oz Sephora Collection Age Defy Moisture Cream SPF 15 Sunscreen
- 0.64 oz Ultimate Protection Cream+ Broad Spectrum SPF 50+
- 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 20 with Dermaxyl™ Complex
- 1.69 oz St. Tropez One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion
- 0.5 oz Tarte Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Self Tanner
- 0.14 oz Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder with Real Cocoa
- Cosmetic bag

E's bday is also coming up and I am looking at this for him (surprise ruined).

$45 Sephora Favorites Leading Man Fragrance collection ($105 value)
This comes with 4 colognes and a face wash for men.
E already likes the John Varvatos cologne, so I'm thinking he would probably like the others in this set.
The Varvatos one is nice and woodsy but isn't one of the scents that make me swoon. Maybe one of the others will be?
I know I really like Issey Miyake for men, but I think E doesn't like how floral it is.
This set has:
- 0.17 oz Bvlgari Man Extreme
- 0.16 oz Gucci Guilty Pour Homme
- 0.25 oz John Varvatos John Varvatos
- 0.17 oz Paco Rabanne 1 Million
- Bonus 0.5 oz Clinique Skin Supplies For Men Face Scrub

3 good weekend bags

For short trips away, it's nice to have a shoulder bag that you can haul your stuff in instead of a suitcase or backpack.

Here are 3 that I like, that seem to have a bunch of room:

 
 $31.99 Baggallini Expandable tote bag 

16" x 18.5" x 5"

I like this Olive color, but you can get it in brown, black, or red.
The olive would not show dirt and I wouldn't be worried about putting it on the ground.
The material is crinkle nylon which is a lightweight durable fabric, and it fully zips on top unlike open totes that spill all your crap on the subway floor when you put them down :(
The 10" straps are long enough so you can wear it as a shoulder bag or hook it over your knee when you are sitting so it doesn't touch the subway floor.


$180 Kate Spade weekender 
16" x 19" x 8"
This is the Sampler pattern, which is a mosaic of tons of colors.
It's like the same idea as that ubiquitous green and blue mottled school carpet but done up in a nicer way; the pattern doesn't show dirt. I just wish the handles weren't white because then it would be easier to keep it looking clean.
It's a coated canvas bag in a doctor bag or bowling ball bag shape, and has a zipper along the top and a separate zippered compartment on the bottom for shoes.
So your stinky feet and gross gum don't mess up your clothes. Smart!


$149.50 Duluth Trading Company Postmaster's Tote
14¾"W x 8¾"D x 17¾"H
The postmaster's tote would be good for men or women and has a classic and timeless shape and color.
The main material of the bag is strong firehose cotton canvas, and the trim is leather.
There are tons of pockets and different places to put things. It has a long shoulder strap and also a little hand carry handle.

Tips for men's pants and suits

Ok after the jacket tips, it's good to know what to look for in pants too right?

This post focuses on what length to look for.
The ideal length looks like this, with one fold at the ankle:


This post discusses fit and recommends a straight or slightly tapered leg.

And this post says to watch out for bagginess in the crotch because it can make you look shorter.

Here is a good guide to dressing a man for his wedding, from top to toes.

The Black Tie Guide is another good resource.

You can get a suit custom-made for $450 at Indochino by selecting your styles and adding your measurements. Seems like a good deal but I wish they let you pick your suit fabric weight.

The real key to making any jacket or pants look good is the fit and the tailoring. You can always take something in that is a little too long or roomy, but letting something out is harder.

Tips on how men's jackets should fit

E has to buy a suit for our wedding soon, and wants to make the initial selections himself and then have me help narrow it down.
Other than just vague ideas of "that looks good" or "no you can't wear 5 plaids to our wedding," it is nice to have some real information on what to look for and what to pass on.

This post advises you to be on the alert for shoulder divots, straining sleeves, creases when buttoned, collar gaps, and shoulder rumpling.

Word to the Wise: Upcoming Sample Sales in NYC

Here are the good sales I'm planning on attending soon!

(Twinkle by Wenlan dress originally $389)
What:  Twinkle by Wenlan is hosting a warehouse sale featuring merchandise from the archives, including some fun and classic pieces. Many pieces will range in price from $40 to $60.  Examples include a wool hand knit coat for $60 (orig. $430), a lace insert silk dress for $60 (orig. $312), princess dress for $60 (orig. $360) and an eyelet blouse for $60 (orig. $360).  Where/When:  545 8^th Avenue (b/w 37^th and 38^th Streets), NY, NY; Mar 20-23; Wed-Sat (9:30am-7:30pm).  Cash and Credit Cards Accepted.

(Sferra King Miami sheet set originally $610)
What:  SFERRA sample sale will feature down comforters & pillows, blankets, sheets, duvet covers, matelasse, throws, decorative pillows, table linens and more.  Where/When:  Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave (b/w 15^th & 16^th Sts), NY, NY; Mar 27-Mar 31; Wed-Sat (10am-7pm), Sun (10am-6pm).

(Hickey Freeman Mahogany Blue Flannel suit originally $1,695)
 What:  Stock up on men’s suits at the Hickey Freeman sample sale.  Up to 80 percent off retail. Where/When:  317 West 33rd Street (between 8th-9th Aves), NY, NY;  March 17-21; Sun (9am-6pm), Mon-Wed (9am-6:30pm), Thurs (9am-5pm).

 
(Heike Jarick Suzette dress from 2013 )
What:  Get the new Spring/Summer 2013 collection at prices up to 85% off retail at the Heike Jarick sample sale.  Where/When:  307 West 38th St, Suite 811 (b/w 8^th & 9^th Aves), NY, NY; March 20-April 3; Mon-Sat (9am-6pm).

iPad mini envelope sleeves

E. recently got an ipad mini which he is completely in love with.
While accompanying me bag shopping, he saw an envelope purse which I guess he had never heard of before, but he thought it was the coolest thing. I suggested he get it for his mini but it wasn't the right size.

I promised that there were a bunch like it online though, and that we would find him one.

So here are some options!


$43 (33 Euro) Striiiipes suede ipad envelope case
This envelope looks like one of the manila interoffice ones. I like it in yellow for that effect.


$19.99 wool felt envelope protective sleeve for ipad mini
Similar to the Striiiipes one but cheaper and felt instead of suede.

$14.99 Vintage design envelope for ipad mini
This is fake suede and made to look like a mailed package. Cute!


$29 Fabric envelope ipad case
You can have this customized with your name and address and stamps from different countries



$ Brown fabric ipad mini envelope cover
If you aren't into leather or fake suede etc, this option might be nice.



$60 Leather ipad envelope with clasp
I like the old look of this clasp and the leather seems to be good quality from what I can tell.


$51 Leather envelope style ipad mini case
The crumpled leather makes this one look like a package as well.



$45 Wrap tie leather envelope ipad mini case
This one is still an envelope style but the closure is a horizontal flap with a wrap around lace.



$49 Leather ipad mini envelope case
With the decorated silver button and leather lace, this one looks medieval Spanish to me.


$44 Leather foldover envelope case for ipad mini
 This one offers to stamp your initials on a tab inside. It's clean and spare.


$83 Leather ipad mini envelope
This one is very minimalist.


$23 Felt gray envelope case for ipad mini
Similar to the previous one above but in felt


$76 Buffalo leather ipad mini envelope
This cool texture is from washed buffalo leather.
It has a folded over flap but nothing to secure it down, just fyi.

I like all of them!