Long time reader and fellow blogger Sabir Peele shows you how to stay fly on a budget.
All outfits under $300 total, including alterations.
1. Casual Friday
“One of my favorite off-price steals is this Jey Coleman blazer I picked up from Daffy’s for $60 (down from $350).”
On top of thrift, vintage and second-hand shops, there are plenty of off-price retailers that carry past-season goods at 50%-80% off. Daffy’s, Filene’s Basement, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Century 21, etc.
Menswear is all about the classics anyway. The white jeans from this season are hardly any different than the white jeans from two seasons ago, especially since you’re going to have them tailored to fit properly anyway.
Total price for this look (including alterations): $225.
Featured Items:
- Grey plaid cotton blazer by Jey Coleman
- Lavender stripe spread collar shirt by H&M
- Green pocket square (vintage)
- Brown leather double monkstrap shoes by Mercanti Fiorentini
- White cotton pants by H&M
- Navy knit tie by Macy’s
- Brown leather belt Vintage
52 Comments Add a comment
Great Info!
I am always wary of buying things on Ebay, or online in general.
I am an odd size. 5’4 but with a 42″ chest and a 16″ neck. Makes it impossible to find things on my size. I will spend hours in a store trying everything on. Buying something I haven’t tried on, even from a brand I know (Banana Republic sizing seems to vary greatly from one item/month to the next), usually ends in disaster.
Suggestions?
I really enjoyed this and learnt a lot (mostly about the deals on eBay). I also enjoy reading Sabir’s blog. You guys give me good style inspiration for my blog. Keep up the great work and please do more collaboration’s with Sabir.
http://thetreasuregentleman.wordpress.com/
Really well put together. Some writers and menswear sites make it seem like the only way to look sharp is to spend $300/pc – $300/LOOK is much smarter.
9Sharp.tumblr.com
recommended reading for sure. thank you for this post. getting dressed doesn’t have to cost a fortune nor does one have to skimp on quality!
These are all amazing man. I don’t even know how you do it. I especially like the part about buying some cheap stuff on e-bay.
http://siteofawesome.wordpress.com/
This is what I am talking about!!! AMAZING!!!!!
Any recommendations on NYC tailors? Thank you for sharing these great looks and shopping tips. Very much appreciated!
I highly recommend The Tailoring Room, 42 Clinton Street.
They do all my personal alterations. You can tell Franklin I sent you :)
Thanks for reading,
Dan
From one fellow eBayer/thriftier to another, job well done, Sabir. Your measurement tips were extremely helpful. Thanks so much!
Sorry, a little confused with this statement.
‘Once you have worn them 7-10 times they should be fully stretched, at which point you can bring them to the tailor.’
Take them to the tailor to have the waist/seat taken in? Can that be done with jeans? Apologies in advance if these are ridiculous questions, just thought jeans could only be awkwardly tailored at best.
Thanks
Wow, just wow! Thanks SB and Sabir for this post for those of us on the frugal side. All the looks are great and the prices are mindblowing! Sabir, you’ve got great steelo.
Anon,
Thanks for the kind words!
- Sabir
What model is the Timex watch?
Hey John,
It’s a Timex easy reader.
- Sabir
Fantastic post.
When shopping on eBay, is one better off looking for specific pieces or are there certain users or stores that regularly have a reliable selection?
All the best.
Personally, I look for specific items when searching Ebay. As you start to search around you will find that some Ebay stores just have better stuff and will become your “go-to” spots to shop!
- Sabir
Informative, creative, and relative. Great job, Dan & Sabir. Much respect
This is great! I’d love to see more budget friendly post like this. Please, keep them coming.
Best.
Good job Sabir, nice outfits! If you know how to shop smart..you can make $30 items look $100
Class! The fourth and sixth looks are my favorites. I’d go with some slimmer trousers though.
Great post!
I have a quick question for the SB crew. The watch strap featured in outfits 3 & 5, would it be navy and beige or navy and white?
I have been searching for a navy and beige strap for what seems like forever! The JCrew site picture seems to be off-white (and that would match with the bisque name), but featured here the strap looks darker.
Thanks.
@ClassyChris,
I originally picked this watchstrap up from J.Crew about 3 years ago. The center is almost a gold color.
- Sabir
Thanks Sabir!
Once again, great post.
Anyone have the web address of the “Lux Glam Vintage Shop” mentioned in the post a few times? Can’t find them on eBay or the net in general
Thanks!
Hi Jon,
The web address for the Lux Glam Shop is http://www.bonanza.com/booths/LuxGlam.
- Sabir
One of my favorite posts. Excellent work.
Also, big ups to the SB for the guest entries. I appreciate that this blog hasn’t become a huge ego trip for you and that you use the opportunity to feature other innovative gentlemen. Again – Great Post!
What about the duffel bag, looks great on the yellow sweater. Brand, prize?
Hi Mario,
I picked up the duffel bag and yellow sweater both on Ebay. The bag was by a company named Yellow Stone and the Sweater is by Obey (size small). I bought a small because the dimension seemed a little big when I was purchasing. Typically, I wear a medium.
- Sabir
I’m so glad you posted this here! I’m married and father of two, I shop for everyone in the house. Putting outfits together for the whole family and I have to do that on a budget. Always looking for sales and deals. Coupons and discounts. People don’t believe how little I pay for clothes. I’m glad he featured a lot of items from H&M, which with a good eye, you can find great pieces and well constructed too.
Great post indeed, I’d say more of this type of post.
Just… one word… AMAZING!
This is so informative and helpful,
And he looks super fly in an effortless manner.
This post is the story of my life, I’m always on the hunt for a good bargain. I recently picked up a black $200 Banana Republic top coat for less than $30 after markdowns and additional discounts. If you find something you like at Gap or Banana Republic that doesn’t fit don’t be afraid to ask an associate to search your size at a nearby location. The best deals come from the Sale racks.
http://mozart5000.tumblr.com/
Every single one of these looks is exquisite! Great post. Love the striped suit in look 4 and the monk straps in 1 and 2. Thanks for sharing!
http://21stcenturygent.blogspot.com/
Very Impressive Post!!! And I thought Ebay was my little secret. I get almost all my shoes and boots from Ebay for some incredible deals. And you nailed the secret – be very patient and check all measurements.
I will usually give away my clothes to friends, my brother-in-law or interns; but shoes are another story. A friend’s sister started selling stuff on ebay and tells me to send her my shoe castoffs. Over the last 3 years she has sold over 50 pairs of shoes for me and it amazes me the prices she gets. It doesn’t hurt that I have all the original boxes, dust bags, branded shoehorns and wear 10.5 & 11′s.
I confess that I’ve bought a few badly listed or poorly photographed Ebay items (as well as thrift finds) only to resell them (mostly shoes and boots) after applying some leather conditioner, letting it sit with a cedar shoe tree in it for a while and then giving it a good polish for orders of magnitude more than what I bought them for. If you list it right and shoot it well, you can get good prices as a seller. As a buyer you can get goot deals if you know what to look for (this post really nailed it on the head).
Wonderful post. I need to take notes. My shoes are the most expensive part in my wardrobe. Thanks!
Me too!
Wow this guy could probably pop a load off in the morning when he’s looking at himself in the mirror, after getting dressed.
Oh man. More of these posts please.
As a college student who frequently shops at outlets, this is by far one of my favorite articles on this blog. What an amazing and informative post!
Absolutely love all the looks! But I gotta say #3 and 5 are the absolute best!
Thank you for the good article!
I read the title of the article and my first thought was “$300 is a budget outfit?!”
I had assumed the $300 wouldn’t include shoes, easily the priciest part of most outfits.
Well done SB team, well done, the most expensive outfit not including shoes is $125!
Great job Sabir! I feel like we have similar approaches, but you’ve reminded me to get a little more unconventional (I’ve never actually “ebayed”) to find dressier items when bargain shopping:)
All the suits are great, especially the sport coat in #5. #6 is up there in the “perfect casual looks” category.
Keep it up man… great feature, Dan!
Hey TO,
It was great to work with the SB crew again. You definitely got get your Ebay own for dressier menswear pieces. You can find some steals if you are patient.
Best,
Sabir
Really nice clothes. Just goes to show price ain’t everything. A good eye for putting the outfits together just as important!
SO ELEGANT, CHIC AND FINE CASSUAL !!!!! THAT’S IT !
Some of the best looks you’ve featured, which makes it doubly impressive that they were so cheap
What a cool dude. Great tips!
Can you do a post that focuses specifically on tailoring? I have never been to a tailor, and my one pre-wedding run in with a seamstress was not favorable.
How does one choose a tailor? What should one look for? How much should one spend? What can one expect from a given piece of clothing (as far as how it can be altered)?
@Kiel: Check out these guidelines from The Styleblogger’s old website
http://mensstyleblog.blogspot.ca/2010/02/what-tailor-can-cant-do-part-1-suit.html http://mensstyleblog.blogspot.ca/2010/02/alterations-part-ii.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twIIxcawY88
Best article in a while – love the budget considerations. For under $300 an outfit – Sabir looks like a million bucks!