Ash, it's not just about dressing properly for the occasion but it's also showing respect for the occasion. Also when you dress properly and dress like a grown up you're showing respect to others and you're showing self respect. I like you have gotten plenty of good deals at thrift stores in eBay. I have gotten some nice Brooks Brothers shirts and Orvis shirts that retail for over $90 for five or six dollars most of them are unworn because they have been donated from the store still with the Hang tags. Let's hope that all the chaps out there can keep up the good work and start setting a good example and maybe more and more people will dress properly again cheers Ron
Very good observation. There is NO excuse for not dressing smartly. It is a matter of taste, education and character where money plays a minor role. I can say that because I spent my life (I am 63 now) working in jobs that did not pay well (my fault) but I always managed to dress very well to the point of being complimented by my smartness. As I said, it requires patience, time and careful consideration but if you persevere it always pays off.
For many, there is an unfortunate stigma with thrifted clothing. The truth is that, if you are patient and have good eye for quality, you will be able to purchase excellent items at extremely low prices. I have been able to purchase suits, odd jackets, trousers, shirts and quality shoes at tremendous bargain prices. I encourage my fellow chaps to be open-minded and enjoy the search for the diamond in the rough. It is fun and rewarding.
I attended a funeral just over a year ago. I wore a black suit, with white shirt and black tie, along with black dress shoes that were freshly polished the night before. I was shocked to see a number of male attendees wearing jeans, t-shirts, trainers and even a denim jacket.
@maninthestreet01 same here. Even some of the immediate family of the deceased were in jeans. The husband of the deceased's granddaughter wore: trucker hat, Oakley sunglasses, black t-shirt, dirty work jacket, ripped up jeans, dirty white running shoes.
Excellent advice, as always, Ash. I have no qualms about buying pre-owned clothing myself. I'd say that about sixty percent of my wardrobe was purchased either in thrift shops or on platforms like Ebay and Poshmark. Even better than online platforms, in my experience, are second-hand clothing stores and thrift shops, when we are talking about finding items of men's clothing for a fraction of their retail price. I am fortunate enough to live in an affluent area with an aging demographic, which means that I can regularly find high quality items at the local charity shop. Sometimes I quip to my friends that my personal sartorial style should be called "Dead Man Walking Fashions" because I've put together entire outfits, minus the hats and shoes, in this way.
I think it goes deeper than the rise of casual attire, I honeatly think theres a class component to this, why would working class people who make less and less each year would spend money on clothing they use infrequently? I think stylistic attire has simply become another thing in a long list of items people now regard as something they cant waste money on in leiu of rent and food. Its sad honestly.
Good advice regarding specifically to the way one can obtain quality clothing items at a reasonable price! It can be said that casualness of dressing is due to modern clothing costs. However, did gentleman and ladies have more means and a Higher standard of living in 1900s, 1910s WWI, 1920s, 1930s Great Depression, 1940s WWII, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s? Those were eras when men dressed like gentleman with suites and ties and the women dressed like ladies with dresses. The reason people dress generally casually today is simply because the standards of one’s appearance has been lowered in recent times. Even people that have great means are dressing casually.
Good morning sirs. I'm a big fan of frugal style, but it is getting harder to find items that I want and will fit. Also buying out of season is a good way to go.
I once found a Zegna cashmere jacket at Goodwill for $6. Wore it once for fun, then sold it through my eBay store for $250. Here in Los Angeles, the sartorial treasures are endless. Nice video. Thanks for doing it. Retail is for gents who don't know any better. Cheers.
Good morning Ash there are good buys to be had both online and in store if you are prepared to put in the effort. I think my best buy to date is a pair of Loake 1880 Kempton boots from the factory shop for £105.
I do love budget shopping, my wife is allergic to spending money, even me spending money 🤣 I love eBay hunting for shoes. On the watch for some loake boots for next winter. I can't handle TK Maxx it's too unorganized, I just get frustrated.
hello Ash. I have to recognise I’m in love with purchasing second hand. But the requisite for better experience is to to having some knowledge about the garments in terms of constructions, textures, materials, etc. certainly your channel is a great source for educating on such aspects. I experience this here in Chile, but in UK in 2022 had great shopping in vintage places London, and even in Oxfam and other second hand places. Finally, I absolutely agree and congratulate your approach about the todays difficulties of acquiring good garments, but you can advance in your wardrobe with good advices and determination to follow your sartorial journey . Big hug from the south of the world !
I love this video! Frugality is a virtue. Remember the days when World Bank used to dole out austerity measures. However when it comes to style, trainers on. Red carpet events has changed things…
Hi totally agree with you wholeheartedly. I’m a shoe lover and I especially have a fondness for Loake shoes and boots, but have been put off by the price until watching one of you videos about seconds. I recently saw a great pair of brown Chester Loake shoes, seconds for £138.00. I bought these shoes from a company called North Shoes. When they arrived the scuffs were polished out, and the leather was Chromexcel, which is tanned with special oils making them easy to break in, and incredibly soft. My wife thinks I’m mad, but thanks to your videos I know theses shoes will last me a lifetime. Thanks and keep up the great videos. Anthony
Ash, Would you do a series on working men’s style? By that I mean dressing for DIY, yard and garden work, home mechanizing, etc. Thanks for your good work.
I missed this video when out of state going to a wedding in Ohio. I seen the very same thing that you discussed at the wedding with individuals wearing jeans, tennis shoes and sweatshirts. All of the older gentlemen were wearing at least a jacket and slacks of some kind, the father of the bride and I were the only ones wearing a three piece suit. Needless to say we stood out like peacocks 😎 which was the plan on my part. Great advice Ash, you don't have to break the bank finding great clothing at a thrift store.
Wonderful advice and spot on Ash. I learned to appreciate pre-owned clothing and made my best buys in charity shops and on eBay. I bough my favorite grey slacks for $5 at the Salvation Army. I also won two biddings on eBay last year. A pair of Zanella Devon gray wool dress pants, NWT for $48. They cost $380 when you buy it new. The other bidding was a 2-piece Jos A Bank gray wool suit , price normally $795. I bought it for $28. I would like to share my advice regarding donating a garment. Before I give away a piece, I inspect it and look for holes and tears. I do not want to give a bad quality piece to a charity shop. You can also ask yourself the question: "Would I spend money on it, in the condition it is right now?" When the answer is no, then it should go into the trash bin and not on the rack of a charity shop.
Fair points all. I find it staggering that a man does not posses at least one suit and shoe ensemble. They are de-rigeur for interviews, Weddings or dinners, surely? I always had one from my early 20s, a necessity in the Army. I now have a variety of suits and jacket/ trouser combos to draw from. I, as yet do not have a linen suit in my wardrodbe. As a Mr average size, I seldom find clothing my size on sale, charity shops or in TKMaxx. That said, I bought an M&S Navy (colour) blazer from British Heart Foundation for a whole £7. I added Corps buttons and a Blazer badge. I have worn it frequently for the 10+ years I've owned it. My favorite Harris Tweed (My late grandfather swore by HT) jacket was a steal from ebay. I also acquired an HT overcoat for £21. Military discount is frequently leant on. As always Ash, fantastic video. *salutes
TKMaxx has been great for me in the past. Dents scarfs for a few pounds, Hugo Boss suit jackets for £40 even Dunhill Icon EDP for £15 instead or about £70. You’ve got to be on the ball and check for bargains early in the day but there’s some great buys.
In the US we have K&G Fashion Superstores, which is a kind of overstock or outlet subsidiary of the (pricier) Men’s Warehouse. High quality dressy clothes (including wool suits), shoes, and accessories can be bought very affordably there, especially with their weekly sales. It is also much more affordable to buy a tuxedo there than to rent one, especially if you will use it more than once.
Charity shops, I recently bought an unworn M&S wool and cashmere sports jacket for £10 similar quality jackets from online retailers are in the £200-250 price range.
Great advice Ash. I have presided at a couple of funerals recently with some of the younger mourners dressed in jeans and t-shirts. I would of course much rather they were there than not being able to pay their respects and not sure if cost was an issue here but, for me, paying your respects means dressing the part as well as simply being present.
Dents have some nice made in UK accestories like scarves or belts for good price on their website. I´ve found some nice Christmas presents really early :)
I bought Woolrich eskimo parka, in the fall right before the winter, for like 500 euros in freakin Norway at the outlet outside Oslo. Its retail price was 900-1100. By the way, just dressing in general like adult, does not cost much. Might not be a high quality, but h&m, zara has chinos, dress shirts, sweaters for affordable price. Better than freaking track suits, graphic tshirts etc and cost the same if not cheaper. I mean brown chinos, white or blue, navy shirt, and v neck or round/crew neck sweater in charcoal or black or burgundy, and you look better than 98% of people. Dont even have to go with dress shoes, can buy simple, minimalistic dress leather sneakers in black or white or brown. Though i heard in usa, at Target stores they have oxfords for 40-50 bucks. Would last only a year, but still. I think target also has chinos for like 25 bucks.
I'm incredibly frugal, to the point of maybe "tight" when it comes to spending. But I find it more fun to find bargains. I'm on a mission at the moment to get my good lady a Barbour for £20. You can get some really cheap deals out there if you look, and then if you take very good care of your clothes, they can last for years and years. Yet again, top chanel Ash. Very well done and very informative
Being a smaller guy at 5’5”, finding great bargains that fit is quite difficult since most clothing isn’t made for men my size. So I tend toward custom and specialty shops, which makes things quite expensive. However, much of my footwear is from fortunate second-hand finds, so I save money there.
I am 5'6", and I also use the MTM route. I patiently wait and plan for what is needed till my favorite MTM has a sale making it that much sweeter. I am lucky enough to have a local tailor who will order for me through the MTM and make adjustments if needed. I hope that you may find a tailor that works with you.
I just got into some bad clothing habbits in my 20's an a bit of my 30's. I was brought up wearing a strict school uniform, blazer and tie and other activities like marching band, cadets that required a inch perfect sharp uniform at times. From a young age to 18 I was wearing oxford style dress shoes shirt and tie pretty much every day. So my idea of Casual may resemble some peoples smart casual. 17 - 21 I even preferred a pocket watch, a old Fero manual wind that belonged to my Grandad. But from 22 to about 35 I got lazy and wore trainers, cargo trousers, hoodies most of the time. It was so hot wired to dress in such a way that when was invited to a friends wedding in my late 20's I had no items of formal clothing, I had to pop home to my parents house, a few hundred miles and hope I still had some items I could salvage. I wore a shirt and tie that belonged to my dad, a old black tweed front waistcoat, a pair of black suede Chelsea boots that hadn't been worn in 10 years and a black raincoat, I popped to M&S and baught a pair of cheap black trousers as well as a borrowing all the accessories like cufflinks, tiebar and a dress watch (all I owned was a grotty G-Shock at the time). I managed to pull it off and look reasonably respectful for the occasion, beit felt a little uncomfortable and everything was a little ill fitting. But it did wake me up, from that moment on I made sure I had some formal items of clothing to hand.
since I work from home i like to get dressed up when possible..we had a stroll around some local villages yesterday and i had my welted boots on, country jacket and my southcombe gloves on.. :) but people dress far too casually... trickers still have a sale on, supposed to end at midnight tonight..
A charity shop near me occasionally gets donations of abandoned garments from dry cleaners. I’ve picked up Turnbull & Asser and Irish mfg. Thomas Pink shirts for $2 USD or about 1.66 GBP.
As a fellow vet, how do you feel about using those discounts? The State of Illinois gave me my degree for free (I only had to pay for books) so I feel I am not owed anything. I always feel awkward asking for it. Some online places have a discount and I'm less worried about it, but I rarely ask for it in person. Veterans' day (Armistice day in the UK I think) is the only exception.
It’s not really the same here in the UK. Our vets are less respected than in the US, where I know you get a better level of general support from the public. In the UK veterans are largely overlooked generally and taken for granted. It is not an issue for most of us, we served so that others are safe and no one expects a round of applause for doing the job they were paid to deliver. So asking for a modest discount (where it is offered) is not something that elicits a sense guilt. In my country the contribution of serving military (and veterans) is somewhat overlooked. The US certainly has the edge on that front.
Looking forward to your trip to Northamptonshire… are you coming near Rushden? That’s where I live. Some of my family worked in the shoe industry all their lives
How true, I have not one, but two Harris Tweed, jackets, one is from New Zealand, and the other, I think the UK, I found two British train tickets in the Pocket Square pocket! I paid around $2-5 each, I googled for the retail value, oh boy, $700 New Zealand Dollars, but wait there's more, a Charles Tyrwitt navy blue jacket with a ticket pocket, paid $2 , but valued around 700 New Zealand Dollars. three buckle monk shoes $2 valued at $350. Black Capped Oxford $5 valued at 370! Buying preowned is so true, bargains galore! It does pay to shop around. In the last five years or so, I haven't paid retail (except underwear) for cloths and shoes!
If anyone is looking for a Barbour style wax jacket, New Forest Clothing sell new ones for for £45! made in the UK waxed cotton and amazing value they also have an upgraded version. I have no connection to the company but cant recommend the jacket enough. It shows you can buy great clothing without breaking the bank. If your interested size down 1 size as they are generous sizes.
If you are built slightly bigger than average, the high street is definitely not for those of us who are physically bigger unless of course you go mega big and have a tailor chop acres off the waist and the thighs are still tight. Men's clothing on the high street are men for the slight or bigger "boned" but anyone built like a rugby player or bodybuilder will struggle. So tailor made has been the way for my beloved but that has been a total nightmare for those who have little or no "style" never mind the nuances of each suit or trousers. Private White are genius at fitting rain coats and winter coats for the bigger man,they are in Manchester and have a website.
As many of our Canadian and American crooked politicians would say: 'I endorse this message' LOL! Actually a great place for thrift of a very high order in London (when I'm visiting) is Hornets , worth a visit for all things 'sartorial' .
Hi Ash great video like usual I used to watch you all the time but then lost touch - took me ages to find you again but I did thankfully in the end! Quick question I like dressing formally. However, society is more and more dressing casually. Do you think it acceptable to go out for a few drinks to a few bars in a suit and shirt without tie (would love to wear a tie but many round here would consider it a bit too much). I am really excited to hearing back from you! Thank you.
Of course sir, the open neck shirt look is en vogue at the moment and will still be a sartorial leap above almost every other person in the venue. Always go for comfort first, then style second - if you feel comfortable with no tie, well leave the tie at home!!
Zelensky could do much worse than being a subscriber. Always nice to see people made the effort to attend, but with some help they can be better turned out. My advice is turn up the smartness one notch at a time. Too big a change seldom sticks. Move from jeans to chinos then dress pants. From trainers to low profile sneakers then brogues then dress shoes. Tes to polos to button downs to dress shirts etc. If you initially feel uncomfortable wear at home to start. My worse buys were at full retail, my best preowned. Know your style and measurements, compile a list an a budget after research then take your time to acquire.
Excellent advice Ash. Personally I have some some of the stores mentioned unreliable in terms of stock but I completely agree that pre-owned can be a total bargain. I have a "black tie" event in May and am currently looking for a decent suit. It's great having a 'quest'. Any suggestions for making a black tie suit more individual or personalized on a budget?
The obvious answer is to focus on your accessories, such as the pocket square, cuff-links, boutonnieres, and even the shine on your shoes. These elements of your clothing will make sure you stand out amongst the crowd.
I attended a wedding where the groom and groomsmen wore trainers with their suits - looked terrible. Especially so as the bride and bridesmaids were done up in all their finery, clearly a big occasion for them. Many (most) of the male guests were dressed more respectfully in proper suits and looked better than the groom. Just terrible.
No....cost of living is not the reason.I have seen people here in Sweden dressed to occasions as if they were going to their farm yards but that is how it has been when everything thing was normal.
I personally don't think it's about affordability. Chinos can be bought for as little as £12 & shirts from £10 plus. Clothing has never been so adorable. Granted shoes to look well one would need to be spending £80 & above. It's pure laziness with folks.
Ash: please don’t use the economy as a cause for dressing poorly. Look at videos of people and how they dressed during the depression. You will see people in bread lines or soup kitchens wearing suits and ties. The real reason for our poorly dressed citizens is lack of pride in themselves and the disintegration of society and or culture in general. I dress very much to what I believe you would approve and I get really fed up dining at a nice restaurant wearing a blue blazer, rep tie, Allen Edmonds cap toe oxfords, etc., and have some clown sitting at the next table wearing camouflage cargo shorts and a T-shirt with some almost obscene comments on it.
You start off talking about how there is a world wide scarcity of resources, people are having trouble obtaining food and fuel... there's a damn war in Europe. Kinda got me thinking, maybe I shouldn't be worrying about what kind of little piece of cloth I hang from my neck...or even hanging a piece of cloth around my neck at all for that matter. Maybe our priorities as a society are a little off. Terrible lead in, madee feel guilty for even watching.
A 20% discount is nothing! Even if branded shoes are sold on 50% sale the retailers are still making at least 100% profit on the product. If you are going for the Northampton based shoe brands, even if they are on sale of 40% retail price they still have 200-300% profit on the product. Also I have never found any sales on sole repairs. It’s like buying a inkjet printer. Like the fact that inkjet printer is not that expensive but the company makes their money in ink sales, the shoe companies make their money on sole replacements, I guess! Even the made in India shoes from Grenson or Loake or Barker shoes have sole replacement starting at £145-£150 and above. 70-80% sales of these brands have Made in India shoes. Most of these “English” brands tend to not disclose if they are partly manufactured abroad. The cost of Northampton based shoes have increased by ~200% in the last 5-6 years. For example, the Imperial collection of Cheaney York was £295- £345 around 2015 and now the same shoes retail at £545 in 2023. I don’t understand how can they increase it so much higher than the cost of inflation. In the last two years every year they increase the retail price by £50 per year for that shoe but no improvement in quality. Hence I say 20% discount is nothing. The shoe brands are joining forces together to extract higher prices of customers, eg Church’s and Cheaney are from the same owners and only after the unification the Cheaney brand prices have gone up exponentially, but the quality hasn’t!! Those Northampton based shoe brands that are available on eBay sales are sold by people who go to their factory outlet sales and buy multiple pairs of them (eg max limit of 6 per person for eg in Edward Green sales)and they slowly sell them at higher prices on eBay than they have bought in the factory outlets. So be careful of buying on ebay as there are lots of crooks over there, even in UK. The worst part is that after wearing most of the British brands from Northamptonshire over the years you come to realise that British brands are not the pinnacle in shoes. They are actually the Japanese brands and possibly some Korean brands (eg Terry Kim). You would rather spend your own hard earned £1200 (if you have to) on a Japanese Siroeno Yosui rather than a John Lobb for better craftsmanship. Japan is where true shoe craftsmanship rests and British brands are decent quality but a lot more of branding related inflated prices. Some Spanish (Berwick 1707), Italian, Portuguese (Carlos Santos) and some Indian brands (Bridlen) offer better quality to value ratio. Hope this helps.
I bought a pair of Trickers cap toe oxfords in a local charity shop with minimal wear for £20.
Baseball cap, football shirt/ graphic t shirt, beer belly, jeans / cargos, trainers/converse… the uniform of the masses.
Ash, it's not just about dressing properly for the occasion but it's also showing respect for the occasion. Also when you dress properly and dress like a grown up you're showing respect to others and you're showing self respect. I like you have gotten plenty of good deals at thrift stores in eBay. I have gotten some nice Brooks Brothers shirts and Orvis shirts that retail for over $90 for five or six dollars most of them are unworn because they have been donated from the store still with the Hang tags. Let's hope that all the chaps out there can keep up the good work and start setting a good example and maybe more and more people will dress properly again cheers Ron
I agree Ron. Dressing well can be achieved for modest prices.
Very good observation. There is NO excuse for not dressing smartly. It is a matter of taste, education and character where money plays a minor role. I can say that because I spent my life (I am 63 now) working in jobs that did not pay well (my fault) but I always managed to dress very well to the point of being complimented by my smartness. As I said, it requires patience, time and careful consideration but if you persevere it always pays off.
For many, there is an unfortunate stigma with thrifted clothing. The truth is that, if you are patient and have good eye for quality, you will be able to purchase excellent items at extremely low prices. I have been able to purchase suits, odd jackets, trousers, shirts and quality shoes at tremendous bargain prices. I encourage my fellow chaps to be open-minded and enjoy the search for the diamond in the rough. It is fun and rewarding.
Trainers to a wedding, totally disrespectful. I’d ask them to leave.
I attended a funeral just over a year ago. I wore a black suit, with white shirt and black tie, along with black dress shoes that were freshly polished the night before. I was shocked to see a number of male attendees wearing jeans, t-shirts, trainers and even a denim jacket.
Dressing well is a sign of respect for the host if you ask me
Same
Kinda agree, but those sneakers that look like shoes are everywhere and politicians are wearing them in full business regalia.
@maninthestreet01 same here. Even some of the immediate family of the deceased were in jeans.
The husband of the deceased's granddaughter wore: trucker hat, Oakley sunglasses, black t-shirt, dirty work jacket, ripped up jeans, dirty white running shoes.
Ebay is brilliant. Also, I’ve recently bought a pair of black cap toe Oxfords made by Cheney from a local charity shop for £10. They are fantastic.
Great result.
Excellent advice, as always, Ash. I have no qualms about buying pre-owned clothing myself. I'd say that about sixty percent of my wardrobe was purchased either in thrift shops or on platforms like Ebay and Poshmark.
Even better than online platforms, in my experience, are second-hand clothing stores and thrift shops, when we are talking about finding items of men's clothing for a fraction of their retail price.
I am fortunate enough to live in an affluent area with an aging demographic, which means that I can regularly find high quality items at the local charity shop. Sometimes I quip to my friends that my personal sartorial style should be called "Dead Man Walking Fashions" because I've put together entire outfits, minus the hats and shoes, in this way.
I think it goes deeper than the rise of casual attire, I honeatly think theres a class component to this, why would working class people who make less and less each year would spend money on clothing they use infrequently? I think stylistic attire has simply become another thing in a long list of items people now regard as something they cant waste money on in leiu of rent and food. Its sad honestly.
Hi , great video , I’ve been recently buying and selling on Vinted , I managed to get two white tm Lewin shirts for £2.50 , an absolute bargain!
Good advice regarding specifically to the way one can obtain quality clothing items at a reasonable price! It can be said that casualness of dressing is due to modern clothing costs. However, did gentleman and ladies have more means and a Higher standard of living in 1900s, 1910s WWI, 1920s, 1930s Great Depression, 1940s WWII, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s? Those were eras when men dressed like gentleman with suites and ties and the women dressed like ladies with dresses.
The reason people dress generally casually today is simply because the standards of one’s appearance has been lowered in recent times. Even people that have great means are dressing casually.
Great work Ash, excellent advice. Just because some of us may be able to afford full price items doesn’t mean we cannot be sensible and frugal.
Good morning sirs. I'm a big fan of frugal style, but it is getting harder to find items that I want and will fit. Also buying out of season is a good way to go.
I once found a Zegna cashmere jacket at Goodwill for $6. Wore it once for fun, then sold it through my eBay store for $250. Here in Los Angeles, the sartorial treasures are endless. Nice video. Thanks for doing it. Retail is for gents who don't know any better. Cheers.
Good morning Ash there are good buys to be had both online and in store if you are prepared to put in the effort. I think my best buy to date is a pair of Loake 1880 Kempton boots from the factory shop for £105.
I must say, your son looks very smart in that blue jacket.
I do love budget shopping, my wife is allergic to spending money, even me spending money 🤣
I love eBay hunting for shoes. On the watch for some loake boots for next winter.
I can't handle TK Maxx it's too unorganized, I just get frustrated.
you're a lucky man. Most women loooooovvvveeee spending.
hello Ash. I have to recognise I’m in love with purchasing second hand. But the requisite for better experience is to to having some knowledge about the garments in terms of constructions, textures, materials, etc. certainly your channel is a great source for educating on such aspects. I experience this here in Chile, but in UK in 2022 had great shopping in vintage places London, and even in Oxfam and other second hand places. Finally, I absolutely agree and congratulate your approach about the todays difficulties of acquiring good garments, but you can advance in your wardrobe with good advices and determination to follow your sartorial journey . Big hug from the south of the world !
Big hug back to you too, my Chilean, sartorial brother.
Let’s start a chap revolution, , time to rise up and show how to do it, damn casual wear , only fit for digging the garden (actually not even that)😃
Great content yet again Ash, especially in these times.
I love this video! Frugality is a virtue. Remember the days when World Bank used to dole out austerity measures.
However when it comes to style, trainers on. Red carpet events has changed things…
Good morning
Really enjoy the positive sentiments of your videos, keep up the good work 👍
No negativity here - only positive
Hi totally agree with you wholeheartedly. I’m a shoe lover and I especially have a fondness for Loake shoes and boots, but have been put off by the price until watching one of you videos about seconds. I recently saw a great pair of brown Chester Loake shoes, seconds for £138.00. I bought these shoes from a company called North Shoes. When they arrived the scuffs were polished out, and the leather was Chromexcel, which is tanned with special oils making them easy to break in, and incredibly soft. My wife thinks I’m mad, but thanks to your videos I know theses shoes will last me a lifetime. Thanks and keep up the great videos. Anthony
Thank you Anthony.
Ash,
Would you do a series on working men’s style?
By that I mean dressing for DIY, yard and garden work, home mechanizing, etc.
Thanks for your good work.
Mechanicing! My auto correct gets the best of me now and then.
I missed this video when out of state going to a wedding in Ohio. I seen the very same thing that you discussed at the wedding with individuals wearing jeans, tennis shoes and sweatshirts. All of the older gentlemen were wearing at least a jacket and slacks of some kind, the father of the bride and I were the only ones wearing a three piece suit. Needless to say we stood out like peacocks 😎 which was the plan on my part.
Great advice Ash, you don't have to break the bank finding great clothing at a thrift store.
Wonderful advice and spot on Ash. I learned to appreciate pre-owned clothing and made my best buys in charity shops and on eBay. I bough my favorite grey slacks for $5 at the Salvation Army. I also won two biddings on eBay last year. A pair of Zanella Devon gray wool dress pants, NWT for $48. They cost $380 when you buy it new. The other bidding was a 2-piece Jos A Bank gray wool suit , price normally $795. I bought it for $28.
I would like to share my advice regarding donating a garment. Before I give away a piece, I inspect it and look for holes and tears. I do not want to give a bad quality piece to a charity shop. You can also ask yourself the question: "Would I spend money on it, in the condition it is right now?" When the answer is no, then it should go into the trash bin and not on the rack of a charity shop.
Good advice and great outcomes for your wardrobe
Fair points all.
I find it staggering that a man does not posses at least one suit and shoe ensemble.
They are de-rigeur for interviews, Weddings or dinners, surely? I always had one from my early 20s, a necessity in the Army. I now have a variety of suits and jacket/ trouser combos to draw from. I, as yet do not have a linen suit in my wardrodbe.
As a Mr average size, I seldom find clothing my size on sale, charity shops or in TKMaxx.
That said, I bought an M&S Navy (colour) blazer from British Heart Foundation for a whole £7. I added Corps buttons and a Blazer badge. I have worn it frequently for the 10+ years I've owned it.
My favorite Harris Tweed (My late grandfather swore by HT) jacket was a steal from ebay. I also acquired an HT overcoat for £21.
Military discount is frequently leant on.
As always Ash, fantastic video.
*salutes
TKMaxx has been great for me in the past. Dents scarfs for a few pounds, Hugo Boss suit jackets for £40 even Dunhill Icon EDP for £15 instead or about £70. You’ve got to be on the ball and check for bargains early in the day but there’s some great buys.
I have bought smart attire from supermarket chains.
Great video, sir. I have purchased a few nice items for TK Maxx.
Me too. I hate the chaos, but a few prizes can be found there.
In the US we have K&G Fashion Superstores, which is a kind of overstock or outlet subsidiary of the (pricier) Men’s Warehouse. High quality dressy clothes (including wool suits), shoes, and accessories can be bought very affordably there, especially with their weekly sales. It is also much more affordable to buy a tuxedo there than to rent one, especially if you will use it more than once.
Charity shops, I recently bought an unworn M&S wool and cashmere sports jacket for £10 similar quality jackets from online retailers are in the £200-250 price range.
I used to visit a charity shop in the midlands when passing , all the ties were £1.50 dunhill,Gucci Armani,etc. I now have a large collection,
Great advice Ash. I have presided at a couple of funerals recently with some of the younger mourners dressed in jeans and t-shirts. I would of course much rather they were there than not being able to pay their respects and not sure if cost was an issue here but, for me, paying your respects means dressing the part as well as simply being present.
Dents have some nice made in UK accestories like scarves or belts for good price on their website. I´ve found some nice Christmas presents really early :)
I bought Woolrich eskimo parka, in the fall right before the winter, for like 500 euros in freakin Norway at the outlet outside Oslo. Its retail price was 900-1100. By the way, just dressing in general like adult, does not cost much. Might not be a high quality, but h&m, zara has chinos, dress shirts, sweaters for affordable price. Better than freaking track suits, graphic tshirts etc and cost the same if not cheaper. I mean brown chinos, white or blue, navy shirt, and v neck or round/crew neck sweater in charcoal or black or burgundy, and you look better than 98% of people. Dont even have to go with dress shoes, can buy simple, minimalistic dress leather sneakers in black or white or brown. Though i heard in usa, at Target stores they have oxfords for 40-50 bucks. Would last only a year, but still. I think target also has chinos for like 25 bucks.
I'm incredibly frugal, to the point of maybe "tight" when it comes to spending. But I find it more fun to find bargains. I'm on a mission at the moment to get my good lady a Barbour for £20.
You can get some really cheap deals out there if you look, and then if you take very good care of your clothes, they can last for years and years.
Yet again, top chanel Ash. Very well done and very informative
I really like your sports coat; it looks great with the red tie.
Being a smaller guy at 5’5”, finding great bargains that fit is quite difficult since most clothing isn’t made for men my size. So I tend toward custom and specialty shops, which makes things quite expensive. However, much of my footwear is from fortunate second-hand finds, so I save money there.
I am 5'6", and I also use the MTM route. I patiently wait and plan for what is needed till my favorite MTM has a sale making it that much sweeter. I am lucky enough to have a local tailor who will order for me through the MTM and make adjustments if needed. I hope that you may find a tailor that works with you.
I bought two sports jackets i really like last week.
Pre owned. £ 13 each at a charity store.
Great result
A fine pair of shoes always have good sales got my trickers stow for £250
I just got into some bad clothing habbits in my 20's an a bit of my 30's. I was brought up wearing a strict school uniform, blazer and tie and other activities like marching band, cadets that required a inch perfect sharp uniform at times. From a young age to 18 I was wearing oxford style dress shoes shirt and tie pretty much every day. So my idea of Casual may resemble some peoples smart casual. 17 - 21 I even preferred a pocket watch, a old Fero manual wind that belonged to my Grandad.
But from 22 to about 35 I got lazy and wore trainers, cargo trousers, hoodies most of the time. It was so hot wired to dress in such a way that when was invited to a friends wedding in my late 20's I had no items of formal clothing, I had to pop home to my parents house, a few hundred miles and hope I still had some items I could salvage. I wore a shirt and tie that belonged to my dad, a old black tweed front waistcoat, a pair of black suede Chelsea boots that hadn't been worn in 10 years and a black raincoat, I popped to M&S and baught a pair of cheap black trousers as well as a borrowing all the accessories like cufflinks, tiebar and a dress watch (all I owned was a grotty G-Shock at the time). I managed to pull it off and look reasonably respectful for the occasion, beit felt a little uncomfortable and everything was a little ill fitting. But it did wake me up, from that moment on I made sure I had some formal items of clothing to hand.
You all go on a journey with style. It sounds like you now see your true destination and feel more comfortable in your own style envelope
since I work from home i like to get dressed up when possible..we had a stroll around some local villages yesterday and i had my welted boots on, country jacket and my southcombe gloves on.. :)
but people dress far too casually...
trickers still have a sale on, supposed to end at midnight tonight..
A charity shop near me occasionally gets donations of abandoned garments from dry cleaners. I’ve picked up Turnbull & Asser and Irish mfg. Thomas Pink shirts for $2 USD or about 1.66 GBP.
Great result!!
As a fellow vet, how do you feel about using those discounts? The State of Illinois gave me my degree for free (I only had to pay for books) so I feel I am not owed anything. I always feel awkward asking for it. Some online places have a discount and I'm less worried about it, but I rarely ask for it in person. Veterans' day (Armistice day in the UK I think) is the only exception.
It’s not really the same here in the UK. Our vets are less respected than in the US, where I know you get a better level of general support from the public. In the UK veterans are largely overlooked generally and taken for granted. It is not an issue for most of us, we served so that others are safe and no one expects a round of applause for doing the job they were paid to deliver. So asking for a modest discount (where it is offered) is not something that elicits a sense guilt. In my country the contribution of serving military (and veterans) is somewhat overlooked. The US certainly has the edge on that front.
Great subject and title.
Looking forward to your trip to Northamptonshire… are you coming near Rushden? That’s where I live. Some of my family worked in the shoe industry all their lives
I was in Northampton on Monday. Had a great visit, as I interviewed a local custom clothier and visited the Barker factory shop.
How true, I have not one, but two Harris Tweed, jackets, one is from New Zealand, and the other, I think the UK, I found two British train tickets in the Pocket Square pocket! I paid around $2-5 each, I googled for the retail value, oh boy, $700 New Zealand Dollars, but wait there's more, a Charles Tyrwitt navy blue jacket with a ticket pocket, paid $2 , but valued around 700 New Zealand Dollars.
three buckle monk shoes $2 valued at $350. Black Capped Oxford $5 valued at 370! Buying preowned is so true, bargains galore! It does pay to shop around. In the last five years or so, I haven't paid retail (except underwear) for cloths and shoes!
You have amassed an excellent wardrobe at such affordable prices. Well done sir!!
Ash, I will take that challenge- think I will look for cuff links or a high end tie or belt on eBay
If anyone is looking for a Barbour style wax jacket, New Forest Clothing sell new ones for for £45! made in the UK waxed cotton and amazing value they also have an upgraded version. I have no connection to the company but cant recommend the jacket enough. It shows you can buy great clothing without breaking the bank. If your interested size down 1 size as they are generous sizes.
Fab company and great prices - well worth passing along! Thank you sir.
If you are built slightly bigger than average, the high street is definitely not for those of us who are physically bigger unless of course you go mega big and have a tailor chop acres off the waist and the thighs are still tight. Men's clothing on the high street are men for the slight or bigger "boned" but anyone built like a rugby player or bodybuilder will struggle. So tailor made has been the way for my beloved but that has been a total nightmare for those who have little or no "style" never mind the nuances of each suit or trousers.
Private White are genius at fitting rain coats and winter coats for the bigger man,they are in Manchester and have a website.
I love the concept of Private White, great kit, but pricey.
Buy a little less, But quality and Buy Made in UK
As many of our Canadian and American crooked politicians would say: 'I endorse this message' LOL! Actually a great place for thrift of a very high order in London (when I'm visiting) is Hornets , worth a visit for all things 'sartorial' .
Dear Ash
I recently bay a Crombie double breasted over Coat for 15 euros in vintage shop in Small city in Morocco.
Hi Ash great video like usual I used to watch you all the time but then lost touch - took me ages to find you again but I did thankfully in the end! Quick question I like dressing formally. However, society is more and more dressing casually. Do you think it acceptable to go out for a few drinks to a few bars in a suit and shirt without tie (would love to wear a tie but many round here would consider it a bit too much). I am really excited to hearing back from you! Thank you.
Of course sir, the open neck shirt look is en vogue at the moment and will still be a sartorial leap above almost every other person in the venue. Always go for comfort first, then style second - if you feel comfortable with no tie, well leave the tie at home!!
In the US, TK Maxx is TJ Maxx.
Hit by a fallen leaf, LOL 😄🍂
Zelensky could do much worse than being a subscriber. Always nice to see people made the effort to attend, but with some help they can be better turned out. My advice is turn up the smartness one notch at a time. Too big a change seldom sticks. Move from jeans to chinos then dress pants. From trainers to low profile sneakers then brogues then dress shoes. Tes to polos to button downs to dress shirts etc. If you initially feel uncomfortable wear at home to start. My worse buys were at full retail, my best preowned. Know your style and measurements, compile a list an a budget after research then take your time to acquire.
I love that tweed coat. Are you telling me you only paid 30 pounds for it? about 36 USD?
Yes sir.
Excellent advice Ash. Personally I have some some of the stores mentioned unreliable in terms of stock but I completely agree that pre-owned can be a total bargain. I have a "black tie" event in May and am currently looking for a decent suit. It's great having a 'quest'. Any suggestions for making a black tie suit more individual or personalized on a budget?
The obvious answer is to focus on your accessories, such as the pocket square, cuff-links, boutonnieres, and even the shine on your shoes. These elements of your clothing will make sure you stand out amongst the crowd.
I attended a wedding where the groom and groomsmen wore trainers with their suits - looked terrible. Especially so as the bride and bridesmaids were done up in all their finery, clearly a big occasion for them. Many (most) of the male guests were dressed more respectfully in proper suits and looked better than the groom. Just terrible.
Could you please do a video of eBay I mean how to buy and what questions to make to seller? Thank you
Yes sir. Great idea.
*2023*
Jaeger is an M&S brand these days.
This little piece of furniture on which rests your laptop, is it homemade?
If so, do you engage in crafting?
Yes to both.
@@TheChapsGuide Do you consider this sort of videos in the future?
No....cost of living is not the reason.I have seen people here in Sweden dressed to occasions as if they were going to their farm yards but that is how it has been when everything thing was normal.
I personally don't think it's about affordability. Chinos can be bought for as little as £12 & shirts from £10 plus. Clothing has never been so adorable.
Granted shoes to look well one would need to be spending £80 & above.
It's pure laziness with folks.
Agreed. Ppl are lazy these days for dressing up.
Hi Ash. Did you know M&S NOW SELL Jaeger garments
Yes, they purchased the brand identity when Jaeger went bust.
🇭🇲🙋
Ash: please don’t use the economy as a cause for dressing poorly. Look at videos of people and how they dressed during the depression. You will see people in bread lines or soup kitchens wearing suits and ties. The real reason for our poorly dressed citizens is lack of pride in themselves and the disintegration of society and or culture in general. I dress very much to what I believe you would approve and I get really fed up dining at a nice restaurant wearing a blue blazer, rep tie, Allen Edmonds cap toe oxfords, etc., and have some clown sitting at the next table wearing camouflage cargo shorts and a T-shirt with some almost obscene comments on it.
I hear you sir
Ppl are lazy these days to dress nicely. There are bargains everywhere Amazon, Ebay etc not to dress to impress.
You start off talking about how there is a world wide scarcity of resources, people are having trouble obtaining food and fuel... there's a damn war in Europe. Kinda got me thinking, maybe I shouldn't be worrying about what kind of little piece of cloth I hang from my neck...or even hanging a piece of cloth around my neck at all for that matter. Maybe our priorities as a society are a little off. Terrible lead in, madee feel guilty for even watching.
A 20% discount is nothing! Even if branded shoes are sold on 50% sale the retailers are still making at least 100% profit on the product. If you are going for the Northampton based shoe brands, even if they are on sale of 40% retail price they still have 200-300% profit on the product. Also I have never found any sales on sole repairs. It’s like buying a inkjet printer. Like the fact that inkjet printer is not that expensive but the company makes their money in ink sales, the shoe companies make their money on sole replacements, I guess! Even the made in India shoes from Grenson or Loake or Barker shoes have sole replacement starting at £145-£150 and above. 70-80% sales of these brands have Made in India shoes. Most of these “English” brands tend to not disclose if they are partly manufactured abroad.
The cost of Northampton based shoes have increased by ~200% in the last 5-6 years. For example, the Imperial collection of Cheaney York was £295- £345 around 2015 and now the same shoes retail at £545 in 2023. I don’t understand how can they increase it so much higher than the cost of inflation. In the last two years every year they increase the retail price by £50 per year for that shoe but no improvement in quality. Hence I say 20% discount is nothing. The shoe brands are joining forces together to extract higher prices of customers, eg Church’s and Cheaney are from the same owners and only after the unification the Cheaney brand prices have gone up exponentially, but the quality hasn’t!!
Those Northampton based shoe brands that are available on eBay sales are sold by people who go to their factory outlet sales and buy multiple pairs of them (eg max limit of 6 per person for eg in Edward Green sales)and they slowly sell them at higher prices on eBay than they have bought in the factory outlets. So be careful of buying on ebay as there are lots of crooks over there, even in UK.
The worst part is that after wearing most of the British brands from Northamptonshire over the years you come to realise that British brands are not the pinnacle in shoes. They are actually the Japanese brands and possibly some Korean brands (eg Terry Kim). You would rather spend your own hard earned £1200 (if you have to) on a Japanese Siroeno Yosui rather than a John Lobb for better craftsmanship.
Japan is where true shoe craftsmanship rests and British brands are decent quality but a lot more of branding related inflated prices.
Some Spanish (Berwick 1707), Italian, Portuguese (Carlos Santos) and some Indian brands (Bridlen) offer better quality to value ratio. Hope this helps.