The Choosy Beggar

Last week, if you’d asked us to name one establishment that would weather the recession without so much as a 5% markdown, we’d have said Jay Kos — a high-end Park Avenue haberdashery that we’ve followed closely since its early days on Lexington, and whose proprietors we know to be just a tad prideful. Well, consider us shocked. Through Tuesday, 3/31, Jay’s taking at least 50% off all men’s wear and furnishings, including a beautiful selection of shirts, ties, hats, and the like.

**Update: Sale’s been extended until at least April 11th.**

Jay Kos – 475 Park Ave between 58th & 59th – 212-319-2770 – Map

Ever wished for a kinder, gentler eBay? Meet Etsy — a cozy new destination for people to buy and sell handmade and vintage goods. In just a few minutes, we found:

Vintage ties with charming prints for $15

Vintage Levi Strauss Levis denim orange tab work shirts for $20

Nothing beats an expertly-edited, reasonably-priced cache of vintage wares. Eleven on Prince; Court on Mulberry; INVEN.TORY on Kenmare — They all have them… and, praise the gods, so does INVEN.TORY’s brand new boutique (warehouse?) on Lafayette. Every classic, buttery-soft piece pictured here, including the footwear, is priced at under $50:

Meanwhile, find Vintage L.L. Bean varsity jackets for under $100

And, same as INVEN.TORY’s NoLIta boutique, current collections from Corpus, Idol Radec (pictured), and Fremont at wholesale prices

…And a nice selection of Cheap Monday gear

INVEN.TORY just opened – 237 Lafayette St between Prince & Spring – info@inventorynyc.com – Map

For those really special occasions in life, every man should own a few silk “Fuck-You” ties from Hermès. Wednesday through Saturday, they’re going for $100 a piece — which is as reasonable as they come unless you’re buying resale — at the Hermès sample sale. Oh, and unless you’ve got plenty of time on your hands these days, avoid Wednesday morning when the women folk like to line up and wait around for hours.