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Fit To Serve

— Mon, 12th January 2009 —

No matter how many times we hear them, some bits of wisdom always ring profound. And, especially so when they come from gurus like Will of A Suitable Wardrobe who never lets up on the critical sartorial matter of fit.

“Fit should be the principal goal that anyone has for their clothes,” says Will. “A man in inexpensive clothes that fit him is going to look better than a man wearing expensive ready to wear garments with a big ripple behind his jacket neck, sleeves that hang down to his knuckles and extra trouser cloth puddling on his shoes.”

So what can a man do to get fit off the rack? “He needs to take responsibility for buying the right size in the first place — the key in my opinion is to stick with a maker once it is established that that maker’s clothes are complementary. And then take the stuff to an independent alterations tailor, preferably an older European from somewhere in the south who has been doing the work for thirty or forty years.”

Gant 50% Off

— Mon, 12th January 2009 —

Beginning Monday, Gant will be taking a full 50% off all F/W ’08. Now, to put that number in context, the store marked down early F/W by 80% (for two days) in October, and could take this present sale to 60% by the end of the week.

Gant sale – 20 W 55th St nr 5th Ave – 11 fl – 212-813-9170 – Map

Black Fleece 70% Off

— Mon, 12th January 2009 —

For all his quixotic sartorial dalliances (read: weird clothing designs), Thom Browne’s Black Fleece line for Brooks Brothers is equally impeccable and restrained… and, right now, 70% off. That brings this bad-ass grey flannel suit down from $2,700 to just a mere $600.

Oh, and the rest of Brooks Brothers is still in clearance mode at 60% off retail.
Oh, and yeah, and if you didn’t hear, Brooks Brothers is shutting down its store on 5th Avenue, but don’t expect a moving sale. Over the weekend, a manager told us the merch will be quietly moved to other locations throughout the city.
Brooks Brothers – 1934 Broadway at 65th – 212-362-2374 – Map
Brooks Brothers – 666 5th Ave between 52nd & 53rd – 212-261-9440 –Map
Brooks Brothers – 346 Madison Ave at 44th – 212-682-8800 – Map
Brooks Brothers Wall Street – 1 Liberty Pl at Liberty St – 212-267-2400 – Map

Givenchy Suits 80% Off

— Sun, 11th January 2009 —

Just because Saks is taking 80% off select items, don’t expect amazing deals to greet you at the entrance. Do a wee bit of digging, however, and the deals will appear. Thumbing through one 80%-off rack on the 7th floor, we came across an exquisite grey Givenchy two-button suit with chalk stripes and double vents in a 42R… for just under $400! Unheard of. Also in a 42R, we found a very sharp black Dolce & Gabbana two-button suit for $650.

Saks Fifth Avenue – 12 E 49th St at 5th – 212-753-4000 – Map

Relwen 50% Off At Bloomies

— Sun, 11th January 2009 —

Among other first-rate labels you’ll find in Steve Alan boutiques, Relwen — with its durable build and barn swallow logo — has long had our respect. The problem? Either Alan doesn’t mark down Relwen, or the pieces just disappear too quickly. The solution? Bloomies (!), where, right this minute, you’ll find a number of stellar Relwen pieces at 50% off.
$175 for perhaps the sturdiest shawl collar sweater we’ve seen this season
$200 for field jackets
$250 for parkas

Oh, and remember that calfskin-leather Operations coat that Material Interest featured back in November? The one that retails for $1,000? We spotted it just a few racks down from the Relwen cache, marked down to $450.

Bloomingdales (Where we found the Relwen and Operations) – 59th St & Lexington Avenue – 212-705-2000 – Map
Bloomingdales Soho – 504 Broadway between Spring & Broome – 212-729-5900 – Map

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