The Choosy Beggar

As a supporter of independent American brands, A Continuous Lean throws Estex Manufacturing Company into the ring with other makers of the ubiquitous canvas bag. [ACL]

Like Klein Tools’ no-nonsense products, Estex ranks low on a versatility scale — from the factory floor to check-in at the Pierre — but, on the opposite side of the spectrum, so do most of the duffels featured in a recent Upgrader profile. By far, Filson still makes the most versatile bags on the market.

In terms of blue-collar-cred and price, however, Klein and Estex both offer big bangs for your buck. Here’s how the companies — both of whom offer a wide variety of bags — measure up to the competition:

• Klein canvas tool bags with naugahyde bottom–24″L X 6”W X 15″H–go for $54:

• Estex large canvas gear bags––24″L x 10″W x 18″H–for $85:

• RIGHT NOW, you can pick up a 22”L Estex canvas tool bag for $3.00(!) on eBay:

• Weekender duffles from LL Bean–15″H x 19½”W x 9″D–for $90:

• Small Duffels from Filson–18″L x 10 3/8″W x 11″H–for $205:

• Barbour wax cotton/leather travel/explorer bags–18″L x 12″W x 12″H–for $259:

• Sandstorm canvas/cowhide weekenders–21”L x 7.6”W x 15”H–go for $350:

Swedish outdoor lifestyle brand Tretorn is now taking 30% off all apparel and select footwear at its new 1,300 square-foot flagship in Soho.

• Rubber sand flip-flops are now $25

• Skymra Canvas slip-ons are still $70

• Classic, cotton button-down shirts are now $95

• Kontrast canvas blazers are down from $230 to $161 (not online)

Tretorn – 150 Spring St between W Broadway & Wooster – 646-454-9680 – Map

As the summer slowly winds to a close, the debate over the soundness of “shorts suits” continues, with even the paper of record weighing in this week.

Like the Observer (and the Beggar) last month, Guy Trebay at the Times credits NHL forward — and self-anointed fashionista — Sean Avery with legitimizing the look.

The Sartorialist, and the subjects of his oversees photography, might also be given a little credit.

Either way, the question of the day remains whether guys can look forward to airing out their kneecaps next summer, or even the summer after that.

As Trebay notes, there are some institutions that shall linger as short-free zones, but we’re willing to bet that more open work environments will increasingly welcome the sight of hairy calves.

Like Ben Clawson, sales director for designer Michael Bastian, tells the Times: “It’s not impossible anymore to be dressed up in shorts.”

H(y)r Collective sends word that Nom de Guerre just re-opened the basement section of its downtown shop with spring ’08 at 60% off. [h(y)r]

We’re talking under $200 for light-weight flight jackets… shirts, sweaters, jeans, etc.

The store’s multi-level bunker — once a meeting place of the Black Panthers — carries military-inspired sportswear, including pea coats, windbreakers, striped knits, and printed T’s.

Nom de Guerre – 640 Broadway at Bleecker – 212-253-2891 – Map

Marc Scrivo’s our new favorite actor. Not that we’ve seen him in anything, nor had we even heard of him until now… But, the guy’s owning his style and speaking our language:

“I love a good bargain, whatever it is,” he tells NY Mag’s Look Book. “It’s important to spend money, but I think it’s important to really look at the resources around us and not waste … I buy a lot of second-hand because [sic] the same reason why I recycle — I just think it makes sense, it’s practical.”