The Choosy Beggar

If you’re comfortable buying clothes online — and we don’t recommend it unless you’re VERY familiar with a brand and its cut –Chicago boutique Hegfina is presently offering some serious discounts on labels like Acne, Band of Outsiders, Engineered Garments, and Helmut Lang.

I spied:

• Surface to Air grey mastic classic cut jeans down from $200 to $50
• Helmut Lang steely gray crunchy poplin blazers down from $500 to $150
• Engineered Garments Bedford midnight gabardine jackets down from $325 to $160
• Engineered Garments cord striped cinch shorts down from $175 to $85
• Acne blue stripe shirts downs from $250 to $125

Don’t be put off by its ostentatious, fortress-like façade. Come sale time, Bergdorf’s offers its high-end merch at some pretty reasonable prices.

The menswear institution just kicked-off its summer sale in earnest with 60% off much of the store, including:

• Riverdale suede lace-ups down from $450 to $250
• Prada suede lace-ups down from $474 to $260
• Salvatore Ferragamo grey suede moccasins down from $400 to $220
• Canterbury swim trunks down from $80 to $45

But, if for no other reason, make the trip over to 5th for Yuketen’s crepe-soled boat shoes. They’re getting rave reviews, are being sold exclusively at Bergdorf’s, and will now only set you back by a mere $109. You’ll find them on the 3rd floor.

Bergdorf’s – 754 5th Ave at 58th – 212-753-7300 – Map

• Until Sunday, bag maker Le Sportsac is taking 30% off special collections — including its “men’s” and “guys’” lines — in the spirit of customer-appreciation. [The Cut]

If you want to pick something up online, enter the code “THANKU” at checkout.

Le Sportsac – 1065 Madison Ave between 80th & 81st – 212-988-6200 – Map
Le Sportsac – 176 Spring St between Thompson & W Broadway – (212) 625-2626 – Map

A million praises to the first reader who can tell us what the hell “Quantum Of Solace” means.

In this latest installment of Bond, Daniel Craig has traded in his Brioni suits from Casino Royale for Tom Ford menswear.

Men’s fashion shows often appear to be nothing more than wasteful, self-indulgent exercises to see which designer can most thoroughly emasculate and debase the male image under the guise of visionary genius.

The shows, however, always carry within them themes that apply to average Joe’s in very meaningful ways.

In Milan and now Paris this season, the focus has been on accessories — shoes, belts, scarves… pink elephant hats — which actually serves quite a practical purpose amid soaring gas prices and troubled economies:

“A small purchase can give a fillip to a wardrobe, if strapped-for-cash men pass on a new suit,” is how the International Herald Tribune interpreted designer Paul Smith’s thoughts on the matter.

[Selectism]