The Choosy Beggar

A 25-year-old budding talent manager just challenged me to find a modern take on the traditional men’s blazer for about $200. Check this out, Julian.

Online and in stores, Diesel’s spring/summer gear is now being marked down by 30%+. That includes denim, shorts, T’s, jackets, knits, belts, and shoes.

Diesel – 770 Lexington Ave between 60th & 61st –212-755-9200 – Map
Diesel – 1 Union Sq W at 14th St – 646-336-8552 – Map
Diesel Stylelab – 416 W Broadway between Prince & Spring – 212-343-0979 – Map

Paul Smith‘s sparingly-striped spring/summer ’08 is now 30% off. Online and in stores, get it while it’s hot or hold out for further reductions in the coming weeks.

David Hockney has perhaps become overused as a muse for designers like Smith. But, that doesn’t take away from the genius of either man’s work. In fact, there’s an unstructured muted-teal linen jacket calling our name at Paul Smith… Then we’re heading over to Christie’s for a Hockney.

Right now:

• Men’s formal shirts marketed down from $255 to $180
• Men’s jeans down from $215 to $150
• ‘Chen’ gentlemen’s off-white oxford shoes down from $420 to $295

Paul Smith – 108 Fifth Ave at 16th – 212-627-9770 – Map
Paul Smith – 142 Greene St between W Houston & Prince – 646 613 3060 – Map

Click-through for a brief sartorial lesson from two industrious chaps having a blast these days fucking with fine menswear.

Also worth checking out, Cool Hunting profiled the London-based designers back in ’06.

We’ve told you about the gift-from-the-gods that is NY Mag’s “Shopamatic” automatic shopping service. Well, check out its new list of sunglasses. Choose “All Men’s,” then your price range, and you’re ready to go.

Hard to beat Urban Outfitter’s Camouflage Wayfarers for $18, but we’ll opt for Cole Haan’s Acetate Large Square’s for $150.

Cole Haan – Madison Ave at 61^st – 212-421-8440 – Map
Cole Haan – Shops at Columbus Circle – 212-823-9420 – Map
Cole Haan – Rockefeller Plaza – 50^th St at 5^th Ave – 212-765-9747 – Map

Issey Miyake is absolutely one-of-a-kind, but not everything the mad genius peddles is of the wacky “wearable art” variety. At least until the end of the month, check out some very well-made menswear at 40% off. On average, we’re talking $500 for a blazer.

Issey Miyake – 802 Madison Ave between 67th & 68th – 212-439-7822 – Map
Issey Miyake Tribeca – 119 Hudson St at North Moore – 212-226-0100 – Map