The Choosy Beggar

From big-ticket items to spare socks, the best time to buy might be now. That’s because the price of clothing (and likely all manner of accessories) is going up, up, up, industry execs tell The New York Post. “Apparel prices are going to go up. It’s as simple as that,” says Perris Ellis Chief Executive George Feldenkreis. “The American consumer will have to accept it.” By next year alone, Feldenkreis expects prices to increase a full 10%. What’s driving the upward trend? Apparently rising production costs in China. As a result, more brands are making their products domestically in hubs like Los Angeles. Good news, right? “But,” as The Post points out, “for larger brands that require the big volume that only China can supply, rising prices are a reality.”

The cats over at Complex give it up for the men’s style bloggers. In particular: Justin Saunders at JJJJound; Myles Henry at Myles Henry Blog; William Yan at WilliamYan.com; Sean Sullivan at the impossible cool.; Marcus Troy at Marcus Troy.; and Phillip Annand at The Madbury Club and Award Tour. Keep an eye on these rising stars, whether or not you subscribe to their personal styles.

Bigger picture, it’s amazing to see how far the ‘genre’ has come in no time at all. Just two years ago, you could list the number of men’s style bloggers on one hand, and it was hardly a pastime to brag about. Now, for better or worse, all that has changed. We say worse only because we worry that too many guys will get caught up in the hype, forget that fashion is just one component of style, and that style is just one component of a good life. That said, we applaud the inspired work that these and hundreds of other bloggers are doing, and fully expect their numbers (and variety) to continue expanding exponentially.