The Choosy Beggar

Introducing “Beggar Invitational” — Your daily menu of deals from so-called “invitation only” sample sale sites. For the record, these popular e-tailers no longer require invitations. They might ask you to “request membership,” but all requests are promptly accepted. Their sales, meanwhile, remain time-sensitive — typically a few days — and often quite attractive. Oh, and if we somehow highlight a brand, that means we’re especially excited about the fact that it’s on sale. [Pic courtesy of Esquire]

• Beyond The Rack – Ike Behar neckwear
• Editors’ Closet – Cole Haan
• Gilt Man – Faconnable (pictured), Duncan Quinn, Park & Ronan, John Varvatos USA, Inhabit, Ralph Lauren et al., Jan Leslie, Sector watches, Rogan
• Haute Look – Swiss watches
• Ideeli – Tateossian cuff links
• Reverse (pass: Reverse) – X
• Row Nine – X
• Rue La La – Victorinox, Original Penguin, Timberland boots
• The Top Secret – X

Acknowledging — if begrudgingly — that Filson ain’t for every guy, I thought it worth mentioning that Italy’s own Trussardi 1911 is presently taking 50% off some very nice bags. The “Boston” above is down to about $470, to which you’ll have to add $25 for shipping.

Swedish outdoor brand Fjällräven, which set up shop on Mott Street earlier this season, is now taking upwards of 30% off select stock. Its Expedition Down jackets — considered a national treasure back home — are, um, down to about $600. Designed in 1974, the construction of the Expedition is like two separate jackets that have been sewn together to make two chambers of warmth.

According to our favorite fashion historian, Bill Cunningham, the down coat was actually invented back in the ’30s to wear to the opera! Hear the full story behind what Cunningham calls, “next to bluejeans and denim, the biggest fashion discovery of the modern age” here.

Fjällräven – 262 Mott St between Spring & Prince – 347-560-3525 – Map

GQ just named the six finalists in its 2010 “Best New Menswear Designers in America” competition. And the nominees are:

• Burkman Bros designers Doug and Ben Burkman
• Richard Chai
• Caulfield Preparatory designer Vincent Flumiani
• J.Crew menswear designer Frank Muytjens
• Billy Reid
• Unis designer Eunice Lee

First, let me congratulate the contenders, and then GQ for recognizing those designers that have successfully shined in the current climate of restraint. Any FIT dropout can turn heads with decadent diamond-encrusted Day-Glo man-dresses, but it takes talent to do inspiring work within the limits of reality — and the male version of reality in particular. Based on these six standouts, men’s wear is heading in the right direction. A few years ago, for example, who’d have predicted that J. Crew would be leading a style revolution driven by a confident return to quality, value, and age-spanning design. My hat goes off. (The winner will named February 12.)