Your Best & Worst Purchases of 2012

This thread was great fun to wrap up last year. Hoped to give forum members an opportunity again to sum up their year of purchases. What worked? What didn't? As APK wrote last year,

Please feel free to update us on purchases made last year as well (thread linked above). Will post myself in a bit; in-laws just walked through the door.

Best Purchases:

Momotaro 702: Perhaps my favorite forum-inspired denim undertaking yet. Originally picked it up in March or April to line up in the queue until I finished a few other pairs, but with the advent of the 702-contest, just had to throw them on. Fantastic cut, amazing denim, and really soft - even during the break in stage. Combined with previous experience w/ a 705sp from earlier in forum life, have decided that Momo is my denim brand.

Epaulet Rivet Chinos: Chinos have always been a dirty word - I've never quite been able to find the proper balance in the chino look. It would always lean too far towards "middle management." But these pants have been an absolute revelation. Grabbed the Plum Duck Canvas and Gunmetal Canvas pairs in mid-summer and have found myself struggling for reasons to not wear them. Super fit, quality construction, made in the USA. Look forward to purchasing more in the coming months.

Alden for JGilbert #8 Captoe Boots: B/S snag in September/October. Plaza last. Not an "exotic" shell per se, but my grail boot nonetheless. The plaza is a great silhouette for me, and I would wear these boots every day if I could. Beyond comfortable, and the commando sole gives an edge to them that helps to dress them down. Have received more compliments on these boots than any other pair of footwear that I own.

Alden Cigar Longwing: Another B/S snag from February of this year. Barrie last. A lot of people have issues w/ the barrie last, but having just worn this shoe today for Christmas services, I can't say enough about these shoes. The cigar is an incredibly complex color, and I love the contrast of the antique welt against the deep cigar color.



Worst Purchases:

Wolf vs Goat Blue Raspberry Before Dinner Oxford: Really loved this shirt, but the armholes just ended up being a tad too high and a bit too tight. Can't say anything against Mauro's work construction-wise, and still own other pieces from the brand, but ended up having to move this one on as I bulked up through the year (many thanks to the guys in the Random Health and Exercise Thoughts thread).

Pure Blue Japan xx003: Bought these after having a fantastic pair of xx009s, wanting to get back into non-overdyed denim. Fit just wasn't the same. Soaked them, wore them maybe once and flipped them. Massive for the pocket book. Never getting pure raws again - only o/w versions for me from here on out.



Middle Ground - Yet Undecided:

SNS Stark in Burgundy: Lusted after this since Summer of 2011, but only recently was able to snag one. Love the fabric, color, the piece itself, but the L I managed is not quite as anti-fit and slouchy as I'd initially imagined. Will probably have to stretch it out a bit with wear - weather here in Las Vegas hasn't been nearly cold enough to justify wearing it super frequently, so it hasn't had much wear time.

Nike Flyknit in Electric Green: Again, lusted in a painful way after the volt colorway made popular by the Olympic Games this summer. Wasn't able to catch that pair, but picked these up later into fall. Love the boldness of the color, and always get complements, but sizing feels a bit off. 11.5 was too tight, and this is just a tad too loose for my liking, especially as the weave stretches out with wear. Don't regret the purchase, but not as satisfied as I should be.

Japan Blue 400sp: Purchased in mid-summer and loved for a long time. As squat numbers increased, got a little tight - not "flip on the B/S" tight, but just a little beyond where I'd initially imagined the fit. Have decided to bleach them out as an ultra-summer pair in the future, ala SVB in the Epaulet thread w/ his old APC.

Alden NatCXL Indy Boot: For as much as I love these boots, and as much as it pains me to say it, these have only achieved middling status for me. The leather is beyond fantastic and has aged to an almost-ravello, haven't had any QC issues with this pair, and they go great with just about anything in my wardrobe, but as my first indulgence into Alden, got the sizing a hair off I suspect. The leather has stretched a bit to the point of "almost-too-big" across the upper, despite the footbed remaining über comfortable. Suspect I could have dropped a second 1/2 size down on the trubalance.


Edited by El Argentino - 12/24/12 at 8:23am