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The $5,000 Wardrobe

Earnest Hemingway

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The problem with takin style advice (or any advice, for that matter) from publications like Esquire with such a large reading audience is that writers inevitable have to water it down in order to appeal to and be accessible for the majority. Regardless, I agree with other posters that its entirely possible to build a presentable wardrobe for work and otherwise for under 5 grand.
 

robbie

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the $5000 wardrobe or "please buy this ****, the companies mentioned pay our rent."
 

sq4you

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Originally Posted by bluemagic
"Just?"

To be fair, if you already totally know your preferences, a nice wardrobe containing Engineered-Garments-priced stuff can be had for considerably cheaper than $5,000. The problem is knowing your preferences. I think that is the real cost of getting into clothes.


if you had 5 grand to spend, you would build a wardrobe of "engineered garments priced stuff?"
lol8[1].gif


think outside the lumberjack box
 

breakz

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You can get a decent casual wardrobe for damn cheap. Assuming business casual job and t-shirt/jean casual style, you're looking at

Jeans: Uniqlo/Levis ($60-80)
Tees: Alt. A, AA, Uniqlo, Hanes, whatever ($30 for 4-5)
Shirts: Uniqlo/J.Crew/AA for $50 ($250 for 5)
Sneaks: Purcells, Smiths, Chucks for $40-50
Shoes: two or three AE seconds for work or whatever ($450-500 for 3)
TaT suit ($450)
2-3 mid-layer sweaters/cardigans at J.Crew ($100-150)
Slacks or chinos: three from Uniqlo/J.Crew for $150
Peacoat, overcoat, blah w/e ($200 for Schott)

Done for $1600, no more than $2k if you want APCs, Epaulet/ToJ shirts, or nicer shoes. You have a basic wardrobe; take the remaining $3k to travel around the world and show it off.
 

Earnest Hemingway

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Originally Posted by sq4you
if you had 5 grand to spend, you would build a wardrobe of "engineered garments priced stuff?"
lol8[1].gif


think outside the lumberjack box


I think he meant pieces priced similarly to EG, not the aesthetic itself...
 

sipang

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Originally Posted by breakz
You can get a decent casual wardrobe for damn cheap. Assuming business casual job and t-shirt/jean casual style, you're looking at

Jeans: Uniqlo/Levis ($60-80)
Tees: Alt. A, AA, Uniqlo, Hanes, whatever ($30 for 4-5)
Shirts: Uniqlo/J.Crew/AA for $50 ($250 for 5)
Sneaks: Purcells, Smiths, Chucks for $40-50
Shoes: two or three AE seconds for work or whatever ($450-500 for 3)
TaT suit ($450)
2-3 mid-layer sweaters/cardigans at J.Crew ($100-150)
Slacks or chinos: three from Uniqlo/J.Crew for $150
Peacoat, overcoat, blah w/e ($200 for Schott)

Done for $1600, no more than $2k if you want APCs, Epaulet/ToJ shirts, or nicer shoes. You have a basic wardrobe; take the remaining $3k to travel around the world and show it off.


Not exactly a killer wardrobe though (not that Esquire selection is better -- but still...)
 

Fuuma

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I like those 5K=wardrobe thingies

Uniqlo slim blue denim $40
Dior Homme black 19cm $350

J-Uniqlo slim black slacks $60
J-Uniqlo slim grey slacks $60

14XWhite Uniqlo tee $70
14XUniqlo undies+socks $140

Uniqlo v-neck knits (Grey, Red, purple) $120
SNS Herning sea blue shawl collar $310

Uniqlo black washed chambrey $40
5XJ-Uniqlo slim white shirt $200
Flathead blue/black winter heavy flannel $210


Uniqlo black belt $20
H&M checkered scarf $20
Faliero Sarti Grey scarf $350

Lad Musician grey suit $700

ToJ black double-rider $575
ToJ duffle in apple green $450

Vass black boots (fuuma mto) $800
German army sneakers $50
White chucks hi $50
RMW black chelseas $350


Ok, done
 

dragonxking

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I can't even imagine all the things I'd buy with $5000
 

Fuuma

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What I would do:

Acne slim black denim X2 ($300 or so)
14 uniqlo white tees + undies ($210)
RO black leather high collar $2500
2XAnn gauzy knits ($850)
Vass fuuma special $800
MMM white sneakers $350

When more cash would buy pricey long coat + blazers. I'm pretty sure I can do almost unlimited time with what I just listed.
 

eightysixed

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So, after spending $5,000, one opens up their closet to find only two shirts.
 

XeF4

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I could build a better wardrobe with $500.
 

underwearer

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Originally Posted by eightysixed
So, after spending $5,000, one opens up their closet to find only two shirts.

lol that would suck...Id probably spend $2000 on shoes/boots, $1000 on a leather jacket, $1000 on a nice suit, and the rest some good jeans, tshirts, and random crap maybe a sweater and a pair of cheap shoes for my girlfriend.
 

breakz

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Originally Posted by sipang
Not exactly a killer wardrobe though (not that Esquire selection is better -- but still...)
I'm a pretty boring dresser, unfortunately. I was trying to illustrate one could do the same as Esq for much cheaper. Here's something just as boring, with slightly nicer shirts and jackets, which approaches $5k. Lots of brands that I like don't fit me, so I make some concessions to reality. $150 for random socks/underwear/undershirts black, blue APC NS - $330 random pair of shorts (like J.Crew or something) - $60 chinos in light grey and navy (Uniqlo, J.Crew etc) (work) - $100 =$480 Stan Smiths & Purcells - $110 Mark McNairy brown suede boots - $325 Mark McNairy navy suede bucks - $350 AE Park Avenues in black & AE seconds (work) - $475 =$1260 about 10 AA/Alt. A/Uniqlo tees - $70 couple of Epaulet shirts (one gingham, one flannel) - $260 one white point collar shirt (Ep or similar) - $130 Windmill Club tie - $60 5 oxfords @ Uniqlo (work) - $200 =$720 ToJ grey bomber with fur collar - $550 ToJ grey herringbone pea - $450 TaT suit - $450 =$1450 SNS Herning Stark in sea blue - $330 Ervell navy pocket sweater - $330 3 v-neck merino sweaters from J.Crew (work) - $150 =$800 two Uniqlo belts - $60 EG red twill scarf - $70 H&M or Zara scarf - $20 couple of knit hats - $50 =$200
 

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