What Non-Watch Brands Are You Intensely Loyal To?

texasmade

Right now I only have 1 pair of JL shoes with another pair of JL being made in Paris. I also need to go to Paris to do my Corthay fitting for my first pair of bespoke from them. I usually wear my 1 bespoke pair 3-4 times a month and mix in my other RtW pairs. I have like 25 pairs of dress shoes so there’s a lot less for me to buy now other than bespoke.

Shoes were my first and still my favorite hobby.

texasmade

Right now I only have 1 pair of JL shoes with another pair of JL being made in Paris. I also need to go to Paris to do my Corthay fitting for my first pair of bespoke from them. I usually wear my 1 bespoke pair 3-4 times a month and mix in my other RtW pairs. I have like 25 pairs of dress shoes so there’s a lot less for me to buy now other than bespoke.

Shoes were my first and still my favorite hobby.

Dsloan

A couple of years ago I scored 4(!) John Lobb shoes, a pair of Edward Greens, and 2 Crockett and Jones in my size at a thrift store, for $15 each. They're all great, but the John Lobbs are something else. They seem like they use twice as much material as any of the other makers. Can only imagine what they'd be like if they were custom.

Tony C.

I typically refuse, on principle, to purchase products from companies which use the word "bespoke" to characterize their wares. However, a hefty discount via clever shopping such as yours is certainly a mitigating factor. 🙄

jsducote

Fragrance is another area where I am fiercely DISloyal. I buy whatever appeals to me at the time. I wore Terre de Hermes (and Dior Sauvage before that) but currently wearing Bulgari Man in Black, picked up at the duty free in Cancun. I wish I had bought the Tom Ford (Oud Wood, I think?) instead but, even without tax, the price!

osc

Killer score. Was that location known to have higher end items? Have you scored anything (maybe not as big as a haul) since then?

Dsloan

No, it was a pretty basic thrift store. The staff said that they have a regular who is a buyer for high-end menswear and he always drops off crazy stuff a couple times a year. Before I had a baby, I used to thrift weekly and had a little side business selling online. Had my most consistant luck with ties - once found a half-dozen Hermes ties at a Goodwill and made a quick $300 unloading them. But those shoes were my best luck to date.

JwRosenthal

We have a Junior League store near my house- got a dozen Hermès ties there for $5/ea- all flawless. Constantly get mid 60’s Brooks Brothers ties there (the real rep fabric with regimental stripes- love those), Men’s Coach saddle leather satchel for $10, and hit paydirt one day there with a wardrobe from someone who was clearly shopping on Savile Row and Jermyn street in the early 60’s- bought it all and took the lot to my tailor and all are fitted perfectly now.
The thrill of the hunt is part of the joy- but you do have to know what you’re looking for.

Dsloan

Oh, I know that place! I've had lots of good luck there over the years. And, at risk of derailing the focus of the thread, I must also plug the JHU auxillary sale if you and other Baltimore folks don't already have it marked on your calendar.

JwRosenthal

Lol!!! I forgot you live here!!! Yup- The Best Dressed sale, that thing is no joke and they have been doing that for decades. The men’s selection is hit or miss but can be decent, but the women’s stuff is off the charts- a whole room of cashmere! I know women who earn 6 figure+ salaries that never miss that sale.

Dsloan

I book the day off work every year so I can wait in line for the opening day, lol.

In the interests of putting this thread back on course, I would like to plug Rogue Fitness as an incredibly reliable brand.