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The 10 Best Items to Buy in the January Sales
Do not be swayed by the lure of a great red tag, 30%, 50%, even 75% off. Don’t get us wrong, we know exactly how hard it is to stay focused when all you can see are truly unbeatable deals. The most irrational buys I have ever made are either when sleep deprived or more often, during the sales. Who cares if you have never worn pink cords before – they’re over half price – you simply must buy them…and that fur lined trappers hat, it doesn’t matter that you’re moving to Dubai on business for the foreseeable future, at 60% off it would just be rude not to. Stop. Gentlemen, the sales are daunting, we know that, but there are simple tricks that will see you sail sartorially through the sales and allow you to take on 2014 as your most stylish year yet.
Simply follow our ten best items to buy in the January sales…
1. Basics, Yes, we know, it may not be the most exciting of things to head for, but while every man and his wife is being distracted by discounted alligator shoes or neon yellow jackets, now is the time to keep things simple. We’re talking the plainest of the basics – think; T-Shirts in white, navy, black and grey, and cashmere jumpers in plain blues, reds and greens. They might not send your heart rate racing, but they will stand you in very good stead and during the sales you can invest in some great quality basics at a fraction of the usual cost.
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J Crew Sweatshirt – jcrew.com Sunspel T-Shirt – sunspel.com
2. Jeans, Again – nothing groundbraking, but now is definitely the time to try and find that elusive pair of ‘perfect jeans’, try on as many pairs as you can bare to, and once you find the perfect pair – buy 2, or even 3 pairs. Trust me; no one ever regrets buying too many pairs of something perfect.
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Light blue Paul Smith Jeans – harrods.com Dark Blue Diesel Jeans –harrods.com
3. Shoes, As before, the January sales are a good time to invest in some great shoes. None of this throw away fashion, we’re talking sensible, beautifully made, luxurious leather shoes.
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Alexander McQueen Black Shoes – harrods.com
4. Leatherwear, Wallets, belts, travel wash bags….anything really that you use everyday is always a good investment. Look towards Pickett and Ettinger.
5. Aftershave, Find you’re usual and buy a big bottle of it. Simple as that. If you’re feeling adventurous though then maybe even try a new scent – something you haven’t tried before perhaps such as one of these from Boss or YSL.
Boss Orange – fragrancedirect.co.uk YSL – fragrancedirect.co.uk
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6. Grooming products, Simple – but a staple. Think luxury shower gels, shaving foam and sets. It’s the little luxuries in your bathroom that make a true gentleman.
7. Suit, If you’re buying ready to wear at up to half the price of a normal suit, then you can put a fraction of the savings towards having it altered to fit you perfectly – no one will ever know the difference! Look to the stars of Savile Row such as Richard James and Gieves & Hawkes.
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Richard James Suit – mrporter.com Gieves & Hawkes Suit – gievesandhawkes.com
8. Staple jacket/coat, Aside from a suit, a coat is probably the most expensive item in a mans wardrobe – or so at least it should be – so what better time to find the perfect one. Look for something timeless, sensible and in a neutral colour, ultimately a coat that will transcend the seasons and styles and hopefully last you decades to come. You can’t go far wrong with the likes of quintessential British brands Burberry and Belstaff.
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Burberry Trench Coat – burberry.com Belstaff Jacket – belstaff.com, 9. One statement piece, Of course, with all this sensible advice, it would only be right to allow for a little bit of fun, but make sure it’s only 1 statement piece, ad try and ideally make sure it’s something you’ve had your eye on for a while, rather than a whimsical rash purchase. We can’t stop lusting over this statement shearling from Sandro, or this Brioni Jacket (right).
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Sandro Jacket – mrporter.com Brioni Coat – mrporter.com
10. Pants and Socks, Very boring, and you probably received an entire stocking full just a few weeks ago, but last, but by no means least, have a look into some luxury labels and see if their sales are worth the purchase.
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Sunspel Boxers – sunspel.com
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