A thread on affordable casualwear I like on eBay. Requirements: plenty of stock and under $100. 🧵
Taylor Stitch Shirts (~$50 eBay)
Great value new; even better value used. The fall/winter shirts are made from surprisingly thick fabrics. I like the Yosemite (chamois) and Crater (plaid flannel) models best, although they also have some cool Westerns and chambrays.
Dickies, Carhartt, & Stan Ray Painter Pants (~$50)
Robust, double knee construction. Cool way to wear white pants bc they don't feel as aggressive as white jeans + they look better dirty. Wear with chambray. Plenty on eBay, although this pic is from UnionStationVintage on Etsy
Vintage Lee Rider Jacket (~$75)
Cooler than Levis Type III bc it has a more interesting silhouette (cropped, v-shaped) and slanted chest pockets that aim toward the shoulders (kinda like peak lapels). Warning: these can be wonky to size; buy from a place that takes returns
French Chore Coat (~$75)
I like the beat-up vintage ones best. A dime a dozen on eBay and Etsy. If wearing a stinky chore coat grosses you out, you can check for new ones from brands like Vetra, Le Laboureur, Arpenteur, and Le Mont Saint Michel.
Scottish Shetlands (~$50)
A bit prickly, but good over an oxford cloth button-down shirt. Harder wearing than cashmere, and much more affordable, too. Anything made in Scotland will be good. Type "shetland (Scotland, Scottish)" into the search bar + click "include descriptions"
Stan Ray Fatigues ($80)
If you don't want to sort through vintage military fatigues, check out Stan Ray on eBay and Etsy. Made in Texas from OG 107 sateen fabric. Beware of sizing (triple check measurements). A size 30 waist may need a size 32 pant.
Vintage Cargo Pants (~$80)
Articulated knees, box pleated pockets, and drawstring hems can all help to create a more interesting shape on the bottom half of your outfit. Search "German Bundeswehr pants," "p44 pants" and "military surplus cargo pants," but triple check sizing
Chambray Shirts ($75)
The look of a denim shirt, but lighter weight and good for summer. Easy to find on eBay from brands like Ralph Lauren, Bronson, and J. Crew's Wallace & Barnes. Engineered Garments is also great but will run you a little north of $100
If you find this helpful, I round up cool menswear-related eBay finds for a site called Put This On twice a week. Prices tend to be a bit higher than $100, but the general idea is to help ppl build quality wardrobes on a budget.
a lot of ppl who claim to be progressive struggle to make the connection btw the things they care about—fair wages, labor protections, & homelessness—with their belief that clothes should cost $20
the items in this thread may be outside of your budget and that's fine! no one has to engage in fashion. but the idea that clothes should cost $2 sits at the core of many of the problems ppl complain about. it's not all about evil corporations; it's also about you, the consumer
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For reference, the reply is in response to this video, where it appears the majority of people like the right pant better on this person. Why is this?
IG justin__kwan
Most people approach clothing in terms of trends. If skinny or baggy clothes are fashionable at the moment, they go with the crowd. Trends certainly play a role in how we perceive things. Even Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, wore slimmer trousers toward the end of his life.
Not true! US-made clothing has always existed. However, the quality stuff struggles because people are often not willing to pay what it costs to produce these items. These items will only get more expensive with tariffs, not less.
"Tariffs will get rid of cheap, crappy clothing."
Also not true! The US makes a lot of cheap, crappy clothing, some even in sweatshops. This system is made possible because US garment factories run on the piece-rate system, where workers are paid per operation, not time.
Here's how these tariffs can affect the average American. 🧵
Although tailoring has mostly receded from daily life, it continues to be the expected uniform for some of life's most important moments, such as weddings and funerals.
Unfortunately, since these moments are few and far between, that means most cities don't have good tailoring shops. I often get emails asking: "Where can I get a suit for cheap?" Or "I'm an unusual size, where can I find a suit?" This is where online shopping comes in.
If someone has died, consider attending the funeral in black tie (also known as a tuxedo in American vernacular). Black, as we know, is the color of mourning, so black tie shows respect for the deceased and their family.
Do a little jump and dance at the funeral, so people can admire how your jacket collar hugs your neck. This demonstrates that you took the time to make sure your tuxedo is well-tailored for this somber occasion. Carry a martini around and toast during the eulogy.
When you buy ready-made tailoring, the pockets and vents are often tacked down with stitching—usually white, but not always. This stitching, known as basting, is done so that the garment moves from the factory to your closet while holding its shape.
Before wearing the garment, you'll want to remove this stitching. Especially if there's a label on the sleeve. This label is only there so that people working in the distribution and sales process can easily identify the garment. It's not meant to be worn.