Black Friday Pickups 2020
A collection of what I bought over Black Friday weekend. This post is a little late, as I had to wait for everything to ship and arrive since there was no way in hell I was going into any physical store this year.
From The First: Luca side zip boots (concealed zip)
I have been wanting these boots (and many others from FTF) ever since I came across From The First about a year and a half ago, but this year I was finally able to bite the bullet. I already have the SLP Wyatt harness boots, but I think the lack of harness on the Luca combined with the concealed zipper makes them more versatile and more appropriate in the workplace. My work already has a somewhat relaxed dress code, and my harness boots are not necessarily inappropriate, but I can’t wear them with a suit or on days when I generally need to dress up a bit more. Work aside, the lack of harness makes these more wearable in general (though I am not at all saying that the harness boots are not versatile). Sometimes my outfit is busy enough as it is, and/or the pants I’m wearing would just look better with a sleeker boot. I wear a size 39 in SLP, and I ordered a 39 in these, and that seems to be the correct size for me. While I cannot speak for long-term wear/durability, these boots have definitely impressed me over the few days I’ve worn them so far.
Side note: I also ordered their Enzo harness boots in espresso (dark brown) suede during the sale; however, the boots were only available for pre-order, so who knows when they will actually be ready to ship.
Mika Jaymes: scoop-neck modal t-shirts in white and black
These are the softest shirts I have ever touched. Their drape is fantastic, and I like how wide the scoop neck is as well. I do wish the sleeves were a little slimmer, so I might see if that’s something that I can fix with a bit of sewing. These shirts will go with anything and everything; you can’t go wrong with some elevated basics with unique finishes/details. I’m tempted to order some more t-shirts from Mika Jaymes while their holiday sale is still going. I’ve got my eye on these linen short-sleeve t-shirts in white and/or black.
Neiman Marcus: Eton black tonal floral shirt (sold out)
I had been after a black tonal floral shirt for a while, and after many months of googling with no success, I finally found this one by Eton sold at Neiman Marcus, discounted for Black Friday. I tried my best to capture the texture of the pattern, but I think the 3rd picture, which is the product shot by Eton themselves, showcases it best (who could have guessed). I like that the pattern/texture is quite subtle; the shirt can be worn with other patterned pieces without being too loud. From far away, it might just look like a solid black shirt. I do wish the fabric had a bit more fluid of a drape, as the shirt is the typical 100% cotton that you’d find in any dress shirt, but perhaps with a few wears and washes it will soften up a little. I suppose I’ll be putting Eton’s ~high quality fabrics~ to the test.
Suitsupply Outlet: black linen tuxedo trousers
More black trousers, you say? Yes, I argue, as these are linen and I don’t have any black trousers that are linen. These will be good for summer, since, in case you missed it, they are made of linen. For those summer days that I need/want to not wear shorts but also don’t want to start sweating the second I step outside. However, the trousers are a heavier-weight linen, so they may still be appropriate to wear on some warm autumn days. They were ridiculously long out of the box; it’s almost a joke that they were called the “short” size. I’ve already done some sewing, and I decided to hem these to a cropped ankle-length since they are (mostly) a summer fabric.
Bombas: over-the-calf socks in black and charcoal
Socks were perhaps not the most exciting thing to spend my hard-earned money on, but I needed some new socks. What are you gonna do. I bought these because they are over-the-calf, so they do not fall down throughout the day, unlike pretty much all crew socks you’d find at big retailers. I also like that Bombas offers their socks in multiple sizes, as I am finally able to get some socks that are not too long on my feet. I’ve never understood how most manufacturers think that socks can be “one-size-fits-all.” There isn’t much else to say here, they’re socks.
