VintageGent’s Menswear Daily

Be a Sole Man (or Woman): If the Shoe Fits…Buy It

There are a lot of micro auctioning sites out there. Some of them try the penny auction format, some try to compete with eBay but just don’t have the steam, and others are for niche areas like antiques. Even so, they often have something to be desired as sales rely solely on the advertising of the auctioner. One site that may catch on is If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit. It’s an auction site for just shoes. And boots. And clogs. You get the drift. Not only can you auction off shoes, but folks can buy them directly, or you can swap ‘em as well. In this case, it doesn’t really matter if there isn’t a bidding war because you are just cleaning out your closet, right? Also, after a brief scan, folks seem to be listing them at a price they’d be happy with them going for, like $10-25 rather than starting them off at $1 with a reserve.

Right now, it looks like there are some shoes from commercial clients, but if you search the criteria, you can find shoes from individuals. What, you think there is an ick factor here? Who would want old shoes? Well, its not really for that. If you have shoes you bought for a special occasion and wore them once, or just never got around to wearing your impulse purchase, this site is for you. It especially is economical for folks with rapidly growing mini-mes.

It is $1 to list a pair of shoes, but since the site is new, they are offering a special deal to VintageGent readers. Just put in the code SHOES as a coupon code when you register, and you will receive 5 free listings. If you look around, there is also a coupon on the actual site that will give you another 2 (Use code SOLES). This might just work for them to entice folks to list because there’s nothing to lose. Right now, I see a couple of men’s shoes among the ladies, but no vintage shoes yet. I guess I’ll just have to fix that.

There may be a few  Vintagent-ette shoes going on the site tonight, so we’ll see what they are. Check back here later and I’ll tell you what they are, or better yet, take your own treasure hunt to see if you can spot them tonight. As V-Gette says, “If the shoe fits, buy it. Oh wait a minute. I don’t need all those shoes. Okay, if they fit and if they’re comfortable and they’re bright green or patent leather and you don’t have anything like it….okay…go ahead. If you have the money/”

A Virtual Coupon Corral

(At left: Roping in a very big deal on the ranch.)

It may shock you that I sometimes buy brand new things from the store that aren’t vintage, antique or at least retro. Folks need underwear and efficient freezers sometimes (offers of Home Depot coupons work on me), too.  Yeah, I like old fashioned appliances but the frugal me puts them on display rather than paying $100 more in electricity to run them.  I realize the frugal goodness of coupons, but when I buy something online, I need to have the coupon code in my hand that put the bug in my ear to hurry up and buy it in the first place or I don’t use it. I just buy it and kick myself later when I see codes that I hate searching for. Frugalness definitely costs time.  They have all sorts of services out there to analyze yourself like Billshrink so you can see where you are leaking money, but to me, discounts are the way to go.

Over at Savings.com, they have a lost compiled of every possible code for things from Sony computer coupons to a wide variety of fashionable and current clothing.  I spotted Bulgari, Diesel, and Sean John, just to name a few.

What I liked is that I could search designers and brands by name, and then the site tells me what online shops have discounts available, rather than choosing a store name and then sifting through and finding an offer that fits. It’s a veritable coupon corral, rather than lists of lists.  Toddle on over and rope yourself a bargain.  Alternately, post the deals and coupon codes that you have found to share with the community.  Might be a good way to promote yourself, dear marketing managers of online stores with coupon codes.

When Kids Grow Like Weeds…

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of SupaSwap Corporation. All opinions are 100% mine.

While clothing may be an investment for us grownups that we can wear year after, it is just not that way for the knee-high ones. Unless we are talking about a special event outfit that is worn once and passed down, like a christening gown, it doesn’t matter if you pay $500 or $; it will be outgrown in 6 months. That is why perhaps folks who collect childrens’ clothing from different eras have such a tough time. It’s scarce because it was beaten up well. Also, there is not a huge market for collectible kids’ wear until it is quite old (60+ years) due to few changes in classic items. The recent phenomena of folks snapping up character T-shirts form the 80s is truly that – a recent phenomena.

Supaswap allows parents to sell and swap gently used children’s clothing, sunglasses and games for all ages. There are other items on there like books and camcorders, but it is mainly targeted at parents. Sure, you can sell things at a yard sale or troll the ‘bay, but you always end up being stuck with things and buying too much. Right now, it seems that there are more items in the UK than the USA, but that will probably change as words spreads.  I am going to sit back and see how it unfolds as the concept has potential. The homepage defaults to British Pounds, but click on the appropriate flag on the bottom of the screen and it will all be translated for you. You may not get rich. It’s not for that, but you may break even or be able to swap for items that can actually be used for the next growth spurt or learning stage for games.

Rolex by The Pound

(At left, a vintage Rolex advertisement.  If I were flying the Concorde tomorrow, I probably would be able to afford to buy a Rolex, because that would be quite a salary!)

I have told you before that I used to chuckle about the story my dad told me about his adventure in Tijuana. When he was in his late teens or early twenties, he took a cross country road trip with his buddies, and ended up in Tijuana just for kicks. They bought a Rolex that stopped working the minute they reentered the United States. Of course, it was fake, but the whole point was to buy a counterfeit Rolex on purpose just to say they did. Instead of the street salesman of yesteryear, most people didn’t wander into a situation where they would see a Rolex if they weren’t in the market. Now, they are all over the internet. There was a site that offered vintage Rolexes that I once saw, but now there are sites like www.bestoftime.com that are following the big box model of price wars. They buy Rolexes in a certain quantity, so they are able to pass the savings on to you.  They also buy preowned Rolexes.   Most of the shops started out as independent jewelers.

This concept just seems a little strange to me when it comes to an item like this, where people are favoring authenticity over any sort of “best deal.” I never imagine Rolex wearers shopped around for the best price, and rather thought they went with someone they trusted, even if they paid a little more.  I never knew that there were pricing controls on Rolexes, but there are!  Some speculate that it just rises as the exchange rate changes, but I have never seen the prices go down to adjust for it when the exchange rates dip.  The way that some places get around them are to buy in such bulk or to buy pre-owned Rolexes and resell them.

I always think that if you are looking for high quality at a low price, you won’t always find it unless you buy vintage or second hand, which gives you a lot more bang for your buck.   If you are looking at a major jewelry purchase, I encourage you to shop around for something that fits into that category.   No one will point out that you are wearing a watch from a bunch of seasons ago, they will just think you look spiffy.  Also, if you are buying a high ticket item, or something with diamonds in it, be sure to have it appraised so you know what you are getting if you are not an expert and you pay a precious penny.

I did a little sleuthing and discovered that the website is dba Alex’s Jewelry, which is a chain in the Atlanta area.  They have physical stores, rather than just being a drop shipper.   I found a few addresses in the area such as in Sandy Springs and in the city proper, if you are looking to research the business further.   I would suggest if you are buyinga high ticket item over the internet, that you don’t just research if the pricing is competitive, but you also see what the Better Business Bureau has listed.   They don’t always indicate if a business is stellar, but merely if there are any complaints.   However, that is a helpful start.

The Blue Light is Back

The following program is brought to you by Kmart with limited commercial interruptions. Of course, you will be interrupted the rest of the time by the musings and opinions of the VintageGent-ette.  Now that people are turning around and looking for the economical frugalness of yesteryear, Kmart Bluelight Specials are back.   In fact, this very Saturday, August 1st, there will be a wide selection of specials in the store and on the web.

When I was a kid, I so wanted to press the button and make the blue light flash.  I haven’t seen that since the 70s (or early 80s in the “old” Kmart), and don’t know why I wanted to do that.  I think because perhaps I thought it was law enforcement-like.   The police let you sit in their car on the day they came to the first grade class to let you know they were the good guys, but they didn’t let you mess with the lights.   Actually, the Kmart Blue Light seemed to come on automatically, without the assistance or employment of an official light “turner on-er.”  The light may have gone out then, but the actual Blue Light specials went the way of the leopard print hat in 1991.

I admit that I haven’t been to Kmart in quite awhile, but I do remember it being a good place to pick up some basics for short money.  The whole allure of a possible flashy light does make me curious about it, and it is causing me to plan to wander in.   I won’t know if there is actually a Blue Light that will flash to give us that warm and fuzzy retro feeling until I show up and take a look around on Saturday.

I found out that I can get updates sent to me via Twitter. If I follow @kmartdealsnnews on Twitter, I’ll get specials and deals tweeted to me.  How lazy can you get?  I won’t even have to look at the flier.   Maybe I’ll ask the person who is tweeting if the light will actually be there.

New Line and Free Jeans from Armani Exchange

Do you want free jeans?  I need to twist your arm, right? Armani Exchange is running a promotion. One pair of jeans will be given away per day in July when you  text A|X>.  Simply text “DENIM2″ to ARMANI (276264) and you will be in the running.  With my luck, I won’t win a darn thing.  If you are like me, you will buy jeans anyhow and if you win, it is a pleasant bonus.

Recently, Armani Exchange introduced a new line of Premium Denim starting at $98.00. There are classic looks, as well as styles that you can be sure your friends won’t have. I am glad that designers are finally offering an alternative to jeans that look like you have been dragged behind the southbound end of a northbound horse. Sure, you can get that if you like, but there are other options now.  At left, we see the new painted style. The painted jeans are not what was offered a few years ago, when you saw flames or hearts.  These are more textural.  I still think the jeans give you people the impression that you were in a chemical spill, but then I can be a fuddy duddy sometimes.

At center, is a most unusual ladies style called the “Harem Jean.”  They are a variation on the capri, as they are much shorter and feature a faux blouson effect.  The VintageGent-ette believes they were made for no one except gals who have skinny legs.  Otherwise, they may cut you off and make your legs look shorter than they are, perhaps.   Just wear them with an open backed shoe versus tennis shoes.   At right, is the J65, the Overdyed Zipper Straight Leg.  They grind the jeans to create some of the effects.  It will set you back about $145.00, but features an unusual zipper configuration which appeals to the former grunge rocker in me. Truth be told, I was never a grunge rocker. However, I had a particular preference for boots with an infinite number of zippers.

In addition, there is a sale going on where you can afford to buy more jean for your money.   However, if the pair you fancy is not on sale, they have another offer. When you buy a non sale item at regular price through July 19th, you will receive a gift card towards a future purchase of $100 or more.  You must use the gift certificate between July 30th and August 15th.  The offer is both valid in the store and online.

Trade Your Mattress Money for Less

Many times throughout the week, I hear weather reports that the sky is falling. I keep looking out the window and have to disagree. What they are really talking about is the state of the economy. There are folks that believe things are worse than in The Great Depression. I beg to differ, as I believe there were 29% unemployed and 30% underemployed back then. Another sign is that people are still options trading online.  You may have thought that the era of the day trader was gone, but it is very much still here.  The difference is that they are just getting more cognizant of loads and fees.  Also, many of them are trading online to adjust their nest egg, rather than to throw caution to the wind.

Everything has gotten more competitive as far as fees go, from online video rentals, to services that charge no fee at all if you do business with the website in a certain volume.  Online stock trading has gone the same way, with Trade Monster even offering $7.50 per trade (transaction), which is rock bottom compared to other services.  There are additional fees for closing out an IRA, or other major events, but for the most part, there are no “catches.”   You merely pay for only what you need.

To me, this is a whole new arena.  Even in the mid 90s it wasn’t widespread for the average person to trade online.  You toddled off to your broker’s office.  Some say that the human touch is lacking for the amount that we can now do online, but on the other hand, the level of education available has increased.  TM offers webinars and other tools to educate you.  Of course, it doesn’t replace decades of experience, but the power is now in your hands.

The frugal person that I am, I always file information like this in a special little section of my brain.  Saving a few dollars here and there just means that even though things may be tight, I can still carve out a few dollars to use for leisure.  I still like to add to my collection or wardrobe, and with watching my pennies on things I consider more mundane, I can live within my means for less.

Flash a Rolex for Less

A couple of my readers (in otherwords “you all” or “youse”) have asked me to keep me up to date on what I find out about purchasing legitimate Rolex watches. The last site I found was new and discounted, but I just found a site, called Best Of Time, that deals in preowned.   For those of you that are aficionados of vintage fashion, purchasing preowned is nothing novel or aberrant to you.

Just out of my own curiosity, I intensely googled for the model at left.  I found it listed in a classified ad online from a private seller for $3400.   At BT’s, I saw it for $2,999.95, and then on sale at $1,999.95.  That is definitely a boon to the frugal.  Of course, the term frugal is relative because some people consider frugal just checking the position of the sun and not using a watch.   I digress. One never knows…you could jus find a real “throw back” on the site.   Buying previously enjoyed items to some of us can be like a treasure hunt.

Cashback on Superman Capes

Remember when AltaVista was all the rage, and no one ever heard of Google?  Ah, the nineties…I remember those days.  It seems like Google has a monopoly on the minds of seekers everywhere, and occasionally something else comes along to either satisfy the contrarians who want to “get off the grid,” and say “no” to popular search, introduce a better technology, or just simple add things to the existing search engines.

The latest one I have been introduced to is AAfter.com. I was told by a friend that I could find local business faster using AAfter.com search. That remains to be seen, but what I do know, is that the search engine shows me results from Wikipedia, the Yellow Pages, as well as a standard internet search all at once.   Oh, I suppose with having that “all right there,” it would be faster.  I find what works best is if you ask it a question, similar to how Ask Jeeves used to be.

Apparently, when you search, you can get cashback for yourself.  I thought I read that you could apply it to your favorite participating charity, but I will need to dig a little further on that and report back.  When you search for items you are looking for, you can search rebates and receive a certain amount of cash back through AAfter.com.  After you accrue $10.00, you can cash out. The rebates percentages are in bold.  Of course, you have to go to those websites and purchase something to be eligible.

I decided to check out something that everyone who reads is more interested in:  Fedoras.   When I typed it in, I didn’t get a hat site right off the bat, but what I did get was a Superman store.   What is a Superman store?  You can buy anything you can think of having to do with Superman, but were afraid to even think about.  What’s more, is if you buy something, you apparently get a 9% cashback rebate on it.

I decided that fedoras may be too specific a keyword, and so proceeded to enter in “vintage suits.”   Well, I didn’t get any vintage clothing sites, but I did get this at the top of the list:

I will give them points for Joseph A. Banks showing up, as they have classic styles, but the first result is the very, very retro stylings of Santa Claus!  I guess I should have been a little more specific.  At any rate, there are a lot of other things you can search for and get rebates on, such as chocolate.   For now, you will have to be content with using the search engine to find things that you want, rather than counting on a rebate.   Of course, you could cash in the money and buy whatever vintage thing you want.   It is a very interesting concept.

If you have tried it out, comment and let me know what you thought.

Queen or Crypt Keeper for the Day?

When the VintageGent-ette was always mistaken for much younger than she actually was. Maybe it was the short stature, the fashion choices from the ankle down, or penchant for mid 60s lime green. At any rate, she rested on her laurels for quite sometime until reality caught up with her. At least someone else’s reality.

When she was 32, she won a facial. It made her feel like she was on that show “Queen for a Day.”   The winning of the facial made her feel that way, but not the actual experience.  The aesthetician, who was twelve years her junior decided to bring up the subject that women of “her age” should strongly consider anti-wrinkle treatment before it is “too late.”

Of course V-Gette was ranting and raving later on about who the aesthetician thought she was and old she mistook V-Gette for. After the whole incident, she felt a bit like Jamie Leigh Curtis in that mom-kid role reversal movie where she screams, “I’m the CRYPT KEEPER!”

All of the suds and bubbles that women subjected to themselves over the years to unwrinkle, wrinke, press, and rejuvenate have largely been a mystery to men outside of the proper industries.  However, things have changed.   First there was metrosexualizm.  Then Axe came out with something that is NOT supposed to be a loofa but it is really a black shower pouf, but it is more manly because you call it some weird name like an energy ball or something else foolish.

Now, even wrinkle creams are being targetted as unisex. In fact, the Dermajuv Complete Rejuvenation System is in rather unisex cobolt blue bottles. You could go in the bathroom and not know if the stuff is for the lady or the gent.

In fact, right now, Dermajuv is issuing a bailout.  If you use the promo code “bailout,” you will receive $5.00 off. So, if you are looking for the perfect gift for someone, you can be economical at the same time.  You may, of course, end up holding your teeth in your hand if you decide to buy it for your main squeeze.  It just may not send the message you had hoped for.   Even if they hint at it jokingly, just don’t do it.   Let them order it themselves.

I almost forgot.  In some women’s magazines, they say if you want something, leave a catalog somewhere that a guy can find it like on the toilet, on the steering wheel of a car, or on the front door.   Then use tape, bookmarks, and post it notes to indicate your interest in something.  Naw, that is a little too obvious.

Since many of my readers believe in tried and true products just because they “don’t make em like they used to,” or because if it was tested on animals, it was done so fifty years ago, I did my own investigation.   The company’s website did not indicate whether the products were animal friendly.   I dialed up the company myself and asked that very question.  The nice man that I spoke with assured me that the company does NOT test their products on animals.    He was going to bring it to right department’s attention to consider labelling the product on the site as animal safe.

So, if you love animals and are the type of guy who wants to get out your old leisure suit and wants to look less like a creepy old man, you may just want to give it the old college try.  What do you have to lose?  You are already out there looking a little bit iffy now that the fifteen to twenty-one year old demographic is sporting them, but you may have a chance to blend in a bit more without any surgical alteration, or instantaneous creepy 70s moustache.

Movado Collection: Train Your Brain

The first time I saw one a Movado watch in a display case,  I was drawn to their simple style, but I also thought they were geared towards consumers who only had to be somewhere “around” a certain time.  Alternately, maybe they were made for men who had “people” who took care of those details.  If you recall, most of the Movado collection has a blank face with a single diamond placed at twelve o’clock. There are other styles that are made with a complete set of numbers, but they are most known for this particular style.

I am not like the rest of the world when it comes to time telling schools.  The school I was at in kindergarten taught that in first grade.  I went to a new school in first grade, and that school had already taught it in kindergarten and assumed you knew!  My parents weren’t deficient.  I was just a little bit dyslexic.   Though I was the kid who had to look at a digital clock to tell time, I was reading at an eleventh grade level by second grade so they must have done something right.

Since discovering the watches, I have learned that the mind tends to fill in the blanks, just like the mindteasers.  If the first and last letters of a word are correct, your brain can fill it in.  Such is the “no numbers watch.”  After awhile, your brain just fills in the details, unless you are wearing it upside down, of course. 

If you have been looking for Movado watches like this, here’s a tip: The Watchery has them at 38-50% retail right now.  I have a feeling that in the future, costume designers will choose this type of watch when creating a costume of an upscale character for dramas that take place in the 1990s ad early new millenia.