The Obtainer - 12/8/23, Friday
↦ 20 Good Buys Under $20 Each
Friday, December 8th Edition
In the season of buying, the prices and amount you’re spending can get … overwhelming we get it. So this month’s installment of ‘20 Under $20’ comes just in time. Plus, I’ve got a holiday movie you should watch, if only for the menswear inspiration.
- Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief ⋯ @coryohlendorf
20 Under $20
You may have the retail itch in your wallet, and we’re here to help scratch that. I’ve been told I’m a bad influence whenever it comes to retail therapy, but we all need a treat sometimes, right? But who said that to find something nice you have to spend a lot? We’ve rounded up a few items that are budget approved and all under 20 bucks. These cost-conscious picks will have you smelling good and feeling good while keeping plenty of money in your pocket.
Nova nylon card case, $38 / $18.99 by Mack Weldon
Insulated tumbler, $19.95 by MiiR
Canvas tote bag, $15 by Rothco
Ralph's Coffee pin, $15 / $9 by Ralph Lauren Home
Corduroy cap, $15 by Front General Store
Lloyd notebook, $15 by Ash & Fir
Get the Look
Jude Law in ‘The Holiday’
It’s not easy to make a modern holiday rom-com that doesn’t reek of those silly Lifetime/Netflix movies that seem to multiply each year. But in 2006, Nancy Meyers did just that—with an A-list cast featuring Cameron Diaz as Amanda, a sex-negative film exec from Los Angeles and Kate Winslet as Iris, a love-sick London newspaper columnist. The premise is simple yet wild: Two women are unhappy and eager to escape their lives at Christmas. They both spontaneously decide to log on to a home-exchange website and swap houses for two weeks, with Amanda headed to a charming cottage in the English countryside and Iris moving into a sprawling California mansion. Meet-cutes commence and suffice it say, they find some holiday magic and the possibility of love.
Jude Law plays Iris’s rakish brother, Graham. He’s a bit of a cad, and Amanda thinks he’s only good for a restorative fling but they end up falling for one another. What I noticed on a recent rewatch is that while the women’s clothing is a tad dated from the early aughts, Graham is kitted out in timeless staples rooted in British menswear that still look great. It’s seasonal and stylish, despite his suspiciously golden tan for an Englishman in the middle of winter. I’m going to pull together something similar, updating his poplin button-down with a lightweight denim shirt and embracing the full coziness of the season with a classic Shaggy Dog sweater. And if you haven’t seen The Holiday in a while, I’d encourage giving it a watch.
Shaggy Dog sweater, $245 by J. Press
Indigo denim shirt, $178 by Todd Snyder
Barton selvedge denim, $235 by imogene + willie
Suede loafer, $149.99 / $89.99 by Banana Republic
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
How do you update a classic? You make it seasonally appropriate. Levi's type three trucker jacket is sherpa-lined, and the exterior is made of a hardy canvas.
$128 / $99.95by Levi’s
These Ralph Lauren pants are garment-dyed and washed down for a soft feel, and the elasticated waistband and belt provide a utility look.
$89.99 / $53.99 byPolo Ralph Lauren
Yogi's Fairfield boot is tough as hell and comes in this beautiful olive color. The metal lace hooks, paracord laces and crepe outsole are premium materials made to last a lifetime.
$240.03 / $120.02by Yogi Footwear
The three best stories from around the web.
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Here in the unhinged and unsustainable e-commerce era, this s**t is only getting stranger—to the degree that markdowns (and emails about them) have become so constant, that Mach 3+ clothes rockers are starting to feel their eyes glaze over at the sales bloat!”
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This thing that I wanted to shirk very badly ended up being something that defined me.”
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It means it doesn’t matter if I’m just going to drop something off, or if I’m going to meet the team, or if I’m going to meet potential investors. It’s always the same.”
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Our new collaboration with New Balance.
October 25
