Category Archives: The Wardrobe Economist

What’s A Wallet To A Man?

by

I once heard someone say in a commercial (I can’t remember which one now) that three items define a man of style; a man’s watch, his shoes and his cellphone. As a blogger for www.styljunki.com and the only Wardrobe Economist alive, I hereby accord myself the privilege to add one more item to this list. A man’s WALLET.

Those small pocket sized beauties made so carefully from the finest materials (leather being my preference) help to provide shelter for our most valuable assets like cash, ids and credit/debit cards. The modern bi-fold wallet with multiple “card slots” actually became standardized in the early 1950s with the introduction of the first credit cards. I someday hope to own an American Express Black Card (Centurion Card), it definitely will not be sleeping in any of those ‘aboki wallets’ hawked in Lagos Traffic. It will only be sheer wickedness to lay a card of such repute and class in anything cheaper than Hugo Boss and D&G to say the least.

I got a very nice wallet as a gift from my beautiful girlfriend this week, since then I’ve been on wallet frenzy (see the picture above). She wouldn’t tell me how much she got it because it’s a gift. The only clue I have to work with is the fact that she got it online. I got into my CSI Miami mode, determined to find the source of this gift. Though my investigation failed to give me any reasonable information, I was able to find a couple of very cool wallets you guys might be interested in. Here’s my ultimate ‘LIST OF WALLETS TO BUY‘ (under ₦5,000).

River Island Leather Wallet 
This wallet by River Island has been constructed in leather. The details include: embossed brand logo, contrast stitching, three card slots, coin compartment and main money slot.
About: 100% Real Leather
Price: £15.00 (₦3,800)

River Island Wallet 
This wallet by River Island has been constructed in cotton. The details include: contrast trim on edges, six card slots and large main compartment.
About: 100% Cotton
Price: £15.00 (₦3,800)

Simon Carter 2 Tone Leather Card Holder
Leather card holder by Simon Carter. Featuring a two-tone leather design with brand embossed detailing, colour contrast stitching, multiple card compartments and elasticated band straps.
About: 100% Leather
Price: £17.00 (₦4,300)

Ben Sherman Canvas Wallet 
This wallet by Ben Sherman has been constructed in canvas. The details include: a folding two part design with multiple card compartments, an inner pocket and branded detailing.
About: 100% Cotton
Price: £20.00 (₦5,000)

Vans Wallet
This wallet by Vans has been constructed in cotton. The details include: stitched brand logo on front, six card slots and large main money compartment.
About: 100% Cotton
Price: £10.00 (₦2,500)

Diesel Neela Wallet 
Neela Wallet by Diesel. Featuring a printed bilfold design with text branding to the front and multi card storage to the inner with contrast trim detail.
About: 100% Polyurethane
Price: £17.50 (₦4,400)

On second thought, isn’t ₦5,000 too much for a wallet?

I am The Wardrobe Economist.

TIP: Click on the products and you’ll be redirected to where you can get these products online. It’s a British website so you’ll have to pay with an internationally acceptable card (MasterCard, VISA etc.). Have no fear my dear friends, shipping is free to Nigeria on this website.

The Wardrobe Economist: Mr. Sule, The Fashion Plagiarist!

by

Here I am again, faced with my challenge of deciding what to add to my wardrobe at the least cost possible. My options are limited considering the weather in Lagos borders around 27°C and I don’t exactly feel like walking around with a bath towel to wipe the sweat off my face. Then I think again, are my options really limited. If all else fails, I can always go with what Mr. Sule of TUNS COLLECTIONS makes for me. Some of you might wonder who Mr. Sule is. I’ll explain.

Mr. Sule is my fashion savior. When I have absolutely no idea of where to purchase what I really want, or maybe just when I’m broke (which unfortunately happens a lot), I speed dial Mr. Sule who is always available to take what’s left of my little salary in exchange for a garment of my choice. Mr. Sule is skilled at making a replica of a design I show to him with a material I provide him with. Mr. Sule is an unapologetic design plagiarist. Even though Mr. Sule is used to delaying in his delivery timelines by at least a week (or more in most cases), I am never upset as the good he does always outweighs the bad. Mr. Sule is my ‘TAILOR’.

I’m sure some of you styljunkies can relate to this post. At one point or the other, your tailors have saved you from the embarrassment of those oversized pants or in the amendment of that badly sewn “Aso-Ebi” (means matching fabric worn by a group of people to a party or any occasion as uniform.   It usually comes in the form of Ankara or Lace). And to crown it all, the wonderfully cheap prices some of these tailors charge is just amazing.

I will like to use this medium to thank the people at the helm of Fashion Decision Making who decided to make print fabric big on the International Fashion scene this year. They have given Mr. Sule and I a lot of copying and pasting to do, fashion wise. We have just started actually and I think we’re not doing so badly. Call me a late bloomer but I just made my first pair of ‘ankara shorts’. When I told my girlfriend, she told me not to wear them to visit. I did and she really liked it so I’m thinking Mr. Sule did a very nice job. Within the next couple of weeks I’ll be visiting Da Viva to pick out some materials. I also plan to visit Vlisco when I get that performance bonus at the office.

View these links for Da Viva and Vlisco and get details on the latest ankara pieces you and your tailor can work with.

Here is a picture of the shorts Mr.Sule made for me. We just started this project so we don’t have so much at the moment. I’ll keep you updated as we plan to plagiarize a number of items later on. I won’t let the cat out of the bag just yet, but Mr. Sule and I have big plans for my wardrobe.

            

Find yourself a tailor today.

I am not entirely broke, I’m just The Wardrobe Economist.

The Wardrobe Economist: A Navy Blazer Tip.

by

They say, “If it”s not expensive, it can”t look good”. I say, “Cool story bro”. Hello everyone, I am the “The Wardrobe Economist” and my primary objective in life is to ensure you look good at the cheapest cost possible.

Do you flip through the pages of Fab, Genevieve and Made Men staring at things you can”t afford? I have good and bad news for you. I”ll proceed with the bad news first.

Bad News: To afford the beautiful and expensive things your heart yearns for, you will have to increase your earning power to get them. And dearly beloved, there”s no way I can help you with this. Please accept my sincere apologies.

Good News: To get those items that look as good as the ones you see in Fab, Genevieve and Made Men (either the exact same products or cheaper good quality alternatives), you”ve come to the right place.

I am a lover of the best and most expensive things in life. I want to flaunt that “Marc by Marc Jacobs Black and Rose Gold Chronograph Bracelet Watch” in the face of my friends and my enemies but with my current salary, I”d have to look in another direction. Directions that”ll make me look stylish and presentable casino till I can actually afford that Marc Jacob and Micheal Kors watch. As long as it gets me the look, I guess I”ll be fine today. Someday I”ll give it away and get what I want. I will not let “The I no get money Syndrome” get in the way of my style. The syndrome that”s the excuse for wearing baggy jeans in 2012. The same syndrome that”s responsible for wearing the same black tie to work everyday because you”re scared to try something new.

As I believe image is everything, I solemnly swear to look stylish at all times regardless of the status of my bank account. Please allow me to reintroduce myself; I am “The Wardrobe Economist“.

Tip Of The Week

You can get an awesome Navy Ashley and Barker Blazer at Above and Beyond Outlets in Victoria Island and Ikeja. I was able to grab one for myself a few weeks back. They have a sale on (and it”s super affordable for the quality of what you”ll be getting). You”ll also be getting an “Above and Beyond” VIP Discount Card on purchase. The blazers come with really cool select badges.

  

 

Stay stylish, regardless.