Even when it’s online, and you can shop from the comfort of your home, Black Friday always feels like a mad dash to find the best days. To simplify the landscape, I round up the best menswear-related promotions every year and post them here, along with a selection of notable picks at each store. These guides are designed to cover almost every budget—from relatively affordable basics to designer items—so there’s something for everyone. This year, I’ve organized the list to move from “general and affordable” to “specialized boutiques with higher prices,” along with a smattering of shoe deals, underwear sales, and grooming products at the end.
J. CREW: UP TO 50% OFF; PRICES AS MARKED
I’ve always felt that J. Crew is one of the better one-stop shops for men just starting to build a better wardrobe. The prices are accessible, the designs are classic, and the quality is reasonable. However, it helps to know what to buy.
Their field jacket is based on the US military-issued M-51, which saw service from 1951 to 1960. The style is defined by its shirt-style collar, spacious pockets, adjustable drawstring waist, and covered zippered placket. I prefer the vintage originals, but sizing there can be challenging. J. Crew’s version is a little more straightforward and you can always size up to get some more volume. Plus, they got rid of the epaulets (a plus, I think). Military-styled field jackets like this look good on almost everyone and will pair naturally with the selvedge denim jeans, classic cut chinos, and stout sweatshirts that are in most men’s wardrobes. The company also has the mod version of Alpha Industries’s MA-1 bomber, which is a compromise between the full fit of the original and the contemporary slimmed-down design. These would look great with workwear.
I also like their 14oz heritage sweatshirts, which used to be part of their premium Wallace & Barnes line. It’s stout, heavy, and cut on the cross grain (an old-school method pioneered by Champion to prevent shrinkage). Their heavyweight chamois shirts function better as an overshirt than regular shirts but work great as a layering piece. For something you can more easily tuck, I suggest LL Bean, Orvis, Wythe, RRL, and Alex Mill. Chamois is a brushed cotton that feels like the surface of a billiard table. It feels tremendously good on crisp mornings and pairs naturally with barn coats, trucker jackets, denim, five-pocket cords, and boots.
My friend Jeremy Kirkland of Blamo! tells me he likes J. Crew’s classic chinos. “The giant chino is nice but also very ‘of the moment,'” he said. “Most guys will feel more comfortable in the classic cut.” Finally, I’m often wary of knitwear from mall brands since it’s easier to hide cutbacks in quality in knits (as opposed to wovens). But if you like the look of Shetlands, brushed or plain, and can’t afford Bosie ($121), O’Connell’s ($195), or J. Press ($265), these from J. Crew seem like they could be a good value for $82. I also suspect these Johnny collar polos will be useful once summer rolls around and you need something to make plain outfits look more interesting.
TODD SNYDER: 30% OFF EVERYTHING; CODE BLACKFRIDAY30
Todd Snyder is where you go if your style leans J. Crew, but you want something with a bit more sauce. After all, the label’s designer and namesake worked alongside head J. Crew designer Frank Mutjens during J. Crew’s ascent in the mid-aughts. However, Todd Snyder’s slightly more adventurous designs, smaller runs, and improved materials come at a premium cost.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more money, I really like Todd Snyder’s selection of Cowichans from the Canadian label Kanata. These hand-knitted “cardigans” function more like outerwear than knitwear. They’re hefty, rugged, and frankly a bit scratchy (a friend joked that his Cowichan felt like it came with a twig in it). But they’re meant to be worn over soft flannel shirts and paired with work pants (such as these denim double-knee carpenter pants). I find them incredibly charming in that heritage, après-ski way. Todd Snyder has them in cream, gray, and black-green.
I would also check out the Italian suede trucker, naval officer’s bridge coat (like a peacoat but cooler), and black shearling bomber (that would look great with black jeans). Under the shirt category, they have summer button-ups made from soft pink rayon and seafoam green viscose (both great with white jeans), denim Western shirts (supremely classic and useful), and two versions of chambray work shirts, which can be paired with tweed sport coats or casualwear. Their five-pocket cords are a nice alternative to denim, while the newly introduced Wythe cut seems like an easy way to play around with fuller fits. The mouliné mockneck is also a great way to get a high neckline without the bulk of a traditional fold-down turtleneck.
Lastly, remember to check out the sale section, where the promo code stacks. There are Italian suede bombers, Clarks Wallabees, two-pocket utility shirts, German Army trainers, and lots of mesh for summer layering (this polo looks pretty good). Am I a man who can pull off a plum-colored velour pullover with Bryceland’s bootcut 893 jeans? I don’t know, but the sale had me wondering. (Alternatively, Wythe also has a nice velour Western shirt this season, although it’s not currently part of any promotion.)
RALPH LAUREN: 40% OFF SELECT ITEMS; NO CODE NEEDED
For me, Ralph Lauren is the mothership. Although Ralph didn’t invent tweed jackets and chambray shirts, he often does them better than other mainstream brands and presents them more romantically. I mainly shop from the RRL side of the aisle these days, but the Polo selection this season is pretty good.
For instance, I love this duffle coat. It’s a bit more expensive than Gloverall’s Monty, which is what you should buy if you want the heritage model, but the RL version comes with an onion-quilted interior and more distinctive jute-loop closures. The canvas utility jacket is inspired by the duck hunting outerwear that American sportsmen wore during the mid-20th century. You can still find those on eBay by searching for names such as Saf T Bak, Duxbak, Drybak, and American Field. But those vintage versions come with blood splatters, while this one is clean.
These heavy canvas carpenter pants are also one of my favorite purchases this year. I was unsure about the pre-distressing at first—authentic fades are always preferred—but they look reasonably convincing once the folds settle onto the lap. They go with plaid flannels, grey sweatshirts, Shetland knits, denim Western shirts, trucker jackets, chore coats, and anything rugged. Had I not purchased Bryceland’s P13s this season, I would have also picked up these brushstroke-style camo fatigues. Like carpenter pants, they’re an easy alternative to denim and will make any workwear outfit a little more interesting.
I also really like Ralph Lauren’s Booth tassel loafers, which are a little more jaunty than their penny strap counterparts. Yes, they’re a bit “old man-ish,” but that’s precisely what makes them so appealing. The black calfskin version will work in any outfit that you can imagine wearing a black silk knit tie. Think: navy worsted suits, brown tweed sport coats with tan whipcord trousers, and fun casual suits made from brown cotton or olive gabardine. Alternatively, the tan suede version is a little more dressed down and potentially easier to wear with summer tailoring. For something even more casual, the Braygan, Edric, and Alston penny loafers will sit nicely with jeans and a Shetland knit.
MR. PORTER: EXTRA 15% OFF ALREADY DISCOUNTED ITEMS
The retailers above all focus on some sort of classic aesthetic, whether that’s workwear, Americana, or Ivy Style. I’m putting Mr. Porter here as a segue into more niche shopping. Mr. Porter’s massive selection puts them in everyone’s orbit. They carry everything from workwear and Americana to hard-to-find Japanese labels to avant-garde and streamlined minimalism. Whatever you’re into, it’s worth checking in here.
Since Mr. Porter’s inventory is so extensive, combing through the sale section can feel overwhelming. So, the best way to tackle this is to use the site’s filters. By clicking things such as category (e.g., “knitwear”) and size (“medium), you can whittle down their sale section from thousands of items to a more manageable hundreds. I’ve also created a filter for brands that I think are worthwhile.
In that assortment, you can find suede JM Weston loafers, John Smedley turtlenecks (useful for dressing down suits), De Bonne Facture linen shirts, Purdey shearling bomber (this looks great), Castaner espadrilles, Umit Benan silk shorts (very lux), Visvim brigadier and duck boots (I’m very tempted by the duck boots, although LL Bean’s version is also very nice and much more affordable), Stoffa blouson and polos, Red Wing 8138 work boots, Visvim handknit sweater (again, very tempting), Séfr mesh polo, Story Mfg and Kartik Research bohemian shorts, Portuguese Flannel mesh shirt (wear with a tank top in the summer), Anderson & Sheppard linen dressing gown, Remi Relief hoodie, Mr. P and Orslow chore coats, and a pocket square with a dog on it.
NO MAN WALKS ALONE: UP TO 55% OFF; PRICES AS MARKED
No Man Walks Alone is a sponsor of this site, but it is also one of my favorite stores. I met the shop’s founder, Greg Lellouche, about fifteen years ago through StyleForum, where I admired his ability to hop between the different sides of the site. Most people on the forum were skilled at either wearing classic tailoring or casualwear, but rarely both. At the time, Greg worked as an investment banker on Wall Street, which made him familiar with the ins and outs of bespoke suits and their accouterments. At the same time, his deep interest in men’s style was reflected through how he could wear workwear, streetwear, and even a bit of Belgian minimalism. His broad-mindedness is why No Man Walks Alone is an excellent store for building a well-rounded wardrobe, as they have a bit of everything.
There are a few surprises in the sale section, such as this Sartoria Carrara Mock Leno sport coat that would be a staple in any tailored wardrobe. Mock Leno is a breathable, open weave fabric that’s ideal for summer; in navy, it’s as useful of a tailored jacket as you can get. They also have Rota trousers in mid-gray, dark gray, and taupe. Teamed with a light blue G. Inglese shirt (also on sale), these pieces would make for a great tailored outfit. However, since No Man Walks Alone’s discounted stock is final sale, I only recommend them if you’re familiar with how they fit you. Tailoring is less forgiving than casualwear when it comes to fit and not everything can be altered to fit correctly.
For something a little more forgiving in terms of fit, they have handknit Chamula Fair Isle sweaters in gray and cream, wonderfully textured boucle knits from De Bonne Facture in brown and navy, and tons of turtlenecks in versatile colors such as black, taupe, gray, and ivory. I also really like Valstar’s flagship product, the Valstarino, which is a good substitute for a tailored jacket if you like suits and sport coats, but want something a lot more casual. This dressier version of the American A-1 flight jacket can be teamed with blue jeans, tan chinos, and tailored trousers, as well as the button-up shirts and suede chukkas you might otherwise wear with a sport coat. Valstar’s lightly padded nappa leather bomber and heavier shearling are a bit more casual still. I like how they styled the nappa bomber in this season’s lookbook, and can imagine it going well with G. Inglese’s softly brushed Western shirts or 3sixteen’s cross cut flannel.
CANOE CLUB: 30% OFF SELECT ITEMS; CODE BLACKFRIDAY24
Timothy Grindle was an employee at Independence in Chicago before he moved to Boulder, Colorado, where he co-founded a specialty shop called Canoe Club. In some ways, the store is similar to some of the high-end workwear boutiques you may find locally. They carry labels such as RRL, Engineered Garments, and Kapital, along with harder-to-find names such as Sassafras and The Real McCoys. Chore coats, hoodies, and work boots are par for the course. At the same time, they sprinkle in some of the unexpected. I’m often taken by some of the new labels I learn of here, such as the unisex Japanese brand Herill. Plus, which small boutiques have Auralee and Lemaire hanging next to Needles?
Not everything is included in the promotion (Kapital is excluded; I tried). But it works on Engineered Garment’s storm coat, Howlin’s Shetlands, Frizmworks’s royal hunting jackets, RRL’s down vests, Wythe’s Western shirts, Lemaire’s twisted pants, and premium wheat Timbs. It even works on Visvim and orSlow’s popular 105 and 107 jeans (which refer to the company’s slim-tapered and slim-straight cuts, respectively). Those Visvim duck boots are once again calling to me.
BARE KNUCKLES: UP TO 60% OFF
After a lot of searching, I finally found the perfect hoodie. Bare Knuckles’s hoodies fit wide across the shoulders and body, with a cropped length designed to hit your waistline. Since they’re wide, they never feel constricting, making them supremely comfortable. The cropped length means the wider fit doesn’t look too oversized. The hoodies are made from a hefty 450 gsm cotton, garment dyed, and then given an enzyme potassium spray to emulate a sun fading effect.
The design is admittedly a little more directional—more streetwear and workwear, less slim fit contemporary—but I find they work well under things such as bombers and truckers. If you’ve ever admired the oversized hoodies from Visvim or Cottle but didn’t want to spend $750 on such a casual garment, Bare Knuckles gives a similar look and feel for considerably less. I particularly like them in black and brick red.
NOTABLE SHOE SALES
Some notable shoe sales are happening at the moment. The Spanish label Carmina, a sponsor of this site, is offering 25% off select styles and an additional 15% off already-discounted items in their sale section. This includes their suede tassel loafers, oxfords in black and burgundy calfskin, pebble-grained boots, suede Chelsea boots, and shell cordovan tassel loafers. My favorite is the black horsebit loafers, which are better made than Gucci and are lower priced. Additionally, TLB Mallorca is offering 15% off sitewide. Along with Meermin, I think they’re among the best values on the market for high-end dress shoes. Made with Goodyear welting, shaped waist, and closed channel soles, it’s remarkable they can sell shoes for less than Allen Edmonds.
For something a little more casual, Jay Butler, another sponsor of this site, makes lightweight, Blake-stitched loafers designed for summer. Much like Goodyear welting, a Blake stitch construction means that you can more easily replace the soles once they wear down rather than binning them entirely (sort of like changing tires on an old car). There is a marginal difference between the two construction techniques: whereas Blake stitched shoes tend to be a bit lighter, a Goodyear welted shoe is more water resistant. The lightweight construction makes sense for the semi-casual slip-on shoes you’ll wear in the spring/ summer months. They’re offering them a 20% discount with the checkout code JBBF24. I like the Millbank horsebit and Cromwell penny designs, which go great with five-pocket cords, chinos, and blue jeans.
For something even more casual, I’ve been really into Tecovas, which are currently 20% off. The company makes Goodyear welted, lemonwood pegged Westernwear boots at prices starting around $250. These days, I mostly wear The Stockton, a chunky weather-resistant roper that looks great in any workwear outfit. I think of them as Blundstones but with more yee haw. For something with even more Westernwear flavor, The Cartwright is an almond-toe cowboy boot that looks great with slim-straight jeans, t-shirts, and trucker jackets. The Dean is also a side-zip built on a similar last, so you get that cowboy boot look but with a slimmer shaft (good if you wear slim tapered jeans, where the boots’ tops would otherwise push out against your pants).
TOMMY JOHN: 40% OFF SITEWIDE; CODE: BF40
I’m embarrassed to admit that, about ten years ago, I bought a pair of $150 boxer briefs. I didn’t actually pay $150; they were heavily discounted on Mr. Porter down to about $80 or so (still an embarrassing price to pay for underwear). But they were from Zimmerli, widely touted as the world’s best producer of men’s under garments. The Sea Island Cotton was indeed luxuriously smooth and comfortable, but the material lost its softness after about a year.
The best underwear I’ve come across is from Tommy John. Their Second Skin is made from a pill-resistant micro-modal blend. If you’re used to wearing pure cotton underwear, this stuff will feel like a revelation. It’s supremely breathable and it wicks moisture from your skin, keeping you dry. There’s a little pouch for your, ahem, junk. And the material holds up well in the wash. After purchasing a pair of these years ago, I’ve since switched exclusively to them. They’re not cheap at $36/pair (or $21 on sale), but they’re a lot cheaper than $150—and better, too.
KIEHL’S: UP TO 50% OFF SITEWIDE
Every year around this time, I stock up on Kiehl’s products. They’re a bit expensive at full retail, but you can count on them holding sitewide sales twice a year. I love their exfoliating body scrub soaps — ridiculously named “Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap,” like a WWF wrestler shaking the ropes. They’re a bit more expensive than your basic bar of Dove, but they last forever and come with bits of bran and oatmeal to help you achieve a buffed (read: scrubbed) body. I also like their line of specialized hair care products, which are formulated for different hair types. Since I have dry, coarse hair, I use their “nourishing olive fruit oil” shampoos and conditioners. I’m not sure what they put into them, but they make my hair softer and easier to style in the morning.
If you find yourself getting chapped lips and dry skin in the wintertime, try Kiehl’s Facial Fuel moisturizer, oil-free moisturizer, or Ultra Facial Cream. The third is one of Kiehl’s best-selling products—and their #1 moisturizing cream—but it lays on a bit thick. I find that it’s the most protective. However, if you have oily skin, like me, you may prefer the Facial Fuel, which is a little thinner. Use those for your face, and then keep a tube of Lucas’ Papaw Ointment for chapped lips. Papaw is admittedly just glorified Vaseline, but the stuff has a cult following for a good reason—it’s instant relief.