We looked through the sales and selected only men’s clothing and warm weather clothing that we would spend our own money on. This is what is really worth it.
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer and brings the first real sales streak of the year, and this one took a little research. Much of what’s on sale is the usual filler, the same items that seem to be discounted all year round. But if you look hard enough, some real buys emerge: warm-weather shorts and swim trunks worth stocking up on, a pair of boots at prices that don’t come around often, and some garden gear at the lowest price of the year that will set you up for a great season.
Picks from J.Crew, Abercrombie, Nordstrom Rack, and Amazon: Everything below is here because we’d spend our own money on it, not because it had a red tag attached.
Presented
J.Crew 6″ Oxford Cotton-Nylon Blend Swim Trunks$44.50 $89.50
Save $45.00 (50% off)
An attractive 6-inch classic trunk made from a cotton-nylon oxford, giving it more texture and a little more structure than the slippery fabric most swim shorts use, so it reads almost like a regular short once you’re out of the water.
J.Crew Pier 5.5″ Cotton and Linen Blend Shorts$47.50 $79.50
Save $32.00 (40% off)
The Pier is J.Crew’s shortest, lightest short with a 5.5-inch inseam, and the cotton-linen blend gives it the dry, breathable feel that makes sense once the weather turns appropriately warm.
Levi’s 555 Men’s Straight-Fit Relaxed Jean$47.38 $69.50
Save $22.12 (32% off)
The 555 gives you a roomy thigh and straight leg, a simple, easy cut for summer, and this is the white pair I styled in a recent outfit if you want to see it worn.
→ Outfit: Warm tones for spring with a linen coat and two tones of denim · Primer
Red Wing 8836 Moc Toe Boot$192.00 $320.00
Save $128.00 (40% off)
Red Wing’s moccasin toe rarely sees a markdown near this size, so if you wanted them, $192 for an American-made boot that replaces rather than replaces is about as good as this tends to cost.
Traeger Grills Pro Electric Pellet Smoker Grill Combo$389.00 $549.95
Save $160.95 (29% off)
Lowest price of the year.
A pellet grill takes most of the guesswork out of cooking low and slow, and the Pro is the easiest way to do it for Traeger, now at its best price of the year.
Igloo Hard Cooler with Removable Wheels$208.99 $279.99
Save $71.00 (25% off)
Lowest price of the year.
A hardside cooler is a one-time piece of garden equipment, and this igloo at its lowest price of the year is a sensible time to pick it up. Unlike most coolers, this one looks less like a tailgate and more like a patio decoration.
Amazon
Levi’s Men’s 505 Regular Fit Jeans$31.27 $74.95
Save $43.68 (58% off)
Lowest price of the year.
The 505 is a simple straight cut model, with nothing clever, and for just over $30 it’s hard to argue with it as an extra pair or first foray into a straight cut.
Dockers Men’s Classic Fit Workday Khaki Smart 360 FLEX Pants (Standard, Big & Tall)$39.99 $80
Lowest price of the year.
I bought these recently, looking for inexpensive, classic-fit pants to wear in the modern style from J.Crew or Buck Mason. So far, so good.
Levi’s 501$47.70 $79.50
Save $31.80 (40% off)
The 501 is the original, button fly and relaxed straight leg, and if you’ve somehow gone this long without a pair, now’s a good time to spruce it up.
Eddie Bauer Men’s Rainier Pants$31.52 $70.00
Save $38.48 (55% off)
Lowest price of the year.
The Rainier is EB’s go-to, lightweight, quick-drying outdoor pant for hiking and travel days, and at $31 it’s a sure-fire budget to have in your closet.
Columbia Men’s Glennaker Lake II Waterproof Jacket$31.76 $70.00
Save $38.24 (55% off)
Lowest price of the year.
A basic, packable rain jacket, it’s not the most breathable layer you’ll find, but for $32 it’s the kind of jacket you keep in the car and stop thinking about.
Nordstrom Shelf
Brooks Brothers Cotton Blend Shirt Jacket$51.17 $228.00
Save $176.83 (78% off)
A traditional brand at the expense of J.Crew Factory.
Vince Marin Nautical$59.98 $275.00
Save $215.02 (78% off)
A classic boat shoe in midnight blue suede, and since boat shoes tend to be a love-it-or-leave-it thing, $60 is low enough to test the water if you’ve been curious or get a pair in something other than Sperry-brown.
Allen Edmonds Grady Chukka Boot$112.48 $550.00
Save $437.52 (80% off)
Allen Edmonds makes them in the US with a recyclable sole, so a $112 chukka of them is the rare Rack find that’s really a lot of shoes for the money.
Vince Rafael Moccasin$62.98 $350.00
Save $287.02 (82% off)
An easy-on loafer in a warm vicuña brown for $63, though, as always with the Rack, the problem is whether your size and color are still there.
J.Crew
Cotton waffle-knit polo-shirt with johnny collar and short sleeves$58.50 $98.00
Save $39.50 (40% off)
A loose, chunky knit fabric in a vintage off-white color that can be dressed up or worn casually.
Abercrombie
Relaxed straight linen-blend trousers$68.00 $85.00
Save $17.00 (20% off)
Breathable and a little baggy as summer demands, although at 20% off this is more of a boost than an actual price cut.
A&F Resort Shirt$36.00 $60.00
Save $24.00 (40% off)
The Resort Shirt is Abercrombie’s short sleeve country collar, an easy piece to throw on on warm nights, and this muted orange has a retro feel that doesn’t feel like a costume.
Space-Dye Cotton Button-Down Polo Sweater$60.00 $75.00
Save $15.00 (20% off)
The space dyed yarn gives it interesting depth and texture up close, and was featured in our most recent summer outfit section if you want to see it in style.
→ High/low style: the simple summer weekend outfit
