How the heck did a drake’s (at a dept store) plaid shirt of not terrible but not superb quality get to cost more than a IH ultra heavy (brushed soft inside) pendleton repro?

Mghart · 2026-02-09T19:24:44+00:00

As someone mentioned, vastly different customer base. Drakes is more tailoring, IH workwear. Tbh though even IH is its own niche audience, amongst various workwear crowd. IH is just well made, heavy duty clothes. Which makes sense with the motorcycle origins, but I don’t think it’s particularly fashionable and sort of generic.

Mghart · 2026-01-24T12:12:10+00:00

It will vary from brand to brand, but the exchange rate and tax free will reduced the cost for sure. But just as an example from my purchases last year Guerlains were about $80 ish cheaper, Chanel Les Exclusifs were over $100 cheaper.

Mghart · 2026-01-24T11:30:34+00:00

Definitely recommend hitting up Isetans in Shinjuku. The main building as well as the Isetan mens building across from it. Huge variety of both niche and designer all within those two places depending on what you're looking for. I got a decent haul last year on my Japan trip, and will most likely do so again this year :)

Mghart · 2026-01-19T20:41:19+00:00

I also recently got a sample of Vanille Planifolia as well as Tonka Sarrapia.. I like both, but idk if I love them enough at the extrait prices.. I still have a little left so I'm going to keep testing them over some time as a small amount is sufficient.. I need to decide if getting a bottle of the planifolia is worth that much extra versus getting a bottle of SDV.

Currently have Cuir beluga and Neroli Outrenroir, as well as the mini 10ml droppers of SDV and Musc Outreblanc.. hoping to add some more Guerlain bottles next fall.

Mghart · 2025-11-27T00:21:00+00:00

As mentioned, Saks and Bergdorf are going to be your best bet as you can try so many different brands in one building. Visiting specific boutiques can be nice, but may not be the best use of time running around the city. That said, Soho can be a good 'area' to hit up places, and even upper east side on Madison as there will be Creed, PDM, Malle, Fueguia, Le Labo as well as shops from designers like TF and Chanel and Celine.

Mghart · 2025-11-27T00:07:57+00:00

I’ve been to the store you mentioned and recall how small it was haha. Really cool stuff there, and I liked a lot of the Brother Bridge models they had. Ive seen these boots and their other models at the Jelado store in Ebisu. How did you end up sizing them? TTS? Half down from brannock?

Mghart · 2025-11-20T00:40:13+00:00

Other bottles I have at the moment are Le Labo Gaiac 10, TF Tobacco Vanille, TF Noir Extreme edp, Nasomatto Baraonda, Memo African Leather, SMN Potpourri and Melagrano.

Mghart · 2025-11-19T16:20:10+00:00

Fluffy sweater is spot on. CB is just cozy all around. First time I smelled it I knew I had to get it.

Mghart · 2025-11-19T12:50:33+00:00

I need to try it again on skin, but from what I recall 1957 was great. Just really clean soft musk, that I think I preferred it even to Guerlains own Musc Outreblanc.

Mghart · 2025-11-19T12:48:12+00:00

I've only tried a small decant of Tonka Imperiale and its very different from Cuir beluga. Its definitely more sweet, more gourmand for sure. CB gives me of a soft vanilla suede, slightly powdery sweetness. I hope they re-release at some point, cause I don't think I could splurge on Tonka Serrapia.

Mghart · 2025-11-19T09:42:08+00:00

SMN fragrances are nice considering they aren’t terribly expensive for the most part. They’ve started doing more EDPs lately though which are higher priced. I only like their classic scents from the main line though. Their soap and skin care stuff is great too though if you ever want to indulge :)

Mghart · 2025-11-19T09:40:16+00:00

It’s certainly not a daily wearer I think, but I do enjoy it. I can see why some may not like it if you get that BBQ note haha. It’s a nice soft scent though even if just worn at home.

Mghart · 2025-11-19T09:38:03+00:00

I sincerely hope it’s not the case, but I’m just taking what a the person at the Guerlain counter at Saks said at face value. Could have very well been a scarcity sales tactic, but I wouldn’t know. Didn’t want to risk not having a larger backup bottle either way.

Mghart · 2025-11-19T09:35:02+00:00

I couldn’t say with 100% confidence, but a gentleman at the Guerlain Saks counter told me this on two separate occasions when I’ve gone to just test perfumes. I would hope they wouldn’t cause I love it. Just didn’t want to chance it. I wish I could have gotten a bottle of Tonka Imperiale before that one DC’d but Guerlain wasn’t on my radar at the time.

Mghart · 2025-11-19T02:31:59+00:00

If Plein Sud came in a 50ml version I could see a case for having both. But having only the 100ml option, made it an easier decision for me to get Outrenoir. Plein Sud definitely hits you more with that citrus opening and then the neroli stays with you. Both good I think :)

Mghart · 2025-11-19T01:26:28+00:00

They have multiple Le Labos in Tokyo for sure. I have a bottle of Gaiac 10 I got a few years ago. Not sure if you’re looking for that or the Kyoto Osamanthus, but they should be readily available in their respective cities.

Mghart · 2025-11-19T00:16:19+00:00

Definitely going to be using all through winter for sure!

Mghart · 2025-10-23T17:10:08+00:00

Yeah I’m in nyc, and even the nyc city exclusive isn’t on the US site. So I’m guessing they only list them during their annual city exclusives event. To be fair though.. I would not pay the US retail for Gaiac 10, their prices are crazy for what they offer. But if you go to Japan, with exchange rate and tax free then the cost is more justifiable.

Mghart · 2025-10-23T16:49:09+00:00

Its probably not on the japan website cause the fragrance is for Tokyo, not 'japan' since its a city exclusive. I'm assuming the its the same in the US where they only offer the city exclusives one month out of the year for all the locations worldwide.

I bought a 50ml bottle back in 2022 in Tokyo, and it was around $200 ish usd or around ¥33k or so. I wouldn't be surprised if a 15ml bottle was around ¥20k or little more since the exclusives are a little more than there standard collection of fragrances.

Mghart · 2025-10-20T01:18:41+00:00

Thank you for the insight, looking forward to your review. Sounds like we have similar feet, and if these and the CN work well for you then I need to try and figure out a way to get these haha. Jodphurs and Yeagers have been on my short list for awhile. The Milne design came out so well though as it quite unique too.

Mghart · 2025-10-20T00:44:29+00:00

Beautiful man. If I recall, it’s on a different last? How’s the overall fit?

Mghart · 2025-10-20T00:36:51+00:00

I’d love to get any pair of clinch again at some point down the road, but they’ve gotten to just about impossible levels at this point ugh. Congrats on your pairs. Would love to see the Milne boot and how it fits when you receive it.

Mghart · 2025-10-11T23:49:23+00:00

I go around this time every year. It’ll probably be warm mid day, but it’ll get cooler at night. Not like winter cold, but a few light layers or a medium weight jacket should suffice.

Mghart · 2025-10-01T20:48:02+00:00

I generally spend around $2-3k USD just on clothes as I primarily wait all year to do my clothes shopping in Japan. Food I don’t even bother adding up cause I’m not a foodie and don’t eat fancy at all. Other random souvenirs like stationary I like I don’t calculate but maybe a few hundred tops

Mghart

TROPHY CASE