Category Archives: Style

PRAKTICALA’s Favorite Deals for Black Friday 2017!

black friday 2017
Recycled illustration from last year.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Here are just a few of PRAKTICALA’s favorite deals for Black Friday 2017 (check back regularly for updates).

Movies

War for the Planet of the Apes (Blu-ray) – $8 at Amazon

X-men: Days of Future Past 3D (Blu-ray) – $7 at Amazon

Alien: Covenant (Blu-ray) – $9 at Amazon

Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection (Blu-ray) – $30 at Amazon

Video Games

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (PS4) – $15 at Target

Style

Beckett Simonon – many shoes $149 by clicking here and using promo code VIP149 (see our recent review for their Durant brogues here)

Home

Lodge 10-inch Cast Iron Skillet – $10 from Amazon (I now cook almost exclusively with this)

Simplisafe – $200 off the Beacon home security package, or 15% off any other new system package

Stay tuned for more Black Friday 2017 deals throughout the weekend!

Seiko Recraft Automatic Watch SNKN45 Review

seiko recraft automatic watch snkn45 review

You might have seen these relatively low-priced Seiko automatics floating around lately. They’re part of Seiko’s Recraft collection and seem like a bargain for an automatic watch. PRAKTICALA has its Seiko Recraft Automatic Watch SNKN45 review below – take a look at what we think!

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Beckett Simonon Durant Brogues Dress Shoe Review

beckett simonon durant brogues dress shoe review

Beckett Simonon has grown quickly over the last few months.  There were only a couple of shoes on their website when I first bought the Caine oxfords for my wedding a few years ago. Since then, they’ve added several new products, including loafers, brogues, sneakers, bomber jackets, and backpacks.

PRAKTICALA did extensive field testing for their latest pair of shoes. Read the Beckett Simonon Durant brogues dress shoe review below!

EDIT: Now, take 20% off your order with our exclusive promo code PRAKTICALA20!

Continue reading Beckett Simonon Durant Brogues Dress Shoe Review

Timex Weekender Fairfield Watch Review

timex weekender fairfield watch review

Swiss automatic watches are great, but perhaps you aren’t ready to drop a few grand on an accessory. (Or even a few hundred.) No problem – several excellent Japanese automatic watches are available in the $100 range, including the Seiko 5 Sports, my favorite watch and daily beater.

Still, even 100 bucks is still a lot for the budget-conscious layperson. The good news is you can spend even less and still get a decent, respectable watch. While it might not be automatic, the upside is it’ll have exclusive benefits you can only get with a battery.

For a nice, inexpensive daily beater, it’s hard to find a better value than the Timex Weekender Fairfield watch.

Continue reading Timex Weekender Fairfield Watch Review

Beckett Simonon Suede Bomber Jacket Review

beckett simonon suede bomber jacket review

Longtime readers already know I’m a big fan of Beckett Simonon’s shoes. I have a pair of Caine oxfords (which I wore at my wedding), as well as the Cohen loafers and some brown brogues.

Recently, the company has ventured into outerwear, with a suede bomber jacket meant to suit the professional just as well as the rock star. Read our full review below!

EDIT: Now, take 20% off your order with our exclusive promo code PRAKTICALA20!

Continue reading Beckett Simonon Suede Bomber Jacket Review

John Doe Shoes Calfskin Garein Briefcase Review

john doe shoes garein calfskin briefcase review

In the contest between backpack and briefcase, you should choose the briefcase.

Although I recently reviewed John Doe Shoes’ very nice pair of Whisky Box Calf Bonucci Oxfords, I actually gave John Doe Shoes a shot last year with their calfskin Garein briefcase.

The photos from the website didn’t really give me an accurate idea of the product, but the promise of full-grain leather was too good for me to pass up. I took a chance and ordered one of the last units available. Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed!

Continue reading John Doe Shoes Calfskin Garein Briefcase Review

John Doe Shoes Whisky Box Calf Bonucci Oxford Review

john doe shoes whisky box calf bonucci oxford review

John Doe Shoes is a brand I’ve had my eye on for awhile – since my original search for decent shoes for my wedding. I originally passed them over in favor of trying other brands, largely because the product photography on the website wasn’t that great (sorry).

Since then, their photography has improved, as has their inventory, making them a more prominent player in the startup footwear category. I finally was able to get a pair – read my John Doe Shoes Whisky Box Calf Bonucci Oxford review below!

Continue reading John Doe Shoes Whisky Box Calf Bonucci Oxford Review

Hamilton Khaki Navy Sub Automatic Watch Review H78615135

hamilton khaki navy sub automatic watch review

First of all, thank you for your patience during my hiatus. We’re back with a Hamilton Khaki Navy Sub Automatic Watch review (H78615135)!

ALSO: Bonus video review added! Continue reading to view!

Continue reading Hamilton Khaki Navy Sub Automatic Watch Review H78615135

Jack Erwin Cooper Boat Shoe Review

jack erwin cooper boat shoe review

Those who have read my review of Jack Erwin’s Carter wingtip boot remember that I was pleased with the quality of their shoes and the positioning of their company as a disruptor to the overpriced, premium-shoe market.

But despite having a decent collection of oxfords, brogues, and loafers, Jack Erwin hasn’t hasn’t offered any boat shoes until now. I was able to acquire a brand new pair, so read my Jack Erwin Cooper boat shoe review below!

ALSO: Video review added – see below!

Continue reading Jack Erwin Cooper Boat Shoe Review