Culture Carton is a monthly lifestyle box for men. Each month you’ll receive curated lifestyle items and literature to enhance your gentlemanly status.
Culture Carton has three subscription options: Essential (just the lifestyle items for $35 a month), Standard (lifestyle items and book for $45 a month), Book Club (monthly book shipped to you for $16 a month).
This is a review of the $45 a month Culture Carton Standard.
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Culture Carton
The Subscription Box: Culture Carton
The Cost: $45 a month + shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: Free shipping on all orders over $100
CODE: FREESHIPPING
The Products: A curated selection of men’s lifestyle items and a book “that belongs on every man’s bookshelf.”
Ships to: US for a varied cost. Shipping to NC is $7.26. International shipping varies.
January 2019 Culture Carton “The Banville” Review
My husband, John, is helping me with this review by testing all of the products and giving me his perspective. I have to keep him away until I snap photos because he always wants to tear open the boxes.
An info card with an introduction to the month’s theme and contents is included. This month’s theme is “The Banville.” The items are curated to help you start your 2019 off right with a "fresh dash of style."
Lord of Ties 100% Silk Tie - Listed Value $55
John felt so patriotic wearing this tie! I think the rich red and navy stripe looks really sharp with a white shirt and his khaki sports coat. The silk has a nice subtle sheen and the skinny shape is modern.
King x Portland Lapel Pin - Listed Value $15
John has mostly silver toned metal accessories, so it's nice that he received a gold lapel pin to broaden his style scope. The fleur-de-lis is a little more traditional in style than he typically wears so I think it won't get a ton of use, but sometimes he surprises me, so I'm looking forward to seeing how he'll style this.
Gentleman Collective Pocket Square - Listed Value $18
Carrying on the fashion theme this month, John received this gray and bright blue pocket square. I love the color and how the pattern looks. The whip stitching on the edges gives this accessory a playful vibe. You can wear it like John is here, with the corners pointed up so the stitching shows, or you can go for a sleeker look and tuck the seams in. Initially, I didn't think it would coordinate well with the tie, but it looks nice.
King x Portland Socks - Listed Value $12
John loves fun socks. These are a good middle ground between his cat bread socks and plain dress socks. They're soft, comfy, and thick enough to give some cushion without making his shoes tight.
The Sea by John Banville - Retail Value $15.95 (Found here for $11.06)
John is happy to add this to our library since he has never read it. It's written in a journal-like fashion sharing the memories and thoughts of the narrator, Max. He explores the themes of love, loss, and how we remember our pasts. It's not very long and I feel like it would be a great quick, but deep, read.
Here's the description on Amazon:
In this luminous new novel about love, loss, and the unpredictable power of memory, John Banville introduces us to Max Morden, a middle-aged Irishman who has gone back to the seaside town where he spent his summer holidays as a child to cope with the recent loss of his wife. It is also a return to the place where he met the Graces, the well-heeled family with whom he experienced the strange suddenness of both love and death for the first time. What Max comes to understand about the past, and about its indelible effects on him, is at the center of this elegiac, gorgeously written novel — among the finest we have had from this masterful writer.
The Verdict: Culture Carton always does a good job of curating novels and items for a theme. This month, John's box included stylish accessories that are different from those that he already has. He's happy with the novel selection and agrees that it is a great addition to any gentleman's library. I like how the items are varied each month – sometimes they're wearable fashion, sometimes they're functional tools – but they're always great. This box makes a great gift for any guy who is interested in building his library of classic novels and staple lifestyle items in a fashionable and clever way.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Sign up now for the March box.
Orders placed before the 15th of the month will be shipped on 15th-17th of the month. All orders placed after the 15th will ship the following month.
Coupon – Use code MYSUB10 to save 10% off your first box!
Value Breakdown: The box costs $45.00 + $7.55 shipping to NC and it has a retail value of $115.95. That means each item breaks down to approximately the following cost:
- Lord of Ties 100% Silk Tie - $24.92
- King x Portland Lapel Pin - $6.80
- Gentleman Collective Pocket Square - $8.16
- King x Portland Socks - $5.44
- The Sea by John Banville - $7.23
Check out all of our Culture Carton reviews and more men's lifestyle boxes in the Men’s Subscription Box List!
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