Tag / issara

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Movember, Bombas Socks and Issara Leather Goods

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.

Welcome to another Friday Read, Style Guide fans — y’all are fans of this blog, right?  At any rate, we’re putting another busy work week to bed — last weekend brought with it a trip to Michigan State University, and this week brought with it a busy time at my day job representing Timberland from the PR side of the business. Needless to say, press preview season — both running one and attending several — can be quite hectic, but enjoyable. I’m looking forward to a more relaxing weekend around the city, catching up on a few #menswear photos and taking in the crisp fall weather in Brooklyn. While we’re on the topic of fall style — have you filled out your fall style wish list yet? You best get on that, because bfore we know it, the holiday season will be upon us — yes, I went there. In the meantime, we’ve got you set with fall’s best chukka boots, plus the best way to wear a flannel shirt this fall — and there’s more where that came from. In fact, we very well might — might — be covering great men’s henleys and fall travel tips on The Style Guide in the next week. Stick around for that, and stick around for the best men’s style news this week has to offer.

A fun, essential capsule collection from Richer Poorer supporting a good cause.

A fun, essential capsule collection from Richer Poorer supporting a good cause.

  • So, we’re now into the month of November — and because we like to have a little fun here on the blog, why not snag a neat pair of socks or a simple pocket tee inspired by the “Movember” movement? That’s just what the folks at Richer Poorer are doing — they’ve teamed up with the Movember Foundation to launch a capsule collection featuring a set of Movember-inspired crew socks, plus a pocket tee & boxer briefs — and the best part (other than the brand’s excellent quality) is that 75 percent of each purchase goes to the Movember Foundation.
  • If your sock drawer is in need of a seasonal refresh, it’s high time to grab a simple, crisp pair of Bombas Dress Solids  socks — for every pair sold, the brand donates a pair to homeless shelters, where socks are in high demand. And the brand has a little fun with patterns and colors, namely with the Daymond John x Bombas Sock, which pays homage to their mentor and advisor (that would be Daymond John himself), as well as the brand’s  2014 appearance on  “Shark Tank. They’re socks with a pop of color for a good cause — not too bad at all.

  • The London-based design team behind Issara is in the final days of a Kickstarter campaign for a full lineup of luxury leather goods, notably embedded with smart tracking technology. The line, which includes a clutch, a backpack, a zip wallet, a structured tote, a weekender and a slim bifold wallet, is made ethically from premium full-grain leather, to boot. Plus, each item is embedded with GPS technology from Trackr, designed to help you keep track of your goods. It’s available now for up to 60 percent off — that’s a fantastic deal, all things considered.
  • Luxury shirting maker Eton is launching another neat health and menswear-related movement this November — the brand is selling tie clips engraved with the simple phrase “I Wear The Invisible Tie,” designed to draw awareness to invisible or unspoken men’s health issues. You can pick up the tie bar and in the meantime, know that proceeds are going to charities that conduct research on everything from suicide to prostate and testicular cancer.

That’ll do it for this week’s menswear news — can’t get enough? Start here for what to wear on a weekend coffee date, and continue right on through this way for what to wear to Sunday brunch.

Oh, and swing through tomorrow for our Style Pick of the Week entry featuring a great find from the Huckberry team.

Stay stylish,

-Beau

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear a Short-Sleeve Shirt for Summer

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD series will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

If you’ve been keeping up with the #OOTD series here on The Style Guide, you’ll notice we’ve covered a heck of a lot of ground. But with warm weather heating up, we haven’t quite covered how to wear a short-sleeve shirt for summer. Now if you scroll ahead, you might notice this look is a bit layered up for summer. But if it goes get too hot, the jacket can always be ditched. Back to the matter at hand. A crisp short-sleeve shirt — not one that calls to mind Dwight Schrute, mind you — can be styled exactly like you might style a polo or a classic blue Oxford. So you’ll need to look for one that’s cut slim and modern, in a summer-appropriate color and/or pattern (this Bonobos Riviera Oxford is an ideal example of what we’re looking for). And given hot summer temps for most of us, short sleeves are going to be a nice substitute for, well, longer sleeves. A slim short-sleeve shirt can even be called into action under a blazer — it’s a secret warm-weather style move designed to keep you cool. But the below look aims for versatile style that looks a bit rugged, a bit polished and a whole lot of good. If you’re down with that, read on. For tips on how to style short-sleeve shirts for summer, hit me up on Instagram in the meantime.

Pairing a surefire short-sleeve shirt with a mix of style essentials.

Pairing a surefire short-sleeve shirt with a mix of style essentials.

The Shirt: JACHS NY Cream and Blue Horizontal Striped Short-sleeve Shirt, $89: JACHS NY produces style staples that are at once a bit prep-inspired and continental in nature, and this shirt is a fine example. It’s the perfect length untucked, and would look great with denim or shorts in other ensembles.

The Jacket: JackThreads Trucker Jacket in Seeded Natural, $79: Why, you might ask, does a denim jacket feature in this photo if it’s hot out? Well, it’s there to transition from day to night, and the excellent Natural color provides a great style swerve from a classic denim jacket.

The Pants: Buck Mason Iron Chinos, $135: Just like the Buck Mason Sand Chinos featured on this site earlier this spring, these Iron Chinos feature a modern cut, nice color and made-in-America construction.

The Loafers: Sebago Norwich Bison Penny Loafers, $165: These aren’t your average loafers, made with rich Horween Bison leather and designed to break in over time. Not quite too dressy, not quite too casual.

The Belt: J. Crew Factory Double-Striped Webbing Belt, $14.50: Worried about pairing two sets of stripes together? The scale of the belt, plus the nice off-white color, helps the belt stand out from the shirt itself.

The Socks: Mack Weldon No-show Socks, $16.50: For just over $16, you get not one, but two pairs of reliable, comfortable socks — crucial with loafers and rolled chinos.

The Wallet: Issara Minimalist Wallet, $69: Nearly $70 certainly is a lot for a card case, but when it’s crafted from rich navy leather and fits in the front pocket of your chinos (or slim blue denim, or a tailored suit), it’s worth the price.

If you don’t yet have a short-sleeve shirt or two in your closet, it’s a wise bet to pick up one that goes with quite a few ensembles — the striped blue-and-cream number above works with dark denim, slim light wash jeans, tan chinos or a stylish pair of chino shorts, along with all kinds of summer footwear picks. When you add in the fact that it looks great over top a pair of four-season chinos and some rugged loafers, it’s certainly a winning style move. Crisp, minimal accessories like a handmade lanyard and a reliable wallet certainly work well in nearly every style situation, too. If you’re hestitant to try one out, think of it like a slim summer polo, or even a classic chambray shirt, and go from there. Give me a shout on Twitter with style questions — come one, come all!

What’s your take on the above #OOTD? Would you change any pieces?
Florsheim

Join Frank & Oak Elevate - Enjoy FREE Shipping, Cashback + more at Frank + Oak! Try it now for 90 days, risk free!

by Beau H.

Style Upgrade: The Slim Wallet

Editor’s note: This is the first in an ongoing series covering quick and easy upgrades to style dilemmas a guy might face once in a while. Check back for more entries in the series.

Does this look like your wallet? Or someone you know? Friends don't let friends stuff their wallets.

Does this look like your wallet? Or someone you know? Friends don’t let friends stuff their wallets.

What’s the one thing you carry with you, likely everywhere, everyday? A wallet, or some way or system of storing credit cards, cash, etc. But the thing with that is … it can be a lot. Sometimes, George Costanza-esque (although hopefully not!). Getting your wallet and valuables in order is but one step that goes hand in hand with bettering your style – and your lifestyle in general.
Ben Sherman US
Swapping out that wallet, of course, requires an evaluation of the goods you’ve got in your current one. Excess or old gift cards or receipts? Unless you’re overly sentimental, those can probably be tossed. That value rewards card for a store you never visit? Ehh, probably to the trash can. So that leaves you with the essentials. Storing those is the next step – and with clothing getting slimmer all the time, what does one reach for? Even if you find yourself leaning toward straight leg pant cuts, a good answer is the card case.

What your wallet and credit cards situation should probably look like instead. Read on to learn more about both of these options.

What your wallet and credit cards situation should probably look like instead. On the left: Land’s End Landmark Newton Cardholder. On the right: Linjer Leather Goods’ Mocha Cardholder. Read on to learn more about both of these options.

In a way, it’s like a Lean Wardrobe for your wallet – making do with less, but using those items more efficiently. Paired with a sturdy money clip (like this clever option from Owen & Fred) for some cash, it’s a combination that truly does look stylish while also serving a nice function. And luckily, designers and brands big and small are making versions that lean either super luxe or quite rugged. New leather goods startup Issara makes a truly sleek version with two exterior slots for cards and one additional interior slot at a price that’s not quite investment-grade (but not exactly cheap, either).

A money clip like this one from Owen & Fred will help you keep track of cash once you slim down that wallet.

A money clip like this one from Owen & Fred will help you keep track of cash once you slim down that wallet.

Another significant upgrade at an affordable price would be the Land’s End Landmark Newton Cardholder. It’s on sale right now for just under $15, a pretty darn good price when you consider it’ll go with you everywhere, and the middle-of-the-road brown or black options work in equal measures. Linjer Leather Goods also makes a nice and slim card case in brown as seen above. If you can’t quite let go of your traditional wallet but want to lose the excess bulk, the Mocha Leather Billfold from Linjer is sleeker yet not quite as toned down as a card case.

The slim silhouette and eyecatching use of fabric make this piece from The Hill-Side a true splurge.

The slim silhouette and eyecatching use of fabric make this piece from The Hill-Side a true splurge.

Skagen’s Torben Card Case also would get the job done quite nicely, although there’s a small branded logo stamp on one side, which some might not like. If you really feel like selling out when it comes to this style upgrade though, The Hill-Side (one of GQ’s best and brightest) makes what looks to be an amazing navy herringbone tweed wallet featuring burnished edges, Italian cowhide leather – and more importantly, a slimmed-down yet still traditional wallet shape. There’s no way that thing’d get bulked down by receipts … right?

That’s all for the first Style Upgrade in this series – have you made the switch yet? What card case and/or money clip are you carrying around these days? Let me know!

Ernest Alexander

by Beau H.

Online Shopping Picks: Best Men’s Travel Accessories

Where in the world (or across the country?) will you be heading this summer?

Where in the world (or across the country?) will you be heading this summer?

So with summer coming up quickly and Memorial Day approaching even faster, there’s a good chance you’ll be hitting the road in the coming weeks and months – be it for a music festival, a trip to see old friends, a summer wedding or some much-deserved R-and-R. Either way, how exactly are you going to get there and what are you going to bring? I’ll leave you to figure out your travel reservations — but in the meantime, get prepped to pack with all of the stylish essentials you’ll need, from a great weekender bag to the clothing you might want to throw in it.

The Weekender Bag: Navali Stowaway Weekender Bag — $200

The Navali Stowaway Weekender bag in Carafe. A different color than the version up on the site now, but still a great model.

The Navali Stowaway Weekender bag in Carafe. A different color than the version up on the site now, but still a great model.

While the version for sale on the brand’s site right now comes in different color options than the bag pictured above, the nuts and bolts are still the same. With a Navali bag, you get a unique combination of quality and a relatively affordable price — a bag you’re going to depend on for getting from point A to point B had better be reliable, well-built and good-looking to boot.  It’s made from durable cotton canvas and features added reinforcement at key stress points and leather handles. If you’re in need of a larger or more business-friendly suitcase, you could pick up something sleek and minimal from Tumi.

The Dopp Kit: J. Crew Factory Carson Travel Kit — $34.50 And Toiletries — Brickell Men’s Products

J. Crew Factory's Carson Travel Kit pictured with some other travel essentials. Rubber strap watch by Stuhrling. Stainless steel watch by Invicta. Toiletries by Brickell Men's Products.

J. Crew Factory’s Carson Travel Kit pictured with some other travel essentials. Rubber strap watch by Stuhrling. Stainless steel watch by Invicta. Toiletries by Brickell Men’s Products.

Once you’ve loaded up your weekender bag with budget style essentials fit for a trip, what are you going to do with those toiletries? Even doing something as simple as buying a nicer receptacle for that plastic Ziploc bag to get through security helps tie together the complete travel/style combination. J. Crew Factory’s Carson Travel Kit comes in rugged shades of olive, khaki or deep navy, any of which would be a fine (and durable) addition to your travel lineup. On the cheaper yet still nice-looking side, Target is also making a nice toiletries kit. As far as grooming supplies go, you can’t go wrong on the skin and body care front with some travel-sized essentials from Brickell  Men’s Products — they’re affordably priced and they really do work wonders for your skin (full review here).

The Everyday Carry: Issara Laptop Sleeve (11″ or 13″)  — $116.10 OR $125.10

Navy + leather = quality your laptop can appreciate.

Navy + leather = quality your laptop can appreciate.

For those of us who pack up the laptop when we hit the road, carrying around something with a bit of a luxe feel to it can be a nice upgrade. There are less expensive, sporty options out there but something made out of fine full-grain leather like this laptop sleeve feels great to the touch and befits a laptop that probably cost a pretty penny. This piece and others are available for pre-order now, so keep that in mind as you hit the road. On another note, the navy leather is another step up as far as travel gear goes. If that color isn’t your thing, it’s also available in cognac or black.

The Wallet: Linjer Leather Goods Mocha Billfold

Made out of vegetable-tanned leather and with enough room for everything you need to hit the road.

Made out of vegetable-tanned leather and with enough room for everything you need to hit the road.

This accessory is another item that can easily become part of your everyday carry outside of travel, too. Linjer’s mocha billfold wallet is a beautifully crafted piece made out of supple leather. It’s got enough space for six cards and a nifty hidden pocket for important documents (or just extra cash). The site is taking pre-orders for those pieces currently, but if you travel exceptionally light and want a piece with some personality, The Hill-Side’s card cases combine excellent fabrics and leather in a slim profile. Of course, as part of your everday carry, it’d be wise to pack a sharp watch — best be on schedule!

The Reading Material: A great book

Weekend reading pictured. Would recommend a smaller book for travel. Leather valet tray by Made Supply Co. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta.

Weekend reading pictured. Would recommend a smaller book for travel. Leather valet tray by Made Supply Co. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta.

I’m a voracious reader in my spare time (if you’ve been following along with the weekly Friday Read pieces, you know that much), but getting into a great book is one of my favorite things to do when traveling. Picking up something digitally if you have a Kindle is definitely a nice option, and I also prefer excellent longform-focused sites like Narratively for digital perusal.

The Travel Outfit

An outfit that moves from place to place with easy. Unconstructed navy blazer by J. Crew. Chambray shirt by GAP. Suede wingtips by Oliberté. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta. Black denim by American Apparel.

An outfit that moves from place to place with easy. Unconstructed navy blazer by J. Crew. Chambray shirt by GAP. Suede wingtips by Oliberté. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta. Black denim by American Apparel.

What to wear while traveling is likely an entirely different post in and of itself (keep your eyes peeled for that!), but outfits that straddle the line between dressy and casual definitely seem to work the best — think something casual-cool, like the unconstructed blazer seen above with a four-season chambray shirt and black (or blue) denim for spring & summer travel. The goal would be to look good but be comfortable moving around and sitting — the suede wingtips seen above could easily be swapped out for white sneakers, while the chambray shirt could be traded in for a pocket tee; in the cold weather, a navy wool blazer would work just the same. Conversely, a great bomber jacket and a short-sleeve henley worn with dark denim works for spring and summer layering as you travel between chillier and hotter climes. Of course, if you’re bringing a suit to a destination, the best suggestion seems to be to simply wear it — more terrific suggestions on dressing for travel from the team at Dappered over here.

Now that you know the bag to grab and what to fill it with, let me know — what are your must-have travel essentials? What items not shown here would pack instead?

The Watchery

button