by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This Billy Reid Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt Belongs In Your Closet This Season

Best men's chambray shirts for 2026.

As we move steadily into a new season, it’s always worth taking stock of what really works in your wardrobe, what sorts of pieces you rely on and wear often (perhaps too often, in the case of this denim and chambray-loving Brooklyn style writer). But the classics, as we often say, remain the classics for a reason, and a sense of timeless style — with some thoughtful design details or perhaps a slightly elevated outlook — can work wonders for your wardrobe.

That’s certainly the case as you swap out your favorite rugged fall and winter flannel shirts for something with a lighter touch — and my friends, you’re certainly in luck today.

Take one of the best chambray shirts for men, after all. When updated ever-so-slightly by a designer like Americana-inspired, award-winning Alabama menswear maestro Billy Reid, the utterly classic chambray shirt feels fresh and wearable — from the BBQ to the boardwalk and a bit of everywhere in between as the weather warms up day by day.

Shop the best American menswear at Billy Reid

The fabric is a workwear staple, and if Billy Reid knows a thing or two about anything — beyond making the peacoat worn by James Bond, that is — it’s high-quality denim (among other menswear essentials, of course). The brand’s Billy Reid Shoals Denim Shirt is a personal favorite of this writer, and the company looked to its archives this season to deliver a revamped, lighter take on cotton chambray in a short-sleeve fabrication the newfound favorite Billy Reid Short-Sleeve Chambray Donelson Shirt.

The Billy Reid Short-Sleeve Chambray Donelson Shirt has a few roots of the past woven in every thread – namely, it looks like an old-school auto body or shop shirt, with two welt pockets that provide easy access to the tools of your trade (and distinctive looks). Speaking of tools of the trade: Check out my CoolMaterial guide to the best pens for your everyday carry. But back to the Billy Reid Short-Sleeve Chambray Donelson Shirt.

Shop new spring style favorites at Billy Reid

It’s a bit of a throwback, as the brand says, noting that it “first debuted on the runway over a decade ago and we love it for its relaxed fit and effortless look.” That means you can layer this hard-working, stylish short-sleeve chambray shirt atop a white tee, a charcoal henley or a black tank top for a vintage, tough-yet-polished, easygoing and utterly cool look — work smarter, not harder, as they say.

Bleached organic cotton chambray offers subtle texture and eye-catching style, while the designer finished off the Billy Reid Short-Sleeve Chambray Donelson Shirt with tonal stitching for a clean look. Whether paired with the brand’s Moleskin Jeans, styled with olive chinos or paired with can’t-miss black selvedge denim, I’d wager you simply can’t go wrong with a fresh take on the timeless chambray shirt via the Billy Reid Short-Sleeve Chambray Donelson Shirt.

by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: This Line of Trade Leather Jacket is Up for Grabs at a Discount at Bespoke Post Now

It’s more true now than ever, as we often say here on this Brooklyn style blog: Sometimes, the best style moves are the ones you’ve plotted out in advance, thinking ahead and envisioning the perfect #OOTD before the time actually rolls around.

Spring marks an ideal time to dive into that sort of preparation in matters of the best menswear essentials, especially as far as outerwear is concerned, and if you’ve got the chance to score some new threads on sale at a discount, that’s all the better. Throw in the chance to shop a famed modern retailer like Bespoke Post, and the going gets even better (rather than tougher — ya dig?).

Shop the best new gear for spring at Bespoke Post

Particularly when the Bespoke Post Sale section is packed with on-sale style gems from its own suite of in-house brands, like rugged, Americana-inspired Line of Trade, the (menswear) world is your oyster.

And since spring is an ideal time to lighten things up ever so slightly in the outerwear department, trading your parka for a trucker jacket (among other style moves), well, there’s never a bad time to rock something like the handsome, utterly classic and just-plain-cool Line of Trade Dakota Leather Jacket.

Marked down to $288 from $398 (not a bad price in its own right for a stylish leather jacket), there’s a mix of both heritage quality and rock n’roll cool to the Line of Trade Dakota Leather Jacket, which uses vintage-style burnished sheep leather in its construction. That means the Line of Trade Dakota Leather Jacket will only get better and develop its own patina over time, complete with traditional four-pocket trucker jacket design and contrast zig-zatc stitching at the placket.

The rugged Line of Trade Dakota Leather Jacket makes use of double-needle stitching at key stress points,and is finished off with everything you’d expect from one of the best trucker jackets for men, including metal shank buttons with an eye-catching zinc laurel pattern finish.

The details, as we so often say here on this menswear blog, make the difference, as the good folks at Bespoke Post say the small touches “underscore the craftsmanship behind the construction” of the essential, on-sale Line of Trade Dakota Leather Jacket — give it a shot this season (and note that plenty of sizes are available online!) and step into the sort of difference you can really feel when it comes to one of the best leather jackets.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: These Wolverine 1000 Mile Legacy Boots Update a Modern Icon in Time for Spring

Best Wolverine boots for men to buy now.

When a brand known rather famously for making some of the best leather boots for men takes a swing at updating a modern classic, it’s worth keeping a weather eye on the proverbial menswear horizon and giving ’em a shot, especially as we lace up fresh footwear aplenty for a new season.

After all, durable, hard-working and hard-wearing boots are fit for spring pursuits aplenty, from tooling around the yard to bellying up to the bar at your favorite local watering hole. And when a classic is seen from a new perspective, that’s all the better for your roster of the best boots for men.

That’s precisely what Michigan’s own Wolverine has done in launching the Wolverine 1000 Mile Legacy lineup, a retooled look at the iconic Wolverine 1000 Mile lineup that’s putting a fresh twist on some of the most rugged leather boots for men on the market.

Find out more and shop men’s boots at Wolverine

The Wolverine 1000 Mile Legacy Steelpass Boots live up to their namesake in terms of rugged performance and modern heritage — Steelpass is the term given to American West mountain pass roadways, a place where dependable boots come in as handy as just about anything. Premum full-grain leather uppers are designed to develop their own patina over time, while these handsome boots (available in three richly crafted shades of leather) are unlined, so you can go a bit thicker in terms of your boot sock selection should the mood strike you.

Contrast stitching reinforces the heel and the upper, while a captoe detail adds a shot of contrast and a dash of rugged refinement (try the Wolverine 1000 Mile Legacy Steelpass Boots out with stretch chinos in olive, along with a chambray shirt or a deep indigo denim jacket). The Wolverine 1000 Mile Legacy Steelpass Boots use a thick, ridged Vibram outsole for dependable traction, while Goodyear welted construction is a classic touch that goes the extra mile (pun intended) at aiding in rugged durability from one of the best boot brands for men.

The company notes that the cushioned footbed molds to your foot over time for a comfortable, smooth ride, while thick rawhide laces add another point of distinction alongside brass-hued hardware.

For balancing the old-school with the modern, for teaming casually rugged style with standout, comfort-minded construction, it’s hard to pass up the appeal of the Wolverine 1000 Mile Legacy Steelpass Boots, is it not? Plenty of reviews of the Wolverine 1000 Mile Legacy Steelpass Boots speak to the quality of their construction and build, and they’ve arrived just in time to freshen up your lineup of men’s boots for spring.

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Flint and Tinder Dry Wax Trucker Jacket – A Revamped Take on a Huckberry Bestseller

It can prove tricky to take on an all-time modern menswear classic and update it accordingly, improving upon it all the while — but that’s what Huckberry has done by throwing down the proverbial gauntlet, so to speak, in taking a new, fresh look at the Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket. Yes indeed, it’s true: Flint and Tinder took its iconic, best-selling Waxed Trucker Jacket and retooled it in an entirely new fabrication just in time for spring, and it’s assuredly one of the best trucker jackets for men you can buy now.

Shop men’s jackets and more at Huckberry

The trucker jacket is a casually rugged style move all on its own, ideal for layering up over a T-shirt, a short-sleeve henley or a printed camp collar shirt for a mix of high-low style. Throw in the fact that Flint and Tinder kept the same silhouette as its legendary Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket, and it’s clear that the Flint and Tinder Dry Wax Trucker Jacket has plenty going for it.

Its unlined design starts with tough yet supple, hard-working British Millerain Ranger 6 dry-wax cloth — Millerain, of course, is known for designing some of the sturdiest, toughest waxed fabrics on the market, so suffice to say, the good folks at Huckberry got this one correct in every sense of the word.

As its names suggests, the dry finish on the Flint and Tinder Dry Wax Trucker Jacket switches things up from the typical waxed cotton fabrication, as Huckberry notes, and this rugged jacket just so happens to be water and wind-resistant. Side waist pockets and a button flap chest pocket deliver the crucial everyday carry storage and performance you expect from Huckberry’s lineup of fan-favorite trucker jackets, and custom Flint and Tinder hardware (another feature noted for its distinctive durability) finishes off the handsome Flint and Tinder Dry Wax Trucker Jacket in sturdy fashion.

As per tradition with Huckberry’s lineup of Americana-inspired styles, casually rugged looks aplenty are yours for the taking with the Flint and Tinder Dry Wax Trucker Jacket — Dark Olive, Fatigue Green or an especially striking shade of blue should prove plenty wearable with everything from expertly faded blue jeans to inky black selvedge denim or light grey Flint and Tinder 365 Pants.

The Flint and Tinder Dry Wax Trucker Jacket delivers the promise of durable, hard-working performance and eye-catching style, as one should certainly expect (at least in my experience) from the good folks at Huckberry. What more can you ask for from one o the best jackets for men to wear this spring, period? Cheers to dependable layering in the season ahead, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: This Triple Aught Design Chambray Shirt is a Perfectly Rugged Outer Layer for Spring Adventures

Best chambray shirts for men.

As we thaw out after a frigid winter, the call of spring and the promise of adventure — a park stroll, a day hike, maybe a crisp round of brewery beers on a patio — beckons, and I’d wager you’re going to want the right gear with which to take on all of those pursuits. And in my book, one of the best shirt jackets for men (like the one shown above from Triple Aught Design) can help you meet the moment in rugged, functional and casually stylish fashion, at least on your top half.

Find out more and shop new gear now at Triple Aught Design

So for as much as our Friday Find series is about unearthing hidden gems in the world of brands, it’s also about coming back to the well, so to speak, when a brand is really worth its salt. And my friends, Triple Aught Design, with its focus on functional, tactical performance and spirited, rugged fashion certainly qualifies.

That promise of high-quality utility and serious style makes the Triple Aught Design Torque Chambray Shirt an action-packed, feature-filled spring style upgrade as far as the best menswear for spring is concerned.

The basics are covered with the Triple Aught Design Torque Chambray Shirt, and then some, as always seems to be the case with the adventure-minded San Francisco-founded retailer. When it comes to the Triple Aught Design Torque Chambray Shirt, that means using hard-wearing yet supple pre-washed 100 percent cotton chambray fabric in a tight, textured weave ideal for layering atop a short-sleeve henley or rocking all on its own.

The Triple Aught Design Torque Chambray Shirt in fact features heritage-quality cotton chambray denim from European manufacturer Evlox, with a history of high-quality production dating back to 1846.

In fact, Triple Aught Design says it perhaps the very best when talking about the rugged durability of this highly wearable chambray shirt jacket, noting that the material is “a workwear and style icon for over 400 years,” while noting that “chambray shirts have brought character and capability to every frontier.”

That sure is high praise, and that means the company used double and triple-needle stitching for reinforcement of the tough black crosshatch chambray fabric. How’s that for one of the best chambray shirts for men? Make no bones about it, the rugged Triple Aught Design Torque Chambray Shirt lives up to its billing and then some — spring adventures await, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: The Shinola Runwell West Wind Watch Features Plenty of Functionality for Spring and Summer Excursions

Shinola West Wind Runwell Chronograph review.

At least in my experience, there’s no finishing touch quite as useful, as eye-catching or as game-changing as the right wristwatch. As you well know from reading this Brooklyn style blog, properly finishing off your latest #OOTD with one of the best watches for men is a purposeful, stylish touch that goes beyond simply using your phone to check the time, and companies like fan-favorite Shinola understand this all too well, in the very best way possible.

Shop men’s watches and more at Shinola

One of the best men’s watches adds casually rugged style or else a touch of refinement to a look, it’s a further step in showing your attention to detail, and heck, it’s just plain fun, at least in my book, to rock one of the best men’s watches.

And the great thing is, brands like Detroit-based lifestyle brand and watchmaker Shinola make it relatively easy to get into the game, if you’ve not normally worn a watch or tend to go for a tried-and-true classic from a company like Timex (also one of the best affordable watchmakers for men, it should be said). But back to Shinola: The company looked to some of the earliest American watches to design its Art Deco-tinged Shinola Runwell Watch, its flagship model that’s now offered in a variety of crisp dial combinations plus leather, rubber or stainless steel straps.

Past Shinola reviews on this blog have dove into the utility and style points picked up by carrying an effortlessly cool Shinola Runwell Watch — it should be noted that although its watches are assembled in Detroit, they use Swiss parts, like a high-quality Argonite quartz movement (although Shinola has also expanded into automatic movements in recent years).

But the handsome Shinola Runwell Watch now has another counterpart in the brand’s lineup, the Shinola Runwell West Wind Chronograph, a worthy complementary piece and a more expensive, retooled version of the famed Shinola Runwell Watch.

With an impressive 660 feet of water resistance (and plenty of capability to take on a simple ocean dip or pool swim), the Shinola Runwell West Wind Chronograph might represent the brand’s most daring and dashing adventure watch to date, although the Shinola Monster lineup boasts plenty of rugged utility. But when it comes to the Shinola Runwell West Wind Chronograph, you’re getting a nicely sized 42mm titanium adventure watch complete with a titanium strap or a crisp blue rubber strap option, plus added details like screw-down pushers and a screw-down crown to keep things watertight.

Learn more now about the Shinola West Wind Runwell

To bolster visibility, the brand finished off the vivid blue dial with multi-layer C3 lum indexes for high contrast in low light (cave diving, anyone?), while the Shinola Runwell West Wind Chronograph also boasts useful details like a 6-o’clock double date window, plus triple-chronograph utility (be sure to read up on Shinola’s suggestions for getting the most out of your Shinola Runwell West Wind Chronograph).

As we talked about earlier, the latest chronograph to join the Shinola lineup doesn’t come cheap: It clocks in at about $1,495, but it’s the sort of adventure watch you can dress up slightly (try it with a navy blazer, an Oxford shirt and rust-toned five-pocket pants) or style casually and simply with chino shorts and a pocket tee after a day on the water). For a handsome blend of rugged style and real-world utility, you very well might want the new Shinola chronograph watch on your wrist this season.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This Todd Snyder Premium Pocket Tee Elevates a Casual Style Essential in the Best Way Possible

Best pocket T-shirts for men.

In ways that you might not expect, even choice casual style staples can be elevated in luxe fashion — yes, even the humble and hard-working T-shirt, a centerpiece in an off-duty wardrobe and one that can be worn just about any way you please (within reason, of course). And as you well know if you read this Brooklyn style blog, there are ways in which the everyday can be amped up in pleasing fashion with ultra-premium materials, something award-winning menswear designer Todd Snyder has perfected over the years.

Find out more now at Todd Snyder

Case in point: Well, the humble T-shirt, for one. It’s the kind of piece that normally doesn’t raise too many eyebrows, but if you nail the fit and the fabric, the results become clear right away: Yes, the T-shirt can indeed be upgraded in bold, pleasing fashion, and again, Todd Snyder knows just how to do that, my friends.

The Todd Snyder Portuguese Premium Pocket Tee gets the details right every step of the way, starting with soft, luxe all-cotton Premium Jersey fabric in a range of Snyder-approve colors (including the Snyder Olive shade seen above here). It’s an ultra-premium take on a piece you can wear just as easily with stretch chinos and a trucker jacket as with expertly faded blue jeans or contrasting chino shorts (a nice shade of off-white might pair especially well with the Snyder Olive variety of the Todd Snyder Portuguese Premium Pocket Tee, for instance).

It’s garment-washed for added softness and features a crewneck collar for a timeless look, while the overall fit and feel of this piece should allow you to wear it easily underneath a lightweight cotton blazer or all on its own. At $78, yes indeed, the Todd Snyder Portuguese Premium Pocket Tee does boast a premium price tag befitting its name and construction.

Find your new favorite T-shirt now at Todd Snyder

And yet, once you’ve tried on this piece, I’d wager you’ll experience an entirely new world in matters of fit and fabrication. When done the right way (the Todd Snyder Way, some might say), the Todd Snyder Portuguese Premium Pocket Tee offers an entirely new perspective on casual style staples, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: This Flint and Tinder Chore Coat is a Discounted Outerwear Upgrade for Spring From Huckberry

Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, the proper wardrobe filled with some of the most versatile menswear essentials can take some time to perfect. It’s always best to keep your options open, in a manner of speaking, particularly when it comes to highly wearable outerwear on hand from one season to the next.

And while brisk weather still abounds, you’re very well going to want to secure a selection of highly durable, rugged and casually cool layers for more laidback spring style pursuits — starting with one of the best deals on a chore coat is a wise move in that regard.

As one might expect, the good folks at Huckberry assuredly have you covered with savings on the Flint and Tinder Classic Chore Coat, and it’s but one of many stellar deals that are going to prove highly covetable and steal-worthy this season.

Shop the best deals on gear ASAP at Huckberry

The Flint and Tinder Classic Chore Coat joins the acclaimed retailer’s lineup of the best gear and outerwear just about anywhere, including a lineup of tough-as-nails waxed jackets, sturdy field coats and this retooled, on-sale take on a chore coat.

Made with peached cotton twill boasting a hint of stretch, the Flint and Tinder Classic Chore Coat is the perfect go-between when it might be too light to throw on a flannel-lined waxed trucker jacket from Huckberry. All the classic details one might expect from this silhouette are yours for the taking when it comes to the Flint and Tinder Classic Chore Coat, including three front patch pockets (two at the hips, one at the left chest). Yes, your everyday carry is more than covered with the Flint and Tinder Classic Chore Coat.

Best chore coats for men to wear now.

The Flint and Tinder Classic Chore Coat boasts corozo buttons, in this case in a shade that matches this on-sale, Chocolate Brown number. Pair it wisely and stylishly with everything from natural-hued chinos to light wash jeans or dark indigo denim, or else with olive chinos and a crisp white Oxford shirt, for instance.

And given its rugged appeal (and an agreeable sale price of sub-$140), it’s possible to get plenty of dependable wear out of the Flint and Tinder Classic Chore Coat with more rugged styles, including a charcoal thermal henley or a heavyweight pocket tee. Don’t overlook the wearability of the easygoing-yet-tough chore coat, especially one on sale from our friends at Huckberry.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: These Classic Red Wing Heritage Chelsea Boots are an Instant Spring Style Upgrade

Red Wing Heritage boots review.

At times, stepping into a new season is quite literally as easy as, well, stepping into a new pair of durable, rugged footwear. The right pair of footwear, like a set of the best boots for men, can certainly set the tone as far as reliable, versatile style is concerned, with a dash of performance alongside stylish good looks all the while. And after a frigid winter, there’s still a way to ease into the new season at hand while retaining dependable functionality — try an heirloom brand like Red Wing Heritage on for size, shall we?

The good news is that a must-shop retailer like Huckberry has plenty of stock as far as updated takes on the classics are concerned, and Red Wing Heritage delivers for a new season with a fresh spin on the must-have Chelsea boot silhouette.

Shop the best men’s boots for spring now

In fact, the Red Wing Heritage Weekender Chelsea Boots, as the iconic Minnesota brand says, “represents a lighter, more flexible side of Red Wing Heritage,” complete with a dependable premium leather upper bound to age wonderfully over time. It’s that sort of rugged patina that makes a pair of boots from Red Wing Heritage so covetable, whether in chukka boot construction, a lace-up silhouette or this new must-buy set of Chelsea boots.

Best boots for men this spring.

Complete with a rippled Hill outsole for durable traction and support, the Texon insole also delivers comfort and a touch of rebound, all the while pairing handsomely with a rich leather upper for the sort of versatile style your #menswear wardrobe needs.

As with plenty of other Red Wing Heritage boots, the Red Wing Heritage Weekender Chelsea Boots should prove rugged and yet lightweight, all the better for pairing with everything from olive chinos to light wash jeans or dark blue indigo selvedge. And while the Red Wing Heritage Weekender Chelsea Boots might prove a touch pricier than other pairs of Chelsea boots at $280, I have a feeling the hard-working Red Wing Heritage Weekender Chelsea Boots will more than pass muster for whatever the occasion calls for — find the Red Wing Heritage Weekender Chelsea Boots at Huckberry now as we step into a new season, folks.

by Beau H.

The Sunday Sale: Take 30 Percent Off the Best Menswear for the Season Ahead at the Bonobos Big Spring Sale

Is there a better way to welcome a new season than with a full lineup of stylish menswear deals? Especially clothing you can put to good use right away in the weeks ahead, rather than sorting through discounts on last season’s top wares? There’s not much better than that, at least in my experience, and it’s what makes the spring-ready, aptly named Bonobos Big Spring Sale so very shoppable on this fine Sunday.

Find out more now at Bonobos

Yes, the famed NYC retailer is known as much for its expertly designed and well-fitting chinos as its innovative Guideshop concept to shopping (try on items in store, place your order, wait for the shipment to arrive at your front door — no lugging around any bags afterwards!). And while Bonobos has changed ownership over the years, I’ve found the quality remains consistent in many of its flagship items, particularly as I’ve dove into Bonobos chinos reviews from time to time.

And now when it comes to the Bonobos Big Spring Sale, a full lineup of the best early spring menswear is yours for the taking, with a massive array of styles that should have you covered for everything from a day at the office to a weekend date night to an early-season wedding.

Yes, some exclusions apply as you scour the digital pages of the Bonobos Big Spring Sale, but there’s more than enough on offer to please even the most discerning shopper (guilty as charged). A few favorites from the Bonobos Big Spring Sale include the Bonobos Everyday Chambray Shirt in a crisp light blue chambray, the sort of shirt that would team well with dark blue denim or tobacco-hued chinos in equal measure.

The Bonobos Gramercy Premium Jeans also deliver an expert fit and high-quality cotton denim fabrication at a fair price on sale, while the iconic and updated Bonobos Chinos 2.0 upgrade the fabric and yes, the fit options on a style you perhaps know and love.

Shop the best seasonal menswear now at Bonobos

Within the well-stocked Bonobos Big Spring Sale, there’s also an assortment of lightweight spring outerwear, breezy linen sweaters, classic Bonobos Weekday Warrior everyday dress pants for men and of course, Bonobos Travel Jeans and the original (and still best!) Bonobos Original Chino. With 30 percent off sitewide finds, the Bonobos Big Spring Sale is your go-to source for dressy and casual spring style upgrades aplenty — but it’ll only stick around for a limited time, so shop accordingly.