by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Shinola Runwell Duffle Bag – An Essential Travel Companion for the Seasons Ahead (And Right Now)

As winter’s many frigid days continue to roll through this neck of the woods (and perhaps your own home base as well), it’s worth wondering when the chance arises to break out of the frigid cold, yes? A worthwhile question indeed, and one you should keep top of mind as you plot your next getaway — and the weekender bag you’re going to pack to go far afield (or closer to home) also carries plenty of weight (and essential, stylish gear), yes?

The best men’s travel gear helps make the journey as enjoyable and stylish, or at least as functional, as can be — and with one of the best weekender bags for men, the routine of gearing up and packing up to hit the road takes on a new meaning. It’s no moreso apparent than when you opt in with one of my favorite style and lifestyle brands, period.

Think of it like an A-to-Z approach seen in one of the most considered lifestyle brands of the moment, and a favorite of this writer — Detroit-based Shinola delivers handsome watches aplenty, they deliver an incredible stay at the downtown Detroit Shinola Hotel, and now, they offer a curated selection of the coolest travel gear and leather goods on the market. If you’ve read this Brooklyn style blog over the years, then yes, you certainly know — or at least, now you know.

Find out more about Shinola ASAP this weekend

Difficult though it might be to cut through the clutter of stylish men’s travel gear, consider the Shinola Runwell Duffle Bag your new go-to travel companion for seasonal getaways as the country thaws out. Just as the ever-stylish Shinola Runwell Watch is a daily must-have for many on the market (this writer very much included), the handsome and durable, rugged-meets-refined Shinola Runwell Duffle has you covered from take-off to touchdown, so to speak, in matters of both form and function.

The Shinola Runwell Duffle Bag carries forward the same design principles as the famed and iconic (in a modern sense) Shinola Runwell Watch — read on for further past Shinola Runwell reviews on this very site for a deeper dive into the effortlessly versatile, Art Deco-inspired timepiece and its “daily driver” wearability. In the meantime, I’d wager the dependable build of the elegant yet tough Shinola Runwell Duffle Bag should more than suffice as you plot your next long weekend away, yes?

Shinola Runwell Duffle Bag review.

Fashioned with the company’s Navigator Leather and built with reliable Gunmetal hardware, the handsome Shinola Runwell Duffle Bag boasts 37.2 liters of carrying capacity, plus two slip pockets and an interior pocket, along with an external slip pocket for easy access to your everyday carry essentials.

Shinola leather goods review.

As the famed Detroit company notes, the Shinola Runwell Duffle Bag is designed in Detroit, and “built to be the last bag you’ll ever need.” Available in four eye-catching shades of leather built to patina beautifully over time, I’d wager your new favorite duffle bag from Shinola is built to complement your new go-to timepiece rather stylishly, is it not? If you decide to score one for yourself, let me know in the comments below.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: Transition to Early Spring and the Weekend with this Laidback Warren Pullover Hoodie

Best hoodies for men.

On the verge of a late winter weekend, what do you look for in your wardrobe of menswear essentials? Do you look for casual comfort for laidback days at home? Something more polished for nights out? Or something so well-made, it’s hard not to find a way to work it into your wardrobe?

The Warren Hayes Pullover Hoodie might just fit the bill nicely in that regard, especially in matters of laidback, casual weekend style — and it doesn’t hurt that it’s part of an always stellar assortment of USA-made menswear from Warren, a favorite brand of mine across the past year or so. How about yourself, ehh?

We’ve talked in past Warren menswear reviews about the company’s steadfast commitment to made-in-New-England manufacturing, which just so happens to make them a perfect fit for our Friday Find series, where we dive briefly but deeply into quality menswear made the right way in small batches (in a manner of speaking, that is).

And the Warren Hayes Pullover Hoodie exemplifies the proper USA-made approach in matters of rugged, dependable style, whether worn with expertly faded blue jeans, stretch chinos and a light wash denim jacket, or a pair of tailored merino joggers for a weekend at home. Twill tape reinforcements at key stress points are accented by black matte drawcord tips, while the classic fit is apt for layering over a long-sleeve tee or a henley without leaving you swimming in excess fabric.

Made from 10.5oz. organic French Terry cotton that’s then garment-dyed to great effect in Somersworth, New Hampshire, the durable Warren Hayes Pullover Hoodie is a steadfast commitment to old-school athletic styles. And as the brand says, “every part of the construction process – knitting, sewing, and dyeing – takes place within a 100-mile radius, a testament to New England’s long-standing textile heritage.” I couldn’t have said it better myself — how do you feel about adding the utterly classic Warren Hayes Pullover Hoodie to your laidback weekend style rotation? The time is upon us, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: These Buck Mason Chinos are As Classic a Pair of Pants as It Gets These Days

What do you look for in an utterly classic, easily wearable pair of pants? Durability? Timeless good looks? Versatility? A combination of all of the above? It can be a tricky equation to perfect, but when you find the right pair, you know — especially if the name of the game is finding a set of trousers more polished than denim but not quite as formal as wool suit trousers, then a pair of the best chinos for men might prove just what the (style) doctor ordered.

And as ever these days, Buck Mason — the Americana-tinged brand with a slew of the best menswear essentials on the market to its name — is assuredly on the case with the Buck Mason Paperback Twill Maverick Chino.

Find out more now and shop at Buck Mason

While the Los Angeles brand — initially inspired by America’s Rust Belt towns and classic workwear style — also does quite the standout job at delivering stylish blue jeans and effortlessly cool T-shirts and casual sweaters like the best quarter-zip sweater on the market — the Buck Mason Paperback Twill Maverick Chino is a step up in terms of dressy yet versatile appeal. You see, the Buck Mason Paperback Twill Maverick Chino takes the officer’s chino (a favorite of the U.S. Army decades ago) and turns it into a crisp, slim version of the style, with dependable fabrication to match.

If you ask me, the Buck Mason Paperback Twill Maverick Chino remind me of the kind of chinos my great-grandfather wore — always with a crisp white Oxford shirt and occasionally, a lightweight cardigan. It doesn’t get much more classic than that, does it? And these days, the Buck Mason Paperback Twill Maverick Chino upgrade that timeless look with fresh 7.8oz. garment-washed cotton twill for supple comfort and lived-in style right out of the box.

Available in two earthy colors (including the downright essential Uniform Khaki and vintage-inspired Fatigue), these stylish men’s chinos should prove an apt way to step from late winter into early spring, whether worn with a denim shirt, a simple yet stylish waffle crewneck sweater, or a polished Oxford shirt, sleeves rolled up as you get down to business.

Don’t settle for less than the utterly classic and crisp: Any way you style it — perhaps even with a laidback yet well-made Buck Mason T-shirt — the Buck Mason Paperback Twill Maverick Chino delivers effortless style in spades for the season ahead. Good luck out there and here’s to timeless good looks, my friends.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This Flint and Tinder Western Shirt is a New (Early) Spring Style Favorite

Flint and Tinder men's shirts review.

How do you prepare your menswear wardrobe for the next season ahead while staying stylishly, squarely in the current season at hand? In my experience, that’s where helpful tricks of the trade come in handy: Looking for staple pieces that deliver easy wearability and timeless good looks is the name of the game, and as seems to be the case lately (and in many other seasons), the good folks at Huckberry get the job done with fresh yet utterly classic style selections.

That includes pieces that are ever so slightly on trend while remaining firmly wearable and delivering rugged good looks, like one of the best Western shirts for men. Western style, from boots to cowboy-cut denim to durable Western shirts and ranch-inspired jackets, is all the rage at the moment, but it’s a trend rooted in the classics that you can make work for you — and then some.

Shop new spring gear and more at Huckerry

Take the Flint and Tinder Cotton Western Shirt, part of a slew of new arrivals at Huckberry these days as we cast an eye towards spring. While Huckberry’s famed Flint and Tinder line relies on essentials both casual — like the iconic Flint and Tinder 10-Year Hoodie — as well as slightly dressier (like its Flint and Tinder 365 Pants), the handsome Flint and Tinder Cotton Western Shirt is somewhere in between, as wearable with stretch chinos as with expertly faded blue jeans from the fan-favorite retailer.

The Flint and Tinder Cotton Western Shirt gets the details right in matters of classic good looks and fresh, modern style, using 100 percent cotton construction in a durable build finished with cow bone buttons for authenticity. Western detailing abounds across the Flint and Tinder Cotton Western Shirt, as luck would have it, including single point dual chest pockets and a Western yoke across the front and back shoulders.

The plaid colorway is, again as luck would have it, spring-friendly in every way possible, with a more versatile look and feel compared to denim shirting from the F&T line. Featuring durable stitching and a fit designed to look great untucked (or tucked in beneath a lightweight cotton blazer for a spring-ready change of pace), I’d say that yet again, Huckberry has thought of positively everything when it comes to the design and build of the Flint and Tinder Cotton Western Shirt, your new favorite early (early) spring style move, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: Lace Up These Rugged, On-Sale Rhodes Footwear Boots from Huckberry ASAP

Best leather boots for men.

In these unreasonably frigid times, rugged, dependable footwear is the name of the game — you tend to quickly realize the importance of one of the best pairs of boots for men right when you tend to need ’em the most.

And if your footwear rotation could use a bit of a refresh as we step through winter and look ever so slightly towards spring, then it’s best to snag a pair of the best men’s boots while they’re on sale, right? Right you are indeed my friend, and the good folks at Huckberry tend to have you covered for most any style situation — the brisk climes of winter very much included.

Shop the best men’s gear and footwear now at Huckberry

And that’s where Huckberry’s own Rhodes Footwear line comes into play, particularly at this stage in the game, where the Huckberry Sale section delivers stylish discounts aplenty. To be more specific, the Rhodes Footwear Vibram Wedge Sole Boots are a discounted, highly useful style steal at the moment, built with the proper specs to deliver sturdy wearability, traction and tough, goes-with-just-about-anything style.

Available in a wide range of sizes in rich Cognac leather — or a Chestnut Suede variety that’s also on sale — these boots are on sale for a whopping 50 percent off, a true steal of a deal considering how much wear you can get out of ’em now and into spring.

Crafted in Leon, Mexico — arguably the heart of some of the best bootmaking in the world — the Rhodes Footwear Vibram Wedge Sole Boots boast a durable and yet supple leather upper (or, again, a suede variety), while the Vibram 2060 wedge outsole is the perfect blend of lightweight toughness and eye-catching style. The Texon® insole delivers rebound, comfort and support, as Huckberry calls these a “modern service boot with nonstop comfort” — that description sounds just about right for your wardrobe, does it not?

The Rhodes Footwear Vibram Wedge Sole Boots also feature a crisp, versatile plain-toe design — the kind you can dress down with light wash jeans or dress up slightly with olive chinos, a charcoal blazer and a crisp white Oxford shirt. Another feature to love about the handsome, effortlessly cool Rhodes Footwear Vibram Wedge Sole Boots?

They’ll develop a rich patina over time, always a feature to love about the best leather boots for men. And for 50 percent off right now, you might not find a better deal on the best boots for men than the Rhodes Footwear Vibram Wedge Sole Boots — looks like it’s time to make some space in your boots rotation, my friends.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: These Tecovas Moc Toe Boots are a Rugged Solution to Winter’s Worst Weather

Sometimes, the menswear world is as much about solutions as it is about style — as much about form as it is function, and that’s where the right pair of the best men’s boots can often go a very long way. Particularly as winter weather still continues to pummel the country, you need the right gear to get the job done, even if the job involves a casually rugged outing to your favorite dive bar.

And with their sturdy construction, work-approved performance, durable specs and even some style points to match, a pair of work boots from a somewhat unexpected source like Tecovas might just be the footwear upgrade you need to close out the season at hand.

Shop the best boots for men at Tecovas

The Tecovas LongHaul Moc Toe Work Boots fit the bill perfectly in terms of lightweight performance, dependability and the proper style points when you prefer to wear your leather moc toe boots a bit more casually off-duty. And yes, Tecovas is perhaps best known for its stylish Western boots for men, but don’t sleep on Tecovas sweaters, tough trucker jackets and Western-style shirting — all of ’em pair perfectly with the best moc toe boots for men, of course.

At times like these — and especially as we head into the casual, brisk and breezy climes of spring — a set of boots like the Tecovas LongHaul Moc Toe Work Boots can work wonders for your wardrobe. They boast a bevy of nearly five-star customer reviews, always a positive, and are truly work-approved in matters of specs and design.

The Tecovas LongHaul Moc Toe Work Boots are built with wateproof leather for multi-season performance, with a composite safety toe and cushioned footbed for supreme comfort and job site-ready reliability.

Tecovas men's boots review.

And for added comfort for long days on your feet, a dual density outsole delivers rebound and cushioning, while the gusseted tongue on these tough work boots should also aid in mobility — it assuredly seems like Tecovas thought of just about everything in matters of utility, which is just about all one can ask for when it comes to the best work boots for men, ehh?

Shop your new favorite boots now at Tecovas

And yet, when worn more casually with inky blue indigo denim or grey selvedge, the handsome and hard-wearing turn into a bona fide style move you should be proud to wear in casually rugged fashion. When duty finally comes calling, the Tecovas LongHaul Moc Toe Work Boots are ready to heed the call with the right blend of form and function — sounds to me like you could use a new pair of boots, yes? Lace ’em up accordingly, folks.

by Beau H.

The Sunday Sale: This Line of Trade Welder’s Jacket Is As Good As It Gets, and It’s On Sale at Bespoke Post

Mining the past for heritage style inspiration is always a wise move in terms of rugged appeal and classic good looks, is it not? That’s what so many of my favorite menswear brands, and so many of the best online menswear shops for guys, tend to do, and there are times when it all comes to a head in eye-catching, must-buy fashion. Take the handsome jacket seen above (and below), yes?

The good folks at Bespoke Post certainly have a handle on heritage style for the modern man, as best seen in the Line of Trade roster of gear — Americana inspiration and classic good looks in rugged silhouettes are the name of the game, and the Line of Trade Suede Welder’s Jacket delivers the goods, and then some. Add in the fact that it’s marked down nearly 40 percent — well below $300 — and the design becomes even more appealing, does it not?

Find out more and shop ASAP at Bespoke Post

The Line of Trade Suede Welder’s Jacket gets its good looks from classic work jackets of days gone by (as Bespoke Post says, it’s “a reimagined workshop jacket in genuine suede,” with equally genuine nods to 1940s metalworker jackets, yet this time done up in more luxe material at a standout price.

The Line of Trade Suede Welder’s Jacket uses a snap button front and large snap hip pockets for easy mobility and storage potential aplenty for any tools of your own trade. The foldover tab collar is a rugged touch that offers a further dash of utility, while articulated elbows and double-needle stitching deliver both durability and performance where you need it the most.

It’s a highly affordable and altogether lovely take on a timeless silhouette — to hear Bespoke Post tell it, Line of Trade itself was “inspired by masters of their trades – men of independence, skill, and effort,” and this modern twist on a style staple is about as essential as can be

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Barbour Bedale Classic Jacket – A Menswear Icon Is Yours for the Takinng

Barbour Bedale Jacket review.

As we think ever so slightly about storing away your trusty winter jacket rotation in the weeks ahead, it’s wise to plan for the transition to the breezy yet still brisk climes of spring. And that’s where menswear classics can prove handy right now and in the weeks and months ahead, particularly as far as rugged, dependable and timeless outerwear is concerned.

And as we often say on this Brooklyn style blog, the classics are the classics for a reason, with a history of rugged performance in the field, striking good looks in every stitch and versatile appeal to wear with outfits slightly more casual and perhaps a bit more polished.

My friends, Huckberry has a full roster of new spring style arrivals that fit the bill in this regard — and then some — starting with the Barbour Bedale Classic Jacket, which absolutely lives up to its stylish, reliable billing.

Find out more and shop early spring gear at Huckberry

The Barbour Bedale Classic Jacket was first put to the test as a countryside staple across England and Scotland, with particular use for hunting and field expeditions, thanks to its tough waxed cotton construction and classic details like a corduroy collar and cuffs for warmth and utility. These days, it gets a modern update in a distinctive Fern color, not to mention a new peached-finish take on its utterly iconic fabrication.

The Barbour Bedale Classic Jacket also includes a plethora of pockets for your everyday carry essentials, including moleskin-lined handwarmer pockets and deep bellows pockets for storing all the tools of the trade you need for a day in the field. And to hear Huckberry tell it, the peached-finish process offers “subtle weather resistance” all the while, never a bad quality to have in one of the best spring jackets for men.

Note that unlike other models of this legendary jacket, corduroy cuffs are swapped out for tartan fabric, while durable snap buttons complement a two-way front zipper for a customizable fit that aids in mobility on and off the trail. With the rugged Barbour Bedale Classic Jacket, you’ve simply got options: Its fit should prove more classic and relaxed (it’s right in the name, after all), with room to layer essentials like a thermal henley and a lightweight flannel or chambray shirt for warmth.

And whether worn with corduroy trousers and leather moc toe boots for essential high-low style, or teamed with canvas work pants and a thermal base layer for gentleman’s pursuits in the field, you might say it doesn’t get more classic, classically cool or durable than a staple piece made modern, like the Barbour Bedale Classic Jacket. If that lines up with your spring style pursuits, shop accordingly for the weeks ahead, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: These 3sixteen Selvedge Jeans are a Fresh Take on Classic Men’s Blue Jeans

Best selvedge jeans for men.

It can sometimes be tricky to improve upon a classic, especially if that classic piece happens to be a set of the best selvedge denim for men. A workwear staple for decades, the blue jean is as all-American as it gets, and yet, between fit and fabrication, some of the very best denim jeans for men get even better when in the right hands.

In the case of today’s Friday Find — a deep dive into an underrated style staple by a buzzed-about but underrated brand — the good folks at 3sixteen have you covered with the 3sixteen CT-101xs in a richly crafted stonewash, a nice change of pace from typical dark blue selvedge denim.

Find out more and shop now at 3sixteen

The New York City-based label goes deep in the world of the highest-quality denim on the market, and in this case, the 3sixteen CT-101xs boast stonewashed 12oz. denim in an agreeable weight for multiple seasons. The denim itself is stonewashed evenly for a crisp, clean and light fade, making the 3sixteen CT-101xs a solid go-between from dark blue or black selvedge denim and true light wash jeans.

Crafted with impeccable care, that makes the casually rugged 3sixteen CT-101xs a soft yet durable pair of jeans with a classic tapered cut that should work plenty well on most body types. Details like standout USA-made craftsmanship are a surefire sign of quality, along with the use of exceptional denim fabric sourced from Okayama, Japan — a country that knows a thing or two about the best blue jeans.

The 3sixteen CT-101xs can just about do it all in matters of casual style, whether paired with a classic henley and a cardigan, or with a crisp Oxford shirt and a lightweight navy blazer for a dash of seasonal, high-low style. Given the investment-level price of these stylish men’s jeans ($290, to be exact), versatility is the name of the game in terms of wearability — make your next denim-centric wardrobe upgrade happen with the fresh nature of the 3sixteen CT-101xs, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: Mott and Bow Is Now Making A Suede Trucker Jacket to Go With Your Favorite Jeans

There are certain tried-and-true menswear combinations that make perfect sense, that stand out stylishly while standing the test of time. And when you kick off one of those pairings starting with a pair of the best jeans for men — perhaps a pair made by our friends at Mott and Bow — the results are bound to be stylish, utterly classic and effortlessly cool.

Yes, that’s high praise, but as seems to be the case these days, a brand like Mott and Bow no longer just makes the best men’s jeans, but an entire supporting cast of menswear essentials that can cement your ideal #menswear ensemble pairing. In fact, the brand produces a range of complementary pieces, from super-soft T-shirts in long-sleeve and short-sleeve varieties to sweaters, polos and even shorts and swimwear. If you want to put together a full look featuring Mott and Bow menswear, now’s your chanc — outerwear very much included.

Find out more now at Mott and Bow

Take the Mott and Bow Suede Trucker Jacket, a premium piece of outerwear designed to take you from late winter into early (early!) spring with ease — and then some. Past Mott and Bow reviews on this site have covered everything from stylish travel pants to the brand’s remarkably classic denim in both Italian cotton and other materials, and the Mott and Bow Suede Trucker Jacket is simply the latest must-buy piece from the ever-popular direct-to-consumer brand.

It’s quite simply all in the details when it comes to the Mott and Bow Suede Trucker Jacket, which is crafted from 100 percent genuine goat suede leather in a rich shade of Olive that should style nicely with dark blue jeans, expertly faded grey or light wash denim, or black jeans from the modern direct-to-consumer brand. The Mott and Bow Suede Trucker Jacket is also fully lined, including satin-lined sleeves for an easy-on, easy-off wearing experience. Note classic trucker jacket detailing and stitching across the back, while the zippered cuffs give this stylish men’s trucker jacket a touch of edgy good looks.

The fit on the Mott and Bow Suede Trucker Jacket should prove relatively trim, so take note of the company’s size guide. And while Mott and Bow men’s jeans are quite affordable to begin with, you’re taking advantage of another perk when it comes to the Mott and Bow Suede Trucker Jacket: It’s marked down somewhat incredibly to $397.50, versus $795 on sale.

Those are the kind of savings that can’t be beat in my book, especially as far as the best trucker jackets for men are concerned. The Mott and Bow Suede Trucker Jacket could prove a new favorite in your rotation, so act accordingly while it’s still on sale. Cheers to that, my friends.