Month / March 2019

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Native North Utility Jacket

A functional-yet-versatile jacket to help you get ready for early spring.

Not so fast, my friend — it’s not time to hang up all of your winter style essentials quite yet. In fact, some of those pieces, like the Native North Utilty Jacket shown above, can reliably help you make the transition into early spring. That’s right, the Native North Utility Jacket is one of the best men’s jackets for early spring, and that’s just a fact. The Native North Utility Jacket certainly has a lot going for it, from the classic workwear cut to the handy pockets (perfect for lugging your everyday carry essentials through less-than-optimal spring weather). And it’s a bonus that the Native North Utility Jacket doesn’t quite look like anything you’ve got in your closet when it comes to style — that’s because its roots come from Denmark, that uniquely minimal, quickly growing menswear outpost. Heck, there’s even a Copenhagen Fashion Week now, and you wouldn’t look out of place if you decided to wear the Native North Utility Jacket across the pond. But enough about the runways — what makes this stylish spring jacket right for you? Bear with me.

SHOP: The Native North Utility Jacket

Native North

The three-way collar lends itself to fighting chilly early spring days in style.

For one, it’s not the bulky winter jacket you’ve grown used to wearing over the past several months — this slim wool jacket is linted with cotton (versus an all-wool lining), giving it a bit more breathability and mobility. Point being, you should feel free to layer this rugged workwear jacket over everything from a classic henley and slim faded jeans (don’t forget some Astorflex chukka boots) to a crisp white Oxford shirt and tan chinos. Think of the Native North Utility Jacket like a more stylish, functional blazer replacement (complete with two interior pockets and three exterior pockets). In short, this jacket could also double as the perfect travel jacket, able to be worn on a chilly plane or train, and then out to your destination once you arrive. Again, it’s a uniquely stylish spring jacket that looks quite a bit different from the technical pieces we normally associate with early spring style. That’s only a positive — just because we’re getting away from winter doesn’t mean you don’t need an arsenal full of the best men’s jackets, and again … that’s just a fact! Are you adding the Native North Utility Jacket to your rotation this season? How are you wearing it? Let me know via The Style Guide Facebook. Thanks for reading!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Dublin, Teeling Distillery & Arkells

Exploring Dublin Castle wearing the Orvis Heritage Field Coat and Tech Chambray Shirt, plus a classic Shinola Runwell Watch and new frames from Aspire Eyewear.

There are certain trips that leave an impact on you for days, weeks, months & yes, years to come. I’ve had the great fortune to take quite a few, and I know my trip this past weekend to Dublin is one of those such trips. It was certainly quick, but I had just enough time to get a feel for this historic city, complete with plenty of thankful reflection (and lots of on-foot exploration wearing my Orvis Heritage Field Coat!)

Highlights included the Teeling Distillery (go to the upstairs Bang Bang Bar, get the “New” Fashioned, thank me later), stellar menswear at Indigo & Cloth (packed with contemporary menswear brands like Norse Projects and Our Legacy) and the cozy, authentic confines of Bowes Lounge (get a pint of Guinness and take in the crowd). Fancy a bit of record shopping? Duck into the Sound Cellar — it’s next to a Subway shop & across from Trinity College, but that’s all the better!

Among the hustle and bustle of the city, I had two stellar Irish Breakfast platters (Canal Bank Cafe, near my quarters in Ranelagh, makes a great one!), I drank my weight in Guinness at the iconic Guinness Storehouse, and I had the chance to see one of my favorite bands, Scottish synth pop heroes CHVRCHES, play a powerful Friday night show at the iconic Olympia Theatre. If ever you get to Dublin, I can’t recommend sampling a little bit of everything this wonderful city has to offer — it’s a city and an experience I’ll always remember fondly.

As it were, I’ve got another quick weekend trip in the mix — similar to my quick jaunt to Vancouver to see Canadian rock stars Arkells, I’ll also be hitting the road to see them tomorrow! The trip is a much quicker one — a mere train ride to Philadelphia to see this powerful band play Underground Arts! My last time seeing this remarkable band (at the massive, sold-out Pacific Coliseum) was impressive, powerful & life-affirming, so I expect a similar showing this time, but in a much smaller setting! Start your own weekend with this week’s edition of The Friday Read, then coming back around tomorrow for our Style Pick of the Week. Thanks for reading!

  • I always talk about the little details making a difference in terms of the way you get dressed every single day — it’s with that in mind that I rounded up several of my favorite everyday carry essentials for The Manual, from a refined leather watch to a durable phone case.
  • The work being done by the team at Buck Mason is really never not Buck Mason Bruiser Bomber JacketGearMoose worth a look — case in point being the remarkable , one of my favorite leather jackets of the moment. It just so happens to be the subject of one of my latest features, too!
  • Let’s turn back to GearMoose for a menswear feature I had some serious fun writing — the Todd Snyder x Timex partnership always yields some fruitful, stylish results. On that note, it’s been enjoyable to test out the refined, slim Todd Snyder x Timex Mid-Century Watch, a sleek timepiece that calls to mind old-school watches. Again, head to GearMoose to check it out.

As we again transition slowly but surely into spring, I have one more menswear recommendation for you today — namely, check out this rugged workwear jacket from Flint and Tinder to take on all your weekend adventures. That’s all from me for today!