Month / December 2019

by Beau H.

The List: This Is the New Gear You Need to Buy Right Now for Winter

Good enough for the great outdoors, more than good enough for you.

Alright, my friends. Saddle up for rugged winter style with the Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket shown above, and let’s get ready for December (and beyond, of course). Perhaps you’re already well-versed in the wonder that is the Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket, crafted in a highly versatile silhouette from tough Martexin sailcloth … and if you haven’t yet checked out this jacket, now is the perfect time. Gift it to yourself, gift it to your friends … just start getting ready for the holidays now. You’ll find plenty more winter style essentials in today’s edition of The List, and know that we’re just getting started. (Oh, and this won’t be the last you hear about that stylish waxed trucker jacket this month, either).

Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket — $220

But one of the incredible colors in which you’ll find this jacket available via Huckberry.

We told you it wouldn’t be the last time you’d heard about the Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket this season … and that’s a very good thing, indeed. This premium waxed trucker jacket is available in a whole slew of richly crafted, seasonally friendly colors like the one shown here and at the top of the page, and it could be your new favorite winter jacket. Layer it up underneath a rugged parka for even more added warmth, or rock this tough waxed trucker jacket all on its own atop a warm flannel shirt — that’s prime winter style activated, folks.

HELM Boots Hollis Boots — $350

Beautifully rugged boots made to last for years to come.

Maybe you thought you had your boot collection for fall and winter all sorted out? Well, hold the phone — if you don’t have a pair of the Hollis Boots from Austin-based Helm, your collection of rugged leather boots isn’t quite settled for the season yet. Rugged and versatile, these stylish leather boots are at home with your favorite pair of broken-in denim or with a pair of slim wool trousers in equal measure. And if you’ve been searching for a pair of boots to wear to your next holiday party, simply put … these are the ones.

Bertucci A-2T Super Classic Watch — $170

As dependable a casual watch as it gets.

Looking for the toughest casual watch on the market? The kind of rugged watch you can wear with everything from a denim shirt and a shawl-collar cardigan to a tough waxed trucker jacket and your favorite leather boots? My friends, the Bertucci A-2T is precisely that watch.

Nobis Alpha Men’s Flight Bomber Jacket — $695

A crisp, rugged, classic bomber jacket to wear all season.

With a handsome blend of technical functionality and rugged style, this Nobis bomber jacket is at once old-school and modern, especially in the seasonally appropriate shade of Navy shown here. Wear it with a classic grey henley and faded blue denim for everyday style, or team it with a crisp white Oxford shirt and tan chinos for a mix of high and low. Oh, and it’ll keep you warm as heck all winter long, to boot.

Aymara Eddy Cardigan — $270

A beautiful cardigan to wear in situations both dressy and laidback.

Make no mistake: The Aymara Eddy Cardigan is the sort of beautiful sweater that’s utterly iconic, totally classic and perfectly ready for holiday parties and relaxing winter weekends aplenty. It’s a uniquely vintage-inspired sweater that’ll wear handsomely with slim corduroy pants and rugged leather boots.

Moral Code Jacques Leather Boots — $248

Both refined and yet rugged, these are the perfect boots to take you into the holidays.

Winter is nothing if not the perfect time to break out your favorite pair of leather boots (or rather, your new favorite pair). From holiday parties to days on the road and at the office, the super-sharp, seriously refined Moral Code Jacques Leather Boots are dressy and yet versatile. They feature a rubber outsole for grip on slippery winter streets, and this profile will look at home with dark blue denim and classic wool trousers in equal measure. A fun fact: You might recognize these from my Instagram, where I’ve had the chance to test ’em out as of late.

AIAIAI All-Round Preset Modular Headphones — $145

Sharp, crystal-clear headphones to upgrade your travel listening experience.

For long hours on the road during the holidays, the right tunes (the music of The National, anyone??) or a cool podcast are the way to go — and these stylish over-ear headphones are sleek, essential and seriously well-made.

Michter’s US-1 Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash Whiskey — Price Varies 

A wonderfully crafted whiskey to warm your soul on a winter night.

There’s perhaps no more fitting spirit to sip on a cold winter night than a richly crafted whiskey, especially one you can experience on the rocks and get all the flavor and character you expect. That’s what Michter’s Whiskey has done with the remarkable Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash, which improves upon the distillery’s award-winning sour mash whiskey by aging it custom-made barrels (toasted, not charred, critically). The result is complex and multi-layered — a fitting whiskey to add to your bar cart or bring as a gift to your holiday host. Cheers!

Stetson Cromwell Outdoor Hat — $71

A rugged, outdoor-ready hat for plenty of winter adventures.

Let’s keep things rolling on the “rugged winter gear” front here, shall we? And if you want a classic hat to pair up with your Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket, well, the Stetson Cromwell Outdoor Hat is the right way to go. Perfectly cool and classic.

United By Blue Responsible Flannel — $78

The right mix of rugged style and responsibly sourced fabric and construction.

It’s true — if you don’t have a rugged flannel shirt in your wardobe yet (especially as we roll through the holiday season), this is the one to buy. The United By Blue Responsible Flannel has a ton of upside, seeing as it’s made with organic cotton and recycled polyester — both of which are responsibly sourced. Plus, the resulting shirt is super-soft and stylish, with a modern fit that wears well with everything from grey chinos to tan corduroys to your favorite pair of laidback denim. Buy one for yourself, gift one for someone else … there’s no wrong way to go.

Free Fly Flex Henley — $65

A perfectly comfortable-yet-rugged henley for a winter weekend.

There’s no doubt in my mind, winter is perhaps the perfect time to layer up with a rugged henley — like the Free Fly Flex Henley, for example. The Heather Denim color also wears nicely with … the aforementioned United By Blue flannel shirt!

Flint and Tinder 365 Pants — $98

Slim five-pocket pants in a perfect holiday color.

If you’re still searching for the perfect pair of pants for the holidays, the Flint and Tinder 365 Pants are the right way to go, featuring a classic slim cut and a rich, holiday-friendly Oxblood color. Wear them with a classic denim shirt and sleek leather Chelsea boots to a refined holiday gathering.

Deschutes Brewery Da Shootz! Pilsner — Price Varies

A clean, light, refreshing pils to stock in your fridge this season.

For all this talk about rich winter cocktails and whiskey, and equally rich food, what about for all those times when you want to lighten things up and refresh your palette? This holiday season, that’s when you’re going to want to reach for the Da Shootz! Pils from Deschutes Brewery, a cleverly named, light, refreshing (and low-cal!) beer to sip on at many a holiday party. Again, cheers!

XD Design Bobby Duffel Anti-Theft Travel Bag — $150

A sleek travel backpack made to prevent theft of your valuables — not bad at all.

The best bag for holiday travel is one that’s sleek, minimal, easy to lug through a crowded airport, and yet highly functional at the same time. That’s a lot to live up to, but the XD Design Bobby Duffel is actually an ideal anti-theft travel bag, made with hidden zip closure and no front access. The only thing stopping you are holiday crowds, really.

 

Which of the above gear picks are you scoping out this holiday season? Maybe you’re in the mood for a tough waxed trucker jacket to step in snowy weather? Or maybe you’re looking forward to sipping on some rich Michter’s whiskey or a light Deschutes Brewery lager? Can’t forget about a vintage-inspired sweater  for all those holiday festivities, either. However you dress for the season, feel free to let me know on Twitter.

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Bundle Up for Chilly Winter Weather Right Now

It’s here, and we all know it: Winter’s onset calls for the right gear for blustery, snowy, cold weather — and if you’re not quite as prepared as you had hoped, or if you need one last critical piece of gear to complete your winter style essentials, today’s #OOTD can assuredly help. We’re starting things off with one of the best men’s parkas, then we’re only going forward from there with the best gear to help you fight off winter storms aplenty. If you happen to live in a warm climate, well, consider yourself lucky. If, on the other hand, you happen to live somewhere like me (a la the chilly confines of Brooklyn!), then you’re going to get a lot of mileage out of picks like the Taylor Stitch Yosemite Shirt and mobile, versatile gear picks like the positively outstanding Proof Rover Pants. The really critical thing here is the fact that impending or ongoing winter weather doesn’t mean style goes by the wayside — far from it, in fact. Add in the right winter parka and rugged leather boots for extra functionality, and then the rest of your style picks will follow from there — this ensemble is about as far from a technical pair of snow pants and an overly bulky parka as you can get, and that’s a very good thing indeed. The point is, when you need to shed the rugged parka shown below, you’re going to look just as great as with the parka on. For exploring on the weekends, traveling upstate or heading to a casual holiday party (don’t forget the craft beer!), these rugged men’s gear picks can do it all — truly. If you’ve got questions on how to dress up when it’s just too darn cold, turn toward this ensemble, and be sure to give me a follow on Twitter.

The right gear picks to warm up your winter with ease.

  • The Parka: Faherty Brand Polar Fjord Puffer, $498 — It’s not getting any warmer out there, so if you’re searching for one of the best men’s parkas, the key here lies in investing in the unexpected. Take this rugged puffer parka, done up in a functional-yet-stylish silhouette and a rich olive color — it’s also filled with thick insulation for extra warmth.
  • The Shirt: Taylor Stitch Yosemite Shirt, $135 — For the holiday season and winter weather in equal measure, there’s nothing quite like a rugged flannel shirt, especially if said flannel shirt happens to be the Taylor Stitch Yosemite Shirt in a covetable Burgundy colorway. As stylish a flannel shirt as can be.
  • The Base Layer: Topo Designs Waffle Tee, $79 — If you’re heading out to run errands or simply grab coffee (or refresh your beer selection), you’re going to need to bundle up. This classic waffle tee from Topo Designs features a flattering, easy-to-layer fit that’s so sharp, you can even wear it all on its own, sans Taylor Stitch Yosemite Shirt.
  • The Pants: Proof Rover Pants, $98 — The snow and wind are no joke, so you need stylish pants that can take a beating accordingly — and come out the other side looking great. The Proof Rover Pants, what with their durable fabric and hybrid work pant design, are those pants.
  • The Boots: Wolverine Journeyman Boots, $170 — When the going gets tough, you need to reach for equally tough, do-it-all boots — like this pair from Wolverine. Even better? Five percent of proceeds from sales through the end of the year go toward the American College of Building Arts — and these are true working boots, with triple-stitching at the seams for extra durability.
  • The Rugged Watch: Luminox ICE-SAR 1000, $445 — The challenging winter weather calls for one of the best casual watches assuredly, one that can stand up to beastly conditions — Luminox comes through in the clutch.
  • The Hat: Upstate Stock American Mohair Beanie, $32 — For extreme warmth and a dash of style, nothing but the best men’s beanie cap will do — my friends at Upstate Stock make this version in New York State, to boot.
  • The Grooming Essential: Taconic Shave Solid Cologne, $15.99 — Wild winter weather is no excuse to let your  grooming game slide — this handy, easy-to-use solid cologne from Taconic Shave offers a fitting winter scent.

Winter weather calls for taking care of the essential details (such as scoping out the best men’s beanie cap) just as much as it calls for ensuring the larger must-haves are also accounted for accordingly (take, for instance, one of the best men’s parkas). And in the case of this #OOTD, every little thing is as it should be, blending style and functionality for snowy, blustery days and nights. The remarkable Taylor Stitch Yosemite Shirt takes care of both off-duty winter style and warm layering, and it’s a stylish-yet-rugged complement to a waffle tee from Topo Designs for when it’s exceptionally cold outside. And for matters of fashion and function in and out of the snow, you might not find a better pair of pants than the Proof Rover Pants — made to look as great as they perform. Lacing up rugged leather boots from Wolverine never fails, especially tough, triple-stitched work boots for classic style and dependability. On the grooming front, sharp solid cologne allows you to step up your grooming game in spite of the winter weather (hey, you might cozy up under the mistletoe with someone, am I right?). Even the watch shown here is about as good as it gets — this Luminox timepiece is ready for rough-and-tumble weather, yet also acts as one of the best casual watches when it comes to its design. Yes indeed, the details (big and small) are considered here. The next time snow starts to roll in, you know exactly what to wear — guaranteed.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: The Duke Cannon Supply Drop Is The Perfect Holiday Grooming Gift

Just one of many standout Duke Cannon grooming products to gift this season.

There are what you might call the expected holiday gifts for men (especially on Cyber Monday, not all of which are, honestly that *great*. Then, there are what you might call some of the best holiday gifts for men, like the essential and jam-packed Duke Cannon Supply Drop (featuring yuletide-themed holiday soaps and more men’s grooming essentials). Today, as you can tell, we’ll be focusing one of the best grooming gifts for men, a well-made collection of downright indispensable grooming goods — available for a Cyber Monday sale deal & made with care right in the U.S.A. If you read the blog regularly or check out my Instagram, you’ll know I’m a HUGE fan of Duke Cannon — these products, from beard oil to richly crafted soaps and colognes, feature bold scents and hardworking design. Seriously, where else can you get a Big Ass Bar of Soap in a variety of scents? Well, you can start with the Duke Cannon Supply Drop as a great men’s gift or as an early treat to yourself, and no one’s going to be disappointed with the results (again, especially on Cyber Monday!).

SHOP: The Duke Cannon Supply Drop 

Yes, these soaps have a distinct holiday theme — that’s for the best, as they smell great and perform very well.

So, what’s inside this action-packed men’s grooming subscription box? In short, a bit of everything — it’s going to make whoever gets it a very happy and well-groomed guy. The centerpiece of the Duke Cannon Supply Drop might just be the Big Ass Brick of Soap done up in holiday-themed, limited-edition scents — these soaps smell downright pleasant for the holidays (yes, even the “Lump  of Coal,” made with activated charcoal). They also do a great job at getting you cleaned up. The Supply Drop also features the brand’s famed Solid Cologne, to go along with its Shower Soap and the excellent Emergency Heat + Light Candle (as discussed in this post). Heck, you even get a steel flask in this lineup of the best men’s grooming goods — again, someone’s going to love this. The best part? The Duke Cannon Supply Drop delivers quarterly, ensuring whoever receives it never runs out of crucial men’s grooming gear. This box set is jam-packed, affordable & seriously essential — add it to your shopping list for the holidays.

SHOP: The Duke Cannon Supply Drop