Classic winter boots with style and functionality top of mind.

If your weather forecast has been anything like the weather we’ve been dealing with in Brooklyn lately, I’d wager you could use a pair of the best men’s winter boots from L.L. Bean, as shown above, ehh? It’s always helpful, in my mind, to remember that a classic brand is continuing to churn out functional, useful gear for harsh seasons, especially when winter storms sneak up unexpectedly (NYC got 15 inches of snow last week!). In this case, consider this your Friday endorsement: Head to L.L. Bean to jumpstart your weekend, upgrade your rotation of the best men’s boots for winter and step out in style in the process. Oh, and you’ll avoid getting caught off-guard when massive snowstorms roll into town (because you just know there’s another one on the way, right??). So, there you have it: Classic L.L. Bean boots for the win. Now, let’s keep it rolling with more of the best gear and weekend reads, ehh?

On that note, I should mention that I’m thankful I got out of town just in time — I headed (safely!) to Florida earlier this week, where I’ll be spending the next few weeks lounging by the pool, hanging out with my dogs and enjoying local craft beer from Florida’s Point Ybel Brewing, of course. Do you have any plans for a safe, warm-weather winter getaway? I’ll also be staying busy on the writing front, starting with my Saturday newsletter. If you haven’t yet subscribed to The Style Guide In Brief, feel free to check it out! I write twice a week about menswear, craft beer and indie rock, and best of all, it’s free. Last Saturday, I actually wrote about indie icon Phoebe Bridgers’ appearance on SNL — what a night that was, ehh? In the meantime, the rest of today’s Friday Read is below. Make it a great one!

A laidback, expertly crafted shirt to wear on winter weekends aplenty.

• Let’s kick off the weekend with a shopping pick, the sort of shirt you can wear at home or on the road. Consider the Faherty Brand Knit Seasons Shirt the type of shirt you can throw on and then forget about: It’s laidback and easygoing, yet still more than suitable to wear on a Zoom call. And when you want one of the best men’s shirts for winter layering (say, atop your favorite henley from Faherty Brand), it can more than readily step up in the clutch. All that’s missing now is a favorite vinyl record spinning and a fresh pot of coffee brewing this weekend. How about it?

Your new go-to workout shorts for winter and well beyond that.

• Alright, now let’s go for something a bit less winter-centric and a bit more focused on your “home gym” (or laidback weekend hangs at home). That’s where Olivers Apparel comes into play. If you’re not familiar with the brand — check out this blog post, to start — you’d do well to shop the Olivers Apparel All Over Shorts, a style I’ve been wearing frequently in Florida. Moisture-wicking fabric, an elastic waistband and a range of versatile color options make these the best workout shorts for men to buy this instant.

• Speaking of at-home style, let’s keep things rolling in seriously relaxed comfort this weekend. For GearMoose, I wrote all about the GREATS Driggs Slippers, featuring a natural wool felt upper and a faux-fur lining — consider them a nice change of pace for your feet when you kick off your boots at the end of a long day. On that note, you’d also do well to check out my guide to the best hiking boots from GREATS, too.
• One last style item for your weekend: Head over to Maxim to read about the stunning and newly launched Piaget Skeleton Polo Watch, an updated take on the brand’s iconic Polo Watch that offers a close look at the inner workings of this handsome and refined timepiece. A guy can dream, right?

Here’s one more style guide for your weekend — quite literally, that is. I talked earlier this week about how to wear a shawl collar cardigan casually, and if I have anything to say about it, well, this weekend is the perfect time to kick back in cool, classic style (slippers and whiskey very much included in this #OOTD). Click through, kick back and shop away. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!