If you ask me, it seems the menswear calendar has been moving at an ever-faster clip as of late, be it a seemingly earlier-than-usual start to holiday shopping deals or a quicker-than-normal jump to the best Black Friday deals — right after Halloween, in fact. You might recognize that lineup above, filled with some of the best men’s boots, and it’s worth keeping just about every sort of deal in mind heading into Black Friday (even though, for the record, Black Friday doesn’t hit until next week!).

So, take this as a recommendation to start your weekend: My friends at Huckberry are offering some of the best early menswear deals on more gear than you can shake a stick at, so shop accordingly while you plan for the calm before the storm. With that in mind, I’m offering a few more quick pre-Black Friday shopping picks below. And then, well, I’m off to enjoy some rest and relaxation in the Caribbean sun.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been on a family vacation to Turks and Caicos since earlier this month, and I’ve got a trip to Florida to follow shortly thereafter. Of course, that won’t stop me from buying the best menswear for fall and winter right now, and it shouldn’t stop you either, my friends. Here’s to holiday shopping early and often, folks.

• If you keep up with the blog on the regular, I’m willing to bet you’re no stranger to the first entry on my list of recommended weekend shopping picks. Yes indeed, it’s high time you laced up a pair of the best men’s boots from the fine folks at Austin-based HELM Boots, and there’s no time quite like the present to find the rugged pair of leather boots that’s right for you (as I mentioned at the start of this post, after all). Start your search with my thoughts on the HELM Zind Boots, some of the best boots for guys to lace up now.

• Before you can shop online for the best menswear deals, a bit of refreshment is in order, yes? That’s where my latest whiskey feature comes into play. Over at Maxim, I wrote about (and tasted!) one of the best new whiskies on the market, the new HIRSCH Whiskey Cask Strength Cognac Finish — in fact, I visited the 2022 Kentucky Derby and tried this very bourbon that same weekend back in May. Think of it like a luxe bar cart upgrade to enjoy and savor this winter.

• Speaking of stylish early holiday deals, here’s another choice pick. Now, not to worry — I’ll have a full guide to the best deals for Black Friday early next week. In the meantime though, head over to the Huckberry Gift Guide and shop the best under-$75 gifts for everyone on your list, be it the rugged man, the whiskey enthusiast or the seasoned style vet.

That trio of style picks brings today’s Friday Read to a close. Whether you’ve got your eye on the best under-$75 gifts or perhaps one of the best new whiskies or even a rugged pair of leather boots, I’m willing to bet your seasonal shopping is off to a good start (I hope!) if you follow a few of the tips above. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Saturday Style Pick. In the meantime, cheers and thanks for reading!