Month / May 2025

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: These Astorflex Boat Shoes are a Subtly Stylish Footwear Upgrade

When the chance comes to step into a new season in style, by dipping your toes into something that’s ever-so-slightly fresh, a slight departure from the ordinary, we here at this Brooklyn style blog say: Take it wholeheartedly, especially if the opportunity arises to try out a new shoe silhouette from a Huckberry-approved brand.

And if you’ve kept up with the blog on the regular over the years, then you’ll know it’s hard to pass up a chance to slide into some Astorflex boots and loafers. The family-owned Italian brand uses sustainable production methods in crafting its best-selling chukka boots and the recently launched Astorflex Derby Shoes, and the Astorflex Loafers are also a refined yet easy-to-wear summer style favorite.

Best boat shoes for men.

And now, that strong stable of stylish footwear gains another member with the addition of the Astorflex Hestaflex Boat Shoes — not a moment too soon for easygoing summer soirees aplenty. These low-profile boat shoes are a touch more streamlined than traditional boat shoes, with moc toe detailing throughout and a chunkier sole that calls to mind sneakers or chukka boots.

Best boat shoes for men to buy now.

And yet, like all great pairs of Astorflex shoes sold by our good friends at Huckberry, the handsome Astorflex Hestaflex Boat Shoes feature that same Northern Italy handmade construction, plus richly crafted bovine suede uppers in either eye-catching Olive Green or more classically styled Brown. A memory foam footbed bolsters comfort, yet it’s covered in leather for a soft, supple and ultimately, stylish finish.

The crepe cup sole is another handmade touch that should quite literally provide a spring in your step, whether you style the Astorflex Hestaflex Boat Shoes with rolled light wash jeans, navy chino shorts or olive lounge pants. Keep in mind that your new favorite boat shoes are also unlined within the shoe itself, meaning you can slide into them comfortably right out of the box.

And as Huckberry sagely notes, “when Astorflex introduced their take on a boat shoe, we had to get our hands on it.” I’d say the same holds true for your stylish casual wardrobe this season, particularly when reviewing the rest of Huckberry’s summer style lineup.

Shop seasonal style must-haves at Huckberry

In fact, boat shoes are practically begging to be paired with a knit polo and stretch chinos, to name but one way you should rock the Astorflex Hestaflex Boat Shoes. When the time comes to switch up your style rotation just ever-so-slightly, turn to a new boat shoe from a trusted brand.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: The Mason Short Sleeve Shirt from Line of Trade is An Unstoppable Summer Style Move

Best short-sleeve shirts for guys.

Every once in a while, a brand comes along that shakes things up in the world of men’s style essentials in classic-yet-modern, utterly fresh fashion: Drawing from the past (classic styles like workshirts, service shorts, henleys and more) while putting a new spin on things for the modern man.

Approachable without being fast-fashion. Stylish without veering too far into high fashion. Sounds like high praise, does it not? And high praise though it might be, Line of Trade and the new Line of Trade Spring/Summer 2025 Collection hit all the right notes when it comes to throwback-minded yet easily wearable, fresh looks for the modern man — that’s you, and that’s why we’re taking a look at a must-have shirt from this relative upstart right now.

Learn more now at Line of Trade

You very well might recognize Line of Trade from the pages of this very blog, or from the fact that it was started by Bespoke Post, retailers with an intense focus on finding the coolest gear and clothing for guys — many of those selections hail from small, scrappy brands, as you might have read in my Line of Trade reviews.

And helpfully, the new Line of Trade Spring/Summer 2025 Collection certainly makes the case that this brand — shoppable now via Line of Trade’s own site — is one to watch. Take the Line of Trade Mason Short-Sleeve Shirt: As spring starts to shift into summer, opting for a breezy short-sleeve buttondown shirt with a sense of polish is the name of the game, and this option checks all the right boxes.

Helpfully, the Line of Trade Mason Short-Sleeve Shirt gets the details just right, as is the case with Line of Trade’s sturdy flannel shirts and waxed outerwear for fall and winter. The Line of Trade Mason Short-Sleeve Shirt features a classic two-pocket workshirt build, but as the brand notes, this shirt is “built with a unique two-tone, pure cotton waffle weave” for texture and an ultra-breezy, soft finish.

It features folded and stitched shirt cuffs for an added touch of detail (roll up the cuffs for an even more old-school look), and the Line of Trade Mason Short-Sleeve Shirt also features a straightforward, slightly tailored fit that’s neither too relaxed nor too tight.

In addition to the rich Golden Ochre color seen here, your new favorite short-sleeve shirt comes in handsome colors like Vintage Navy for even more style points this summer. When you want a look that’s timeless and yet ready for some of the best men’s style in 2025 (and beyond), you very well might want to opt for this stylish short-sleeve shirt for men from Line of Trade. Get it while it’s hot, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: Take 50 Percent Off this Adventure-Ready Filson Messenger Bag

Filson messenger bag review.

It’s like we’ve been talking about lately on this Brooklyn style blog: As you prepare to go far afield (or perhaps just to your family cabin or on an adventurous coastal vacation), well, packing some of the best outdoor essentials goes a long way. And until you hit the trail, you might not know the pack you’ve brought with you — or your hiking sneakers, or your rain jacket, and so on — can pass muster.

The best thing to do when it comes to everyday carry gear is to prepare in advance in a major way: Filson has long had you covered in that regard, as you’re well aware if you read this blog and any of my Filson reviews.

Shop the best outdoor gear at Filson

From hard-wearing Filson Tin Cloth pants to lightweight shirting designed to protect you from the sun and keep you cool, Filson has a way with durable, tough, smart gear for all seasons — that very much includes the Filson Surveyor Messenger Bag. It’s the kind of reliable pack you’ll start to wonder how you ever traveled, hiked or adventured without.

And of course, since this is the Tuesday Steal (a deep dive into the best discounts on menswear and gear every week), well, the handsome yet functional Filson Surveyor Messenger Bag is yours for the taking — on sale for 50 percent off, at that.

Best messenger bags for men.

The Filson Surveyor Messenger Bag carries on the same legacy as the Pacific Northwest outfitter’s fleet of durable Filson bags and briefs, yet this one happens to be made from waxed Cordura nylon, rather than Filson Tin Cloth fabric or a similar build. Don’t let that detract you: This bag (a “Genuine Filson: as listed on its stylish label, after all) should still stand up to abrasions, dirt, grime and rain with ease while keeping your everyday carry essentials plenty safe within.

The Filson Surveyor Messenger Bag also adds some style points to your daily haul at home or on the road — the Service Green color is perfectly rugged. But it’s the specs that really set the hard-working Filson Surveyor Messenger Bag apart from the pack, including an interior padded laptop pocket and two sturdy zip exterior pockets — which I’ve found are much larger than normal messenger bag pockets, in my experience.

There’s also a full width back cargo stow pocket for items like a notebook or your passport, while the hardware — in a matching shade of Service Green, naturally — is as burly and sturdy as it gets. The fact that the exceptionally well-designed Filson Surveyor Messenger Bag is on sale right now — and is as versatile for the city and casually rugged look as it is for countryside adventures — is a downright steal as you ramp up your everyday carry essentials for the season ahead, my friends.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: Huckberry and Danner Just Debuted the Perfect Hiking Sneakers for Spring & Summer

When the time comes to gear up for your next summer adventure — a camping trip, a boating excursion, a cabin weekend where the biggest ‘to-do’ is hauling the cooler down to the river — you need the right gear, no? In fact, one might say the best spring and summer men’s gear should be a cut above the rest: Built not merely to meet a challenge, but to go above and beyond.

That’s certainly true when it comes to the footwear you lace up to hit the trail (or go far afield), and Huckberry x Danner is here just in time to power every excursion on your to-do list this season.

After all, it seems excursions far afield, away from the city and into the country, are often made all the better if you’re packing and wearing the right sturdy boots (or some of the best hiking sneakers) for the terrain on the horizon.

Learn more now & shop at Huckberry

The latest Huckberry x Danner collection — another drop in a long-running series of collaborations on rugged footwear dating back years — is powered by the Huckberry x Danner N45 Low Hiking Sneaker, a pair of hybrid footwear designed to blend in the durability of a hiking boot with the lightweight mobility of a sneaker.

The spirit of adventure, of course, is built right into what Huckberry rightfully calls “one of the lightest and toughest performance hiking sneakers we’ve ever tested,” and that’s certainly saying something, given the fact that the Americana retailer has a penchant for truly tough-as-nails gear.

In addition to an exclusive, suitably dusty and rugged Coyote colorway, the Huckberry x Danner N45 Low Hiking Sneaker is built with a highly durable, abrasion-resistant and lightweight Perspair® upper, which rests atop Danner’s customary Ortholite insole for supreme comfort and rebound.

Huckberry x Danner review.

The Perspair® upper also means these are breathable and yet quick-drying, bolstered by a flexible Ariaprene® gusset for more freedom of movement crossing rocky streams and navigating hilly trails. The Huckberry x Danner N45 Low Hiking Sneaker is overbuilt in the best way, assuredly able to compete with pairs of the best hiking boots for men.

Vibram’s N45 Outsole gives the Huckberry x Danner N45 Low Hiking Sneaker a ton of grip without overdoing it in terms of lug width, and these stylish-yet-functional hiking sneakers also rest atop another highly flexible touch, a TPU rock plate for more control (I’d call this a touch akin to four-way wheel drive on rocky roads, at least in my experience testing the best hiking sneakers from comparable brands like KEEN).

Huckberry x Danner Hiking Sneakers review.

I also appreciate the fact that these dependable hiking sneakers lace up with easily flexible speed lacing for plenty of wearability and a customizable fit. It’s like I always say, especially when it comes to Huckberry gear launches like the Huckberry x Danner N45 Low Hiking Sneaker: If it seems like these two tried-and-true adventure brands thought of everything, well, that’s because… they did. Don’t pack for your next outdoor summer trip without the Huckberry x Danner N45 Low Hiking Sneaker in your bag.

by Beau H.

The Sunday Sale: Shop Devium’s Spring Cleanup Sale for the Best Deals on USA-Made Menswear

Best USA-made menswear.

As we often say here on this Brooklyn style blog, they don’t often make ’em like they used to when it comes to the best USA-made menswear (especially American-made menswear, my friends). It’s more expensive to manufacture in the United States, the materials used are of higher quality, more durable, built to last and ultimately, more stylish.

Add it all together, and the best menswear deals are hard to find when it comes to gear produced in the U.S. of A. But for a limited time only, Devium is changing that with its covetable, simply outstanding Spring Cleanup Sale.

Find out more now at Devium

We’ve explored this finely crafted American-made menswear brand in past Devium reviews on the blog, and the brand really talks the talk and walks the walk, so to speak. From cozy flannel shirts to tough canvas work pants, subtly stylish American-made T-shirts, classic thermal henleys and even stretch terry sweatshorts for laidback weekend lounging, Devium menswear hits all the right notes in terms of classic Americana inspiration. That goes for categories as wide-ranging as sportswear, workwear and plain old must-haves, like a USA-made T-shirt.

On that note, I’m particularly a fan of the Devium Sidewalk Vintage T-shirt, hand-stitched with careful detailing and made with North Carolina-grown cotton in a perfect 4.5oz. weight. That should give this handsome T-shirt a flatterinng look and feel in a range of neutral yet vibrant colors.

The Devium Sidewalk Vintage T-shirt is, of course, a more leisurely option for warmer weather, but standouts like its Deadeye Waxed Canvas Trucker Jacket, plus an array of quilted flannel workshirts, sturdy canvas work pants and durable camp collar work shirts should give plenty of other favorites in your wardrobe a run for their money.

Shop USA-made menswear at Devium now

Speaking of money, well, the Devium Spring Cleanup Sale only runs through tomorrow night (that’s May 5th, folks), but it’s certainly worth taking a good, long look at the brand’s USA-made wares. Savings like this — on domestically made menswear in a wide range of categories — are hard to come by, but not with the stellar Devium Spring Cleanup Sale — take advantage while these savings stick around.

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Flint and Tinder 365 Drawstring Shorts – Your New Favorite Summer Shorts

Best summer shorts for men.

The intersection of comfort and style can be a tricky balance to strike, but I’ve found that, in my experience, the good folks at Huckberry do quite a bit that goes a long way, especially when it comes to the famed Americana retailer’s Flint and Tinder lineup of menswear.

And comfort plus style is certainly the name of the game when it comes to the best men’s shorts to wear all spring and summer long — take the Flint and Tinder 365 Drawstring Shorts as shown above, in fact. The Flint and Tinder 365 Drawstring Shorts carry on the legacy of the 365 lineup of versatile-as-can-be, comfortable-as-can-be men’s style essentials from the in-house brand — its 365 fabric is ultra-soft, smooth and made to move, using 98 percent cotton and just a hint of stretch.

Throw in the fact that the Flint and Tinder 365 Drawstring Shorts feature a true drawstring waist for stretch and movement, and you just might have found the most comfortable shorts on the market this spring summer.

Like other pairs of the best shorts men, they feature an agreeable 7-inch inseam that should work nicely on most builds, and classic side-slant pockets give the Flint and Tinder 365 Drawstring Shorts a touch of dressy appeal — dressy enough to wear with leather loafers and your favorite polo or patterned buttondown shirt, that is.

Learn more and shop Flint and Tinder at Huckberry

In my experience, the build of the Flint and Tinder 365 Drawstring Shorts should prove effortlessly cool and comfortable, from BBQs to weekend brunch, rooftop happy hours and coastal getaways aplenty — that’s how shorts should be worn after all, isn’t it? The Flint and Tinder 365 Drawstring Shorts also come in a selection of neutral, easy-to-style colors, not unlike the endlessly wearable Flint and Tinder 365 Pants.

Although subtle and laidback on the surface, the versatility of these handsome chino shorts is nearly unmatched — try a pair on for size (at least one pair, that is!), and let me know in the comments if you’ve found your new favorite shorts this season. Cheers to style, comfort and the season ahead, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Laco Pilot’s Watch from Windup Watch Shop Is Your Next Wrist Game Upgrade

The best watches for men, at least in my experience, do much more than just tell time: They add a sense of perspective, style and purpose to many an ensemble, even ones that are simple and subtle on the surface. And the best field watches for men, like the Laco Augsburg 42 Watch shown above, add some flair and functionality in rugged, heritage-minded fashion.

Shop men’s watches and more now

Is there a better accessory to add to your next #OOTD than one of the best men’s field watches, especially with the assortment available from the good folks at Windup Watch Shop? I’m willing to bet your outlook on wrist game upgrades will change in spirited fashion once you’ve had a chance to check out the offerings at Windup Watch Shop specifically, as I had the chance to do recently — let’s dive in, shall we?

The handsome, highly durable and carefully crafted Laco Augsburg 42 Watch — which I’ve had the chance to check out lately thanks to Windup Watch Shop — boasts heritage style in every stitch, with a durable 42mm build and a highly legible, cleanly designed pilot watch dial. The design of the

The Laco Augsburg 42 Watch from Windup Watch Shop harkens back to the 1940s, but it wears just as well today — I’ve paired mine with a chambray shirt and an olive blazer here in New York City for evening outings and an Old Fashioned or two.

The Laco Augsburg 42 Watch features a matte black dial with lumed indices and crisp markings across its face, and the brushed steel case is at once slightly dressy and also rugged. I especially appreciate the riveted leather strap and its contrast stitching: The Laco Augsburg 42 Watch is an homage to “Type A” pilot watches from days gone by, and it wears just as well with chino shorts and a polo as it does with a pocket tee and classic blue jeans for men. I’ve also found that the 42mm case size wears nicely on my wrist, as you might have seen if you follow me on Instagram.

Better still is the fact that you get all of this — the versatility, variety and durable build of the Laco Augsburg 42 Watch from Windup Watch Shop — for well under $400 ($370, to be exact). It’s a watch made to be dressed up slightly or dressed down in rugged fashion, and it stands out in elegant, refined fashion on the wrist.

Of course, if the Laco Augsburg 42 Watch from Windup Watch Shop isn’t quite your cup of tea, the famed retailer has a vast selection of watches from brands large and small within its site — your new wrist game upgrade is just a few clicks away, my friends.