The Thursday Buy: The Shinola Guardian Watch is the Best Dress Watch to Buy Right Now

Is there any time like the present to pick up one of the best men’s leather watches (or perhaps, add it to your holiday wish list)? Not quite, which is why we’re here today with another standout Thursday Buy recommendation to guide you towards this season with a stylish leather watch in tow. It’s coming your way courtesy of Shinola, the much-loved and simply outstanding Detroit-based maker of lovely, refined watches, beautiful home goods, leather wares and much more. The watch in question today, the Shinola Guardian Watch, isn’t quite as well-known as its everyday counterpart, the famed Shinola Runwell Watch, but that doesn’t make it any less essential in terms of a cool and instantly iconic watch to add to your collection. Yes indeed, the Shinola Guardian Watch (so named for the famed Guardian Building in Detroit) is crisp, refined and naturally made to be worn with fine tailoring, making it one of the best dress watches you can buy this instant.

Helpfully, it’s a great time of year to add one of the best men’s dress watches to your rotation, with holiday parties and gatherings on the horizon. Of course, the Shinola Guardian Watch wears quite well any day of the week, what with its clean lines, its distinctive sandblasted stainless case with a throwback-inspired rounded square dial design, and plenty of on-point details. The Shinola Guardian Watch is a more recent introduction to the brand’s well-reviewed line of watches, but it’s no less worthy of consideration as you shop to expand (or start!) your watch rotation.

The design specs are exactly what you’d expect from a brand like Shinola, which takes great care to assemble its watches with pride in Detroit. It’s a sight to behold, and it starts with the Swiss Argonite movement that the team builds in Detroit. That makes this a quartz watch, but again, for the value this stylish leather dress watch provides, that’s not a bad thing at all (it retails for either $675 or $725 at Shinola). In any of the three striking color and strap combinations, the Shinola Guardian Watch is a surefire winner (I’m especially a fan of the handsome Midnight Blue option shown above). The sapphire crystal on the dial provides durability (it’s second only to diamond in terms of material hardness), yet another way in which Shinola provides excellent value for your hard-earned cash.

And helpfully, the Shinola Guardian Watch is so crisp and classic, you can wear it with holiday style ensembles (like a tailored flannel shirt, a shawl cardigan and dark blue jeans) as readily as you can wear it with a winter wool suit or a tan herringbone blazer. Heck, you could even add the Shinola Guardian Watch to a more rugged fall style ensemble (think a waxed trucker jacket and your favorite henley) if need be. An eye-catching leather strap with raised stitching finishes off every iteration of the Shinola Guardian Watch, which is ideal — you can’t go wrong Shinola, no matter which way you look at it. Happy shopping, my friends.

See Now, Buy Now: You Can Wear this Taylor Stitch Double Knit Sweater Anywhere This Season

The Double Knit Sweater in Charcoal | Taylor Stitch

There are certain times this fall (and this holiday season) when you’re going to want to go more casual — lounging around on a weekend, catching up on afternoon football — and certain times when you’re going to want to step things up a notch. This is where one of the best men’s sweaters, a sweater you truly can wear anywhere at all, comes into play. It’s the simply named, highly effective and always stylish Taylor Stitch Double Knit Sweater, made with an innovative fabric blend built to go the distance. It’s here, crucially, just in time for all those instances when you need a layer you can rock with anything, and for when you need a layer that can sometimes pull double duty (as in, wear this Taylor Stitch sweater to Thanksgiving dinner, then wear it the next day with some Taylor Stitch sweats for digital Black Friday shopping).

Sound too good to be true? Well, we’re talking about Taylor Stitch after all, San Francisco-based purveyors of everything from the best fall weekend pants to one of the most rugged flannel shirts on the market. They’ve perfected the art of versatile, slightly rugged and plenty classic menswear, and this double knit sweater (more on the fabric blend in a moment) is certainly no exception to that rule.

The Double Knit Sweater in Forest - Classic Men's Clothing

As crazy as it might seem, the Taylor Stitch Double Knit Sweater really is like no other sweater out there, and it comes down to the care with which the brand has built this investment-level sweater. It retails for $188, but when you consider how it’s made, you’ll understand. You see, Taylor Stitch used a blend of wool and cotton, plus rayon, poly and spandex, to deliver a classic-looking crewneck sweater that’s actually more innovative than you might expect at first glance. The interior uses viscose and polyester for a finish that’s smooth, not scratchy, meaning you could likely wear the Taylor Stitch Double Knit Sweater atop a short-sleeve T-shirt (perhaps the Taylor Stitch Heavy Bag Tee) if absolutely needed.

And on the outside, the Taylor Stitch Double Knit Sweater uses a ribbed collar and cuffs to keep the fit trim and clean, plus a blend of wool and cotton for warmth. You can certainly layer this shirt atop one of Taylor Stitch’s shirts for a crisp, office or holiday-party look. But because this is Taylor Stitch here, this subtly stylish sweater won’t look out of place with tailored joggers for casual weekend days aplenty. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the Taylor Stitch Double Knit Sweater really is one of the most solid sweaters you can snag right now, and in any color (pick from Forest, British Khaki or Charcoal). Happy layering, my friends, and thanks for reading!

The Tuesday Steal: This Wellen Pullover from Huckberry Is On Sale for Less Than $100 Now

It can be hard to find great men’s style essentials, especially for the chillier months, that are both on sale and in stock, but that’s where the always-well-stocked Huckberry Sale section comes into play. Specifically, if you’ve been searching for one of the best casual sweatshirts to wear as a laidback season of lounging comes into focus, then the Wellen Dawn Patrol Pullover is an ideal bet for expertly crafted, affordable style. Better still, one of the best pullovers for men is now on sale for under $100, making it an ideal Tuesday Steal to add to your carefully curated wardrobe. If you’ve not yet gotten acquainted with the sustainable in-house style brand at Huckberry that is Wellen, then I’d wager that the Wellen Dawn Patrol Pullover is a great place to start. Wellen focuses on making everything from one of the best flannel shirts to super-soft T-shirts and pants, all incorporating recycled fibers for an added touch of eco-conscious design. And when the end result looks like the highly affordable, go-anywhere Wellen Dawn Patrol Pullover, then that’s a great thing indeed.

Wellen is one of the most sustainable menswear brands out there, with the quality and style points to back it up, too. This pullover is cut from recycled polyester fleece for an incredibly soft feel and finish, one that’s seemingly at odds with its (now on sale) sub-$100 price tag. It’s also got plenty of details you might expect from one of the best pullovers for men, including touches like a front zipper pocket for your everyday carry essentials. Plus, contrasting design details at the collar and front pocket set this stylish, casual pullover apart from the pack. Huckberry has knocked it out of the park with the Wellen Dawn Patrol Pullover, to say the least.

The Wellen Dawn Patrol Pullover is designed more like an anorak than a regular pullover, with the ability to be layered over everything from your favorite fall henley to a stretch chambray shirt. It’s polished enough to wear out on the weekends to coffee, brunch, the farmer’s market and day hikes aplenty, too. The Wellen Dawn Patrol Pullover really can do it all, which is saying something considering that — once again — it’s on sale for under $100 right now. Plus, it helps that the Charcoal color shown here is neutral enough to pair up with just about anything else in your wardrobe, from olive joggers to the best fall weekend pants. How’s that for versatility and sustainability?

To be sure, there are other options in terms of color when it comes to the Wellen Dawn Patrol Pullover, but this one is perhaps the most distinctive and easy to style (although the all-navy Wellen Dawn Patrol Pullover offers up some nice wearability, too). No matter which color you choose of this rugged, durable and sub-$100 pullover, Huckberry’s designed it to last and last. Try it out now and see for yourself.

See Now, Buy Now: The Flint and Tinder 10-Year Pullover is the Best Men’s Hoodie to Wear Right Now

There are plenty of menswear picks that never go out of style and always deliver — you’ve likely got your favorites, and if the Flint and Tinder 10-Year Pullover isn’t among them as of yet, well, here’s hoping that changes today. It’s a Huckberry Bestseller for plenty of reasons, and it’s not hard to see when you dive into the specs: It’s one of the best hooded sweatshirts on the market, with the right design and construction to back it up. You see, the remarkable Flint and Tinder 10-Year Pullover is one of the pieces that helped build Huckberry (one of the best online retailers for men, lest we forget). The hoodie in question featured crowdfunding that shot through the roof in its early days, and an ongoing commitment to quality from the Flint and Tinder team keeps that same high standard rolling right along these days.

Sure, you could just pick up any old hooded sweatshirt at all, but that’s not the aim of today’s See Now, Buy Now series entry. The Flint and Tinder 10-Year Pullover is designed to make you rethink what you thought you knew about hoodies. It’s made from better, more durable fabric, for starters: It uses Mississippi Delta cotton and a super-soft fleece lining for plenty of comfort right out of the box. The Flint and Tinder 10-Year Pullover is also cut, sewn and finished with plenty of care in Los Angeles, hence the slightly higher price tag than your average hoodie. It’s one of the best hoodies for men, after all, so you should be prepared to invest just a bit (it retails for $98 at Huckberry). There’s plenty more where that came from, of course.

The right details, as you can see above on the Flint and Tinder 10-Year Pullover, are what makes this hoodie so much more than your average hoodie. The hood is double-lined, so you can wear this surprisingly stylish hoodie layered up under, say, the impeccable and essential Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket (also a bestseller at Huckberry, as luck would have it). Even the draw cords of the hood on the Flint and Tinder 10-Year Pullover are tipped with metal for added durability, just one of the reasons you’ll have this hoodie for a very, very long time.

If you still haven’t taken my word for it, listen to how Huckberry puts it: The famed retailer says this F&T hoodie uses “beefy yet insanely comfortable fabric,” the kind that should break in nicely the more you wear it. Naturally, you should get a ton of wear out of this hoodie, whether you team it with a pair of blue jeans from Huckberry or your favorite weekend pants. The options are limitless, the construction is top-notch and you simply can’t go wrong with any color of the Flint and Tinder 10-Year Pullover — how’s that for the best hoodie to wear this season, right?

The Sunday Sale: Score a Standout Deal on this Rugged Shirt Jacket from Howler Brothers

Quintana Quilted Flannel

There’s a time and a place to stock up on the most rugged fall menswear, and well, folks, that time and place is right now. Sure, today happens to be Halloween, and in that spirit, I’ve got a deal that’s spooky good on one of the best flannel shirts for the season (that’s the last of the Halloween puns, I promise!). Head over to Austin-based Howler Brothers and hit up the brand’s always well-stocked Howler Brothers Last Call section (as talked about previously on the blog) to find yourself a standout deal on a rugged shirt jacket (among other excellent discounts, that is). The shirt in question? It’s the Howler Brothers Quintana Quilted Shirt, the perfect blend of form and function for autumn — and a very hot-selling shirt, too. Crucially, it’s available for just over $60 right now at Howler Brothers, and it’s moving fast. Not to fear though, because Howler Brothers is jam-packed with plenty of other dependable, durable and stylish gear across the board. If you do decide to take the plunge on the Howler Brothers Quintana Quilted Shirt before it sells out, you’re getting one heck of a great deal.

It’s exactly the kind of deal and the kind of essential that makes the Howler Brothers Last Call such a great destination (and of course, a very popular one). The Howler Brothers Quintana Quilted Shirt is made from a blend of polyester flannel and cotton, giving it both stretch and a hard-wearing finish. The quilted shoulder yoke adds both distinctive style and a tough, fall-ready look to your wardrobe, so it’s not hard to see why it’s one of the best flannel shirts to wear right now — if you manage to snap it up before it’s gone, that is.

With oversized chest pockets finished off with snap hardware, it’s definitely more of a shirt jacket than a plain old flannel shirt, which makes it ideal to wear on day hikes, brewery visits or fall road trips. It’s helpful that those are all the sort of pursuits that the Howler Brothers team loves the most. They specialize in gear made for action, adventure and great times, and it’s also worth giving the new Howler Brothers Fall 2021 collection a look as you peruse the fast-moving Howler Brothers Last Call section. For now, the Howler Brothers Quintana Quilted Shirt should prove a highly versatile layer when thrown on over a classic henley and your favorite pair of blue jeans, for instance. You can also wear it unbuttoned over a Howler Brothers graphic tee for laidback, distinctly cool seasonal layering. Any way you choose to wear it, the Howler Brothers Quintana Quilted Shirt delivers in matters of style and substance, my friends.

Style Pick of the Week: Shinola Canfield Sport Watch – The Best Watch to Wear All Fall and Winter

From this Brooklyn writer’s point of view, there are assuredly small style essentials that go a long way towards upgrading your overall look. Have you ever heard the adage that people notice both your shoes and your watch first? Well, make that first impression a great one: Get one of the best men’s watches — the Shinola Canfield Sport Watch — and wait for the compliments to roll in. But why Shinola, and why now? I’m glad you asked, my friend. A quick history lesson: The Shinola Canfield Sport Watch is so named for the West Canfield Historic District in Detroit. Not bad at all! Now, this certainly won’t be the last time you hear about the Detroit-based maker of watches and leather goods this season and beyond, so let’s step forward into the future on time and in style. For starters, Shinola makes some of the best accessories for men (and women!) on the market, striking a tricky balance between premium, refined style, rugged appeal and fine, precise craftsmanship. The Shinola Canfield Sport Watch is a prime example of that dedication, with well-made details any watch lover will appreciate, and plenty of style points regardless, particularly if you’re just tipping your toe into the world of men’s watches.

What’s a chronograph watch, for starters? A chronograph watch features sub-dials within the main watch dial. Here’s the kicker: As the main dial tracks the time itself, and the three chronograph dials (on the Shinola Canfield Sport Watch in particular) can be used to track details like one-tenth of a second, as well as minutes or hours. It’s an added bit of functionality that’s made watches like the Shinola Canfield Sport Watch prized for their utility in travel, road racing (or road trips) and more. At the end of the day, all Shinola men’s watches perform readily under pressure and look mighty stylish either way. It only gets better from there.

The Shinola Canfield Sport Watch is especially well-suited for fall and winter because it’s built to handle just about anything. Unlike a NATO strap watch, typically worn during summer and often featuring a smaller-size case diameter (as NATO strap watches are often made for the field), a timepiece like the handsome Shinola Canfield Sport Watch features a larger 45mm dial diameter. This means that the watch is going to stand up stylistically to the more rugged, burlier fall style essentials you’re wearing, from a thermal henley and flannel shirt to your favorite waxed trucker jacket and a tough denim shirt. Yes indeed, the Shinola Canfield Sport Watch simply is firing on all cylinders.

Naturally, the Shinola Canfield Sport Watch is also dressy enough to be worn in business casual situations, especially with one of the best men’s Oxford shirts, sleeves rolled up, this fall and beyond. There are several varieties of the Canfield watch, but the blend of a rich cognac leather strap and a cool-as-can-be black dial is pretty inviting, is it not? Pick up any version of the Shinola Canfield Sport Watch, and wear it as often as possible: You won’t be disappointed in matters of style or versatility.

The Friday Read: A Dispatch from the Outside Lands 2021 Festival

Outside Lands to Require Proof of Vaccine or Negative COVID Test at 2021  Festival - mxdwn Music

My friends, we’re coming to you live from San Francisco with a shorter-than-usual dispatch for your regular Friday Read installment, where I normally get into things like the best men’s style essentials to carry you through your weekend. But if you follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my twice-weekly music and menswear newsletter, you might know that I’m doing things a bit differently today. You might also know that I wear a heck of a lot of hats, including writing about rugged menswear, covering whiskey, craft beer and of course, music. Which brings me to my San Francisco trip, already off to a fine start. I’m here writing about the always-excellent Outside Lands Festival, for Atwood Magazine, a celebration of great music (with a hearty helping of regional beer and cuisine) at Golden Gate Park.

It’s my first time to San Francisco in seven years, if you can believe it, and the festival is hotly anticipated for a number of reasons. I can’t wait to see lifetime heroes The Strokes play tonight, and I also expect stellar sets from indie stars like Sharon Van Etten. It’s going to be an action-packed weekend, so again, I’d call out that you should follow me on Instagram to get the full lay of the land (you should also check back here to read tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week in the meantime). As for me, I’ve got some photos to take and some more writing to do, but this time, on music and not menswear. Thanks for reading, thanks for your support, and if you’ve got any San Francisco recommendations (like the incredible Anchor Brewing, which I visited yesterday!), be sure to drop me a line in the comments. Cheers and let’s rock!

The Thursday Buy: Faherty Brand’s Sherpa Trucker Jacket is the Coolest Jacket for Fall Layering

If you’re anything like me, perhaps you always take any chance you can get to wear your favorite denim jacket. Well, what if I told you there was a way you could keep wearing said denim jacket, but in a way that’s a bit more ready for the chilly climes of fall and winter? Enter the Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket, one of the coolest men’s jackets on the market, and one that’s more than ready for whatever fall throws your way. From cabin getaways to day hikes, pumpkin beer sipping sessions, morning coffee and beyond, this is one of the best men’s trucker jackets and then some, to say the very least. While the Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket looks on the surface like your average denim jacket, it’s got all the specs you could ever ask for in terms of durability, warmth and expert fall style.

The family-owned, NYC-based brand draws heavy inspiration from the great outdoors, coastal nature and good living, and believe it or not, the Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket wraps a bit of each of those pursuits into one handsome and rugged jacket. It starts with the use of organic cotton, which has been faded to look like you’ve had this jacket for years. The recycled polyester sherpa lining will prove cozy and warm on the inside, and you can’t beat that cool faded denim on the outside.

The Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket also takes the details a step further, which is never a bad thing if you’re on the hunt for some of the best fall menswear and gear (spoiler alert: Faherty Brand has you covered). In this instance, the Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket features branded buttons in a custom design, a small touch that design lovers should certainly appreciate. It’s also a huge bonus that the Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket is made from sustainable materials, giving you some bang for your buck in terms of price (it’ll retail for $298 at Faherty).

Beyond that, the Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket is the right kind of in-between jacket for these times, when it’s cold and blustery but not yet cold enough for a thicker parka. Wear the incredible-looking Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket atop your favorite Faherty flannel shirt or a warm thermal from the brand, or else wear it as an extra layer atop a crewneck long-sleeve T-shirt or a chambray shirt. The rugged appeal of the Faherty Brand Indigo Sherpa Stormrider Jacket never gets old, does it? Because this is a trucker jacket-style offering, it’ll hit above the waist and features a more relaxed silhouette, all the better for layering with the best fall style essentials. When you need outerwear that mimics your favorite denim jacket but goes a step further, Faherty is the brand you need in your closet. Happy shopping and happy fall, folks!

See Now, Buy Now: The Billy Reid Bond Peacoat Is Back In Stock and Better Than Ever

How James Bond's Peacoat Changed Billy Reid's Business | GQ

There are certain menswear essentials that always mark the true start of fall and winter with their arrival, and in the best way possible. Take the much-loved and always popular, quick-selling and simply incredible Billy Reid Bond Peacoat. So named for the famed menswear designer (and Style Guide favorite) Billy Reid’s Bond Street store in New York City, you likely recognize it these days from the big screen. Famously, it’s the peacoat worn by James Bond in “Skyfall,” part of an instantly classic set of men’s style moves by Bond that you can now emulate yourself. Beyond that, it’s simply one of the best men’s peacoats — and indeed, one of the best men’s jackets, period. It’s got all the standout styling potential and details you’d only expect from one of America’s best menswear designers — there’s more than one reason Bond wears this sleek, classic peacoat.

You already know you can turn to Billy Reid for everything from one of the best on-sale men’s shirts to the coolest fall sweater, so why not really up the ante with a peacoat sure to sell out soon? The specs on this peacoat make it both refined and yet incredibly functional in chilly fall and winter weather, starting with the use of smooth, soft-yet-thick melton wool. That wool is made in Portugal into a truly iconic jacket that won’t be around on the site’s digital shelves for very long. If you’ve been on the fence about the Billy Reid Bond Peacoat, now’s the time to take the plunge.

As if the specs weren’t enough to convince you, well the option to go with either classic Navy or Black should provide plenty of versatile styling potential, especially if you go like Bond and wear the Billy Reid Bond Peacoat atop a crisp white dress shirt (also found at Billy Reid) and a pair of slim grey wool trousers. Notably, the Billy Reid Bond Peacoat is finished off with cool, iconic touches, like a leather undercollar and horn buttons, all the better to provide long-lasting, timeless style for years to come. The Billy Reid Bond Peacoat can be worn simply, atop the Billy Reid Dover Sweatshirt with faded jeans, for instance, or in dressy fashion (See Bond, James Bond).

Get James Bond’s peacoat now

It’s the perfect way to layer for fall

It’s worth noting that because it’s one of the best men’s peacoats, it’s going to prove a pricier investment than a fast-fashion item. Clocking in at a shade under $700, the Billy Reid Bond Peacoat is built to last and made to get better with age. It’s durable enough to wear in snow storms, but for a blizzard or unexpected rain, you might want to turn instead towards a waxed parka. The great news is though, most days, the exceptional Billy Reid Bond Peacoat is your new favorite winter peacoat, to say the very least. Dressing like James Bond just got a little bit easier, but act quickly, because this peacoat won’t be around forever. Stay stylish, folks!

The Tuesday Steal: Invest in the Best with A Classic Shinola Runwell Watch

The Story Behind The Runwell Automatic | The Journal

Today’s Tuesday Steal might seem a bit out of the ordinary — after all, if you’re investing in something as nice as one of the best men’s leather watches, isn’t that not quite exactly a steal? Well, perhaps that’s the case, but when it comes down to Shinola watches, it’s actually quite easy to get a lot of bang for your buck. That’s because Shinola men’s watches are packed with intricate details, quality construction, style points aplenty and much more for what you’re ponying up. The Shinola Runwell Watch, in its many iterations and in the timeless design shown above, hits the nail on the head, to say the least, making it as fine a purchase as any this season (and well beyond). Note that the original Runwell features a quartz movement, but you can also track down the Shinola Runwell Automatic. OK, onward!

Now, if you’ve read my blog over the years, you’ll know that I’ve long admired Michigan-based Shinola for its commitment to accessible quality, iconic designs and a nice blend of rugged and refined design. Note that the brand uses Swiss parts to make its watches in Detroit, but it’s still more than worthy of consideration when you want to dive into the best American watch brands.

What exactly makes the Shinola Runwell Watch such a solid purchase if you want standout style that delivers plenty of versatility and rugged appeal? That, my friends, is pretty plain to see. The Runwell clocks in with a case diameter of 41mm, highly wearable on most wrists, and uses a striking dial design that’s somehow classic and just a bit mid-century-modern, and yet undeniably fresh. It’s made with a high-accuracy quartz movement, one of the reasons why those who prefer more expensive, mechanical watches might not prefer the brand. But when you consider the handsome and frankly iconic design of the Shinola Runwell Watch, plus the price — a more than agreeable $595 for some models of the Shinola Runwell Watch — you start to see why this is a true Tuesday Steal in every sense of the word.

And if you’re the type of guy who’s just entering the world of watches, then something as accessible and highly wearable as any number of Shinola men’s watches is a great place to start. With the right mix of rich leather straps and bold, contrasting designs, plus options like chronograph functionality (for tracking other, smaller units of time aside from the main watch dial), Shinola men’s watches are a seriously cool and useful bet. Plus, you can wear a design like the Shinola Runwell Watch with everything from a navy wool winter suit to your favorite henley and faded blue jeans (I should know — I’ve done both). With any option you buy, the Shinola Runwell Watch gives you standout wearability and classic looks, no matter what.

Invest in the very best with a Shinola Runwell

This watch is the right way to go, any day of the week