See Now, Buy Now: This Grayers Shirt Jacket is the Most Classic Fall Layer to Shop Now

The dawn of a chilly fall day is no time to be left out in the cold, literally or figuratively speaking. That’s why you need one of the best men’s shirt jackets, and that’s where Grayers — masters of blending prep and modern style — can help you out in a big way this season. The Grayers Fremont Rugged Twill Shirt Jacket, you see, is the perfect blend of rugged and classic, the sort of shirt jacket you should have close at hand on drafty cabin days or afternoons in front of the fire at home in equal measure. It’s all part of a jam-packed Grayers New Arrivals section featuring super-soft fabrics, expert designs and just the right blend of old-school and current.

It’s the Grayers way, after all (if you’ll recall, Grayers was the term given to gray flannel trousers worn by British prep school students). Peter Georgiou co-founded the brand with his wife Joanna, and turned his love of history — and 11 years of design experience at Ralph Lauren — into a brand that does things its own way, and the right way. Yes indeed, the ever-so-rugged Grayers Fremont Rugged Twill Shirt Jacket belongs in your corner (and on your shoulders) this season.

The Grayers Fremont Rugged Twill Shirt Jacket does more than just look super-soft and cozy. It lives up to its name, using a 9oz. yarn-dyed cotton twill with a stone-washed finish to provide burly warmth and tough layering potential, especially over, say one of your favorite henleys for fall. It’s also built like a true shirt jacket, with two front-button flap chest pockets to hold your everyday carry essentials, plus slash hip pockets to warm your digits on chilly fall and winter days. And since it’s one of the best shirt jackets for men, well, that means you can wear it for work or play, on a day hike or splitting wood, or simply lounging by the fire. It falls right in line with the entire Grayers collection, which features everything from warm flannel shirts to tailored chinos.

If you felt so inclined, you could wear the Grayers Fremont Rugged Twill Shirt Jacket atop a white Oxford shirt alongside tan Grayers chinos — the Insignia Blue color gives it a suitably dressy finish, after all. When the day dawns cold and clear, you’ve now got the perfect layer to reach for time and time again. Make it the Grayers Fremont Rugged Twill Shirt Jacket, and plenty of warm fall and winter days await.

The Sunday Sale: Enter this WESN Goods Giveaway to Get the Best Everyday Carry Gear on the Market

Every WESN product

Welcome back to another fine edition of the Sunday Sale, where I help you dive into the best deals on the best menswear, and in this case, the best deals on the best everyday carry gear. Here’s the lowdown: If you read the blog, perhaps you’re familiar with the rugged EDC gear being made by WESN Goods, a Detroit-based brand first launched on Kickstarter and now best known for its WESN Microblade and a well-curated, well-designed offering of EDC goods for men and women. The brand’s name means “West, East South, North,” fitting for adventure-minded gear offerings. While the brand is certainly worth shopping if you need upgrades to your daily carry for yard work, road trips, camping and more, there’s an even better way to step things up with your everyday carry essentials. Now through October 29th, enter the WESN 4-Year Anniversary Giveaway for a chance to win the brand’s entire product range. What exactly does that get you? A heck of a lot, from the famed WESN Microblade to the WESN Allman Knife, a handy carabiner and more.

Click through to read more about the WESN 4-Year Anniversary Giveaway, which was designed to celebrate the brand’s inspirations, its journey from a Kickstarter campaign to a prominent Detroit brand, and much more. You can also score quite a few additional entries to the WESN 4-Year Anniversary Giveaway by reading the fine print, so to speak, but it’s worth checking out the rest of the brand’s highly durable, incredibly handsome and well-designed product assortment in the meantime. For now, enter the WESN 4-Year Anniversary Giveaway now through October 29th to give your everyday carry a serious shot in the arm. Good luck out there!

Gear up right now with WESN Goods

The best EDC picks are within reach

Style Pick of the Week: Buck Mason Storm Stopper CPO Jacket – The Most Rugged Fall Jacket to Wear Now

There are folks who say “‘Tis the season” as it relates to the holidays, and then there are those, like myself, who say it in reference to the best fall menswear, and the chance to finally, properly layer up. That time is upon is now, which is why the Buck Mason Desert Khaki Storm Stopper CPO Jacket belongs in your rotation of the best fall style essentials right now. It’s but one seriously cool, rugged and dependable offering on-hand at the moment in the always-well-stocked Buck Mason New Arrivals section. The brand, which draws heavily from all-American workwear, delivers when it comes to hard-wearing gear of all sorts, from soft-yet-strong T-shirts to waxed jackets, Oxford shirting and plenty more. The Buck Mason Desert Khaki Storm Stopper CPO is a breed all its own though, built with all the hard-wearing design you’d expect from a brand that’s built its reputation on delivering when you need it the most (like on blustery fall days and weekend mornings). If you know Buck Mason, founded more than a decade ago, you know exactly what the means. The fabrication delivers, the design is versatile enough to go just about anywhere, and the pricing is often more than worth it for what you’re getting.

In this case, that means the Buck Mason Desert Khaki Storm Stopper CPO Jacket is made from a cotton-twill blend that’s also been treated with a Durable Water-Resistant finish, then filled with PrimaLoft for added warmth. Those specs are only the beginning though, as it were.

Zoomed product image

Helpfully, the Buck Mason Desert Khaki Storm Stopper CPO Jacket is fit for work or play, with the potential to layer up nicely over a Buck Mason thermal shirt or henley. You can then wear that combination out and about for all manner of pursuits, be it fall weekend yard work or a laidback porch coffee-sipping session. Front-button chest pockets offer up a bit of space for Buck Mason accessories as needed, and the Desert Khaki color wears nicely with faded Buck Mason denim or even navy chinos.

Get your new go-to shirt jacket here

Buck Mason’s CPO Jacket is the best move now

And hey, if you work in a more casual office, you can wear the Buck Mason Desert Khaki Storm Stopper CPO Jacket atop a white Oxford shirt with navy chinos as a casual and cool blazer replacement. It’s cut with enough room to layer over a denim shirt, so it wears more like a proper jacket for fall road trips. And because it’s got the potential to be worn casually or a bit more dressed-up, the Buck Mason Desert Khaki Storm Stopper CPO Jacket is going to prove more than worth the price tag ($195 at Buck Mason). Does that sound like it checks all the right boxes as far as the best fall menswear is concerned? I’d say it does, but give it a shot and let me know for yourself on Twitter or in the comments below.

The Friday Read: Horse Soldier Bourbon, The Best Fall Jeans & A New Bonobos Sweater

Horse Soldier Small Batch Bourbon | Third Base Market and Spirits | Third  Base Market & Spirits

This Friday caps off a very special, very busy week, one notable in more ways than one (and one notable beyond even one of the best whiskies for fall and winter as seen above). From Monday through Wednesday of this week, I traveled to the beautiful state of Kentucky with NYC’s Magrino PR for something well beyond just a whiskey tasting. I was on hand in the rolling hills of Somerset, Kentucky with the Horse Soldier Bourbon team for groundbreaking festivities (and my, were there festivities) related to the new Horse Soldier Farms facility, a sprawling, $200 million planned expansion of the Horse Soldier Bourbon brand — you might have read about the trip in my newsletter earlier this week. It was a momentous trip filled with patriotism, community and faith, all principles of the remarkable Horse Soldier brand. If you want a taste of the brand, you can get their excellent whiskey delivered to your door, but it’s about so much more than whiskey.

Founded just about three years ago by a group of Special Forces veterans — horse soldiers and Special Forces members who served bravely in Afghanistan and elsewhere — the company operates a lovely tasting room in Florida and distills product in Ohio with partners, but the Somerset facility is going to become a true destination in every sense of the word, with a massive lodge, cabins, a chapel, an amphitheater and much more set for the beautiful space tucked away in Somerset’s rolling hills. In fact, it’s not far from where members of the Horse Soldier team were training when terrorists attacked the U.S. on September 11th. It was a true homecoming celebration packed with tons of significance and emotional moments, capped off with a night in Louisville and a special ceremony at the Frazier History Museum welcoming Horse Soldier Bourbon to the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail. I’ll have much more to say on the trip and on the groundbreaking soon, but it was an incredible, passion-filled trip (right down to the breathtaking stay at Louisville’s 21c Museum Hotel), and I couldn’t have been more honored to be on site for such a special occasion. For now, I’ve got some other deadlines to knock out yet this weekend (as I sip on my new favorite bourbon, of course), but I’ll still take you into the weekend with my normal guide to menswear’s best reads and buys. Happy shopping!

  • So, here’s a shopping pick to get your weekend started off right. In fact, I can vouch firsthand for the durability and versatility of classic slim blue jeans from Mott and Bow, seeing as I wore two pairs throughout my trip to Kentucky. These jeans are packed with helpful stretch and washed just enough to give them plenty of comfort right out of the box, so consider giving Mott and Bow (and the site’s free shipping and returns) a shot heading into fall. They are the best fall jeans, after all.
  • Fall is nothing if not the season for taking care of chores and taking care of business, literally, and that involves everything from splitting wood to hauling brush to simply pouring up some more Horse Soldier Bourbon as you sit around the bonfire. Whatever your pursuits might be this season, my guide for The Manual on the best barn coats for doing chores is sure to keep you warm and toasty in rugged style.
  • Here’s one more for you today when it comes to fall layering. Bonobos, long one of my favorite brands, has also long been known for its stylish and slim chinos. That notoriety levels up a step further though when it comes to one of the best sweaters, too. I wrote about said sweater on the blog earlier this week, so be sure to gear up accordingly, folks.

That’ll wrap up my trio of picks for the best menswear you can shop this weekend, but allow me to provide you with one more recommendation: It always pays off to get a nice discount on a Taylor Stitch leather jacket, and you can read all about how to do that here. I’ll let you go forth and shop stylish menswear, sip excellent whiskey and plan your Bourbon Trail getaway. Enjoy it, my friends!

The Thursday Buy: This Rugged Down Jacket from Huckberry Is Your New Go-To Fall Layer

At times when it comes to your favorite fall gear picks, it’s best not to overdo it. What I mean to say is, sometimes, you just need a grab-and-go jacket, one of the best jackets for fall, to throw on without too much fuss. When your fall days, especially the weekend, could involve everything from park strolls to brunch to yard work or a brewery visit (much better than yard work, right?) shouldn’t you have a jacket — like the essential Proof Graphene Down Jacket — that you can wear through blustery breezes and fall weather all the while? Yes, that’s absolutely right. As dreamed up by the good folks at Huckberry (Proof is one of the in-house brands of the famed retailer), the Proof Graphene Down Jacket is nearly too good to be true, blending plenty of bells and whistles into an unassuming-yet-tough design. This rugged down jacket is hard-wearing yet packable, lightweight yet warm, and a little bit of everything in between.

It’s got lots going for it, starting with a design that seemingly blends the classic Harrington jacket (note the stand-up collar) and the simple build of a bomber jacket. Plus, the specs are everything you need in a durable fall jacket. The Proof Graphene Down Jacket gets its name from the lightweight yet remarkably tough Graphene fiber used throughout the lining, which manages to regulate your temperature and yet has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel. This isn’t the sort of puffer jacket to easily cut or rip, that much is true.

The Proof Graphene Down Jacket also packs a punch with its exterior construction, too. Try on the jacket and breathe easy knowing that it’s coated with a 100 percent DWR finishing, then filled with down inside that durable graphene lining for plenty of comfort. The Proof Graphene Down Jacket also lands right in the fairway in terms of versatility: Take your pick between Olive or Navy, and then pair either color with everything from your favorite pair of blue jeans to tan chinos or durable Huckberry work pants.

Layering options abound, from the potential to throw it on over your favorite henley as you head out the door, or the ability to team it with a chambray shirt for casually cool, day-to-night style. It’s also priced quite agreeably (the Proof Graphene Down Jacket retails for $168 at Huckberry), given that you can wear it to the office, out on seasonal adventures and pretty much anywhere in between. When fall starts to roll through in earnest — as it’s doing now! — make sure the Proof Graphene Down Jacket is on your shoulders.

See Now, Buy Now: This Bonobos Merino Wool Sweater is the Top Sweater to Wear All Fall

As far as fall style essentials are concerned, I should hope that you’re well-stocked by now. If not, well, there’s just enough time to start layering up the right way, and these days, it often starts with one of the best men’s sweaters. Heading to the office and want to change up your look without investing in a new blazer? Get the sort of stylish sweater you can wear with ease atop your Oxford or chambray shirt. Looking for an easy grab-and-go layer to throw on with trusty work-from-home pants? Again, here’s where the Bonobos Washable Merino Crew Neck Sweater enters the equation (and your wardrobe). It’s the latest from a retailer that’s always prided itself on innovation, be that through its perfectly fitting men’s pants, its range of handsome Italian tailoring or an always well-stocked selection of the best seasonal menswear.

When temperatures start to drop without stopping, something like the wear-with-anything Bonobos Washable Merino Crew Neck Sweater is going to be your best friend. It all starts, as you might expect, with the use of merino wool, a fabric I simply can’t get enough of. If you read the blog regularly, you might recognize the fact that merino wool is moisture-wicking (yet warm), plus anti-microbial and, in the case of the Bonobos Washable Merino Crew Neck Sweater, very easy to wash and wear repeatedly. That’s unlike other more expensive sweaters, like cashmere, which calls for professional cleaning more often than not. No sir, the hit list of positives surrounding the Bonobos Washable Merino Crew Neck Sweater only keeps growing.

So, the fabric in and of itself makes the Bonobos Washable Merino Crew Neck Sweater highly covetable (as does the agreeable price — it retails for $99, a heck of a steal for a sweater you can wear more than once weekly). What’s that, you say? Wearing the same sweater more than once? Absolutely. Take your pick from multiple color options, including Heather Green, and rest easy knowing you can wear the Bonobos Washable Merino Crew Neck Sweater to the office (atop a white Oxford shirt with tan chinos) or at home alongside tailored sweatpants and a long-sleeve tee. Talk about cozy fall weekend comfort, right? Plus, the details are exactly on-point, just as one might expect from a lauded retailer like Bonobos.

Ribbed stitching helps accentuate your shoulders, and it also adds an unexpected touch at the cuff and collar. The best part about all these design details might just be the fact that you can do so much with the Bonobos Washable Merino Crew Neck Sweater, from the office to a fall weekend and back. And at that highly agreeable price (again, $99 at Bonobos), you very well might want to pick up more than one. Do yourself a favor and layer up in style this fall.

The Tuesday Steal: Pre-Fund the Best Leather Jacket At Taylor Stitch Right Now

Every year at about this time, there’s a rumbling you can hear in the distance. It’s the sound of the Taylor Stitch Workshop consistently churning out some of the best deals on the best men’s style essentials, and at competitive prices compared to any brand on the market. And today, the Tuesday Steal in question really does hit the mark quite nicely: It’s the Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket in Whiskey Steerhide, a truly exceptional, handsome and well-crafted jacket that’s worth pre-funding right now through the aforementioned Taylor Stitch Workshop. For those not familiar with San Francisco-based Taylor Stitch, the brand has more than a decade’s worth of experience perfecting everything from men’s shirting to chinos, and over the years, that expertise has extended into the world of some of the coolest outerwear on the planet. Its field jackets and flannel shirts are stellar in their own right, but the Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket is a consistent favorite that never ceases to amaze. There’s lots to love in terms of pre-funding, too: You’re getting your new favorite leather jacket for 20 percent off when you pre-fund it, and although you’ll have to wait until January for it to ship out, it’s about as worth it as it gets.

This handsome and timeless jacket has plenty going for it, including the fact that it’s handmade in San Fran by the leather jacket experts at Golden Bear. It’s a match made in heaven, one that puts craftsmanship on full display. The Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket is made with 3.5oz. full-grain steerhide leather that should prove supple yet durable. It should also feel somewhat lighter than a thicker leather jacket from a brand like Schott (although Schott is certainly worthwhile as you search for the best leather jacket on the market!). It’s fully lined and features Thinsulate insulation, all the better for matching the Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket up with a thermal henley or a lightweight sweater to avoid too much bulk. Any which way you look at it, the Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket, right down to the antique brass zippers and the articulated shoulders for ease of movement, is the perfect merger of form and function. It’s an iconic take on the moto jacket that you’ll have for years and years to come, which only makes it a better deal right now through the well-stocked Taylor Stitch Workshop.

Head to the Taylor Stitch Workshop right now

Deals on the best new menswear await

The List: Buy the Best American-Made Casual Menswear at Goodlife Clothing

Goodlife Clothing: Men's & Women's Clothing Made in USA

There comes a time in your seasonal wardrobe refresh — like right now, as you shop for the best fall style essentials — when you’ve got to up the ante a bit. Be it finding a rugged new henley or one of the best men’s hoodies, there’s on reason to let your casual menswear fall by the wayside this season. That’s where Goodlife Clothing comes into play. The brand, which just opened a colorful NYC store last month, specializes in some of the best American-made menswear, focusing on quality knitwear and basics, from henleys to T-shirts, sweats and outerwear. Heck, as the brand itself says “Goodlife is unique to each of us, a state of mind, and a way of living by those who appreciate and understand true style and quality.” Sounds pretty great — and pretty stylish, does it not? Better still, they also offer a T-Shirt Club subscription service, in case you can’t get enough of the brand’s T-shirts (and believe me, you won’t be able to — I’m wearing one as I type!). You’re also going to love the Goodlife Loop program, which repurposes excess textiles and returned garments by transforming them into insulation for housing. What’s not to love about that, right?? If you seek the best made-in-America menswear to upgrade your casual wardrobe, you’re going to love what Goodlife Clothing is doing.

The Best Men’s Style Essentials to Buy Right Now From Goodlife

Goodlife Sun-Faded Scallop Hem Henley — $98

Goodlife’s henleys are a cut above the rest, from the sun-faded slub cotton fabric to unique details like the flattering curved hem. This midweight henley will feel comfortable as can be right out of the box, so get ready to layer up with your favorite flannel shirt or a Goodlife sweatshirt.

Goodlife Supima Scallop Crew — $68

Goodlife T-shirts are about as high-quality as it gets, made with American-grown Pima cotton for a soft finish and excellent structure. The curved hem is yet another flattering detail every guy should appreciate, and hey, can you ever have enough stylish T-shirts in your rotation?

Goodlife Denim Shirt — $175

Here’s the kicker — Goodlife Clothing isn’t just about the best men’s casual basics. In fact, they’ve come through with a perfectly rugged denim shirt you can wear all fall and winter. Note the higher price tag, owing to the use of rich indigo denim, plus the fact that this shirt is made in Portugal.

Goodlife Loop Logo Terry Hoody — $135

Your search for one of the best men’s hoodies for casual, cozy fall weekend style is complete, thanks to this ultra-soft, well-made version from Goodlife. The Clay color is perfectly at home this fall with your favorite pair of faded blue jeans.

Goodlife Linen Shirt Jacket — $225

In need of another dependable layer for fall, perhaps the kind you can throw on over one of the best men’s hoodies when chilly fall weather hits? Well, here’s the one you need right now. Best of all, it’s available in a range of cool, neutral colors.

Goodlife Essential Twill Pants — $135

Round out your collection of the best basics for men with these rugged twill pants, built with both durable fabric for fall-ready comfort and a drawstring waist for plenty of mobility. Team them up with one of the best men’s henleys for casual fall style pursuits aplenty.

So, are you sold on stocking up on the best new fall menswear from Goodlife Clothing? The brand does it all, and exceptionally well at that, using soft fabrics and durable construction to get all the details right, be it one of the best men’s henleys, a pair of rugged twill pants, one of the best men’s hoodies or something as simple and subtle as a classic scallop hem T-shirt. If you end up taking the plunge, be sure to let me know on Twitter.

The Sunday Sale: Stock Up On Rugged Fall Menswear with the Howler Brothers Last Call Section

40% off Howler Brothers Entire Fall Collection | Cool Material

It’s rare to find a brand that practices what it preaches as much as Howler Brothers. The Austin, Texas-based brand, found at retailers like Huckberry as well as online at its own store and in Austin at its own outpost, is all about seizing the spirit of adventure. It’s made all the better by the best deals on menswear in the Howler Brothers Last Chance section, the reason we’re here for today’s Sunday Sale. What makes this brand so special? Reader, I’m glad you asked. So named for howler monkeys that founders Chase Heard and Andy Stepanian encountered during a jungle adventure in Costa Rica, the brand is about blending form, function and rugged appeal. They mix technical fabrics — suited for fun on water and back on land — with silhouettes like puffer jackets, shirt jackets, short-sleeve shirts and more. It’s vibrant, it’s Southwest-inspired and yet, Howler Brothers menswear works just about anywhere there’s a good time to be had and stylish memories to be made.

In fact, the Fall 2021 Howler Brothers Collection — packed with technical shirts, cozy hoodies, colorful short-sleeve shirts and much more — is about seizing the day and taking on whatever life throws at you, in style (naturally). And yet, it’s the fast-selling Howler Brothers Last Chance section that’s particularly of interest (at least to this writer). Right now is actually a great time to get discounts on last season’s menswear and much more, believe it or not, be it the rugged Howler Brothers Harker’s Flannel or the go-anywhere Howler Brothers Stockman Stretch Snapshirt. Helpfully, prices tend to drop well below $50 or $60, and well below that, throughout the technically minded, rugged-but-modern Howler Brothers Last Chance section. What will you add to your rotation today? Be sure to let me know on Twitter.

Style Pick of the Week: Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt – The Most Rugged Shirt For Fall Right Now

There are certain fall style essentials you come across in your search for the best menswear that make so much sense, it’s a wonder you didn’t have a closet packed full of ’em before. Be that the best boots for men, a rugged henley or today’s Style Pick of the Week, when you know, you really know. And if you’ve been a fan of San Francisco-based Taylor Stitch for as long as I have, then you assuredly know the brand is practically made to deliver cold-weather gear that’s so spot-on, it’s easy to see why they’re one of the best brands for men on the market. That leads us to the Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt, just the latest and greatest addition to a truly action-packed line of Taylor Stitch shirting that’s up for grabs right now. If you’ve been waiting to buy one of the best flannel shirts for fall, for instance, now is the time, and it’s simply got to be the Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt. This year’s edition is everything you’d expect from the long-running brand, which hasn’t taken its foot off the gas in about a decade when it comes to making menswear essentials across the board (think selvedge denim, Oxford shirting, T-shirts and more).

The Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt is among a number of styles the brand returns to time and again, including the popular Taylor Stitch California Shirt (perfect to style with a blazer or on its own, untucked), and the Taylor Stitch Jack Oxford Shirt. Each are certainly suited for everyday wear, but when the temperature really starts to drop, well, it’s the undeniably cool, rugged and ridiculously soft and wearable Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt that belongs in your wardrobe and on your shoulders. It’s a winning formula playing off a classic flannel work shirt — note the chest flap button pocket and the contrasting chest patch pocket on the other side, for starters. But truly, you can make the Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt all your own this season.

With the Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt, which only seems to get better each year, well, it really does live up to the hype. It’s the use of hard-wearing yet still soft, relatively breathable 9oz. brushed organic cotton flannel (in a custom twill weave developed exclusively for Taylor Stitch) that sets this durable, rugged shirt apart. The Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt is soft right out of the box though, with a fit that allows you to layer it over an equally rugged Taylor Stitch henley or even beneath, say, a Taylor Stitch cardigan (yes, the brand really does do it all). It could be your new favorite flannel shirt for that very reason, and it’s only going to get better and feel softer the more you wear it. It also helps that the Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt comes in some seriously cool fall colors, like the rich Forest Plaid shown here.

Shop your new fall flannel shirt ASAP

This Taylor Stitch shirt is the right way to go

That particular Forest Plaid pattern wears nicely with everything from indigo or black denim to olive chinos for a bit of monochromatic style. Cat’s eye buttons also help make the Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt feel like a true overshirt versus a flannel shirt, yet another versatile and easily wearable touch that separates this shirt from the pack. Last but not least, the rugged Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt is made to be layered, yet also features a nicely tailored fit, so it’s not like a baggy workshirt of days gone by. Yessir, this unbelievably cool, comfortable and rugged flannel shirt just gets the job done this season. Make it yours now.