Category / Men’s Style

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Relwen Flyweight Flex Chinos – Spring’s Most Versatile Pair of Pants

Best chino pants for men this spring.

As far as spring style essentials are concerned, it’s tough to top the versatility and reliability of a pair of the best men’s chinos. The once-preppy style staple has taken on a more rugged edge over the years, at least based on the color, style and design of the pair you select — and a pair like the Relwen Flyweight Flex Chinos might be just the ticket in that regard as we step heartily and stylishly into a new season.

Shop men’s pants and more at Huckberry

As sold by my good friends at Americana and adventure retailer Huckberry — one of the best online shops for men around, in my experience, the Relwen Flyweight Flex Chinos check all the right boxes when it comes to variety, dependable style and even a dash of utility this season.

As Huckberry sagely notes, Ohio-based Relwen “creates menswear that lasts,” from its durable insulated jackets to its strong flannel workshirts fit for spring and beyond.

The Relwen Flyweight Flex Chinos carry on that same lineage with a dash of handsome polish top of mind, starting with their crisp slim-straight, nicely tailored cut. The real key when it comes to the Relwen Flyweight Flex Chinos, though? That’d be the 5.5oz. blend of cotton and spandex for stretch, comfort and shape retention — in any number of effortlessly cool colors and easily wearable sizes.

The Relwen Flyweight Flex Chinos also feature helpful, hidden details like a gusseted crotch and pleated knees — that means your new favorite pair of chinos are as comfortable as can be for days of travel and a jaunt for drinks right off the plane (trust me, I’ve worn mine to do just that). These stylish men’s chinos also feature classic details of the silhouette, like dressy side slant hip pockets and back button pockets for stashing your wallet, keys or sunglasses.

These pants are about as effortlessly cool and useful as it gets, especially in an array of lighter shades for spring (like the Driftwood shade shown here). These handsome men’s chinos should pair up as easily with a pocket T-shirt and canvas sneakers as they do with a trucker jacket and a short-sleeve henley, or with a crisp cotton blazer and a chambray shirt for a blend of high-low style.

Regardless, the well-designed, crisply cut and reliably fashionable Relwen Flyweight Flex Chinos get both the big and little details right, and that’s about all you can ask for from a pair of the best men’s pants for spring. As Huckberry always says, we’ll See You Out There, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Another Adventure into the Agave Fields With Tequila Ocho

Tequila Ocho.

If you follow me on Instagram or keep up with this Brooklyn style blog on the regular, you’ll see that many of my freelance writing pursuits go far beyond my passion for menswear — although, diving into the best men’s style essentials is where it all began, so to speak.

But some things just go hand in hand together quite nicely: The same craft that makes a denim jacket a top-notch style move can be found in everything from the best craft beer to pocket knives to tequila (and I’ve had the chance to cover a bit of all three, and then some!).

And so it goes that once again, I find myself headed south of the border to uncover the secrets of a buzzed-about (yet underrated) tequila company in Tequila Ocho. My last jaunt to tequila territory came with famed producer Patron in late January, and you can look for a dispatch on that experience this coming spring at CoolMaterial.com.

Learn more now at Tequila Ocho

The wide world of spirits is also a large part of my main beat at Maxim (and I just covered the oldest Irish single malt ever released!), and it’s always a special treat to be able to get on the ground, out into the fields and behind the scenes at a distillery to find out what makes a particular company tick.

That extends to other press trips I’ve taken this year, including a trek into the Italian Dolomites with audio brand Sonos — craftsmanship and attention to detail truly make the difference, and I’m certain I’ll discover even more visiting the recently opened and revamped Tequila Los Alambiques facility (situated on land once owned by the grandfather of Tequila Ocho founder Carlos Camarena).

Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Old Fitzgerald

Especially alluring is the recent release of Tequila Ocho’s latest single-estate vintage, the tantalizing Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Old Fitzgerald, which debuted last month. It brings together a revered tequila company with a bourbon producer that’s seen a return to form as of late, with plenty of online hype to match.

Of course, the chance to taste great tequila is often accompanied by plenty of other perks, as well, including the opportunity to experience the finest dining Guadalajara has to offer (in this case, that’d be the excellent Restaurante Hueso), made all the better by the chance to try tequila right from the source.

And naturally, I’ve found that heading out into the agave fields requires the right gear, like the rugged denim shirt seen above. That means the best spring style essentials from one of my favorite retailers — Huckberry — are packed away in my travel-ready, trusty and highly useful Halfday Travel bag. You can get a closer look at its utility, in fact, below (tequila and menswear sold separately, of course).

What bag do you pack up when you hit the road? And what essentials are you bringing with you in that pursuit? As ever, you can expect a duo of style picks heading your way this weekend right here on this blog, and by the time Monday comes back around, I’ll be back in the swing of things in Brooklyn. Cheers to that, cheers to Tequila Ocho and cheers to the chance to live out your passions — thanks, as always, for reading!

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: These Filson Dry Tin Cloth Pants are Up for Just About Anything This Spring

Best work pants for men this spring.

The right gear for the task at hand — spring cleaning, a day hike, a trip to your local brewery (or all three in one day) makes all the difference, as the good folks at Filson know. The legendary Pacific Northwest outfitter delivers dependable, durable style from head to toe (and in your accessories rotation, as well — its tough-as-nails bags are the stuff of legend).

Shop new spring workwear and more at Filson

And when it comes to the best work pants for spring — better known here as the right gear for the task at hand — the iconic outfitter has been delivering for years, to say the least. Filson Dry Tin Cloth fabric is arguably the backbone of the brand, the type of material trusted for decades, and found trucker jackets and the five-pocket work pants shown above, to name but a few style staples that get a workwear edge for the spring season (and beyond).

Designed with just about anything you can throw at ’em in mind, the Filson Dry Tin Cloth Work Pants are some of the best pants for spring for a reason, and it all starts with the company’s iconic, hard-working 100% cotton dry finish Tin Cloth fabric. It’s as supple and sturdy as waxed cotton, ready to take on the elements by repelling wind, rain, debris and abrasions of all sorts. The key is, it’s not waxed, yet tightly woven and durable as can be.

The Filson Dry Tin Cloth Work Pants are also finished with details like rivets at key stress points, reinforced rear patch pockets for your everyday carry, and a front watch pocket for further storage space. Another crucial design detail that elevates the sturdy Filson Dry Tin Cloth Work Pants? A metal shank button waist closure — no need to worry about key hardware failing you in the clutch. The famed outfitter notes that the Filson Dry Tin Cloth Work Pants were designed “with the cut of a favorite pair of jeans and the legendary durability of our signature canvas,” and that makes ’em sound like a truly terrific pair of work pants for spring, at least in my experience.

For pursuits on duty and off, the Filson Dry Tin Cloth Work Pants also come in richly crafted, classic colors like the aptly named Whiskey — ideal for pairing with an indigo denim jacket, a henley and lace-up leather boots for sipping, well, some whiskey around the campfire this spring. And when the time comes to dial down and really get to work, well, the Filson Dry Tin Cloth Work Pants are up to the job — and then some. Would you expect anything else from Filson? No, sir.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This Taylor Stitch Denim Jacket is a Modern Spin on a Classic for Spring Men’s Style

Best denim jackets for men.

There’s not much more essential to your menswear rotation in the blustery yet sunny, anything-goes summer months than a durable piece of outerwear, at least in my experience. One of the best denim jackets for men in particular bridges the gap between winter and the fresh climes of spring with ease, offering enough weight to feel substantial on cool mornings, yet enough versatility to deliver leisurely style the rest of the time.

It’s as functional as it is fashionable, and if you’ve kept up with this Brooklyn men’s style blog over the years, you know that the good folks at Taylor Stitch deliver a prime example of one of the best denim jackets for men, period.

Learn more and shop spring style at Taylor Stitch

That lineage carries on handsomely into the year 2025 as we look out for the best spring men’s style essentials, and in my experience, the Taylor Stitch Long Haul Jacket meets the moment — and then some, no doubt about it.

The highly durable, utterly classic Taylor Stitch Long Haul Jacket has been a favorite from the San Francisco brand for years, featuring timeless touches that take on a modern air when done by the famed menswear brand (one of the best online menswear shops around, in my humble opinion). The Taylor Stitch Long Haul Jacket checks all the right boxes, starting with the use of a tough yet supple 14oz. 100% organic cotton selvedge denim — the kind that breaks in and molds to your body with each and every wear.

The 100% organic cotton selvedge denim build gives it a substantial feel and a rich dark wash that contrasts handsomely and stylishly with its zig-zag reinforcement stitching on the front placket and under collar — both fashionable touches that lend it a handcrafted appeal. For good measure, the rugged Taylor Stitch Long Haul Jacket features rounded chest pockets that lend a further air of eye-catching style (and utility for your everyday carry, as one pocket features a sleek pen sleeve).

Tack buttons provide a strong finish and even further reinforced durability, while the exterior of the hand pockets boast the brand’s custom SF map detailing. Nearly every detail, and then some, is carefully and thoughtfully considered when it comes to the expertly cut Taylor Stitch Long Haul Jacket, which also features the company’s helpful chest sizing system.

For a sturdy, stylish denim jacket for men that only gets better with age, the Taylor Stitch Long Haul Jacket is a prime spring menswear move, right this very instant.

by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: This On-Sale Flint and Tinder Jacket is Perfectly Rugged for Spring Weather

Flint and Tinder waxed jacket review.

There’s a happy medium to strike as you sort through your array of men’s style essentials, especially for spring: Blustery weather can strike at any moment, and proper preparation (and style) calls for building an outfit with a rugged performance jacket in mind. There’s also a line to walk between performance (the kind of jacket you’d wear to go hiking or camping), and more casual everyday style (the kind of jacket you’d wear with crisp jeans and chukka boots).

My friends at Huckberry — and your friends at Huckberry, of course — have a way in terms of finding the expert middle ground between toughness, form and function, and it’s all on display rather handsomely with the new, on-sale Flint and Tinder York Quilted Jacket (we’re talking about the Tuesday Steal, after all).

Shop spring style and gear at Huckberry

The Flint and Tinder York Quilted Jacket carries on the brand’s penchant for sturdy, strong yet supple waxed jackets, each more carefully crafted than the last. This particular option (marked down below $180 from nearly $300) turns the typical Flint and Tinder formula — classic trucker jackets and field jackets — on its head by opting instead for a streamlined puffer jacket design.

The same trademark weatherproof treatment remains top of mind, as Huckberry worked with famed British producer Halley Stevenson on a custom Halley Stevensons Dry Finish Waxed Cotton Canvas fabric in a tough 8.6 oz weight. That means the Flint and Tinder York Quilted Jacket is a touch heavier than the 7oz. waxed sailcloth of the iconic Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket, which just so happens to be another fine spring wardrobe addition.

And while the body of this jacket is lined with 100 percent nylon for strength and an easy-on, easy-off touch, recycled polyester and PrimaLoft fill out key stress points (like the collar) for additional warmth without a ton of weight.

The hard-wearing Flint and Tinder York Quilted Jacket even comes in Huckberry’s signature Field Tan color, or a versatile shade of Dark Olive. Sizes are going quickly now that it’s prime time to rock this casually cool, functionally minded take on the puffer jacket. Think of it like your old-school quilted puffer, yet amped up with the sort of style and utility only Huckberry can provide. You can’t go wrong with spring savings and style on the Flint and Tinder York Quilted Jacket, my friends.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This Ranger Station Leather & Pine Cologne Is a Perfect Spring Fragrance Upgrade

Best spring cologne for men.

We talk often on this Brooklyn style blog about doing things with intention, like taking good care to find the right spring style essentials (and the right essentials in any season), be it your choice of rugged leather boots, expertly crafted denim or a proper selection of seasonal outerwear.

But what about your grooming rotation? While we love brands like Taylor Stitch and Buck Mason on the blog, the proper grooming and fragrance certainly shouldn’t be overlooked.

It’s a bit more tricky to nail down, but no less important when it comes to, again intentional style and even personal expression. And yes, my friends, that’s where a company like Ranger Station comes into play.

Learn more now at Ranger Station

Perhaps you’ve stumbled upon Ranger Station in its Nashville home — a place where the great outdoors meets a sense of adventure and rough-and-tumble good times. Ranger Station embodies that ethos with a sense of old-world cool and a modern edge — its fragrances and candles are some of my personal favorites, with scents that are rich, rugged, masculine and yet refined and versatile, all at once. The company offers up collections that run the gamut from light and airy to intoxicatingly rich, and its products come in everything from spray cologne to candles.

Suffice to say, Ranger Station has serious chops, including collaborations with musicians like Waylon Jennings and Noah Kahan: High-voltage fragrance with a tasteful flair to it.

To hear the company tell it, Ranger Station delivers “premium, made in USA fragrances and candles inspired by the great outdoors that will create a fresh, clean, and sustainable experience for your environment.” I couldn’t have said it better myself, but it can be a lofty prospect to add a cologne to your rotation (or to select one as a starting point). The brand is bold and fun, however, making it worth your time to take a closer look, I’d say.

Choosing a scent to add to your rotation is a personal process, one that should consider how and where you’ll be wearing your new favorite cologne, and even the outfits you’ll be using that Ranger Station fragrance to complement. And for my money’s worth, there’s nothing quite like the crisp yet rich Ranger Station Leather & Pine Fragrance.

In fact, there’s an entire collection dedicated to the rich, versatile Ranger Station Leather & Pine Fragrance, from candles to room spray to the cologne that’s going to add a spritz of outdoorsy scent to your next #OOTD.

Shop fragrance and more at Ranger Station

Amber, leather and sandalwood come together handsomely in this fragrance, one of my personal favorites — while it’s a worthwhile pairing alongside more casually rugged outfits, like a henley, trucker jacket and black jeans, I find the Ranger Station Leather & Pine Fragrance can be used to add some appeal to business casual situations (think of pairing cologne with a look like you’d think of pairing shoes with an ensemble, in a way). However you chose to make your foray into the world of spring fragrance, you might have just found the perfect scent — and the perfect company — to take the leap.

by Beau H.

The Sunday Sale: Step Into Spring with These Stylish, On-Sale Sunglasses from Huckberry

As we move ever deeper into spring (at least, the early parts of spring), perhaps you’re dusting off some men’s style essentials you haven’t worn in some time (at least, not frequently during fall and winter). Among those spring menswear must-haves, perhaps you find yourself scouring the market for a set of the best new sunglasses — you’ve come to the right place on this fine Sunday indeed, folks.

Your friends — and mine! — at Huckberry are now offering up an on-sale selection to compete with the best of ’em, as the company’s new Walden Eyewear line is up for grabs at a discount.

Shop spring style essentials at Huckberry

Yes indeed, as we often say here at The Style Guide, it can be tough at times to find on-sale selections for gear that actually comes in handy in a current season (just check your favorite department store — winter outerwear is on the discount rack at a steal of a deal many places).

And so it’s refreshing to this Brooklyn style writer to come across the Walden Eyewear Passage Sunglasses at nearly 50 percent off via the always well-stocked Huckberry Sale section. As the famed adventure and Americana retailer says, its sunglasses line is “all about stripping away unnecessary details in favor of simplicity,” and that includes using sustainable materials in this clean, simple and versatile silhouette.

The build of the Walden Eyewear Passage Sunglasses is similar to a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers in terms of subtly stylish, classic looks, while the frames themselves are fashioned from sustainable “green nylon” material. The handsome and effortlessly cool Walden Eyewear Passage Sunglasses also feature details like 100 percent UVA/UVB protection in lens form, plus a sleek tapered temple shape and five-barrel riveted hinges for added durability.

Shop the best menswear discounts ASAP at Huckberry

When you dive into crisply designed details plus Huckberry’s trademark penchant for durability, it’s a wonder the Walden Eyewear Passage Sunglasses are on sale for less than $70, a whopping discount given the fact that you can assuredly wear your new favorite sunglasses for years to come.

Even the use of recycled alongside the acetate build of the Walden Eyewear Passage Sunglasses speaks to durability and long-term toughness (and timeless style, of course). And for about 50 percent off, these dependable frames can be yours — just in time for spring and summer style moves aplenty, my friends.

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Wolverine 1000 Mile Rugged Leather Boots – Durable Adventure Boots for Spring (And Beyond)

There’s a sort of spring cleaning “style to-do” list of sorts when it comes to revamping and refreshing your wardrobe for the season at hand, starting from the ground up (at least, in my experience).

When you start out a seasonal refresh by looking at your footwear rotation — what to keep from the fall and winter months, what to bring back for spring and what to shelve entirely — perhaps you focus on an assortment of the best men’s boots — guilty as charged. In fact, you’ll often find me wearing a pair of the best leather boots from a company like Wolverine, based in my home state of Michigan and a longtime favorite of mine when it comes to the best boot brands for men.

Learn more now at Wolverine

Its roster includes boots legendary for their toughness, especially the Wolverine 1000 Mile lineup, and that lineup gets even better — with a bit of multi-season functionality in the mix via the Wolverine 1000 Mile Plain Toe Rugged Boots. You can certainly head elsewhere here on the blog to read more Wolverine boot reviews, but let’s dive into what makes these similar — and different from! — other classic Wolverine 1000 Mile men’s boots.

Wolverine 1000 Mile boots review.

The Wolverine 1000 Mile Plain Toe Rugged Boots retain many of the classic features that make the original Wolverine 1000 Mile men’s boots such a fan favorite and a success, including decades of bootmaking heritage. They’re made based on an archival work boot last pattern, then fashioned with famously tough Horween leather out of Chicago — a true Midwest style collaboration.

These handsome leather boots (available in the rich Brown seen here as well as an edgy Black edition) are then updated with a rugged Vibram outsole featuring thick treads for optimal traction on slick city streets this spring (and beyond, of course).

The Wolverine 1000 Mile Plain Toe Rugged Boots are also fashioned with Goodyear welt construction, that way they can be resoled for years of wear — and at the price point (an investment at nearly $400), you’ll want to get as much wear as you can out of the casually rugged yet highly functional Wolverine 1000 Mile Plain Toe Rugged Boots.

The western Michigan-based company, also known for its work boots of all shades, shapes and sizes, calls the Wolverine 1000 Mile Plain Toe Rugged Boots “ruggedly refined,” and I’d say they’re right on the money. The silhouette is able to be paired seamlessly with indigo jeans, black denim or even olive chinos, then styled classically with a heathered henley and a waxed trucker jacket, to name but one way to get the most out of the Wolverine 1000 Mile Plain Toe Rugged Boots.

With great looks, top-notch construction and a long-lasting build and design, it looks to me like you just might have found your new favorite boots for spring — and beyond.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Flint and Tinder Western Shirt Puts a Modern Spin on a Rugged Classic

Best Western shirts for men.

As you build out your spring style rotation and look to bolster your wardrobe with stylish menswear aplenty, perhaps you find yourself exploring a mix of both old and new styles, picks that seem familiar but also feel fresh. While the denim shirt is a tried-and-true style classic, all things Western are having a serious moment right now (thank you, Yellowstone!).

So while a stylish denim shirt seems familiar, picking up a new twist on the style — one of the best Western shirts for men from the good folks at Huckberry — seems to be a wise move heading into the breezy climes of spring, does it not?

It feels classic yet contemporary, and the latest and greatest edition of the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt certainly checks the right boxes in terms of durability, rugged appeal, crisp style and even versatility. Let’s take a closer look at perhaps your new favorite shirt, shall we?

Shop men’s shirts and more at Huckberry

Part of a refreshed rotation of stylish men’s shirts at Huckberry for spring, this on-trend take on the Western shirt still keeps the classic details front and center, despite its more eye-catching pattern.

With strong USA-made construction featuring 8oz. 100 percent cotton – light enough to wear on its own on hot days, sturdy enough to wear over a T-shirt or henley when it’s more breezy – I’d say the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt is about as versatile as it gets in terms of casual shirting. In fact, you can even style this handsome Western shirt in slightly elevated fashion, as Huckberry showcases by teaming it with a Western-style blazer.

And recall what we said about those classic touches being front and center: The Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt boasts burnt cow bone button snaps, plus two angled chest pockets in timeless Western shirt fashion.

Shop the best gear for spring at Huckberry

Huckberry notes this shirt features durable stitching for good measure, and it comes in the company’s standard range of sizes — nicely tailored, but not overly tight nor too relaxed. When it comes to a slight style swerve from the norm, this tasteful Western shirt could be just what the (style) doctor ordered — and that’s a winner in my book for expert spring men’s fashion, folks.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: The Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket Is Back for Spring and Better than Ever

Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket review.

Although the menswear pantheon is packed with instantly recognizable classics (like the denim trucker jacket, the blue jean or one of the best men’s henleys), there are pieces that fly under the radar ever-so-slightly, yet still deserve their place in the sun (and their place in your rotation of men’s style essentials).

The classic chore coat very well might be one of them, with a silhouette modeled after French work jackets and still used to great effect today in matters of style and utility: The Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket definitely meets the mark in this regard, and it’s back and better than ever for spring.

Learn more now at Taylor Stitch

The Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket is a staple piece for the San Francisco brand, which has long been a favorite of this Brooklyn style blog — and which just so happens to make gear perfectly suited for the climes of San Francisco and for spring menswear transitions. The humble yet hard-working chore jacket certainly qualifies among the best men’s style for spring, and again, the Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket is a prime example of the style done right.

It starts with 100 percent organic cotton herringbone, which in this case is pigment-dyed before being hand-sanded and garment-washed for softness and yet a sturdy weave right out of the box. That also gives the handsome Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket a vintage-minded look, one that only gets better over time. It doesn’t hurt that the rich blue herringbone of the Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket calls to mind the originators of the style, French work jackets often made from indigo-dyed cotton.

Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket review.

You’ll find the hard-wearing yet stylish Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket features plenty of timeless chore coat touches, including a top-entry chest pocket with space for your pen (note that Taylor Stitch also sells accessories!). The laundry list of features also includes hip patch pockets with both side and top entry capability, again crucial for your everyday carry essentials from Taylor Stitch.

Ring-back buttons are a durable, distinctive touch that should prove eye-catching as well as durable, at least when the Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket is worn unbuttoned (perhaps over a breezy organic cotton T-shirt).

And when the weather truly calls for it, your new favorite casual spring jacket can be worn over a cotton sweater on especially breezy days (and yes, your friends at Taylor Stitch also happen to sell those). If your mission this spring is finding a dependable, stylish chore jacket for a sense of effortless cool on pleasant yet brisk spring days, consider the Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket your new go-to.