Category / Men’s Style

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: The Shinola Mechanic Watch is a Refined Timepiece for Everyday Wear

Shinola men's watch review.

The details often make the difference in putting together the best #OOTD for many a situation: The office, date night, a *day at the office into date night,* and so on. Accessories can take an outfit from good to great, especially a look centered around the classics — like an Oxford shirt and a navy blazer, for instance.

And as I put together a classically cool look of my own (check out my Instagram for more!), I often turn to a finishing touch via the best watches for men. In fact, I turn to one of my favorite brands: Michigan-based Shinola, a watchmaker that’s truly a lifestyle brand. There’s the Shinola Hotel in Detroit, plus an impressive array of Shinola furniture collaborations, but let’s talk about the Shinola Mechanic Watch as seen at the top of the page.

Shinola watch review

The best men’s watches needn’t be overly complicated or even overly expensive — and even something seemingly simple in terms of design can add a sense of sharpness to any look.

So it goes with the Shinola Mechanic Watch, so named for its hand-wound mechanical design — on a technical note, a series of gears and springs power the watch, without the need for a battery.

But we’ll leave more intricacy to watch blogs out there, since both the design and interior construction of this timepiece are still flawless enough to warrant your hard-earned cash (and time), and a place in your wardrobe.

Shop men’s watches at Shinola

When it comes to the Shinola Mechanic Watch, the difference really is in the details, and that includes a cushioned case design and domed alabaster dial, while pleasantly curved hours and minutes hands also lock in the tasteful throwback look of this timepiece. The dial exudes a mix of Art-Deco and Mid-Century Modern-esque charm, something I tend to appreciate about Shinola men’s watches.

In my book, the look of this refined timepiece is crisp and versatile enough to be dressed down (with a waffle henley and dark blue jeans) or dressed up (with a white Oxford shirt and a navy blazer, for instance). There’s simply much to love about a timepiece like the Shinola Mechanic Watch, which also boasts a dressy and retro-minded 39mm dial (keep this in mind if you favor a larger watch).

Learn more now at Shinola

And while this watch might seem like a splurge at first, it’s a worthwhile purchase and even comes with some distinctive touches, like that toothed crown on the right for self-winding. A handsome leather strap rounds things out quite nicely for pairing with your favorite brown leather boots — if I were you, I’d look to pair up the Shinola Mechanic Watch with as many ensembles as possible this season (and beyond).

by Beau H.

The Sunday Sale: Take An Extra 20 Percent off Sale Styles at Todd Snyder This Weekend

We talk often here on this Brooklyn men’s style blog about finding the right menswear essentials at the right price, and then pouncing on that deal. After all, the chance to score quality men’s style classics you can wear all the time — from a henley to an Oxford shirt to a wool-blend sweater or selvedge denim — is one that can be few and far between.

Unless, well, unless you know where to look. That’s why we’re here, and that means the Todd Snyder Fall Weekend Sale is as optimal a place to look as any on the market.

Learn more now at Todd Snyder

Here’s the scoop: Right now, this very weekend, you can save an additional 20 percent on already discounted sale styles, which offers up some mighty tempting shopping opportunities as we head into prime late fall layering and holiday dressing season.

From the incredibly luxe Italian Suede bomber jacket seen above to more straightforward style staples like two-pocket field shirts and even a herringbone tweed blazer, there’s something for every sensibility within the (digital) halls of the Todd Snyder Fall Weekend Sale.

There’s a ton of texture and style points up for the taking, be it from cotton-blend shirting or linen field jackets — some of these pieces within the Todd Snyder Fall Weekend Sale can be worn right away, and some are best stored away for a warm-weather jaunt. Either way, the savings on some seriously luxurious menswear from Todd Snyder aren’t to be missed.

Shop Todd Snyder’s Fall Weekend Sale now

Heck, there’s even a series of Italian tech down parkas and some layering-friendly Italian wool jackets up for grabs via the Todd Snyder Fall Weekend Sale. Whatever your wardrobe needs (and whatever savings your wallet can’t live without), the undeniably cool, stylish and premium Todd Snyder Fall Weekend Sale is the place to be this weekend.

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Todd Snyder Donegal Crewneck Sweater – An Expert Layer for Brisk Autumn Days

I often find that tried-and-true, trusty menswear style staples present some of the best options for getting dressed this fall and winter — like a hard-wearing, effortlessly cool Donegal crewneck sweater. A sweater not unlike the Todd Snyder Donegal Crewneck Sweater seen above, in fact.

Learn more now at Todd Snyder

It’s part of a slew of timeless style classics offered by the award-winning designer, the kind that tend to look great season after season. Although the designer is getting back into the world of runway shows, it’s the iconic pieces that get the most legwork, and the Todd Snyder Donegal Crewneck Sweater fits the bill in that regard.

Best winter sweaters for men.

A blend of wool, nylon and viscose provides structure, shape and warmth, and Donegal texture lends your layered winter look a touch of visual appeal and style (the designer calls it a “certain tweedy sophistication”). The result is a sweater you can layer over a crisp Oxford shirt as easily as you can wear it on its own atop a thermal tee and your favorite faded stretch jeans on a brisk autumn or winter morning.

Helpfully (at least in my book), the Todd Snyder Donegal Crewneck Sweater has a kind of rugged-meets-refined look — this is a handsome sweater you could easily layer underneath a waxed field coat or the famed Flint and Tinder Trucker Jacket.

Shop seasonal style staples at Todd Snyder

And on the more refined side of the equation, you could team the Todd Snyder Donegal Crewneck Sweater with a tweed blazer and corduroy pants for properly elegant-yet-preppy seasonal style. A range of fall and winter-friendly colors, like Cranberry, give this sweater a handsome, stylish touch.

Plus, the ribbed crewneck design is a classic touch that a dapper writer like Hemingway (or, dare I say, myself) might appreciate. It’s a worthwhile investment crafted from warm, high-quality fabric, and it’ll stand the test of time, as with all Todd Snyder menswear essentials — find out for yourself in time for winter layering, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Relwen Workshirt Upgrades Your Fall Shirting Rotation Instantly

Huckberry workshirt review.

There’s no time like the present to upgrade your fall shirting rotation (as the headline above says, of course), and there’s no better retailer for the job at hand than Huckberry. More specifically, the military and workwear inspiration from Ohio-based brand Relwen delivers instantly rugged, timeless appeal for your fall and winter style rotation.

Learn more now at Huckberry

And there might not be a better piece at the moment that exemplifies the crossover between vintage inspiration and modern functionality than the Relwen Pique Fleece Workshirt. In fact, Huckberry calls it a “classic overshirt that’ll show up to any shift you assign it,” and it starts with durable, tough cotton pique fabric.

It’s lighter and breezier than traditional heavyweight flannel, yet no less ready for the demands of fall and winter layering — be it over a henley, a thermal shirt or a plain old T-shirt.

Relwen men's workshirt.

The Relwen Pique Fleece Workshirt also boasts a soft cotton lining for added comfort, and Huckberry calls it “warm, durable and stylish to boot.” Two large front-button chest pockets offer storage space for your everyday carry, while a touch of gingham flannel at the back of the neck adds a hit of style.

Helpfully for all your seasonal layering needs, the Relwen Pique Fleece Workshirt comes in three versatile colors, including a suitably seasonal shade of red and a wear-with-anything dark navy.

Each shade of the Relwen Pique Fleece Workshirt is as suited to wear with dark indigo jeans or canvas work pants as with Huckberry’s famed Flint and Tinder 365 Pants. If I were you, I’d layer mine up over a natural henley alongside stretch canvas work pants, lace up my favorite pair of leather boots and hit the road, the garage or the brewery with style and utility in mind.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This Buck Mason Henley is a Tried-and-True Fall Classic

Buck Mason men's henley review.

There are a few menswear essentials I consider to be true classics, as the headline would indicate – the sort of staple pieces that look great on every guy and just, well, get the job done when it comes to appealing, rugged and versatile style.

If you’ve read the blog lately, especially this autumn, then you know that Buck Mason knows a thing or two about serving up those classics — from the trusty peacoat to five-pocket corduroy pants to the Buck Mason Vintage Thermal Henley shown above. It’s an update to throwback military pieces, with the style points to match, and it’s the sort of shirt that functions handily as a base layer or a statement piece in its own right.

Plus, when you throw in the fact that this stylishly rugged henley is built with an extended placket for a touch of visual interest, the Buck Mason Vintage Thermal Henley gets even cooler and more eye-catching. Corozo buttons give the contrasting placket a dash of style, too. It’s also made with a French rib cotton double knit construction, the better for a proper combination of softness and style.

Ribbed cuffs deliver a secure fit at your wrist, and color options like Natural (my personal favorite) and Sandstone hit the right marks in terms of style points. The Buck Mason Vintage Thermal Henley is built with durability in spades, it looks great with jeans, with stretch chinos and a trucker jacket or underneath a soft-shouldered blazer.

And it comes in easily wearable colors for an expert look and feel this season — yes, it lives up to its name as a tried-and-true classic, and then some.

by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: These Rugged Taylor Stitch Ranch Boots are 40 Percent Off Right Now

Taylor Stitch men's boots review.

There’s perhaps never been a better time than right now to get a deal on some of the best boots for men — or the best on-sale menswear, period — from one of your favorite retailers. That retailer in question? It’s Taylor Stitch, of course, purveyors of some of the most rugged fisherman sweaters, tough waxed jackets, sturdy shirting and now, some of the best boots to buy on sale.

You’ve very likely shopped plenty of Taylor Stitch menswear over the years, what with the brand’s focus on expertly cut shirting and outerwear in helpful chest sizing, but what about the fast-selling array of Taylor Stitch boots?

Learn more now at Taylor Stitch

I’ve had the chance to try Taylor Stitch over the years when it comes to my own footwear rotation, and believe me when I say that you should take any chance possible to score savings on the San Francisco company’s rugged men’s boots.

Some of these styles can be found right now at a discount in the Taylor Stitch Last Call section, which is worthy of your time if you want savings on a stylish plaid buttondown, on cozy lounge pants or even on some cabin-worthy knitwear. But back to your footwear rotation — durability, toughness and style go hand in hand with Taylor Stitch men’s boots, and that certainly holds true with the Taylor Stitch Ranch Boots.

In my experience, the Taylor Stitch Ranch Boots boast expert construction — not unlike the brand’s shirting and outerwear, and that goes for the soft leather lining as much as the durable waxed suede exterior. The Taylor Stitch Ranch Boots are weather-ready and built to last, with a sturdy Vibram lug outsole and Goodyear-welted construction — the kind that’s fit for years of wear.

The profile is reminiscent of a work boot, but the overall style can be dressed down with jeans or dressed up with your favorite chinos — that’s about as versatile as it gets, and since they’re on sale right now for 40 percent off, that’s as striking a deal as you’re apt to find.

by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: These Astorflex Derby Shoes from Huckberry are the Most Versatile In Your Wardrobe

Astorflex men's shoes review.

When I hit the market searching for a pair of the best men’s shoes, period, I look for durable, dependable shoes that fill a need in multiple style situations. After all, not every guy needs to lace up ultra-slick dress shoes every single day, and that’s where Huckberry’s wares enter the fray.

Learn more now and shop men’s shoes at Huckberry

In my book, sometimes, a pair of stylish chukka boots, some of the best Chelsea boots or even slightly more casual leather derby shoes will suffice. So it goes with Astorflex and the new, fast-selling Astorflex Redflex Derby Shoes.

The derby shoe features open lacing and a slightly more casual profile — the kind that looks as serviceable and stylish with dark blue jeans as it does with stretch chinos and perhaps even a tailored wool suit. There’s also a contrasting sole and a studded outsole for a touch more casual style.

Best business casual shoes for men.

And because they hail from Huckberry-approved brand Astorflex — family-owned Italian footwear makers with generations of experience and a penchant for using sustainable materials — you can rest easy knowing that quality remains paramount.

Find out more now at Huckberry

The Redflex Derby Shoes use a handsome vegetable-tanned leather upper paired with a memory foam insole, and the leather itself looks to be the kind that both shines up cleanly and gets even better with age.

Handcrafted construction also sets these versatile shoes apart, while the profile and style is the kind you can wear multiple times a week, in multiple situations, without missing a beat. Pairs of these stylish new shoes from Huckberry are selling quickly though, so act accordingly and wear ’em as often as you please — with indigo denim, with tan chinos and more, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Sunday Sale: Score Savings of 50 Percent On This Iconic Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Jacket

Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Jacket review.

It’s often a wise bet to rely on tried-and-true, heritage staples in your men’s style rotation — the type of pieces that never really go out of fashion, that serve a truly functional purpose and that, yes, tend to look pretty darn cool at the right moment.

The Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Jacket fits that mold quite nicely, in my book, with roots dating back to, well, 1936 — original iterations of the jacket were created for alpine explorers, and here at lower elevation, it remains one of the best bomber jackets for men. In fact, the Eddie Bauer Skyliner Jacket is such a seriously cool piece that modern Americana menswear masters Buck Mason teamed up with Eddie Bauer last year on an update to the silhouette.

Talk about true style pedigree, and current editions of the Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Jacket are still very much worthy of your consideration — especially when on sale (more on that in a moment).

Learn more now via Eddie Bauer

It’s an upgrade in terms of looks from a more streamlined (yet no less useful) puffer jacket, which you might commonly wear on the slopes or on the trail. But within the confines of the Eddie Bauer sale section, you’ll find a truly legendary piece of outerwear, one that merges old-school roots with modern materials.

And right now, my friends, the Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Jacket is on sale for about 50 percent off. Yes sir, 50 percent off — not a bad way to refresh your fall and winter outerwear, ehh?

The Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Jacket gets all the specs right in terms of durability, using 650-fill power premium down in a durable diamond-quilted design for just the right amount of warmth. In my experience, the Skyliner Jacket wears comfortably over a wool sweater or a thermal henley without overdoing it.

More crucial right now in the autumn cold is the fact that this jacket uses ribbed knitting at the collar, cuffs and hem for a secure fit and added warmth. And its classic fit means you can comfortably layer the Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Jacket without feeling too constricted. It hits on the right notes in terms of for, and function, thanks to neutral colors like Black, Mushroom and Spruce.

Shop classic men’s jackets at Eddie Bauer

Those earth tones are all the better to style it with shades ranging from chambray blue shirting to black jeans and even light tan stretch chinos. It’s suitable for camping trips and the trail, as well as fall lakeside outings (as I paired up with my Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Jacket last autumn). And once again, this modern iteration of a famed jacket is now 50 percent off — sounds to me like it’s the right time to layer up in style, my friends.

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Bonobos Merino V-Neck Sweater – A Useful Everyday Style Staple

Best V-neck sweaters for men.

There comes a time in a guy’s life, be it heading to the office or searching for a subtle style upgrade, that simple is sometimes the best course of action. Simple yet versatile, and far from boring is what the Bonobos Merino V-neck Sweater (in its various colors!) brings to the table — and your wardrobe.

In my book, the best V-neck sweaters hit the nail on the head in that regard, with the ability to dress up a chambray shirt, add a crisp look to an Oxford shirt or neatly frame a knit tie and a polished dress shirt. They can stand in underneath a blazer, they’re a wise choice as a mid-layer beneath a traditional field jacket, and an option like the Bonobos Merino V-neck Sweater makes perfect sense, at least in my experience.

Best merino sweaters for men.

After all, merino fabric regulates your temperature and is neither too burly nor too flimsy. And again, that V-neck collar is a wise choice in terms of style points — I’d say every guy can use a rotation of V-neck sweaters in crisp, classic colors. Not a bad option to have in a wardrobe of fall style essentials, right?

Learn more now at Bonobos

Another benefit to picking up the Bonobos Merino V-neck Sweater? It’s a sweater you can safely wash (provided you follow instructions from Bonobos) without worrying about shrinkage — and if you tend to rely on sweaters frequently as a mid-layer or the centerpiece of a business-casual outfit, then that’s a major plus.

Bonobos V-neck Sweater.

Whether you score the Bonobos Merino V-neck Sweater in Charcoal Grey, Maroon or Heather Forest Green, it can bring plenty to the table — witness its wearability with tan chinos or blue jeans, for instance. And if you know where and when to look, you might even be able to score the Bonobos Merino V-neck Sweater at a discount ahead of late fall and early winter. For my money’s worth, this is one of the best sweaters a guy can buy — try one out and let me know your thoughts.

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Fall Weekend in New Orleans with 1800 Tequila

My friends and fans of The Style Guide, welcome back and let’s embark on another jam-packed fall weekend, shall we? If you’ve been following along on my Instagram, consider this a nice supplement (with a few shopping tips thrown in the mix).

You see, in addition to the usual slate of must-buy fall menswear essentials covered on your favorite Brooklyn style blog, I’ve certainly been keeping busy these past few days and weeks with my many freelance writing pursuits — spirits, menswear and music chief among them. In fact, lately, I wrote about a new gin from Monkey ’47 over at InsideHook — it’s curious, it’s delicious and it’s worth tracking down.

Learn more about my writing here

And of course, a big part of the job involves getting out in the field and going to work with my favorite gear close at hand. Just this month, I’ve had the chance to test out some of my favorite rugged fall menswear during a Pennsylvania cabin weekend, I had the rare opportunity to put my Scotch sipping & fly fishing to the test in Wisconsin, and I’m once again off on another adventure as we speak.

That adventure? A visit to parts unknown, or at least, a city I’ve — rather shockingly — never visited… the Big Easy, New Orleans! A city of culinary delights, intrigue, mystery and a series of jam-packed, arts-focused celebrations for 1800 Tequila’s latest Artist Series offering (debuting next month). I also had the chance to stroll the city, grab a cold one on Bourbon Street and enjoy a muffaletta and Zapp’s chips (bingo!).

If you’ve been keeping score at home, I was fortunate enough to travel to Mexico with 1800 Tequila earlier this year, as I wrote about at Maxim. So when this invite came across my inbox, I could scarcely say no.

These past few days have brought a group of writers, myself included across the city to sip on 1800 Tequila expressions — like the Reposado shown above — as well as a series of imaginative fall-centric cocktails that reinvent what you think tequila can become. Along the way, we were immersed in the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and stayed at the lovely Hotel Henrietta.

The weekend was framed around both a new release from 1800 Tequila (again, more to come soon!) as well as the New Orleans’ contemporary art triennial, Prospect.6 — a fitting meeting of the minds celebrating the art and craft of both pursuits.

Discover Prospect.6 now

Of course, you can view past examples of the 1800 Tequila Artist Series above. Tequila that drinks (and looks) like a work of art? Sign me up, and I’ll be there wearing my favorite Huckberry menswear. A black tie gala awaits tonight — time to break out my best suit — and of course, more 1800 Tequila sips and spirits are on the horizon.

My freelance life takes many twists and turns (as you can see by the wide scope of my writing at Maxim), but I’m filled with gratitude along the way — and ready for a weekend of rest afterwards! As always, thanks for reading, thanks for shopping via The Style Guide and thanks for tuning into a duo of weekend style posts! Cheers, my friends!