March 3, 2023March 2, 2023 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Best End-of-Season Menswear Sales & an Upstate Getaway

My friends, thanks for joining us for another Friday Read, your indispensable guide to the best weekend menswear sales and plenty more (at least, in my humble opinion). Chief among the deals you should shop to start your weekend? Well, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Billy Reid Winter Event is giving you a major “sale on sale” on opportunity, with the chance to save 40 percent on already on-sale menswear from the famed Alabama designer. It’s the discount that keeps on giving, as I’ve talked about on the blog, and it’s your chance to save on refined style gear aplenty. So, how about it, ehh?

Shop Billy Reid menswear now

It’s the kind of deal I’ve got my eye on, no doubt about it, and you should keep a weather eye out for savings and style, too. Speaking of keeping a weather eye out… perhaps you’re planning your first big getaway of this new season? If you find yourself in New York or on the East Coast and fancy an upstate getaway, there’s hardly a better spot to visit than the Wylder Windham Hotel in lovely Windham, New York.

I found out for myself when I visited the locale for Maxim earlier this winter — here’s my full travel review of this exceptional property. If you can’t get away right now, put it on your list — and in the meantime, here are a few more deals and a few more reads to get your weekend rolling the right way.

Folks, step right up and step into a new season with some of the best men’s boots for spring (and well beyond). I talked earlier this week on the blog about Astorflex at Huckberry, makers of some of the most sustainable men’s boots on the market, and it’s high time you got yourself a pair — yes? Consider this a reminder to step into a stylish new season ASAP.

Speaking of boots, here’s something every boot enthusiast in your life (yourself included) can appreciate: Over at WERD, I wrote about the best boot brands for men to shop now, a comprehensive guide to ramp up your rotation heading into the blustery spring months. Again, consider it a reminder to step into a stylish new season!
Here’s one more style reminder to send you off into the weekend: A chore coat can act as a rugged hybrid between a blazer and, say, a field jacket, with plenty of style points to go around. That’s why I wrote about one of the best spring chore coats — from Todd Snyder, naturally — just yesterday on the blog. Read up, start shopping and layer up accordingly, my friends.

That’s going to wrap up today’s Friday Read — did you find what you were looking for, perhaps in the way of a pair of the best men’s boots for spring, or else with some inspiration for your next upstate getaway? Here’s hoping, and if not, well, more style inspiration is always close at hand with my Saturday Style Pick of the Week or Sunday’s sale highlight. Stay tuned, stay stylish and thanks for reading, as ever!

March 2, 2023March 1, 2023 by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Todd Snyder Chore Coat Is Your New Must-Buy Early Spring Jacket

What are we up to this week at The Style Guide? Well, much like yourself, I’m dusting off my spring style gear, checking out some new spring menswear essentials and preparing to step slowly but surely into a new season. The best way to gear up for a new season varies based on where you live, to be sure, but I like to start from the top down (or the bottom up), and one way to revamp your early, early spring dressing this week? One of the best men’s jackets for spring, a downright cool, casual and classic pick from Todd Snyder’s New Arrivals section.

Learn more at Todd Snyder

The Todd Snyder French Blue Chore Coat, in fact, might be one of the best spring jackets you can get your hands on right now, what with its old-school, workwear appeal and the sort of construction that makes it easy to layer for plenty of days and weeks ahead. This style of jacket, as you might have guessed, was first worn by painters and tradesmen in France, the original home of denim.

The earliest iterations of the fabric lent itself to hard-wearing, hard-working silhouettes, best epitomized for the modern man by the Todd Snyder French Blue Chore Coat. It makes perfect sense that the famed American designer would want to offer up his own take on the silhouette, considering he already crafts one of the best canvas work jackets out there.

It’s a handsome workwear jacket that almost functions as a blazer hybrid, what with its hip patch and chest pockets, plus that rich blue color akin to your go-to blazer. But the Todd Snyder French Blue Chore Coat has a few more details going for it that turn it into an eye-catching spring jacket, including the use of imported Japanese indigo and a breezy, unlined 100 percent cotton construction. Note that the indigo dye on the Todd Snyder French Blue Chore Coat will fade over time, so wear it carefully, but get ready to look for wear patterns that tell unique stories all your own.

After all, with a jacket like the Todd Snyder French Blue Chore Coat — which retails for an investment-worthy $468 — you’re going to want the chance to wear it as often as possible, right? And something with as timeless a design as this handsome indigo blue chore coat offers plenty of style potential.

To wit: Team the Todd Snyder French Blue Chore Coat with a heather grey T-shirt, tan stretch chinos and brown leather chukka boots for a nice mix of high-low style (just like wearing a lightweight blazer over a T-shirt!). Beyond that, look to pair up the Todd Snyder French Blue Chore Coat with a grey Oxford shirt and dark brown chinos or five-pocket pants, all the better for 9-to-5 style and beyond. No matter how you choose to wear it, just know that every guy should have a touch of workwear style is in his rotation this spring, and the standout, investment-level Todd Snyder French Blue Chore Coat is the one to buy now.

March 1, 2023February 27, 2023 by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: Lace Up these Classic Astorflex Chukka Boots from Huckberry for Early Spring

Check your calendar and turn the page into a new month: It’s, rather incredibly, now March, and that means you should be full-steam ahead when it comes to stocking up on the best menswear essentials for early spring (and well beyond, of course). As you know if you read the blog frequently, there are a few sources your Brooklyn style writer trusts when it comes to early spring style essentials, and chief among them — at least for the purposes of today’s post — is Huckberry, the San Francisco brand with an eye for what looks great and wears well for the modern man, season after season.

Learn more at Huckberry right now

And today’s main goal? Stepping out of your sturdy winter boots into a pair of the best chukka boots for men, an early spring must-have you can lace up now and wear well into the summer months. In fact, the Astorflex Brownflex Boots manage to improve upon the chukka boot itself, a truly timeless footwear style boasting a soft, supple crepe rubber sole.

They also feature the kind of versatile design that wears incredibly well with everything from stretch chinos to a pair of your favorite blue jeans. Let’s dive into the pair you need now, yes?

The boots in question, of course, are coming to you courtesy of Astorflex, the long-running Huckberry favorite with a penchant for crafting some of the most stylish chukka boots for men, all at a family-owned Italian factory and all using sustainable materials and production processes. You certainly recognize Huckberry for crafting the best rugged lace-up boots for more brisk fall and winter climates, but what about chukka boots for spring? Enter the Astorflex Brownflex Boots, a new and improved pair of the best men’s chukka boots here to welcome a new season.

The key when it comes to the Astorflex Brownflex Boots? They were custom-developed for the good folks at Huckberry, featuring upgraded touches like a leather lining, not to mention a custom last that follows the foot’s natural shape. Those are but two touches that lift the Astorflex Brownflex Boots a cut above a more standard pair of chukka boots, and they’re crafted from soft suede leather — available in four handsome shades for maximum versatility.

They’ll stand out handsomely and stylishly when worn with everything from some of the best blue jeans for men to olive or tan chinos, and things only get better from there, since they’re priced below $200. The next time your spring footwear game needs an upgrade, get your hands on a pair of the Astorflex Brownflex Boots.

February 28, 2023February 26, 2023 by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: This Taylor Stitch Fisherman Sweater Is 30 Percent Off Right Now

Although the days are positively flying by this winter, perhaps you’ve noticed one thing: It’s still bitterly cold out there, and that means you still need to bundle up in winter menswear essentials aplenty. Naturally, that’s where my friends at Taylor Stitch can help, and in a major way if you shop early and often this week. Now, as you’ve no doubt seen in shopping the brand, the Taylor Stitch Last Call section is something of a hidden gem, giving you instant access to an entire range of winter men’s style moves at discounted prices.

Shop Taylor Stitch now

And while rugged picks like one of the best men’s jackets are always worth shopping at full price from the San Francisco brand, it’s the Taylor Stitch Last Call section that really delivers some serious bang for your buck. Case in point: Today’s featured deal, the chance to save 30 percent on the rugged Taylor Stitch Fisherman Sweater. It’s quite simply a standout deal for a classic men’s sweater, in this case made from modern, temperature-regulating merino wool in a thick, chunky fisherman-style ribbed knit.

Did I mention the Taylor Stitch Fisherman Sweater comes in two timeless colors for pairing with everything from tan chinos to inky blue selvedge denim? Yes indeed, and for good measure, the Taylor Stitch Fisherman Sweater boasts a double-knit ribbed neck for maximum warmth and coverage on blustery winter days.

And again, it bears repeating: The Taylor Stitch Fisherman Sweater is 30 percent off for a limited time, with a solid range of sizes available. The next time you need to layer up this winter, reach for the Taylor Stitch Fisherman Sweater — and save some hard-earned cash in the process.

February 27, 2023February 24, 2023 by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: Upgrade Your Tailoring with This All-Season Wool Blazer from Huckberry

Even as we roll through 2023 and move ever closer to March, it can still feel like a bit of an odd sensation to dress up in one of the best men’s blazers, right? Of course, you very well might have been back in the office a while ago, but dress codes are ever shifting, formal events seem somewhat less formal and yet, there’s still the need to put your best foot forward. What’s a guy to do? My suggestion, of course, is to head over to the good folks at Huckberry and shop your new favorite blazer.

Learn more at Huckberry

Yes, that’s right — Huckberry. The retailer seems to nail the perfect balance between rugged and refined gear: You can shop your favorite waxed trucker jacket one minute, then swap it out for stretch chinos and something as polished as the Wills All Seasons Stretch Wool Blazer, and you can do so at a moment’s notice… without missing a beat. Made in part from a blend of wool and elastane, this stylish men’s blazer boasts comfortable stretch (as so many menswear essentials do these days), yet it’s backed by the experience of Huckberry’s Portuguese tailoring partners.

That means you can order the Wills All Seasons Stretch Wool Blazer in your regular suiting chest size, and it arrives with hand-finished details like collar and front placket stitching, plus a half-canvas construction for improved drape, structure and durability. Buying a blazer online can be tricky, but if the reliability, service and performance of Huckberry gear is to be believed, then the Wills All Seasons Stretch Wool Blazer — which also comes with matching trousers — should certainly hold true.

It features standard flap suit pockets and a medium-width lapel for a classic look and feel, while the Wills All Seasons Stretch Wool Blazer boasts a single rear vent (like the suit coats most recently worn by James Bond), which is a bit more modern and sporty in terms of design. Crucially, you can pick up the Wills All Seasons Stretch Wool Blazer in timeless colors like Grey and Heather Navy, but more distinctive colors like Heather Bourbon are a way to nod to current suiting trends without overdoing it.

And if you pair up the Wills All Seasons Stretch Wool Blazer with its matching trousers (also available in an agreeable range of sizes), then you’re getting both a fairly classic suit and sportcoat for just over $500 for the two pieces. That’s versatility and timeless style that can’t be topped, so shop your new go-to blazer today at Huckberry.

February 26, 2023February 24, 2023 by Beau H.

The Sunday Sale: Head Back to the Billy Reid Winter Event to Save 40 Percent Off Sale Items

Thanks for joining me on this fine late winter Sunday, my friends. If today’s headline looks a bit familiar as you scour the market high and low for the best menswear essentials, there’s a good reason for that. You see, we’re heading back over to Billy Reid to shop the famed Alabama-based designer’s Winter Event, the jam-packed yet fast-selling sale section that we talked about as recently as last month on the blog.

Shop Billy Reid right now

Pieces like one of the best men’s shirt jackets are still up for grabs, as is the handsome knit shirt from Billy Reid you see above, but those deals just got even better. How so, you might ask? Well, it’s the Billy Reid Sale On Sale currently running now through March 6th, which gives you up to 60 percent off (including 40 percent off already on-sale items). To save even more at Billy Reid’s Winter Event, just use the code EXTRA40 to take your wardrobe to the next level.

There’s a bit of everything up for grabs from the award-winning designer’s namesake brand, from some of the best sweaters for men to Billy Reid henleys, the aforementioned knit shirt and much more. Again, this “sale on sale” — boasting some of the best winter style essentials for men, no less — runs through March 6th, so outfit yourself accordingly while saving more than a few bucks in the process. Shop now, thank me later and get ready to dress in style to close out winter, folks. Stay stylish out there!

February 25, 2023January 27, 2024 by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: HELM Boots Zind Burgundy Boots – Your New Go-To Leather Boots

There comes a time in every season, like right now, in the depths of winter and with spring on the horizon, where something is so eye-catching and unique, so different, as to stop you in your tracks. Take a pair of the best men’s boots, for instance. A pair like the stunning HELM Zind Burgundy Boots, a pair of stylish leather lace-up boots entirely different from the hard-working pairs you’ve been wearing all winter. A word to the wise: The Burgundy Boots are selling quickly, but other styles of HELM boots are just as wish list-worthy.

Learn more at HELM Boots

Yes indeed, after a long winter of stomping your way through snow and slush, a pair of stylish leather lace-up boots — especially a pair that stands out from the pack — could be just the way to go, don’t you agree?

Now, I don’t doubt that you recognize the perfectly rugged-meets-refined Austin-based bootmaker from the pages of this blog, where I’ve sung the praises of the brand for making some of the best Chelsea boots for men, but these sleek, sharp leather boots are just as worthy of your consideration and your hard-earned cash.

Naturally, you can find the HELM Zind Burgundy Boots — and other stylish HELM boots — at a discount if you’ve never shopped the brand before. In fact, you can save 15 percent on your first purchase by signing up for the brand’s E-mails.

But even at full price, these durable lace-up boots are worth the squeeze, so to speak. They’re made from a full-grain brush-off leather with a classic, dressy shine, one that’s different from plenty of other pairs of men’s boots on the market (and the difference, my friends, is in the details).

That design approach makes the HELM Zind Burgundy Boots the kind of stylish men’s boots you can “pair with jeans on the weekend or a suit at the office during the week,” as the Texas bootmakers so wisely note. Of course, it helps that these leather boots are built on the brand’s more streamlined 415 last, giving them a dressy look and feel (know your size and shop carefully, folks).

Antique brass eyelets play handsomely off the rich leather of the HELM Zind Burgundy Boots, while the Fineline sole is low-profile (compared to a traditional lug sole) and yet should offer solid traction. It’s worth noting that while this style is flying off shelves, it seems that HELM Boots always has plenty of other styles available to suit the modern man such as yourself, so shop with a careful eye — you’ll be rewarded in kind.

February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Back in Brooklyn & Manhattan’s Best Haircut

Well, folks — here we are again rolling into another weekend, and if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I’m back in Brooklyn and back in the New York groove after a quick yet relaxing, sunny Florida vacation. It was just the break I needed before powering back up my freelance writing pursuits (although I stayed plenty busy with writing for WERD.com and Maxim in Florida all the same!).

Of course, returning to Brooklyn has me thinking about the changing seasons and some new (early, early) spring style essentials… like the Taylor Stitch Jack Shirt as seen above. Is it too early to think about shopping spring menswear essentials? Folks, if you ask me, it’s never too early — hop to it with some time ahead of you this weekend.

Learn more and shop at Taylor Stitch

And before I send you on your way this weekend, I want to spotlight another way to refresh and recharge, especially if you find yourself in New York City. That old adage that a fresh haircut can change your perspective is certainly true in my book. Yes indeed, there’s no reset quite like a new look, especially if that new look comes complete with an extensive, impressive and ultimately, very relaxing experience like that at NYC’s Pisterzi in Soho.

I recently had the chance to sample the Italian luxury grooming atelier’s entire lineup of products and services, including essential men’s grooming items that really amount more to a work of art than a typical grooming experience. The atelier boasts just two private salon booths at its Soho location (all the better for a more customized experience). Each is handsomely appointed with blue leather and sleek furnishings, and each is ready to deliver everything from a classic haircut to a beard trim.

The space also offers product and styling consultations, and I found my 90-minute experience (La Dolce Vita) to be nothing short of blissful. Unwind with a deep cleansing, soothing facial and beard treatment (plus a haircut and beard trim), and relish the experience of multiple hot towels and the company’s rejuvenating cleanser and Face and Eye Guard Treatment. The even better part?

If you’re not in New York City itself, you can still get the Pisterzi experience from home by ordering its standout lineup online. Would I call it the best haircut in Manhattan? I certainly would, and I encourage you take the weekend to dive more into the atelier’s next-level, luxurious men’s grooming treatments. For now, here’s to a Brooklyn weekend — cheers, my friends!

February 23, 2023February 21, 2023 by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Flint and Tinder Waxed Jacket Is On Sale for 20 Percent Off

Just when you thought you had your rotation of the best men’s outerwear all figured out, another Huckberry style essential enters the fray. At least, that’s what this style writer thinks when it comes to the chance to score the famed Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Hudson Jacket for the standout discount of 20 percent off at Huckberry right now. We’re still working our way through winter and plowing ahead through spring, and for these frigid few weeks and a blustery start to March (and beyond), this rugged, handsome jacket is a downright essential.

Of course, we’ve talked about how the Flint and Tinder Hudson Jacket is one of the coolest jackets for fall, but rest assured that it’ll serve you just as readily in late winter and on into spring. Part of the always well-stocked Huckerry Sale section right now, this modern take on British hunting coats is packed with bells and whistles aplenty, starting with its weather-resistant coconut-waxed British Millerain exterior.

In a word, that means the Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Hudson Jacket is as tough as it gets, built to last and ready for winter weather and spring breezes.

Helpfully, Huckberry has built the Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Hudson Jacket with every last bit of the same care and consideration as the Flint and Tinder Trucker Jacket (the jacket worn by Pedro Pascal in “The Last of Us,” for good measure). The exterior fabric is durable and yet made to break in and develop a handsome patina over time, while the Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Hudson Jacket is, naturally, lined with cotton flannel and boasts corduroy cuff and collar trim for a classic touch.

Snap hip pockets secure your EDC, while the snap cuffs provide a customizable fit and added wind protection. And true to form, the Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Hudson Jacket features a rear game pocket in a nod to classic hunting and field jackets. Better still is the fact that you get all of this at a stellar discount, and the Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Hudson Jacket is available in four timeless colors. However, sizes are moving quickly, so act now to secure a rugged jacket you can wear right into spring.

February 22, 2023February 21, 2023 by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: Layer Up with this Western Rise Merino Tee

There are times when the solution in your search for the best men’s style essentials really is quite simple. Think of all you’ve still got to juggle these days: Work From Home style, Zoom calls and casual days back in the office, plus time on the road and in the great outdoors. The solution? At least in the case of today’s post, is to wear one of the best merino T-shirts. And the T-shirt in question today — the Western Rise StrongCore Merino Long-Sleeve Tee — offers plenty of ways to wear it, plenty of minimal, sleek style and plenty of utility for the modern man.

Learn more and shop at Western Rise

Merino in its own right is an essential fabric for any wardrobe, what with natural moisture-wicking and insulating properties, a soft handfeel and the ability to act as an insulating base layer in the cold, or a moisture-wicking outer layer on breezy spring (or temperate winter) days.

And this stylish merino T-shirt from Western Rise checks all the proper boxes, and then some. Now, you might recognize Western Rise from making one of the best men’s long-sleeve buttondowns, but they’ve applied that same innovation to a more casual long-sleeve tee, too.

The Colorado-based company with a penchant for the outdoors bills the Western Rise StrongCore Merino Long-Sleeve Tee as the “only long sleeve shirt you need,” and it’s hard to argue with that take. The jersey Merino wool fabric is temperature-regulating and of course, moisture-wicking, boasting a soft handfeel and a fit that makes it easy to move around in and easy to layer up with as your base for a casually rugged outfit. The split side hem also offers nice added mobility.

It’s better still that the Western Rise StrongCore Merino Long-Sleeve Tee features a streamlined design with no branding. That means can rock it under an unlined blazer at the office for a mix of high-low style, you can team your new favorite long-sleeve tee with tapered joggers for a laidback weekend look, or you can style the Western Rise StrongCore Merino Long-Sleeve Tee underneath a denim jacket with tan chinos for the ultimate mix of comfort and classic style.

And when you need to hit the trail or the road, the Western Rise StrongCore Merino Long-Sleeve Tee delivers moisture-wicking comfort and performance. Take your pick from colors like Dune, Midnight or Black, then get ready to wear this shirt as many ways as you can dream up.