The Friday Read: The Killers, The Best Anorak Jackets & A New Taylor Stitch Bomber

Ladies and gentlemen, brought to you by way of fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada: The Killers. Hopefully, you recognize the frontman of said legendary modern band at the top of the page, of course. Fittingly, it’s another momentous Friday in my neck of the woods (just as with NYFW last week!), all because I had the lucky chance and extreme privilege to see one of my favorite bands play just a few short days ago.

That’s right: My fall is kicking off in fine, high-voltage, rollicking fashion, as I trekked South to Orlando to see the iconic Brandon Flowers & co. stop through the city on their fall tour — and it won’t be the last time I see them in the weeks ahead, either.

Of course, you can keep up with all the fun on my Instagram, but it’s bigger than that: I’ve long admired Brandon Flowers (and The Killers) for their sense of style, certainly, along with a deep drive and sense of ambition, passion, work ethic and showmanship. In fact, lest we forget, I had the chance to interview Mr. Flowers himself for Esquire.com last year — it’s still a highlight of my work as a freelance writer. I could go on, but for now, I’m still thinking of that stellar show — and looking forward to a standout weekend in Orlando with family! Again, you can keep up with all the fun on my Instagram. Cheers & let’s start this weekend in style, shall we?

Best men's bomber jacket for fall
  • Today’s first style highlight of the week is a fitting one, seeing as we were just talking about a lead singer with a penchant for stylish outerwear. Now, I don’t know whether Mr. Flowers is a fan of San Francisco menswear purveyors Taylor Stitch, but if you are, then you’re in luck: I just wrote about one of the best new bomber jackets on the blog yesterday. Happy shopping, my friends.
  • Speaking of stylish outerwear once more, here’s another suggestion to outfit you for fall adventures. Layer up to hit the trail or head to your cabin — or an upstate getaway — wearing one of the best anorak jackets. Helpfully, I dove into the best options for the season over at AskMen. Let’s get right to it, folks.
  • Here’s one more style pick to add to your wish list today. The art of fine watchmaking is something I’ve continued to learn about over the years, especially writing for Maxim.com, which is why it was such a pleasure to cover the newest Longines luxury timepiece earlier this week. Add it to your wish list, folks.

That’ll wrap things up today here on the blog, as I’ve got some Orlando exploration on the docket (and a theme park visit or two lined up!). As always, thanks for reading — now, do me a favor and go listen to The Killers!

The Thursday Buy: Billy Reid’s Western Shirt is Your New Favorite Fall Shirt

Best men's shirts for fall

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s crucial to have variety within your wardrobe, especially menswear essentials that blend two key ingredients at the same time. It’s something of a specialty of Billy Reid: Taking something a bit rugged and a bit classic, and merging them together seamlessly. One only need look at the Billy Reid Western Shirt to get the idea. It’s got the classic looks of a Western shirt, with just a touch of rugged design all the while, and that makes it your new favorite shirt for fall.

Trust me on that, and be sure to look around the rest of the seriously well-designed Billy Reid New Arrivals section to get some of the best menswear for fall (and beyond). The Alabama-based designer already does a standout job crafting some of the best men’s shirts, what with touches that are both refined and yet wearable just about anywhere, and the Billy Reid Western Shirt is no exception. Now, it can be tough finding Billy Reid gear on sale, but this pick-up is worth it at full price.

What makes the Billy Reid Western Shirt so essential? Well, all things Western are certainly on trend right now, yet they don’t overdo it. This blue-meets-green multi-plaid design is eye-catching yet wearable with classic picks like tan chinos or inky blue denim, and small contrasting touches like white buttons offer a touch of visually appealing style, too.

Contrast stitching helps set the Billy Reid Western Shirt apart, too. On days when you want to class up your favorite fall blazer with a unique shirting touch, or on days when you simply want to throw on a stylish, grab-and-go shirt, this investment-level option is your best bet.

See Now, Buy Now: This Taylor Stitch Bomber Jacket is a New Fall Style Must-Have

Best bomber jacket for men.

When building out your perfect menswear wardrobe, the real key lies in being prepared for as many situations as possible, especially as you hunt for fall men’s style essentials. Perfect is a lofty goal, to be sure, and the bar is set quite high, but shopping classic picks from San Francisco’s Taylor Stitch — like one of the best men’s bomber jackets, is a great place to start. And my friends, the Taylor Stitch Bomber Jacket in Bark Ever Wax clears that high bar as far as the proper blend of style and utility is concerned, no doubt about it.

You’ll find it, of course, within the digital shelves of the Taylor Stitch New Arrivals section, a great place to go to shop and save on the best men’s boots and so much more. And the Taylor Stitch Bomber Jacket in Bark Ever Wax lives up to its billing quite handily, starting with the custom-made, 100 percent plant-based waxed organic cotton fabric blend developed for Taylor Stitch by Scotland’s Halley Stevenson.

Best fall jackets for men.

You might call that fabric “the good stuff,” since the rugged design of the Taylor Stitch Bomber Jacket in Bark Ever Wax is going to make it ready for plenty of blustery fall weather. It’s finished off with the brand’s custom 100 percent organic cotton lining (detailed with old-school San Francisco maps), and the Taylor Stitch Bomber Jacket in Bark Ever Wax gets an even more weather-ready touch with wool-blend collar, cuff and hem ribbed detailing.

Better still is the fact that this rugged bomber jacket features antique brass hardware for good measure. And yes, while the Taylor Stitch Bomber Jacket in Bark Ever Wax is pricier than your average jacket at $298, there’s no question it’s worth the investment. Shop now and gear up accordingly for fall, my friends.

The Tuesday Steal: Save 50 Percent On this Rugged Workshirt at Huckberry

Best men's workshirt for fall

Take it from your favorite Brooklyn style writer (ha!) — you’d be surprised what you can find in terms of the best men’s style essentials when you set your mind to tracking down a stellar deal, like searching for one of the best men’s workshirts. That’s the focus of today’s Tuesday Steal, of course, and today’s standout find — the Wythe New York Indio Workshirt — retails for a stunning 50 percent off within the Huckberry Sale section. That’s right: A durable, premium indigo workshirt is now up for grabs for less than $100, with plenty of sizes still available as of right now.

Best workshirt for men

Why go with the rugged, hard-wearing and well-made Wythe Indigo Workshirt? It’s simple, really. It’s hard to find a versatile men’s workshirt made from an easy-to-layer cotton and indigo blend — that’s the sort of fabric that’s going to prove breathable and easy to layer through early fall. On top of that, the use of indigo-dyed yarns is an expensive process that yields impressive results, so again, the fact that this workshirt goes for less than $100 right now is impressive in its own right.

Use the front button chest pockets to hold your everyday carry essentials, use this workshirt as a top layer over everything from one of the best men’s henleys to an easygoing slub T-shirt, and be sure you’re mixing and matching everything from blue indigo denim (yes, it can be done!) to classic tan chinos. Your new favorite workshirt is 50 percent off for a limited time, so be sure to stock up now.

See Now, Buy Now: Buck Mason’s Pacific Twill Vintage Shirt is a Classic Fall Style Move

Best men's shirt for early fall

In the process of moving from one season to another, a well-dressed guy (like yourself!) has got to have pieces that, as we say here at The Style Guide, bridge the gap from one area to the next. Picks like a stylish bomber jacket or a durable overshirt fit the bill, as does the classic fall shirt shown above from the good folks at Buck Mason. Ideally, you’re no stranger to the Los Angeles-based, truly all-American brand, which focuses on taking classic picks and freshening them up for the modern man — like the Buck Mason Pacific Twill Vintage Shirt, for starters.

Satchel and Page

You see, your new favorite fall shirt is certainly one of those pieces that bridges the gap between a warmer September and the colder months quite nicely, and the Buck Mason Pacific Twill Vintage Shirt checks all the right boxes. Of course, it looks highly stylish while doing so, too, and that’s a major benefit as you look for one of the best shirts for men (period).

Best fall flannel shirt for men.

Crucially, the Buck Mason Pacific Twill Vintage Shirt is made from a twill weave that’s durable and yet breathable — it’s based on the fabric used in making Buck Mason jeans, but the company says it’s a quarter of the weight. How’s that for one of the best shirts for men this season, ehh?

Satchel and Page

This lightweight flannel shirt features interwoven threads that have also been overdyed for softness, making the Buck Mason Pacific Twill Vintage Shirt a reliable go-to on its own or layered atop one of the best henleys for men, for instance. It’s cool enough to wear layered up unbuttoned, or else paired with one of the best blazers for fall (trust me).

The next time you need a rugged, casually stylish shirt to rock this month and into the early days of winter, you know you need the Buck Mason Pacific Twill Vintage Shirt

The Sunday Sale: Take 30 Percent Off This Essential Casual Hoodie from Todd Snyder

Best hooded sweatshirt for men.

Let’s get right into it today as we talk about some of the best casual menswear for fall, shall we? If you read the blog regularly, you certainly know there are plenty of resources when it comes to finding menswear deals aplenty, even at a high-end designer like famed American menswear designer Todd Snyder. Yes, that’s right: Although the designer makes refined pieces like one of the best men’s sportcoats (and plenty of other picks), he also specializes in essential casual men’s style moves, like one of the best hoodies for men.

Best men's casual hoodie.

And it gets even better than you might expect, since the Todd Snyder Midweight Popover Hoodie is a tried-and-true fall essential for brisk nights and mornings, and it’s on sale right now for about 30 percent off (the discount brings it down to $99 from $138). Made from garment-dyed French Terry cotton, it’s an ultra-soft, seriously cool hooded sweatshirt that changes what you thought you knew about hoodies.

It’s both exceptionally well-made and yet actually stylish enough to wear out of the house with your favorite pair of blue jeans, and of course, it’s but one highlight among many in the ongoing Todd Snyder + Champion partnership. The next time you need a standout hoodie you can throw on at a moment’s notice, and then wear all day, get the Todd Snyder + Champion Popover Hoodie. See you out there, folks.

Style Pick of the Week: Frye Tyler Chelsea Boots – Best Men’s Chelsea Boots for Fall

Best men's Chelsea boots for fall

Among any list of the best fall style essentials — be it one of the best fall blazers or your new go-to henley — you’d also do well to consider some of the most rugged men’s boots, right? But there’s a fine line to walk, literally, if you want to maximize your versatility. While there’s a time and a place for hard-wearing work boots, you can still get fall-minded performance and style with *drumroll please* a pair of the best men’s Chelsea boots. In fact, at the current moment, there might not be a better pair of men’s boots for fall on the market than the FRYE Tyler Chelsea Boots.


You’ve hopefully encountered the brand through its penchant for making some of the best leather boots, period, but the American heritage footwear company continues to step up its game with timeless styles like the easy-on, easy-off Chelsea boot. It all starts, of course, with quality leather when it comes to the FRYE Tyler Chelsea Boots, and in this case, we’re talking a rich Cognac leather that wears well with plenty of fall style picks (everything from dark blue jeans to black denim to olive chinos).

The FRYE Tyler Chelsea Boots — which are selling somewhat fast despite a more investment-minded price tag of $328 at FRYE — also sit atop a sturdy leather outsole for traction on slick fall streets and through day-to-night pursuits (anyone up for a park stroll and brewery visit?). Better still, the FRYE Tyler Chelsea Boots are designed for a smooth ride, thanks to the injection of a rubber forepart in the leather outsole.


The end result is a pair of sleek yet hard-wearing boots, the kind you can team with wool trousers, stretch cotton chinos or your favorite pair of blue jeans without missing a beat. On your top half, go with rugged picks like one of the best men’s henleys or keep things a touch more refined with a cool cotton blazer. Either way, be sure to get as much wear as possible out of the FRYE Tyler Chelsea Boots, because they can take it.

The Friday Read: New York Fashion Week 2022

My friends, if you can believe it, the time is upon us again: It’s New York Fashion Week, one of the busiest times of the year for your Brooklyn style writer, and always an exceptionally exciting time. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to attend runway shows by the likes of Todd Snyder, I’ve experienced the delights of seeing new collections from up-and-coming menswear designers at New York Men’s Day, and I’ve enjoyed plenty of seriously cool parties with some seriously well-dressed people around.

Man and woman standing in a field looking at the camera wearing white tees and jeans

Through it all this week, I’ve done my best to stay on top of the menswear game in the meantime, including yesterday’s blog dispatch on the best men’s sunglasses and my latest Maxim dispatch on a stylish new Tudor watch. It’s always proven quite the balancing act, but one I always enjoy immensely.

Of course, the festivities kicked off in fine fashion with a J. Crew event on Wednesday night headlined by none other than… NYC rock legends Yeah Yeah Yeahs! Talk about worlds colliding, and talk about a dream night in and of itself.

Mercer Apricot

I’m off to more NYFW events today and this weekend yet still, including New York Men’s Day and the upcoming, Saturday night Tanner Fletcher runway show. For now, be sure to follow along with all the fun on my Instagram

The Thursday Buy: The RAEN Wiley Sunglasses are Some of the Best Men’s Sunglasses Under $200

Best men's sunglasses to buy now.

Bear with me here today, my friends, because we’re going to talk about an unlikely accessory you should still keep handy as part of your everyday carry essentials heading into early fall. The accessory in question? Of course, it’s a pair of the best men’s sunglasses — yes, I really do mean it.

Shop Western Rise!

And although you might think of shopping for men’s sunglasses as a pursuit best undertaken in the spring and summer, the right pair of stylish shades can still work wonders for your look and of course, the comfort of your vision come fall (and winter). That leads me to the California-based eyewear masters at RAEN, purveyors of specs like the RAEN Wiley Sunglasses. What makes this pair some of the best sunglasses for men? My friend, I’m glad you asked.

Best stylish men's sunglasses.

It’s all about the right blend of style plus utility in terms of sunglasses for men, and the RAEN Wiley Sunglasses pack a nice wallop when it comes to both categories. Available in a seriously cool nine frame and lens combinations (all polarized for maximum visibility), your new favorite pair of sunglasses are crafted with a frame handmade from zyl acetate.

The construction is meant to be lightweight yet durable, and sturdy five barrel hinge hardware should only bolster the long-term wearability of the RAEN Wiley Sunglasses.

Man and woman standing in a field looking at the camera wearing white tees and jeans

As if that wasn’t enough, the frame shape is squared-off and clean, the right sort of design if you want a more casual pair of sunglasses to wear with laidback looks like the best pocket T-shirt and lightweight jeans (topped off by a stylish bomber jacket, of course).

Perhaps the biggest benefit to snagging the RAEN Wiley Sunglasses right now? Of course, the multi-season wearability — and the affordable sub-$200 price. Are the RAEN Wiley Sunglasses some of the best men’s sunglasses under $200? Try ’em out yourself and let me know in the comments.

See Now, Buy Now: The American Giant Classic Full Zip Is the Best Casual Hoodie to Shop Now

Best hooded sweatshirt for men.

Sometimes, the simple things, made in classic, long-lasting fashion, tend to gain the most traction in your wardrobe — right? No matter how simple they might seem, like one of the best casual sweatshirts for men. What’s so great about a hooded sweatshirt, or rather, what’s so great about American Giant? They’re the company that makes perhaps the best hoodie on the market, and again, it’s simple: It’s the little things done right, like quality craftsmanship and even better materials. Both of those are what helped make the American Giant Classic Full Zip such a fan favorite over the past decade.

BlackFridayBanner21

In fact, one of the best men’s hoodies on the market just so happens to be celebrating its 10th anniversary — and your new favorite hooded sweatshirt has thousands of positive five-star reviews to back it up — so it’s worth diving into what makes this hoodie (and the company itself) a necessary part of any laidback wardrobe. You very well might know American Giant for its commitment to rugged USA-made gear like some of the best men’s work pants or the best lightweight hoodie (different than the one we’re talking about today, though!), but it only gets better from there.

Best casual men's hooded sweatshirt

You see, the American Giant Classic Full Zip is a certified modern classic in the annals of casual menswear for plenty of reasons. Perhaps you’ve noticed yourself dressing much more casually as you look for the best clothing to wear at home, and the American Giant Classic Full Zip delivers in terms of long-lasting durability.

Remmy Champagne Crystal

Chalk it up to the use of durable 100 percent combed ringspun cotton and a custom-developed heavyweight fleece for extra warmth and comfort, for starters. Take it from this menswear writer who often wears a hoodie to work from home: The American Giant Classic Full Zip can stand the test of time, no doubt about it.

Best American-made hoodie for men.

The American Giant Classic Full Zip also uses hardware like a custom metal zipper and grommets, and the small touches also make the difference as you search for one of the best men’s hoodies. What exactly are those small touches? That’d be the double-lined hood and reinforced elbow patches: Yes indeed, the American Giant Classic Full Zip is so well-made, you can even wear it out of the house.

Everlane.com Low Cost. High Quality. Classic wardrobe essentials for less!

That’s another thing: This stylish hooded sweatshirt comes in a plethora of colors to suit every preference (11 as of right now), so you can wear it with your favorite pair of blue jeans for casual weekend outings aplenty. And because the American Giant Classic Full Zip packs such a punch in terms of quality and versatility, it’s worth the price: You’re ponying up $138 for this stylish men’s hoodie, but it’s worth it (again, take it from me). Put simply: The American Giant Classic Full Zip is a hoodie you’re going to have years from now.