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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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!

The Thursday Buy: This Is Your New Everyday Flannel Shirt from Huckberry and Flint and Tinder

Flint and Tinder flannel shirt review.

In my experience, a guy’s wardrobe of men’s style essentials needs rugged, cozy yet versatile options aplenty across the brisk months of autumn, and that certainly holds true even if you find yourself splitting time between home and the office.

For fall weekends galore, for those casual days at home and for nearly every time in between (See: Weekend coffee outings and whiskey bar visits), a reliable flannel shirt can work wonders when it comes to classic, flattering style. The even better news, as you might expect, is that Flint and Tinder has just the one you need now.

Heck, depending on the sort of office you work in, you might even be able to get away with wearing one of the best flannel shirts from Huckberry, like the ever-reliable Flint and Tinder Midweight Flannel Shirt shown above (I’m wearing one right now as I type this).

We’ve talked lately about versatile buttondown shirts from Flint and Tinder, the sort that more closely resemble an Oxford shirt (like the F&T Architect Shirt), but this particular number is a bit more casually rugged — and no less essential when it comes to your wardrobe.

In my book, the Flint and Tinder Midweight Flannel Shirt checks the proper boxes as far as a modern update to the traditional flannel shirt is concerned. Those boxes include the right fabric, which in this case is a 7.6oz., custom-developed 100 percent cotton flannel — not as dressy as an Oxford shirt, not as heavy as a burly Flint and Tinder shirt jacket.

Raglan-stitched sleeves give you room to move and room to layer — useful as you gear up for fall road trips, and even more useful if you’d like to rock the Flint and Tinder Midweight Flannel Shirt atop a base layer, like a henley. Crucially, this handsome flannel shirt comes in an oversized-yet-timeless, bold plaid in three distinct variations, and the brushed flannel exterior should prove ultra-soft and supremely comfortable.

Best flannel shirts for men to buy now.

It’s the kind of rugged, hard-wearing choice that makes every guy look casually cool in laidback style situations — even if your office for the day happens to be your favorite coffee shop. Join the club and join me in wearing one of the best men’s flannel shirts for fall — the season is upon us, after all.

See Now, Buy Now: Get This Durable Waxed Jacket from Tecovas at a Discount This Week

In my personal experience, one of the best things about scouring the market for fall style essentials tends to come up when a brand you know and love for one category — say, Tecovas and its work crafting some of the best Western boots for men — switches things up a bit.

Or rather, builds off what they do so well, which in this case is a modern take on the best Western-style men’s boots — now accented by a lineup of stylish, versatile men’s apparel.

Take the Tecovas Stormchaser Jacket as seen above. It’s a Western-inspired change of pace from a brand known for its perfectly designed, expertly curated approach to men’s boots, and it’s going to take your fall style rotation from good to great (or better to best, you might say).

Tecovas jackets for men.

The style falls right in line with the brand’s Western-style design cues and inspiration, serving a purpose that’s as functional as it is formidably stylish. The Tecovas Stormchaser Jacket starts things off on the right foot with its hard-working waxed exterior, fashioned from iconic Halley Stevensons waxed fabric.

It’s built like a Western-style trench-meets-ranch jacket, with a fit that hits at mid-thigh and useful touches like an adjustable hood.

Tecovas Stormchaser Jacket review.

For good measure when it comes to all your seasonal pursuits — whether or not you find yourself on a ranch — the Tecovas Stormchaser Jacket features side snap pockets and an adjustable waist for a more secure fit. And in an even cooler touch, the Tecovas Stormchaser Jacket reminds me of the sort of jacket worn rather famously by the titular character in last year’s “Oppenheimer” epic — never a bad bit of style inspiration to have on your side.

Tecovas men's jackets review.

The crisp navy color is a personal favorite in terms of easy wearability with everything from blue jeans to tan chinos, and contrasting hardware makes it all the better. One more thing to love about the Tecovas Stormchaser Jacket? It’s finished off with an eye-catching inner lining, and before I forget: It just so happens to be nearly 50 percent off right now via the Tecovas Last Call section.

Yes, 50 percent off. For Western-inspired style and utility in spades, the Tecovas Stormchaser Jacket is a fine addition to any seasonal outerwear rotation.