The Thursday Buy: Upgrade Your Off-Duty Wardrobe with This USA-Made Polo from American Giant

There’s something to be said for upgrading the way you dress from A-to-Z, from day to night, on the clock and off — one of the best men’s polos can help you nail the perfect balance between polished style and laidback cool, and many of the best men’s polo brands are making shirts that are more leisurely than stuffy.

Take American Giant and the brand’s new USA-made polo: It’s made more like a T-shirt than a traditional polo shirt, from the fabric to the construction to the easygoing way you can wear it (a far cry from polo shirts that might have been part of your summer uniform in years past).

No sir, in my experience, the American Giant Premium Slub Polo is changing the game as far as the best polo shirts for men are concerned, in much the same way the brand has remained fiercely committed to USA-made menswear.

That goes for the brand’s focus on making one of the best henleys for men as well as the best T-shirts for summer, each of which deserves place of pride in your seasonal wardrobe. But let’s take a closer look at the polo shirt you’re going to be wearing all summer, the American Giant Premium Slub Polo.

As the name would suggest, premium slub cotton gives this shirt a super-soft feel, texture and substance — it should prove lightweight and breathable without being overly thin.

Best polo shirts for men.

The steadfast USA-made fashion brand bills this shirt as a “modern take on the classic polo,” and I’d have to agree (my other American Giant reviews surely show I’m a big-time fan of the brand over the years). American Giant buttons grace the three-button placket, with a collar that should frame the face nicely.

And yet, the fabrication of the American Giant Premium Slub Polo means it has more in common with a laidback T-shirt, yet the collar gives it more polish — whether paired with dark blue jeans, tan chino shorts or even drawstring linen lounge pants.

The American Giant Premium Slub Polo is made in Los Angeles — a fine place to shop some of the best knitwear on the market at the moment — and comes in both two limited-edition colors and the timeless, flattering black for a crisp look and feel. The fit should fall below the belt line without proving overly long, a problem I’ve had with some polos in the past — but with American Giant, classic looks and a proper fit are the name of the game, at least in my experience.

No matter how you choose to style the American Giant Premium Slub Polo, you’re getting a standout blend of great looks, expert design and USA-made construction — what more can you ask for from one of the best polo shirts for men?

See Now, Buy Now: This American-Made Waffle Henley from American Giant is the Cozy, Rugged Layer You Need

Best waffle henley for men to buy now.

When it comes time to really dial down and take on winter’s worst, it helps to go back to basics — back to sturdy staples, like the trusty waffle henley — that are meant for warmth and rugged appeal.

For example, take the humble and hard-working henley. Plenty of brands have taken their shot in recent years at making one of the best henleys for men, but very few are doing it quite like American Giant, especially when it comes to the American Giant Waffle Long-Sleeve Henley.

The American-made menswear manufacturer has been crafting distinct, limited-edition runs of clothing beyond just the fan-favorite American Giant Classic Full-Zip Hoodie, and these “drops” are very much worth checking out, at least in my experience. The American Giant Waffle Long-Sleeve Henley is the latest among those limited-time selections, with all the utility you could ever want in a durable long-sleeve henley.

Those specs start with a blend of cotton and spandex for crucial comfort and stretch, while the thick waffle knit is ideal for use as a thermal base layer. Raglan sleeves amp up the mobility factor on the American Giant Waffle Long-Sleeve Henley, which comes in both a distinct Pageant Blue and an eye-catching, old-school shade of red.

American Giant waffl henley review.

Its metal buttons even boast an antique finish, another careful touch that elevates the American Giant Waffle Long-Sleeve Henley from the pack (perhaps another reason it’s selling so quickly at the moment). Your new favorite henley is sewn together, finishing touches and all in Los Angeles, another rarity in the menswear world these days, and it’s practically tailor-made for layering underneath a shirt jacket, a trucker jacket or even a shawl cardigan.

To say you’d do well to add the American-made, fast-selling American Giant Waffle Long-Sleeve Henley is an understatement right now, my friends. Shop accordingly this holiday season.

The Thursday Buy: This American Giant Striped Crewneck Is a Breezy Layer for Spring Days & Nights

When I look for dependable layers to ramp up my spring and summer style wardrobe, I tend to reach for pieces that take a classic and improve upon it ever so slightly. And if the piece is a bit of a swerve from the norm — say, a stylish striped long-sleeve T-shirt as opposed to a solid-colored long-sleeve tee — that’s all the better.

Let’s go one step further: When that staple piece is made the old-school way, well, you’ve hit the sweet spot, as the good folks at American Giant often tend to do.

Makers of everything from some of the best American-made jeans to the brand’s famed American Giant Classic Full-Zip Hoodie, you’ll find that the company leaves no stone unturned, so to speak, in pursuit of some of the best American-made menswear on the market.

And that goes for casual picks, like the aforementioned American Giant Classic Long-Sleeve Crew, as well as harder-to-craft picks, like blue jeans, canvas work pants or hard-wearing workshirts. A mid-weight 100 percent cotton build gives this T-shirt a breezy softness, the kind that wears well with French Terry joggers for weekend coffee outings or laidback spring patio mornings.

Best USA-made long-sleeve T-shirts for men.

Yet, the USA-made build of the American Giant Classic Long-Sleeve Crew elevates it further — while this works as a loungewear-style T-shirt, you can also pair it with an indigo denim trucker or rock it beneath a chambray shirt for casually cool days around town.

The American Giant Classic Long-Sleeve Crew is the sort of T-shirt that might make you rethink what it means to wear one of the best long-sleeve T-shirts — either green or navy stripes add some style points, as do the contrasting cuffs.

It’s not quite as heavy as a crewneck sweatshirt, it’s more substantial than a pima cotton T-shirt, and it’s reliable as can be. While the American Giant Classic Long-Sleeve Crew is pricier than a standard T-shirt from a bargain-bin retailer, it’s a difference you can feel, and that’s a stylish touch I can appreciate. If you feel the same way, one of the best USA-made T-shirts is yours for the taking.

See Now, Buy Now: These American Giant Dakota Slim Jeans Are an Everyday Must-Have

When I look to amp up my wardrobe with classic men’s style essentials, I tend to look for brands to go a touch above and beyond. And for the best men’s jeans, there are plentiful options in that regard, but few that do it quite like American Giant.

Take the American Giant Dakota Jeans — yes, on the surface, they’re just as classic a pair of blue jeans as you can get. But take a closer look, as we’ll do today, and you’ll see they’re even better than expected.

And that, my friends, is what separates the best jeans for men from the pack. If you’ve read the blog, you know that American Giant specializes in everything from USA-made flannel shirts to the best USA-made T-shirts, and of course, you can add denim to that list in quick succession.

Best American-made jeans for men.

The American Giant Dakota Jeans hit all the right notes: They’re available in both Slim and Straight fits, plus a darker Maritime Wash and a pleasingly faded Salt Water Wash (ideal for spring and summer, naturally).

And unlike plenty of other pairs of jeans on the market, the American Giant Dakota Jeans are made in El Paso, Texas, the old-school way. The USA-made brand uses a custom denim wash and a cotton-spandex-polyester blend for added durability.

And it only gets better from there with the American Giant Dakota Jeans — contrast stitching and a custom leather patch drive home the carefully crafted nature of what could just become your new favorite pair of blue jeans.

Better still is the fact that your new pair of American Giant Dakota Jeans pair up seamlessly with American Giant tees, flannel shirts and naturally, the brand’s Classic Full-Zip Hoodie. What could be better than that? Amp up your wardrobe with USA-made quality ASAP.

Style Pick of the Week: American Giant Vintage Flannel Shirt – The Best USA-Made Flannel Shirt Around

Best USA-made flannel shirt for men.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: They don’t make menswear like they used to, unless the menswear in question comes from American Giant. The company has made waves across the past decade for its steadfast commitment to the best American-made menswear around, doing things the old-fashioned way by sourcing raw materials and fibers in the States, then working with small factories to produce its wares.

That’s only part of the story with American Giant, a brand you assuredly know from this blog. Perhaps you recognize them for some of the best workwear pants around, or else one of the best chore jackets — not to mention the iconic American Giant Classic Full-Zip, another fan favorite.

Yes indeed, in my experience, American Giant makes some of the finest, most durable USA-made menswear around — and that extends to today’s featured pick.

American Giant flannel shirt review.

Of course, brand does more than just make casual knitwear. In the case of today’s Style Pick of the Week, let’s delve into one of the best American-made flannel shirts, which tends to be a rarity — at least in terms of a shirt you can readily buy online without digging through crates at a vintage store.

The American Giant Vintage Flannel Shirt readily lives up to that name in every way possible, starting with the fact that — like the shirts your grandfather wore — it really is made in America.

In fact, I’ve tried the American Giant Vintage Flannel Shirt in recent weeks, and American Giant has certainly gone the extra mile. The brand worked with the last fabric mill in the States to yarn-dye the buttery soft yet durable cotton flannel fabric, which is then finished with front-button chest pockets — it gives the American Giant Vintage Flannel Shirt an almost shirt-jacket-like feel for maximum versatility.

Plus, your new favorite flannel shirt comes in a trio of rich plaid options for classic style potential, including my personal favorite, the Bonfire Red Plaid number. The buttons feel sturdy and reliable, while the fabric is lightweight and breathable while also still feeling warm enough as a layer (atop a henley and beneath a stylish denim jacket) on breezy spring days.

And the helpful front button chest pockets, durable construction and curved hem give the American Giant Vintage Flannel Shirt the ideal blend of style and utility. How’s that for the best American-made flannel shirt on the market? Get yours (in one or multiple colors) while it’s still around.

See Now, Buy Now: The American Giant Roughneck Pants are Rugged and Ready for Anything

American Giant Roughneck Pants.

Being ready for just about anything in the menswear world (and in your late summer and early fall pursuits) means having the right tools for the job in your wardrobe before it’s too late. Now, I don’t literally mean tools, but I mean rugged menswear essentials you can wear on a weekend adventure, on a Sunday park stroll, to a brewery or even to a casual office.

In fact, I mean the American Giant Roughneck Pants, a certified modern style classic ready to work as hard as you do. And if you scan the pages of The Style Guide regularly, you know that American Giant certainly works hard to make some of the best USA-made menswear season after season — these hard-wearing work pants are no exception.

In my personal experience, they’re as suited for play (brewery beers, anyone?) as they are for work in the field, day hikes and beyond, and there’s plenty that makes the American Giant Roughneck Pants as exceptional as they are.

In my personal experience with the very well-reviewed American Giant Roughneck Pants (which garnered an average rating of 4.5 stars over nearly 800 reviews!), they’re about everything you could want in a durable, versatile pair of pants. Sure, they’re more casual than your favorite pair of stretch chinos, but no less wearable with, say, an Oxford shirt or a classic chambray shirt (of course).

The American Giant Roughneck Pants feature all the hallmarks of the brand’s sturdy, USA-made production, including durable stretch cotton canvas fabric that’s woven in Georgia. These five-pocket pants, modeled after classic jeans, are then finished in Texas with custom metal hardware. And for good measure, your new favorite pair of pants come six colors and in both Slim and Straight fits.

Either option would be a fine fit worn right now with classic canvas sneakers, and the American Giant Roughneck Pants will certainly prove plenty wearable come fall and winter with rugged Red Wing boots (among other treasured style picks). Do yourself a favor and invest in the best now.

The Thursday Buy: This Rugged American Giant Chore Jacket Is Ideal for Breezy Summer Nights

Best chore jacket for men.

My friends, sometimes, there’s no getting around it: Even on the hottest summer days, you still might find yourself in need of, say, one of the best chore jackets as the sun goes down.

Be it an evening bonfire, a sunset beach walk or a camping trek up into the mountains, you’d be surprised at how handy a rugged chore jacket can be, particularly one that’s made in America (and made the right way, at that). And that, folks, is where American Giant — one of the best made-in-America style brands, assuredly, factors into the equation with one of the best chore jackets for men.

Hopefully, you recognize American Giant from making one of the best zip hoodies out there, and the brand has also successfully tried its hand at stylish T-shirts, durable work pants and even some of the best blue jeans. Of course, they do it all right here in the U.S. of A., and the American Giant Roughneck Chore Jacket looks to carry on that legacy in handsome, rugged and durable fashion.

American Giant chore jacket.

The American Giant Roughneck Chore Jacket takes its cues from the Roughneck line of pants from the brand, and it’s crafted from a 9.5oz. cotton-canvas and spandex blend in El Paso, Texas. That means it’s got some stretch and supple movement to it, but it’s still comfortable enough to wear over a classic American Giant T-shirt on cool summer and early fall nights.

The American Giant Roughneck Chore Jacket is also garment-dyed for added softness, and finished with timeless chore coat touches via three patch pockets to handle your everyday carry essentials. And to suit plenty of stylish combinations, this chore jacket comes in three versatile, rich colors (the Deep Olive shade very well might be my favorite).

Mercer Apricot 3

And true to form, American Giant has priced your new favorite chore jacket at a very agreeable $198. What’s not to love about that? If you end up adding the American Giant Roughneck Chore Jacket to your rotation, let me know in the comments below. Now, let’s layer up and get out there the rest of this summer.

The Sunday Sale: Get Up to 50 Percent Off USA-Made Menswear at American Giant

Best hooded sweatshirt for men.

It’s not every day that you get the chance to shop bona fide, American-made menswear, and it’s even more rare that you’re going to find some of the best menswear deals on gear that’s made right here in the U.S. of A. And yet, witness what American Giant has going on over at the American Giant Last Chance section.

Inventory is moving quickly of its best-selling hoodies and other gear, but the point remains the same: You can get as much as 50 percent off the best American-made menswear, with plenty of deals available on gear between 17 and 30 percent off.

Best American-made shirt for men.

Stick around, dive in and shop rugged rarities like the American Giant Explorer Shirt, or keep things classic and score a deal on the American Giant Carolina Midweight Hoodie, among a plethora of other colorful, stylish, reliable selections. These pieces use materials sourced in America, like sturdy-yet-soft cotton. Of course, each piece is crafted with care into highly durable, dependable pieces (again, also right here in the States!).


Take it from this Brooklyn writer: I tried the thick, warm and sturdy yet flexible American Giant Classic Full Zip for everything from brewery visits to fall concert-going earlier this season, and it’s the real deal. It’s all the better if you can get one of the best men’s hoodies on sale today, so shop early and often while this gear is still around.

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.

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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.

See Now, Buy Now: The American Giant Lightweight Full Zip is the Best Casual Sweater for Spring

Best casual men's sweatshirt for spring.

Sometimes, the best casual style moves take something you know and love — say, one of the best men’s sweatshirts — and switch things up ever so slightly. If you read the blog, you already know that USA-made style purveyors American Giant excel at making all forms of casually rugged style gear, from heavyweight and mid-weight crewneck sweatshirts, like its famed American Giant Full-Zip and Classic Pullovers. Perhaps you’re even a fan of the rugged American Giant Roughneck Pants for work (or play). But the real reason we’re here today is the reintroduction of a classic: The American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip. Crucially, it strikes the perfect style balance these days and is, without a doubt, one of the best lightweight sweatshirts for spring — to say the least.

Like those crucial spring style moves I mentioned earlier, the American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip changes things up ever-so-slightly from what you know and love. As the brand says themselves, this lightweight hoodie (available in some especially spring-ready colors) is as “light as your favorite T-shirt, as soft and comfortable as your favorite hoodie” — sounds pretty ideal to me.

The key with the American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip is that fabric blend: In this case, it’s a tri-blend jersey fabric that goes heavy on the polyester for stretch, and uses cotton and rayon for softness and just a bit of sturdiness. The American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip hits that happy medium between the brand’s Heavyweight and Midweight options — it’s almost a summer-weight blend, perfect for breezy spring days and nights. The full-zip design of the American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip also makes it easy to throw on or customize the fit: Zip it up all the way for extra coverage, or leave it unzipped to show off your favorite graphic tee.

You can rest easy when it comes to the quality of the American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip — it’s made in North Carolina for an extra touch of care and attention to detail. It might be $90, but it’s one of the best sweatshirts for men for that very purpose. It also features raglan stitching for both durability and mobility, plus an added dose of contrasting style (you can see it most readily on the Grey Ink Heather color of the American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip). Take your pick from on-trend spring colors like Burnt Clay Heather (ideal to rock with light wash jeans and your favorite chukka boots) or team a more classic colorway of the American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip with dark blue jeans, a thermal henley and high-top sneakers. Casual style gets even easier with a laidback, yet well-made, essential like the American Giant Lightweight Full-Zip — get your favorite color while it’s still around.