See Now, Buy Now: This Buck Mason Western Shirt Redefines a Rugged Classic for Modern Times

At times, I feel as if my wardrobe of menswear essentials is all sorted out, in perfect order and up for just about anything. And at other times, there’s a little something to be said for going out on a limb and picking up a refreshed take on a menswear classic — a little something extra, so to speak, like a fresh, durable Western shirt that updates the timeless style.

And since the best Western shirts for men seem to be all the rage right now, the time might be just right to pick up a new spin on an old favorite from the good folks at Buck Mason.

Somewhere between the heavier, fall-ready appeal of the chambray shirt and the polished style of the classic Oxford shirt lies the lightweight fabric and supremely cool designed of the Buck Mason Palomino Western Shirt, potentially your new favorite summer shirt — seriously. You see, this retooled take on the Western shirt gets all the basics right, and then some, and it does so using a springweight blend of cotton and wool, as Buck Mason notes.

Best Western shirts for men.

Don’t let the use of wool fool you, though: It gives the shirt helpful shape, weight and structure without overdoing it: The Buck Mason Palomino Western Shirt seems to be the type of rugged Western shirt that’s neither too lightweight nor too burly: It’s just right, and just what the doctor ordered when it comes to the best shirts for men.

Timeless details like pearl snaps, a chest and back yoke and pointed flap pockets drive home the point that this a classic shirt with modern heritage, as fitting a combination as any to switch things up from a polo shirt or an Oxford shirt this summer. Better still is the fact that the Buck Mason Palomino Western Shirt comes in a range of handsome, distinct Ombre plaid colorways — another twist on an old standby from a brand that has deep respect for Americana heritage.

The Buck Mason Palomino Western Shirt is the sort of shirt that acts as a reliable change of pace when you need it the most: Consider swapping in this stylish Western shirt in place of an Oxford shirt atop rust-hued chinos, and perhaps consider pairing the Buck Mason Palomino Western Shirt with black jeans or even olive five-pocket pants.

At $168, the Buck Mason Palomino Western Shirt is an investment in the world of shirting, one with quality sewn into every stitch, though. What else might you expect from Buck Mason, though? Try the Buck Mason Palomino Western Shirt and add some Western flair to your traditional summer stylings, my friends.

The Thursday Buy: This Buck Mason Pocket Tee is an Elevated Take on a True Classic

Buck Mason T-shirt review.

In my experience, it’s a special thing to be able to lean on a certain men’s style essential whenever you need it, whenever the occasion calls for it. In my book, especially in the heat of summer, a well-designed, well-made T-shirt is a must for laidback lounging, for Brooklyn brewery outings and backyard grilling, even for layering underneath a soft-shouldered blazer.

So when you (and I) find a stylish T-shirt that rises above the ordinary — heady words, but it’s true — it’s worth going all-in and upgrading your basics drawer. Of course, if you’ve read this Brooklyn style blog over the years, you know that Buck Mason are experts when it comes to making some of the best T-shirts for men. That certainly holds true across its entire lineup, from curved hem pima cotton tees to thick Field-Spec cotton T-shirts, plus stylish men’s henleys aplenty.

And you might have also stumbled across the Buck Mason New Arrivals section, always a prime place to jumpstart your style imagination and inspiration. Yes, at Buck Mason, even the classics like a humble pocket T-shirt get an elevated, refreshed upgrade: Take the Buck Mason Vintage Jacquard Pocket T-shirt, which reimagines the trusty T-shirt as something eye-catching and made to be worn all on its own (or perhaps beneath a lightweight blazer, yes?).

The Buck Mason Vintage Jacquard Pocket T-shirt gets the details right in every way possible, using a substantial yet still lightweight midweight cotton that they’ve then rounded out with contrast jacquard stripe stitching.

It’s a handsome treatment that gives this T-shirt an air of refinement, believe it or not, and the Buck Mason Vintage Jacquard Pocket T-shirt is one you should feel as comfortable wearing with the Buck Mason Carry-On Suit as with Buck Mason Deck Shorts, for instance.

In the brand’s classic range of earthy colors and tailored, stylish fits, it’s a winner for when you want the casual nature of a T-shirt, blended with the elevated look of a subtle pattern. How can it get any better than that as far as the best men’s summer style is concerned, my friends? For your next T-shirt, make it the reliable and brand-new Buck Mason Vintage Jacquard Pocket T-shirt.

Style Pick of the Week: Buck Mason Deck Shorts – The Most Versatile Men’s Shorts for Summer

Buck Mason Deck Shorts review.

You never quite know what spring and the start of summer will throw your way, do you? From coastal excursions to riverside camping trips, day hikes, even jaunts across town to check out that new brewery or distillery… it all requires the best gear for men, a delicate balance between versatility, style and comfort.

A delicate balance, of course, that brands like Buck Mason tend to walk in fine fashion as far as the best menswear essentials for guys are concerned. That holds true all the live long day — or rather, all year round — with Buck Mason’s expertly curated and crafted lineup of Americana essentials, from perfect Oxford shirting to rugged chambray workshirts, soft-shouldered blazers, perfectly faded denim and sun-faded tees.

It’s lofty praise, but it seems no matter what you’re in the market for these days — even leather loafers, as Buck Mason just released with classic footwear masters G.H. Bass — the brand can deliver.

And when it comes to more adventurous pursuits — say, the type of pursuit that might see you go from the trail to the stream and back into town — Buck Mason also has you covered. That’s why we’re here today, after all: To talk about some of the best shorts for men, a list that now includes the Buck Mason Deck Shorts.

Best summer shorts for men.

Cut with the classic look of a chino short (and this time featuring a flattering and modern 6-inch inseam), the Buck Mason Deck Shorts are billed by the company as “hybrid, do-it-all shorts” that fit the bill for adventures aplenty. The four-way cotton-poly stretch fabric blend is crucial for lightweight comfort and quick-drying capability, and it’s a good thing, since the Buck Mason Deck Shorts are finished with a DWR coating.

Meanwhile, an elastic drawcord waist stretches and moves with you from trail to stream, while the zip fly and button waist closure are exactly what you’d find on a pair of the best chino shorts for men. The fabric of the exceptional Buck Mason Deck Shorts — at least in my experience –happens to be garment-washed for a super-soft finish.

In matters of style points, the 6-inch inseam hits nicely above the knee on my 6’2″ frame, while the range of earthen colors falls right in line with Buck Mason’s fresh, modern color scheme (a mood board for all seasons, in my estimation). If I were you, I’d style them freely with everything from a knit polo to a pocket tee or a rugged short-sleeve henley.

And at $98, your new favorite summer shorts are fairly priced and an agreeable purchase if you’d like to snag more than one pair. With these handsome, modern shorts, you’re getting the total package — from sunrise to sunset and beyond.

The Thursday Buy: The Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt Takes on a Timeless Military Style for Spring

Buck Mason men's chambray shirt review.

Certain menswear essentials are so classic, so utterly timeless, that they tend to look great no matter the era or even the season. While fits and fabrics sometimes change, the best men’s chambray shirts certainly qualify as a time-honored men’s style staple — all the better if they’re made by a modern brand that has a healthy respect for the classics. In the case of today’s style selection that brand, of course, is Buck Mason, a perennial favorite of this Brooklyn style blog and a company that certainly delivers a true twist on an old favorite when it comes to the Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt.

This particular shirt is a recent introduction to the brand’s lineup of the best shirts for men, which put a fresh twist on old-school staples like the Oxford shirt, the cotton twill workshirt and even the flannel shirt (in the colder months, of course). The Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt takes its cues from the sturdy cotton poplin build of the throwback US Navy N-3 button-up, which was worn as a tough workshirt in warm weather.

It’s quite the place to draw inspiration from, and the lightweight durability of the Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt should speak for itself. It should ultimate prove softer and less densely woven than one of the best chambray shirts, with slightly different texture and character — and yet, that doesn’t make the highly durable cotton-poplin construction of the Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt any less useful in your own style rotation this season.

Best workshirts for men this season.

In fact, the Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt can be worn as a lightweight overshirt of sorts atop a crisp pocket tee or a short-sleeve henley, or else buttoned up and used to dress down a soft-shouldered navy or khaki cotton blazer. The indigo dye of the Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt will shift over time and patina in its own way, while side seam gussets give you more room to move when wearing this as a workshirt.

Consider the hard-wearing yet not overly bulky Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt a reliable style move with tan chinos and leather chukka boots, or else wear it properly as a streamlined workshirt with canvas work pants on cool spring mornings and summer nights — the Buck Mason Engine Room Shirt strikes the right blend between throwback durability and modern style in every way possible. Would you expect anything else from the Americana style purveyors at Buck Mason?

See Now, Buy Now: The Buck Mason Bruiser Leather Jacket is One of the Coolest Spring Jackets for Men

Best leather jackets for men.

The classics stay steadfast in your wardrobe of men’s style essentials for a reason, or several reasons, rather, and that list of often includes rugged utility, standout style and even a dash of toughness. The best leather jackets exude an air of all three, and then some — the Buck Mason Bruiser Leather Jacket checks those boxes handily, and it arrives just in time for spring.

Or rather, this durable-as-can-be leather jacket has been a spring style staple in the Buck Mason lineup for some time, and it’s back and better than ever for a new season at hand. The Buck Mason Bruiser PCH Leather Jacket takes its cues from throwback rider leather jackets, which belong in the same family as the classic moto jacket, but offers slightly more coverage than typical moto styles.

In fact, you might notice that the Buck Mason Bruiser PCH Leather Jacket bears a passing resemblance in terms of design to, say, the famed Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket. That’s not all, of course. Let’s get deeper into the basics of your new favorite leather jacket, shall we?

The right leather jacket can take a wardrobe from good to great, from average to effortlessly cool and super-stylish: Just witness how it looks with a timeless white tee and crisply cut chinos.

And if you’ve never taken a stab at owning a leather jacket, this handsome Buck Mason leather jacket might prove a fine introduction to the category, especially if you’d prefer to save some cash compared to a classic (yet more expensive) producer like New York City’s Schott (also a personal favorite of mine, as luck would have it).

Beyond that, the Buck Mason Bruiser PCH Leather Jacket gets every vintage detail correct, including zip pockets at the hip (adorned with what Buck Mason lovingly calls “knuckle-side” corduroy lining for comfort and a touch of warmth on brisk spring days. The fold-over collar can be flipped up for coverage against spring winds — think of this jacket like a go-between from your technically minded jacket and your rugged field jacket. It’s not quite suitable for spring rain, of course, but it’ll do just fine for rugged style the rest of the time.

Luckily, Buck Mason makes plenty of other style staples that pair nicely with the Buck Mason Bruiser PCH Leather Jacket, from subtly stylish T-shirts and light wash jeans to black jeans and one of the best chambray shirts on the market.

Vegetable-tanned sheepskin leather will mold to your body over time, while hand-burnishing gives it a lived-in look and feel. The Buck Mason Bruiser PCH Leather Jacket is made to get better with age, and your wardrobe will be all the better for it this season.

See Now, Buy Now: This Buck Mason Cotton Crew is the Perfect Transitional Sweater for Spring

Best spring sweaters for men.

There’s a difficult line to walk, at times, as far as transitional spring style is concerned — brisk breezes and blustery weather await, but it’s not quite cold enough for a heavyweight, burly parka. Layering is still of the essence as you consider the best men’s style essentials — but again, you can’t go too heavy or too lightweight, and that concerns everything from your T-shirt to your outerwear of choice.

What’s a well-dressed fella to do? Easy: Look to a tried-and-true, classic-meets-modern brand like Buck Mason, which will reliably sort out your next spring #OOTD, particularly when it comes to a mid-layer like a classic cotton sweater.

The right cotton sweater is almost like a secret weapon in more seasons — and in more ways — than one. It’s not as stuffy as wool, it’s easy to layer atop both buttondown shirting and knitwear, and it gives off a sense of rugged, reliable cool. How can one sweater manage to do all of that at once? Easy: It’s the Buck Mason Seafarer Cotton Rib Crew, my friends. The key is the textured ribbed jersey cotton fabric — neither woven too tightly nor too loosely.

It also forgoes traditional, thick cable-knit detailing, and the cotton itself has been yarn-dyed — each of these details makes the Buck Mason Seafarer Cotton Rib Crew the perfect mid-weight sweater, technical jargon aside. In fact, Buck Mason goes so far as to say the Buck Mason Seafarer Cotton Rib Crew is “ideal for year-round wear,” which is never a bad thing to have in your wardrobe.

In matters of style as well as layering performance, that’s perhaps also the reason why this handsome sweater comes in a range of effortlessly cool colors, from Tundra to Navy, Black, Faded Indigo and Golden Olive.

Each cover the spectrum from darker, slightly more formal colors to pleasingly earthy shades ideal for wearing with expertly faded denim. The Buck Mason Seafarer Cotton Rib Crew leans more rugged — look to layer it underneath a waxed trucker jacket or a field coat — and it can add a sense of dashing, old-world style to seasonal chinos and leather chukka boots.

It should also prove roomy enough to layer over an Oxford or chambray shirt, along with Buck Mason T-shirts and henleys aplenty. With rugged good looks, a picture-perfect crewneck design and the ideal fabric weight, your new favorite spring sweater just might be the Buck Mason Seafarer Cotton Rib Crew — a host of new seasonal looks awaits!

See Now, Buy Now: This Lee x Buck Mason Trucker Jacket Pays Homage to a Menswear Icon

When two legendary purveyors of Americana classics — one from decades past, one from the present day — team up, the results are worth keeping an eye on, and that certainly holds true when it comes to the new Buck Mason x Lee Jeans collection.

As to Buck Mason, the Los Angeles-based company delivers a wide range of gear that’s frequently refreshed — and always interesting, appealing and stylish, from Japanese-made denim to a modern take on the classic flight jacket.

It also goes without saying (nearly) that Buck Mason men’s T-shirts and henleys boast impeccable fits, a range of fabric options — from thick thermal waffle weaves to soft pima cotton — and excellent quality. In my book, the Buck Mason x Lee Jeans collection is as natural a fashion pairing as I’ve come across in several years.

And as to Lee Jeans, the company is among a host of American icons — like Levi’s and Wrangler — that have hung its hat on the stylish, utterly iconic cotton blue jean (in fact, Lee issued the first pair of blue jeans made with zipper way back in 1927).

With the Buck Mason x Lee Jeans collection, a range of iconic styles get the Buck Mason treatment, including the refreshed Lee x Buck Mason Herringbone Twill 101J Trucker Jacket. The 101J trucker jacket is the Lee version of the road-ready trucker jacket, boasting an updated vision via the good denim stewards at Buck Mason. Details like a zig-zag stitch placket set this trucker jacket apart, as does the iconic Lee trucker jacket design, but Buck Mason’s use of a sturdy yet soft tan herringbone twill takes the piece from merely good to simply great.

The Lee x Buck Mason Herringbone Twill 101J Trucker Jacket also features front contrast stitching and two flap patch pockets, just like classic trucker jackets, while the fit hits above the hip — again, just like trucker jackets made decades ago. It helps that the Lee x Buck Mason Herringbone Twill 101J Trucker Jacket features a suitably dusty color, the kind that pairs well with expertly faded Buck Mason blue jeans and a crisp white T-shirt (to put forth but one style suggestion, of course).

Keep in mind that the recently launched Buck Mason x Lee Jeans collection also features selvedge denim jackets, a handsome suede zip jacket and a fresh graphic tee, for good measure. But in my experience, it’s hard to pass up the rugged versatility of something like the Lee x Buck Mason Herringbone Twill 101J Trucker Jacket — it’s an investment at nearly $350, but one that’s packed with both retro history and modern style.

The Thursday Buy: Buck Mason’s Newest Pair of Japanese Denim are a Worthy Wardrobe Addition

Best light wash jeans for men to buy this spring.

There are certain markers of quality in the world of men’s style essentials, if you ask me, certain things that simply read as a great sign when it comes to building out your wardrobe the finest, most stylish way possible.

A lofty goal that might be, but brands like Buck Mason — in my experience with the Los Angeles-based company — are making it easier than ever to find truly high-quality staples with a twist, like a fresh pair of some of the best blue jeans for men.

One sign and one surefire way to know you’re getting some of the most high-quality jeans on the market? Look to where the fabric is sourced and then perfected — in this case, Buck Mason is now making Japanese denim with the utmost attention to detail and quality.

It’s part of a series of new fits, fabric and washes from the Americana-inspired brand as we climb out of winter and head into very (very) early spring, but it’s never too early to consider adding some of the best light wash jeans for men into your rotation, particularly when it comes to the Buck Mason Japanese Denim Ford Standard Jeans.

Buck Mason men's jeans review.

The new Buck Mason Japanese Denim Ford Standard Jeans might actually prove familiar if you’re a fan of the brand, like me — the fit plays off Buck Mason’s Ford denim fit, which features a timeless mid-rise, a straight-tapered cut through the thigh, and a slightly tapered leg. These fall somewhere between a pair of Lev’s 514 and a pair of the slim Levi’s 511 — much closer to the Levi’s 514, in fact, and they work quite well on my 6’2″ frame (follow me on Instagram for more style tips on fits and ensembles, my friends!).

In addition to the standout, just-right fit of the Buck Mason Japanese Denim Ford Standard Jeans, the 14oz. Kaihara Japanese milled-denim fabric features stretch, slight texture and a garment-washed finish for a perfectly comfortable, vintage-inspired fit and feel right out of the box.

The fact that the Buck Mason Japanese Denim Ford Standard Jeans pack all this into one nicely sized pair of jeans for less than $250 is impressive, at least in my experience scouring the market for the best jeans for men.

The even better news is that, thanks to the reliable fit of the Buck Mason Japanese Denim Ford Standard Jeans, you can pair them with everything from spring rain boots or rugged moc toe work boots to classic canvas sneakers in seasons ahead. Of course, easygoing Buck Mason men’s T-shirts and henleys should prove wise companions in terms of casual style, too.

When it comes to men’s denim and wardrobe upgrades for spring, keep some tried-and-true markers of quality in mind — like the fact that your friends at Buck Mason now sell superb Japanese denim.

See Now, Buy Now: This Buck Mason G-1 Flight Jacket Updates an All-Time Classic

Buck Mason leather jackets for men.

In my experience, the best menswear brands are ones that have a sense of heritage and history in every stitch, whether that’s faithfully recreating iconic styles or presenting time-honored favorites with a twist.

Buck Mason hits the nail on the head in both areas, with its tasteful selection of modern updates to classic silhouettes, from henleys to blue jeans (as you know if you’ve read my Buck Mason reviews over the years) and yes, one very impressive leather flight jacket as seen above.

The Los Angeles-based company uses some of the best menswear icons as a starting point for its crisply designed, casually rugged 21st-century updates, and the Buck Mason Skymaster G-1 Flight Jacket is about as cool, stylish and well-made as it gets.

Rich goatskin leather in a deep, timeless shade of brown is accented by a luxurious and yet useful, true-to-form shearling collar, just as the original versions of the style were made for the U.S. Navy back in the 1930s.

Best leather jackets for men.

The Buck Mason Skymaster G-1 Flight Jacket is further adorned with ribbed wool cuffs and a bottom hem for warmth and a snug fit, another detail prized among fighter pilots looking for warmth and durability. The Buck Mason Skymaster G-1 Flight Jacket is cut with a relaxed fit for ease of layering — opt to wear your new favorite leather jacket atop a thermal henley, a chambray shirt or a combination of that legendary trio.

Button flap hip pockets provide storage space for everyday carry essentials, while the fit (cut to hit just below the hip) should pair especially well with dark blue jeans — accented perhaps by a stylish Buck Mason leather belt, of course.

Perhaps the very best part about the Buck Mason Skymaster G-1 Flight Jacket is that it should get better with age, developing a supple and broken-in feel to go along with its own patina the more you wear. While you likely won’t be taking to the skies in combat anytime soon, the handsome Buck Mason Skymaster G-1 Flight Jacket is a surefire way to pay homage to an outerwear icon.

See Now, Buy Now: This Buck Mason Tweed Blazer is a Refined Take on a Classic

Best blazers for men.

For as much as a man’s wardrobe is about the everyday workhorses — the kind of pieces we talk so often about on this Brooklyn style blog — it’s also about the occasional indulgence (within reason, of course). Take the Buck Mason Shetland Tweed Countryman Blazer — it’s got all the trappings of one of the best blazers for men, with a bit of an added modern flair that updates a classic in fine form.

It’s also a particularly stylish swerve from a traditional selection for one of the best blazers for men, of course, and that’s also never a bad thing to have in your wardrobe in the heart of the holiday season. So, why the Buck Mason Shetland Tweed Countryman Blazer, and why now?

Well, my friends, I’m glad you asked. The holidays are an ideal time to step things up a notch in terms of dressing, with a greater focus on refinement and elegance — whether hosting, visiting friends or hitting the road.

And even when paired with some of your favorite pairs of jeans, a selection like the Buck Mason Shetland Tweed Countryman Blazer exudes another level of style: It’s got a tailored but not overly tight fit, while the Italian tweed fabric and classic pattern stand out handsomely via many an occasion.

Plus, details like flap patch pockets give your new favorite blazer a sort of rarified air — an easygoing touch that makes this handsome blazer more casual, but no less ready to pair with dark grey corduroy trousers and dark brown leather wingtip boots (a Buck Mason Oxford shirt would also fit the bill nicely here, my friends).

Fittingly, the dress-up or dress-down nature of the Buck Mason Shetland Tweed Countryman Blazer gets a boost from its natural soft-shoulder design — the sort of look that makes many a made-in-Italy blazer look so elegant. And at the end of the day, the Buck Mason Shetland Tweed Countryman Blazer departs tastefully from the norm (for a price) without overdoing it – doesn’t that sound like the kind of piece that can take any holiday #OOTD from good to great, my friends?