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?

The Thursday Buy: Buck Mason’s Wool Hoodie is Your New Laidback Lounge Favorite

Best hooded sweatshirt for men.

As we round into the holiday season, and as you look to round out your own wardrobe of the best style essentials on the market, I’ve found that it’s the simple upgrades that make the biggest difference. That’s especially true even when it comes to the more casual parts of your wardrobe, like the best loungewear or the best hoodies for men.

And as you might expect, making a simple swap to one of the best men’s hoodies, like the Buck Mason Loopback Wool Hooded Sweatshirt, is a touch that can make a big difference if you’re interested in luxurious layering and lounging this season.

For those not familiar with the brand, Buck Mason puts its own premium-yet-rugged spin on Americana classics — my Buck Mason review covers a standout henley, for instance.

And that holds true when it comes to the hooded sweatshirt you reach for on casual days at home, or the one you wear layered beneath your favorite waxed trucker jacket for a casual weekend outing. Quality is of the essence, I’ve found with Buck Mason, and that shines through even in the easygoing nature of this surprisingly luxurious hoodie.

The Buck Mason Loopback Wool Hooded Sweatshirt trades in the typical cotton jersey fabric found on most hoodies (a variety of which Buck Mason also makes) for a super-soft merino wool-and-cashmere blend that just so happens to have an even softer looped merino wool backing.

That means every inch of the Buck Mason Loopback Wool Hooded Sweatshirt is soft and exceptionally comfortable, whether you score one in the Light Oat color shown above, or Charcoal as shown below.

Upgrading to a better hooded sweatshirt like the Buck Mason Loopback Wool Hooded Sweatshirt might seem like an indulgence, but given the fact that this stylish hoodie can be worn out and about on weekends, for holiday travel and at home, it seems like a solid deal in my experience with Buck Mason. To step up your cozy, casual game in fine fashion, the Buck Mason Loopback Wool Hooded Sweatshirt is one heck of a start, my friends.

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.

Style Pick of the Week: Buck Mason Craftsman Corduroy Jeans – A New Take on a Classic

Best corduroy pants for men.

This time of year, as we barrel into the depths of fall, I’d say it’s time to rethink what you thought you knew about certain men’s style classics. Take the corduroy pant: Perhaps it makes you think of Sunday school, or of garish 1970s editions of corduroy pants.

Now, throw all that out the window, so to speak, because the Buck Mason Craftsman Corduroy Pants are here to shake up a classic in a fresh, modern, rugged way. Of course, they fit right in with other tried-and-true, all-American favorites from the Los Angeles-by-way-of-the-Midwest brand (including one of the best chore coats and one of the best men’s flannel shirts).

There’s something familiar and yet different about these stylish men’s corduroy pants, and it starts with the construction and some very carefully made design choices from the iconic retailer.

For starters, these handsome corduroy pants are modeled after the Buck Mason Ford Standard Jeans, rather than based on dressy corduroy trousers with side hip slant pockets. That means the Buck Mason Craftsman Corduroy Pants boast a rugged, casually cool five-pocket design, plus a mid-rise and a fit that tapers below the knee.

Buck Mason Craftsman Corduroy Pants review.

The Buck Mason Craftsman Corduroy Pants also come in a selection of colors that challenge the notion of what corduroy pants can be — just witness the rich Inkwell color above, not unlike a pair of the best black jeans for men.

Rivets at stress points give the Buck Mason Craftsman Corduroy Pants a further touch of durability not normally found in the best men’s dress pants, while these trousers are also garment-washed for a lived-in look and feel right out of the box.

Best corduroy pants for men.

The Buck Mason Craftsman Corduroy Pants are crafted from 10oz. 14-wale corduroy, which is neither too narrow nor too wide — these pants act like durable jeans, but can be dressed up in business casual fashion like a pair of the best men’s corduroy pants. They can also be dressed down, rest assured — a Buck Mason men’s henley or flannel shirt would seem to be a worthy pairing.

And because of their corduroy construction, the Buck Mason Craftsman Corduroy Pants can pull double-duty with refined leather dress boots or with broken-in leather chukka boots or even high-top sneakers. Just when you thought a classic was set in stone, Buck Mason comes along to shake things up in pleasing fashion this season.

The Thursday Buy: This Buck Mason Chore Coat is a Rugged, Luxurious Outerwear Upgrade

The classics have their place in the world of menswear essentials for a reason, and when a brand comes along that can make the classics even better, it’s worth paying attention (and shopping). As you well know if you read this Brooklyn style blog, I’m a major fan of Buck Mason, Los Angeles-based purveyors of some of the best modern menswear around.

That includes everyday must-have picks like the best flannel shirt and a lineup of USA-made T-shirts, as well as more luxurious-yet-still-rugged pieces — including the new Buck Mason Sportsman Chore Coat as seen above. It’s got vintage inspiration going for it in every stitch, as it was modeled after a 1941 U.S. Marine Corps Utility Jacket. You don’t necessarily see that in your closet every single day now, do you?

Best men's chore coats for fall.

Luxurious, supple steerhide suede gives the Buck Mason Sportsman Chore Coat some distinction as far as fabrication is concerned, while front patch pockets and a fold-over collar drive home its classic chore jacket design.

The Buck Mason Sportsman Chore Coat is then finished with tasteful contrast stitching and a V-shaped front stitch detailing down the front placket, another touch of distinction that gives this jacket an air of rugged luxury (yes, there’s that word again).

The Buck Mason Sportsman Chore Coat should layer with ease over other similarly stylish fall picks, be it denim or chambray shirting or a Buck Mason long-sleeve henley. Add in expertly faded jeans from the famed Los Angeles brand, and you’ve got a seasonal #OOTD practically made for apple orchards, Oktoberfest brewery visits and plenty more.

Rugged, expertly curated style awaits when it comes to the Buck Mason Sportsman Chore Coat, my friends, so invest in the best and know that you’re getting a modern classic for the price.

See Now, Buy Now: This New Buck Mason Flannel Shirt is a Perfect Seasonal Layer to Buy Right Now

Buck Mason men's flannel shirt review.

You could make the case, as I have over the years on this Brooklyn style blog, that there’s not a better season for menswear than fall. From dependable layers a classic thermal henley or a chambray shirt to the opportunity to style your favorite waxed trucker jacket — all with a crisp breeze in the air and a fresh Oktoberfest beer close at hand — it simply doesn’t get any better.

Of course, Buck Mason knows the charms of the season all too well. This approach certainly holds true with the upcoming release of the Buck Mason Craftsman Flannel, a durable workshirt made for just about anything this autumn.

The California-based brand is on a mission to take over your wardrobe, from accessories to knitwear and beyond. On that note, you’ve likely perused the new Buck Mason Italian-made eyewear collection, but consider this flannel shirt a more rugged style upgrade for the season ahead.

The Buck Mason Craftsman Flannel, available now for pre-order, is made from a durable, pre-washed 8oz. cotton flannel for maximum utility. It’s then finished with front-button chest pockets to store your everyday carry essentials, among other highly useful details. The rich Sequoia Plaid color is also a timeless detail, while this shirt itself should prove ultra-soft right out of the box.

Your new favorite flannel shirt is billed as a “midcentury-style work shirt cut for cold weather,” and it certainly looks to live up to that pedigree. For now, the Buck Mason Craftsman Flannel is only available for pre-order, but head to Buck Mason ASAP, request your size and sign up for alerts from the brand.

When it hits shelves, you’ll be the first to know, and your fall wardrobe will be all the better for it. Cheers to the season ahead, my friends.