Tag / classic sneakers

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Todd Snyder x P.F. Flyers Rambler Hi Sneakers

Todd Snyder x P.F. Flyers

Handsome, well-made and easily wearable — even in the summer. That’s today’s Style Pick.

We’re going into somewhat uncharted territory today as we consider the stellar Todd Snyder x P.F. Flyers Rambler Hi Sneakers. That is, unlike your typical pair of classic summer sneakers — white canvas sneakers or leather slip-ons, for instance — we’re recommending high-top leather sneakers in summer today at The Style Guide. So, bear with me — we’re in this together, and you’re going to like the stellar quality and excellent style the Rambler Hi delivers. Trust me. You really get the best of both worlds — the rugged-refined, heritage-inspired menswear design of New York City’s Todd Snyder, plus the classic silhouette and terrific quality of the P.F. Flyers Rambler Hi.

It’s among a series of items from classic brands that Mr. Snyder has revamped –including the Timex x Todd Snyder Mod Watch — these are welcome #menswear collabs, indeed. And the recently released Todd Snyder x P.F. Flyers Rambler Hi Sneakers are the underrated summer shoes you didn’t know you needed — certainly, they’re among the best sneakers for men. Yes, that’s right — I’m a fan of these, and I think you should be, too.  And what better place to go to get them than a veritable one-stop shop for all your favorite men’s gear? That’d be Bespoke Post. If you’re not familiar, best acquaint yourself now, because it’s the place to go to get the Rambler Hi … and plenty more. Back to the task at hand, though. Why are we reaching for stylish high-top sneakers in summer? For starters, these are crisp, classic and easy to wear — no matter the season. They’re not heavy leather boots, that much is true. And the quality on the Todd Snyder x P.F. Flyers Rambler Hi Sneakers? Well, the kicks are certainly up to snuff.

Todd Snyder

Subtle branding touches from both Todd Snyder and P.F. Flyers make this pair more than your average set of kicks.

It starts with the recognizable silhouette and tough P.F. Flyers construction — a brand trademark that’s going to make these comfortable to wear for hours, whether you’re dressing for a summer music festival or schlepping a cooler to your next weekend barbecue.  The exterior of the Rambler Hi is applause-worthy, too — made from premium Cheveux leather, these kicks aren’t a standard pair of athletic sneakers or canvas sneakers. That gives them a slightly dressy, refined edge — feel free to pair them with high-low style combos, like American-made light wash denim and an unstructured blazer, plus a chambray shirt. That versatility means you can also dress them down — as in, throwing on your favorite pair of slim chinos and a classic grey pocket tee.

Nautica

Subtle design touches make a difference when it comes to the Rambler Hi, too.  In this instance, flat waxed cotton laces lend a premium look and feel, at the same time providing some welcome contrast to the rich leather upper. Again, it’s the little details that make the difference in matters of style, and those details should certainly extend to your new favorite sneakers. Can you feel me? And even subtler co-branded details make these special. The Todd Snyder heel tab logo is a touch you won’t find on other P.F. Flyers sneakers — yet another factor that makes the Todd Snyder x P.F. Flyers Rambler Hi Sneakers a special pair of kicks. With all that being said … are you on-board with stylish high-top sneakers in the summer months? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to check in with me on Twitter. I’ll write back, I promise!

For now — enjoy the rest of the weekend!

-Beau

 

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Reebok x JackThreads Daily Classic Nylon Sneakers

Editor’s note: Expect these posts weekly detailing one standout item coveted by yours truly. Sometimes, these fit within budgetary restrictions and other times, they’re expensive splurges worth saving for. For more Wish List items from Beau, head here, and to see other Style Picks, head here.

Reebok JackThreads Sneakers

JackThreads updates a classic — with very pleasing results. Photo courtesy of JackThreads.

What’s a guy to do when he feels like he’s got the basics covered? We’re talking classic pieces you can rotate in and out, and wear every day. In the footwear game, that could mean everything from leather loafers for spring to classic white sneakers to durable fall boots. Every once in a while though, you get the itch to switch things up a bit — but not too much. That’s where a collaboration effort that’s at once classic and style-forward makes perfect sense. And that’s where today’s Style Pick comes from — the Reebok x JackThreads Daily Classic Nylon is firing on all cylinders; believe me, these sneakers are certainly worth your time.  Although some aren’t into the retro style of these kicks, there’s no question that as far as trends go, this silhouette manages to be of-the-moment without going too far off the beaten path (that’s why they’re a good pick to switch up your footwear closet). The overall feel and look is sleek and well-composed. Both Reebok and JackThreads have teamed up admirably on a stylish runner that blends premium pigskin suede with rich leather accents and a durable nylon upper — the combination is pleasing to the eye, and quite high-quality. And for just $75, you’re getting a heck of a sneaker.

Take your pick between White or Navy -- neither can go wrong. Photo courtesy of JackThreads.

Take your pick between White or Navy — neither can go wrong. Photo courtesy of JackThreads.

Either the White or Collegiate Navy option are going to take care of business for you — after checking out the White pair for just over a week now, they’re a winning pick in my book. In fact, they worked very well on a trip back to Michigan when paired with a slub polo and shorts, yet they also would’ve stylishly complemented some slim sand chinos I brought with me. And that attention to detail in design & execution extends to the small touches that make these kicks unique to JackThreads — we’re talking orange-tipped laces, an orange shoe lining and an orange outsole on the navy pair. Despite those pops of color, these shoes aren’t too ostentatious at all — the retro silhouette manages to feel streamlined and understated. Even when worn for long periods of time, these sneakers feel comfortable and bounce back nicely. If properly cared for with the right suede-cleaning tools and other spot touch-ups, they could reliably work in spring, summer and early fall. The versatility is such that you could try pairing them with, say dark khaki corduroys (almost sold out now, but sure to be restocked soon!) and a classic crewneck sweater when it gets a bit chilly in early fall. And right now, you should definitely break them out with everything from slim chino shorts to light wash denim. The only doubts you should have are whether to buy these in White, Navy — or both.

by Beau H.

Pure Michigan: A weekend back in the Mitten

Editor’s note: Click here for more posts related to traveling in style.

Exploring Grand Rapids in style on a summer Friday. Plaid Poplin Shirt by JACHS NY. Slim Ludlow Denim by Mott & Bow. Freamon Sneakers by UGG. Flat Wool Cap by Bridge & Burn. Waterbury Chrono from the Timex x Red Wing collab. Glasses by Warby Parker.

Exploring Grand Rapids in style on a summer Friday night. Plaid Poplin Shirt by JACHS NY. Slim Ludlow Denim by Mott & Bow. Freamon Sneakers by UGG. Flat Wool Cap by Bridge & Burn. Waterbury Chrono from the Timex x Red Wing collab. Glasses by Warby Parker.

Although it seems like I was just in Michigan for a summer wedding yesterday, it’s actually been … well, only about two weeks. And yet, this past Friday, I found myself boarding another plane, this time to head to one of my favorite places in the state (that would be Grand Rapids) for my friend Andy’s bachelor weekend (and congrats on the upcoming nuptials, fella!). Now, the last time I was in Grand Rapids, it was for  a November road trip — so the temperature, weather and list of activities was just a bit different. Time flies by in New York City, so it’s always great to slow down, get back home and reconnect with … Pure Michigan (got that one out of the way). Of course, as with my other summer trips — including a stop upstate for a concert and a Memorial Day weekend in New York — I loaded up my bag with all the menswear I could possibly carry; in this case, that’s quite a lot.

Packed up to hit the road. Denim Shirt by JackThreads. Voyager Waxed Weekender by Owen & Fred. Natural Diplomat Boots by Thursday Boots. Legend Sneakers by SeaVees. Hudson Belt by Arcade Belt Co. Flat Wool Cap by Bridge & Burn. Waterbury Chrono from the Timex x Red Wing collab.

Packed up to hit the road. Denim Shirt by JackThreads. Voyager Waxed Weekender & leather luggage tag by Owen & Fred. Natural Diplomat Boots by Thursday Boots. Legend Sneakers by SeaVees. Hudson Belt by Arcade Belt Co. Flat Wool Cap by Bridge & Burn. Waterbury Chrono from the Timex x Red Wing collab. Millbrook Sunglasses by Steven Alan Optical.

Any great trip — to Michigan or elsewhere — starts with a great bag, one with plenty of room to carry your essentials and more. While I alternate between my trusty Navali Stowaway Weekender and my durable Owen & Fred Voyager Waxed Weekender, I chose my O&F bag for this trip. It’s made from premium Martexin waxed canvas and finished off with leather accents from fellow made-in-America purveyors Wickett & Craig. It has interior zipper compartments to hold all your gear, and in my case, that included my always-dependable Herschel Supply Co. Chapter Travel Kit, which I stocked with handy travel grooming essentials from brands like Tread for Men (their Traveler Sunscreen is a must in the summer) and Baxter of California — the Under Eye Complex is an underrated and handy piece to have when traveling. Elsewhere on the accessories front, I knew a hot Michigan weekend was in order. That meant my Steven Alan Optical Millbrook Sunglasses were just the ticket — seriously, we’ve got more than cold winters back home. I always appreciate the chance to rock a subtle, stylish hat when the sun beats down, and the Flat Wool Cap from Bridge & Burn is a nice upgrade to the typical athletic logo ballcap — it’s slightly refined and yet still casual.

Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.

All of that gear helped me pack & transition in style from an early flight out of NYC to a sunny evening in downtown Grand Rapids. As I always appreciate the chance to look sharp and travel in style, I grabbed the lightweight, casual and comfortable Green and Navy Plaid Poplin Shirt from JACHS NY. A well-fitting, casual basic like that works well when worn untucked (as you can see in the top photo) or when tucked in with a lightweight blazer. In this instance, it paired up well with the Slim Ludlow Denim from Mott & Bow. These jeans are built with a hint of stretch, ideal for a long day of travel.The light blue color also played well off my Hudson Belt from Arcade Belt Co. , ith its navy color and stretchy smartweave fabric. That was also the case with the very lightweight, very comfortable UGG Freamon Sneaker   — they looked great and worked perfectly for getting from the airport and around Grand Rapids. Yes, you read that right. UGG does men’s footwear, and they do it well — more on that later. And my tough, rugged and refined Timex x Red Wing Waterbury Chrono also provided on-point travel style. As far as getting around Grand Rapids, it was an opportune time to catch up with my great friend Andy and his future fiancée Courtney for a delicious dinner at Derby Station in East Grand Rapids (hint: Get the Adult Grilled Cheese and finish it off with a Farmhand from Brewery Vivant — it’s a light, crisp and flavorful French farmhouse ale that’s perfect for hot summer nights). With Friday off and running, we also had just enough time to stop into The Meanwhile, an eclectic spot that feels like it would fit well in Brooklyn — with gin-and-tonics available for $4, the prices would stand out back in New York City.

Taking on Saturday in sporty, casual style. Vesper Polo and Ace Short by Mack Weldon. Hayden Gray Linen Jacket & Flat Wool Cap by Bridge & Burn. Freamon Sneakers by UGG. Mod Watch from the Timex x Todd Snyder collab. Glasses by Warby Parker.

Taking on Saturday in sporty, casual style. Vesper Polo and Ace Short by Mack Weldon. Hayden Gray Linen Jacket & Flat Wool Cap by Bridge & Burn. Freamon Sneakers by UGG. Mod Watch from the Timex x Todd Snyder collab. Glasses by Warby Parker.

A fun Friday night led into yet another busy day on Saturday around Grand Rapids — and away from the city — with plenty in the works. To take on the day, I reached for a crucial style move in the heat: We’re talking here about the new, very breathable, lightweight Mack Weldon Vesper Polo. With a name inspired by the original martini sipped by James Bond, it was perfect in a figurative and literal sense for the  hot weather — seriously, the micro-mesh fabric and crisp Total Eclipse Blue color proved comfortable and sharp. The same thing goes for the Mack Weldon Ace Short — it’s another piece from the brand’s line of essential basics that fits & performs well, thanks to the French terry fabric and multiple discreet-but-useful zipper pockets. And that comfort proved essential for walking the city and grabbing a morning pick-me-up at the renowned Madcap Coffee, one of the top coffee shops in the country and a great place to catch up with my old MSU friend Pat Evans (he’s a heck of a writer and a beer aficionado to boot — grab his book on the history of Grand Rapids beer while you’re at it). We also had just enough time to swing by one of the city’s best new lifestyle shops, Brothers Leather Supply. They make ridiculously well-crafted bags and leather accessories, and they do it right in Grand Rapids — check out the photo below for a sneak peek, and look for more content on them on the blog  soon! Pat and I also took the time to hit up one of my favorite Grand Rapids stops, the renowned HopCat (purveyors of amazing beer and great burgers across the Midwest) before I reconnected with Andy and the crew for a vigorous round of foot golf in the Michigan countryside — it’s a heck of a workout if you’re used to sitting at a desk all day! Of course, all that activity meant that accessories like my Steven Alan Optical Millbrook Sunglasses and the Bridge & Burn Flat Wool Cap also proved quite useful.

One of Grand Rapids' finer menswear establishments, Brothers Leather Supply.

One of Grand Rapids’ finer menswear establishments, Brothers Leather Supply.

And it goes without saying that my Timex x Todd Snyder Mod Watch (currently on backorder but still a must-buy) was the perfect, sporty watch to meet the dual focuses of outdoor activity and indoor beer-tasting — it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.  Truly, there aren’t that many watches that can look great and perform well when traveling, bar-hopping or hitting up the Panorama music festival, but that watch is one of them. Of course, the occasion called for comfortable footwear, too. That’s where the UGG Freamon Sneaker came back into play. Featuring the brand’s traction-focused Treadlite technology and a sharp white sole, the  Seal (or light grey) option sent courtesy of the brand (thanks, guys!) provided a dash of unexpected style alongside the blues in my outfit. In fact, you can look for much more from them this fall on the blog. . And to finish off the look, I reached for some comfortable, breathable striped no-show socks from Sock Genius — when you’ve got lightweight summer sneakers along for the ride, grab stylish no-show socks to keep your feet (and your sneakers) in shape.

A busy Saturday out and about led us to a night of sampling brews and bites around Grand Rapids — that included a stop through the renowned and quickly growing Founders Brewing Company, one of my favorite spots in the city. We also carved out time to check out the first-ever distillery in the city, Long Road Distillers — they make a mean gin-and-tonic and a refreshing array of craft cocktails. For those activities, I switched up my footwear and reached for the tough, sturdy and stylish Natural Diplomat Boot from Thursday Boots, and I grabbed my rugged Waterbury Chrono from the Timex x Red Wing collaboration — it’s the ideal mix of casual and smart, and it worked just as well throughout the weekend. If you have to travel with only one watch, that just might be the one to grab. The entire combination worked well for a fun night out celebrating our great friend Andy — and it’s got me even more excited to be back in Michigan in less than three weeks for the wedding! If you’ve still got a summer wedding on your calendar, here’s what you should wear.

Sunday's outfit grid for a day of travel. Denim Shirt by JackThreads. Slim Stone Chinos by Taylor Stitch. Natural Diplomat Boots by Thursday Boots. Hudson Belt by Arcade Belt Co. Mod Watch by Timex x Todd Snyder. Notebook by Word Notebooks.

Sunday’s outfit grid for a day of travel. Denim Shirt by JackThreads. Slim Stone Chinos by Taylor Stitch. Natural Diplomat Boots by Thursday Boots. Hudson Belt by Arcade Belt Co. Mod Watch by Timex x Todd Snyder. Notebook by Word Notebooks.

With a very busy Saturday night in the books, it was time to load up on coffee and hit the road for a relatively easy flight back to New York City (a welcome change from some past travel struggles getting back to Michigan). I still dressed in durable travel gear for the trip — my Thursday Boots Natural Diplomat Boot in particular was the perfect pair of boots to wear to get back to Manhattan; they’re rugged-yet-refined, and went well with my Taylor Stitch Slim Chinos in Light Stone.  And my Timex x Todd Snyder Mod Watch was again up to the challenge of traveling in style — each piece was offset nicely by what just might be my new favorite casual shirt, the JackThreads Denim Shirt. It fits slim, the light wash cotton denim is soft and moves well, and the styling potential is on-point (look for it in an upcoming #OOTD post, in fact). And with all that gear ready to go, it was time to hit the road back.

Yet again, it feels like this past weekend in Michigan was too brief. It was great to explore one of my favorite cities in Michigan, and I’m just as excited to return again. And of course, you really can’t quantify the value of spending time with lifelong friends. On the plus side, there’s another chance for me to get back to Michigan — I’ll be back in just three weeks (again!) for Andy’s wedding near my lovely hometown of Mason. That trip will be just as fun, and with just as many chances for … (wait for it)… Pure Michigan relaxation (yes, I went there again). If you’ve got questions on how to travel in style or just want to chat menswear, check out my Twitter account or hit the ‘Follow’ button over on Instagram.

Until the next flight boards,

-Beau

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: SeaVees Legend White Sneaker

Editor’s note: Expect these posts weekly detailing one standout item coveted by yours truly. Sometimes, these fit within budgetary restrictions and other times, they’re expensive splurges worth saving for. For more Wish List items from Beau, head here, and to see other Style Picks, head here.

A style that's stood the test of time -- and can certainly stand up to your summer wardrobe needs.

A style that’s stood the test of time — and can certainly stand up to your summer wardrobe needs.

The Style Pick of the Week series is back in full force, and we’re at it just in time for Memorial Day weekend. It’s the official start of summer, and it’s time (for the most part) to transition away from spring jackets and sweaters to classic warm-weather gear. And if you don’t have your footwear sorted in that regard, it’s high time for you to get on it. Chief among your (hopefully not-too frantic) purchases should be a true style essential — the classic white sneaker. Don’t know where to turn, or how to style it? Well, we’ll start by answering the first of those questions — make things simple by picking up an easygoing, crisp, stylish classic. The Seavees Legend Sneaker ticks all of those boxes, living up to its billing and then some. It’s been on the style scene for more than five decades, and it continues to get better and better every year. The silhouette’s stayed the same, yet it’s more current than ever. Not possible, right? Wrong. For just under $80, you’re getting a sharp poplin sneaker that’s lightweight yet durable, and fairly cost-effective, too. It’s also in high demand — you very well might have to wait until after June 6th to get your hands on a pair (maybe snag something off this list in the meantime). Having checked out a pair myself via the brand, they’re fit to claim the title of your new favorite summer sneakers (maybe?).
Frank & Oak

If you’re lucky enough to grab a pair now, know that they’re just as ready for a casual weekend date or a coffee run as they are for the office or the boardwalk. As near as I can tell, that’s about all your summer style scenarios sorted out (but bear with me(. Pair them with a navy blazer, a classic blue Oxford and slim khaki chinos for versatile workday style, and use that same combo to great effect when you have drinks later that night — or if you travel after work. Then, rock them with slim chino shorts and a casual pocket tee on the weekend. Oh, and if you’re feeling daring, clean them up and match them with a slim chambray suit and a casual white Oxford. Not enough options for you? Stylish white sneakers can act as an upgraded footwear option in place of flip-flops when you head to the beach (just kick the sneakers off before you hit the sand). And when you match up durable poplin sneakers with an essential pair of no-show socks, you’ve got a combo that can last and last through many summer outings to come thanks to the extra layer of protection between your foot and the sneaker. So, you’re getting style that can work at least five days a week and beyond, and you’re getting a classic white color that’ll hold up just fine with care.  What are you waiting for? Let me know how you like ’em over on Twitter, and see how I’ve styled mine over on Instagram.

Before you take off on your Memorial Day hijinks, know that we’ll have a look at my own weekend upstate coming on Monday. For more travel style, click here.

Get your pair of the SeaVees Legend Sneakers now.