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Layered up for a pit stop at Artifact Coffee. Wool-Blend Topcoat by Old Navy. Snow Bridge Cardigan by Eddie Bauer. Denim shirt by JackThreads. Travel Jeans by Bonobos. Lockridge Moc Toe Boots by Cole Haan. Calypso Watch by MVMT Watches. Glasses by Frameri. Cashmere hat by Club Monaco.

Layered up for a pit stop at Artifact Coffee in Baltimore. Wool-Blend Topcoat by Old Navy. Snow Bridge Cardigan by Eddie Bauer. Denim shirt by JackThreads. Travel Jeans by Bonobos. Lockridge Moc Toe Boots by Cole Haan. Calypso Watch by MVMT Watches. Glasses by Frameri. Cashmere hat by Club Monaco.

As I traveled down the East Coast this past Friday morning, I was able to look back on a heck of a lot of things besides the crisp winter scenery. It was outstanding to reflect on a great year of work, of time with family and friends, of travel and a great year of celebrating some of my passions — including live music and menswear, all rolled into one. And it was as good a time as any for this Style Guide author to catch a great show and bring along some of my favorite men’s style essentials, yet again. My travels this time around took me to the unique and ever-changing city of Baltimore to see joyous indie folk rockers The Head and The Heart — that’s a definite recipe for success. I’ve been really lucky to be able to travel in style (of course) so frequently to see great bands, from an upstate trip to see Lucius to a weekend trip to Providence to see (perhaps) my favorite band, West Coast indie rockers Local Natives. So it was fitting that on one of the last weekends of the year, I took to the trail again. What did I bring with me? Only the best gear I could pack into my Owen & Fred weekender bag — you knew that bag was sturdy as heck and travel-friendly, right?

Rugged layers for a chilly weekend. Wool Shirt by Abercrombie & Fitch. Yosemite Shirt by Taylor Stitch. Donegal Trousers by JackThreads. Red Wing Leather Waterbury Chrono by Timex _ Todd Snyder. Ranger Gloves by Grifter Company. Glasses by Frameri. Cashmere hat by Club Monaco.

As seems to be the case with the weather across much of the country, the weekend was an especially frigid one in Baltimore — and NYC. For my train ride down the coast and a day exploring Baltimore, I layered up accordingly as seen at the top of the page, starting with my trusty JackThreads denim shirt. Of course, a stylish shawl cardigan proved a crucial layering piece given the chill, and I prepared accordingly with the durable, thick-knit and unique Eddie Bauer Snow Bridge Cardigan. I topped those layers off with the slim, warm Old Navy Wool-Blend Topcoat, an unexpected offering from a brand that keeps improving its apparel and outerwear game. For a blend of flexibility, comfort and style — crucial when sitting on a train for a few hours, then moving about the city — my trusty Bonobos Travel Jeans in Allegheny Oak fit the bill perfectly, and played nicely in terms of color off my sturdy, tough-wearing Cole Haan Lockridge Moc Toe Boots. You might recognize those boots from this site’s piece on how to dress for the first snowfall, and they’ve got plenty of weather-ready bells and whistles — they’re waterproof and feature the brand’s Grand.OS technology, for starters. When paired up with my reliable-as-ever MVMT Watches Calypso Watch and tough accessories like my Grifter Company Ranger Gloves, I was more than set to battle the chill.

I also brought along my trusty Brothers Leather 810 Wallet .It’s a beautiful, handmade and essential wallet — and you can get 15% off that wallet, or any Brothers Leather item, using the code ‘BrotherBeau15’! Seriously, look into upgrading your everyday carry ASAP. Know that the next time you hit the road to a chilly locale, you should pack as many durable winter accessories as you can, too.

The everyday carry for a quick road trip. Ranger Gloves by Grifter Company. Wallet by Brothers Leather (Get 15% off with the code ‘BrotherBeau15’! Calypso Watch by MVMT Watches. Pen by Owen & Fred.

Stop number one on my trip? Of course, a stellar coffee shop — that’d be Artifact Coffee, and I’d absolutely recommend a trip of your own if ever you get to Baltimore. It’s a rustic backdrop for a tasty egg-and-bacon English muffin and a rich cup of coffee, plus some quiet writing and reflection. Properly caffeinated following an early train ride, a stop at one of the city’s neat menswear shops was in order. 16Tons — not a far walk from Artifact — is packed to the gills with vintage menswear, including sturdy tweed blazers, stonewashed denim jackets and a fair selection of tough moto boots. With my fill of menswear shopping, it was time for a much-needed burger at the lauded Abbey Burger Bistro — add the Guinness cheddar to your burger and top it off with a local Union Red Foxy IPA. I walked off the burger with a stroll through the neat Inner Harbor and Federal Hill areas of Baltimore, filled with beautiful red brick historic homes.

With a great lunch and a great day of exploration around Baltimore behind me, I was more than ready for a long-awaited show from The Head and The Heart — seeing as I missed the band’s NYC tour stop in October after years of listening, it was high time I got around to seeing them. Looking back on 2016, the group’s stellar third album, “Signs of Light,” was one of my favorites for its joyous, uplifting message, powerful harmonies, subtle pop influences and soaring guitars. It’s the kind of music we need a bit — or a lot — more of, and it resulted in a stunning live show that was a joy to watch.With a full day to look ahead to the show, I was beyond excited — and because I packed light and relied on style staples like the tough-yet-comfortable Cole Haan Lockridge Moc Toe Boots and the durable MVMT Watches Calypso Watch I was able to transition from day to night and fully enjoy the concert.

Checking out a new music venue in a new city is always a neat endeavor, and a packed Ram’s Head Live didn’t disappoint. The buzzing, multi-level venue also drew a nice crowd for folk rock trio Joseph, themselves a group quickly on the rise and capable of producing some powerful songs in the vein of Lucius or HAIM — yes, they’re that good. And they nicely complemented a beautiful performance from The Head and The Heart, who absolutely didn’t disappoint. I’d recommend you see them as soon as you can — the band’s beautiful vocals and soaring songs — soaring is the only way to describe it — were incredible. From the opener “All We Ever Knew” to a huge rendition of “Rivers and Roads” and stirring, fun versions of “Lost in My Mind” and “Shake,” it was among the better shows I’ve seen this year — and that’s saying something!

With an amazing live show in the books, I looked ahead to an excellent Saturday of Baltimore, including an amazing brunch & Bloody Mary at Baltimore institution Miss Shirley’s. Of course, a delicious, rich Nutella latte from 3 Bean Coffee was also in order. With chilly temperatures in the forecast yet again, I went with sturdy layers to fight the cold.. Namely, my slim and refined JackThreads Donegal Trousers provided a bit of a high-low style complement to my heritage-inspired Abercrombie & Fitch Wool Shirt. Given the blustery, frigid weather, I also threw on my much-loved Taylor Stitch Yosemite Shirt, as seen at the top of the post. It’s a soft, warm and essential layering piece. And on the watch front, it doesn’t get any better than my rugged and durable Timex + Todd Snyder Red Wing Leather Chronograph, all of which helped me navigate Baltimore in warmth and good time — seriously!

Unique, versatile layers for a blustery Brooklyn day. Wool-Blend Henley Sweater and Belted Shawl Cardigan by Abercrombie & Fitch. Kinzie Jeans by Mugsy Jeans. Sutter Boots by CAT Footwear. Red Wing Leather Chronograph by Timex + Todd Snyder. Socks by To Boot New York. Wallet by Brothers Leather (get 15 percent off Brothers Leather goods with the code ‘BrotherBeau15’!

Unfortunately, my trip was over much too soon, and it was time to head back to NYC. The ceaseless cold weather showed no signs of relenting on Sunday, so I again reached for critical layers, starting with a brand-new, rugged-and-refined Abercrombie & Fitch Wool-Blend Henley Sweater. It’s a rich addition to any wardrobe, affordably priced and featuring a neat blend of sport and heritage-inspired style. For an afternoon spent exploring Williamsburg, I accented the sweater with a distinctive Abercrombie & Fitch Belted Shawl Cardigan — you can expect to see a lot more of this unique, comfortable layering piece soon. On the footwear front, I found myself reaching once again for my durable, tough CAT Footwear Sutter Boots — the brown burnishing is a handsome and classic design touch. And whether in cold weather or on a warm, sunny day, you really can’t go wrong with the ridiculously comfortable Kinzie Jeans from Mugsy Jeans, made with a ton of stretch for ease of movement. I complemented the ensemble with the Timex + Todd Snyder Red Wing Leather Chronograph yet again — it’s a tough watch to pass up wearing!

As I bundled up heading back through Brooklyn, it was great to be able to reflect on a stellar weekend. It featured some of my favorite things — live music, menswear, travel and a requisite helping of craft beer and great burgers! It doesn’t really get any better, especially packed into the span of a few days. And any time I get to spend at my favorite spots in Brooklyn is also time well-spent. It’s been a whirlwind month of December — and a whirlwind year — but I’m really thankful to get the chance to travel, see great shows and bring along stylish menswear in the process. If you’ve got your own holiday travel coming up, I hope it goes well — and if you’ve still got gifts to buy, check out our men’s holiday gift guide, along with the women’s holiday gift guide. Happy shopping!

Thanks as always for reading — stay stylish!

-Beau

Editor’s note: Click through to peruse more gift suggestions for Dad.

Here at The Style Guide, we love our gift guides. Just as we had you covered with Mother’s Day gifts, so too are we doing the same thing for Father’s Day this year with our (read: my) picks for the best gifts for Dad. Shopping for an occasion like this calls that you recognize the father figure in your life for all that they’ve done for you, and a token of appreciation is just one way to do that. I know that I’m grateful as heck for my own father — his advice, support, encouragement and life approach are things that really have changed my life, and I wouldn’t be where I am without him! So it goes without saying that I hope to provide a gift that offers at least some of that back. And that should (ideally) be your goal, too. As budgets can get tight this time of year, we’ll try to keep everything within reason (or at least let you know why some pieces are investment-worthy). Does your recipient have a favorite hobby? That’s what we’ve targeted below, too. Read on, shop on and let me know if I missed any picks over on Twitter!

For The #Menswear Fan: Naadam Pierce Cotton Cashmere Grey Hoodie — $100

Just the sort of hoodie your Dad could use — upgraded, premium and stylish.

A hooded sweatshirt for $100? Oh, yes. As is a constant theme here on The Style Guide, making small upgrades to your everyday style should be a goal for all of us. And if your dad still has that beloved old college hoodie, perhaps this Naadam cotton cashmere sweater is a better update to his weekend wardrobe. Plus, it’s made ethically with Peruvian Pima cotton, so you know it’ll fit well and feel fantastic.

For The Watch Hound: Timex x Red Wing Waterbury Chrono — $158

Not too dressy, not too casual — just right. Very well-made, very sharp and very appropriate for Dad.

Building an essential watch collection is something that takes time (pun intended), but can often be pretty enjoyable — especially if you’ve got a neat case in which to store all those watches. If your recipient already has a dependable casual watch or perhaps even a dive watch, providing a change of pace is in order. The stellar, rugged and refined Timex x Red Wing Waterbury Chrono (as previously covered on this site’s Style Pick of the Week series) is just the ticket, built with a thicker 42mm case diameter, a ridiculously tough Red Wing leather strap and all sorts of styling potential.

For The Coffee Fiend: Timbuk2 x Blue Bottle Weekender Travel Kit — $139

For the guy who likes his coffee gourmet and on-the-go.

Another pricey piece on this list, but one that’s definitely worth the investment — especially if your dad is into extraordinarily nice coffee. The waxed canvas Weekender Travel Kit from the good folks at Timbuk2 and Blue Bottle is packed chock-full of coffee essentials, including a sample of Blue Bottle’s delicious coffee, a Porlex Mini Hand Grinder, a travel dripper, two tumblers and a pack of compostable filters. The collaboration’s adage, “Brew Where You Are,” has never felt more fitting — it’ll be especially useful if you’re hitting the road in style this summer.

For The Golfer: Johnnie-O The Original Four-Button Polo — $89

Taking the classic polo and changing up the color and construction.

A crisp, stylish summer polo is a definite go-to whether you’re a dad or not, so it only makes sense that prep style masters Johnnie-O deliver once again. The Original Four-Button Polo is an easy choice in this regard — the cotton jersey construction should be lightweight and breathable, the chest pocket and (small) logo add a bit of visual interest, and the Arctic color is a bit more subdued than stark white. And the best part? It’s not an athletic polo, and that means it can be worn off the links, too.

For The Amateur Chef: Bespoke Post “The Butcher” Box — $45 (With Bespoke Post Membership)

Just about everything a gourmet foodie could want — including a seriously tough cutting board.

Now, a box option from Bespoke Post made last year’s Father’s Day gift guide, but the brand’s smartly curated, downright useful boxes get a lot of things right for a lot of guys. Case in point — The Butcher Box features just about everything Dad might need to cook up a hearty meal (or two, or three…). We’re talking an edge-grain butcher block, your choice of gourmet meat or vegetables, and other trappings like premium Sriracha sauce and mustard seeds. Is your mouth watering yet?

Even when shopping for someone besides yourself, it’s best to step into their shoes and get something that syncs up with their interests — heck, I’d be psyched to get any one of the items on this list. And you might be able to pick up a little something extra along the way as a, y’know, reward for a shopping job well-done. Of course, essentials like a great book are always welcomed, and customizable gifts can’t go amiss either. For rugged-yet-refined menswear accessories, I’d also recommend Owen & Fred’s extremely well-curated selection. You simply can’t go wrong. What will you be getting Dad this year? Let me know how it works out in the comments below!

Thanks, as always, for reading,

-Beau

The Style Guide

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Tag / coffee

Signs of Light: A December weekend in Baltimore

Father’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts for Dad This Year