The Friday Read: 2015’s Best Albums, Common Projects and Star Wars

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here. 

While last Friday was quite momentous (it was Black Friday after all), today’s edition of The Friday Read is a little quieter — and  that’s a good thing, because it’s certainly been a busy week! I had the pleasure of attending a few action-packed menswear events in New York City this week, kicking off with an evening at the Club Monaco Men’s Shop hosted by Michael Williams, the founder of noted heritage menswear & lifestyle Web site A Continuous Lean. A more gracious host you couldn’t find — it was great to meet him and chat for a bit. As if the week could go up from there, my friends at PR firm Bollare were kind enough to invite me to the #Force4Fashion event, a star-studded evening featuring special one-off Stars Wars-inspired designs from the likes of Todd Snyder and Billy Reid (it’s even cooler that each piece will be auctioned off for charity). I capped off the week by swinging by the Dr. Scholl’s showroom for a look at the brand’s S16 line. That’s right — Dr.  Scholl’s makes men’s shoes, including these neat boots. Look for more on the brand on the blog in the coming weeks. But in the meantime, enough menswear event talk, yes? We’re still rolling right ahead with a big weekend and kicking it off, as always, with a fine selection of newsworthy items from across the Web. Wherever your weekend takes you, I hope it’s an enjoyable one!

  • Land’s End, they of catalog fame, is making a concerted effort to revamp its brand image, according to the New York Times. That includes bringing in stylish models for its lookbooks and opening up an NYC pop-up.
  • Although it’s definitely boot season around these parts, get a load of the latest Common Projects collab, an update of the classic Achilles Low in partnership with Unis.
  • Popular Mechanics notes that you — yes you, lucky rich guy — can have your chance at buying the last watch to orbit the moon, the famed Omega Speedmaster, on Dec. 15. Save up.
  • Long Read of the Week: Paste Magazine ranks the 50 best albums of 2015 — any of your favorites make the list? I personally loved this year’s releases from CHVRCHES, Tame Impala and Beach House. See, I’m not just all about style!

Still need to get your menswear fix before the weekend?

    • Over at VOUCH Mag, I covered two worthy addtions to your holiday wish list — a great dopp kit from Richer-Poorer and Byrd Hairdo Products, and a stellar duffle via United By Blue.
    • If you’ve been following the brand’s relaunch, you’ll be familiar with the Camel Topcoat from JackThreads (it looks amazing) — if not, check out my latest post for GearHungry.

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The Friday Read: Cuffed Pants, Trend Evolution and James Bond’s Cookbook

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.

We’ve rolled right through another week here at The Style Guide HQ (AKA a rather small Brookyn apartment), and it’s crazy to think that there’s not that much real “summer” left. It’s been a great one though, especially with travels to Greece and Italy. And I’m just as excited about the fall — this here site will have a Fall Wish List in the next few weeks, new product reviews and brand profiles, and a few travel features in the works (a trip to  Los Angeles among them!). But there’s still plenty of time to soak up some rays (got your sunglasses on-point?) and hit the beach, pool or just your local watering hole — which I’ll certainly be doing this weekend. Before you dive in though, a heads-up — I’ll be running a special Instagram giveaway on Monday and Tuesday of next week featuring the chance to win some grooming gear from the organic gurus at Kent & Bond. Details will be outlined in a Monday post, but make sure you’re following me on Instagram (please?) and check back Monday for more details!

      • Gear Patrol quite literally shows you, in GIFs plus text, some sharp ways to cuff or roll pants — try it out with some dark denim in particular.
      • In the way of trends, Esquire spotlights exactly how a trend starts, focusing specifically on the pocket square and its rise to prominence (and purported downfall?) in the #menswear world.
      • Fast Company gives you the scoop on what exactly James Bond ate in the iconic Ian Fleming novels — new book “Dying to Eat” chronicles recipes and photos in a fascinating and in-depth manner.
      • Long Read of the Week: If you haven’t been following this series, it’s high time to catch up — Narratively chronicled the end of a 5,000-mile cross country bike ride undertaken by a daring team of friends.

Can’t get enough of The Style Guide?

Ben Sherman US
Greats

The Friday Read: New York Fashion Week: Men’s, J. Crew Mercantile and Rob Gronkowski

Ben Sherman US

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.

First of all — based on that headline, this Friday Read should  be pretty good, eh? And with the arrival of  this post comes the end of a pretty momentous week around these parts (these parts being NYC). The first-ever New York Fashion Week: Men’s rolled right on through, bringing with it some stellar shows and epic street style. I myself had the chance to go to Todd Snyder’s outstanding SS16 collection preview as well as spend time with industry contacts at GQ’s The Gent Lounge. This was, as always, on top of other writing pursuits – definitely no better way to experience parts of fashion week than by doing a little bit of everything! Check out a recap of most of my activities over at my Twitter account, if you’re so inclined. And as always, start your weekend off right with some style reads.

  • As part of its partnership with #NYFWM, East Dane (the #menswear arm of Amazon Fashion) caught up with a few key style influencers ahead of the shows.
  • Near the middle of the week, industry publication Business of Fashion reported that J. Crew is set to launch J. Crew Mercantile, a lower-priced line of shops targeted toward budget-conscious consumers
  • Ever wondered what it’s like to party with notoriously wild Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski? No? Esquire shares an excerpt from what should be an, um, insightful memoir?
  • Long Read of the Week: Bloomberg Businessweek explores the many cultural and media-driven factors that shaped the rise of the modern political campaign logo – including a certain very recognizable letter logo

Still got your eyes peeled for more style reads?

    • Check out five great swimsuits that would be best to hit the water with during this big beach month
    • Read up on a brand you should be pretty familiar with if you check out this site – United By Blue, the latest company I profiled for VOUCH Mag (for a full Q&A) with the company’s founder, head here).

Ernest Alexander

The Friday Read: Fourth of July, Shake Shack and Paris Fashion Week

Ernest Alexander

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.

With one day left ’til the Fourth of July, have you made it where you’re going for the weekend yet? Know what you’re going to wear? If you still haven’t picked out an outfit, look here. And if you’re just throwing together a bag last-minute — hold your horses, partner, best to pack in style with these tips. It’s a shortened week at my office, but yet another busy one. Thankfully, we’ve got the weekend here — and some stylish reads with which to kick it off. Check out the below picks this week, featuring a double dose of Esquire style content and the best burgers around. And if you do happen  to be in the Hamptons on the East Coast this weekend or anytime before July 11th, be sure to swing by the Steven Alan x GREATS Pop-up Shop at 75 Main Street; the two brands will be offering up a specially-curated selection of GREATS kicks in a truly lux environment. Now, onto this week’s reading picks.

  • As tomorrow is everyone’s favorite patriotic holiday, Thrillist put together its list of the most American … Americans. Yep, you read that right. A fun little list, though.
  • For those watch nerds out there,Esquire examines whether a vintage Patek Phillipe actually inspired the pricey, futuristic-leaning Apple Watch — it seems likely the more you read that piece, although design inspiration certainly comes from many different places.
  • And continuing to roll right through the esteemed publication’s digital offerings, Esquire made note of an important trend throughout Paris Fashion Week — that of slim suits. While silhouettes have run the gamut from baggy to severe across past seasons, that’s still good news for those of us who prefer a trimmer-cut suit.
  • Long Read of the Week: As the “better burger” explosion continues, Fast Company takes a look inside the success — and commitment to detail and quality — that’s made Shake Shack such a fast-growing (and delicious) success.

Shopping for some new summer gear anytime soon?

    • Check out five excellent T-shirts to get you through the hot weeks ahead as part of my latest post for VOUCH Mag.
    • If you’re also in need of some stylish slip-ons, check out a quick-hit spotlight I wrote up for GearHungry on the outstanding GREATS Leather Wooster Slip-on (full TSG review coming in mid-July!)

Ben Sherman US

Florsheim

The Friday Read: Memorial Day, Summer Polos and Dark Denim

So how’s your week been? It’s another week that’s gone by fast here at The Style Guide HQ (need to think up a better name for this place, I think?). With Memorial Day on the way, here’s wishing everyone safe travels, whether you’re trekking across the country or just up the road. Wondering what to wear? Look here. Wondering what to pack? Got you covered there as well. Wondering what to read? As you hit the road, look no further than right here in this very post for some prime reading material. Without further ado…

That’s it for this week’s reading roundup — hungry for more style writing?

The Watchery

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