The WESN Allman Knife is one of the coolest knives to add to your everyday carry, and that’s just a fact.
As we talk all things men’s style upgrades through the new year, perhaps you’re realizing you’re always one key item short on winter excursions, camping trips or days handling yard work: You’re missing one of the best everyday carry essentials around. That is to say, you might not realize you need the WESN Allman Knife until, well, you need it. And that’s the sort of style upgrade I can get onboard with — simple but significant, ready and able, seriously well-made. Not familiar with WESN? Well, you just might have found your new favorite accessories brand.
I say accessories because the Detroit-based company also makes everything from carabiners to leather sheaths to T-shirts, all with some serious style, attitude and quality in mind — would you expect anything less from the Motor City, after all? I certainly wouldn’t, and that’s what makes the WESN Allman Knife so welcome and, well, essential when it comes to the gear you count on day in and day out. Heck, even the brand’s name means “West, East South, North” — these gear picks sure can go anywhere. It’s one of the best compact knives on the market, made to fit in your hand and crafted from stainless steel hardware with a tough steel blade.
One of the faster-selling colorways of the WESN Allman Knife.
This thing isn’t messing around, that much is true. The WESN Allman Knife performs under pressure, with the sort of durability and unique build that other knives can’t quite live up to. Perhaps that’s because the focus is simply on the blade and the build (although it’s always handy to have a great multi-tool as part of your kit). However, this rugged compact knife goes above and beyond what you might expect, delivering a sleek design, a range of colorways to satisfy any palette, and a lifetime warranty that you can be sure will last (and last, and last). When you want a simple, yet endlessly useful, product you can count on, you want the WESN Allman Knife.
The Billykirk team (that’s founder Chris Bray, who started the brand with his brother Kirk in 1999) has been hard at work crafting some of the best leather goods for the season ahead.
My friends, as you might expect, the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals roll on, from large retailers to some of your favorite craftsmanship-oriented brands. In fact, there’s no time like the present to get a deal on some of the best leather goods at New Jersey-based Billykirk, in fact. Here’s the scoop: 35 percent off sitewide using the code BLACKFRIDAY35, with some seriously great picks up for the taking. Yes indeed, if you want to upgrade your everyday carry essentials (or get ready for the holiday gifting season), you can hardly go wrong with the long-running purveyors of finely crafted leather goods. Billykirk has more than 20 years of hard work and experience going for it — as you know if you read the blog — and that’s why they’re a name you can trust as we power through another edition of The Sunday Sale. So, let’s ease on into it with a pick you can add to your cart ASAP and then stuff in a stocking later on: The incredibly well-made, remarkably cool-looking Billykirk No. 397 Slim Card Case, an expertly crafted leather wallet upgrade.
One of the coolest leather wallets around, now at an even better price.
Keep in mind that this handsome leather wallet is just one of the standout gear and everyday carry picks you can snag from the brand, seeing as they take great care in crafting everything from slim leather belts to one of the best weekender bags for men. However, it’s the Billykirk No. 397 Slim Card Case that might be the most useful if you or someone you know needs a well-priced wallet upgrade in time for the holiday season. Don’t forget Billykirk’s valet trays, tote bags and plenty more, either. And once again, know that it’s all 35 percent off with the code BLACKFRIDAY35. If I were you, I might want to knock out plenty of my holiday shopping all at once these days. Good luck out there, my friends.
Take this rugged-yet-lightweight weekender bag on the road with you this season.
My friends, here’s the deal. We’re just days away from a much different holiday and unofficial holiday season kick-off than usual, but that doesn’t mean your gear or your everyday carry should slip up. Because so many of us are doing things differently this year, ideally hopping in the car versus on a plane, keeping things smaller than usual, allow me to make a recommendation: The next time you hit the road, do so with one of the best weekender bags for men in tow, and go one step further and making it the Boarding Pass NYC “Work Hard, Play Hard” Duffel Bag.
This rugged weekender bag has long been a favorite of mine, and it’s in fact what I’ve packed up to head out and safely see family this season. And here’s another kicker: You can get one of the best men’s weekender bags on sale by using the code BEAUKNOWS to get $10 off any purchase of $70 or more. The great thing is, the “Work Hard, Play Hard” Duffel Bag (as you’ve read about elsewhere on the blog) is nicely sized for a quicker, shorter getaway than usual, and naturally, it clocks in at the highly agreeable price of $79. So again, use the code BEAUKNOWS to get $10 off any purchase of $70 or more, starting with your new favorite weekender bag.
Load up this durable weekender bag with your favorite fall gear ASAP.
The great thing is, this stylish weekender bag is available in a number of cool, versatile colorways (including Army Green as shown above), all the better to pair up nicely with your fall road trip #OOTD. And of course, the specs on the Boarding Pass NYC “Work Hard, Play Hard” Duffel Bagtake the cake when it comes to effective, functional performance. It’s made from cotton canvas and nylon, with a nylon interior and a built-in shoe compartment, and it’s worth noting that the brand just launched a new Sky Blue colorway in an homage to the Royal Air Force. How cool is that? To reiterate: This could just be the perfect weekender bag for a quick fall getaway, and with Thanksving and Christmas on the way, I can’t think of a better, more reliable pick. Stay safe, use the code BEAUKNOWS toget $10 off any purchase of $70 or more, and enjoy the season, my friends.
The best tote bag to haul your summer gear? Quite possibly.
The days, in these strange and trying times, keep on rolling by, and *checks notes* it’s Saturday, so it’s time for yet another Style Pick of the Week covering the very best men’s gear. Well, one of the best men’s gear picks — in this case, it’s an everyday carry essential from the fine folks at New Jersey-based Billykirk. For a bit more than 20 years now, Billykirk‘s Chris and Kirk Bray have been making some of the most rugged goods on the planet, and doing it all in America — that’s where the new Billykirk Standard Issue Tote Bag enters the equation. The No. 540 Standard Issue Tote is a staple of the brand, but it gets a seriously cool and summer-centric update via the bright, fun River Yellow color as seen above (and it also now comes in Teal). Your summer travel plans might look a heck of a lot different — schlepping your gear a few yards to your firepit versus driving cross-coutry, for instance, but one of the best men’s tote bags can still add some excellent utility to your arsenal of everyday carry essentials.
Picture this: You’re gearing up for a summer weekend bonfire at home. You’re wearing your favorite summer sneakers and maybe some light wash jeans. You’ve got your cooler but you need to haul the rest of your gear out to said firepit. And you’re using this rugged tote bag. That’s but one use case, though — this tough and stylish tote bag is going to come in plenty handy elsewhere, too.
A dependable tote bag could become a new summer style essentials.
A great tote bag like this one from Billykirk is assuredly worth adding to your list of summer gear, especially when it’s made from 10 oz. waxed cotton canvas — perfect for breezy, dewy summer mornings and chilly nights. And you needn’t worry about the durability of this thing, given that the Billykirk Standard Issue Tote Bag also features mil-spec nylon webbing and a full-grain leather bottom. It’s a seriously well-designed tote bag and includes an open main compartment and three interior organization compartments, too (to go along with two exterior pockets). Those are all critical when it comes to storing your everyday carry essentials or hauling around your favorite growler. Heck, the No. 540 Standard Issue Tote is even sized to fit up to a 15″ laptop, so you can get some work done at your local cafe (when it reopens, that is). So, it’s clear that this new, rugged tote bag belongs on your list of summer style essentials — right? That’s a surefire “Yes” from me. Check it out at Billykirk, and feel free to hit me up on Twitter for more of my thoughts on the brand.
The coolest shirt for a much different spring weekend than usual.
My friends, thanks for joining us yet again for another Friday Read. Consider this a starting point for your weekend and a bit of a look at the menswear industry at large, from deals and steals to ways to give back to COVID-19 relief efforts (like my friends at HELM Boots continue to run, for one). These relief efforts should be of particular interest during these trying and challenging times, so any way in which brands can offer support is very welcome indeed from my perspective. And as always, if you’re a medical professional or a frontline first-responder, THANK YOU for your service and your work ethic — it really is incredible and much-appreciated. With that being said, in times like these, it can sometimes seem odd to talk about menswear — like that rugged spring shirt seen above (it’s the Flint and Tinder Stretch Utility Shirt). But I’m of the opinion that style and routine can provide a helpful guiding light these days. So, we’ll continue to shine a light on the best spring style essentials on the blog, and hopefully, you’ll like what you see and what you read. Heck, if that classic shirt at the top of the page piqued your interest right off the bat, head over to Huckberry to shop the Flint and Tinder High Desert Collection — while also checking out the very well-curated Huckberry Journal. It’s another great source of quarantine reads — I hope you find today’s roundup helpful, too.
This weekend, I’ll be following much the same routine, socially distanced here in Brooklyn. That includes spinning plenty of vinyl (my latest purchase is the excellent “The New Abnormal” by NYC rock legends The Strokes!), and of course, enjoying some terrific coffee (namely, from the FourTillFour x Taylor Stitch partnership). As for your own weekend, I wish you safety, health & all the best! Read on below for more crucial content.
As the headline mentioned, I’m here to tell you all about one of the best essentials for your everyday carry, as I covered at GearMoose — that would be the new The James Brand x Huckberry Elko Knife, a sleek and well-designed pocket knife to act as an accessory to your favorite chore pants. Gear up accordingly.
Let’s dig into some menswear you can wear to work from home, shall we? In this era of ultra-casual leisure (even when on a Zoom call), you might want to check out one of the best loungewear sets for men — I rounded them up for The Manual. Stay safe, comfy and cozy, my friends.
Who doesn’t appreciate some rugged workwear when the going gets tough? I know I do — and you’ve now got another reason to love iconic workwear brand Dickies. The brand is converting its plants in Mexico and Honduras to produce FDA-compliant isolation gowns for hospitals and healthcare workers in response to the ongoing pandemic. And get this — Dickies and its parent company, VF Corporation are looking to produce anddeliver 50,000 gowns in May, with a goal of making as many as 675,000 by June, and then on up to 3.4 million (yes, million) by September. Great work.
And with that, we’re going to wrap up today’s Friday Read. Have suggestions for what you might like to see on the blog, or in these posts (perhaps a weekly playlist? Spirits or beer recommendations? Specific clothing categories?)? Be sure to reach out to me on Twitter. I’ll leave you with one last guide for the weekend, covering how to wear a chore coat for spring. To tide you over until Monday, don’t forget about tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week. Once again — stay safe, stay healthy, and thank you for reading.
And a final, secret word if you scrolled this far — maybe check out this Taylor Stitch moto jacket below??
Wear this tough shirt jacket when working at home or working in the garage – easily.
Thank you, my friends, for joining me for another edition of The Friday Read during these oh-so-interesting and incredibly trying times. Whether you’re working from home and seeking a respite from the news or else seeking a respite from being on the front lines of this crisis, I sincerely appreciate you reading — and I hope these weekly missives (and other blog content!) can help provide some comfort and a sense of style on the daily. Speaking of style on the daily — maybe that Flint and Tinder Bedford Camp Shirt can come in handy as a rugged shirt jacket for home projects, yard work or else, as a change of pace on a casual day working in your home office? By now, perhaps you’ve settled into a daily routine as you juggle working from home — balancing your kids’ and your spouse’s different schedules, adjusting to new changes in the workspace digitally, and really … trying to keep everything moving forward.
That’s been the case for me in Brooklyn when it comes to both writing and my social media day job, although I’m continuing to support my favorite local businesses from afar as much as I can. Last week, I bought some delicious coffee-for-delivery from Ninth Street Espresso (they have a location within the excellent Threes Brewing in Gowanus). I also took the time to donate a small amount to Bushwick’s Elsewhere — part music venue, part gallery, part bar and cafe, it’s an eclectic and important space that’s put on some excellent concerts in my life and always seems to offer something intriguing and enjoyable. Tell me on Twitter — are you supporting your favorite local businesses during this trying time? How are you adapting your Work-From-Home style (and might I suggest this #OOTD)? Stay safe, stay stylish & check out my favorite things to read, drink and watch this weekend.
First things first, let’s talk about some men’s style gear for a good cause. Namely, Austin-based HELM Boots is doing its part — you can get 20 percent off all boots at HELM Boots through Sunday with the code “giveback”, and what’s more, 10 percent of all sales are going to charities supporting COVID-19 relief efforts (like Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry & AmeriCares). Again, 20 percent off through Sunday, and sales of these stylish boots are absolutely going to a great cause.
It certainly might seem counterintuitive to pick up everyday carry essentials right now (especially if the most activity you’ll be doing is yard work before retreating inside), but for all those projects around the house that just can’t wait, there’s the Deploy EDC Kit from my pals at Bespoke Post. With that utility in mind, I wrote about this EDC must-have over at GearMoose — click through for more.
As the headline promised, I told you I’d give you the scoop on one of the best new beers for spring. In this case, you should head over to GearMoose to read about the light, clean and refreshing New Belgium Purist Lager, made with organic ingredients and incredibly fresh water. I’m a big fan, and I think you will be, too (even if you’re just sipping on it on your back porch — socially distanced sipping, that is). Cheers!
Mark my words, I’m certainly not an expert … but there will come a time when you’ve got to dash out of the house this spring, and you’re going to want to look put-together in one of the best men’s jackets while doing it. All of this is to say, how about you head on over to The Manual and check out my guide to the best lightweight jackets for spring? Again, shopping can feel a little frivolous during times like these, but you’re supporting brands you love and prepping your wardrobe (and your future self!) for a bit of style when the time comes.
To be sure, these are odd times again — I’m sure buying a new Oxford shirt isn’t the first thing on your mind. But hey, for those of us fortunate enough to be working from home — and for those of us who have to hop on Zoom or Slack video conference calls — looking and feel a bit more put-together is a nice change of pace when you can’t get out of the house. Yet again, it’s with that approach in mind that I’m recommending you pick up one of the best Oxford shirts for men. Specifically, click that link to read all about a stellar Buck Mason Oxford shirt. OK, those are all of my reading (and watching, and imbibing) recommendations for this weekend. Want to get in touch on anything at all? Reach out on Twitter, and be sure to follow me on Instagram (I’m posting about what I’m reading, listening to and writing). Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to join me — stay safe, my friends.
The timeless, seriously cool spring jacket to start wearing right now.
There it is in all its glory — the new spring jacket you’re going to be wearing all season, starting with this weekend. To me, a versatile spring jacket like the Grayers Boone Utility Jacket is exactly the right layer you need to welcome the up-and-down weather of early March. And again, it’s the best spring jacket to wear as we kick off the weekend with today’s Friday Read. As for my weekend plans, I know a jacket like the Grayers Boone Utility Jacket could come in very handy for me — I’m trekking to a place known for some rain and breezy weather, Seattle! I’m heading out to this great Pacific Northwest city for the first time for a very exciting (and fitting) reason. I’ll be heading West to see what should be a terrific rock show by legendary NYC rockers The Strokes, who recently announced their first album in seven (!) years, titled “The New Abnormal.” Contemplative, synth-driven crooner “At The Door” is an innovative release, while “Bad Decisions” is a proper throwback Strokes track that pays homage to Billy Idol (seriously, listen to it!), and I truly can’t wait to see both tracks played live at the WaMu Theater. In the meantime, I’ll be busy exploring with my favorite spring style essentials in tow, naturally, and I’ll be taking in the cool environs and atmosphere of the Ace Hotel Seattle — another first for me! On the menswear front, I plan on checking out the latest and greatest at Filson, in addition to a stop through a longtime favorite retailer, Hammer and Awl.
In addition to rocking out to new and old favorites from a legendary band, I plan to get out and about in Seattle as much as possible (wearing the the best spring jacket I can find, of course). That’ll include stops at Georgetown Brewing, Pike Brewing and some small bites at the lauded PINTXO Seattle and Teku Tavern, along with a much-needed stop for record shopping at Holy Cow Records. Along the way, I plan to fuel up accordingly at spots like Analog Coffee — can it get much better? Not quite! So, have you been to Seattle? Where would you recommend I visit? Be sure to let me know on Twitter, and be sure to check out tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week in the meantime.
Don’t let your grooming routine slip on the weekend — in fact, using a refreshing face wash can be a great way to kickstart your day. In the spirit of improving your men’s grooming essentials across the board, I wrote about the best face washes for men over at GearMoose. Whatever your skin type or routine, there’s something on this list for everyone.
Keeping things slim and stylish is a must when it comes to your everyday carry essentials, especially when you’re talking slim denim or your favorite chinos. With that approach in mind, I wrote about the best slim wallets, featuring sleek and functional selections aplenty. Head to The Manual for my latest.
If you read the blog on the regular (and how could you not??), then you know that I’m all on board when it comes to the versatility and appeal of a rugged henley — this sportswear classic is now a daily style staple for guys everywhere, myself included. In the spirit of the best rugged gear for men, I rounded up my favorite henley shirts once again for The Manual. Once you’ve checked out that post, read this other post about how to wear a henley on the daily.
Alright, so we’ve covered off on new henleys, a new face wash for your grooming routine & of course, everyday carry essentials. What’s one final essential you can’t live without? It might just be a classic Oxford shirt, a fitting piece every week of the year — including blustery March days. With all that in mind, I’m going to point you toward my guide on how to wear an Oxford shirt. It’ll work on the weekend or at the office with ease — I should know, I’ve tried! OK, that’s all for now. To keep up with my weekend travels, be sure to join me on Instagram. Cheers!
A soft, lightweight flannel shirt to layer up with this weekend.
There’s really no time like the present — as we stand on the edge of another winter weekend — for you to pick up your new favorite flannel shirt. The right flannel shirt, as in the soft and dependable Lisboa Porto Shirt, is wearable all weekend long, from coffee to cocktails — and it’s the kind of easygoing, classic flannel shirt you can even wear around the house as you lounge around and click through today’s Friday Read. What exactly do we have going in today’s edition? Plenty, folks, including potentially your new favorite sneakers (if you’re not dealing with absurd amounts of snow right now). We’ll get to the rest in a moment, but it’s pretty wild to be nearing the end of February — on that note, I’m starting to get excited for an early March trek to Seattle (a new city for me!) that I’ve got planned.
I’ll be staying at the always-excellent Ace Hotel, and of course, there’s quite the reason behind the trip: Legendary NYC rockers The Strokes (whom I had the honor of seeing on New Year’s Eve in Brooklyn) are making a triumphant return to the stage in advance of the April release of their new album, fittingly titled “The New Abnormal.” That being said, I’m already starting to prep for the trip, which I plan to continue this weekend as I enjoy some delicious coffee and spin my “Room On Fire” vinyl. Naturally, I’ll also be listening on repeat to the band’s new single, “At The Door,” a slow, synth-driven crooner with moody atmospherics — it’s a change of pace from the classics, and I love it all the same. OK, let’s pivot from indie rock back to menswear, shall we? Here’s today’s Friday Read — enjoy!
What better way to start the weekend than with some new leather boots? I’m a big fan of FRYE leather boots, and would certainly recommend you check out the brand as winter closes out — consider them an underrated addition (for a great deal, at that) to your wardrobe as we wrap up February.
I mentioned above that we’d dig into some new sneakers in advance of early (early) spring, and those sneakers are in fact here — they’re the stylish, minimal and premium GREATS Court Sneakers, and I dug into what makes them so essential for GearMoose, per tradition. They’re affordable given the use of Italian leather, and they’ll wear extremely with everything from slim tan chinos and a rugged henley to a classic Oxford shirt and slim denim.
Speaking of slim denim, get a load of this: The good folks at Banana Republic are really changing the denim game, crafting slim blue jeans with 99 percent less water (yes, 99 percent!) thanks to its new Dry Indigo line — and of course, I wrote all about your new favorite denim over at The Manual. It’s all about sustainability and style in 2020, so you can’t go wrong.
If you’ve taken the time to curate a collection of thoughtful everyday carry essentials — as every stylish guy should do — then it only makes sense that you pick up the proper place to store them when you’re off the road, yes? A stylish valet tray is the ticket in that regard, and helpfully, I wrote about Billykirk Bronco Valet Tray for GearMoose. Best get to shopping now!
I often talk about the type of style essentials you can consistently wear day in and day out, year in and year out — and there’s perhaps no rugged base layer more suited to right now than a classic henley. With all that being said, I’m going to point you toward my guide on how to wear a henley right now, featuring plenty of gear picks you know and love. If you have questions on how to style it, or how to rock any of your other favorite winter style essentials, you know what to do: Reach out to me on Twitter. Cheers to the weekend!
All the right essentials for the best shoe shine ever.
I mentioned earlier that we’d cover a new Bespoke Post box, and here it is in all its glory. Finding the best shoe polishing kit can be a bit of a taxing search, but Bespoke Post does it right with some of the best gear to shine your shoes. Seriously, it could be downright fun now.
Duke Cannon “El Cuatro” 4-Count Variety Pack — $25
Four of the best soaps from Duke Cannon to upgrade your winter grooming.
Upgrading your winter grooming essentials just got easier, thanks to this four-pack of outstanding soaps (in large, oversized bars) from Duke Cannon. Seriously, I’m a big fan of the brand — this is some of the best soap I’ve tried.
All of the best grooming essentials you need for winter, and then some, all via Duke Cannon.
In the spirit of both self-improvement and hey, fun, Duke Cannon has put together its “Moderate Self-Improvement Box,” which actually happens to be a jam-packed box of men’s grooming essentials you can make use of any time of year — especially as we continue to kick off 2020.
As dependable and rugged as it gets on the travel bags front.
When you want rugged, functional style and carrying capacity, one of the best travel bags is going to be a requirement, surely. In that case, you’re going to want to consider the easy-to-carry, durable AER Travel Pack — consider it the grab-and-go bag to pair with your rugged waxed parka from Bridge and Burn, ehh?
The tough, sleek travel wallet you need in your bag next time you hit the road.
Last but not least, let’s talk about one of the best leather wallets for a minute, alright? Specifically, one of the best passport wallets — Bellroy has made this one sleek, stylish & effortlessly cool.
Alright, folks — I know we covered a ton, and I mean A TON, of ground there. From one of the best passport wallets back to a new set of EDC essentials, did you have any favorite gear picks? Lest we forget, we also discussed the effortlessly cool Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket and other crucial accessories, including one of the most rugged men’s henleys. It goes without saying it’s always tough to pick a favorite from a long list, but heck, even the HELM Boots Zind Boots are a contender for me. There’s no right or wrong answer — only gear to add to your shopping cart. Thanks for reading & happy shopping!
My weekend routine looks a whole lot like what’s described above, and I always relish the chance to kick back in Brooklyn — I’m coming off a busy week of birthday celebrations (this past Tuesday!), as it were! I spent the day off Tuesday in the borough, enjoying some of my favorite stops (like the lovely confines of Prospect Park and the tasty coffee of Milk and Honey) before hitting up some of my top craft beer spots in Brooklyn with friends, including Covenhoven and Gold Star Beer Counter. On tap? Beers from legendary and hard-to-find breweries in equal measure, including the always-excellent Hill Farmstead. Talk about a fitting birthday treat!
I’m always grateful to have the time to step back, reflect and enjoy some time off around my (golden!) birthday, especially as I round into my 6th (6th!) year in New York City. A lot of that has been made possible by my agency day job as much as it’s been made possible by my freelance writing and this very blog! So, this weekend, I plan on enjoying another night out with friends before getting back to work — thanks for reading and supporting The Style Guide! And in the meantime, you know what to do: Kick off your weekend with The Friday Read and the best men’s style news. Cheers!
Speaking of hitting the road: Before you go anywhere this weekend, you need to upgrade your wallet. The Distil Union Wally Bifold — as covered by yours truly at GearMoose — is one of the best new wallets on the market in terms of blending durability and sleek style. It also easily slides into the front pocket of your favorite pair of dark blue denim.
Let’s keep it rolling over at GearMoose, shall we? A slim, classic Oxford shirt is nearly indispensable in terms of versatility and style points — wear it with slim chinos, wear it with that same pair of dark blue denim … just make sure you’ve got one. On that note, I wrote about the best Oxford shirts, many of them from brands you know and love. Check it out, then let me know which one you’re buying on Twitter.
OK, time for one last GearMoose feature today, alright? In terms of upgrading your grooming routine in a subtly stylish yet cool way, the right cologne can go a long way — that’s why I wrote about new Dollar Shave Club cologne. It’s highly affordable and should be highly effective.
Let’s close things out with one last outfit recommendation — since we’re on the verge of a winter weekend, I figured it’s high time we revisited my guide on how to dress for a winter weekend. You’ll find plenty of handy, effective goods in that #OOTD, from a tough waxed trucker jacket to your favorite henley. That should just about do it the next time you head out on a weekend adventure. In need of more style inspiration? Be sure to visit my Instagram.