It seems as though it was only yesterday we were talking about the best summer style essentials here on this menswear blog, but it’s never too soon to start dreaming of crisp weather, leaves underfoot and of course, a wardrobe packed with the best fall style essentials.
I like to build my fall wardrobe from the ground up, so to speak — tough leather boots, a great pair of jeans and often, a trusty base layer like one of the best henleys for men. And in this day and age, it’s tough to get much, well, tougher and more stylish than Filson and the Filson Waffle Knit Henley.
It’s a rugged layer that’ll come in handy before you know it, whether it’s worn beneath a rugged flannel shirt or alongside your favorite trucker jacket (one from Filson would assuredly come in handy). The Filson Waffle Knit Henley is an icon in the cold-weather rotation from the lauded Pacific Northwest heritage outfitter, made with a blend of Peruvian cotton in a durable waffle-knit weave.
The two-button collar of the Filson Waffle Knit Henley gives you options in terms of customizing your fit, and it doesn’t hurt that the light heather gray color will team with just about anything in your wardrobe (indigo Filson jeans very much included). It’s also the type of staple suitable for work — crisp fall days in the yard — or play, so to speak (tailgate layering, anyone?).
And because it hails from Filson, the Filson Waffle Knit Henley is about as durable as it gets, at least in my experience with the brand. Preparing for fall just got substantially easier, all thanks to a rugged favorite from an iconic brand.
Just as we roll into another July weekend, perhaps you’re feeling as if your summer menswear and gear could use a bit of a refresh, or just a few more selections to help you get over the hemp. This Friday, and many other days here on the blog, I recommend diving into Filson menswear, which runs the gamut — from the road to the river and back. In my personal experience, they’re a brand that always delivers, be it rugged good looks, standout performance in any season, or a mix of the two.
Be it quick-drying swim trunks, carefully crafted T-shirts, some of the best lightweight buttondown shirts or the very best waxed canvas bags on the market, Filson is a nearly indispensable part of my summer wardrobe — I’d imagine you feel the same way.
If not, consider this a friendly summer weekend reminder, especially as things continue to heat up out there. And for more Filson reviews on this blog, click that link. Now, onward to business — what’s still left on your summer reading and shopping list?
I’ve recently been sent an exciting read I’m looking forward to checking out, the classic tome “A Really Big Lunch,” by legendary Michigan writer Jim Harrison. In fact, my newfound writer pal and fellow Michigander Matt Medendorp sent this volume my way.
It’s an iconic book that’s long been on my list, and t should prove an apt read to while away hot summer days in Brooklyn (cold beer not far out of reach, of course). Have you had the chance to check out that title? I’ll deliver my own review once I’ve pored through its pages!
For a few more summer recommendations to guide your own weekend, keep on scrolling through below, my friends. Cheers!
Out of all of my favorite menswear brands, Buck Mason delivers some of the most consistent surprises, or pleasant surprises rather, while staying in its lane as a purveyor of modern-meets-classic, Americana style. What do I mean by this? Well, expertly crafted Oxford shirts, the best blue jeans and perfectly cut T-shirts do the trick. And you can find all of this close at hand in the new Buck Mason x J. Press menswear collection, a retro-meets-21st-century offering showcasing what both brands do best. Read about it more via my latest for Maxim.com.
Here’s something a tad more illustrious and luxurious than just one of the best Oxford shirts, and it’s got some flair going for it ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, too. Omega, the official watch brand of James Bond and the Official Timekeeper of the Olympics (since 1932, no less!) just debuted a stunning Paris 2024 special-edition watch, and it’s a stunner made from Bronze Gold alloy. Read all about it via another feature from yours truly at Maxim.com.
Let’s go from talking about classic menswear and luxury watches to some “news you can use” right away, so to speak, via the good folks at Huckberry. The lineup of Wellen menswear at Huckberry already focuses on sustainability and style, and it gets a revamp here with a new lineup of Wellen performance gear you can wear, well, just about anywhere. And accordingly, I wrote about possibly your new favorite daily T-shirt over on the blog earlier this week — give it a look, my friends.
That’ll wrap up today’s Friday Read quite nicely indeed, if I do say so myself. To follow along with my weekend adventures in Brooklyn, be sure to give me a follow on Instagram. And to keep up with more stylish menswear for summer, tune in tomorrow and Sunday for a duo of featured weekend men’s style picks. Cheers and thanks, as always, for reading!
If you’ve been keeping up with the blog on the regular, you’re well aware that the quest for a truly great deal never really stops, at least when it comes to the best gear for men. And as the thermostat climbs and the quest for adventure (or at least, an icy cold watering hole) beckons, there’s one place I like to turn towards in my search for the best rugged gear for men.
If you guessed Pacific Northwest heritage outfitter Filson, you’d be correct, and there’s an even better reason to shop the famed gear company this very week: We’re in the midst of the Filson Summer Outlet Sale, which offers up to 50 percent off the best menswear and gear across the board. It’s the sort of sale that doesn’t come around very often, which is an even better reason to peruse the company’s offerings.
In my experience, Filson gear is made to a bit of everything, from day hikes to park strolls to weekend getaways upstate and beyond. That goes for something as essential as the Filson Lightweight Alaskan Guide Shirt to something a bit more rough-and-tumble, like the rugged Filson Granite Mountain Shorts.
There are dozens upon dozens of the best men’s gear picks available that’ll come in handy right now, from waxed canvas bags to lightweight shorts, and there are also picks from the Filson Summer Outlet Sale that you can put to great use in the months ahead, like flannel shirts and hard-wearing denim.
Any way you slice it, there’s no bad way to shop Filson’s latest and greatest sale. Let me know what you end up scoring in the comments below, and here’s to summer, my friends.
When you need a restock or a refresh of summer menswear essentials, it pays off to go right to the source — if what you seek is a rugged take on a classic, of course. And in this case, that source is Filson, the legendary Pacific Northwest purveyor of some of the best outdoor gear on the planet.
That very much includes one of the best chambray shirts for men, a pick that — in my experience — delivers hard-wearing, work-ready performance as well as versatile style.
You see, the Filson Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt is a timeless style that does just about anything asked of it. If you want a workwear layer for a day in the yard or on the trail, for instance, the durable chambray weave stands up to anything.
And if you want an easygoing, stylish men’s short-sleeve shirt to wear buttoned up alongside the best summer shorts this season — say, at a summer BBQ — then this handsome chambray shirt delivers handily. The midweight cotton chambray should wear plenty well even in the heat, while details like button chest pockets provide space for everyday carry essentials.
And in my experience, the Filson Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt should offer enough room to layer easily atop a classic Filson T-shirt if need be — although I’d also recommend buttoning this shirt up and styling it untucked alongside your favorite chinos. It’s even crafted with a pencil slot in the left chest pocket, a handy detail that makes the Filson Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt a true workwear classic. Again, if it’s rugged essentials you seek, Filson has you more than covered.
There are some brands that are simply uncanny when it comes to making some of the toughest menswear on the market, with functionality and rugged appeal top of mind. Filson sits nearly alone in that regard, with a century’s worth of heritage that extends from some of the best travel bags to one of the best men’s henleys in a summer-ready build.
And although the legendary Pacific Northwest brand specializes in gear for inclement weather far afield, including Filson flannel shirts and more, the brand doesn’t cut corners with its summer offerings, either.
The Filson Granite Mountain Shorts are a decidedly different addition to your style rotation than some of the best stretch chino shorts or lounge shorts, starting with characteristically tough Filson construction. You see, the Filson Granite Mountain Shorts boast a hard-wearing 7oz. cotton fabric that’s then given 2 percent spandex stretch (so, the final build is 98 percent cotton, 2 percent spandex).
That fabric is garment-washed for a vintage appeal, which shines through especially in the eye-catching, retro-minded Pine Needle variation of the Filson Granite Mountain Shorts. Front hand pockets are stitched with an on-seam design for easy access, which also gives them the look of durable, sturdy patch pockets.
Taken altogether, the fabric and construction means the Filson Granite Mountain Shorts can function easily as either upgraded lounge shorts for flipping burgers, or else camping or hiking shorts in a pinch. The elastic drawstring waistband should prove comfortable without bunching up or getting in the way, while the 7-inch inseam should fit nicely on most guys.
Best of all is the fact that the Filson Granite Mountain Shorts (your new favorite summer shorts) are sturdy, built to last and well-made for the price. What more could you ask for from summer style essentials? Not much, in my experience.
When the going gets tough, the tough get Filson. Or at least, that’s what I like to say in terms of spring style essentials aplenty, and that holds true as we take a look at one of the best men’s henleys today on your favorite Brooklyn style blog.
Filson, in my experience, is a brand you can trust to cover just about any category, be it one of the best lightweight buttondown shirts, a full lineup of hard-wearing Filson waxed jackets or even stylish indigo denim that gets better with age. And what wears well with all of those rugged men’s style essentials?
One of the best short-sleeve henleys, of course. A durable, hard-working layer fit for styling on its own, beneath a trucker jacket or underneath a Filson long-sleeve shirt? Sign me up. And the Filson Frontier Henley T-Shirt more than holds its own, with the specs and durable construction to match.
The use of 6.5oz. jersey knit cotton gives this stylish henley T-shirt some texture and a substantial look and feel, never a bad thing if you want either a base layer or a versatile shirt to rock on its own. You’ll also find that the Filson Frontier Henley T-Shirt boasts a rib-knit collar that’ll hold its shape over time, all the while standing up to layering beneath a Filson twill shirt or field jacket.
And whether in Heather Grey or classic Black, I certainly appreciate touches like a Filson logo at the placket. Button up that three-button placket or unbutton it as you wish — the Filson Frontier Henley T-Shirt can stand up to denim shirting, breezy spring shirt jackets or simply your favorite pair of dark tan chinos and high-top canvas sneakers. Again, when the going gets tough, the tough wear something like the Filson Frontier Henley T-Shirt.
Pieces that stand the test of time in your wardrobe, whether through style points, utility or classic looks — or a combination of all three — are to be treasured and worn as often as possible, in my opinion. And if you’ve been reading the blog as of late, you know that hardly a brand out there hits those three tentpoles quite like legendary Pacific Northwest outfitter Filson.
From some of the best waxed jackets to sturdy T-shirts, durable blue jeans, hard-wearing work pants and some of the finest tool and travel bags on the market, Filson menswear lives up to its mission, and then some. Take the Filson Lightweight Alaskan Guide Shirt. It’s been in the company’s rotation for years, and with good reason.
As the company says, it’s a lighter-weight version of its iconic Alaskan Guide Shirt, which is typically made with burlier, thicker fabric to serve as a hard-working overshirt or even a mid-layer in especially brisk conditions.
The Filson Lightweight Alaskan Guide Shirt uses sturdy yet breathable 6oz. 100 percent cotton twill for a tightly woven layer that works as a breezy shirt jacket of sorts over a T-shirt, or else a buttondown to be worn with ease beneath your favorite denim jacket. Of course, the hits keep rolling from there.
This rugged shirt (or shirt jacket) is fit for work or play, thanks to that durable weave and a relaxed fit that encourages layering. That holds true whether you rock it over a USA-made T-shirt, worn unbuttoned on a spring day, or else atop a rugged long-sleeve henley for brisk seasonal mornings and nights.
Helpfully, the Filson Lightweight Alaskan Guide Shirt features oversized front-button chest pockets for easy storage of everyday carry essentials, and it comes in a massive array of sizes. Plus, a handful of distinct, timeless and tasteful color options provide variety for your spring and summer wardrobe (and beyond). For the brisk, breezy days ahead this season, layer up with the Filson Lightweight Alaskan Guide Shirt — it’s a move you won’t regret.
It’s always inspirational to see how a heritage menswear retailer dives into its own archives to mine its past for, among other things, the best spring menswear. And at a time of year when blustery weather gets more fierce by the day, and at a time when the best spring jackets for men are a must-have, there’s nothing quite like the chance to score a rugged, heritage-worthy archival style with loads of history and modern performance.
And that jacket, my friends? It’s the Filson Dry Tin Cloth Cruiser, which Filson just revamped for the famed jacket’s 110th anniversary.
110 years is a heck of a lot of dependability and reliable performance, and Filson certainly knows a thing or two about styles made to go the distance. The specs on this jacket nod to its history as a piece of outerwear prized by foresters who, as Filson says, were “cruising timber ahead of logging crews.”
As it were, the first edition of the Filson Cruiser used the outfitter’s famed Mackinaw Wool, while a waxed canvas version then followed — and the 2024 edition of the Filson Dry Tin Cloth Cruiser uses that same abrasion-resistant duck canvas (although a 1970s edition featured water resistance, minus the waxed treatment).
Are you still with me? The point stands that the rugged, tough-as-nails Filson Dry Tin Cloth Cruiser boasts hard-wearing fabric, plentiful pockets for your everyday carry, durable snaps and a puncture-resistant build.
The handsome and yet rugged Filson Dry Tin Cloth Cruiser is one of the toughest jackets on the market, whether worn with hard-working canvas pants on the job or with some Filson indigo denim alongside your favorite henley for grabbing another round of cold Friday night beers.
Whatever your next spring outing requires of you, the historical and historically tough Filson Dry Tin Cloth Cruiser is up to the task — and then some.
The right blend of form and function is crucial to winning the day in matters of spring style — you know this well if you read the blog on the regular, of course. And as we roll into the breezy, blustery, balmy days of spring, there’s perhaps no brand better equipped to outfit you with spring style essentials than Filson.
The legendary Pacific Northwest heritage outfitter makes some of the best waxed jackets on the market, and they also have a specialty in all sorts of rugged, durable layers (like one of the best shirt jackets). And that heritage certainly lives on in fine form with the Filson Field Jac-Shirt, part of a recent wave of Filson New Arrivals that demand some serious space in your closet.
Made from sturdy yet supple 9.5oz. cotton for durable performance on breezy spring days, this rugged shirt jacket takes inspiration from old-school military fatigues — would you expect anything else from Filson? They’ve also modeled the latest take on the shirt jacket from Filson’s original Jac-Shirt, another sign of reliable performance and quality.
Better still is the fact that the Filson Field Jac-Shirt comes in a garment-washed design for an easygoing feel that works as well over a classic T-shirt as it does your favorite short-sleeve henley.
And of course, the Filson Field Jac-Shirt is built with style points galore, the timeless Army Green colorway very much included. A hard-wearing shirt jacket is a spring style essential, and it gets no better than this one from Filson.
As we move slowly but surely into spring, it’s high time to take stock of your rotation of the best spring jackets, is it not? Spring conditions, with the potential for everything from blustery weather, rain and wind to sunshine, call for some of the hardest-wearing, hardest-working gear on the market — gear from Filson, to be more specific.
The Pacific Northwest heritage brand is a personal favorite for its emphasis on heirloom-worthy quality, tough performance and style points in equal measure, something they’ve emphasized for over a century now. And given the company’s Seattle roots, it only makes sense that a rugged outerwear pick like the Filson Eagle Harbor Jac Shirt would get the job done in fine form this season.
The Filson Eagle Harbor Jac Shirt is about as tough and hard-wearing as it gets, with an easy-on, easy-off snap button front placket, two sturdy button chest pockets for your everyday carry and of course, the outfitter’s legendary, weather-ready fabric. When it comes to the Filson Eagle Harbor Jac Shirt, that fabric happens to be a water-resistant waxed cotton that’ll get even better with age.
As the iconic company says, they modeled your new favorite shirt jacket “after our original wool Jac-Shirt that’s been an outdoors staple since the mid-1970s,” and that’s a heritage-minded point worth keeping in mind. The waxed cotton of the Filson Eagle Harbor Jac Shirt should easily stand up to wind and rain, proving useful to layer over everything from a thermal Filson henley to a classic T-shirt to, say, a lightweight Filson flannel shirt.
It’s rugged enough to wear with dark blue jeans, cool enough to wear with olive chinos and overall, the Filson Eagle Harbor Jac Shirt is up to just about any challenge this early spring — style-related, weather-wise or anywhere else.
The Style Guide 