The Friday Read: Summer Style Guide, Mainland and the 2016 Tony Awards

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.  

Can you believe it’s already the end of the third week in June? It’s pretty crazy how time’s been flying by so far this summer. We’ve got some big things in the works at The Style Guide HQ, including a great reader giveaway upcoming next week with my friends at Mack Weldon, plus tips on the best men’s swimsuits to buy for summer and a stylish #OOTD, per usual (wink, wink). If you haven’t hit the road yet this summer, take a look back at this site’s picks for the best men’s weekender bags for travel, as I rounded up five great ones. In fact, I just put my trusty Navali Stowaway Weekender to use as I hit the road to Timberland HQ in the rustic town of Stratham, N.H., for a great Fall 2016 planning session (again, time’s been flying by so far). If you get the chance, I’d recommend you check out lovely Portsmouth nearby. And back in NYC, the rest of the week was quite a busy one, what with catching an exciting concert put on by my buddies in Brooklyn indie rock band Mainland — if you’re in need of new music, give them a listen on Spotify. Before you catch those new tunes though, check out all the news that’s fit to print (digitally, of course) in the #menswear world this week. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

  • Get Kempt dishes out its Summer Style Guide via its partner platform at Urban Daddy, and it’s chock-full of items for your consideration.
  • Are you feeling stuck sartorially? Here are the 10 best-dressed men of the week via GQ, and you can get some nice styling tips therein.
  • Even if you don’t follow the theater community, it’s always worth a look at red carpet style — so with that in mind, check out the New York Times’ recap of style at the 2016 Tony Awards.

In need of more men’s style reading?

  • We’ll have a full post coming on Monday, but for now, check out a quick post covering stylish new JackThreads Swim Trunks, as covered by yours truly at GearHungry.

Again, check back tomorrow for a super-stylish (what else?) Style Pick of the Week, followed by a reader giveaway with the Mack Weldon team.

New customer offer! Get your first shirt or shorts for only $20 at Frank + Oak! (Valid until June 21 on select styles and while supplies last)

G-Star RAW

The Friday Read: Viral Instagram Poses, Summer Seersucker and The Strokes

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.  

How was your week? As it seems with most of these posts as of late, it’s the capper on another extremely busy one here at The Style Guide. It admittedly took me a day or two to get back into the swing of things after an extraordinarily fun weekend with great friends at the epic Governors Ball here in NYC; for more on the #menswear I brought with me, check out that post. There’s really nothing like great live music, and if you get the chance to check out any summer music festivals, I’d urge you to do so (in fact, we’ve got a summer festival style guide all set for you). Aside from that, it was great to catch up with the fine folks at JackThreads to see what they’ve got in store for the coming summer season, and we’re deep in the throes of preparing for Father’s Day over at The Style Guide HQ. What are you getting your dad this year? Check out my Father’s Day gift guide for more suggestions. Before you move onto the next task (or the next browser tab), stick around for a bit and check out this week’s #menswear news. For more random style musings, follow my stylish alter ego on Twitter, and check back here on the blog for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week.

  • The debut issue of GQ Style gets right into it by covering the viral Instagram pose you should never strike again — who even knew there was such a thing?
  • In the spirit of true summer style, the great folks at Maxim talk over the only 5 seersucker items you need this summer.
  • Here’s a style note for you: If you find yourself in the L.A. area this summer, be sure to check out the great pop-up shop being convened by the fine folks at Bridge & Burn (a Style Guide favorite); they’re running a special partnership with the team behind the Liberty Fairs trade show — that’s at 8366 1/2 West 3rd Street in L.A., if you get curious.
  • To close things out on a non-style note, it was an absolute treat to see The Strokes rock out at Governor’s Ball this past weekend — PAPER examines why New Yorkers love The Strokes.

Not done reading yet?

  • In addition to some of my choice Father’s Day picks on The Style Guide, I just had to cover essential Father’s Day gifts over at The Manual — some pieces were so great, they made it into both features!
  • If you still find yourself in need of summer swimwear, keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming Style Guide feature — and in the meantime, scoop up a great pair of JackThreads Swim Trunks.

So, that closes out another Friday Read; enjoy your weekend!

And as always… stay stylish,

-Beau

The Friday Read: Governors Ball, Affordable Style Essentials and the New Esquire

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.  

A jam-packed weekend of fun and great music awaits. Oh, and great style!

A jam-packed weekend of fun and great music awaits. Oh, and great style!

Last week’s Friday Read dove in a bit with the unexpected — that is, a larger look at the excellent JackThreads TryOuts program. But we’re back this Friday with a look at Governors Ball and more. Before we kick it off, are you all caught up on The Style Guide front? If not, check out a recent trip upstate I took for Memorial Day weekend (crucial #menswear in tow, of course). And read up on the essential white sneakers you need for summer, while we’re here. The holiday means it’s a busy and short week, made even shorter by the fact that I’m cutting work (just kidding) to attend day one of three of the excellent Governors Ball music festival here in NYC! It’s been a long time in the planning, and I’m excited to welcome in two great college friends for a weekend of fun, outstanding music from the likes of The Strokes, The Killers, HAIM, MisterWives, Cold War Kids and plenty more. It’s pretty special to be able to attend such a jam-packed festival solely by taking the subway, so that’s very exciting. I’m also teaming up with the great folks at CAT Footwear to share a few photos of my gear across the weekend, so be on the lookout for that via Instagram — and look for a full festival recap on Monday.  For now, recap the week in men’s style news with a few choice links below.

  • I’ve really been digging the content I’ve been reading from the new issue of Esquire, particularly the outlook of its new Esquire editor-in-chief Jay Fielden — his first letter from the editor is definitely worth a read.
  • On another style-related front, the fine purveyors of some of my favorite sneakers, Brooklyn’s GREATS, have teamed up with menswear aficionado Josh Peskowitz and his much-lauded new store, Magasin, on a seriously cool update to its Pronto sneaker (which is crafted from fine Italian suede). Get the GREATS x Magasin Pronto before it’s too late, seriously.
  • In music news (and even if you’ve heard), The Strokes released their new single, “Oblivius,” last week — it’s the first new tune from the band in three years, and I’m particularly excited to hear it live tonight!

In other matters of men’s style, we’ve got you covered:

  • Staying cool is paramount as it gets hot out — that’s why I had a ton of fun writing up the five best linen shirts for summer via The Manual. I’ll be putting together my own piece in that regard for this site later this summer, too.

So that’s all we’ve got for now, folks. In the meantime, follow along with my Governors Ball adventures on Instagram and Twitter!

Thanks, as always, for reading — let’s rock!

-Beau

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The Friday Read: JackThreads TryOuts Program and New Gear from Michael Strahan

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.  

Online shopping made considerably easier. Photo courtesy of JackThreads.

Online shopping made considerably easier. Photo courtesy of JackThreads.

This week’s Friday Read takes a bit of a departure from the usual, but bear with me as we kick off Memorial Day weekend. If you click on any given post on this site, from the #OOTD series  to Online Shopping Picks and the weekly Style Pick series, there’s a darn good chance you’re going to come across some gear from the fine folks at JackThreads. Since launching its own menswear vertical last fall, the brand has garnered a ton of attention from this #menswear writer for a unique and hard-to-find mix of affordably priced essentials for every season (some of which I’ve had the good fortune to test out). Truly, the quality is no joke.

They’ve got a stellar tobacco topcoat just waiting for you when it gets cold out, they’ve got slim denim shirts and indigo polos for right now (and later), they’ve got a plethora of stylish (and new) swimwear — you name it, it’s in the brand’s digital store. But how to access all this style awesome-ness (spell-check, anyone?) without knowing if the gear fits or looks good on you? Easy. The brand’s new TryOuts program, which launched on Wednesday, is here to help. Here’s the skinny: Pick out your gear, pay nothing for shipping, and try it out. Only pay for what you keep, and then send the rest back — for free. It’s not a bad deal at all, it’s easy to sign up and use,  and it plays off findings from the brand, who says more than 50 percent of the time, millennial guys leave items in their carts because of purchaser uncertainty (I know I’ve been there). So, this system aims to solve all that. If testing is any indication, the response has been largely positive — and it’s tough to ignore it when it’s such a great deal. Might I recommend you start with the JackThreads Field Jacket, among other picks? Sign up for the TryOuts program here, and stick with The Style Guide below for more of this week’s menswear news and notes. What are you up to for Memorial Day weekend in the meantime? Head to my Instagram to follow along as I travel upstate, and catch The Style Guide on Facebook for more!

  • On the style collab front, Michael Strahan  (the ex-NFL star turned talk show host) just launched the MSX by Michael Strahan line, a collection of polos, shorts, jackets henleys and affordably priced tees that merge functional fabrics with smart fits and eye-catching colors (plus, nary a pesky athletic logo in site).
  • Levi’s also teamed up once again with the Harvey Milk Foundation for its first-ever global Pride collection (and third overall) celebrating the legacy of activist and politician Harvey Milk. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Harvey Milk Foundation, and  the offering includes pieces like a classic trucker jacket emblazoned with some nice design details.
  • And if you’re already thinking ahead to the coming fall season (it’ll be here before you know it, rest assured that Canada Goose will be upping its physical retail presence pretty markedly — to the tune of opening flagship stores in Tokyo and NYC later this year. Each store clocks in at more than 4,000 square feet, and “will be an invitation to explore the company’s rich heritage and unique culture through the curated exhibition of vintage designs.” Pretty neat, ehh?
  • On other men’s lifestyle matters, GQ.com sat down for a quick, snappy and very neat interview with respected actor/musician/playwright Jeff Daniels — it’s substantive, fun and motivating.

Need just a bit more reading material before you hit the road?

  • I had a tremendous time last weekend with my family in and around NYC — here’s a post recapping all of the great men’s style gear I rocked during that mini-vacation!
  • If you’re gearing up for a summer wedding, do so in style with wedding season picks from Combatant Gentleman — part of my latest post over at The Manual.

Look for our regular Style Pick of the Week tomorrow, and stay tuned for trip coverage from my upstate vacation on Monday.

Enjoy the weekend!

-Beau
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Florsheim

The Friday Read: Apolis Nomad Market and Hang Ten x Urban Outfitters

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.  

Now open at the Wythe Hotel -- the Nomad Market Pop-up via the fine folks at Apolis. Photo courtesy of the brand.

Now open at the Wythe Hotel — the Nomad Market Pop-up via the fine folks at Apolis. Photo courtesy of the brand.

Does it feel like summer to you yet? It’s probably got something to do with the glorious weather these past few days in Brooklyn, and a slew of summer-centric events I was able to attend this week, including a neat bar crawl hosted by my friends with the colorful sock brand Pair of Thieves around NYC. Those socks, if you’re not familiar, are colorful and quirky yet easily wearable (see this outfit for an example), and it was fun to catch up with the brand’s co-founders, as well as my pal, the ever-stylish Jamal Jackson of StyleSocietyGuy. Even before that event, it was a busy one in NYC — I helped host Timberland’s Fall 2016 Collection Preview at the Hotel on Rivington. Thanks to everyone who came out! And be on the lookout for some incredible leather jackets and tough boots coming up from the brand later this year. One other NYC-centric note: If you get the opportunity to head over to Brooklyn, one of this site’s favorite #menswear brands — Apolis — celebrated the opening of the first East Coast edition of its traveling pop-up (known as the Nomad Market) at the Wythe Hotel, as seen above. It’s packed full of stellar goods, including the brand’s chore coats, denim and knitwear. Check it out through August 17th, and maybe put a piece on hold for me?

Since we’re feeling very much summer-ready over here, it’s definitely time to grab a few rays — if you need a swimsuit or T-shirt refresh, grab an item or two in a colorful, retro-inspired print from the new Hang Ten x Urban Outfitters collab — these pieces harken back to days on the beach and lots of sun, particularly these corduroy shorts (ideal for after you catch hit the water). Do these pieces come with a cooler and a cold beer? I’ll report back. Know that we’ll have a Memorial Day style suggestion coming up next week, along with guides to the best men’s sunglasses for summer. And until then, check out the rest o’ the week in menswear.

Need to satisfy your craving for more men’s style?

  • I love a great watch — especially one that’s rugged, durable and still casual. Given that, it was a blast to write this post on the best men’s field watches for GearMoose earlier this week!

Until tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week,

-Beau

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The Friday Read: Sebago’s 70th Anniversary and Summer Style Must-Haves

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.  

The full selection of men's and women's spring product from Sebago -- essentially the ideal pair of footwear you need for casual days at the beach.

The full selection of men’s and women’s spring product from Sebago — essentially the ideal pair of footwear you need for casual days at the beach. Photo courtesy of Sebago.

How has your week been? It’s certainly been a packed week up and down the East coast, from last weekend’s trip to Washington, D.C. to a busy week of planning for a press preview at my day job. And that rolled through to the very cool event pictured at the top of the page — the launch of a special pop-up shop in NYC celebrating the 70th anniversary of Sebago , the iconic maker of a lot of very summer-friendly footwear. A big thanks to the team for the invite, too! It was certainly a treat to check out some upcoming Fall styles (think moc toe chukkas with crepe soles and classic brown leather loafers), and I also enjoyed getting a look at the brand’s assortment of Spring product, too. In fact, it’ll be sticking around ’til August, so if you’re in NYC over the summer, I’d suggest a visit (it’s at 254 Elizabeth Street in the city). And if you don’t yet have a pair of leather loafers for spring in your arsenal, give these Sebago loafers a try! It’s always nice to be able to sip on some nice craft brews (in this case from Sebago Brewing, as well) while checking out menswear. Am I right, or am I right? At any rate, we’ve got you well-covered on other matters of style as well, from this week’s earlier Style Guide #OOTD on how to style a polo for spring, to the shorts you need for summer. And if that’s too much to buy at once, allow me to suggest our regularly scheduled Friday programming below — catch up on all things #menswear, and look for a Style Pick of the Week entry tomorrow. Have a great Friday!

  • A seemingly weekly favorite for inclusion in these pieces, Get Kempt covers your summer style must-haves — how many of these do you have in your wardrobe?
  • We turn back to footwear, and specifically sporty spring sneakers — Nike has ambitious plans to double its business while impacting the environment half as much; how is that possible? The industry insiders at Footwear News have the scoop.
  • So this isn’t a style feature, but as a huge Harry Potter fan, it seems especially relevant — GQ.com tells us about a group of guys who, well, skydived from a plane to get in a game of real, live, airborn Quidditch.
  • Style Notes of the Week: We’ve got two noteworthy releases on the docket — if you’re a fan of eyecatching eyewear and cool collaborations, the team at KOMONO (makers of the Winston Herringbone Watch as featured on this site) has paired up with electronic music festival Tomorrowland to launch a sunglasses collab. Is there a pair of frames more suited to warm weather and outdoor tunes? And, the folks at GREATS — makers of some of this site’s favorite sneakers — have teamed up with Robin Hood, the largest poverty-fighting organization in New York City — to release a sneaker that’s eye-catching, colorful and sold for charity (every penny goes to Robin Hood). Not a bad effort at all!

Need more men’s style content in your life?

  • It was a busy week of writing outside of The Style Guide — check out some of my favorite brands as featured in my Spring Style Essentials post over at GearMoose, and be sure to take a gander at five ways to wear leather loafers over at Effortless Gent; that was a fun post to write, and I hope you enjoy!
  • Lastly, lest you think we’re finished, the team at Taylor Stitch just partnered with Mission Workshop to release a line of technical, stylish essentials that are up for pre-funding on the Taylor Stitch site — it was fun to cover that collab for The Manual!

With all that writing in the books, I’m certainly looking forward to a relaxing spring weekend. Catch up on what I’m wearing over on Instagram, if you so choose. And stay stylish!

-Beau
Frank & Oak

Florsheim

The Friday Read: Kentucky Derby Cocktails, Men’s Sunglasses and Washington, D.C.

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.  

Hello there, Style Guide readers! Welcome to another edition of the Friday Read, where (if you’re not familiar), we’re recapping the week in #menswear. And if you’ve come through these parts before, welcome back. How was your week? It’s turning out to be a mighty packed one, what with Cinco de Mayo yesterday, the Kentucky Derby following on Saturday and of course, Mother’s Day on Sunday. If you’re scrambling to find a gift, check out this site’s rundown of the best gifts for Mother’s Day. Trust us, we’ll get you sorted. Hopefully, you’ll have the chance to rest, relax and spend some quality time with family this weekend — whether it’s watching the Derby or doing some traveling to see friends. On that note, check back here Monday for a full post covering a trip I’m taking to Washington, D.C. to see my good friend, former college roommate and current political journo Ian Kullgren. If you have any suggestions for fun things to do in the area, let me know on Twitter! And if you want to follow along with my travels, add me on Instagram  or… better yet, follow me on Snapchat @beau_hayhoe. I’m still getting the hang of that thing, but I think I’ve got a good handle on what’s going in this week’s Friday Read — enjoy the weekend and read on!

  • Enjoying a nice beverage during the Kentucky Derby? Here’s exactly how to make a mint julep, the official drink of the Derby. If you’re more partial to other cocktails, here’s a look at this site’s cocktail guide for the 2016 Masters.
  • Note that we’ll have our own Style Guide sunglasses picks coming up here shortly, but in the meantime, the Wall Street Journal recommends the following men’s sunglasses picks for summer.
  • Again, this piece isn’t directly style-related, but it ties into something this menswear writer knows and loves –a great beer! Men’s Journal covers the 25 best American IPAs (and boy, is the list something else!)
  • Style Note of the Week: This isn’t a full-on menswear story by any means, but rather a recommendation that’s given me some great visual inspiration — if you don’t follow the fantastic Christian Watson on Instagram, it’d be wise to start! He shares some inspiring shots of his travels, his daily adventures and his incredible eye for a great photo. Worth  a look to start your weekend, ehh?

Want some more great men’s style content? Here we are!

  • If you read this site, you know I’m a huge fan of the versatility and tough styling potential of a rugged henley — so of course, I wrote about the 10 best henleys for men over at GearMoose! I think you’ll recognize some Style Guide favorites in there.

Thanks as always, for reading!

-Beau

 

The Friday Read: Fashion Supply Chains, Steph Curry and the Guinness Debate

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.  

Things have been developing quickly on The Style Guide this spring — it’s tough to believe it’s already nearly May! Right? If your spring has been going as fast as mine feels like it has, perhaps you’ve already locked down a stylish spring jacket or an awesome pair of leather loafers? What about some made-in-America sneakers? Join us for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week — no more hints. And in the meantime, let’s get on with the Friday Read. This past week, we’ve been in the midst of planning another spring event for Timberland — yet this time, we’re looking toward the brand’s Fall 2016 collections. Maybe that’s where the time is going! But back to the matter at hand. Is there content you’d like to see on the blog? Outfit suggestions? Certain categories covered more? Definitely let me know.  We’ll be angling to cover more lifestyle content in the coming weeks, including some changes coming to this particular feature. That doesn’t change the below #menswear news we’re covering here. Read on, and enjoy the weekend!

  • We’ll start with a worthwhile read for every fashion fan, as VICE dives into that arena by looking at how big-name fashion brands — some of the biggest in the world, in fact — are using secret supply chains; not very ethical, to say the least.
  • Just how valuable is Steph Curry to Under Armour as a brand? Pretty darn valuable! To the tune of … well, $14 billion. With a B. Pretty neat.
  • Like any self-respecting beer drinker, I love a good Guinness. Even if it’s pretty pervasive, is it craft beer? Check out what Men’s Journal had to say on the matter.
  • Style Note of the Week: In case you hadn’t caught wind of this as of yet, Well-Spent reminds us all that the Taylor Stitch Beach Jacket continues to fund — and continues to impress. Check out how to style it in this week’s #OOTD.

Still looking for more men’s style content? Get a load of the below.

That’s all for now, folks — look out for tomorrow’s Style Pick, and give us a shout on Facebook with style questions!

-Beau

The Friday Read: Spring Sneakers, Brian Johnson and What Women Really Think of Menswear

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.  

So, did you survive Coachella last weekend? (Kidding? Maybe? If you went, how was it?) And how about this past week? It was another one that flew by, what with several press previews to check out from some great brands, ranging from Herschel to Jason Scott (the brand’s 8th Avenue store is very much worth a look if ever you find yourself in NYC, and the knitwear is exceptionally soft). On another press preview-related note, if you haven’t given the folks at AVI-8 Watches a look, their military-inspired timepieces are rugged, durable, and sure to get better in the coming montsh. It’s exciting to be able to see what’s happening in the menswear world at large, and you can look for a lot of that content in the coming weeks and months via my writing work at The Manual! And with fall press previews already ramping up, that means another thing in this moment, more importantly — spring is officially here (confusing, right?). If you’re heading out on a spring bar crawl, we’ve got some gear to get you ready. And if you’re wondering what to wear for a casual spring weekend, knock yourself out. I hope the weather’s nice in your neck of the woods — we’ve got a great one in the works here. Get some styling inspiration for yourself (if need be) via my Instagram. And stay stylish in the meantime!

  • High fashion often leaves something out of the equation for those of us more interested in matters purely related to “style” — so the swirling rumors that a high-fashion designer (or designers) might join the more everyman-focused Calvin Klein are pretty interesting, to say the least.
  • Megan Collins (a good friend of The Style Guide) and some other stylish ladies spoke to Esquire.com earlier this week about what women really think of menswear trends — it’s a pretty neat piece!
  • Do you have a great pair of classic white sneakers in your arsenal as of yet? Men’s Journal recommends the five best pairs of white sneakers to wear this spring.
  • Long Read of the Week: It was big news in my neck of the woods when it was announced that Axl Rose would replace Brian Johnson in AC/DC. If you’re a hard rock fan (read: A fan of one of the greatest bands in the world, for that matter), Brian himself. issued a really heartbreaking letter about how his hearing issues forced him to stop performing in AC/DC. Tough stuff to read — if you’re in a tough spot as to what to do about your tickets, that makes two of us!

But wait, there’s more menswear!

  • There’s perhaps no brand associated more with the water — and uniquely styled looks built around that environment — than SWIMS. Learn about the brand’s Spring 2016 collection via my post this week at The Manual!
  • Grab a sharp pair of spring sneakers via this very Web site — if you missed that post when it originally ran, we’ll give you a pass (this time).

Enjoy the weekend, folks!

Thanks, as always, for reading,

-Beau



The Friday Read: What to Wear to Coachella, Spring Style Tips and Tommy Hilfiger

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.  

Is anyone else feeling ready for the weekend? Tell you what, this #menswear writer sure is. Unlike last week’s Masters 2016-centric Friday Read, we’re back to basics here on The Style Guide. This post in particular caps off a week filled with the best suede chukkas to buy now, plus a SprezzaBox giveaway –a HUGE thanks to all who participated! Outside Style Guide HQ, things were hectic but incredibly rewarding, as myself and my colleagues at Coyne PR headed to the great city of Boston to run a brand event on behalf of Timberland (catch a behind-the-scenes look at the action on Twitter). Although our time in Boston was too brief, our evening at the excellent Row34 was well-spent as we dined with some of Boston’s best style bloggers and media. With such a quick trip in the books, I definitely need to get back!

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If you have any recommendations as to other travel stops in Boston,  let me know about it at The Style Guide Facebook page! As to other happenings during the week, I was excited to be able to check out the upcoming Autumn/Winter 2016 line of Troubadour — are you familiar with these guys? I was more than pleased with my first look at the brand’s excellent, modern leather weekender bags, backpacks and tote bags, some crafted from rich leather and others using a blend of leather and waxed canvas.  We’re talking pieces that are clean, minimal and yet handsomely done. Look for more on The Manual soon! With all of that being said, it’s about time we head into the weekend — yes? Whether you’re heading to Coachella or knocking back a few at a patio bar crawl, the Friday Read has you covered.

  • Tommy Hilfiger takes you back in time with a collection inspired by the 9os — are you a fan of the brand? Or do they get a thumbs-down? For lightwash denim that might be more your speed, click here.
  • This post ran late last month, but we’re digging it back up for posterity, because you don’t need that many steps to upgrade your style this season. In fact, Men’s Health covers off on three tips to upgrade your spring style.
  • And as this weekend is the first of two out west, let’s get to it. Get Kempt tells you exactly what you should be wearing to Coachella — and it’s a heck of a lot more stylish compared to a regular festival kit.

Not done reading about #menswear? Continue below.

  • As summer travel looms, we should all be focused on the little style details that make or break an ensemble — including your dopp kit. I covered the best dopp kits for men over at GearMoose, and had a heck of a time doing it!
  • We’re revisiting an older post here — the folks at Minimum Squared, makers of simple, effective and stylish wallets for guys, just received the prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design, celebrating the company’s perfectly minimal, refined and soundly designed wallets. Read more on Minimum Squared at VOUCH Mag!