Tag / gearmoose

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Best Smarwatches, A New Denim Shirt and The State of the Music Industry

Step on up and dive right in to this week’s Friday Read, packed with men’s style essentials aplenty to start your weekend off right. I’m looking forward to another early “Summer Friday,” (a perk of working in the NYC PR world!). This weekend, I’m planning on visiting the iconic Grand Central Station, enjoying some local coffee and neighborhood strolls, and checking out the lauded Brooklyn Museum! It’ll be a relaxing and enjoyable summer weekend, to say the least.  I truly can’t wait. The close of this week also means that we’re one week closer to Labor Day and the end of summer — how are you prepping for early fall? Might I suggest shopping some of my favorite menswear picks to make the transition? I hope that the below menswear reads are helpful to you as you shop, pack and plan. Without any further ado, here we go! Happy reading, happy shopping & wishing you a happy weekend.

  • Some guys are watch guys, and some guys just … aren’t. At least, not in the traditional sense. If you find yourself in the market for a new, tech-forward timepiece, just about the best thing you could do would be to check out my feature on the best smartwatches for 2018 over on GearMoose.
  • I’ll be sharing more thoughts on the best weekender bags in the season ahead, but for now, I’d say you’d do well to check out my latest piece for The Manual covering essential, stylish gear to pack up for your next trip out of town.
  • Let’s talk dependable, everyday style — with just a bit of edge thrown in, that is. The Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt keeps popping up on the site for good reason. It’s made with quality cotton in a rich indigo color, and it features a reliable fit for layering over everything from a grey slub tee to a long-sleeve thermal shirt (come early fall, that is). That’s why I’d recommend you catch up with our See Now, Buy Now series, and make the Bone Button Shirt work for you.

  • OK, switching tracks a bit here — I’m a huge fan of all things live music, from festivals to small Brooklyn club shows, so I found the big news out of the music industry this week both intriguing and alarming. That is to say, Paste Magazine and other outlets have reported that musicians received only 12 percent of the music industry’s $43 billion in revenue last year. YIKES. Give the article a read, and then buy a T-shirt the next time you see your favorite local indie artist, yes?

Can’t get enough menswear before the weekend? Shop these menswear must-haves before you go. Thanks for reading!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Stylish Men’s Henleys, Seasonal Layering and the Value of New Outdoor Gear

Hey there, folks — it’s Friday! And it’s time to wrap up the work week here and jet off into the weekend (preferably dressed in casual weekend style). The start of November means a few things, at least for me personally … namely, it’s a month that’s VERY closely associated with my favorite song by my favorite band (that’d be “Mr. November” by The National). Does that stellar song top my list of things to look forward to this month? Well, of course not … but it’s a fun one nonetheless. We’ve also got Thanksgiving on the horizon, along with Black Friday shopping aplenty; you can expect a full rundown of stylish men’s gear to buy for that occasion here in the next few weeks. For now though, I’m happy to be at home in Brooklyn this weekend. My fall travels have taken me out to Portland and south to Nashville, along with a quick Northeast jaunt to Boston to see, as luck would have it … The National! But my focus is solely on the homefront this weekend. I’m planning on swinging by my favorite menswear and coffee shop, Upstate Stock, to check out plenty of finely crafted #menswear, and I’m also hoping to make my way to a local sports bar to cheer on my beloved Michigan State Spartans as the battle the Penn State Nittany Lions in a college football showdown. What’s on your weekend agenda? Before you dive in, check out the below men’s style news for your reading pleasure. Cheers!

  • Want a simply designed, yet simply unbeatable, windbreaker? The GoRuck Simple Windbreaker (would ya look at that!) is the one to buy now! Read more via my latest GearMoose post, and check out my own guide on how to wear a bomber jacket for more inspo.
  • Make no mistake, I’m not necessarily a hiking enthusiast, per se — but I know great outdoor gear (and rugged style essentials) when I see it on the market. Interestingly enough, Gear Patrol makes the case that you shouldn’t buy new outdoor gear … how about that? What’s your take on that?

  • Now, I sure do love me a stylish men’s henley — and if you happened to catch my feature for The Manual on the best men’s henleys, you know that all too well! Get yourself one before it’s too late, my friends.

Alright, my friends … that’s all the #menswear I’ve got for ya today!

Enjoy the weekend, and check back for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The worn&wound Watch Fair, The Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket and Fall Fitness

The month of October seriously has flown by — can you believe it? We’ve talked a bunch about fall style essentials, from the rugged men’s gear to buy now to the best bomber jacket for fall to sporty, stylish sneakers for weekend adventures. Hopefully, it’s been helpful? You can — and should! — let me know your thoughts via The Style Guide Facebook page. In the midst of all this #menswear coverage, I’ve also been thankful to get out and about quite a bit this month, from a Northeast trip to Boston to see my favorite band (The National!), to explorations around some neat Brooklyn spots thanks to my Wildsam Field Guide. Among those stops, I can’t recommend craft beer haven The Well enough, and the super cool, eclectcic Silent Barn is a great DIY music and art gallery at which I spent an enjoyable evening recently. $8 for three bands? Not bad at all, my friends. Of course, I also had the chance to head back to Chicago this past weekend for a visit with my great friend and former State News journo Jesse O’Brien.

Now, if you follow me on Instagram, perhaps you knew all about my latest trip (wink, wink). On top of a summer weekend in Chicago and a trip to Lollapalooza 2017, it’s been great to explore such a cool city, complete with craft beer and #menswear galore. Are you heading on any fall trips soon? Be sure to dress in casual weekend style — for now, we’ll say goodbye as we head into a Brooklyn weekend. I’ve got another excellent Brooklyn Steel show on tap, this time featuring breezy Brooklyn indie rockers Beach Fossils! Follow along on Instagram for all the action, and thanks for reading!

  • Every guy needs an arsenal of stylish casual watches, right? And perhaps an investment-worthy timepiece, too. And in that regard, it’s a great time to be a watch aficionado in NYC — the worn&wound Watch Fair is back in NYC starting today! The event takes over a portion of NYC’s Chelsea Market through Sunday the 29th, turning it into a haven for innovative, classic and extremely well-made watches. It focuses on smaller, more unique and more carefully made watches from brands that you might not have heard of — yet. So, head to the subway and head to Chelsea Market just as quickly as you can. You just might end up with a few ideas as to your new favorite watch.
  • Let’s talk fitness, yes? Specifically, let’s talk fall fitness and this helpful list of the best men’s workout gear for fall from our friends at Esquire.com. It’s crucial to get those miles in as it gets colder (and you might also find this site’s take on the most stylish gear to wear to the gym quite helpful).
  • You’re surely already familiar with the Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket — right? At least, I’d say you should be. And in that regard, I’d urge you to head over to GearMoose to check out my latest piece on this fantastic, stylish piece of fall outerwear. Oh, and in the meantime? You should certainly shop my very own list of the best men’s jackets for fall. Rock on!
  • As someone deeply entrenched in — and indebted to — social media, I found this piece in The Atlantic fascinating, well-written and quite disturbing. It’s a deep dive into the impact of smartphones and social media on today’s teenagers — give it a read when you get the chance today.

I’m clocking out for a relaxing NYC weekend now, and I hope you get to do the same soon.

Cheers!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: How to Wear a Flannel Shirt, Everyday Carry Essentials and American Giant

TGIF and congrats are in order, right? We made it — no, powered through — another week of #menswear here at The Style Guide. Have you been keeping up? I’ve enjoyed ramping up a recent new series on the blog, our ongoing See Now, Buy Now entries, which cover all sorts of men’s style essentials to see now and … buy now.  Don’t forget to check out our fall style wish list, either — ’tis the season! Want to see something different on the blog in the way of content? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter and I’ll get right on it! In the meantime, it’ll be an exciting and busy Brooklyn weekeend — I’m hosting my mom, dad and sister for a weekend of stylish Brooklyn exploration!

We’ve got a Broadway show on tap, plus some stops at the New York Food and Wine Festival and likely a few pints at some of Brooklyn’s best craft beer spots (lookin’ at you, Other Half Brewing Company). Where will your weekend adventures take you? Be sure to dress in fall travel style, will ya? Have a great weekend!

Alright, my friends. We’re all done for this week — unless you count tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week, or Sunday’s See Now, Buy Now entry. So, plenty more rugged menswear for fall is on the way!

Rock on,

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Best Men’s Shirt Jackets, The National and New Sneakers from CLAE

My friends, it’s another big Friday at The Style Guide — as seems to be the case lately. It’s been a busy fall of travel for your #menswear author and editor already, what with stylish trips to Portland and Nashville already in the books. And as luck would have it, I’m en route back from yet another #menswear and music-centric trip as we speak! Last night, I made the relatively quick hop up to Boston from NYC to see my favorite band, lauded indie rockers The National, kick off their fall U.S. tour! I took in a great, great show — nearly beyond words — and even grabbed a few craft beers at the excellent Tip Tap Room, too.

As if that wasn’t incredible enough, my trip back to Brooklyn comes just as the band arrives in New York City for an evening show at the elegant Forest Hills Stadium in Queens — where you’ll find me this evening! You can look for full details on both shows and the weekend itself in a #menswear post coming to the blog on Monday, and in the meantime, you can follow along on Instagram for up-to-the-song updates.  Need something to read while you kick off your own weekend? We’ve got you covered below, and we’ve got you covered with your shopping, too. You can — and should — shop the best men’s jackets for fall, pick up stylish travel gear via the Bespoke Post Wander Box  and perhaps add to your fall wardrobe with the stellar Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker before the weekend kicks off. So, that’s taken care of — onto the reading picks below! Cheers and rock on.

  • An easy-to-wear, easy-to-layer, rugged shirt jacket is a fall style essential — pair it with a slim striped henley and tan chinos, plus leather boots … or take it to the next level and slide it on underneath a field jacket. Those are just two of my suggestions, though — if it’s a stylish shirt jacket you seek, you’d best get started with my picks for the best men’s shirt jackets from GearMoose.
  • I love the work being done on the sneaker front by CLAE — if you followed along with my fall trip to Nashville, you know that I brought the Gregory Mid with me, and you know that the brand blends the sporty and the classic with comfortable technology. Such is the case with the High and Lows x CLAE launch — the brand teamed with the lauded international retailer on a cool Chelsea boot revamp known as the Richards Zip Vibram Boot. Available in two color options, we’re talking water-resistant, sporty style and details like a heavy-duty pull tab for extra durability. Not a bad job at all by CLAE! (And to see how I style the rest of my sneaker collection — from CLAE and beyond — head to my Instagram).

Lastly, you can head back here tomorrow to check out the latest Style Pick of the Week — and on Sunday, we’ll get into an all-new See Now, Buy Now entry covering more rugged menswear for fall. It’ll be great, folks!

Thanks for reading,

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Best Men’s Fall Boots, Portland and A Rugged Fall Jacket

Let’s turn the page on another week and hop right into the weekend here on The Style Guide. With another Friday Read comes another step closer toward fall. From football tailgates to breaking in new Chelsea boots all the way through to knocking back a rich IPA or an Oktoberfest beer at your local haunt, it’s a great time to prep for the season with perfectly rugged fall style. We’ve been talking a lot about those themes on the blog, from a new way to wear your denim jacket to the best men’s boots for fall, too.

If all of that #menswear doesn’t get you excited, I’m not sure what will! I know I’m excited to break out some new seasonal favorites — you can follow me on Instagram for more there. And in the meantime, you might want to tag along this coming weekend; I’ll be hitting the road in style once again, this time on a West Coast trip to lovely Portland! It’s coming on the heels of a big fall event at my day job, so the trip is perfectly timed for a little rest, relaxation, craft beer, fall menswear and of course, some live music. Who exactly is on the docket? Why, passionate, energetic and plain fun synth pop band Future Islands! Give their new album, “The Far Field,” a spin as you relax with your weekend coffee and a few prime pieces of men’s style news — which, as always, you can find below!

  • As we talked about earlier, it’s the perfect season for a great pair of stylish leather boots — right? Right. And my picks for The Manual covering the best leather boots for men might just take the cake. At least, that’s what I think! Read up now, folks.

  • Fancy getting out of the city on a hike? I know I could use a getaway every now and then — and if you’re more outdoors-minded than this city dweller, one of the best pairs of men’s hiking pants, as written about by yours truly, could very well be of interest. Get out there and get to it!

Alright, we’re keeping it short and sweet today — although if I had to make one last recommendation, it’d be to read this neat Esquire rundown of why you need a denim shirt in your fall men’s style rotation. Get it? Got it? Good.

Happy Friday and enjoy the weekend!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Essential Everyday Carry Gear, Craft Beer and Nisolo Shoes

Can you believe another week is in the books? Heck, can you believe I’m in Chicago again for the second time this month? I certainly can’t — and yet, today’s edition of the Friday Read is coming to you live from the Windy City. I trekked to Chicago just a few short weeks ago for Lollapalooza 2017, and had a great weekend dressed in ideal music festival style. This time around, I’m meeting my family back in the Midwest for a weekend of city exploration and crucially, a family trip to see lauded American musical “Hamilton.” Having seen the show twice already, I gave up my ticket to my young nephew, a budding musical enthusiast and huge fan of the standout musical. So, that’ll free up some time for me to explore all that Chicago has to offer — anywhere that’s a must-see on your list? I’m looking forward to hitting up the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, a refined, old-school art-deco spot with (apparently) a neat speakeasy. That’s just one of many stops I’ll be making, though. Follow along with all the action on Instagram, and be sure to check back here for a full #menswear trip recap on Monday. Until then — stay stylish and enjoy the below weekend reading picks!

  • Fall is a great time to hit the road for day or weekend trips — heading to a winery, a brewery, an orchard … you name it, and it should definitely involve essential travel style. To that end, I rounded up the best everyday carry gear for your next drive. Head to GearMoose to check it out.
  • We enjoy talking craft beer around these parts — to say the least. With that in mind, I point you toward The Manual — my colleague Lee Heidel is taking you into a new initiative from the Brewers Association to properly label beer from breweries that fit the definition of “craft.” It’s a worthy cause that might just make you love your favorite beer even more — agreed?

  • Let’s stick with the latest happenings at The Manual — shall we? Namely, I rounded up my favorite picks from Nisolo, the ethically crafted footwear makers behind a whole host of stylish chukka boots, rugged sneakers and plenty more. Shop away!

OK, everyone — we’re keeping it short this week! Enjoy the weekend, and check back for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week.

Thanks for reading!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Lollapalooza 2017, Kinfolk and Gear Patrol Field Guides

What a whirlwind week we’ve had here at The Style Guide. And by we, well, I just mean me — that’s a new one, right?? At any rate, time’s flown by since the last Friday Read — more specifically, two full days at Lollapalooza 2017 were among my adventures in Chicago last week!  From dining at the tasty Public House downtown to strolling through the massive and jam-packed Millenium Park to enjoying stellar sets by The Killers, Sylvan Esso and alt-J — to name a few — it was a truly banner weekend. I’m thankful to have had some outstanding music festival adventures this summer, from Panorama NYC to Governors Ball, and my Lollapalooza trip packed in as much #menswear, gourmet bites and craft beer that I could possibly handle. If you haven’t made the trip to Lollapalooza, I’d absolutely recommend it — the chance to take in a great festival in a great city like Chicago is second to none.

But when it comes to the home front, it’s been a busy week regardless — if you haven’t been following along, you best catch up — ehh? On Wednesday, we talked about the essentials to bring to a summer barbecue — preferably, the one you’re going to tomorrow afternoon — there’s still time! We also offered up one of my favorite #OOTD series pieces on this site to date, as this week’s post tackled how to wear a rugged henley this summer. Again, what’s not to love about a slim short-sleeve henley and rugged essentials like a stylish leather watch? Nothing, that’s what. And before we take off for the weekend, we have a plethora of men’s style news for you below — with a dash of music thrown in for good measure. See you out there this weekend, yeah? Check out my Instagram (and Instagram Stories!) for more.

  • Want to snag one last (final last) eye-catching T-shirt to rock in these last few weeks of summer? You might want to check out what Kinfolk is doing with a new line of graphic tees. Featuring a variety of designs — including the crisp Kinfolk 2017 Tee in White, these shirts mix in playful designs and colors with bold questions (“Ten years from now, will your kids remember what all the fuss was about?”). It’s a neat way to shake up your T-shirt rotation — although we all know there’s nothing wrong with a  classic men’s T-shirt, these are still a worthy option.

  • While we’re talking shopping, we just launched yet another new Style Guide series here on the blog. The good news is, entries one and two are up and running in our See Now, Buy Now series. It covers, in short, a quick recap of one standout #menswear item to buy now — from Beckett Simonon’s stylish wingtip boots to the perfect Oxford for fall, I’m excited to offer up plenty of options for ya to shop when it comes to the best men’s gear. After all, “see now, buy now” is a big pillar of the fashion world — why not bring it here?

  • Now, we just talked in last week’s Friday Read about the launch of the exciting (and no doubt tasty) Gear Patrol Beer Week. The publication continues to build on that beer-themed focus with the launch of the first-ever Gear Patrol Field Guide this week — and man, am I excited. It’s a deep dive into all the craft beer that you can possibly read — and dream — about. Oh, and it’s condensed into one handy guide for under $10. I’ll tell you this: You can expect more recommendations to pick up the Gear Patrol Field Guide in the coming days and weeks, that much is true.
  • Since we’re on the gear front, why not hop on over to GearMoose to read my latest long-format feature for the esteemed digital publication? Yes indeed, that’d have to be my roundup of the best pilot watches for men. There’s something in that list for everyone, from picks that lean dressy and sharp to watches that are beastly, rugged and flight-ready. Happy reading!

That’ll do it for this week’s Friday Read. If you need me tonight, I’ll be at the Music Hall of Williamsburg enjoying a great rock show by BK indie rockers Slothrust. See you out there?

-Beau

 

 

 

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Panorama 2017, Men’s Grooming Essentials and New Music from Haim

The world keeps turning, the clock keeps ticking and so, we find ourselves again at the end of the week — and another fun-filled Friday Read, ehh? Have you covered all of your #menswear bases this summer? That is to say, have you picked up stylish leather high-top sneakers or added any items to your summer style wish list? We’ve still got another month of summer to come yet — and with that, a few upcoming highlights in this neck of woods. Coming on the heels of a busy New York Fashion Week: Men’s earlier this month, I’m excited to hop on the subway this weekend to the second rendition of one-of-a-kind NYC festival Panorama, as much a celebration of tech and art as it is excellent music from the likes of Solange, Frank Ocean, Mitski and Future Islands (among many others). I had an incredible Saturday at Panorama 2016 — dressed in prime music festival style, of course — and I’m very much looking forward to taking in two action-packed days this coming weekend, starting shortly today! As it were, you can look for a full post recapping how to dress for a music festival (and how to make the most of those craft beer tents — am I right?). At any rate, you can follow along in the meantime on Instagram and Twitter — and as scheduled, we’re coming at you with our regularly scheduled Style Pick of the Week tomorrow. It’s all in a day’s work here. Enjoy the weekend, and we’ll catch up tomorrow!

Timex

  • There are underrated areas when it comes to men’s grooming essentials, and there are areas that tend to be overlooked altogether. One could argue that solid colognes get overlooked a bit, especially when so many brands offer up scented spray colognes. So with the aim of spreading knowledge — all in  the name of #menswear, of course — I wrote about the best solid colognes for men for the fine folks at GearMoose. Read up and shop away!

  • Your Style Guide team of one already filled you in on how to dress to head to the beach — but what about what to wear on a boat? I covered exactly that for The Manual recently — I sure do hope you find it helpful and informative! Like what you’ve read? Let me know on Twitter, ehh?
  • As seems to be the case lately, let’s end this version of The Friday Read on a music-related note. As of earlier this month, the lovely ladies of California-based rock trio HAIM are back with a new album. Just as with “Days Are Gone,” the group’s 2013 debut, they’re very adept at making shiny, upbeat and yet well-crafted, emotional AND summer-friendly rock. I’d urge you to listen as you kick back with a refreshing summer beer — preferably wearing a pair of summer’s best sneakers?

We’re closing up shop early today — I’ve got some music to see!

Thanks, as always, for reading — stay stylish!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Menswear Trade Shows, Stylish Men’s Sunglasses and Allen Edmonds

It’s with a much-needed weekend ahead of me that I’m writing today’s Style Guide missive in our ongoing Friday Read series — perhaps you feel the same way? We’re closing out an incredibly busy week on the #menswear front in NYC, including two whirlwind days for yours truly at style trade shows like Liberty Fashion & Lifestyle Fairs and Capsule Show. This week’s schedule also included a stop to view the contemporary and slightly edgier mix of brands found at MAN-WOMAN show (think tried-and-true favorites like Apolis and upstart brands like Alps & Meters — as seen in this Midwest fall style post).

At any rate, it was great to catch up with brands familiar and unfamiliar, many of whom you see regularly on this blog — from the standout sneaker makers at SeaVees to perennial Style Guide favorite Frank and Oak. I got around in style with my Timex x Todd Snyder Military Watch and made sure to rock some stylish men’s sunglasses, too. And as it were, that busy week of trade show action capped off an even busier weekend, if you can believe it. Incredibly and unexpectedly, I had the chance to see my favorite band, indie rockers The National, play not one, but two breathtaking shows in the small upstate town of Hudson last weekend. They debuted tracks off their upcoming new album, “Sleep Well Beast,” and I can assuredly say after hearing it twice that it’s on track to be one of the year’s best — no joke. I won’t give away too much, but you can read an excellent write-up at Vinyl Me, Please of the two emotional, powerful shows at converted factory Basilica Hudson. In short, I was so very glad I went — no regrets at all! With that being said, I’m very much looking forward to some much-needed downtime this weekend — and on that note, I’m going to leave you with today’s #menswear news. Happy reading, enjoy the weekend and keep up with my Brooklyn explorations over on Instagram.

  • We’ll start with the menswear world here — and specifically, the world of stylish men’s dress shoes. Among American purveyors of your favorite dress shoes, Allen Edmonds has got to rank high on the list — right? This week, CEO Paul Grangaard announced he’ll be assuming an advisory role as longtime industry vet Malcolm Robinson joins the brand’s parent company as president of its men’s and international divisions. I, for one, am excited to see where the brand continues to go — after checking out the Allen Edmonds Fall 2017 line last month, I can tell you that the brand has some great product — including plenty of stylish men’s boots — on the way this next season.
  • Upgrading your everyday carry is something we talk about frequently here on The Style Guide — and it’s with that in mind that I’m recommending you pick up the Grovemade Walnut and Leather iPhone Case via my latest GearMoose feature. Ehh?
  • Last but surely not least, it’s imperative given my *ahem* “job” as editor of The Style Guide that I direct you to the latest blog series here, called The List, chronicling the best new men’s gear to buy this week, this month … heck, this year? Happy shopping!

OK, loyal readers — we’re closing up shop early today! Have a great weekend, join us for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week from site  favorites Mott and Bow, and we’ll catch you on Monday.

Thanks for reading!

-Beau