June 17, 2016June 14, 2016 by Beau H.

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.

April 15, 2016April 15, 2016 by Beau H.

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

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!

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!

March 25, 2016March 24, 2016 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The State of #Menswear, Batman v. Superman and Spring Style

As things stood going into last week’s Friday Read, I was quite hoping we’d have the chance to talk some Michigan State basketball here on the blog. But. Well. We’ll leave it at that. At any rate, it was still fun to host my great friend Stephen Brooks he covered Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament, and all that activity played into a big week itself. On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of catching up with the four brothers behind Brothers & Craft — Zac, Clay, Kirk and Matt –who happened to be in NYC for a whirlwind trip as they launched their next special project (check out their Instagram for more stylish things ahead!). They’re a great group of guys, generous with their time, fun to be around and a real pleasure to know. I was lucky enough to be able to hop down to the opening of the Daniel Wellington SoHo pop-up shop that very same night. And on that note, look for more details on Daniel Wellington’s new line tomorrow on the blog! As the week rolled along, it was even more thrilling (if that’s possible!) to attend the prestigious WWD Menswear Summit on behalf of my day job at Coyne PR — it was an excellent look at the state of the industry itself, and covered everything from social media to retail trends to designer outlooks for the next few years. What a week — it really is extraordinary to get continually greater opportunities so frequently. It’s busy, to say the least — and given all of that, I need a bit of a nap this weekend. Maybe before you settle down, take a glimpse at the below #menswear reads. Enjoy!

Have you been following any other brackets out there besides March Madness? Namely, any style brackets? The one put together by the team at Get Kempt moved into the Style Sweet Sixteen this week.
Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill have been hitting the road to promote the upcoming release of the much-hyped Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice flick — but have they been doing it in style? GQ.com investigates.
The massive trade show that is Baselworld just wrapped up this week, and Esquire.com offers up its drool-worthy list of the top watches from Baselworld that you should get on your wrist … now.
While this is neither a long read nor a style note, Lollapalooza announced a truly epic run of artists to celebrate its 25th anniversary, from LCD Soundsystem headlining to Lana Del Rey, Kurt Vile and stellar folks like DREAMERS and Arkells billed further down.

Is your shopping cart empty? Fill it up with some buying suggestions.

Grab a stylish spring sweater to layer up with for those chilly nights, in case you missed our latest Online Shopping Picks piece.
Stock up on more spring style essentials via my latest post at GearMoose.com — this one was a ton of fun to write!

March 11, 2016March 10, 2016 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: New Abercrombie & Fitch, Need Supply Co. and Spring Outerwear

While I’ve really been looking forward to warm-weather style for quite a while now (get a look at my spring style wish list, for starters), I’ve been lucky enough to get an even earlier dose of warm weather this weekend. Why is that, you ask? Well, I’m lucky enough to be back in Florida visiting my family this weekend and celebrating my dad’s birthday. Now, the fine print is that part of our weekend plans — seeing the legendary AC/DC — were derailed when the band announced they were rescheduling 10 tour dates. Definitely a big blow to this lifetime fan. At any rate, it really still is lovely to be here — we’ve got some excellent back-up plans lined up, including some much-needed beach time and a trip to the excellent Point Ybel Brewing Company. You can look for a full trip recap post coming on Monday — for now though, let’s get on with our weekly Friday Read and all the #menswear news that’s fit to type.

Perhaps most importantly, we’ve been seeing more and more news hit about the new and improved Abercrombie & Fitch — the new line is definitely worth a look, and Maxim offered its take, too. (Editor’s note: There’s more from the folks at Abercrombie & Fitch coming in tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week).
Go shopping (now, if possible) through the well-curated digital shelves at Need Supply Co. with the team at Style Girlfriend — you won’t be disappointed.
Prep for the forthcoming rain with key spring outerwear picks from Get Kempt — it’ll be here before you know it.
Long Read of the Week: Is fashion weird? Should it be weird? Is it art? And lastly… why does it matter? This introspective piece from the Washington Post (centered around women’s fashion, admittedly) brings new meaning to thinking of runway shows as art, and attempts to answer those questions quite well.

Get ready for the weekend with a dash more men’s style:

JackThreads (of NYC roots) and Publish Brand (of SoCal style fame) just launched a limited-edition capsule collection that includes a nice spring jacket — catch up on the full details in my newest GearMoose post.
Speaking of JackThreads … do you have a versatile navy mac coat yet? Get on it — I just wrote about the brand’s newest spring outerwear launch for GearHungry.

February 5, 2016February 5, 2016 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: #NYFWM, Super Bowl 50 and Dockers

Perhaps you find yourself not paying attention to the runways or the sights and sounds of #NYFWM, the dedicated, NYC-hosted week for menswear writers, editors, buyers and industry pros to get their first look at upcoming seasonal collections. But after spending some time around great media and bloggers at a brand styling suite I helped run on behalf of Timberland, I must say — looking at the American iteration of fashion week is something you might consider. That’s especially true when perennial, classic favorites like Todd Snyder and Billy Reid step in the ring — after all, not every runway show is Zoolander-esque. Timberland-centric events gave me the terrific opportunity to connect with friends new and old, including my buddy Jamal of StyleSocietyGuy (the subject of this week’s Style Q+A), and my pals at Brothers & Craft (who are curating a consistently awesome men’s lifestyle site and brand). So even if you don’t pay attention to runway shows — something that’s admittedly not a huge focus for me, either — I’ve learned there are definitely things you can gleam from those around you, and that’s a rewarding part of any profession. And with that being said, it’s nearly time for me to go take a nice, long nap. And maybe enjoy a brew or two this weekend. Have fun with this week’s #menswear news recap in the meantime!

Speaking of NYFWM, Dockers, of all brands, kicked off the second-ever event by hosting a star-studded party (by the way, don’t sleep on the brand’s Alpha Khakis).
In honor of Super Bowl 50 this weekend, the stylish folks at Get Kempt tracked down the best menswear in San Francisco.
The team at Well-Spent tells you the goods they’d rather blow their rent money on this month (hint: the piece includes a stellar American Trench merino watch cap).
Long “Read” of the Week: If you believe in the transformative power of music, you’ll love this stunning photo series from Narratively (hence “read” in quotes, ya dig?).

Run out of things to read? Look no further.

Take care of your Valentine’s Day shopping in one place with the Style Guide Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for your wife or girlfriend.

And on that note, if you made it to the end of this post — congrats! You’re free to enjoy your weekend.

Stay stylish,

-Beau

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Michigan State, Fall Colors and The Hill-side

As it’s finally Friday, I almost have all of my voice back following the aftermath of that insane, thrilling and incredible Michigan State-Michigan football game last weekend. If you missed the ending, well, you’re in for a treat there. And the football hysteria is actually set to continue for me this weekend, because as luck would have it, I’m hitting the road back to East Lansing for a weekend spent with friends on the best campus in the country (in my humble opinion). I’m also getting the chance to go back to my hometown of Mason, a lovely place where time really slows down — that’ll be a welcome change of pace from New York City. And it’s always great to get back to your roots. But for matters in the present, we’ll catch you up with some of the best #menswear news of the week. On that note, thanks to all who participated in this week’s Goorin Brothers giveaway! Stay tuned for more giveaways in the coming weeks, and next week, look for a great product review of a nice fall timepiece, and a Q&A with the insightful and talented Megan Collins of Style Girlfriend. For now, enjoy your weekend — and thanks for reading!

Selectism gets you up to speed on the latest from The Hill-side — a perennial favorite of this blog. These guys just launched their A/W ’15 collection and they’re getting ready to open up a new flagship shop, to boot.
Think monk strap shoes are dead? Get Kempt offers 10 stylish pairs fit for tailored wear and dark denim alike.
Lastly on the style front, get to know GQ’s favorite color of the season — camel — and all the ways to wear it outside of a topcoat.
Long Read of the Week: Even if you don’t follow sports closely or have never placed a bet in your life, you might find this intriguing — VICE Sports went inside the tricky process of match-fixing, and those who work tirelessly to stop it. It’s quite the read.

Need more men’s style coverage to read?

You might recognize the subject of my latest VOUCH Mag piece from this blog — JACHS NY produces modern takes on American classics, and the brand’s backstory is just as neat.

October 16, 2015October 15, 2015 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: CMJ, Ralph Lauren and Long-Sleeve Polos

How is October treating you so far? Well, I hope? I had quite the (unexpectedly) busy week this week as a result of the annual College Music Journal Showcase that’s rolling through Brooklyn and Manhattan. I’ve been lucky enough to both see and spend some time with excellent Brooklyn-based band Mainland (openers for Atlas Genius earlier this fall) as part of my day job — increasingly, becoming a night job — repping Timberland Boots. These guys are worth a listen if you dig The Strokes and bands of that nature, and they’ll be rocking Timberland gear in the coming months to boot! I also had the chance to connect with the team behind Elohim, also fans of Timberland as luck would have it. She churns out great vibes and a super-cool audio-visual experience — look it up! To cap off a busy week, it’s also the weekend of the famed and much-hyped Michigan-Michigan State football game — should be quite exciting all-around. But enough about all that for now. Get a look at the best of the week in men’s style and beyond, below.

As you work more transitional style into your fall wardrobe, this piece could be worth a read — GQ breaks down the dressier long-sleeve polo you should incorporate into your closet.
Get Kempt toasts the man of the hour on his birthday, Mr. Ralph Lauren.
My friends at VOUCH Mag cover off on the three travel journals you should own to bolster your style game in transport.
Unbelievable Read of the Week: Switching things up from the regular Long Read this week, a writer at Noisey regales the Internet with the tale of how he tried sell a bag of air — yes, air — from Williamsburg for $20,000 on eBay.

Get more #menswear below:

I got the lowdown on the Global Citizen Exchange, a really worthwhile venture being undertaken by the great folks at Apolis in my latest VOUCH Mag piece.
If you find yourself in the market for a tech-savvy smartwatch, learn all about BLOCKS — the world’s first customizable smartwatch — in my most recent GearHungry post.

July 10, 2015 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Apple Watch, Brunello Cucinelli and Tictail

We’ve reached another Friday and summer’s starting to hit its stride – it’s getting pretty hot and muggy out there, too (by the way, did you catch this post earlier this week covering how to beat the heat?). I’ve got an exciting weekend planned after a busy time last weekend — I was fortunate enough to have my parents in town for the 4^th, whereby we promptly set out on a Brooklyn beer tour. And my college friend (and extremely talented photographer) Khoa Nguyen is coming to town this weekend — so expect more of the same (plus some photos most likely, if we get around to it!). Now please, crack open a brew yourself (or just grab an iced tea), kick back and check out this week’s Friday Read post.

MarketWatch reports and surmises as to the how and why behind a dramatic plummet in sales of the Apple Watch.
Esquire Fashion Director Nick Sullivan explains his ultra-stylish wardrobe choice for an ultra-stylish Milan Fashion Week dinner hosted late last month by the ultra-stylish Brunello Cucinelli.
And for more on that stylish evening (because why not, while we’re at it?), the New York Times takes a deeper dive into other fashionable choices made by some of the party’s noted industry luminaries.
Style Read of the Week: Switching things up from the typical long read that normally populates this last bullet, Get Kempt brings everyone’s attention to Tictail, a site that recently upped its menswear game incrementally.

Still got a hankering for more style content?

Read up on the shades you should purchase this summer – the Randolph Engineering Concorde series, as written about by yours truly on GearHungry.
Take a gander at an extremely interesting crowdfunded #menswear concept, the Vincero Collective, over at VOUCH Mag – had the good fortune to connect with co-founder Sean Agatep earlier this week on the company.

May 8, 2015May 18, 2015 by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Mother’s Day, Pop-Up Flea and Expensive Watches

This past week flew by, didn’t it? Maybe that’s just me? At any rate, it’s an exciting weekend coming up (it’s Mother’s Day, remember!? Last-minute gift guide here, fellas). It’s also an exciting time to be in New York City (or at least following the menswear community in general). Pop-Up Flea, a quarterly pop-up shop/traveling roadshow extravaganza of sorts devoted to mixing excellent heritage-type brands with quirky wares from new upstarts, is running from May 8 — May 10 here in NYC. Let me know if you’ll be there or if you’ll be following along — and in the meantime, peruse through the below articles just in time for the weekend.

The folks behind excellent menswear and lifestyle site Get Kempt offer up five cultural phenomena that have shaped their outlook this week — what they’ve been reading, watching, listening to … you get the idea.
Michael Williams of heritage-focused blog A Continuous Lean dishes on much-loved and much-coveted watch brand IWC and its 75th anniversary collection. For watches that won’t induce so much sticker shock, head here.
Speaking of telling time … this technically ran late last year, but the team behind upscale fashion & accessories site Need Supply Co. takes you through everything you need to know about watches.
Long Read of the Week: Narratively offers up a positively fascinating account about the lengths to which one man went in his love of the NYC transit system (yes, you read that right).

Still have a hankering for something to read?

If you’re interested in learning about Apolis and the brand’s mission of global advocacy merged with excellent clothing, I wrote a profile on the brand this week.
Thinking of buying something from this month’s Hunt Club offering via Frank & Oak? Check out a review last month’s crate here.

And a final note for you — looking to get in on the ground floor of a luxury leather goods project? Issara launches a premium line of accessories and bags later this weekend — sign up for early access here!

The Style Guide

All the best men's style essentials you need, every day.

Tag / get kempt