Tag / guys’ fall style tips

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: US Authentic Baron Leather Jacket

Editor’s note: Thank you to US Authentic for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own. To see other Style Picks, head here.

Set for the season with my U.S. Authentic Baron Jacket. Denim Shirt by JackThreads. Slim selvedge denim by Raleigh Denim Workshop. Greer Wingtip Boots by Johnston & Murphy. Sunglasses and timepiece by MVMT Watches.

Set for the season with my U.S. Authentic Baron Jacket. Denim Shirt by JackThreads. Slim selvedge denim by Raleigh Denim Workshop. Greer Wingtip Boots by Johnston & Murphy. Sunglasses and timepiece by MVMT Watches.

When the calendar turns — ever so slowly — from the heat of summer to the crisp breeze of fall, I start to get excited. If you’ve been reading The Style Guide, you know that fall is an essential time for fans of rugged menswear — it’s the perfect time to break out those trusty leather boots, slip into some sturdy selvedge denim and relish the chance to tie it all together with great outerwear — like a classic leather jacket. That’s certainly the case with today’s Style Pick of the Week, and it’s fitting that I’ve teamed up with US Authentic to showcase how I get ready for fall. Not familiar with the brand? Start learning — these jackets are perfect for the months to come. The season is a time of transitions that calls for classic style and added layers to fight the cold, plus a dash of durable appeal. In that regard, US Authentic leather jackets incorporate everything you could want and then some. They’re packed with heritage inspiration, high-quality materials and a rugged-refined feel. That’s absolutely true of the Baron, an A-1 jacket that manages to capture vintage vibes and modern style all at once. The brand takes a similar approach with other silhouettes, including an A-2 flight jacket and a bomber jacket, but the Baron was my pick — and for good reason.

The Baron is built to authentic specs, just like the old days — that means vintage goatskin leather, a 100 percent cotton lining and sturdy 100 percent wool rib knitting at the collar, cuffs and waistband. The jacket’s materials are true to the World War II era, and you can definitely feel it — the Baron is sturdy, durable and yet slim-fitting and timeless. The rich brown leather color and dark brown wool cuffs fit right in with the deeper tones of fall. too. This is certainly a jacket you’re going to get a lot of use out of in the season ahead (and well beyond). I’d suggest styling it much as I did — with a rough-and-tumble denim shirt, sturdy selvedge and your favorite pair of wingtip boots — and then heading out to explore a park or grab a coffee. Of course, a classic jacket like the Baron can be complemented nicely with flight-inspired accessories like stylish Aviator sunglasses. The rest of the time, I’d suggest you stick with similarly retro-inspired style — pair the Baron with a durable long-sleeve henley, sharp chukka boots and slim denim (and if I were you, I’d look out for a very similar #OOTD next week). Seriously, the timeless style of the Baron  really can’t be topped — you’re getting a piece of outerwear modeled on a classic silhouette, with the specs to back it up. Heck, you could wear this jacket every day for months on end. That’s investment-worthy style at its finest. Are you ready for fall yet? I sure am.

Pick up the Baron here, and follow US Authentic on Instagram.

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The GQ for GAP Collection, Throne 2.0 and Levi’s Vintage Clothing

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.  

It seems as if it was just last Friday evening and I was standing in the crowd jamming out to Lucius in Central Park — yet, here we are with a brand-new edition of the Friday Read. The past weekend — and the last few days — have been a nice introduction to fall; if you don’t have a Fall Style Wish List made yet, I’d advise you do so now.  It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year, right?It’s a time for chukka boots, chambray shirts, thick cardigans — you name it, it’s nearly fair game. If I were you, I’d stick around for Monday’s post on … well, we won’t give it all away just yet. If fall travel is in the works, don’t forget that durable weekender bag. And like most weekends, I hope you’ve got your outfit for a football tailgate — seriously, it makes a difference. I’ll be cheering on my Michigan State Spartans as they take on Indiana, and I’ll be exploring the city with my good friend Ian Kullgren, himself a proud Spartan. It was nice to visit with Ian in  Washington, D.C. in May, and I expect just as great of a time checking out the city.  Everything from Central Park to favorite spots off the beaten path, like the excellent Berg’n in Brooklyn, are on the agenda. Oh, and about that football game — Go Green! Before we get to kickoff though, let’s start the weekend with the best in menswear — and keep your eye on the blog tomorrow for a special post with my friends at US Authentic; if you want to talk fall, one of the brand’s leather jackets is the way to go. (Hint: It’s part of the Style Pick of the Week series).

  • While we’re talking all things fall style, the good folks at Esquire picked out the week’s best style upgrades — you might recognize a certain shirt from a certain #OOTD published this week on the blog…
  • A standout watch is the perfect finishing touch when it comes to your ensemble, and us lucky watch aficionados might have just stumbled onto the perfect one. Throne Watches just launched the Throne 2.0, a super-clean yet classic chronograph assembled from Swiss movements. The overall look is stellar — crisp enough for dress situations, versatile enough for casual wear. Truly, you should get your hands on the Throne 2.0 soon (oh, and the sub-$600 price tag isn’t bad, either!)
  • If — like me — you’ve been eagerly perusing GAP’s site for news of the GQ for GAP Collection, you’re in for a treat! If you haven’t seen it already, that is. The new GQ for GAP Collection is live — snap it up quick. A few of those pieces, including that excellent Michael Bastian blazer, look mighty tempting.
  • Lastly in the world of new collection launches as we enter the stellar fall season, Levi’s Vintage Clothing — the premium, workwear-inspired offshoot of Levi’s — just launched a truly great seasonal offering. It’s focused in part on NYC’s hallowed 9th Street Exhibition, a downtown location that served as a backdrop through the 50s for tons of artistic expression — I’m no art history buff, but the resulting menswear is pretty neat, including some excellent 1954 501 Jeans. Good stuff!

Last but not least — one more piece of menswear for y’all:

  • Remember taking summer vacations out West, anyone? Maybe to a national park? Eddie Bauer evokes that sense of nostalgia nicely with its latest launch — a revamp of the brand’s iconic 1936 Skyliner Jacket, this time done up in reversible Pendleton wool patterns that pay tribute to the national parks. It’s a pretty neat feature, to say the least.  You can read more about it via my latest post on The Manual, and you can look for more details on the jacket in the coming weeks on my Instagram (wink, wink).

Enjoy the weekend, and follow along with all things menswear over on Twitter — ’til the Style Pick of the Week post,

-Beau

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Taylor Stitch Crater Shirt

Editor’s note: Expect these posts weekly detailing one standout item coveted by yours truly. Sometimes, these fit within budgetary restrictions and other times, they’re expensive splurges worth saving for. For more Wish List items from Beau, head here, and to see other Style Picks, head here.

A rugged, Portuguese-made shirt from a brand that consistently delivers on style essentials.

A rugged, Portuguese-made shirt from a brand that consistently delivers on style essentials.

There are brands that almost make it ridiculously easy to get all your shopping done in one place — if you read The Style Guide, you know that Taylor Stitch is definitely one such brand.  It seems that just about anything you need on the #menswear front can be fulfilled by the brand — that goes for things like essential chambray shirting, classic men’s chinos made from durable fabric, and a drool-worthy leather jacket or two, and it’s particularly evident during times best suited to rugged gear (like fall). If you thought you couldn’t possibly need another reason to shop at Taylor Stitch, think again. In this instance, gentlemen (and ladies), the Crater Shirt is that very reason — and it’s a heck of a good one. It’s available for pre-order right now on the brand’s Web site for the very reasonable price of $98 — that means you should hop on  ordering one just as soon as you can. Clearly, fans of the brand got the memo — the Navy & Charcoal Plaid version seen here has been funded to the tune 146 percent. Now, what are you getting for that price? Starting with the brushed Portuguese flannel and rolling through to small details like the flap chest pocket and Japanese Urea cat’s eye buttons,  a heck of a shirt is what you’re getting. It plays right into the brand’s focus on producing timeless pieces that quickly turn into hard-wearing wardrobe staples. If you’ve checked out something as seemingly straightforward as the brand’s Brushed White Oxford, then you know that sentiment to be true. No matter the style, you’re getting the best they’ve got to offer. With the Crater Shirt, that means you’re also getting to pick between two color choices practically made for late fall, early winter and beyond.

The inverse of the option seen at the top of the page -- yet still just as stylish and versatile.

The reverse of the option seen at the top of the page — a Charcoal & Navy Plaid pattern that’s still just as stylish and versatile.


Seriously, you can’t go wrong with either the Navy & Charcoal Plaid  seen at the very top of the page, or the Charcoal & Navy Plaid pattern seen above. Still with me? Hopefully. Either way, you’re getting a durable, modern-fitting flannel shirt that’s heavy enough to wear as a shirt-jacket over a long-sleeve merino tee, comfortable enough to wear on its own, and stylish enough to fit in at the office with slim chinos — or atop slim raw denim at your favorite weekend watering hole. By pre-ordering now, you’re setting yourself up for a heck of a stylish November (that’s when the shirt ships out). It’s a hallmark of the brand that the style is still one you could easily wear with a variety of looks — that goes for the snowy depths of January just as much as it does for crisp November days. If it sounds strange to think that far ahead, think of this as a long-term investment that’s well worth your while. Heck, if the Crater Shirt is anything like the brand’s lauded Yosemite Shirt, it’s absolutely a keeper. For all of us fans of Taylor Stitch, that’s excellent news indeed. What are you waiting for? Head to the Taylor Stitch site to pre-order the Crater Shirt now (that’s not a request!).

If you do pre-order it, let me know on Twitter — and stay stylish in the meantime,

-Beau
Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.