linjer watches | The Style Guide

You got the invite months ago, and the time has come — wondering what to wear to your next summer wedding can be quite the daunting question to answer. Right? Right. If you’re in the bridal party, that part of the equation is likely covered — just be sure to get your measurements right when it comes time to get fitted for your rental kit. What are the rest of us going to wear, though? That’s where today’s style suggestion is coming to the rescue. We’re talking tailored style for the heat, namely. A classic navy blazer, slim linen suit trousers and crisp leather loafers are the building blocks of this outfit — no doubt about it. I think you’ll find that the below picks are all about staying cool and sharp even as temperatures rise — that’s crucial if you happen to be attending an outdoor wedding (as I just did in my latest trip to Charleston). And I think you’ll also find that any of the below #menswear picks can be repurposed for travel, too — that’s what classic summer style is all about. The navy blazer seen here? Wear it on the plane atop a classic Oxford. Those stylish leather loafers? Wear ’em on the plane, too. If your interest has been captured, read on for the full ensemble below. To see how I’m wearing tailoring in the heat, check out my Instagram account, or hit the ‘Like’ button over at The Style Guide Facebook page. Cheers!

The Jacket: GANT Diamond G Stretch Blazer with American Pima Cotton — $277

Sharp, slim and breathable — just what’s needed for a summer wedding.

Here’s the first step to nailing summer wedding style — start with a great jacket. What do I mean by a great jacket? I mean a classic navy blazer in a modern — yet not overly tight fit — made with American pima cotton. Unlike lined suit jackets, this lightweight blazer blends nylon and cotton for a final product that’s stretchy, breathable and easy to wear for summer travel or a summer wedding. Pick it up in dark navy or — if you happen to be wearing dark trousers — the jacket’s additional color option, a bright marine blue.

The Shirt: Outlier Freecotton Button-up in White — $165

There’s a hefty price to pay for this crisp white shirt — but it’ll perform well in the heat.

Want to stay cool during an outdoor summer wedding? It’s an extremely tough challenge — believe me, I’ve been there, done that. But there’s help on the way — companies like Outlier are blending breathable, performance-ready fabrics with the familiar tailored fit and styling details of classic dress shirts. The Freecotton Button-up should be your go-to shirt for the heat — that goes for a summer wedding or a high-pressure business meeting. Know that Mizzen+Main offers similarly well-made, breathable dress shirts, too.

The Pocket Square: The Tie Bar Stamped Flowers Coral Pocket Square — $10

A summer-friendly, highly affordable pocket square to complement that navy blazer.

Now, we’re skipping the tie in this semi-casul ensemble — if per chance you need to pick one up, reach for something classic, like a silver knit tie. We’re not, however, skipping over another crucial finishing touch: A stylish pocket square. And The Tie Bar makes options in a plethora of affordable colors and patterns. In particular, this coral-colored floral option should handsomely offset the dark navy blazer and sharp white shirt — ya dig?

The Trousers: Taylor Stitch Telegraph Trousers in Charcoal OR Cobalt— $178

Two color options from Taylor Stitch, each featuring comfortable fabric and a modern fit.

The trousers you go with here are all dependent on the color of your blazer — going light in color with your jacket? Reach for the cobalt blue, wool-linen blend Taylor Stitch Telegraph Trousers. Going dark in color with your jacket, like the GANT Diamond G Blazer seen above? The light charcoal Taylor Stitch Telegraph Trousers are your best bet. Either option features a tailored fit, excellent fabric and easy wearability in the heat. And the rest of the summer? Team them with a slim-fit white polo and classic suede chukkas on casual Friday.

The Loafers: Nisolo Chamberlain Loafers, $188

Unique nubuck leather and a classic profile help set these Nisolo loafers apart from the pack.

If the wedding location happens to be outdoors — be it the stifling South or the dry heat of the West — you’re going to want to use any means possible to stay cool. Ditching the stuffy dress socks for a pair of stylish no-show socks and sharp leather loafers is as good a place to start as any. Luckily, the Nisolo Chamberlain Loafers balance a sleek silhouette with solid construction and great quality. Plus, they’re a nice style swerve from the sea of black shoes normally found at weddings — am I right, or am I right?

The Socks: Arvin Goods No-show Socks (Three-pack), $30

In a handy pack of three, these Arvin Goods no-show socks are a crucial summer wedding accessory.

As we just talked about, comfortable no-show socks are the way to make this whole outfit work. From the modern Taylor Stitch Telegraph Trousers to those crisp Nisolo leather loafers, you’re not going to want any sock showing — are we clear there? Good. Arvin Goods makes its no-show socks in packs of three, so you have options to wear to and from the wedding — and the rest of the weekend when paired up with stylish summer sneakers.

The Belt: J. Crew Braided Leather Belt — $55

A reliable accessory pick-up from a reliable brand.

If you’ve got a trusty leather dress belt that you’ve had for years, this is the time to break it out. And if you’re looking to add some texture and visual interest to this summer wedding ensemble, J. Crew is the place to go. This belt should last exceptionally long for the price, and it’ll match up nicely with your Nisolo leather loafers in terms of color, too.

The Watch: Linjer Classic Watch — $250

A sharp, sleek watch that’ll play nicely off your navy blazer and leather loafers.

We’re nearing the end of this summer wedding style suggestion — but not before we recommend a stylish leather watch for the occasion. If you recall, the folks at Linjer Leather Goods started with a small run of products like minimal wallets before ramping things up considerably. The result of that expansion is the mighty fine, mighty minimal and exceedingly sharp Linjer Classic Watch. Refined and sharp enough for a wedding, simple and sleek enough to pair with a stylish short-sleeve shirt through the rest of the summer.

The Sunglasses: Pacifico Optical Blair Sunglasses — $159

Just the right balance of dressy and casual — just what you want at a summer wedding.

If you’re looking to check a few key boxes when it comes to stylish summer sunglasses, the team at Pacifico Optical might be able to sort you out. When it comes to wearing sunglasses to a summer wedding, leave the sports shades at home. Instead, think of a pair that’s simplistic, classic and versatile — yet slightly unique. In this case, the Pacifico Optical Blair Sunglasses get the job done quite nicely. And the rest of the summer, you can easily wear them to the beach or as a laidback complement to your favorite summer shirt.

Did you pick out that wedding gift yet? Flight all booked? Done and done. And if you follow the above style tips, I’d wager you’ll be more than set to dress in style at your next summer wedding. If you keep the basics in line — starting with a navy blazer and a breathable-yet-crisp white dress shirt — you’ll set yourself up for success. From there, it’s all about nailing the fit and details of supporting accessories, including essential pieces like the Taylor Stitch Telegraph Trousers. Round things out with sharp leather loafers — like the Nisolo Chamberlain Loafers — and hone in on stylish details like a Linjer Classic Watch or Arvin Goods No-show Socks. Add in sharp sunglasses — I’d recommend the Pacifico Optical Blair Sunglasses — and you’re ready to take on afternoon and early evening weddings in equal measure. What will you be wearing to your next summer wedding? Drop me a line in the comments below, and swing by Twitter for a lively discussion on all things men’s style.

Cheers and all the best — thanks for reading!

-Beau

Whereas recent online shopping picks entries have covered everything from the best men’s home goods to smaller accessories like the best gloves to buy for winter, we’re going back to basics today and telling you all about an everyday essential. That is, we’re shifting gears to something that should likely be a part of your daily style ensemble — a great leather watch. We’ve taken a deep dive with rugged casual watches and stylish dive watches, but a simple, sharp leather watch can — and likely should — become an easy-to-wear, everyday go-to in your rotation. Even if you don’t consider yourself a watch aficionado, adding a crisp leather watch to a simple outfit — say, a classic chambray shirt and dark denim — can add visual interest, subtle style and a sense of purpose (notice how more folks use their phone to check the time than a watch?). At any rate, we’re focused on affordability, classic looks and wearability when it comes to today’s #menswear picks. Shop away, chime in on Facebook and follow yours truly on Instagram for a look at how I wear my favorite watches.

#1. Shinola Runwell Watch — $550

A clean, simple and versatile watch worthy of an investment.

Let’s call this “the watch that started it all” — at least for this menswear writer. It’s tough to argue with Shinola’s crisp, classic and durable approach to watch construction — even if some oppose the brand’s marketing practices — but make no mistake, you’re buying quality when you buy a Shinola timepiece. In fact, this very watch made a past men’s style holiday wish list on this site, and it’s still a coveted timepiece. Anyone out there have any experience with Shinola?

#2. Orient Bambino Second Generation Watch — $198.98

Super-sharp, classic and easy to wear with just about anything.

Whereas the Shinola Runwell leans more casual, the Orient Bambino Second Generation is all dressy, refined and crisp style. With a textured leather strap, a just-right 40.5mm case diameter and minimal dial markings, it’s the watch you’ll want to wear with your best tailored suit this winter, and then slim stone chinos and stylish suede Chelsea boots come spring. In fact, the refined, sharp aesthetic means it’ll class up even a T-shirt and denim — give it a shot sometime in place of a more casual rubber strap watch.

#3. Seiko Dive Watch — $319.98

A leather watch that can pull double duty at the office and on the weekend.

Leave it to Huckberry to offer up a versatile, tough dive watch with not one, but two strap options (suede leather from Lum-Tec and a rubber strap option). In an eye-catching red-and-blue color combo, the 40mm case diameter hits the sweet spot for those of us with larger or smaller wrists. The option to switch up the straps means this timepiece will work just as stylishly at the office with the leather option as it will with high-top sneakers and a classic crewneck sweater as you swap in the rubber strap. Two for the price of one, ya dig?

#4. MVMT Watches The 40 in Blue/Brown Leather — $120

A clean watch with an eye-catching dial-and-strap combination.

The folks at MVMT Watches make essential, no-frills watches fit for situations both casual and dressy — and that makes ’em a Style Guide favorite. If you saw our January 2016 MVMT Watches product review, perhaps you’re already acquainted with the brand’s classic 40 Series. If not, consider this a great introduction. The brown leather strap and blue dial are a study in handsome contrasts, and the relatively slim case means this is a great watch to offset everything from a tailored navy suit to a classic blue Oxford this winter — and well beyond.

#5. Linjer The Minimalist — $224.98

Clean, essential and unique. Everything you could want in a nice leather watch.

If you’ll recall, this site reviewed a sharp Linjer Leather Goods wallet all the way back in 2015 — the brand has certainly grown quite a lot since then, including its introduction last year of crisp, sleek watches. In particular, the brand’s Minimalist Watch solidifies its place on this list, what with its super-sharp looks and a very clean dial. This is certainly a dress watch for any and all occasions, but again, the crisp design means you can wear it casually with dressed-down ensembles. And hey, you need a watch to offset your Linjer wallet, right?

Honorable Mention: Form-Function-Form Horween Leather Timex Fairfield — $98

A recent introduction from Timex meets a classic, tough leather strap.

If you’re looking to upgrade your watch collection on a budget, you’re going to want to check out this honorable mention. It’s comin’ at ya from our pals at Form-Function-Form and Timex — in particular, the Form-Function-Form team knows how to make a sturdy, handsome leather strap to reliably complement any watch. And when that watch happens to be a clean timepiece like the Fairfield, that’s all the better. It’s been refreshing to see Timex update its designs as of late, and the result is a surefire winner that looks great and pairs well with picks like a slim cardigan and dark denim.

That’s a wrap on today’s online shopping picks, folks. Which of the above watches are you thinking of adding to your collection? If you’re looking for sharp versatility, a pick like Linjer’s The Minimalist is tough to beat. On the more rugged end of the spectrum, Seiko packs plenty of functionality and eye-catching design into its timeless Seiko Dive Watch, while perennial Style Guide favorites MVMT Watches serve up go-anywhere style with the brand’s 40 Series. Hopefully, you’ve found these picks affordable and stylish — right? Shop on, stock up and see you out there.

Thanks for reading,

-Beau

The Style Guide

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Style Suggestion: Here’s What to Wear to Your Next Summer Wedding

Online Shopping Picks: The Best Men’s Leather Watches To Buy Now