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

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The Friday Read: Yeezy Season 4, Bonobos GoodSport and What to Wear During Football Season

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 last time we spoke, we were heading into an action-packed Labor Day weekend and the start of some serious fall style cravings (oh, and college football season). Well, surprise — it’s a week later, and it doesn’t exactly feel like fall around these parts. We’ll keep looking toward everyone’s favorite menswear season next week, with both a Fall Style Wish List and some rugged men’s shopping picks for the season.  For now, we’ve got the shopping picks you need should you still find yourself having to beat the heat — as has been the case for months now, it seems like.  Rest assured that we’ve also got a few choice reads to jumpstart what I hope is a weekend of relaxation, menswear, football and craft beer (or are those just my plans?).  If you’re trekking to a tailgate, here’s what to wear.  If you’re heading to a rock concert, what do you know? Here’s what to wear to a show. And if you just fancy catching up on the week in men’s style news? Read on below.

  • If you stuck your head under a rock earlier this week, you might have missed the relative chaos that was Yeezy Season 4, just ahead of the start of New York Fashion Week. It was inescapable around New York City these past few days, and while I’m not the biggest fan at all of ‘Ye musically or, I guess, personally, the man knows how to command headlines. You decide whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing…
  • Gushing over these pieces is always fun (if slightly depressing in terms of budgetary constraints) — here are the goods the folks at Well-Spent would buy instead of rent this month.
  • Getting to and from the gym with style in mind isn’t always high-priority — but perhaps it should be. Bonobos just launched its GoodSport line of athletic-minded apparel, and GQ is calling ’em the best-fitting gym shorts on the market.

Want more menswear to round out your day?

We’re signing out until Monday, when we’ll deliver the goods on that fall style wish list — check out Instagram for more style snaps along the way, and enjoy the weekend!

-Beau

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

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

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:

Shop the latest in Men's styles Under $50 + get FREE Shipping on orders over $100 at Frank & Oak!

Florsheim

The Friday Read: Men’s Swimsuits, GQ Suiting and Frank & Oak

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.

Although it’s always outstanding to be on vacation (particularly a trip to Greece), it can be just as nice to get back into the swing of work — and of course, the regularly scheduled Friday Read! Fighting off jet lag was a tall order after a particularly adventurous travel day back to the States, followed by a full week of work — but it’s almost in the books now, with what should be a lovely NYC weekend coming up. I’m excited to kick things off by heading to Blind Barber in the East Village this evening for a custom suit fitting courtesy of my friends at Combatant Gentleman — the brand’s chinos and blazers provide great style for the price, so a full suit (in addition to the one I brought on my Mediterranean trip) should be a great treat! I’m planning on checking out ABC Beer Co. nearby after, too. What’s on your plate? I’d suggest kicking things off with the lineup below, for starters.

  • The Men’s Style section of the New York Times runs through the new world of men’s swimwear — one that’s more tailored, less baggy and much better-looking — in this neat feature and infographic.
  • GQ’s editorial squad is on-point with a selection of small suiting tweaks that can elevate your A-game even further when dressing up in the coming months.
  • Frank & Oak, they of the affordable and highly covetable monthly menswear collections, serves up a very cool primer on how to see London in a weekend  — that city’s on The Style Guide’s list of spots to travel in 2016!
  • Long Read of the Week: So this one is more of a hybrid photo story than a true long read, but it’s pretty mind-blowing — Popular Mechanics covers the world’s 25 most impressive megaprojects, most of which are simply staggering in scale.

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Got style on your mind?

Ernest Alexander

The Friday Read: Summer Watches, Uniqlo Sneakers and NYC Tunnels

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.

Some weekend reading action. Featured books: The Wes Anderson Collection, The Youngs by Jesse Fink & On Writing. Leather valet tray & bracelet by Made Supply Co. Dive watch by Invicta.

Some weekend reading action. Featured books: The Wes Anderson Collection, The Youngs by Jesse Fink & On Writing. Leather valet tray & bracelet by Made Supply Co. Dive watch by Invicta.

What have you been up to this week? Been busy? Same! (Of course, I assume you replied ‘Yes’ there). Personally, I’m looking forward to taking in my first New York baseball game (a Subway Series showdown between the Mets & Yankees), and of course, getting some writing done on this here blog. Anything you’d like to see on The Friday Read? Let me know for next week, because this week’s all set below for your perusing pleasure.

Need more style content to tide you over?

  • I penned a piece over on VOUCH Mag rounding up comfortable jogger pants (divisive to be sure, but streamlined and stylish).
  • If you haven’t bought your spring or summer blazer yet, some affordable and stylish picks can be found here.

 

The Friday Read: Spring Beer, No-Show Socks and the Costs of Starting a Fashion Brand

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 content and …. non-style (?) content. For more entries, click here.

Another week is in the books, folks. Thankfully? Anyhow, here’s a selection below of some great pieces that caught my eye across this past week — the first really nice spring week we’ve had in NYC, at least. Grab a cup of coffee, right-click to open these links in a new tab (just kidding — they’ll do that on their own), and read away today and this weekend.

  • The gentlemen over at InsideHook were kind enough a few weeks back to round up the 21 beers every guy should try this spring (Note: Have you had any of these? Want to try the Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA first) .
  • Since it’s spring, Kempt offers a rundown on why you should wear no-show socks, and offers five great pairs to get you through the season.
  • The streetwear and fashion-forward minds at Hypebeast deliver another entry in a fascinating series they’ve been running on the costs of starting up a fashion brand (monetary, personal — the whole nine yards).
  • Long Read of the Week: Although it’s from June 2014, I stumbled across an intriguing New York Magazine piece on the fractured relationship between the two men who’ve created some of the world’s most recognizable type designs (fonts, to all us common folk).

Looking for something else to read?

  • I’ve been putting together a set of weekly Buyer’s Guide pieces for the great site VOUCH Mag, which you can find here.
  • Need some spring shorts or a spring jacket? Click away.

One last note: Remember, this site’s name and layout will be transitioning after the weekend (but please stop by before then!), to The Style Guide — that’s http://www.the-style-guide.com. Come see us there! 

Stay stylish,

-Beau