Tag / long reads

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Best Dress Sneakers, Pitti Uomo and Alan Rickman

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. 

What a week it’s been — after so much traveling over the holidays and prepping for the year ahead (on both the work and blogging fronts!), it’s nice to get to the weekend now. There are plenty of exciting things in the works, including the impending arrival of #NYFWM and trade show season. It’s been nice to be back in NYC and catch up with friends — on that note, if you’re looking to revamp your home or apartment, Style Guide favorite The Hill-Side just launched an incredible home design collaboration with Crate & Barrel, which I had the chance to check it out in person yesterday. Needless to say, it left me wanting to re-outfit my entire apartment! But due to what you might call budgetary constraints, that won’t be happening any time soon. Lusting after great interior design hasn’t held up the weekly Friday Read, though. Check out a recap of all things #menswear below, and look out for another entry in the #OOTD series on Monday.
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  • GQ looks at a new breed of shoe — the dress sneaker — and offers their picks for the ones that’ll amp up your style (a heads-up that Monday’s post might or might not feature a pair of sharp leather sneakers around which to style).
  • Airows (a definite read if you appreciate a well-designed site) covers the launch of the Everlane Street Fleece collection, which looks cozy, slim and stylish — everything you want for your weekend gear.
  • Esquire offers a critique of the street style fair — oh, and actual industry trade show — that is Pitti Uomo, noting that the age of the “sartorial peacock” is on the way out, replaced instead by what it calls #TheNewStyle.
  • And this post wouldn’t be complete without a tip of the cap to the unique talents of both David Bowie and Alan Rickman, both of whom we lost this week.  As far as style goes, there’s no doubting that Bowie had a perspective all his own. And as a huge Harry Potter fan, it was always a treat to see Rickman on-screen throughout the series and the rest of his career.

That brings us to a bit of a downer of an end, unfortunately — but do yourself a favor this weekend, and listen to some Bowie or watch a Rickman film; I’m sure they’d both appreciate it.

‘Til tomorrow’s post,

-Beau


by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Ethical Clothing, The Best Food in Los Angeles and The SuitSupply Online Outlet

It’s pretty hard to fathom that already, eight days have been crossed off 2016 – it’s been a whirlwind start to the year, what with a weekend in Detroit exploring top menswear spots, followed by a trip this week to the famed Outdoor Retailer Conference in Salt Lake City, where I’ve been busy representing Timberland. It’s been great to meet with lots of trade and lifestyle media, establish new connections and learn more about what others in the editorial and public relations industries have going on.
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And with that being said, I’ll probably be looking forward to a good day of rest on Sunday! As to matters in the #menswear world – how are your 2016 style resolutions holding up so far? I’m already looking to make headway with a few of mine (i.e. wearing less blue), but it’s a work in progress. If you’re looking for a different sort of a revamp, like a stylish pair of winter boots or a warm winter peacoat, click on those links. We’re far from out of the woods with the cold weather though – in that regard, we’ll be rounding up the best men’s winter accessories – from gloves to scarves and socks – on Monday. For now, get ready for happy hour later and enjoy the weekend!

  • DETAILS.com (RIP to the print mag) reports that, according to an Ohio State University study, those who don’t frequently shop for clothing made ethically are perceived as “boring and fashion-challenged.” Yikes! I’ll stick to my Apolis  chinos (and so will DETAILS, apparently).
  • Is L.A. the most exciting food city in America? GQ says yes, yes indeed. I must say, I unfortunately didn’t get to many of these during my trip to Los Angeles this past fall — maybe one day!
  • Ever on top of the digital style game, Dappered reports that the SuitSupply online outlet has returned, filled to the (mostly-stocked) brim with all of your tailoring needs — some of it is quite flashy but other pieces are just right.
  • Long Read of the Week: We’re back with another long read, and this one’s a doozy — Nautilus dives right into the search to find extraterrestrial life, and what it might mean for us mere earthlings.

Can’t get enough #menswear writing? Read these:

    • Throne Watches is producing premium timepieces inspired by great American cities, like the Throne 1.5 x Brooklyn Watch — I found out more for GearMoose (a new writing venture I’m taking on this year!).
    • And not to be outdone, JackThreads is back at it again with its Geo Sweater, as profiled in my latest GearHungry feature.


by Beau H.

The Friday Read: CBGB, 2015’s Most Important Style and Lawrence Hunt Shirts

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. 

Happy 2016, everyone! Thanks for being here to kick off the new year at The Style Guide. Did you see that the blog has a Facebook page now? Head that way to stay up-to-date on my latest posts and more news from the menswear world. We’ll be getting to some style resolutions next week, but in the meantime, I hope you had a great New Year’s Eve — I’ve enjoyed being in Detroit to celebrate the start of 2016 with old friends, and it’s proving to be an undoubtedly fun weekend so far in Michigan. It was also nice to be in Florida last weekend to celebrate Christmas with my family, but the temperature change is a rather rude awakening. There’s much more to come on the style front across this next year, and I’m excited to share it with you — but first, let’s pick up where we left off with a New Year’s Day edition of the Friday Read. Enjoy that Bloody Mary bar, folks.

  • Huckberry closed out 2015 with its first-ever Readers’ Choice Awards — part shop, part look back at the site’s best gear, it’s up and running now for your perusal (and potential purchasing).
  • News of the reopening of CBGB — in the Newark airport of all places — was first reported last week, but now word’s gotten out from Consequence of Sound that the same company responsible for that atrocity is planning to produce … wait for it… CBGB-branded onesies and T-shirts.
  • And not be forgotten as we start 2016, Esquire recaps the 15 most important men’s style moments of 2015.
    What tops your list? It’s hard to beat SPECTRE (yes, the entire movie) in my mind, yet sadly — it didn’t make this list.
  • Style Note of the Week: If you’re aiming to dress more stylishly — and comfortably — in 2016, pick up a shirt from Michigan-based Lawrence Hunt. The shirtmaker combines moisture-wicking athleticwear underarm inserts with the trim body and construction of a dress shirt for a versatile piece — read more about at via VOUCH Mag!

Have a great start to 2016, and come back through on Monday for a recap of my trip to Detroit!

-Beau
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by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Christmas Day, 100 Best Tracks of 2015 and The Year in Sneakers

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. 

First of all: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Thanks for sharing a bit of your day with The Style Guide – I appreciate it! What gear are you rocking today? Here’s one casual Christmas style suggestion, and one dressy Christmas style suggestion. And while we’re at it, did you get any items on your menswear wish list? I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Santa has in store, and more importantly, I can’t wait to spend the day resting and relaxing with family here in sunny Florida (good thing I brought some stylish travel gear with me!). As always, let’s close out this week with a few good menswear reads. Look for another Style Pick of the Week here tomorrow, and then we’ll keep getting ready for 2016 with a New Year’s Eve style suggestion on Monday, followed by a full recap of my trip to Florida. Make it a great Christmas Day and stay stylish!

  • With the year drawing to a close, GQ.com covered the best sneakers of 2015 – did any of your favorites make this list?
  • Strong Italian tailoring isn’t for everyone, and it’s often very pricey – but if that’s your game, the New York Times says it’s worth putting the new Isaia store on your bucket list when you visit NYC.
  • Not to be forgotten in the menswear hubbub, Pitchfork’s editors ranked the 100 best tracks of 2015 – again, any favorites of yours on here? There are some stunners for sure, including “Eventually” by Tame Impala.

Before you unwrap the rest of your presents…

  • Splurge in a big way to start the new year with the incredibly well-designed and incredibly rare Shinola Ali Collection honoring the greatest fighter of all-time; I certainly added some items to my Wish List after covering the release for VOUCH Mag.
by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Force Awakens, Holiday Cocktails and December’s Best Gear

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 style essentials. Pennant by Sweet Potato Four. Brass money clip by Owen & Fred. Adventure Log by Word Notebooks. Print magazine fit for the weekend made by Gear Patrol.

Some weekend essentials. Pennant by Sweet Potato Four. Brass money clip by Owen & Fred. Adventure Log by Word Notebooks. Print magazine fit for the weekend made by Gear Patrol.

We’re now just a week out from Christmas — just as with last week, it’s tough to believe another seven days have flown by. Have you sorted out your Christmas outfit? Here’s one casual suggestion. Know what to get your wife, girlfriend, mom or sister? There’s a gift guide for that. And do you have your own menswear holiday wish list covered? I hope so! If not, you best get working away. Even with all of my own holiday prep, I was still fortunate enough to spend Thursday evening contributing to a good cause (and enjoying some cocktails!) with two good friends, the lovely Lauren Gould of Brooklyn blog The Marcy Stop, and her equally lovely co-host,  Erica Lavelanet of The Fashion Philosophy.

The two organized a holiday fundraiser, cocktail party and clothing drive at Brooklyn’s Blind Barber, with proceeds benefitting the Bowery Mission and spare coats being collected just in time for the cold weather. It was quite the fun night, and I’m definitely thankful to cross paths with some great people through the course of my day job and blogging! I’m certainly hoping to continue that in the new year. But now’s not the time for resolutions — instead, let’s kick off the weekend with a fresh edition of the Friday Read.

  • Just in time for The Force Awakens, Esquire examines exactly why the space ships in Star Wars don’t make any sense — and it’s pretty enlightening.
  • An unseasonably warm past few months has left retailers struggling to sell cold-weather gear, according to the New York Times — and that’s hit retailers like J. Crew especially hard.
  • Dappered’s Best Bets for December just might be the best thing to peruse if you’re still looking for a gift for you dad, brother or best bud — or if you just want to gift yourself.
  • Style Note of the Week: While this spot has normally been reserved for a great long read, it’s worth pointing  out instead this week that perennial Style Guide sock favorite Richer Poorer has a new addition to its roster.  The brand is now doing T-shirts — they’re made from garment-dyed organic cotton and constructed in Los Angeles, and they look to be great quality. Stay tuned for more on those early next year!

If the weekend still hasn’t started for you yet, read on…

  • Upgrade one of the most basic items you carry every day — your white earbuds — with something a little more premium. I’d recommend Woodbuds, who crafts its earbuds out of natural walnut; the quality is on-point, as I found out for VOUCH Mag.
  • American Trench, another Style Guide favorite, is also expanding its product offering — they’re now crafting an outstanding water-repellent bomber jacket right here in America, as I covered for GearHungry.

 

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Black Friday Deals, Jimmy Fallon and Quoddy

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. 

Incredulous as it might seem, Thanksgiving has passed and we’re fully into that shopping frenzy that seems to kick off (or continue) with Black Friday and Cyber Monday (a heads-up that some choice deals today are listed below the usual Friday Read). But before we launch into that madness, how was your Thanksgiving? I had a relaxing and lovely day with family in West Virginia — the train ride to get here was quite a long one, so it’s a good thing I had some stylish travel gear with me. Where is this weekend taking you? Wherever that might be, I hope it’s time well-spent with the ones you love. I’m thankful this time of year in particular for the chance to have a job that I love and pursue my passions through this blog — thanks so, so much for reading! Before you grab a turkey sandwich, check out our Friday Read as planned and get ready to do some shopping. Look for a Cyber Monday rundown after the weekend, and the regular ol’ Style Pick hitting tomorrow.

  • Esquire put together a very well-done profile in this month’s print issue on late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon and how he’s handled the business of being, well, Jimmy Fallon every night in front of millions.
  • In time for the holidays, Quoddy and Sperry Topsider team up on a “Made in Maine” collection that should prove fit for some Northeast exploration. The black-soled moc camp boot looks especially promising.
  • Have some downtime this weekend?  A few weeks back, Paste put together a list of the top 100 movies streaming on Netflix this month.

And now without further ado, a selection of some Black Friday deals & steals from a few choice brands…

  • Frank & Oak — The noted Canadian menswear retailer is offering up to 65% Off, no code required, with new deals to follow for Cyber Monday.
  • GREATS — The terrific Brooklyn sneaker retailer (read reviews here and here) is offering 20% off sitewide and launching the second edition of its sneaker collab with NFL running back Marshawn Lynch.
  • Owen & Fred — Get $10 off your order of $30 or more at the popular menswear & home goods outlet with the code MURPHY (and read more on what to buy from the brand here).
  • Florsheim — On the dressier side of things, get 20% off sitewide with the code LNKTG15 through the end of the day.
  • Mott & Bow — Get 10% off orders over $96 w/ the code SMALL, get 20% off orders over $200 w/ the code MEDIUM and last but not least, 30% off orders over $300 with the code LARGE [and all you newbies can get 15% off your first order aside from those deals].
  • JACHS NY — Get 50% off on Black Friday with the code THANKSGIVING, plus free domestic shipping on orders over $100 (read up on a nice cardigan from the brand at this link).
  • J. Crew Factory — A Style Guide favorite, the brand is taking 50% off everything through November 29, with free shipping on orders of $50 or more with the code SHIPGIFTS (Editor’s note: Look for more picks from J. Crew Factory and Frank & Oak on Monday).
  • Grayers — Another Style Guide favorite, get 25% off sitewide through Cyber Monday with the code CYBERSALE
  • Combatant Gentleman — Everyone’s favorite affordable tailoring brand is in the midst of running 8 days of deals — check out the site for more, and catch up on a Combat Gent blazer review before you buy (if you please, that is).
  • Baxter of California — The grooming experts are giving customers 25% off with the code HOLIDAY25, now through November 30 (before you buy, read more on the brand here).
  • KOMONO — The noted watch & sunglasses retailer is taking 20% off & throwing in free shipping now through November 30 (read up on a great watch from the brand here).
  • Richer Poorer — One of the best sock retailers in the business, the brand is giving folks 40% off sitewide now through Cyber Monday (get the lowdown on some essential no-show socks before you buy).

Keep in mind that this is but a fraction of deals out there, with more to come on Monday. Enjoy the weekend and thanks for reading!

Stay stylish,

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: DETAILS, Bill Simmons and The National

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.

To any new readers here: Welcome! And to you old regulars, welcome back. Can you believe it’s Thanksgiving already? The fact that it feels like it was just Labor Day (and the start of summer before that!), is pretty crazy! Next week, I’m looking forward to a relaxing trip to West Virginia to see family — where are you headed? And while we’re at it, what are you wearing for the holiday? It certainly won’t be long before Turkey Day — but prior to that, I’m actually hopping on a train this evening to Washington, D.C., where I’ll be re-connecting with some high school friends passing through the area. That adventure comes on the heels of a trip to Michigan last weekend, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what D.C. has on-tap (pun intended, wink wink). [P.S. Follow along with my style picks via Instagram and Twitter]. What are you most looking forward to this coming weekend? While you think on that, take a look at this edition of the Friday Read, which features a pretty monumental shake-up in the menswear editorial world.

  • The New York Times reports that men’s lifestyle magazine DETAILS (of which I suspect many of us know and read regularly) is being shut down by Conde Nast after its December issue; it should be noted that DETAILS.com will gradually fall under the umbrella of GQStyle.com, yet this is another sad day for the fashion publishing industry.
  • In happier news and in a welcome return to the stage, Bill Simmons sat down with President Obama for GQ’s Men of the Year Issue, and the interview is insightful and well-done.
  • This piece isn’t necessarily style-related, but it’s fascinating nonetheless — Vox revisits a series of ads released in the ’90s by AT&T that provided a pretty accurate picture of future technological advancements.
  • Long Read of the Week: In the most fascinating piece on a band I’ve read in a long time, Stereogum catches up with The National as the revered indie rock band transitions back into recording after time apart pursuing some incredible side projects. It’s a deep look at a band that’s one of my all-time favorites (it doesn’t hurt that they have significant Brooklyn roots near my old neighborhood, either).

Missed out on more menswear this week?

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by Beau H.

The Friday Read: SPECTRE, Todd Snyder and Sneaker Collabs

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.

If your plans last night didn’t involve seeing the latest James Bond movie (as mine did), I would highly recommend you get yourself to a theater right this very second. Yes, not even this post should keep you from checking it out. Opinions on the film have actually been mixed from major outlets, but your friendly style expert and massive James Bond fan recommends you go see it, as much for the excellent menswear as for the film itself. It’s also been a busy and exciting week in other areas, too — I had the chance to see the great indie band Mainland on Monday night (recent openers for Atlas Genius), and they’re also a group I’d recommend checking out just as soon as you can. And that little intro brings us, as always, quite comfortably to this week’s edition of the Friday Read. After you, Mr. Bond…

  • Over at GQ, one writer and fan reflects on the moment his opinion of the series changed completely — and what brought him back (hint: It was the terrific last Bond installment, Skyfall).
  • In one of the  biggest American menswear business moves in recent memory, American Eagle announced this week that it acquired famed designer Todd Snyder’s offshoot, collegiate-centric company Tailgate Clothing; while Snyder’s brand will continue to operate separately, he’ll join AE as an executive VP — that’s a change of pace from 007 news, ehh?
  • My pal Barron at Effortless Gent covers off on how to choose the right watch for your outfit, a big key when getting dressed every day.
  • Style Notes of the Week: While this small space is normally reserved for a great long read, today we’re calling your attention to new great new collaboration drops — Brooklyn-based sneaker brand GREATS (a favorite of yours truly) is teaming with NYC menswear designers Orley on a three new chukka sneakers. And speaking of sneakers, the folks behind heritage-focused Tanner Goods and P.F. Flyers just released a stunning update to the classic Center Hi silhouette.

Got an extra minute or two?

    • Upgrade your fall outerwear game with a slim-fit, warm and stylish quilted down coat from the terrific folks at JACHS NY — read more on it via my latest post for GearHungry.

Florsheim

Ben Sherman US

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: REI, Mark McNairy & Tanner Goods

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.

Now that it’s Friday, my voice has finally recovered from… wait. Wait a second. That was how last week’s Friday Read started, too… and as luck would have it, it did indeed take me all week to recover from quite the cold — and quite the fun weekend — back in my home state of Michigan. Visits like that are always special, and they give you an excellent opportunity to reconnect with your roots and see old family & friends. To say I’m thankful for where I’m from would be an understatement! And it’s great to be able to write about it through this blog — so thank you for reading, commenting, clicking and participating in giveaways; you can be sure more are to come! In fact, if I were you, I’d pay close attention to this site (and my Instagram) on Wednesday and Thursday of next week if you’d like some great fall and winter gloves from my pals at Iron & Resin. But in the meantime, don’t get too spooked this Halloween weekend and enjoy your Friday downtime!

  • This was pretty big news earlier this week, so if you haven’t seen it, best read up. Outdoor retail giant REI is closing its doors on Black Friday for the first time in its history as part of its #OptOutside campaign; have to wonder if others might follow suit?
  • Want to upgrade your business-casual style? The ever-reliable team at Dappered has you covered with this standout suggestion.
  • Here’s one for all you beer geeks — and advertising folks, too. Digiday reports that Heineken is teaming with a select set of designers to produce special one-off pieces for gifting to top industry influencers — take, for example, an older pair of Mark McNairy saddle chukkas with a Heineken green sole. Fascinating stuff, and they’re not the only beer brand involved in similar partnerships, either!
  • One last quick note on the style front — you might recall the great team at Satchel & Page (of Slim Mailbag fame) — well, the brand just launched its new Autumn/Winter line via Kickstarter, and each piece is absolutely worth your time and dollars.
  • Long Read of the Week: If you’ve spent any time in  New York City, you might have heard rumors about the infamous ‘Mole People,’ who dwell beneath the city in its subway tunnels — Narratively has the full scoop on that spooky story this week.

Elsewhere in the #menswear world…

    • Catch up with a new release from two heritage-quality brands — Tanner Goods teamed up with Danner once again on an excellent set of special-edition seasonal boots, as I covered for VOUCH Mag.
    • The great folks at American Trench do standout merino wool caps for winter (in addition to great socks), and those caps were the subject of my newest GearHungry feature.

Florsheim
Ernest Alexander

by Beau H.

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

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.

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!

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.

Florsheim