Tag / men’s lifestyle

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Summer Shirts, NBA Fashion and FIFA Corruption

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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.

We’re coming to the end of a four-day week that’s felt a lot longer than that (starting a new gig will do that to you — check out the About page for more on my transition!). But the holiday weekend was definitely a nice one, and hopefully things are going smoothly as you kick off summer. (Got your travel accessories covered, by the way?). Check out a selection of mostly style-related reading picks for your weekend going forward below.

  • The ever-stylish team at GQ tackles everything you need to know about rocking a short-sleeve shirt for the summer.
  • Know a college or high school graduate? Or a dad? A dad-graduate? Joe at Dappered dishes out his picks for twelve watches worthy of such a momentous occasion.
  • AskMen hands out its awards for the postseason’s best-dressed with the NBA playoffs in full swing
  • Long(ish) Read of the Week: The New York Times examines the somewhat underexamined side of the FIFA corruption scandal  — the reactions of the event’s many sponsors to the whirlwind of controversy surrounding soccer’s international governing body.

Got a hankering for more style content?

  • Our esteemed guest contributor Madhav Sekar of Wardrobe Domination offered up his pick earlier this week for the best  men’s sneakers to own right now.
  • I had the chance to take a pair of Taylor Stitch chinos for a spin — even wrote about it for GearHungry (Editor’s note: A full review with original photo content is planned for this blog next month; be on the lookout!).

 

Ernest Alexander

The Watchery

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Memorial Day, Summer Polos and Dark Denim

So how’s your week been? It’s another week that’s gone by fast here at The Style Guide HQ (need to think up a better name for this place, I think?). With Memorial Day on the way, here’s wishing everyone safe travels, whether you’re trekking across the country or just up the road. Wondering what to wear? Look here. Wondering what to pack? Got you covered there as well. Wondering what to read? As you hit the road, look no further than right here in this very post for some prime reading material. Without further ado…

That’s it for this week’s reading roundup — hungry for more style writing?

The Watchery

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by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Field Coats, Summer Style Essentials and Leather Wallets

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.

Well folks, we made it — reached the end of another week! Is it payday for you today? Don’t spend it all in one place, now. What are your weekend plans? It’s almost the start of what’s sure to be a busy summer travel season, and your hardworking team of one will have some great content coming your way on summer swimwear, summer suiting and travel accessories in the coming weeks — so stay tuned! In the meantime, this weekend’s Friday Read is big on content and low on anything boring. Enjoy!

  • Gear Patrol dips its toes in the fashion waters with a roundup earlier this week of 10 fashionable field coats fit for the streets — it might be spring, but outerwear like that can definitely still come in handy (as would one of these  jackets).
  • In keeping with a theme of round numbers, my buddy Joe at Dappered dives into 10 summer style essentials for the well-dressed guy; it’s an excellent list worth keeping handy.
  • Frank & Oak sits down with young-yet-talented leathermaker Maximum Henry Cohen of his namesake leather company and gets a neat look into his design and production process — along with his thoughts on all things #menswear.
  • Long Read of the Week: While this is more a news item than anything, Verizon’s acquisition of AOL throws some interesting wrinkles into the mix for the communications industry and advertising (for all you AdWeek readers out there, I think).

Need more style content in your life?

What else would you like to see in The Friday Read? Or on the site in general? Let me know here! 

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by Beau H.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Enough said, right? (Editor's note: Just a joke!)

Enough said, right? (Editor’s note: Just a joke!)

Even if you’ve got your own personal shopping habits and interests covered, it can still be a little difficult to know what to get your mother, grandmother or significant other (or all three!) for Mother’s Day. Well, that day is quickly approaching (mark your calendars for May 10, in fact), so the team over at The Style Guide has put together a handy little guide for the sorts of gifts that convey thought, meaning and a little bit of fun. Of course, this is all dependent on who you’re giving the gift too, so the below suggestions might not work for everyone. If you need more general gift suggestions, head here. And in the meantime, best get to shopping if you haven’t already!

For The Homemaker: Dreambirds Dessert Plates — $16

Buy just one, or buy the whole set — your call.

Buy just one, or buy the whole set — your call.

These dessert plates come to you courtesy of Anthropologie. They’re small, functional and decorative, plus they’re a nice touch if you have a recipient in mind who enjoys nature and a touch of quirky color. While just one on its own is $16, a duo or a trio of plates could be the way to go. The Web site and physical Anthropologie store itself (if you happen to be near one) also stock all manner of excellent goods for the stylish women in your life, from smart & colorful bags to tech accessories that combine the stylistic touches of chic jewelery.

For The Small-Business Shopper: Silver Wrist Bracelet — $10 (via Etsy)

Small, understated and made using fine attention to detail.

Small, understated and made with fine attention to detail.

Etsy really has turned into a remarkable source for all manner of goods, from slim bracelets like the one pictured here to neat notebooks and other design-minded accessories.  The best part about shopping through Etsy is perhaps the feeling and knowledge that you’re supporting a small business focused on personal touches and craftsmanship — some of that is lost by buying through other, larger retailers. A combination set featuring another simple piece (like a fun notepad or small picture frame) could make for a nice gift set.

For The Bookworm: The Girl on the Train — $14.82 (Hardcover) And a Local Flower Delivery

GirlOnTheTrainBook

One of the more popular books this year to date.

 

Across the past few months, I’ve heard more about The Girl on the Train than perhaps any other. And if the mom(s) in your life are really into literature (or just enjoy a good read) and haven’t gotten around to picking it up yet, this would be the perfect opportunity to do it for them! While this tome is also available for purchase via the Kindle, it’s sometimes nice to hold a physical, sturdy book in your hands. The addition of flowers from your local florist would certainly be a fine complement to any of the gifts listed here — and it’s yet another way to buy local.

For The Entertainer: Monthly Wine Club Membership — $50/Month

A monthly wine club membership — the gift that keeps on giving.

A monthly wine club membership — the gift that keeps on giving.

A monthly wine club membership is an excellent way to recognize the recipient’s love of entertaining, fine wine and often, fine dining. Club W and other sites offer specific ways to customize the membership, including the method delivery and the inclusion of a special note. $50 is quite a lot for just one month (so one year does shoot up in price quite a bit), and in that case, a nice bottle of wine itself could perhaps be a good alternative. The WSJ Wine Club does offer a better price if you want to go the club route, however.

What do you think of these suggestions? Any categories or gifts you would add? What are you picking up for Mother’s Day this year?

Editor’s note: Looking to pick up something for yourself? Head here for a blog post by yours truly on a great spring trend — luxe, laidback joggers!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Google Fashion Trends, Sweatpants vs. Denim and Craft Beer

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.

So we’re back at it again with another Friday Read. It’s slowly inching closer to May (already!?) and with that comes some fun seasonal events, like the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo, for starters (if you need a great mint julep recipe for this weekend’s Derby, start here). Doing any traveling or hitting the town this weekend? Take advantage of your downtime in between and start the weekend off right with the latest and greatest pulled together by yours truly from across the Web.

  • ThinkWithGoogle, a division of Google Data, put its number-crunchers to the test and delivered a seasonal 2015 spring fashion trend report — the first in the company’s recent foray into the world of fashion. Some of the content is focused on women’s fashion, but there’s also some sections tailored (as it were) to men’s style and the rise of jogger pants specifically.
  • The excellent digital style crew over at Esquire offers up a piece on the pros-and-cons of sweatpants versus jeans — and makes the argument that a well-fitting pair of sweats could indeed replace your favorite dark denim.
  • GQ reports that Maxwell Osborne and Dao-yi Chao of high-fashion oriented, minimalist design darlings Public School are taking the reigns as creative directors at DKNY — a rather fitting move, as black-and-white has been a favorite brand color pairing for decades.
  • Long Read of the Week: This piece technically ran last week, but if you enjoy a great brew (or even if you’re just into a bit of an economics study as you sip on something else this weekend), Thrillist explores the growing potential for a craft beer pricing war.

Still need something else to read?

  • Another entry in my Buyer’s Guide series for VOUCH Mag ran this past week, tacklling the ever-versatile four-season chino.
  • My  buddy Barron over at Effortless Gent breaks down the qualities and design details of a well-made, timeless suit.
by Beau H.

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.

 

by Beau H.

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

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Masters Style, Denim 101 and Gold Watches

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.

During the course of my day job, I read a lot — quite a lot. Mainly, I scour lots of fashion & style sites to stay on top of trend stories, news and client coverage. I also can’t get enough of the written word in my free time — books, newspaper and magazine articles, long-form stories, anything and everything — it’s all fair game. With that being said, here a few noteworthy stories that caught my eye this week.

That’s all for now — check back tomorrow for a new Style Pick of the Week (and catch up on past entries here).

What’s on your reading list this weekend?