mvmt watches product review

Editor’s note: For a full set of style suggestions for fall, click here.

We’re slowly (but surely) creeping toward fall — it seems like that’s been the case for a couple of weeks here at The Style Guide, but it’s certainly no more true than right now. Dressing for football season has started, there’s a bunch of great new music out — that signals tons of fall tours and rock concert style — and it’s high time to, well, get with the times. So, grab your fall style wish list and get hip to the scene. Even if it takes a while to get chilly, you’ll still want to have the proper gear on hand when it does. I know temperatures have been high here in NYC, but I’m definitely anxiously awaiting fall. For all of you loyal Style Guide readers (I know you’re out there), it signifies a really fun time of year in terms of menswear. If you’re one who tends to get sick of the oppressive heat — and even tires of heading to the beach — it can be a welcome change of pace to throw on heavier layers and incorporate durable texture into your #menswear ensemble again. And being able to play around with deep fall colors and textures — as some of the picks do below — is another reliable signifier that the season is changing. Everywhere you look, it’s about that time. Wthout further ado, here’s a look at how to dress for fall. Catch more style tips daily on the ‘Gram or Twitter, and leave any thoughts on this look in the comments.

The Jacket: Old Navy Canvas Coat — $69.94

Not as heavy as a winter parka, not as lightweight as a spring jacket — hence, a great fall coat.

You feel a crisp breeze in the air, but a lightweight spring jacket won’t cut — and it’s not heavy winter topcoat time, either. What’s your reliable go-between? A cotton canvas coat in a rich shade that’s perfectly primed for fall. Although the interior of this jacket is lined with a neat striped cotton, it should prove reliable and not too heavy for layering. Details like the front patch pockets call to mind workwear of days past, and the rich Bandolier Brown color is going to handsomely offset the blues in the rest of this ensemble (although we don’t want to give too much away yet).

The Shirt: Taylor Stitch Everyday Chambray Shirt — $104.98

Beautifully made, able to withstand anything and certainly able to make that transition to fall.

Were you expecting something other than a stellar Taylor Stitch chambray shirt here? I hope not, because I’d bet you’re disappointed right about now. The brand takes the same attention to detail that’s made its Standard Issue Chinos beloved by The Style Guide, and applies that process to a heck of a chambray shirt. Featuring sturdy double-needle construction, a midweight 7oz. chambray fabric and a fit that’s modern yet mobile, it’s the ideal contrast to that handsome brown jacket. Plus, it’s got the type of classic looks and styling potential that’ll work the rest of the year, too.

The Denim: Flint & Tinder All-American Slim Tapered Jeans — $98

New denim from a menswear line that gets essential fall basics right.

The brand that produces your favorite set of American-made boxer briefs and other stellar fall menswear delivers again with new denim that’s part of its deepest product offering to date. For fans of versatile, timeless style, that’s very much a positive. These jeans are every bit an essential pair of fall denim, made from 12oz. Cone Mills fabric and featuring one percent of stretch — that touch will make it easier to wear ’em on fall hikes or walks in the park. The slim fit is a must-have these days, although the brand’s waist sizing does go up to 40. Grab one pair of these, wear the heck out of them and watch them tell the story of a great fall season.

The Boots: JackThreads Kimbo Chelsea Boot in Brown Calf Leather — $110

Part of a new set of footwear offered from the excellent E-commerce retailer.

Since when does JackThreads make footwear? Since this season, that’s when. It’s part of the brand’s mission to expand on its stellar menswear line and take up some serious real estate in your closet. When they’re able to churn out crisp pieces like these refined Chelsea boots for just a shade over $100, that’s very agreeable. A stylish Chelsea boot works nearly any time of year, yet they seem particularly fitting for fall. They’re not nearly as clunky as some thick winter boots, and they feel especially sleek alongside slim denim and a chambray shirt (some stylish leather chukka boots could also work here, though).

The Socks: Mack Weldon Everyday Striped Socks — $14.50

Easygoing socks for daily wear — in a color that plays along nicely with the rest of this outfit.

The folks at Mack Weldon are consistently churning out everyday basics that’ll have you covered from the ground up, from its Vesper Polo to pieces like its Merino Long-Sleeve Tee, and if you read this blog as much as I think you should, you’re well-acquainted with those pieces (wink, wink). So, it only makes sense that you should round out your wardrobe with some striped Mack Weldon socks that add a nice bit of color contrast to the deep blues and browns of this outfit. Ya feel me?

The Watch: MVMT Watches The 40 in Rose Gold/Brown Leather — $120

A stunner of a watch for a stunningly low price.

Are you familiar with MVMT Watches? If not, you definitely should be. That is, if you’re a fan of stylish, affordable eye-catching watches — and who isn’t? There are some watches that are so refined in their design, you can wear them more casually — that’s certainly the case with this MVMT Watches timepiece, crafted from a rich brown leather-brown dial-rose gold case combo that’s a heck of a looker. It’s a way to offset some of the more rugged pieces in this outfit, like the canvas coat and chambray shirt. More importantly, it’s dressy enough to wear later on this season with, dare I say, the Taylor Stitch Telegraph Suit?

The Belt: J. Crew Suede Belt — $55

Texture in the form of a refined belt for the season.

This suede belt first made an appearance in this site’s suggestion on how to dress for a football game, and it’s back here and adding a change of pace to this outfit in the process. The look is already quite heavy on rugged style, to be sure, so it’s fitting that a suede belt comes into play. Fall is the perfect time to try out texture where you might not do so normally, and for more than $50, you better get a lot of wear out of this belt to justify the initial price (although this particular pick is suede, a handsome leather belt like the Tanner Goods Classic Belt would work, too).

The Sunglasses: MVMT Watches Runaway Sunglasses — $75

Equal parts retro cool and affordable style from a watch maker who knows how that stuff works.

Wait a second — MVMT Watches does sunglasses? Yes, they sure do. And why do we have sunglasses in this post? Well, as this is transitional style and all, it’s still going to be a bit sunny out there most days, whether you’re taking a hike through a park, heading to a bar crawl or taking in that football game. These sunglasses aren’t too precious to take a beating, and more importantly, they’ve got a distinct air of retro cool about them. Just like the watch, they’re perfect to pair with everything from that Taylor Stitch chambray shirt to … wait for it… the decidedly modern Taylor Stitch Telegraph Suit.

And there you have it, folks — pick up one, all (or heck, none?) of the above items and prep for fall in style. As we always aim for at this #menswear blog, reaching for pieces that are going to have your back the rest of the year is a solid bet no matter the season. And if given the chance to wear a durable chambray shirt with a crisp canvas coat, take it. The combo is just the right amount of rugged with venturing too far off the beaten path, and pieces like slim, dark denim and brown leather Chelsea boots keep things modern. A refined watch and cool-as-heck sunglasses are items every guy needs, yet not every guy has — except you. And you can never go wrong with accessories from staple players like Mack Weldon and J. Crew. Head-to-toe, there might not be a better time to be a style fan — and that’s what makes fall menswear so great.

What’s your take on this ensemble? Have you picked up any of these pieces?

Editor’s note: For product reviews on outerwear, shirting, accessories and beyond, click here. Portions of this article use affiliate links, from which a small commission might be earned. The Style Guide only recommends and reviews products its editor loves and wears regularly.

A sharp blue dial and crisp markings make this MVMT Watches timepiece a keeper.

The finishing touch that a watch can bring to an outfit is one of the small pleasures of the menswear world, in my mind. Throwing on a reliable and stylish timepiece day after day can become a nice sort of repetition — on days I’m not wearing a watch, it feels a bit like I’ve lost my totem. Whether that’s the case for you and you find yourself with a growing watch collection, or you’re just diving into the world of watches, looking for style and versatility with a budget in mind won’t let you down. Luckily for both the novice and experienced watch enthusiasts among us, a growing group of companies are riding the digital #menswear wave to put out watches that are stylish, affordable and reasonably well-crafted. Now, you won’t be getting a Patek Philipe from some of these brands, but that’s not what we’re going for. And among that set of brands producing sharp watches at excellent prices, MVMT Watches stands out.

The brand offers a variety of styles, including its simple-yet-slightly futuristic Classic line, and a series of Chrono watches that are a little more eyecatching — but the real pieces of interest (at least to yours truly) come from its 40 Series. The dials in the collection lean dressier thanks to the slim silver seconds markers, and the combinations — from rose gold plus brown leather to a silver dial with brown leather — are refined and yet easily wearable. With that being said, the brand was a new one for me before they reached out and were kind enough to offer this watch for review. I was admittedly a bit skeptical having not heard much about them (although their Instagram following is substantial). But after rocking The 40 – Silver/Brown Leather for the past month or so, I can safely recommend it as a bargain pick-up that wears a heck of a lot nicer.

The storage case is also a nice added touch from MVMT Watches.

The first standout quality about this watch is the color of that dial — I was initially a bit worried at how much I’d be able to wear a watch with a blue dial (we all know how much I love blue). But the rich dark brown leather of the strap, plus the slightly toned-down silver case markings, make this watch more versatile than, say, a blue strap and contrasting red dial markings might make it. In short, I’ve paired it as a complement to dark denim and navy chinos, and I’ve even paired it up alongside navy suede boots. So when worn in the right situation, it can add a nice complement to ensembles that at first glance might not work. And it’s to the credit of this watch that the durability surprised me even more than the style potential.

The blue dial lends itself surprisingly well to pairing with rich style staples like tan Chelsea boots (from ASOS) and an elbow-patch sweater (from JACHS NY).

The great thing about this watch is that the dial should hit the sweet spot for a lot of us — similar to a brand like Daniel Wellington, a 40mm case diameter is decently big enough so as not to look too small on a larger wrist, and it does just fine in terms of standing out on a small-to-medium size wrist (who knew wrist size would come up so frequently here?). That’s where The 40 – Silver/Brown Leather falls on this spectrum, and it’s built to be worn with everything from suit trousers to a striped henley and cardigan. Crucially, the silver-plated stainless steel case feels fairly durable when wearing it, too — this isn’t a watch that feels too light on your wrist, or as if it can’t take a bump or two. Now, this isn’t a rugged dive watch, but the case is certainly thicker than a Daniel Wellington timepiece.

Another must-have when starting the day, besides a great watch — delicious coffee! Brew shown here by Blue Bottle.

That extra thickness helps it wear a little more casual than a standard dress watch (although DW’s watches can be dressed down, too). The dark brown genuine leather strap doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy, and it’s worn pretty solidly throughout the past month — again, that’s a positive for the price. And if you’re the type who doesn’t like the “tick, tick” sound you get with some other watches (lookin’ at ya, Timex), rest assured, the 40 in Blue/Brown Leather runs smoothly. It’s also water-resistant, so that should add another layer of protection to this watch. As far as other details, it boasts a quick-release feature at the buckle for the brown leather strap, so a new NATO strap could be swapped in with ease.
Florsheim
The final selling point with this timepiece revolves around, as it seemingly always does — price! MVMT isn’t charging an arm and a leg (or a couple wrists) by any means. While this isn’t Timex-level pricing, $120 is still an excellent price for a watch that can carry you through at least three or four different outfits a week (as I’ve found) — and that goes for sharp situations that call for Chelsea boots (as seen above), to more casual weekend days. A blue dial could be an interesting style plunge to take if you’re just getting into watches, but it could definitely pave the way for future purchases if you wear this timepiece with confidence. And that’s what a great watch should ultimately give you at the end of the day — confidence. And oh yeah — the power to be on time to that lunch meeting.

What do you think of MVMT Watches? Would you consider buying a blue-dial watch?

The Style Guide

All the best men's style essentials you need, every day.

Tag / mvmt watches product review

Style Suggestion: How to Dress for Fall Weather

The Product Review: MVMT Watches Brown Leather Watch