The Friday Read: Coachella, Governors Ball and New Year’s Resolutions

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 in full-on 2017 mode — full speed ahead — at The Style Guide this week. Already, it’s tough to believe about a week has flown by. How’s your week? Feeling any different than 2016? For all of us, I sure hope so. If you’re a fan of menswear — and music — we’ll cover a few key topics in that regard to start the year today. I enjoyed a busy yet productive first four days back from work, and that was bolstered by some neat news off the clock — the announcement of the lineup for perhaps my favorite weekend of the year, NYC’s Governors Ball. I truly enjoyed checking out the festival in style last year, and I’m pretty pumped to check it out again.  It’ll be pretty tough to top amazing shows from The Killers and The Strokes among others, but I can’t wait to check it out. From the U.S. return of Phoenix to a much-anticipated showing by Lorde and performances by amazing bands like The Head and the Heart (whom I saw last month in Baltimore) to Local Natives (whom I saw in Providence last fall), it promises to be quite special. Of course, Franz Ferdinand, Warpaint, Saint Motel and Phantogram should all be major treats — along with headlining slots from Chance the Rapper and Childish Gambino. Seriously — this is exciting. And if you won’t be able to make it to Governors Ball, it’s tough to understate how excellent this year’s Coachella lineup is, from The xx and Lorde to Radiohead, Beyoncé (and a packed undercard of names featuring bands like Joseph, Oh Wonder, Bastille, Arkells and again, Local Natives. OK, I’m pumped about festival season. And I’m ready to take on the weekend in style — who else is with me? Follow along with all the behind-the-scenes #menswear action on Instagram. Stay stylish!

  • Forbes released its  2017 ’30-Under-30′ list earlier this year, and what’s pretty fascinating aside from the list itself is the depth of menswear on said list — including five menswear brands to know from said list, as featured on GQ.com.
  • One thing we didn’t quite mention above as we kick off the new year … those pesky 2017 menswear resolutions. I rounded up a few of mine on the blog earlier this week, and would love to hear yours — what have we got upcoming? Let me know in the comments, folks.
  • If a watch upgrade is on your mind to start 2017, then there’s one place to go — and it could be Worn & Wound. I attended the brand’s watch fair (featuring a stellar showing of excellent, detail-oriented watch brands), and the company itself stocks a pretty impressive array of watch accessories for the style-minded guy (which would happen to be you). So, you best read up on my latest feature for The Manual — it’s a good one (wink, wink).
  • Last but not least, we’re in the thick of winter weather — grab yourself a pair of the best men’s boots for winter via this site’s roundup earlier this week. You’ll be all set — trust me.

OK, that’s a wrap — get out there and enjoy the new year in style!

Beckett Simonon