The Friday Read: Recapping NYFW, The New Flint and Tinder Spring Collection & ‘The White Lotus’ Season Three

In the menswear world, it’s sometimes a tricky balance — to look forward to what’s new and what’s next in seasons to come, all the while zipping to events scattered across Manhattan during New York Fashion Week.

And at the same time, there’s the desire to keep your eye on the prize, so to speak, when it comes to the best spring menswear (like the new Flint and Tinder Spring Collection from Huckberry, as shown above). My many freelance writing pursuits — as you know if you follow me on Instagram — give me the chance to tackle both, and then some.

It’s a balance I’ve been thinking about quite a bit as we roll into another Friday Read — and as we deal with dressing in style for winter, of course, with the best men’s style essentials close at hand. Perhaps you feel you’re in the same boat? Ready to start dressing for early spring, yet tasked with layering up for early winter?

Yes indeed, that’s how I feel as I gravitate toward hearty winter selections like the Billy Reid Bond Peacoat, while at the same time prepping my wardrobe for a transition with selections like lightweight corduroy shirting, expertly washed denim jackets, garment-dyed sweatshirts and more — all from the new Flint and Tinder Spring Collection, of course.

And yet, I saw plenty of intriguing, memorable menswear during NYFW, including a standout prep-meets-modern collection full of expert tailoring from rising brand Peak Lapel NYC. I was also impressed by the flowing, challenging silhouettes of Sergio Hudson, and cool-as-ever Japanese outerwear and sturdy, commute and travel-ready bags from Yoshida Porter.

But this begs the question: What does NYFW mean for you — and for me — as we navigate stylish daily dressing here at this Brooklyn style blog? Let’s dive in before the weekend kicks off in earnest, shall we?

  • Above, you’ll see a monochromatic look with plenty of texture and an edgy, rock n’roll finish from Authentic Roz: At the elegant Prince George Ballroom last Saturday, the upstart fashion label unveiled its “I AM DIFFERENT” collection, using 24 edgy looks to deliver a “a visual manifesto of self-discovery.” The experience was chic, rugged and a blend of the minimalism of Japan plus the downtown cool of New York City streetwear. In short, Authentic Roz was everything thought-provoking about NYFW. So, when it comes to my favorite look above, how does this translate to your own wardrobe? Make note of earth tones, of the workwear vibe of the jacket itself, and then see how brands like Buck Mason are delivering a dusty range of colors in military-inspired silhouettes, from canvas shirt jackets to field jackets and even denim. And that, my friends, is fashion done right.
  • Speaking of Buck Mason and the legendary modern Americana brand’s focus on the classics, well, the brand has done it again, you might say. If you read this style blog on the regular, then you’ll know that the company delivers expertly crafted denim, outerwear, super-soft T-shirts and ruggedly handsome looks like denim and chambray shirts. But it’s the denim we’re here to talk about today: Buck Mason just debuted an entirely new denim range, and as you perhaps read about yesterday on this very site, the Buck Mason Japanese Denim Ford Standard Jeans are a new masterclass in affordable Japanese denim. Hit the link below for more, my friends.
  • Are you a fan of the smash hit television series ‘The White Lotus’? The HBO drama — created by “School of Rock” co-star and writer Mike White — takes viewers to exotic locales around the world, showcasing an often-ritzy, mysterious and surprisingly dark week in the life of the resort’s wealthy guests. The setting this go-round is Thailand, which lends itself to a range of crisp, refreshing cocktails enjoyed by its guests — including actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, who stars in a new campaign promoting Thailand, “The White Lotus” and of course, Ketel One vodka and Tanqueray gin (both favorites of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son). Fittingly enough, I got to talk to the young actor about all of those pursuits and more over at Maxim.com. Cheers, my friends!

That’s going to wrap up today’s exploration of NYFW style, the best new denim and the standout Flint and Tinder Spring Collection from Huckberry — there’s something for everyone today, is there not? Now, before I let you stroll off into a winter weekend — and Valentine’s Day weekend (hello to my love, Mary!) — I’ll leave you with my guide to the best winter work boots from Wolverine. Lace ’em up and get after it, my friends.

The Friday Read: The Start Of New York Fashion Week 2024

New York Fashion Week 2024.

My friends, it’s upon us again: New York Fashion Week, a momentous occasion that always lights up New York City in a cold, bleak midwinter. I’ve had the pleasure of attending New York Fashion Week for years now in some capacity, whether as part of my many freelance writing pursuits or during my days working in fashion PR. The question is, how does NYFW translate to this here style blog, which usually focuses on everyday, tried-and-true brands like Bespoke Post and Huckberry?

It’s a great question, and one that I think about often. For example, at the top of the page, Todd Snyder is putting on one of his always-excellent runway shows. For a designer raised in the Midwest, Snyder’s roots are about as far from NYFW as any (as are mine, hailing from Michigan!)

And yet, he accents his everyday pieces like a rugged lambswool sweater or stretch selvedge denim with a touch of flair, like one of the best men’s overcoats. It’s a worthy mantra: Sticking with tried-and-true essentials, and then adding touches of personality in an appropriate fashion (pun intended).

Am I encouraging faithful readers of The Style Guide to drop tens of thousands on a new wardrobe from Tom Ford or Calvin Klein or Michael Kors? Certainly not — but in the right situation, some trends (like overcoats with texture and refinement, for instance) can really shine through.

But enough about NYFW – we’ll have two posts coming up this weekend covering rugged classics as per tradition, the kind you can wear far beyond the runway. Follow along with me on Instagram to keep up with NYFW pursuits, from runway shows to afterparties, and just know I’ll be keeping an eye out for the best ways to bring it all home for The Style Guide. Thanks, as always, for reading!

The Friday Read: New York Fashion Week 2022

My friends, if you can believe it, the time is upon us again: It’s New York Fashion Week, one of the busiest times of the year for your Brooklyn style writer, and always an exceptionally exciting time. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to attend runway shows by the likes of Todd Snyder, I’ve experienced the delights of seeing new collections from up-and-coming menswear designers at New York Men’s Day, and I’ve enjoyed plenty of seriously cool parties with some seriously well-dressed people around.

Man and woman standing in a field looking at the camera wearing white tees and jeans

Through it all this week, I’ve done my best to stay on top of the menswear game in the meantime, including yesterday’s blog dispatch on the best men’s sunglasses and my latest Maxim dispatch on a stylish new Tudor watch. It’s always proven quite the balancing act, but one I always enjoy immensely.

Of course, the festivities kicked off in fine fashion with a J. Crew event on Wednesday night headlined by none other than… NYC rock legends Yeah Yeah Yeahs! Talk about worlds colliding, and talk about a dream night in and of itself.

Mercer Apricot

I’m off to more NYFW events today and this weekend yet still, including New York Men’s Day and the upcoming, Saturday night Tanner Fletcher runway show. For now, be sure to follow along with all the fun on my Instagram

The Friday Read: New York Fashion Week, Sunlit Youth and Fall Style Wishes

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 every week draws to a close, it’s pretty fun to carve out some time to write these posts — sometimes, that time is pretty short (those Effortless Gent features don’t write themselves), and other times, there’s a bit more room for introspection. I often like to put on some music as I write, and for about the past week, that’s consisted of “Sunlit Youth,” the fantastic new album from the fantastic indie rock band Local Natives. But what’s that got to do with menswear, you might ask? Well, those guys dress in laidback, minimal California cool garb, for one (wink, wink). And number two — well, it’s just a plain beautiful record, and it’s got me looking forward to a Northeast trip to see their Providence show, wherein we’ll have a full travel style post next month. See, there’s the tie-in! At any rate, records like that are works of art, and worth your time, too — much like some excellent menswear, yes? And it’s music that’s so far colored my week — for the better, by far (personal favorites include the soaring “Past Lives,” the hopeful and lilting “Coins” and the determined drive of tracks like “Psycho Lovers” and “Mother Emanuel”). But again, I’m just one guy. If you fancy spinning that record while you catch up on the below men’s style stories, give it a go. I guarantee it’ll be a perfect start to your weekend.

  • With a new season comes the chance to buy and try out some new menswear — why not start with something supremely stylish, like this standout double-breasted camel wool suit from Banana Republic? It’s part of the brand’s new line of seasonal essentials featuring NBA All-Star Kevin Love, who cleans up pretty nicely in a variety of tailored looks from the brand. And if he can find a suit that fits him the right way, so too can you. Right?
  • If you’ve been itching for a change in seasons, much like I have, this week’s Fall Style Wish List at the ole’ Style Guide should set you right. Personal favorites — besides all of ’em — include that gorgeous Flint & Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket. Who’s ready for fall yet??
  • While we’re out here talking about the change in seasons, the folks at Taylor Stitch are making gear to suit your needs for now and beyond. The Taylor Stitch Summit Sweater is what we’re talking about, and in either a marled red or navy color, it’s the perfect weight for layering up with a classic chambray shirt — so says Well-Spent, anyways.
  • Elsewhere in NYC, it was New York Fashion Week, which did feature a decent helping of men’s style in addition to dozens upon dozens (upon dozens) of women’s fashion shows — for one, the J. Crew Spring 2017 menswear presentation did a fine job at showcasing what the brand does best, which would  be breezy, wearable clothes for the modern man.

Want one last story to read before getting back to work?

  • Speaking of Flint & Tinder, the brand is on a serious push when it comes to stellar fall menswear that’ll last and last. Slim henleys in marled fabrics, that beautiful waxed trucker jacket and even some sharp denim — it’s all up for the taking. Read more about it at The Manual, and again — shop the Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket ASAP; you can also snag the rest of the line at Huckberry.

That’s it for the above Friday Read, ya dig? Now, back to another spin of “Sunlit Youth”…. right?

Stay stylish and keep your eyes open,

-Beau
Huckberry

Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.

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

New York Fashion Week: Personal Favorites

Spring New York Fashion Week is always full of colorful florals and stunning finale gowns. This year, I was actually disappointed with a majority of the shows.  Some shapes were too geometric and boxy for my taste.  But there were still many shows and looks that stood out to me.  These are some of my overall favorite looks from this week.

Tanya Taylor RTW Spring 2014

tanya-taylor-25

Retro silhouettes were everywhere this season! What I really enjoyed about this look was the beautiful combination of blue floral and the black and white pattern it lays on top of. Tanya Taylor had her Fashion Week debut just a year ago, and opted for a runway show this season. The movement of the skirts were so graceful and visually appealing to me, which is exactly why she chose the runway to show off her collection. Though she is a young designer, I could see this collection appealing to women of all ages.

Kate Spade Spring 2014

Kate Spade New York - Presentation - Spring 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Kate Spade New York - Presentation - Spring 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Kate Spade is one of my all-time favorite brands and this presentation blew me away.  The theme – a quaint European tour – was adorable and perfectly reflected.  The first few looks, inspired by Paris, made me audibly gasp in public! There is just something about the dress and peplum top with the wrought iron gate pattern that stunned me.  This collection had so many amazing silhouettes that were also very retro inspired. I loved the lemon theme representing Capri- it was fresh and perfect for spring.  Finally, the quirky clutches, colorful shoes, and sleek makeup added the perfect finishing touches to each outfit!

Oscar De La Renta Spring 2014

Oscar-De-La-Renta-SS14-12 Oscar-De-La-Renta-SS14-19 Oscar-De-La-Renta-SS14-41 Oscar-De-La-Renta-SS14-44 Oscar-De-La-Renta-SS14-50

This show was hands-down my favorite show of Fashion Week.  Again, the retro look was prevalent and that is probably why I was so drawn to this collection.  I saw several long, romantic tutu-style skirts throughout runway shows this season, but this was my personal favorite. The fabric used in several of these designs was similar to Tanya Taylor’s small patterns under floral, and it worked beautifully in each look.  The details in this collection really awed me and made it stand out to me.  Chunky necklaces, earrings, and beautifully patterned shoes topped off each outfit.  For some close ups of the details, check out the OscarPRGirl Pinterest board!

Overall, retro looks and bold details dominated the runway.  Though I was disappointed with a few shows, my high expectations for Kate Spade and Oscar De La Renta were fulfilled and even surpassed! To see more highlights of shows, check out the galleries on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website.