Tag / pair of thieves socks

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Local Natives, Dockers and Worn & Wound

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.

It’s not every week that it feels like the fun and enjoyment of the weekend keeps on rolling right through the rest of the week — except for perhaps these past few days. As I covered in last week’s Friday Read, I had the great fortune to see CHVRCHES, one of my favorite bands, here in NYC after a three-year wait! The show was so stellar, I snagged a last-second ticket to Sunday’s show, too. Yes, it’s nights like Saturday night — and Sunday night — that make me very grateful to live in NYC. The live effort by CHVRCHES — at both the hallowed Radio City Music Hall and the massive Terminal 5 the next night — was incredible. Great lights, killer sound and tons of energy from one heck of a kickass lead singer, Lauren Mayberry. Martin Doherty and Iain Cook do their fair part to bring great sound and standout energy, too. I’d say they’re another must-see when they come back with their 3rd album! And the fun continued in the early part of this week, as I checked out the very neat Engineered for Motion x Dockers collaboration with a delicious dinner at the Metrograph Commissary, an elegant restaurant and movie house that was the perfect setting for a collaboration that blends the fashionable (stretch utility pants in olive) with the functional (a black fishtail parka, perfect for bike commuters). As I write this however, I’m also prepping for another big run of days — and not just in the menswear realm. I’m heading north to Providence to see yet another live show — yes, I’m a bit obsessed. It’s been more than three years since I last saw Local Natives (in college in Michigan, no less), and as I’ve written before on this here blog, the band’s third album, “Sunlit Youth,” is one of my favorite albums of the year to date — if not my favorite. The band’s music is soulful, engaging, meaningful and well-written — it seems as if every album proves that even more. And if my memory serves me correctly, they put on a heck of a live show! With that being said, if you know of any must-see spots in Providence, chime in on The Style Guide Facebook page. Of course, you can follow along in real-time with my #menswear escapades on Instagram, Instagram Stories — yes, that’s a thing now — and my Twitter.  And lest you think we’re done here, we’ll have a full recap of the trip coming up on Monday. It’ll be a fun one!

  • So, a Style Guide favorite — that would be the fine sock and underwear purveyors at Pair of Thieves — just launched a neat collaboration with Opening Ceremony. There are two sock styles and a plethora of colors to choose from in the PERFECT line, including the more luxe Everyday Sock and the thicker, more athletically inclined Sport Sock. And the kicker? Socks in the Pair of Thieves x Opening Ceremony collaboration  retail for $15 a pair and would be perfect to pair with, say, the durable and tough SeaVees Huckberry Chukka for all your fall adventures. Right? Right.
  • Do you fancy yourself a watch aficionado? Are you in NYC the rest of this weekend? If so, you’d do very well to stop by the Wind-Up Watch Fair, put on by three partners from the online resource site/watch shop/watch lover’s dream that is Worn & Wound. The watch fair brings together more than 30 independent watch makers from across the globe, with enough watches galore to fill up the stylish and always-cool Chelsea Market in NYC. I know I’ll be stopping by — will you?
  • Now, it’s not quite felt fully like fall yet in NYC — temps that feel more like summer have a lot to do with that — but I’d still say it’s worth it to study up on how to wear a flannel shirt for fall; it was this week’s #OOTD, and a mighty stylish one at that.

For now, I’ve got a concert to prep for — and the rest of Providence to explore! We’ll see you on the other side — and maybe in the front.

Stay stylish,

-Beau

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Dress for A Rock Concert

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

Chances are, we’ve all got certain style scenarios throughout the week we have to tackle — be it dressing for a laidback office or a laidback summer weekend, there’s a multitude of conundrums (and opportunities!) to navigate in any given week. If you enjoy live music — as I very much do — you might also find yourself attending a show or two … or three. Heck, from the 2016 Panorama music festival to Governors Ball to an upstate trip to see Lucius, I love it all, and I get out and about to shows quite a bit. If you read this blog, you certainly know that; maybe you’ve even tackled a similar scenario, such as how to dress for a summer music festival. However, non-festival settings are a different animal entirely. We’re usually talking an indoor venue, a more compact crowd, and possibly time spent waiting in line outside. So, what are you going to wear? And namely, what’s a combination that might hold up alright at the office and then heading to the show itself? This is one of the essential questions in life (wink, wink) and it’s the one we’re going to answer below. As yours truly likes to drive home, looking for ways to improve — and maintain — your style comes down to always seizing the chance to do a little bit extra when it comes to getting dressed. That’s where style upgrades come into play, even off the clock. The below outfit certainly has a few of those. If you want to keep up with what I’m wearing at my next show (obviously), head to Instagram. To check out my thoughts on music & other musings, check out my non-menswear Twitter — it exists! — right here.

Ready for the front row -- a chambray shirt, slim black denim and Chelsea boots are about as concert-ready as it gets.

Ready for the front row — a chambray shirt, slim black denim and Chelsea boots are about as concert-ready as it gets.

The Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch M-65 Military Jacket, $150 –The (somewhat) new and very improved Abercrombie & Fitch is keeping that roll going into the fall season with pieces like this timeless, sharp and versatile field jacket. It works just as well over a knit tie with a blue Oxford as it does with this outfit’s other pieces.

The Shirt: Buck Mason Short-Sleeve Chambray Shirt, $108 — If you’ve kept your eyes peeled, you’ve seen this Buck Mason short-sleeve chambray shirt as part of this site’s Style Pick of the Week series. It’s an essential done the right way, and the short sleeves will keep you cooler even underneath the jacket.

The Denim: Levi’s 505C Slim-Fit Jeans in DeeDee Wash, $98 — Is it cliché to wear black jeans to a rock concert? Not when that pair of denim is inspired by an actual archival style worn by rockers like the Ramones. (Read more by yours truly at The Manual).

The Boots: Soul36 Fairmont Chelsea Boots in Taupe, $249 — Because no trip to a concert is complete with rock-ready footwear, suede Chelsea boots that can handle a bit of a beating are the exact way to go.

The Socks: Pair of Thieves Okapi Socks, $10  — When your outfit relies on lots of shades of blue (plus some black and tan), a vibrant shot of red is never a bad thing. The price on these Pair of Thieves socks simply can’t be beat.

The Belt: Tanner Goods Classic Belt in Hickory, $99.98 — An average belt just won’t do here — no, your belt should be one that works at the office and at a show, and a refined-yet-rugged Tanner Goods belt is neither too dressy or dressed-down.
Frank & Oak
The Watch: AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Watch, $270 — Seeing as we’re pushing for an outfit that’s equal parts rugged, tough and office-ready, this aviation-inspired timepiece — featuring a beefy 45mm case diameter and smart dial design — is ideal.

The Wallet: Andar Wallets Scout Wallet, $22 — Before we get into what makes this wallet so great, know that you can get 10 percent off your purchase with the code ‘STYLEGUIDE’ — now, why should do that? This wallet is slim enough to fit into the front pocket of that denim, functional enough to hold a small amount of cash and a few essential cards, and memorable enough in design that you won’t leave it behind at the bar.

As you can see in the #OOTD above, the small style details matter, from the cut of your shirt to the color of your socks — and they can be merged into one functional outfit that’s fit for something as unique as a rock concert. Those suede Chelsea boots that you might pair with a business-casual look will fit right in as you jockey for a front-row spot (or a spot at the bar). Pieces like a navy military jacket and a chambray shirt are multi-season essentials that work particularly well for transitioning from location to location — indoors or outdoors. The military jacket is rugged yet sharp when paired up with that crisp blue short-sleeve chambray shirt. And while black denim might feel a touch rebellious, a clean wash in a dark color is certainly as concert-ready  as durable pair of inky blue denim. Lastly, that durable watch and slim wallet are nice additions to your daily haul any day of the week. If you have suggestions or thoughts on what you’re wearing to your next show, write me a note on Twitter (my #menswear one, if you prefer).

Stay stylish and snap a concert video for me,

-Beau

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Style Leather Chukka Boots

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD series will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

As I’ve so often written about on The Style Guide, style doesn’t have to be too taxing or complicated. It’s not about chasing too many trends (things like athleisure and ridiculously distressed clothing come to mind), but I find that it’s about taking basic pieces and making them work for you by nailing the fit, texture and color. And if you stock a wardrobe full of versatile, casual pieces, that’s a job that can be taken care of quite easily. Take the below #OOTD. It’s perhaps endlessly versatile, from a first (or second, or heck, third) date to a day at the office to weekend brunch or shopping. That’s what you get when you focus on pieces that are relatively classic and dial in the fit and proportions to make them work for you. So in the case of the chambray shirt you’ll see below (spoiler!), that means looking for a piece that fits trim and flatters your frame. The same goes for the chinos on display. When you check those boxes off, it then gets easier to focus on other crucial areas – like pattern and color (or, grabbing a great pair of essential chukka boots). With all that being said, let’s not waste another moment! Onto the #OOTD below.  Hit me up on Twitter or Facebook if you like what you see!

Taking a classic pair of brown leather chukka boots and pairing them with style staples -- simple, effective and sharp!

Taking a classic pair of brown leather chukka boots and pairing them with style staples — simple, effective and sharp!

The Boots: Thursday Boots Brown Scout Boot, $149 — While plenty of brands make a solid leather chukka boot (see here for one option), it’s tough to find a brand that’s nailing a solid price point for even higher quality.

The Shirt: Old Navy Slim-Fit Chambray Shirt, $25 — Because we’re starting with the boots and building from there, a solid, reliable and remarkably affordable chambray shirt is for sure the way to go.

The Chinos: Bonobos Jet Blue Washed Chinos, $88 — Again, navy chinos are classic, reliable (saying that a lot, aren’t we?) and well-fitting — particularly with your pick of three fits. The navy blue plays nicely off the chambray, too.

The Socks: Pair of Thieves Splelurking Socks, $10 — You might recognize this brand from a past Style Guide #OOTD, and this pair is a nice way to break up the shades of blue between the chinos and chambray shirt.

The Belt: J. Crew Factory Braided Leather Belt, $27.50 — Playing off the adage that simple is better, this relatively affordable and durable belt breaks up the outfit with solid texture and keeps things casual yet crisp.

The Watch: Timex Weekender Fairfield Watch, $75 — A new introduction from a brand that’s really upped their design as of late — the casual nature of this outfit means you needn’t worry about matching the leather to the chukkas all that much.

The Money Clip: Owen & Fred Brass Money Clip, $19 — If you live by the principle that style is in the details, this money clip streamlines your everyday carry and looks great in the process.

The Bag: Owen & Fred Flight Brief, $245 — If you prefer a larger bag, this might be a bit small for you. However, if you prefer to keep things simple, sharp and stylish, picking up this flight brief is a great investment.

And with all of that, we’re set. This outfit isn’t tremendously groundbreaking, and it’s not build to turn all that many heads in terms of street style. But it’s sharp, effective and versatile — be it going from the office to a weekend trip, or out and about on the weekends. Pairing shades of blue is a personal favorite of this menswear writer (although I’m trying to mix up those colors!), so it’s a tried-and-true combination. And crucially, starting with a remarkably handsome pair of shoes — chukka boots in this case — is always a solid bet no matter what occasion you might be dressing for. Be sure to take care of them with brown leather shoe cream or polish, and they’ll stand up to everything from tailored wear to a casual weekend outing.

Are you a fan of this week’s #OOTD? How would you style brown leather chukka boots?

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