Tag / reader contest

by Beau H.

Reader Giveaway Opportunity: Combatant Gentleman

Sharp tailored wear -- namely, a new shirt and tie -- could be yours to keep this season from Combatant Gentleman. Photo courtesy of the brand.

Sharp tailored wear — namely, a new shirt and tie — could be yours to keep this season from Combatant Gentleman. Photo courtesy of the brand.

Editor’s note: Thanks to everyone who participated! And congrats to the winner, Becca R.! Stay stylish!

It’s been a bit of time since our last Reader Giveaway here at the well-adorned Style Guide HQ, but the holiday season is as good a time as any to give away some great #menswear. With holiday parties upcoming or ongoing and even more opportunities to dress up around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you might be looking to upgrade your style in a hurry — and on a budget. That’s where Combatant Gentleman can help — as they did for the stylish fella above. In fact, I also rocked a great suit, shirt and tie combo from the brand this past weekend. They’re one of this site’s Approved Brands, and they’ve got plenty of clout to back it up. While some might prefer  more expensive options offered up by brands like J. Crew, Combatant Gentleman nails the affordable suiting game. Whether it’s a Slim-Fit Travel Jacket (as I reviewed earlier this year) or a sharp double-breasted suit (as seen in a trip I took to Italy), the brand definitely delivers — they’re even making overcoats and pea coats, too. Of course, its chinos are worth a look; also worth a mention is its new made-to-measure suiting service — that’s how I was able to get the lovely custom Blue Glenplaid Suit Trousers I wore this weekend. But rest assured, even if you can’t pick up a made-to-measure suit right away, the brand has plenty of great garb to outfit you for the holiday season — after all, few brands can offer $16 ties, $12 pocket squares and versatile shirts starting at $30 (I’m a big fan of this Floral and Dot Brown Tie in particular).
Florsheim
Critically though, that shirt and tie is what’s going to set  you apart from the pack at those holiday parties (and yes, if that shirt’s well-tailored, the tie is slim and the occasion doesn’t call for a suit jacket, you can assuredly wear a shirt and tie sans jacket). That’s why one lucky winner is getting their pick of Combatant Gentleman shirt and tie in time for the holidays — and with the classic options the brand offers, they’ll definitely work during the regular 9-to-5 grind, too.

Here’s how to win — best of luck and thanks, as always, for reading!

  • Head to my Instagram and follow both myself and the ever-sharp Combatant Gentleman feed.
  • Like either Monday’s Combat Gent-themed photo, and let me know how a shirt-and-tie combo from the brand would help you elevate your holiday look (oh, and use #DressSmarter if you would!).
  • Look for a winner to be picked, announced here and notified via IG on Monday night!

Enjoy the season and stay stylish!

-Beau

by Beau H.

Reader Giveaway Opportunity: Kent & Bond Grooming

Your chance to win a well-made grooming product from an upstart brand. Photo courtesy of Kent & Bond.

Your chance to win a well-made grooming product from an upstart brand. Photo courtesy of Kent & Bond.

Editor’s note: Read on (or at least skim?) to the bottom of this article for a special reader giveaway opportunity!

It seems lots of companies in every facet of the menswear landscape are now paying more attention to how they make their wares — that goes for the consumers buying them, too. Whether it’s Everlane’s model of radical transparency or brands like Noble Denim supporting American-made manufacturing, the trend (if you want to call it that), is everywhere. It hasn’t been all that loud on the men’s grooming front though — particularly when you combine the qualities that seem to separate most grooming brands: domestic manufacturing and organic ingredients. Kent & Bond is changing that, though.

I had the chance to write about the brand for VOUCH Mag and I also got the opportunity to check out its signature Body Brick soap across these past few weeks. Launched last year and the proud owner of a new E-commerce website, its product is made in the U.S.A using Certified Organic ingredients. Those touches give the product a premium feel for a low price — $14 for a fairly substantial mini-brick of soap, among other nicely priced wares (read on for more on those).

Kent & Bond's Charcoal Pine Body Brick, complete with the brand's mission.

Kent & Bond’s Charcoal Pine Body Brick, complete with the brand’s mission.

I was admittedly skeptical at first about the product — it’s just a bar of soap, right? Is there a catch? Honestly — no, no catch at all. I sampled the Charcoal Pine Body Brick (as charcoal-based products seem to be everywhere in the men’s grooming world these days), and I haven’t been disappointed. The bar combines a pleasant smell with a crisp, clean feeling — and that’s also reflected in some of the other Body Brick samples I was sent (the brand stocks five Body Brick scents in total). The bars are also rich in vitamins, aged for three months and produced in small batches — tough to find that in your average body wash. It’s also worth nothing that the brand produces responsibly made body gels, too.

The full run of the brand's popular Body Brick soaps. Photo courtesy of Kent & Bond.

The full run of the brand’s popular Body Brick soaps. Photo courtesy of Kent & Bond.

One would imagine that its deodorants and products like the Body Salve are equally well-made — don’t forget about its Horween leather dopp kit, either. The lineup also brings an edge of masculinity — something that could draw in guys skeptical about testing out new grooming products (*raises hand*). If you find yourself on the fence about buying a product though — don’t be! And luckily, that’s what we’re taking care of for you here today. I’m partnering with the brand to give away 1 Body Brick sample of your choice to five lucky winners. Rest assured — even a sample size is quite large. Simply do the following:

  • Head on over to my Instagram account, [make sure you’re following myself and Kent & Bond, of course!].
  • Then, ‘Like’ either Sunday or Monday’s special K&B-themed IG post and comment as to what product or scent you’d like the best! You’ll be able to tell which is which based on the post, trust me.

The winners will be chosen randomly and notified late Tuesday via Instagram. Stay tuned for more! And head over to the brand’s Facebook or Twitter accounts for more from their world.

Greats

by Beau H.

Reader Giveaway Opportunity: Linjer Leather Goods

A beautiful leather billfold in mocha from Linjer — read on for details on how to enter!

A beautiful leather billfold in mocha from Linjer — read on for details on how to enter to win this or other great offerings from the brand.

If you follow the Men’s Style section of this site with any regularity, you might remember last fall’s brand profile on Linjer Leather Goods. They launched an INDIEGOGO campaign that quickly took off, with the aim of providing high-quality leather goods like briefcases, messenger bags and satchels at prices far below luxury brands. The company blew by its initial fundraising goal on INDIEGOGO (by 287%, no less!) and is now getting closer to an initial production run of its products, most of which are set to ship in March. They’ve got some beautiful-looking offerings up on the site right now, including a soft leather briefcase in an eye-catching navy and a slick messenger bag. They have plans to launch new items soon, including the mocha billfold pictured here and a stunning set of vertical wallets, passport wallets, cardholders and work totes.

These are outstanding products made to last with high-quality materials, and given all that, I’m proud to be able to give away another tremendous offering from the company — your pick of a Linjer Leather Goods billfold, passport wallet, cardholder or vertical wallet!

Enough room for the essentials and some cash. Much slimmer than a regular wallet.

Enough room for the essentials and some cash. Much slimmer than a regular wallet.

Unlike the last reader giveaway on the site, this involves the actual product right upfront. The mocha billfold pictured here came into the Siblings With Style Brooklyn outpost earlier last week and seems to live up to the reputation the company’s built for itself in just a short period of time — it would be an awesome pick for the lucky winner of this contest.

The leather is rich yet supple and should develop a nice patina over time, and it’s extra slim — around 40% the thickness of a traditional wallet thanks to only two layers of leather. It features enough space for 6 cards and two slots for cash. A more in-depth review of this particular piece is planned for early March, but before that time, a great Linjer piece could be yours! Simply follow the instructions on the giveaway below, and check out some close-up photos of the cardholder, vertical wallet and passport wallet in the meantime.

Slim, sleek and well-made. Photo courtesy of Linjer Leather Goods.

Slim, sleek and well-made. The mocha billfold is just one of the potential options for the giveaway winner. Photo courtesy of Linjer Leather Goods.

For full details on the giveaway, follow the listed link! Good luck and thanks for reading!

Win a Linjer wallet!