See Now, Buy Now: The Shinola Canfield Model C56 Is Your New Favorite Leather Watch

If you ask me, I’ve long been of the opinion that it’s the seemingly small details that make or break an outfit. Sure, the essentials are vitally important — like the cut of your Oxford shirt, the fit of your jacket or the comfort of your favorite pair of blue jeans — but rounding out an #OOTD with, say, one of the best watches for men has long been a passion of mine, too.

And that goes for your supporting accessories, like one of the best daily bags for men, which is where Shinola comes into play in a major way. Whether you’re opting for leather goods or on the hunt for the best everyday leather watch for men, trust me when I say Shinola has you covered.

That’s certainly true when it comes to Mid-Century Modern-inspired Shinola Canfield Model C56, which delivers utility and elegant, versatile style in spades.

Most stylish leather watch for men.

The Shinola Canfield Model C56 has quite the design inspiration behind it, taking cues from General Motors’ Argonaut Building, a key design center for the company through 1956. The watch is clean and crisp, with a sleek date window and a contrasting outer seconds ring.

The 43mm case diameter should prove wearable for most wrist sizes, but it’s the brown leather strap and sharp blue dial that set the Shinola Canfield Model C56 apart from the pack. Of course, it’s hard to select just one watch from the array that is the rotation of Shinola men’s watches, but at $750, this is the timepiece I’ve got my eye on at the moment. If you feel the same way, you know where to go — shop Shinola accordingly ASAP, folks.

The Friday Read: The Shinola Runlate Watch, Filson x Indiana Jones & New American Single Malt

As I roll into another Pure Michigan weekend — following a couple momentous yet relaxing weeks in my home state — I’m both grateful for relaxing time spent on the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as the chance to keep up with my freelance writing pursuits all the same.

It’s the best of both worlds if you ask me, complete with both tranquil lakeshore views and cold beer (along with more than a few dispatches to add to my freelance writing portfolio). Fireworks, food, fun and … menswear? Sure thing. Fair warning: You’ll also want to keep scrolling today to read about a sharp new watch from Shinola.

As to my time in Pure Michigan: In between fun in the sun and sand, I wrote about another partnership near and dear to my heart. That’d be the stunning Filson x Indiana Jones capsule, as seen at the top of the page and covered by yours truly at Maxim.com. It’s a set of rugged, Indy-inspired gear made for the outdoor explorer, and you’d do well to shop Filson x Indiana Jones heading into your weekend.

By the way, the Filson Summer Sale continues to roll on, so you’ve got more than enough reason to shop the legendary Pacific Northwest outfitter.

As to the rest of your plans over the next three days, use my helpful picks below as a guide to shop and sip your way through breezy summer days. Cheers, my friends.

American Single Malt whiskey.
  • Here’s a nice sipper to guide you into the weekend. Back in May, Jim Beam (known more formally as the James B. Beam Distilling Co.) launched its first-ever American single malt whiskey, and I had the chance to taste Clermont Steep Single Malt in New York City as part of my spirits writing for Maxim.com. It’s crafted from American malted barley from Clermont, Kentucky, then distilled at a single distillery (the same approach taken across the pond for single malt Scotch). It was a wonderful night, and I’m here to say that the first foray by Jim Beam into this new category is a winner. Oh, and here’s the kicker: You can get yourself a bottle of Clermont Steep at Drizly right now.
Shinola Runlate Watch.
  • If you thought the Filson x Indiana Jones capsule was fun, how about this: Shinola turned one of its April Fool’s jokes into a real-life, limited-edition watch. Meet the Shinola Runlate, a clever play on that friend who’s always running, well, late (even if that friend happens to be you). The design of the classic Shinola Runwell gets an update via “Late” hour markers, instead of the modern Art Deco design of the OG watch. Plus, the Runlate features a crisp white dial and tan leather strap combo. It’s playful, it’s limited-edition and it comes on the heels of a wave of customer requests for this ultra-fun watch. Don’t be late: Only 100 units of the Shinola Runlate are available.
  • Let’s shift briefly from whiskey and watches to outdoor pursuits for summer days ahead. Just yesterday on the blog, I wrote about some of the best hybrid shorts to wear now: These Free Fly Breeze Shorts are ideal for trail hiking, quick training sessions, evenings around the bonfire… the list goes on. Dive right in via my Thursday Buy, and we’ll see you out there.

That’ll bring today’s Friday Read to a close, and I hope I’ve covered enough bases for everyone. Of course, there’s the chance to shop the best hybrid shorts from a trusted apparel brand, along with the fun-as-can-be Shinola Runlate watch and new American single malt whiskey. Check back tomorrow for my Style Pick of the Week, and in the meantime, cheers to summer and thanks for reading!

See Now, Buy Now: The Shinola 10,000 Mile Collection Has Some of the Most Rugged Travel Bags Out There

Best travel bag for men.

There are some brands that seemingly plant a flag in the ground and stake their claim to specializing in one category, and then continually improving in that category. That’s precisely what Detroit-based Shinola did in the world of the best men’s watches, of course.

They started off making classics like the Shinola Runwell before expanding slowly but surely into other categories, like the best sunglasses for men and even the astounding Shinola Hotel in Detroit. Suffice to say, I’m a major fan of the brand, and that goes for the latest from Detroit’s finest: A thoughtfully designed line of the best travel bags for men, made from incredibly tough, rugged fabric.

Best rugged travel bag for men.

The collection in question is the Shinola 10,000 Mile Collection, boasting highly durable Dyneema fabric for a surprisingly rugged touch from the famously refined brand. The hard-wearing offering includes a tote, a tech pouch and a travel duffel, each packed with more functionality than the last.

If you’re opting for something more outdoor-minded than, say, Shinola’s handsome Navigator Leather line, the Shinola 10,000 Mile Collection is your best bet. In fact, the 10,000 Mile Collection nods to the number of total miles of coastline along the Great Lakes, and these are certainly bags you could take on adventures through the great outdoors.

Best travel bags from Shinola.

That’s due to the Dyneema fabric, which is lightweight, abrasion-resistant and yet 15 times stronger than quality steel and 40 times stronger than Aramid fiber. On top of that, each piece in the Shinola 10,000 Mile Collection boasts helpful details like interior slide pockets and an exterior pocket in the 10,000 Mile Duffle.

Plus, aluminum hardware adds durability, while the trio of pieces in the Shinola 10,000 Mile Collection features a stylish black-and-orange color combination. And for good measure, the collection is a solid value (the duffle, for instance, is priced at $795).

When you’re in the market for one of the best rugged outdoor bags from a brand you can trust, opt for the Shinola 10,000 Mile Collection. Cheers, my friends.

See Now, Buy Now: Shinola Is Now Making Some of the Best Men’s Aviator Sunglasses for Summer

Best aviator sunglasses for men.

From time to time, one of my favorite things in my never-ending search for the best menswear essentials revolves around finding something completely unexpected from a brand you know very well for doing one thing particularly well. For instance: What if I told you that one of your favorite lifestyle brands, a brand making some of the best watches for men, was also capable of making… wait for it… some of the best aviator sunglasses out there? Pretty great, right?

Yes, it’s great indeed. That brand in question is a long-running personal favorite of mine: Shinola, the Detroit-based lifestyle brand that makes your favorite leather watch — and unexpected picks like luxurious home goods. Add another eye-catching standout to that list, in this case quite literally: The famed Michigan brand is now making an entire lineup of stylish men’s eyewear, including the essential, classic-meets-modern Shinola Runwell Aviator.

Best sunglasses for men this summer.

Think of it like a surprise twist, but it makes sense that the brand would eventually branch into eyewear — after all, quality craftsmanship, precision and versatile style is at the heart of what Shinola does. That lends itself quite handsomely to rugged-meets-refined picks like the Shinola Runwell Aviator.

Coolest men's aviator sunglasses.

Take heed: Just because you can no longer get them at a discount (the brand just wrapped its 10-Year Appreciation Event) doesn’t mean you should forego adding this pair to your rotation ASAP. The Shinola Runwell Aviator boast frames made from hard-wearing Flexon metal, complete with durable nylon lenses and Flexon temples.

Beyond that, your new favorite sunglasses feature nicely sized 56mm frames (a slightly oversized touch that falls in line with the classic aviator design). The Shinola Runwell Aviator also comes with a characteristic touch of Shinola orange inside the back of the temple tips, and that’s not the only notable style option you’ve got with these classic men’s sunglasses.

They’re available in two varieties, a rich Amber lens-meets-Satin Gunmetal design, plus a visually striking Bottle Green lens combination. And even at full price ($299), the Shinola Runwell Aviators are worth it: They’re dependable, well-designed, versatile enough to wear with an everyday #OOTD or a more formal look, and made by a brand you can trust. Go ahead and secure your next must-wear pair of men’s sunglasses for sunny days ahead.

The Friday Read: Shinola’s 10-Year Anniversary Event & A Brooklyn Family Weekend

Best Shinola watches for men.

Folks, it’s *time* to roll into the weekend with our eyes on another deal on the best men’s watches, plus some handy spring style tips — as per tradition, right? Yes indeed, and the best way to start a Brooklyn weekend might just be by shopping a deal that’ll be gone in the blink of an eye.

Shinola, one of my favorite watch brands (and perhaps one of yours, as well) is running the Shinola 10-Year Appreciation Event, a celebration of a decade in business that’s seen the Detroit watchmaker go from a brand making classic leather watches to a company now making everything from stylish home furniture to audio accessories and much more.

And the scoop, if you haven’t been keeping up with the blog, is that the Shinola 10-Year Appreciation Event only runs now through Sunday, May 14th — yes, this Sunday, and it’ll be here before you know it! Shop and save early and often.

As for me, well, I know my own weekend should fly by in the blink of an eye (but hopefully, not too quickly), as I’ll be hosting my family in Brooklyn this weekend — the first time a full family NYC trip has happened since 2019! In store: A Broadway show, plenty of Brooklyn imbibing in terms of the borough’s best beer and wine, and a few stops at key sights and sounds in the borough (DUMBO very much included).

You can keep up with the fun on my Instagram, and in the meantime, let me know in the comments below if you end up shopping the Shinola 10-Year Appreciation Event. Cheers to a spring weekend, and thanks for reading!

The Thursday Buy: Save 25 Percent On the Classic Shinola Runwell, Now Through May 14th

Best classic leather watch for men.

There are parts of building out your menswear wardrobe that are wildly fun, like developing your personal style wish list, and then there’s the actual execution of the process: If you’ve got your eye on, say, a stylish leather watch or an investment-level everyday carry essential, then those pieces aren’t always easy to pick up on the fly. There’s price, for one, and there’s availability, for another, but what if I told you your favorite watch brand was on a (temporary) mission to change all of that?

The watch brand in question, which I hope you’re familiar with if you read the blog frequently, is Detroit-based Shinola, which actually does so much more than just craft stylish men’s watches nowadays. There are also daily essentials like the Shinola Canfield Messenger Bag, but what we’re here to talk about today belongs on your wrist.

Shinola Runwell watch review.

Naturally, that watch is the Shinola Runwell — actually, the Shinola Runwell 41mm — one of the best men’s watches in terms of versatility and now, value. That’s because the Shinola 10-Year Appreciation Event runs now through May 14th, giving you the rare chance to take 25 percent off sitewide on everything. Yes, everything from the famed watchmaker and fan favorite is up for grabs, but only for a few more days.

Let’s go back briefly to the Shinola Runwell 41mm, the brand’s flagship style. It blends a sort of retro, Art Deco-type quality with the rugged-yet-refined appeal of a contrasting leather strap, and the 41mm case diameter makes it a touch more casual than some of the best men’s dress watches. The Shinola Runwell 41mm comes in a wide array of dial and strap colors (and you can also purchase Shinola watch straps to give your collection even more versatility).

But the best of the bunch, especially if you’ve got a large rotation of brown leather shoes and boots (like me!), might be a tan leather Shinola Runwell with a crisp white or black dial. It already retails for under $600 full price, but the Shinola 10-Year Appreciation Event drops that deal even lower. There’s no time to waste — pun intended. Save 25 percent now through Sunday.

The Tuesday Steal: Save 25 Percent on the Best Men’s Watches & More at Shinola Through May 14th

Best men's watches from Shinola.

Every once in a little while, a menswear deal comes around that’s so astonishing, it makes you stop and take notice — be it from a heritage retailer like Filson or a brand that makes some of the best watches for men, those deals are often too good to pass up. That leads us nicely into today’s Tuesday Steal, which actually runs now for the next 12 days.

You’re going to want to sit down (or stand up and take notice!) with this one: As part of Shinola’s 10-year anniversary, you can take 25 percent off sitewide through May 14th. Yes indeed, the Shinola 10-Year Appreciation Event is a rather remarkable way to shop and save (and possibly spend some of that tax refund), especially if you’ve had your eye on, say, the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic or any of the Detroit lifestyle brand’s selection of the best men’s watches — period.

The ideal thing about the Shinola 10-Year Appreciation Event is the fact that it applies to more than just watches, and if you know anything about the Detroit craftspeople at Shinola, it’s that they do so much more than just watches these days. With only a few exceptions this time around (like Pet products and the Shinola x Crate & Barrel collaboration), everything online in terms of the best men’s accessories is yours for the taking, including a lineup of stylish leather bags and wallets for men.

Whether you want the handsome Shinola Canfield Brief, or whether you’d like to get a new Shinola Runwell on your wrist, there’s one standout way to do so right now: Simply shop the Shinola 10-Year Appreciation Event and reap the rewards accordingly, my friends. Happy shopping!

See Now, Buy Now: The Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic Is the Rugged Watch Upgrade Your Collection Needs

Best leather strap watch for men.

Perhaps as a new year rounds into another month, you’re still looking to really build out your rotation of the best watches for men in a big way. And when I say in a big way, I mean investing in one of the best leather watches from a brand you can really trust, and a brand that’s worth splurging on: That’d be Detroit-based Shinola, a longtime favorite of your Brooklyn style writer (and Michigan native!).

While classic offerings like the Shinola Runwell Watch routinely sell for well under $1K, the brand also offers plenty for those who don’t mind spending a bit more on their new favorite watch. Take theShinola Bronze Monster Automatic , an incredibly rugged, handsome, versatile watch that carries on the legacy of the Shinola Monster line quite nicely.

The handsome bronze case and black dial are visually striking features right off the bat, with quality befitting the higher price (the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic will set you back $1,850). There’s plenty more beneath the surface, as with other outstanding Shinola men’s watches, of course.

Best bronze watch for men.

Of note, the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic is delivered on a supple leather strap, but also comes complete with a durable khaki NATO strap for a sporty change of pace. Think of the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic like two watches for the price of one regular Shinola watch, really ($1,850 divided by two, my friends!). Of course, it’s what’s inside that counts, including the SW200-1 Swiss automatic movement, which powers the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic in reliable fashion.

Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic

The Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic also boasts a distinctive 43mm case size, which is larger than the classic Shinola Runwell at 41mm but not so large as to throw things off (pair it with similarly beefy winter style staples like your favorite shawl cardigan, for instance). Other touches like a uni-directional bezel and Super LumiNova markings (for added visibility in low-light situations) make the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic a surefire, highly functional yet stylish winner in the watch world.

Note that the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic will develop a patina over time on its bronze case, so pay close attention to care instructions for this investment-worthy watch. Beyond that, be sure to wear the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic as often as possible, because it’s one investment that’ll only get better with age.

Style Pick of the Week: Shinola Canfield Messenger Bag – Best Bag for Your Everyday Carry

Best leather messenger bag for men.

As the new year dawns, perhaps you’re like me and enjoy taking stock of those style essentials you can’t live without — and for this Brooklyn writer on the go, that means one of the best leather messenger bags is a must-have. But let’s get more specific on this, the last day of 2022: Let’s talk about the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger, one of the best bags for your everyday carry and a very worthwhile upgrade to your daily haul as we head back into the office next year.

It’s coming at you courtesy of Detroit-based Shinola, long one of my favorite brands — and for much more than just the best leather goods or one of the best watches for men (period!). Yes indeed, the all-American company has built a true lifestyle brand in every sense of the word, and that extends beyond just your wrist and right down to the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger as you transport your daily gear from point A to point B.

Best everyday carry bag for men.

Crucially, the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger is all about durability, starting with its Wisconsin leather from Seidel Tannery. Known as Navigator leather, that material means the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger will only get better with age (and hey, don’t most leather goods look just a bit better with a bit more wear on ’em?).

This stylish leather messenger bag boasts two interior pockets, one for your phone and one for other EDC valuables, and only gets more useful from there. The Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger also boasts a padded laptop sleeve and a card pocket for, perhaps, a stylish Shinola leather wallet.

Milled in Scotland for a lifetime of wear.

Beyond that, it latches with a magnetic closure for ease of access on the go, while the gunmetal brass hardware on the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger is a cool, refined touch. The shoulder strap adjusts with ease (and can even be removed if you so choose), turning the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger from a bag fit for work into a bag fit for, well, a little bit of everything. To head back to the office and hit the road in 2023, make sure the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger is right by your side.

The Thursday Buy: Start Your Year Off with the Classic Shinola Runwell Watch

Best stylish leather watch for men.

We haven’t yet hit 2023 yet, but if I were you, I’d take this time to start planning for the new year with a few choice style upgrades: Like the chance to step up and buy one of the best leather watches for men from a trusted brand. The brand in question, of course, is one you know and love if you read the blog on the daily: Detroit-based Shinola, at once a rugged-yet-refined lifestyle brand and an American-focused designer and builder of some of the best watches for men, period.

Yes, they also make reliable style picks like some of the best leather wallets, not to mention one of the best investment-level watches on the market, but there’s something to be said about a sub-$600, classic, crisply designed watch like the fan-favorite Shinola Runwell 41mm Watch.

The trusty and retro-leaning (yet modern!) Shinola Runwell is a flagship design for the brand, and it’s the kind of stylish men’s watch that checks plenty of boxes for today’s gentleman (like you!). Let’s look at what makes this thing tick, yes?

Best leather strap watches for men.

With the truly timeless Shinola Runwell — a personal favorite of this Brooklyn style writer — it all starts with the specs, like Shinola’s Argonite 1069 movement. Keep in mind that the movement of the Shinola Runwell is assembled in Detroit from Swiss parts, so you’re getting the best of all-American craftsmanship and Swiss watchmaking precision (in my humble opinion!).

The 41mm stainless steel case on the Shinola Rundell is nicely sized for most wrists, not too bulky or too slender — just right for casual, everyday style scenarios like wearing with your favorite henley and the best men’s blue jeans, for instance. Naturally, the Shinola Runwell is an exceptional business casual watch as well, a stylish pairing with one of the best winter blazers (or a lightweight cotton blazer come spring and summer).

Of course, the Shinola Runwell hits the mark in matters of style, too: Note the handsome leather strap with contrast stitching for a distinctive touch. In fact, the entire Shinola Runwell Collection offers up something for everyone, quite literally, whether you’re in the market for one of the best chronograph watches or whether you want the Shinola Runwell 47mm in a beefed-up design.

Is there a better, more stylish everyday watch than the Shinola Runwell? I’ll let you be the judge, so choose carefully to start 2023.