Tag / spring style essentials for men

by Beau H.

The List: Upgrade Your Spring Wardrobe with these Picks for the Best New Men’s Gear

We’ve taken a bit of time away from The List, our ever-crucial #menswear series that covers the best gear to buy now … as in, right this very instant. Yours truly had gotten used to recommending durable leather boots and tough winter outerwear, but if you hadn’t yet looked into it yet … it’s spring! And it’s time to amp up your search for spring style essentials in earnest. Which leads me to … well, today’s post. Happy shopping, and join me on Twitter to talk all men’s style, all the time.

Line of Trade Cream Striped Throw Pillow — $40

A cool striped throw pillow to spruce up your couch.

Am I recommending you buy this Line of Trade throw pillow? You bet I am. Consider it spring cleaning, or a spring home upgrade? Yep.

W&P Design Pour Over Press — $45.98

As the brand says, this is a complete home coffee kit — perfect for those of us (all of us?) who need a caffeinated jolt to start the day.

Another home upgrade to kick off spring? Yes, indeed. Your spring weekends are going to be busy, so you best fuel up accordingly with coffee. Ehh?

Szanto Military Field Watch — $195

Stylishly designed and durably built — Szanto does it again.

Equal parts rugged and yet office-ready, the Szanto Military Field Watch is exactly the stylish casual timepiece to wear with a chambray shirt and slim olive chinos.
Rancourt & Co. Carson Mid — $185
Rancourt & Co.

Cotton canvas high-tops made in America the right way. Can you dig it?

I personally can’t get enough classic high-top sneakers — the Rancourt & Co. Carson Mid Sneakers are the right mix of old-school construction and dependable spring style.

 

Jack Mason Field Camp Watch — $195

A field watch that can actually work in slightly more dressed-up situations — trust me.

We’re continuing to fill out this list with stylish timepieces — the Jack Mason Field Camp Watch is yet another timekeeper that merges the rugged and the slightly more refined.
Flint and Tinder Pacific Wash Jeans — $128

The right kind of jeans for spring — slim, lightweight and pleasingly faded.

You  can never have too many pairs of stylish light wash jeans for spring, can you? Nope — especially not the darn-near essential Flint and Tinder Pacific Wash Jeans.

Faherty Brand Marled Indigo Crewneck — $128

You’re going to be able to style this crewneck sweater many different ways this spring — believe me.

When you want a sweatshirt that’s quick to throw on and easy to look great in, you want the Marled Indigo Crewneck from Faherty Brand. It’s just a perfect shade for spring, my friends.
OluKai Kahu Lace Sneakers — $100

Add another pair of sneakers to your shopping cart, my friends.

Simple, easygoing sneakers with the ability to slip on and off are exactly what you need on your feet this spring. Wear ’em to the beach and kick ’em off once you hit the sand this summer, too. Consider them the low-top answer to the Rancourt & Co. Carson Mid Sneakers.
Flint and Tinder Slub Tee in White — $25.98

As classic and simple to style as it gets — take it from Flint and Tinder, you’re going to love this tee.

What are you going to wear with your classic sneakers? Why, a classic white T-shirt from our good friends at Flint and Tinder.
Onsen Bath Bundle (Large) — $156

Because your towels should be as nice as the rest of your gear — right?

Another home upgrade? Oh yes, assuredly. Onsen makes some of the best bath sets around, featuring premium long-staple cotton.
That’ll wrap up this quick, efficient and yet assuredly stylish rendition of The List. Who’s all geared up for spring? I am, I know that much — but not before I pick up the Flint and Tinder Pacific Wash Jeans (my personal favorite pick from this list). What’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading,
-Beau

 

 

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Criquet Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt

What’s better to wear on a breezy spring day than a slim, stylish polo? Truly, there’s not much. And that’s even moreso the case with the Criquet Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt, a piece that could quickly become your new favorite spring and summer polo.  It’s this week’s Style Pick of the Week for great reason — plenty of #menswear-centric design details set it apart from your average polo, and that means it’s to be applauded, praised …. and purchased. In fact, you might recognize the Criquet Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt from a recent #OOTD entry, and it’s back today thanks to its versatility and sharp style.  It’s available in a wide plethora of colors, including the crisp Heavy Metal colorway seen in these photos.  Other options include the Midnight Cowboy Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt and the Mr. White Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt, so you certainly can’t go wrong in that regard.

It’s a newer take on the brand’s classic Player’s Shirt, and it’s a welcome addition to the brand’s line. Now, just why is it so tough to misstep when picking up a slim polo (or other stylish gear) from Criquet Shirts? Let me tell you, my good man.  Criquet Shirts started with the simple idea that today’s polo shirts featured sloppy collars and poor construction — using the idea of their favorite prep-school shirts as well as classic polos worn by the guys in their family, Criquet Shirts set out to upgrade the polo. And after checking out the Criquet Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt (in multiple colorways) these past few weeks, I can definitely concur that it’s a style upgrade worth picking up for your closet this season. It’s comfortable enough to wear on a spring road trip, it’s stylish enough to layer under a lightweight navy blazer, and it’s well-made enough to work as hard as you do all day long — trust me.

Greats

 

A classic polo paired with crisp chinos and white sneakers — definitely the way to go. Renshaw Sneakers by Brooks Heritage. Standard Issue Utility Chinos by Brooks Heritage. Mod Watch by Timex x Todd Snyder. Notebook by Field Notes Brand. 810 Wallet by Brothers Leather Supply.

It features the sort of welcome design touches that other polo shirts lack — for starters, the sturdy collar sits nicely throughout the day, and doesn’t curl over (collar stays similar to your favorite dress shirt help out with that). And the 100 percent organic cotton jersey fabric is soft, comfortable and breathable — you’ll be comfortable in the heat with any color option of the  Criquet Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt. I’ve found mine to be handy and versatile enough to wear with everything from slim Apolis chinos and classic SeaVees sneakers to stylish light wash denim and a classic bomber jacket. And although some are firmly in the anti-logo camp, the small Criquet logo stitched on the left chest pocket is understated enough that the Criquet Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt works well on its own sans jacket. That’s great news if you’re in need of a polo — or several — to wear to work and then out to happy hour (without any of the bad connotations that bright polo shirts seem to conjure up). Feel free to wear it with tailored swim shorts and slip-on sneakers to the beach or boardwalk, too. And another thing — if you’ve found yourself wearing fewer and fewer polos over the years, it’s definitely time to start again. Make no mistake — the comfortable fabric, refined colors and tailored fit of the Criquet Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt are all features that could be enough to make you a believer in the power of the polo once again.

So, are you back on-board with a polo for spring and summer? What about the Criquet Slim-Fit Player’s Shirt?

Let me know in the comments — and we’ll see you out there!

-Beau

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Cross Pens, Javier Bardem and Stylish Bar Crawl Gear

Welcome to another weekly #menswear recap, whereby we’re looking back at some choice reads you should tick through this weekend. How was your week? It was a busy one in the Brooklyn “office” of The Style Guide, what with a PR client event via my day job on Wednesday night at the luxurious Beekman Hotel and a plethora of blogging in between. It’s a tough, sometimes sleep-deprived gig, but someone’s gotta do it! And in that regard, I sure am glad it’s the weekend.

Sutro Shoes Inc.

If you’re setting out on a spring adventure, here’s the weekender bag you need to buy now. And if you could use some help organizing the rest of your gear, feast your eyes upon stylish dopp kits for spring travel. Oh, and if your weekend per chance calls for an early spring wedding? Wear any one of my picks for stylish men’s dress shoes to shop now. In the meantime, we’ve got a few more items for your perusal below — it’s quite tough to believe we’re nearly into May and staring down summer. I, for one, cannot wait for music festival season and a bit of summer travel. But for now, I think I’ll look toward Friday happy hour, some light reading and enjoyable spring weather. Join me, won’t ya? See you tomorrow for our Style Pick of the Week, and you can catch some of my style pursuits in the meantime on Instagram. Lastly — thanks for reading!
Get $30 off your first month of Style Plan and Free Shipping at Frank + Oak! *Valid only on Style Plan subscriptions until 5/31/2017.

  • I know I’ve been struck by the talent and deep, brooding and well, terrifying nature of some of Javier Bardem’s on-screen characters. Esquire continues to prove why they’re the best around when it comes to engaging and insightful profiles, and I’d urge you to check out their profile on Javier Bardem  from this month’s print issue. Better yet, get out there and buy a copy.
  • Want a light spring jacket or a pair of breezy trousers made with substantial, yet pliable, cotton fabric? Want them done up in one of a few beautiful shades of blue? That’s where the men’s and women’s style purveyors at 13 Bonaparte come into play. The French brand makes carefully crafted, refreshingly easygoing pieces fit for spring layering, from workwear shirt-jackets to band-collar shirts and unique, lightweight cotton trousers. The pieces are interchangeable via the brand’s numbered collection system (so, numbers 1-9, for example). The brand also releases two core collections a year, but it was the cool-looking denim shirt-jackets that caught my eye during a recent tour of the collection with Founder and Artistic Director David Sarfati. In all, it’s a continental take on pieces you already know  — and only through this weekend, you can find them in NYC! Venture on down to 2 Rivington Street through Sunday to get a look at the brand yourself, and shop the 13 Bonaparte site for more.
  • A lightweight spring henley is both specific and yet oddly tough to find, from time to time. I recently wrote about the Flint and Tinder Slub Henley and why you should buy it — and I’m here to tell you again: Buy it, layer it, wear it on its own… when those breezy spring and summer beach nights come along, you won’t regret it. And if you need an idea of just how to style it, take a look at our recent feature on how to upgrade your henley this season.

  • Looking for a new addition to your everyday carry? It would behoove you to check out the excellent, tech-minded Cross Pens Peerless TrackR Pen. This ballpoint pen blends a pleasing weight and nice writing ability with the sort of technology more common to a Bond film. It syncs up with an app that tracks its location at all times — not too shabby. And it’d be a great Father’s Day gift — if you’re shopping around early, that is.

Last but certainly not least ….

  • It seems to me that patio drinking season is in full force — at least, judging by the crowds around Brooklyn. Given that, I’d wager you’ll need some stylish bar crawl. And so I give you two guides: my 2016 guide to how to dress for a spring bar crawl, and my most recent bar crawl style guide for The Manual. Have a good one out there!

That’s it for today, folks.

Stay stylish for now,

-Beau

Greats

by Beau H.

#OOTD: Upgrade Your Henley This Season

If the title of today’s #OOTD has you scratching your head and asking,”Why are we talking rugged henleys in spring?” … bear with me here. After all, there’s really no reason that a slim henley — the style essential every guy should have — isn’t fit for the warmer temps of spring. The key with today’s ensemble involves re-thinking how you wear your henley. While the crisp temperatures of fall and early winter call for layering your stylish henley with tough pieces like a waxed trucker jacket, the breezy days of spring call for a lighter approach all the way around. And that lighter approach starts with the henley itself — today’s well-made, well-crafted and lightweight Flint and Tinder slub henley is just the piece you need to switch up your spring layering game. It’s wearable with your favorite chinos, it works with slim selvedge denim and well … I’ll leave the rest of these tips for the remainder of this post. But again, think lighter colors and fabrics, think spring and get ready to buy your new favorite henley — or at least, steal some #menswear inspiration from this post. If you’ve got questions, I can be reached 24/7 on Twitter or via email — well, nearly 24/7. At any rate, shop away and enjoy!

Greats

Flint and Tinder

We’re lightening up your spring henley and pairing it with classic staples fit for warm weather.

The Henley: Flint and Tinder Slub Henley in Vintage Pewter, $58 — Just as I mentioned above, you can’t beat this Flint and Tinder slub henley, especially in a welcome, spring-like shade of pewter. The slub cotton is lightweight, breathable and ideal for layering — get on board with this one, folks.

The Jacket: Levi’s Trucker Jacket in Rinse, $70 — Does it get any more classic than a rugged denim jacket for spring? Particularly one in a crisp, dark wash as done by Levi’s? Buy this one now, and break it in a ton this season.

NORDSTROM.com

The Chinos: Abercrombie and Fitch Cropped Chino Pants in Cream, $68 — Want to really go for this whole spring style thing? Try pairing some light cream chinos with a similarly light henley — it’s monochromatic style that’s nicely broken up by the denim jacket.
Sutro Shoes Inc.

The Sneakers: Gola Classic Comet Plimsoll Trainers, $60 — Yours truly was pleasantly surprised to stumble across the crisp, sporty and vintage-looking Gola plimsoll trainers seen here — excellent looks, great styling potential and more than a century’s worth of British sporting heritage to back ’em up.

The Socks: Darn Tough No Show Ultra-Light Cushion Socks, $29.98 — If you’re rolling your chinos and sticking with classic spring sneakers, you’re bound to need effective no-show socks — like these Darn Tough no-shows.

The Belt: La Matera Corbina Belt, $145 — The similarly light colorplay between the chinos and that Flint and Tinder slub henley necessitates adding a shot of color and pattern — the La Matera Corbina Belt is the way to do it.

The Watch: Form-Function-Form Horween Leather Chronograph, $118.98 —  When you’re pairing up rugged essentials like a classic denim jacket and a slim slub henley, you need an equally tough watch; the handsome Form-Function-Form Horween Leather Chronograph as seen here should be your go-to casual watch.

The Everyday Carry: This Is Ground Leatherback Writer, $74.98 — Never underestimate the importance of an essential everyday carry piece to stow everything from notebooks to pens & extra headphones — this is a good one to buy.

Beckett Simonon

Alright – that’s a wrap on this spring layering #OOTD. See, wearing a spring henley isn’t as difficult as it might seem — right? Hopefully? It’s admittedly taken some time for me to incorporate my beloved henleys into spring style ensembles, but I’m confident that if you start with a great Flint and Tinder slub henley, you’re going to be inspired to put together quite a few looks. Take a classic, inky blue denim jacket and pair up your new favorite henley with cream chinos, to start.  Sport-inspired sneakers can add a nice dash of color to any spring ensemble, particularly a more monochromatic outfit like this one. And you can never go wrong — never — with durable accessories like the Form-Function-Form Horween Leather Chronograph or the visually interesting La Matera Corbina Belt. Before you step out the door though, don’t leave behind a handy everyday catch-all like the This Is Ground Leatherback Writer. OK, all good? I, for one, am ready to get out and try a few spring-centric looks. Follow along on Instagram, and drop any questions via our comments section below.

Thanks, as always, for reading!

-Beau

Oxfords under $50 CAD_250x250