Tag / the friday read

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Long Weekend in Las Vegas & A Trip to the Twin Cities

My friends, travel is the name of the game this weekend, as I’m in Las Vegas for a longtime college friend’s bachelor party. I’ve traveled to Las Vegas to visit the likes of the Tao Beach Club, but this one isn’t a business trip (wish me luck at the blackjack tables!).

It also comes on the heels of a busy travel schedule for yours truly as part of my many freelance writing pursuits, which also took me to Minneapolis this spring to sample the city’s many culinary delights and plenty of whiskey. As luck would have it, my guide to the city was published this week at Maxim, and I hope you like what you find therein.

I’d encourage anyone to take a trip to the Twin Cities, all part of the process to rethink what you thought you knew about the city. It certainly offers something for everyone (particularly for myself as a major fan of The Replacements). And if you check out my byline today at Maxim, you’ll see another recent travel guide from a whirlwind trip I took to Dublin and Wicklow with Glendalough Gin, also in April. So, once again: Travel is the name of the game.

Our regularly scheduled programming will take place this weekend with our Style Pick of the Week and the Sunday Sale, so go forth, get that credit card at the ready to score some new menswear essentials, and we’ll See You Out There.

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Best Faherty Menswear, A New Tag Heuer Watch & Your New Summer Pants

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines as we race into another fine summer weekend. I’m back in Brooklyn after what proved to be a momentous Memorial Day back in the Midwest — Indiana, to be more specific, for the one and only Indianapolis 500 with Tag Heuer. And what a weekend it was! Astonishing and memorable doesn’t begin to cover it.

Shop the best men’s watches at Tag Heuer

The trip was part of my many freelance writing pursuits, which includes covering new watches from Tag Heuer (and plenty more, as you know if you follow me on Instagram!). For the time being, I’m back in Brooklyn and looking forward to a touch of downtime this weekend as I work on stories for Maxim.com (among other outlets, of course!).

Read more of my work here

Along the way, I’ll be wearing one of my new favorite shirts from Faherty Brand, the fast-growing, NYC-based menswear brand that’s making a splash in the world of versatile, casual everyday style. I’ve been a fan of Faherty Brand for years, as you’ll see below, but consider giving the brand a look to roll into your weekend (in my experience, I’ve found that Faherty men’s shirts are super-soft and well-fitting).

For now, let’s dive into that brand specifically to start the weekend off the proper way — with a few other menswear updates to follow. Cheers and thanks for reading!

  • Now, I just nodded toward my love of Faherty Brand above — let’s take that just a touch deeper, shall we? In fact, I got an even better look at what makes the ever-popular Faherty Brand tick, as I covered my five favorite essentials of the moment over at Fatherly. Its stretch chinos, ultra-soft T-shirts and expertly cut buttondowns are rugged in terms of looks, but super-comfortable in terms of feel, and that’s a balance I can get behind. Read more at Fatherly and see for yourself.
Best men's adventure pants for summer.
  • Sure, the good folks at Faherty Brand offer up plenty of stylish menswear for summer, but allow me to recommend another brand I think you’ll enjoy if you love mixing style and performance this season. You can view that brand above here briefly: That’s Western Rise, the Colorado-based outfitter that mixes durable performance fabrics with modern silhouettes, like its abrasion and stain-resistant, stretchy five-pocket pants. They blend the look of a chino with the durability and rugged appeal of the best hiking pants, and you can read more about the Western Rise Evolution Pants here in this recent Western Rise review by yours truly.
  • I just mentioned that I also had the chance to visit the Indianapolis 500 with Tag Heuer, but that’s not all. Across the pond & within the luxe confines of Monaco, Tag Heuer sponsored the iconic Monaco Grand Prix last weekend — for good measure, they released three new watches to celebrate 80 years of the race, and I wrote about all three over at Maxim. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines, indeed.

Shop New Arrivals from Billy Reid

That’s just about going to do it for today’s Friday Read — did you find something to kickstart your weekend in a fashionable way, be it a short from Faherty Brand or perhaps something more outdoor-minded from Western Rise?

If so, be sure to let me know in the comments, and just know that there’s certainly more where that came from… if you stop by tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week or the Sunday Sale, that is! Again, thanks for reading and we’ll See You Out There.

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Danner x Huckberry & Martin Scorsese’s New Movie

Best summer shoes for men.

My friends, step on out into the wilderness of this upcoming spring weekend the right way: First, watch the trailer for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” by the remarkable Martin Scorsese (not something I’ve shouted out on this blog very often!). Then, and only then, quite literally step out wearing a pair of the very new Huckberry x Danner sandals, the kind of rugged, durable pair of stylish men’s footwear that doesn’t quite come around all that often.

Shop Huckberry men’s gear right now
Best summer sandals for men.

Slide on into them and then get ready to tackle your next adventure, because Lord knows, the Huckberry crew has you ready for whatever lies ahead. As for me, I’ll be staying busy with my many freelance writing pursuits, chief among them a feature at the always-reliable Atwood Magazine covering a solo LP from one of my favorite drummers. For now, log in via my Instagram, and as always: Stay stylish!

by Beau H.

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!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Visit to Boston and the Joseph Abboud Factory

My friends, we’re wrapping up another momentous week here at The Style Guide, and this time, it included a trip closer to home (unlike my April trek to Dublin with Glendalough Gin!). Through my freelance writing pursuits, I get the chance to pursue my passions for menswear, spirits and watches (to name just a few) all across the country and even right up the East Coast, as I visited Boston and New Bedford, Mass. with the one and only Joseph Abboud.

Joseph Abboud menswear.

The occasion for the visit? A behind-the-scenes look at the iconic tailoring company, not unlike an early April trip I took (also to the Boston area!) with famed USA eyewear brand Randolph Engineering. Companies committed to making quality menswear in the United States are few and far between, and doing so at a larger scale is even more impressive, as I found out when touring the factory. Of course, if you follow me on Instagram, you’re well aware that our group was also fitted for our own custom Joseph Abboud suit, an experience I always enjoy.

I’ll have more to share from that trip plenty soon, but in the meantime, I’ll leave you with two quick recommendations to send you off to the weekend in style: Head to my good friends at Shinola to shop the Shinola 10-Year Anniversary Sale now through May 14th, and amp up your spring and summer wardrobe in the process by checking out this blog post on the Taylor Stitch Short-Sleeve California Shirt. Between those two shopping selections, I’d say your spring and summer wardrobe is going to end up looking mighty great this season. As always, thanks for reading — cheers!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Weekend’s Best Menswear Sale at Filson and The National’s New Album

Filson 2023 Sale

Folks, welcome back to another momentous Friday Read — and I truly mean “momentous,” because there’s plenty going on around these parts. For starters, there’s the deal promised in today’s headline: Filson is running a 30 percent off sale now through Sunday (an exceptionally rare occurrence), one that I talked about yesterday on the blog.

Shop Filson’s Spring Sale right now

Of course, a reminder is always in order when it comes to the best menswear deals, and you’ll find plenty up for grabs right now from the legendary Pacific Northwest heritage outfitter. I can think of no better way to start the weekend than by saving on rugged Filson menswear — can you?

Well, perhaps there’s one other way I’d recommend you start the weekend: Cruise on into the days ahead with some fresh new tunes, courtesy of a new album from my favorite band: Ohio-born indie rock heroes The National. “First Two Pages of Frankenstein” is the group’s first full-length LP in four years, one I’ve been hotly anticipating for weeks on end (of course!).

I’ve talked about the band plenty on this site over the years — and you’ll surely recognize them if you follow me on Instagram. And four years ago this very weekend, I trekked out to Los Angeles to see the band play live (as good a reminder as any that I need to get back to L.A. sooner rather than later!).

In the meantime, the emotion, the passion and the introspective nature of The National helps guide me in my own life and in my many freelance writing pursuits, and for that, I’m undoubtedly grateful. I’ll even be writing up a review of The National’s new album over at Atwood Magazine this weekend, so stay tuned for my full take on what promises to be another outstanding record.

For now, I’ve got some new tunes to play, and of course, some shopping to take care of over at Filson’s Spring Sale. Stay stylish, stay plugged in and thanks for reading, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Weekend on the Road in Minneapolis

Folks, welcome back to another Friday Read, and another dispatch from the road by yours truly. I recently trekked up to Boston with Randolph Engineering, and I’ve also gone upstate in the past few months — and as luck would have it, I’m in hot pursuit of another story this weekend as part of my many freelance writing ventures! I’m in the lovely (and surprisingly warm!) city of Minneapolis this weekend, a trip that’s been in the works for some time now.

The reason for my visit? Among other restaurant and bar excursions in the city — and among my own personal exploration of music heritage in Minneapolis — I’m taking in the revamped, reopened Butcher and the Boar, a Minneapolis institution known for its smoked meats and of course, its extensive whiskey list. If you ask me, those are two of the best things in life, yet the rest of the trip should prove just as stellar (and delicious).

Also on the docket? A cold beer or two at Surly Brewing, plus a visit to the newly opened and much-hyped North Loop restaurant Demi. While I’m no gourmand (and not exactly a stellar cook!), I know what I love when it comes to dining (as I noted when I visited Reyna in NYC), and this trip should certainly fit the bill nicely. It’s a trip I’ve been anticipating for weeks, and it’ll be my first time in the Twin Cities in 9 years, no less!

Of course, I’ll have a full dispatch on the way for Maxim.com sooner rather than later, but you can keep up with all the fun on my Instagram in the meantime. And naturally, we’ll return to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow with my latest Style Pick of the Week. As always, thanks for reading and stay stylish!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Northeast Trip with Randolph Engineering

Randolph x Todd Snyder Sunglasses

My friends, here’s to Friday and a bit of an early start to the holiday weekend. I’m looking forward to a bit of time to rest and recharge back in Brooklyn, along with the chance to stay in hot pursuit of my freelance writing ventures. Of course, if you follow me on Instagram, you know it’s been a busy week around these parts — and elsewhere, as I trekked up to Boston for a quick overnight trip with one of my favorite sunglasses brands, the USA-made, military-approved premium eyewear makers at Randolph Engineering.

Learn more now at Randolph Engineering

I’ve been wearing the brand since 2015, and I’m an especially huge fan of its classic men’s aviator sunglasses, but that’s not all: I’ve lately taken to wearing another stellar pair from a fitting collaboration. Randolph Engineering teamed up with Todd Snyder on the Randolph x Todd Snyder line of sunglasses, an all-American collaboration that plays off the designer’s penchant for updating timeless classics with a touch of modern flair.

Best aviator sunglasses for men.

Those were just one of the pairs we chatted about as myself and my fellow journalists toured Randolph’s factory and spent some quality time with the team there (including a Boston stay on the waterfront at The Envoy Hotel Boston). I particularly appreciate the brand’s approach to precise craftsmanship and extreme attention to detail, be it the Todd Snyder x Randolph line or its fan-favorite aviator sunglasses.

And to get the chance to go behind the scenes of a classic brand — making accessories in America, the hard way — is always a pleasure. I was already a big-time fan of Randolph, and this trip further cemented them as an all-time great in my mind. Be sure to check out pairs from the Todd Snyder x Randolph collection (or the rest of the company’s offerings), and I’ll see you out there, sunglasses on, this season. Cheers, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Taylor Stitch Spring Essentials, The Best Merino Shoes & Spring’s Best Chore Coats

Best men's trucker jacket for spring.

Folks, thanks for swinging by The Style Guide here on this fine spring Friday. Last week, I was in Atlantic City seeing The Killers, but this week, it’s been all New York, all the time. Perhaps you’ve been keeping up with the fun on my Instagram, but it’s been an action-packed week featuring events with the likes of American Crew grooming in Brooklyn — a special VIP evening featuring hair styling sessions at the Crown Club at Barclays Center — not to mention some sports-related fun via Michigan State’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament in NYC. Talk about an ideal way to see your alma mater play!

Beyond that, I’ve been busy prepping for spring and testing plenty of new gear, from the best men’s Chelsea boots to one of the best popover sweaters for spring. With all that in mind, I hope you’ll find the rest of today’s Friday Read to your liking, including my recommendation here for the best new spring menswear from Taylor Stitch.

Learn more now at Taylor Stitch

The new lineup at the famed San Francisco retailer includes the Taylor Stitch Long Haul Jacket as seen above, a personal favorite of mine that should fit nicely into your wardrobe of spring menswear essentials. And if you’re still in search of other spring menswear picks, then a few of my choice reads below should be of assistance. Happy shopping and happy spring, my friends!

  • If you’ve been keeping up with this style blog, or else shopping the fine menswear at Huckberry, perhaps you recognize the above stylish men’s jacket. It’s one of my top picks for spring, assuredly, and that’s why I was pleased to include it in my latest Maxim guide on the best chore coats for the season ahead. Give it a look, and shop it right now at Huckberry in the meantime.
Shop spring gear ASAP at Huckberry
  • Speaking of spring style essentials, here’s one you might not have heard of, or considered: The best merino shoes for men. Merino wool is lightweight and warm yet breathable, naturally moisture-wicking and anti-microbial, and found in plenty of the best merino menswear. But what about merino shoes? Yes indeed, that’s where my guide to the best merino shoes comes into play, as I wrote about this month over at AskMen.
  • I’ll leave you with one last stylish spring menswear selection, one right from the very pages of this blog. The Taylor Stitch Jacquard Polo is a textured, visually appealing piece to shake up your casual style rotation, and you can read all about it right here, right now. Happy shopping, once again.

That’s all I’ve got for your Friday Read today, but I’d wager you’ve got more than enough to keep you occupied, from shopping the best new spring menswear from Taylor Stitch to hitting up your favorite brewery for a fresh spring beer this weekend. As always, be on the lookout for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week, and we’ll see you then. Cheers!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: An Atlantic City Road Trip To See The Killers & The Best Whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day

Folks, the time has come for me to hit the road again, as you know if you follow me on Instagram. Just this year, I’ve trekked to Morocco to review the Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier for Maxim.com, and I’ve also taken a jaunt upstate on a frigid weekend to visit the Wylder Windham Hotel in lovely Windham, New York. I’m keeping things a bit closer to home, but sticking right in my wheelhouse when it comes to my favorite way to travel: Hitting the road to see a powerful live show, of course!

It’s my first time on the surprisingly sunny boardwalk in Atlantic City, and as you can guess by the photo above, the show in question was one by none other than one of my favorite bands — led by a hero of mine, the ever-stylish Brandon Flowers. It’s hardly my first time seeing The Killers (I also visited Boston, Detroit and Orlando last fall in pursuit of the Vegas-born rockers!), but it’s always a welcome, incredible and jaw-dropping event — some of my favorite live shows of all-time are by The Killers, last night’s very much included.

A word to the wise: Any time The Killers play near you — especially in a throwback casino setting, as they did last night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino — do your very best to make it out to that show.

You can check out more of the fun on my Instagram, but here’s another fun tidbit: It’s St. Patrick’s Day! Perhaps consider treating yourself to some of the best Irish whiskey via my latest Maxim.com guide, yes? To dress for the day and the rest of the season, consider as well stepping out with some of the best Chelsea boots from Huckberry.

And one more thing: Here’s hoping your NCAA Tournament bracket makes it through this first weekend unscathed! I’ll be keeping a close eye on the action from Atlantic City and eventually, back in Brooklyn this weekend. In the meantime: Thanks for reading, cheers to the weekend and long live The Killers! Nobody does it better. Cheers, my friends!