Tag / the friday read

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Southbound Trek to Austin, Texas

Best rugged gear for men from Huckberry.

Folks, the time has come again: I’m gearing up to hit the road with my favorite travel essentials, all in pursuit of yet another story in my many freelance writing adventures. As luck would have it, I’m once again venturing down to Austin, Texas — a favorite city of mine that’s also a second home to one of my favorite brands, Huckberry. Naturally, gear from the retailer is just the right blend of rugged and refined, ready for just about anything — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Shop Huckberry menswear now

The reason for my trip? Exploring the city and getting to learn plenty more about Still Austin Texas Whiskey, a rising Texas whiskey brand that should fit nicely into my spirits writing over at Maxim.com. Naturally, I’ll be wearing Huckberry menswear as I venture around the city and the distillery itself — from Texas whiskey blending sessions to cocktails and bar visits, there’ll be no shortage of some of the best Texas whiskey around.

If you want to keep up with my travels, give me a follow on Instagram. In rather exciting news, I’m hoping to use Saturday to explore some favorite spots from past trips, like Easy Tiger’s beer emporium and the righteous blend of iced coffee, cold craft beer and tasty food trucks over at Cosmic Coffee. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and gear up for your own weekend with gear from Huckberry — tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week is on the way, and as always, thanks so much for reading!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Best End-of-Season Menswear Sales & an Upstate Getaway

My friends, thanks for joining us for another Friday Read, your indispensable guide to the best weekend menswear sales and plenty more (at least, in my humble opinion). Chief among the deals you should shop to start your weekend? Well, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Billy Reid Winter Event is giving you a major “sale on sale” on opportunity, with the chance to save 40 percent on already on-sale menswear from the famed Alabama designer. It’s the discount that keeps on giving, as I’ve talked about on the blog, and it’s your chance to save on refined style gear aplenty. So, how about it, ehh?

Shop Billy Reid menswear now

It’s the kind of deal I’ve got my eye on, no doubt about it, and you should keep a weather eye out for savings and style, too. Speaking of keeping a weather eye out… perhaps you’re planning your first big getaway of this new season? If you find yourself in New York or on the East Coast and fancy an upstate getaway, there’s hardly a better spot to visit than the Wylder Windham Hotel in lovely Windham, New York.

I found out for myself when I visited the locale for Maxim earlier this winter — here’s my full travel review of this exceptional property. If you can’t get away right now, put it on your list — and in the meantime, here are a few more deals and a few more reads to get your weekend rolling the right way.

  • Folks, step right up and step into a new season with some of the best men’s boots for spring (and well beyond). I talked earlier this week on the blog about Astorflex at Huckberry, makers of some of the most sustainable men’s boots on the market, and it’s high time you got yourself a pair — yes? Consider this a reminder to step into a stylish new season ASAP.
  • Speaking of boots, here’s something every boot enthusiast in your life (yourself included) can appreciate: Over at WERD, I wrote about the best boot brands for men to shop now, a comprehensive guide to ramp up your rotation heading into the blustery spring months. Again, consider it a reminder to step into a stylish new season!
  • Here’s one more style reminder to send you off into the weekend: A chore coat can act as a rugged hybrid between a blazer and, say, a field jacket, with plenty of style points to go around. That’s why I wrote about one of the best spring chore coats — from Todd Snyder, naturally — just yesterday on the blog. Read up, start shopping and layer up accordingly, my friends.

That’s going to wrap up today’s Friday Read — did you find what you were looking for, perhaps in the way of a pair of the best men’s boots for spring, or else with some inspiration for your next upstate getaway? Here’s hoping, and if not, well, more style inspiration is always close at hand with my Saturday Style Pick of the Week or Sunday’s sale highlight. Stay tuned, stay stylish and thanks for reading, as ever!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Back in Brooklyn & Manhattan’s Best Haircut

Taylor Stitch shirt review.

Well, folks — here we are again rolling into another weekend, and if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I’m back in Brooklyn and back in the New York groove after a quick yet relaxing, sunny Florida vacation. It was just the break I needed before powering back up my freelance writing pursuits (although I stayed plenty busy with writing for WERD.com and Maxim in Florida all the same!).

Satchel and Page

Of course, returning to Brooklyn has me thinking about the changing seasons and some new (early, early) spring style essentials… like the Taylor Stitch Jack Shirt as seen above. Is it too early to think about shopping spring menswear essentials? Folks, if you ask me, it’s never too early — hop to it with some time ahead of you this weekend.

Learn more and shop at Taylor Stitch

And before I send you on your way this weekend, I want to spotlight another way to refresh and recharge, especially if you find yourself in New York City. That old adage that a fresh haircut can change your perspective is certainly true in my book. Yes indeed, there’s no reset quite like a new look, especially if that new look comes complete with an extensive, impressive and ultimately, very relaxing experience like that at NYC’s Pisterzi in Soho.

Best men's grooming essentials.

I recently had the chance to sample the Italian luxury grooming atelier’s entire lineup of products and services, including essential men’s grooming items that really amount more to a work of art than a typical grooming experience. The atelier boasts just two private salon booths at its Soho location (all the better for a more customized experience). Each is handsomely appointed with blue leather and sleek furnishings, and each is ready to deliver everything from a classic haircut to a beard trim.

The space also offers product and styling consultations, and I found my 90-minute experience (La Dolce Vita) to be nothing short of blissful. Unwind with a deep cleansing, soothing facial and beard treatment (plus a haircut and beard trim), and relish the experience of multiple hot towels and the company’s rejuvenating cleanser and Face and Eye Guard Treatment. The even better part?

If you’re not in New York City itself, you can still get the Pisterzi experience from home by ordering its standout lineup online. Would I call it the best haircut in Manhattan? I certainly would, and I encourage you take the weekend to dive more into the atelier’s next-level, luxurious men’s grooming treatments. For now, here’s to a Brooklyn weekend — cheers, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Huckberry Winter Sale, Adidas Sport Headphones & The Most Affordable Sunglasses

Huckberry Winter Sale 2023

My friends, let’s dive right on in to another momentous edition of the Friday Read. I say momentous because, well, it’s Super Bowl Weekend, followed by Valentine’s Day. And better still around these parts, it’s the start of New York Fashion Week (always a hectic yet exciting time). Here’s something you can enjoy even if you’re not in New York City, though. That’d be the Huckberry Annual Winter Sale, an ideal time to get some of the very best winter menswear for up to 40 percent off.

Take heed: The Huckberry Annual Winter Sale only runs until February 12th, so you’d best act quickly to stock up on rugged, classic gear in equal measure. How about it, ehh? And if you’re more partial to sporting pursuits, not to worry: I’m going to spotlight new Adidas active headphones momentarily.

Part tailored jacket, part sweater, all versatility.

Beyond that, you can certainly follow me on Instagram for the latest #NYFW happenings, as I’ll have a dispatch on the most wearable (yes, truly wearable!) looks coming later this month for the one and only Fatherly. In the meantime, stock up on your new favorite trucker jacket or pair of boots from the Huckberry Annual Winter Sale, and let’s get into the rest of your weekend reading and shopping.

Best sport headphones for men.
  • Through my freelance writing pursuits, I get the chance to test out all kinds of seriously cool gear, including some of the best Bluetooth headphones on the market. For my own walking and hiking around Brooklyn and the borough’s Prospect Park, I’ve been testing out the crystal-clear Adidas FWD-02 Sport Headphones, a streamlined pair of in-ear headphones made for the wearer that’s always on the go. The Adidas FWD-02 Sport Headphones are a useful upgrade for training sessions, but they’re compact and easily wearable enough to support daily use. Snag a pair before your next gym morning or late winter road trip.
  • I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Winter is no excuse to skimp on stylish shades, especially on those rare days when sunlight does stream through crisp white winter clouds. And for my money’s worth, and yours, there’s a way to upgrade your everyday carry with some of the best men’s sunglasses… all the while saving a few bucks in the process. My friends, I give you my guide to the best under-$100 sunglasses over at Maxim.
  • If you gave Dry January an earnest shot this year and are still feeling “sober-curious” about going booze-free, here’s something you might find useful: Over at SPY, I gave the boozy hops a break (if only briefly) and wrote about some of the best non-alcoholic beers on the market. Again, Dry January might have come and gone, but you just might want to make some room in your beer fridge for some new, non-boozy additions.

Fully fashioned crewneck sweater to keep you warm against the harshest winter climates.

Still need to catch up with the latest happenings here on the blog this week? Yesterday, I wrote about one of the most rugged winter jackets to buy now, the classic Filson Tin Cloth Cruiser Jacket. Here’s the full scoop as you power through Friday. We’ll see you for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week, and our Sunday Sale as scheduled. In the meantime, enjoy those cold beers and chicken wings on Super Bowl Sunday. Cheers, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: My New Favorite Watch, Pedro Pascal’s Trucker Jacket & Tropical Getaway Gear

Best vintage-style watch for men.

Folks, thanks for joining me for the latest Friday Read, a perfect way to roll on into your weekend (if I do say so myself). I’m coming off my birthday weekend (as you saw if you follow me on Instagram!) and I’ve been back at it this week with plenty of freelance writing pursuits.

So: Let’s start off this weekend by taking stock of, say, your watch collection. I’m frequently on the lookout for stylish men’s watches that are durable, rugged and versatile, be it something like the Shinola Bronze Monster Automatic or my go-to watch of choice as of late from Dan Henry Vintage Watches.

Best rugged dive watch for men.

The company virtually offers a historic stroll through the watch world, looking at classic men’s watches from the late 1930s through to the 1970s, then putting a modern twist on them. This leads to a nice mix of rugged but dressy details, dependable designs and some seriously cool strap and dial combinations, like my watch of choice: The Dan Henry 1975 Skin Diver. It features a 39mm retro-style case, a handsome black dial and a contrasting brown rubber strap.

Satchel and Page

In short, it’s one of the best men’s watches to wear on cold winter nights with a shawl cardigan and flannel shirt, since it’s casually rugged and seriously cool. So, that’s the timepiece I’ll be wearing this weekend as I make my way on an upstate trip (again, follow me on Instagram to keep up!). For now, here’s the rest of your Friday Read. Scroll on accordingly, my friends.

  • Perhaps you, like much of the rest of the country, have been enthralled by the HBO zombie apocalypse drama “The Last of Us,” starring none other than Pedro Pascal. And by now, I’d wager you’ve also read a thing or two about the show, including some insight into Pedro Pascal’s “The Last of Us” trucker jacket. After all, fighting off zombies is hard work, and naturally, our protagonist turned toward the immortal Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket. As you know if you read the blog, it’s a Huckberry classic, and if you want to get that very same look, snag yourself a fresh one now.
Shop Pedro Pascal’s trucker jacket now
  • By now, you’re probably getting just a bit sick of the frigid cold, right? I’ve got a solution for you: While I can’t plan out your next tropical getaway, I can indeed help you figure out what to pack for your next vacation. Keep it breezy, colorful and light — I wrote about the best style essentials for a tropical getaway over at Men’s Journal. Time to start planning and packing, folks.
  • Since I’m hitting the road this weekend, I’ve been thinking about the best travel pants this season (and beyond). Accordingly, you should check out Wednesday’s blog post on the best pants for travel from Bonobos — here’s my full take. Cheers and good luck out there!

Satchel and Page

That should tidily wrap up your guide to weekend must-haves, be it a new packing list for a breezy vacation or the chance to shop Pedro Pascal’s “The Last of Us” trucker jacket. In the meantime, stay stylish, look for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week and we’ll see you out there!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Brooklyn Birthday Weekend & The Taylor Stitch Cold-Weather Clearout Sale

Best winter menswear from Taylor Stitch

My friends, as you can tell from the above headline, it’s a pretty momentous weekend in my neck of the woods here in Brooklyn. Now, it’d be exciting enough for the chance to shop the Taylor Stitch Winter Clearout Sale, of course (offering 25 percent off already-discounted Taylor Stitch winter menswear in the Last Call section), of course. Before we go any further, I’d certainly suggest you shop one of the best winter menswear sales of the moment (not that you need me to drive home that point too much!).

Shop Taylor Stitch winter style essentials

But beyond that, it’s a big weekend for me personally — I’m celebrating my 31st birthday, and I’ll be doing it in Brooklyn, to boot! You can, naturally, keep up with all the fun on my Instagram: I plan on making a few stops at my favorite Brooklyn locales, from the quiet confines of Prospect Park to the amber-hued environs of famed whiskey bar Sycamore.

Beyond time spent reflecting on my life and work in New York City, I plan to (of course) listen to my favorite band The National, spin some vinyl on my record player and catch up with family and friends — not bad for a few days of Brooklyn-centric fun!

Above all though, I’m very grateful to get the chance to do what I do — write about menswear, music, whiskey and more in New York — and I’m ever so grateful for your support of this small menswear blog. For now, I’ll sign off — check back for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week, and once again: Thanks for reading and stay stylish!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Journey Across the Pond to… Morocco

In the course of my freelance writing pursuits (as you well know if you follow me on Instagram!), I’m presented with the opportunity to do some pretty remarkable things, be it writing about luxury watches, sampling opulent bourbon or traveling to London to try the world’s best Scotch. Of course, this blog and my other writing pursuits keep me plenty busy and present opportunities all their own, but none quite like the journey I’ve undertaken this week.

Over these past few days, I’ve had the lifetime chance to hop on a plane and hop across the pond — not to Europe, but to the famed city of Tangier, Morocco, where I’ve hunkered down for the week at the new Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier. A review will follow on Maxim.com, but again, my Instagram has an inside look at the stunning accommodations!

Talk about an opportunity for a “work trip” not to be passed up, particularly as a chance to start the new year and escape the cold grey of New York City. Myself and my fellow journalists have explored the city on foot, sipped on cocktails throughout the resort, and generally enjoyed (an understatement!) this iconic destination. I won’t spoil it all, but it’s been stunning.

While I don’t write travel reviews on the daily, I’m becoming more acquainted with jetting from one destination to the next, honing my writing skills and eye for detail along the way (a never-ending quest!). And to get the chance to do that in such a historic city, and in such a luxurious locale, is nothing short of remarkable, frankly. Again, you can look for a full review in the days ahead at Maxim.com, but for now, I think I’ll take in the sights and sounds of the city one last time before heading home. As always: Thanks for reading and for your support!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Todd Snyder Winter Sale, New Blundstone Boots & Filson’s Latest Discounts

Welcome back to another winter style edition of the Friday Read — New York City has had a relatively mild winter so far, but if you’re in need of the best new winter menswear to bundle up against the frigid cold, I’ve got just what the doctor ordered. You might recall recently that we talked about one of the best cashmere sweaters for winter from Todd Snyder, but I’ll do you one better.

Fully fashioned crewneck sweater to keep you warm against the harshest winter climates.

The famed designer is still running the endlessly shoppable Todd Snyder Winter Sale, with new markdowns aplenty across a wide range of luxe-yet-accessible, easy-to-wear categories. That includes sweaters and outerwear, to be sure, but also some breezy warm-weather style favorites at nice discounts. Do yourself a major favor and shop one of the best winter menswear sales, yes?

Best candles for men.

It’s a sale I’ve got my eye on this weekend, as I hunker down in Brooklyn and work on numerous freelance writing pursuits, from stories at Men’s Journal to another weekly feature for menswear and gear Web site WERD.com. Of course, there will be strong coffee and some of my favorite tunes to help me along, and I’ll be burning my favorite Huron candle (as seen above!) for good measure.

To keep up with my weekend pursuits — and with a very exciting trip coming up next week — be sure to give me a follow on my Instagram. Cheers and let’s get into the rest of the Friday Read!

Huckberry x Blundstone boots.
  • It’s been talked about on the blog over these past few weeks, but I’d urge you to strike while the iron’s hot: The Filson Winter Sale just served up some new Filson discounts, and those deals are available until January 17th. If I were you, I’d move quickly to shop and save on rugged winter gear from the lauded Pacific Northwest heritage outfitter.
  • I’ll leave you with one more recommendation this weekend. If it’s durable winter style you seek, then it’s the on-trend yet classic Flint and Tinder Rancher Jacket you need in your wardrobe. It nails that perfect balance of Yellowstone-esque, dependable style and should stand up to fierce winter weather. For good measure, I wrote about it on the blog this week!

That’s going to close the curtain on today’s Friday Read. I hope you certainly find something worth reading about and shopping this weekend, be it the Filson Winter Sale or the outstanding Todd Snyder Winter Sale — both are assuredly worth your time and hard-earned cash. Cheers, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: New Year’s Menswear Upgrades & The Taylor Stitch x Golden Bear Bomber Jacket

Best classic bomber jacket for men.

My friends, thanks for joining me in this, the first Friday Read of your trusty Brooklyn style blog! It’s been a productive yet more laidback week around these parts as I ramp up my writing properly in 2023 across multiple fronts, from the best new whiskey to yesterday’s feature on Filson’s rugged flannel shirt and an as-yet-unpublished music feature for SPIN.com (to get the full scoop on all of my freelance writing pursuits, click that link).

In the meantime, let’s talk ever-so-briefly about style upgrades for 2023, in a similar mindset to last week’s Friday Read. What are you looking to add to your wardrobe, or refine, or improve upon? I’ve already talked about a cozy new shirt jacket this week on the blog — perhaps ideal for casual WFH style or weekend travel, not to mention one of the best menswear deals from Billy Reid.

My advice? If you need some weekend reading and shopping inspo, check out those features to send you on your way to start this year. I’d of course be remiss to not talk about one of the best new style releases of 2023 to start this week, too: Head over to Taylor Stitch and the Taylor Stitch Workshop to pre-fund the exceedingly cool, expertly crafted Taylor Stitch x Golden Bear Snap Bomber. It’s a style splurge, to be sure, but one that you’ll no doubt have for years — if you’ve tried out the brand’s past collaborations with legendary SF outfitter Golden Bear, you know that much is true.

As for me, well, that’s going to wrap up today’s post: I’m going to enjoy some downtime this weekend, some cold beer & some Michigan State basketball. For good measure, I’m going to take another brief look back at 2022 as I plan for 2023. I hope you do the same! Cheers and thanks, as always, for reading The Style Guide.

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Cheers to 2023 & A Thank You From Brooklyn

Pappy Van Winkle whiskey.

My friends, it seems like just days ago I was clocked in and talking to you about starting 2022 in style — and yet, now we sit on the verge of 2023. How about that, ehh? It was a momentous year for The Style Guide, if I do say so myself, with a daily publishing schedule and plenty of opportunity to spotlight favorite brands and retailers, be it Todd Snyder or Billy Reid or Buck Mason — the list goes on, of course.

Through it all, throughout another full calendar year of freelance writing pursuits & world travels via my Instagram, consider this a heartfelt, deep and true THANK YOU for your support of The Style Guide!

I launched this blog way back in 2013 in my college bedroom with a desire to better understand the basics of versatile, everyday menswear — from denim to boots to Oxford shirts — and along the way, I hoped to perhaps impact a few fellow readers who felt the same about great style. My blog helped me dive into the world of fashion, land fashion PR internships and fashion PR agency jobs, and eventually, build a freelance career doing what I truly love. If that sounds a bit too simple, well, trust me when I say I can’t quite believe it either… most days, at least.

And on that note: Thank you for reading and for engaging with my work! If this blog has helped you improve your wardrobe in any way, large or small, that’s more than I could ever ask for… and I mean that sincerely!

Of course, there’s still one more 2022 headed your way tomorrow (my weekend Style Pick, naturally). In the meantime, perhaps you’ve got your mind set on stepping into a new year in style with on-sale menswear from Taylor Stitch or else the Huckberry See You Out There Sale — I can vouch for both, trust me on that. Either of those sales are more than worth your time, and perhaps even worth a toast of coveted Pappy Van Winkle whiskey to ring in 2023.

In fact, I wish I myself could raise a glass of the good stuff to the devoted readers of this small Brooklyn blog — I don’t have any Pappy in my home bar cart, but consider this a toast all the same. From me to you: Happy New Year, cheers to good health, great times and great style, and we’ll see you… next year!