Tag / the friday read

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Taylor Stitch Discounts, The Best Winter Whiskies & The Best Men’s Turtlenecks

Best Taylor Stitch menswear

Welcome, my friends, to a very special holiday weekend edition of The Friday Read, where I do my best to get you geared up for the days ahead in style. And although I’d hope you’ve got your Christmas shopping already wrapped up, allow me to point you in the direction of some additional shopping on your list: The Taylor Stitch End of Year Sale is here, with the chance to take up to 30 percent off some of the best winter menswear at your favorite retailer.

Shop Taylor Stitch now

The San Francisco brand is, of course, a longtime top brand of mine here on the blog, with a knack for producing rugged gear by way of the Taylor Stitch Moto Collection and even better everyday essentials for any guy’s wardrobe. That’s what makes the excellent Taylor Stitch End of Year Sale such a treat, but shop carefully: It only runs through January 1st, but there’s a bonus beyond that.

Yes indeed, when you shop the Taylor Stitch End of Year Sale, you also get $20 in site credit on orders of more than $100. How’s that for a two-for-one deal? Hop on over to the Taylor Stitch End of Year Sale while you still can, and peruse the rest of today’s key style tips below. And as you’ve seen on my Instagram: Merry Christmas from Florida!

  • My friends, Mr. McQueen is in the building. That’s because, in my humble opinion, the turtleneck is back in a big way — and just in time for stylish winter dressing, no doubt. And here’s where your humble Brooklyn style writer comes into play: I wrote about the best men’s turtlenecks for winter over at Men’s Journal. Time to really start dressin’ this season, folks.
  • If you follow me on Instagram or keep up with my other freelance writing pursuits, then you’ll know I also write about some of the best whiskey on the market. With that in mind, here’s a fun one – I wrote about the best winter whiskey over at Maxim, with a special focus on whiskey I’ve tried as of late (excluding Pappy Van Winkle, sadly). Cheers to the season, folks!
  • In case you missed it here on the blog earlier this week, allow me to jog your memory with my guide to some of the best new Chelsea boots on the market. In fact, head over here to read about the HELM Finn Chelsea Boots, a super-comfortable, rugged-yet-refined pair of men’s leather boots that I’ve been wearing back in Brooklyn as of late. They’re exceptionally stylish and dependable out of the box, with no break-in period, and I can’t recommend ’em enough. Go to it, my friends.

It’s a particularly special winter Friday heading into what should be a lovely weekend (in Florida and elsewhere!), so here’s hoping you get the chance to kick back, enjoy a cold craft beer or some of the best winter whiskey, and spend time with loved ones. If these style tips help you along the way, that’s all the better. Fret not, though: You’ll still be getting two blog posts this weekend from yours truly, so bookmark ’em until Monday.

On that note: Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and as ever, THANK YOU for reading The Style Guide!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Taylor Stitch Winter Sale, The Best Winter Scarves for Men & Holiday Tattoo Kits

Best menswear from Taylor Stitch

Folks, thanks for joining me on this fine holiday Friday — I hope your week went swimmingly, and I can promise it’s about to get even better. Yes, because it’s Friday, to be sure. But beyond that, Taylor Stitch is still (as of press time) running the Taylor Stitch Winter Sale, with some of the best menswear deals around on rugged, classic gear aplenty. I talked about the sale earlier this week on the blog, but consider this a prime winter weekend refresher.

Whether you’re in the market for a timeless trucker jacket or a cozy winter sweater — or something else well-suited for. say, a holiday party, this sale has just about everything you need, and at 20 percent off, no less. Pretty solid for a weekend kickstart, yes?

Shop the Taylor Stitch Winter Sale now

There’s plenty more where that came from in terms of holiday cheer and holiday style. In my neck of the woods, I’ve got quite the early start when it comes to festivities — this weekend, I’ll be in Las Vegas with none other than OOFOS active recovery footwear. They’re the official active recovery footwear brand of the Las Vegas Raiders, so a select group of media are putting their shoes to the test.

Of course, we’re also taking in the sights and sounds of Vegas, along with some outdoor fun (whitewater rafting on Lake Mead, anyone?). From there, I’m headed off to sunny Florida to start the Christmas week properly with family. As ever, keep up with the fun on my Instagram, and for now, dive into the rest of my winter weekend style picks. Cheers, my friends!

Best tattoo kits for men
  • Over the past two years or so, I’ve gotten some fresh ink for the first time ever (five tattoos in total!). It’s been a fun journey and a reflective process deciding how I’d like to adorn my skin (of course, with tattoos featuring The Replacements and The Strokes!), and along the way, I’ve learned about caring for said ink, too. A key step in that process? Meeting the good folks at Mad Rabbit Tattoo, who’ve developed a stylish, highly effective brand that targets tattoo care, healing and enhancement. These are some of the best tattoo products I’ve seen (both in presentation and quality!), and you should certainly check out Mad Rabbit’s Holiday Tattoo Sets when you get the chance.

My friends, thanks for being here and for supporting The Style Guide this holiday season and beyond! I hope my guide to the best winter scarves, or perhaps my guide to the new HELM Finn Boots, prove helpful this weekend. Stay tuned for more holiday shopping picks tomorrow, Sunday, Monday and beyond. ‘Tis the season!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Holiday Winter Weekend & New Boots from HELM

My friends, thanks for joining me on another fine holiday Friday in December. I got out of the city and into the rugged countryside of Wyoming last weekend with Wyoming Whiskey, but this week, I’ve been back in the New York groove, enjoying the holiday season thanks to a jam-packed schedule. To celebrate Repeal Day, I trekked to the historic Clover Club in Brooklyn to raise a dram of Dewar’s, and last night, I sipped on Jefferson’s Aged at Sea Bourbon at a special holiday media event. ‘Tis the season, after all!

I’ve done it all with the help of HELM Boots, one of my favorite boot brands of the moment (and the past several years, no less!). If you look closely above here, you’ll spot some stylish HELM boots, in fact. These boots are dependable, durable and made on custom last designs from the Austin bootmaker, and the brand’s Southeast Austin shop is very much worth a visit if you’re in the city, too.

It’s an exciting time for the brand as well, as they just debuted the HELM Finn Boots, a sleek, rugged-yet-refined pair of stylish Chelsea boots perfect for plenty of stylish holiday dressing. While this isn’t in fact a sponsored post, think of it like an intro to what could become your new favorite pair of Chelsea boots.

For now, I’ll leave you to explore the full rotation of stylish men’s boots at HELM, since time is of the essence given a packed holiday schedule. Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week, and in the meantime, stay safe, healthy and stylish!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Off to The Great West With Wyoming Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey 10th Anniversary

Folks, thanks for joining me on another fine Friday as we roll into the first weekend of the holiday season and the first weekend of December. I’m rolling into ot with a dram of whiskey in hand, of course, but it’s not just any selection from my bar cart. This weekend, I’m visiting the stunning beauty of Wyoming with the one and only Wyoming Whiskey — what a locale and what a trip so far!

I’m here as part of the many freelance writing pursuits I undertake these days, specifically writing about spirits for Maxim, just one of a few trips I’ve undertaken as of late — if you follow me on Instagram, you know I just wrapped up a Caribbean and Florida Thanksgiving vacation, but this jaunt is particularly special.

It’s a special trip out to Jackson Hole and Wyoming ranch country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Wyoming Whiskey, a distillery with rugged roots and a focus on all-American craftsmanship (not unlike so many of your favorite brands I talk about here at The Style Guide, naturally). While I can’t bring you all with me out to Wyoming, you can indeed order Wyoming Whiskey for yourself at Drizly to get it delivered to your door in the meantime. How about that, my friends?

Best American whiskey to drink now

Stay tuned for more at Maxim on my trip — and stay tuned for regular blog content this weekend, including tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week — but just know that the significance of these trips isn’t lost on me. I’m always ever so grateful to travel the world, to write about new and exciting menswear, whiskey and luxury brands, and to meet seriously cool, talented people all along the way. To me, that’s worth toasting today (and every day). Thank you for being here and for reading! And cheers to Wyoming Whiskey, of course. Have a great weekend, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Matthew McConaughey, The Best New Cologne & Your New Favorite Hat

Matthew McConaughey's Longbranch Bourbon

My friends and Style Guide readers, thanks for joining me for a special edition of The Friday Read. Well, my weekly recap is special every time in its own way, but this is a big one in particular. Earlier this week, as part of my many freelance writing pursuits, I had the chance to share a pretty major story.

Over at Maxim, I caught up with the one and only Mr. Matthew McConaughey as part of a trip to Texas Hill Country last month! Yes, it’s true. We spoke about his work as creative director with Longbranch Bourbon (which you can order for home delivery from Drizly for a downright steal), and we also talked about the seriously cool new Longbranch Ranch experience at the rugged-meets-refined Walden Retreats. I found the brief conversation delightful and a total blast — and again, you can read the results of that interview over at Maxim.

HELM Boots- $50 Off Your First Purchase

I’m ever so grateful for the experience, and truly so grateful for the chance to travel to seriously cool locales while meeting icons and new friends along the way (you can view some snippets of my Texas trip on my Instagram). It’s all in a day’s work, as they say, and the freelance writing world can be a bit of a grind from time to time, but the pay-off and the rewards are immeasurable,

On the best of days (and most of the time, in fact!), I’m very proud of what I get to do — and I’m surely grateful for readers and companies who show an interest in my work! Gratitude is the name of the game this season, what with the holiday next week, but for now, let’s get back to chatting all things men’s and men’s style grooming (and perhaps Longbranch Bourbon) to start your fall weekend properly.

Best winter cologne for men.
Best men's wool hats.
  • Step right up and score one of the coolest new accessories this holiday and winter season — that’d be one of the best hats for men from a new personal favorite brand, Storied Hats. The upstart company makes its stylish hats for men using sustainable materials like recycled wool and upcycled, plant-based leather (in its carefully designed adjustable back straps). Better still is the fact that they also make some of the best wool hats for men in styles more commonly found in traditional tailoring. And of course, they’ve got a line of stylish activewear hats, too. All of this is to say, you’d do well to read my recent guide to the best hats for men from Storied Hats. Cheers and happy shopping!
  • Let’s close out today’s weekend reading and shopping guide with a quick look at a very fun splurge for all you photography enthusiasts. Over at Maxim, I wrote about an insanely cool, special-edition Leica camera made in collaboration with the watch experts at Hodinkee — think of it like the perfect blend of precision, heirloom looks and modern-meets-classic style. Get that wallet (or wish list) ready, folks.

And with that, my friends, I’m going to leave you to venture into the rest of your weekend in style. If I were you, I’d strongly consider ordering up Longbranch Bourbon (remember, you can order for home delivery from Drizly!), and I’d also consider investing in a stylish men’s hat or two from Storied Hats as we move into the winter season. Let’s go to it, folks – thanks for reading, thanks for your support!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Weekend’s Best Shopping Deals, Winter Style & New HIRSCH Whiskey

If you ask me, it seems the menswear calendar has been moving at an ever-faster clip as of late, be it a seemingly earlier-than-usual start to holiday shopping deals or a quicker-than-normal jump to the best Black Friday deals — right after Halloween, in fact. You might recognize that lineup above, filled with some of the best men’s boots, and it’s worth keeping just about every sort of deal in mind heading into Black Friday (even though, for the record, Black Friday doesn’t hit until next week!).

So, take this as a recommendation to start your weekend: My friends at Huckberry are offering some of the best early menswear deals on more gear than you can shake a stick at, so shop accordingly while you plan for the calm before the storm. With that in mind, I’m offering a few more quick pre-Black Friday shopping picks below. And then, well, I’m off to enjoy some rest and relaxation in the Caribbean sun.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been on a family vacation to Turks and Caicos since earlier this month, and I’ve got a trip to Florida to follow shortly thereafter. Of course, that won’t stop me from buying the best menswear for fall and winter right now, and it shouldn’t stop you either, my friends. Here’s to holiday shopping early and often, folks.

Best leather boots for men
  • If you keep up with the blog on the regular, I’m willing to bet you’re no stranger to the first entry on my list of recommended weekend shopping picks. Yes indeed, it’s high time you laced up a pair of the best men’s boots from the fine folks at Austin-based HELM Boots, and there’s no time quite like the present to find the rugged pair of leather boots that’s right for you (as I mentioned at the start of this post, after all). Start your search with my thoughts on the HELM Zind Boots, some of the best boots for guys to lace up now.
  • Before you can shop online for the best menswear deals, a bit of refreshment is in order, yes? That’s where my latest whiskey feature comes into play. Over at Maxim, I wrote about (and tasted!) one of the best new whiskies on the market, the new HIRSCH Whiskey Cask Strength Cognac Finish — in fact, I visited the 2022 Kentucky Derby and tried this very bourbon that same weekend back in May. Think of it like a luxe bar cart upgrade to enjoy and savor this winter.
  • Speaking of stylish early holiday deals, here’s another choice pick. Now, not to worry — I’ll have a full guide to the best deals for Black Friday early next week. In the meantime though, head over to the Huckberry Gift Guide and shop the best under-$75 gifts for everyone on your list, be it the rugged man, the whiskey enthusiast or the seasoned style vet.

Faherty

That trio of style picks brings today’s Friday Read to a close. Whether you’ve got your eye on the best under-$75 gifts or perhaps one of the best new whiskies or even a rugged pair of leather boots, I’m willing to bet your seasonal shopping is off to a good start (I hope!) if you follow a few of the tips above. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Saturday Style Pick. In the meantime, cheers and thanks for reading! 

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Best Fall Jackets, Rugged New Boots & A Luxury Old Fashioned

Thanks for joining me, my friends, on another fine fall Friday. It’s the perfect time of year to gear up and hit the road with, say, one of the best duffel bags and perhaps, a rugged fall jacket from the good folks at Filson, as I’ve been talking about so frequently as of late. There are certain brands that are just uniquely well-suited to the demands of the season, and I’ve been testing out Filson menswear whenever I get the chance on brisk Brooklyn days. How about yourself? Be sure to let me know in the comments if you have any favorites from the famed retailer.

Now, onto business. In my neck of the woods, I’m actually deviating from the norm in terms of fall style and hitting the road for a family trip to the sunny confines of Turks and Caicos (keep up with all the fun on my Instagram!). From there, I’ll be preparing for Thanksgiving (crazily enough!) and taking some time off — how about yourself? Before we roll into the weekend, be sure to check out a few of my picks for the best fall menswear and some choice fall reads.

Best men's boots for fall.
  • Much like the best Filson menswear, there’s never been a better time to shop and save on some of the best men’s boots for fall. On that note, I’ve been a big fan as of late of Austin-based HELM Boots, which uses handsome, rugged leathers and the right mix of dressy design and durability in crafting some of the coolest boots for men. Give the brand a look the next tine you’re ready to score a pair of your new favorite boots.
  • Ready for fall layering with one of the best men’s sweaters? Not quite? If you still need a quick and easy wardrobe upgrade at a nice price, check out my latest blog post on one of the most affordable, stylish men’s sweaters out there this season (via Bespoke Post). Cheers!
  • If you, like me, enjoy a nice dram or cocktail during happy hour, my latest for Maxim is going to be of particular interest. I wrote about Sunday’s Finest, the Chicago company shaking up the “Ready-To-Enjoy” cocktail market with a luxe Old Fashioned in a bottle. Kick back, pour up a dram and read all about it.

That’ll bring the curtain down on my latest edition of the Friday Read — hopefully, you’re feeling just a bit more ready for the weekend and the rest of the season ahead. As always, cheers and thanks for reading!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: New Filson Fall Gear, Wolverine’s New Fall Boots & The Perfect Fall Pants

Best fall gear from Filson

If you read the blog yesterday, and if you’ve checked the weather forecast in your neck of the woods as we roll into another lovely late fall weekend, then you know it’s high time for one thing: Shopping the best Filson menswear, of course. It seems like there are certain brands that are just uniquely well-suited for rugged cold-weather adventures — as I talked about yesterday in my guide to Filson’s classic wool jackets — and that shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. I’d wager if you want a cozy thermal henley, a durable piece of outerwear or some classic indigo denim (to name but a few staples), Filson will sort you out on this fine Friday.

Shop Filson gear ASAP

Now, onto the rest of today’s Friday Read. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know I’ve been staying plenty busy as of late, namely with another trip across the pond! Yes, believe it or not, I just returned from another trek to London — and Scotland, for good measure — my third time in the U.K. since the end of June. This time around, I visited the iconic Balvenie Distillery as part of an upcoming story on an epic new Scotch launch for Maxim.com, where I’ve been keeping plenty busy with daily stories.

Wolverine

You should stay tuned for my full rundown on the legendary distillery’s latest and greatest release very soon, but for now, here’s the rest of the best fall menswear and gear to read about and buy now.

Best fall adventure gear
  • Perhaps you’ve been making the most of fall, going off-trail and getting off the grid. You’ve still got plenty of time to do so in the weeks ahead though, provided you’re outfitted properly — that’s where Colorado-based Western Rise comes into play. I’d hope you’re familiar with the brand for making performance menswear like the best men’s shirts and comfortable stretch, moisture-wicking pants, the kind you can wear out on a hike and back into town without missing a beat. Consider this your reminder to pick up some new fall adventure gear ASAP.
Wolverine x Pappy Van Winkle Boots

That brings today’s Friday Read to a close, folks. Will you be picking up – -and lacing up — a pair of boots from Wolverine and Old Rip Van Winkle, or else shopping one of the the best Filson wool jackets? Be sure to let me know in the comments, and stick around for Saturday’s Style Pick of the Week. Cheers to fall, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: The Best Jeans for Fall, Huckberry’s Best Fall Menswear & A New Shinola Watch

Best fall jeans for men.

In my book, there’s never a bad time to wear a pair of the best blue jeans for men, but there’s something particularly special about the crisp, brisk climes of fall to break out a pair of your new favorite jeans. Of course, if you read the blog, you know I’m all about the comfort, stretch, dark colorways and expertly washed finishes of NYC-based brand Mott and Bow. Yes, these days they do everything from lightweight jeans to one of the best polos for men, but it’s tough to top the rugged wearability of the Mott and Bow Crosby Jeans (shown above), for starters.

Meet the Classic Full Zip Hoodie: pictured in both men's and women's. Available in an array of colors.

On that note, be sure to head over to my Instagram to see how I style my own pair, especially as I hit the road again this weekend on a press trip — yes, another press trip for my writing work with Maxim and elsewhere, and one I can’t quite disclose yet. Rest assured, I’ll be dressed in style all the while and will share a full report again soon! In the meantime, let’s get into the weekend with the best fall menswear from Huckberry and much more.

  • Alright, my friends: Here’s the lowdown. Earlier this week, one of my favorite retailers — and one of the best online menswear shops, no doubt — just debuted the first-ever Huckberry Fall Classic Sale, showcasing discounts on some of its most-loved pieces, including Japanese-made beanies and plenty of other rugged menswear picks. Sadly, that sale just wrapped up, BUT you’ve still got the whole weekend to check out the best of the rest when it comes to Huckberry’s fall gear. Cheers, folks.
Best new Shinola watch for men.
  • If you can’t get enough of stylish Shinola watches — or of groundbreaking history in the process — this next item is certainly for you. The good folks at Shinola, Detroit’s pride and joy, just debuted another entry in the Shinola Great American Series. The offering? A handsome, rugged watch celebrating the accomplishments of famed Olympic Gold Medalist and pro football champion (and baseball player!) Jim Thorpe. Read my latest at Maxim and shop the watch here.

That’s going to do it for today’s Friday Read — did you find something to add to your shopping cart, perhaps a Shinola men’s watch or any number of picks from Huckberry’s fall gear rotation? Be sure to let me know on Twitter, and make the most of your fall weekend in the meantime. Thanks for reading!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Buck Mason Fall Menswear, A Pure Michigan Road Trip & Huckberry’s New Boots

If I said it once before, well, I’ll say it again: There’s no time like right now to re-evaluate your lineup of the best men’s fall style essentials, and there are plenty of brands here on this blog to help you do so. That’s where I’m kicking off today’s Friday Read: With a reminder to shop the best rugged menswear from Buck Mason, long one of my favorite brands.

They’re a supplier of everything from the best men’s henleys to one of the best fall jackets (made out of cozy flannel, no less), and the Buck Mason New Arrivals section is positively packed with can’t-miss menswear for fall.

Satchel and Page

Those are the sort of picks — durable jackets, cozy henley shirts, perfectly broken-in denim and the best fall gear in general — I’ve been looking to wear these past few days, as I’ve trekked through my home state of Pure Michigan. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that I visited friends in Detroit to see iconic rock band The Killers, I hopped over to Kalamazoo to tour the iconic Bell’s Brewery (a lifetime highlight!).

For good measure, I’ve spent the past few days exploring Lansing (and spots like Ellison Brewery) along with some quality family time. For now, I’m headed back to NYC today, but be sure to keep up with the latest on my Instagram — there’s much more in store, no doubt! Let’s keep the Friday Read rolling.

  • I’d wager you don’t need me to tell you that Huckberry regularly stocks and sells some of the best men’s boots, right? That’s also the case with Pacific Northwest-based Danner, which is what makes the latest Huckberry x Danner partnership so astoundingly cool. The two closely aligned lifestyle brands just released the seriously rugged Danner x Huckberry Waxed Canvas Danner Light Boots, and a limited number of pairs are available. Read and shop ASAP right here.
  • Any fans of James Bond out there? *Raises hand* Well, fans of 007 are in luck, and it just so happens that Danner is back in the mix here, too. Danner recently released two pairs of James Bond-approved boots, and for good measure, I got to write all about ’em for Maxim.
  • One last question before I let you go for the (start of) the weekend: Could you use a new watch? I wrote all about the most durable watches for men, including picks from the likes of G-SHOCK and Luminox, over at AskMen. Time to gear up and get out there, my friends.
Satchel and Page

That’s going to wrap up today’s Friday Read — who’s excited for another fall weekend, ehh? I sure am, and once again, make sure you’re following me on Instagram to keep up with all the fun this season. Cheers!