The Thursday Buy: This Todd Snyder Plaid Flannel Shirt is a Throwback Style Classic

It seems like only yesterday we were talking about the Todd Snyder End of Summer Sale, and with a snap of your fingers (or perhaps the opening of a cold can of beer), we’re already talking about the best fall style essentials from the famed American designer himself.

As you’ve perused the pages of this blog over the years, have you picked out any wish list favorites from the NYC-by-way-of-Iowa designer?

In my experience, I’ve always loved the rugged-meets-refined feel of Todd Snyder flannel shirts — the flannel is soft and warm, easy to layer and always flattering. That’s certainly the case with this latest round of fall shirting from Todd Snyder, and the Todd Snyder Plaid Flannel Buttondown (especially in rich and rugged red-and-black) fits the bill quite nicely on all fronts.

Todd Snyder flannel shirt review.

It’s made with plenty of Snyder-approved details, like a distinctive button-through chest pocket and a classic buttondown collar a la your trusty, summer-ready Oxford shirt. And while the Todd Snyder Plaid Flannel Buttondown is pricy compared to other men’s flannel shirts on the market, it’s a touch more refined.

It can be worn on its own with crisp dark blue denim, styled beneath your favorite winter blazer with tobacco-colored chinos, or paired with a henley and Wolverine boots for a dash of rugged fall style. You can’t top that sort of versatility and quality, and the Todd Snyder Plaid Flannel Buttondown should offer up plenty of bang for your buck.

The Thursday Buy: The Filson Tin Cloth Cruiser Jacket is Back for Fall, and Better than Ever

Filson Tin Cloth Cruiser Jacket review.

Some menswear essentials never really leave — they never quite drift from your mind or from your consideration as you build out your wardrobe season after season, and Filson personifies that approach to a T. Though the brand has grown from a Pacific Northwest outfitter into a bona fide fashion favorite, the Seattle company still makes some all-time classic pieces season after season, mostly with remarkable consistency.

Lofty praise though that might be, the Filson Tin Cloth Cruiser Jacket fits the bill very nicely. It’s a certified legendary piece, made with the brand’s ultra-rugged, hard-wearing Tin Cloth fabric and designed with plenty of pockets for your everyday carry. Filson calls it the “jacket that started it all,” and they certainly haven’t missed the mark there.

Filson men's waxed jacket review.

It’s available in colors like Military Green or Filson’s classic Dark Tan in terms of style points, but it’s the water-resistant exterior, the sturdy yet malleable dry canvas Cover Cloth lining, and the durable hardware that really ups the ante.

‘ll keep it simple today: If you’re going to get one casually rugged men’s jacket for fall, invest in one you’ll have for a long time — invest in one of the best Filson jackets on the market, my friends.

The Thursday Buy: This Flint and Tinder Western Shirt Is Your New Favorite Fall Buttondown

Most rugged shirt for men.

If there’s one thing I can’t get enough of, it’s the chance to truly layer up in rugged style as we roll into early fall (and well beyond). Any great wardrobe of men’s style essentials should be well-prepared in advance for what lies ahead, including the brisk breezes and crisp, crunching of leaves of fall — and the call of seasonal adventure, naturally.

There are certain pieces I tend to rely on in these situations, and I’ve recently found a new one to add to my roster. Or rather, a new (old) piece: The Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt is a fan favorite, and a sttylish men’s shirt restocked in time for a new season, with all the rugged appeal a guy could ever want.

If you’ve perused the blog over the years (or even as recently as this week!), then you know Flint and Tinder covers all the right bases: Versatile, well-made menswear crafted from durable-yet-supple fabrics, with the potential to work as well for an evening of brewery beers as a day at the office.

That goes for its henleys, waxed trucker jackets and the Flint and Tinder 365 Pants, naturally. The Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt toes the same line: Polished yet rugged, visually appealing, made to be worn again and again.

The Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt gets the basics right, including the use of 100 percent cotton denim in washes like a richly faded Medium Dark Wash, as well as crisp Black and a classic Stonewash denim. The burnt cow bone snaps are an authentic touch, as is the Western detailing throughout.

I’ve found the Medium Dark Wash edition of the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt to be an ideal fit in a size XL, too. It’s comfortable enough to button up on its own, easygoing enough to wear open over one of my favorite T-shirts, and sharp enough to wear with the Flint and Tinder 365 Pants or else casual grey denim.

It’s an optimal headliner for any casually rugged fall #OOTD, with hundreds of positive reviews that justify dropping $158 on a Western shirt. Who knows — it could very quickly become your new favorite fall shirt.

The Thursday Buy: Step into Early Fall with these Rugged Leather Chukka Boots from FRYE

No matter the year or what else might be happening in the world of broader men’s style trends, there are classics I reach for time and time again, be it my favorite henley, a rugged shirt jacket or — in the case of today’s post — a pair of the best leather chukka boots for men.

It’s all about a pair of boots with the right construction, style and dependability, and that’s where I turn towards FRYE and the company’s legendary FRYE Bowery Chukka Boots — how about yourself? I’ve found that there’s hardly a season in which the Northeast-based FRYE doesn’t provide the proper boots in terms of rugged appeal and exceptional style.

That’s the case whether you’re searching for some of the best men’s boots for spring or again, the richly crafted FRYE Bowery Chukka Boots for early fall (and beyond). The best leather chukka boots are like a Swiss Army Knife in your footwear rotation: Casual enough to wear with dark blue jeans, cleaned up enough to wear with corduroy pants and your favorite Oxford shirt, and made to look better with age (if you like to put your boots through some wear and tear, that is).

Best leather chukka boots for men.

The FRYE Bowery Chukka Boots are built with plenty of useful bells and whistles, including a supportive three-eyelet lacing system that extends higher up the ankle than other pairs of men’s chukka boots. In the case of this pair shown here, the tan oiled vintage leather is handsome and elegantly rugged, and aside from that, the PORON footbed forms to your foot over time.

For good measure, the lug sole is injected with rubber for some added spring in your step, which should make the FRYE Bowery Chukka Boots as comfortable as they are stylish. They’re also finished with waxed laces for a sleek touch, and should you prefer a different shade than tan leather, FRYE offers four other colors in a range of sizes.

If all those specs line up with what you need (and they should!), then it sounds like the FRYE Bowery Chukka Boots could become your new favorite pair of leather boots for fall (and beyond).

The Thursday Buy: This Rugged Buck Mason Crew is the Perfect Layer to End Summer

Best lightweight sweater for men.

There’s going to come a time in your search for men’s style essentials where you need a piece or two that the line between “too much” and “just right.” Allow me to explain, folks.

In the same way that you need a lightweight blazer and lightweight men’s jeans for summer, rather than something cut for fall or winter, a transitional T-shirt to carry you from late summer into early fall can prove quite handy in a multitude of situations — even more than you might think, in fact.

And this, my friends, is where Buck Mason comes into play with the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Crew. If you follow along with the blog, you know it’s easier than ever to find what you’re looking for at the rugged, all-American retailer, and the ante is upped even further.

You see, the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Crew is neither as lightweight as the brand’s perfectly breezy, expertly crafted USA-made tees, nor is it as heavy as some Buck Mason sweaters for the fall and winter months — in short, it’s the perfect T-shirt to close out summer and look towards fall.

And as its name would imply, the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Crew is a rough-and-tumble piece you can wear casually (beneath a chambray shirt or your favorite zip hoodie at a late summer bonfire) or for pursuits far afield (layered over a waxed jacket on a camping trip). It’s made from a cotton jersey fabric that’s twice as heavy as Buck Mason T-shirts, so it should drape nicely and layer easily.

Note that the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Crew also features a side-split hem and reinforced stitching at the elbows, not unlike some traditional rugby polo shirts (minus the somewhat dressier collar).

And the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Crew features a tailored fit with room to move (likely similar to other Buck Mason tees, in my experience). It’s the kind of rugged layer every guy can use, particularly if you want a stylish tee to wear with jeans, yet not one that’s as light as the option you’d reach for in the high heat of summer.

You see? The Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Crew is neither too heavy nor too light: It’s just right, and in my experience, that’s what your wardrobe needs now. Go to it, my friends.

The Thursday Buy: These Black Twill Jeans from Buck Mason Are a New Modern Classic

Best black jeans for men.

When I build out my own menswear wardrobe, as I often say, I tend to look for menswear essentials I can wear consistently, season after season and year after year. That means looking towards a brand like Buck Mason, one I’ve loved for years and one that specializes in a bit of everything, from the best pocket tee to rugged denim shirting and of course, the stylish black jeans you see at the top of the page.

And to me, the new Buck Mason Roper Twill Jeans are already a modern classic, despite the fact that they just popped up in the Buck Mason New Arrivals section. How about that, ehh? If you’ve tried Buck Mason men’s jeans, you know that they offer fits like Maverick (a slimmer cut) and the Ford cut (the cut you’ll find on your new favorite pair of black jeans here).

That fit is crucial, as they’ve already nailed the rest of the details: A timeless five-pocket design, a tapered leg and a straight fit through the hip. Of course, things only get better from there.

Best men's black jeans to wear now.

The key with this pair of jeans also lies in the fabric itself: Unlike other jeans, which feature either 100 percent cotton or cotton blended with elastane, the Buck Mason Roper Twill Jeans feature a nicely designed 9.5oz cotton and rayon twill blend for a super-soft finish.

In fact, rayon is the same fabric traditionally used in soft, breezy Hawaiian shirts, so the Buck Mason Roper Twill Jeans should move easily and feel super-comfortable all day long.

Plus, the Buck Mason Roper Twill Jeans have been garment-washed for additional softness, yet they’ll still retain the stylish edge of classic black jeans. And naturally, they pair well with a wide array of all-American styles from the rest of the Buck Mason line. Buy ’em now to wear with a short-sleeve henley, then keep ’em close at hand to style with a classic flannel shirt come fall. Buck Mason always comes through, folks.

The Thursday Buy: This Buck Mason Chambray Shirt is an All-Season Style Classic

Best chambray shirt for men.

If your wardrobe looks anything like mine, perhaps it’s stocked with a healthy dose of menswear classics, pieces you can turn towards day in and day out. For me, that means — at least on the shirting front — more than one of the best chambray shirts for men.

I wear mine to my favorite breweries in Brooklyn, I style it with dark denim for a high-low look, and I’ve found that the Buck Mason Chambray One-Pocket Shirt just gets the job done. Let’s take a closer look at this style classic from one of the best online menswear shops, shall we?

The rugged, textured yet fairly lightweight fabric works well as a shirt on its own, it adds visual appeal to one of the best men’s henleys, and it can be worn plenty of different ways in these increasingly casual times.

The best men’s chambray shirts tend to look great on every guy, and that’s where the Buck Mason Chambray One-Pocket Shirt can add some all-season appeal to your wardrobe (especially as we roll through the end of summer into early fall).

Buck Mason chambray shirt revi

The great thing about the Buck Mason Chambray One-Pocket Shirt lies in its details and its versatility. The 4.8oz. indigo chambray fabric looks and feels like you’ve had it for years, and should prove soft and wearable right out of the box (and your new favorite chambray shirt should certainly get better with age, too).

And about that versatility: It surely lives up to the hype, at least in my experience. You can wear it like a shirt jacket over your favorite pocket tee, you can roll up the sleeves and style it with Buck Mason chinos, and you can even team it up with a lightweight Buck Mason blazer for a casually rugged yet polished office look.

The pocket and button-down collar also help to give it a similar aesthetic feel as one of the best Oxford shirts, and that’s the sort of wearability I can get behind. Are you considering adding this timeless, easy-to-style chambray shirt to your wardrobe? Drop me a line in the comments if so! Stay stylish out there, folks.

The Thursday Buy: This Rugged American Giant Chore Jacket Is Ideal for Breezy Summer Nights

Best chore jacket for men.

My friends, sometimes, there’s no getting around it: Even on the hottest summer days, you still might find yourself in need of, say, one of the best chore jackets as the sun goes down.

Be it an evening bonfire, a sunset beach walk or a camping trek up into the mountains, you’d be surprised at how handy a rugged chore jacket can be, particularly one that’s made in America (and made the right way, at that). And that, folks, is where American Giant — one of the best made-in-America style brands, assuredly, factors into the equation with one of the best chore jackets for men.

Hopefully, you recognize American Giant from making one of the best zip hoodies out there, and the brand has also successfully tried its hand at stylish T-shirts, durable work pants and even some of the best blue jeans. Of course, they do it all right here in the U.S. of A., and the American Giant Roughneck Chore Jacket looks to carry on that legacy in handsome, rugged and durable fashion.

American Giant chore jacket.

The American Giant Roughneck Chore Jacket takes its cues from the Roughneck line of pants from the brand, and it’s crafted from a 9.5oz. cotton-canvas and spandex blend in El Paso, Texas. That means it’s got some stretch and supple movement to it, but it’s still comfortable enough to wear over a classic American Giant T-shirt on cool summer and early fall nights.

The American Giant Roughneck Chore Jacket is also garment-dyed for added softness, and finished with timeless chore coat touches via three patch pockets to handle your everyday carry essentials. And to suit plenty of stylish combinations, this chore jacket comes in three versatile, rich colors (the Deep Olive shade very well might be my favorite).

Mercer Apricot 3

And true to form, American Giant has priced your new favorite chore jacket at a very agreeable $198. What’s not to love about that? If you end up adding the American Giant Roughneck Chore Jacket to your rotation, let me know in the comments below. Now, let’s layer up and get out there the rest of this summer.

The Thursday Buy: The Billy Reid Indigo Western Shirt is a Rugged, Refined Summer Classic

Billy Reid Western Shirt.

One of the things I love the most about the menswear world is seeing how brands put a new spin on their own time-honored favorites. And for my money’s worth (and in my own experience wearing the brand!), American menswear stalwart Billy Reid‘s namesake brand does as stellar a job at this as anyone.

This holds especially true for subtle, straightforward picks like one of the best men’s T-shirts, and it holds true for styles that are a bit trickier to perfect, like a stylish buttondown shirt. Make no mistake, it’s hard to improve upon a modern classic like the Billy Reid Western Shirt, which has been in the company’s rotation (and Billy’s personal wardrobe) for more than two decades.

And yet, one glance at the Billy Reid Indigo Western Shirt tells you all you need to know: The award-winning brand has indeed managed to improve upon a classic, and that’s just terrific news for your summer wardrobe.

Best denim shirt for men.

This exceedingly handsome shirt is part of the new Billy Reid Indigo Capsule, which harnesses the magic of indigo dye and turns it into a stylish offering of T-shirts, ultra-soft sweaters, buttondown shirting and more. The Billy Reid Indigo Western Shirt is a standout of the entire capsule, with a deep indigo color, contrast plaid stitching and genuine dark horn buttons.

Best indigo denim shirt for men.

It should come as no surprise that Billy gets all of these details correct, and throws in a few more for good measure. The flap chest pockets boast a unique spade shape, and heirloom ribbon detailing is a subtle touch beneath the bottom shirt placket. Of course, the Billy Reid Indigo Western Shirt is a winner every single step of the way.

Part tailored jacket, part sweater, all versatility.

Take heed, though. All of this ultra-premium construction comes at a price, and Billy Reid is offering up this long-lasting shirt for $228 right now online. If you ask me though, most anything from Billy Reid is worth investing in, so shop accordingly this week. Thanks for reading, my friends!

The Thursday Buy: These Taylor Stitch Loafers are a Refined Summer Classic for Tailored Style

Best loafers for men to buy now.

My friends, one glance at your calendar (and thermostat) tells you all you need to know: We’ve still got plenty of summer left, and you’ve likely got plenty of tailored summer stops on your to-do list. How to beat the heat in style? With the best menswear essentials from one of your favorite men’s style brands, like Taylor Stitch. Sounds like a wise move to me, and I hope you agree.

I’m more than willing to bet that you know the brand quite well from reading the pages of this blog, be it the brand’s stylish summer shorts or breezy summer shirts. Let’s start today’s post from the ground up though, quite literally. Let’s look at the San Francisco brand’s collection of the best shoes for men, which normally leans heavily into rugged vibes via the best boots for fall or winter.

Instead, let’s take a look at the Taylor Stitch Loafers, which are refined enough for a summer wedding, versatile enough to wear to the office, and well-crafted enough to take it all in stride.

Best summer loafers for men.

Modeled after classic penny loafers and yet streamlined ever so slightly in terms of the last and the toe shape, the Taylor Stitch Loafers, these loafers (made in a D width — take note!) are made with plenty of helpful details for all sorts of situations.

Start with the fact that the Taylor Stitch Loafers feature weatherproof suede: I’d still advise treating them with suede protector, but they should prove more durable than other suede loafers.

Of course, the clean profile of the Taylor Stitch Loafers makes them dressy enough to wear with linen trousers or a Taylor Stitch summer suit, but the Vibram mini-lug sole is also more grippy and durable than a pair of classic, dressy suede loafers. See, Taylor Stitch has nearly thought of everything.

For good measure, you can rest easy knowing these loafers are crafted with care in world footwear hub Leon, Mexico — that’s the same place where plenty of brands make dependable shoes and boots, so the Taylor Stitch Loafers also have that going for them.

They’re pricier than a pair of loafers from a discount retailer (the Taylor Stitch Loafers retail for $298), but given the care and consideration built into every pair, this is one summer footwear purchase you can feel great about making. Get out there in style the rest of this season, my friends.