Tag / the thursday buy

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: Upgrade Your Space with this Tasteful Ranger Station Candle This Season

In the same way that you put careful thought into your ensemble, the way you dress from the ground up with the best boots for men or the right Oxford shirt or pair of jeans, you can (and should!) put the same care and thought into your living space. That can be something as simple as opting in when it comes to a seasonal scent upgrade with one of the best candles for men, a move that makes your space all the more richly crafted, fragrant and even stylish.

And in my experience, there are few fragrance companies doing it better than Ranger Station, the Nashville-based fragrance house with an emphasis on scents that are at once rugged and refined, complete with collaborations with the likes of rising star Noah Kahan and other guitar-driven luminaries.

Find out more now and shop at Ranger Station

It’s an altogether wonderful approach that includes everything from candles to a line of excellent colognes, and selections like the Ranger Station Balsam Fir Candle can certainly bring a heck of a lot to your living room or den this season. A word to the wise: Don’t sleep on the company’s excellent lineup of colognes, with notes of leather, pine an even a whiskey-forward Old Fashioned fragrance on the menu.

What’s more, the Nashville-based company lives up to its rugged roots aplenty, with Ranger Station also offering a mighty useful fragrance quiz to expertly find and curate your signature scent.

The Ranger Station Balsam Fir Candle touches on seasonal classics in its scent notes, including balsam, pine sap and juniper, making for a truly elevated fragrance experience designed to make any room smell like a Christmas tree (or at least, it’ll have things smelling like the heart of the season itself, and that’s never a bad thing, is it?).

It doesn’t hurt that candle selections (and more!) from Ranger Station feature more than 30 hours of burn time, plus a hand-poured production process — and each Ranger Station candle comes complete with a stylish storage box and a crisp, often-playful logo on the side. To light up a candle from Ranger Station is a highly pleasing experience, one you should enjoy early and often this holiday season.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Rugged Buck Mason Deck Jacket is a Modern Twist on a Workwear Staple

The demands of the fall style season — from brisk weather to breezy, rainy days and the chance to go far afield on a cabin getaway — call for gear that can pass muster, as you well know if you read this Brooklyn style blog.

Workwear, with its heritage roots and durable design, is an easy choice for the modern man, especially when designed the right way in the hands the Americana style purveyors at Buck Mason.

Find out more now at Buck Mason

The Los Angeles-based brand mines the past for quintessentially tough, sturdy style, and that includes a range of handsome outerwear, not to mention dependable menswear essentials like expertly crafted jeans, chambray shirts, thermal henleys and more. And that brings us to the Buck Mason N-1 Deck Jacket, a vintage-inspired spin that takes reliable design and performance to another level entirely.

The Buck Mason N-1 Deck Jacket gets its great looks from military style inspiration, of course, while its sturdy construction hails from tightly woven midweight, 14oz. cotton jungle cloth. The details are utterly classic and true to form, including the asymmetrical button placket and the durable corduroy collar for an ideal blend of form and function.

As Buck Mason tells it, your new favorite casual fall style selection is a “modern take on the USN Deck Jacket cut from the same sturdy cloth as original WW2 flight suits without the bulky lining.”

That sounds just about perfect for strong off-duty style, with the sort of design that repels wind and rain with ease. And it doesn’t hurt that the cuffs of the Buck Mason N-1 Deck Jacket are also lined with corduroy for timeless good looks and added warmth all the while.

The Buck Mason N-1 Deck Jacket is also fashioned in Japan, as great a place to go for truly traditional American-inspired style as any, with a cropped, classic fit that should prove an apt layer over thermal henleys, a Buck Mason fisherman sweater or a hard-working chambray shirt.

The Buck Mason N-1 Deck Jacket pairs up seamlessly with stretch canvas work pants for days in the field, but its rugged, dashing good looks should also style more than admirably with black jeans and tan leather boots for a round of dive bar beers. How does that sound when it comes to your new favorite fall jacket, ehh? The Buck Mason N-1 Deck Jacket, like we said earlier, can certainly pass muster. Happy fall style hunting, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: The Tivoli Audio Model III Bluetooth Clock Is an Instant Living Room Upgrade

We talk often on this Brooklyn style blog about the right style essentials to upgrade your daily life — on the road with new boots or a rugged weekender bag, out on the town dressed in style in a merino cardigan, or lounging at home in cozy, comfortable jogger pants (to name but a few scenarios).

But just as you consider the beer in your fridge or the whiskey in your bar cart, perhaps you (like me!) appreciate the finer things in life when it comes to high-end audio and hi-fi listening.

And while my Brooklyn apartment (which you can see from time to time on my Instagram!) also features vinyl turntable and two crates of records, the space I share with my lovely Mary has also been outfitted with more than one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market. The speaker in question comes from under-the-radar, Northeast-based audio pioneers Tivoli Audio, who I’ve covered in the past at Maxim.com, and who I now wholeheartedly recommend through the pages of this very men’s style blog.

And in my experience, the company delivers some of the best, most high-quality and simply crystal-clear, rich and pleasant audio on the market — and it just so happens that the Tivoli Audio Model III Bluetooth Speaker has enough juice and enough of the right specs to make for a wildly pleasing listening experience in your den, your living room, your bedroom or your office this autumn (and well beyond).

Naturally, it makes sense that the good folks at Bespoke Post tracked down this retro alarm clock-meets-modern Bluetooth speaker, given its handsome profile and stunning performance.

Find out more now at Bespoke Post

The Tivoli Audio Model III Bluetooth Speaker should check all the right boxes if you value crisp, clean and warm style and sound in one bookshelf-sized package, and it comes complete with USB charging ports, AM/FM radio capabilities, a built-in clock face and a stylish contrasting wooden build. The hardware is premium and delivered in a matte finish, and the entire package comes complete with a tuner for further sound clarity.

As Bespoke Post so sagely notes, “beneath its retro exterior lies modern functionality,” and the Tivoli Audio Model III Bluetooth Speaker is the total package if you value a seriously upgraded, modern listening experience. And the best part? You’ve got plenty of time to add this elegant piece to your space ahead of the holiday season.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: Filson’s Draftsman Canvas Pants are as Rugged and Versatile As It Gets For Fall

Best canvas work pants for men.

There are certain essential menswear brands, at least in my experience, one can’t help but admire as far as rugged appeal, functionality and durability is concerned. Add in a dash of timeless style points, and you’re looking at the Filson way over the past century-plus.

Although the brand doesn’t quite make as much of its gear in the U.S. of A as it is used to (always worth noting!), it’s still impressive when an iconic outfitter keeps delivering the goods in durable, hard-working form, from waxed outerwear to cozy thermal base layers, tough everyday carry essentials and other gear fit for the open road and the trail.

Find out more now at Filson

That certainly goes for the Filson Draftsman Canvas Pants, as much as any staple in the company’s new fall collection. And because you’re assuredly going to need a pair of the best work pants for men this autumn (and beyond), I’d say it’s high time we dove in to this pair of pants — along with my other Filson reviews on this Brooklyn style blog, of course.

The Filson Draftsman Canvas Pants take what you thought you knew about the traditional work pant, and then give ’em a fresh coat of paint, so to speak. Available in a range of sizes up to size 42, these pants nod to the classic five-pocket pant or chino, all the while using midweight Panama canvas and a dash of stretch.

These are sturdy pants with a tight weave and 1 percent stretch for comfort — so while you might not quite want to wear them to a day in the construction yard, they’ve got the rugged durability to take you from the drafting table to the factory floor (or from your backyard to a brewery) with relative ease.

There’s an utterly classic appeal to some of the best work pants for men — to me, the Filson Draftsman Canvas Pant, with a straight leg and crisp welt pockets, plus back flap patch pockets, remind me of the sort of pants my great grandfather wore to mow the yard (and enjoy a bourbon on the rocks afterwards).

Shop the best outdoor gear and more now at Filson

The handsome Filson Draftsman Canvas Pant should fit true to size and pair up as easily with a chambray shirt or a thermal henley as with an ultra-warm, thick Filson men’s sweater. In fact, one verified buyer (hey there, Paul!) noted that “what’s great is that they’re tough enough for crawling around in the crawlspace, and they’re refined enough to wear to the office.” That sounds to me like a winning addition to your fall wardrobe — good luck out there this season, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Todd Snyder Cashmere Crewneck is A Luxe Fall Style Essential

Best sweaters for men to wear this fall.

It’s often the little details that make the biggest difference in an #OOTD or a selection of the best menswear essentials — things like the soft touch of the right fabric, or a fit that’s just right. Of course, those can also prove to be the big details, which so often do indeed make a difference as you layer up for the season at hand.

And with award-winning menswear designer Todd Snyder, both details large and small are all carefully thought of with each passing collection — that certainly includes a luxe rotation of the best sweaters for men, which you’d do well to start thinking about as we inch ever closer to fall.

The good news for you and me both is that Todd Snyder’s assortment of the best men’s cashmere sweaters is well-stocked indeed, and that means the Todd Snyder Midweight Cashmere Crewneck Sweater could just become the style splurge your layering rotation needs this fall (and beyond).

The Todd Snyder Midweight Cashmere Crewneck Sweater offers what the designer calls “an elevated take on the essentials,” with a flattering fit, versatile crewneck construction — able to be worn on its own or over a crisp dress shirt — and an array of color options to suit every taste and sense of style. Details like ribbed stitching at the armholes and bottom hem give the handsome cashmere sweater an eye-catching appeal — that makes it visually interesting and appealing to wear on its own alongside dark blue jeans and burnished leather boots.

The Todd Snyder Midweight Cashmere Crewneck Sweater could even serve as a replacement for a traditional dress shirt beneath a charcoal suit at times this fall, particularly in the rich shade of plum (known as “Winestain”) shown here.

And I’d wager you’ll want to get plenty of wear out of the Todd Snyder Midweight Cashmere Crewneck Sweater — it’s a pricier investment at $328, but one you can assuredly make entirely your own this fall and winter.

Shop fall menswear essentials at Todd Snyder

Colors like Navy and Heather Grey offer versatility and reliable style with just about any other shade in your rotation of fall’s best pants and outerwear, but colors like Winestain represent the season most readily.

And as with other Todd Snyder menswear, although the Todd Snyder Midweight Cashmere Crewneck Sweater isn’t cheap, it’s most certainly worth the investment if you want a base layer — and indeed, a fashionable men’s sweater — that really isn’t so basic after all.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: Lace Up these Rugged Danner Logger Moc Boots from Huckberry for Every Fall Pursuit

Danner men's boots review.

As we inch ever closer to Labor Day weekend and the unofficial closing round of summer, what menswear and gear picks have been on your mind (and perhaps, in your digital shopping cart)? Slightly cooler days and nights lend themselves to preparing for a new season — the right way, as we so often talk about on this Brooklyn style blog.

Naturally, I’ve found the best gear and menswear tends to come from Huckberry, the Americana and adventure retailer that has a penchant for stocking some of the most stylish selections on the market from a host of brands.

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That list certainly includes the good folks at Pacific Northwest footwear maker Danner, a heritage brand that’s taken a modern turn (and not for the worse!) in recent decades.

They’ve carefully curated their lineup to include lightweight hiking boots, tactical boots, handsome leather lifestyle boots and rugged leather boots for men that fall somewhere in between all three of those categories, which is all the better if you love shopping the best boots for men.

And among that crop, the Danner Logger Moc 917 GTX fits the bill quite nicely indeed in terms of rugged throwback good looks and modern performance. The Danner Logger Moc 917 GTX boasts all the hallmarks of classic Danner boots, harkening back to the days when the Portland-based company first made boots for loggers in the 1930s using… you guessed it, GORE-TEX fabrication.

The Danner Logger Moc 917 GTX carries on that lineage in handsome fashion, using a sturdy, thick yet supple leather upper bolstered by a waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX liner. The impressive combination rests atop its namesake Vibram 917 outsole, boasting a small lug rubber outsole design for traction and a wedge sole with added support at the heel.

The two-tone design of the Danner Logger Moc 917 GTX is a handsome touch, particularly when the brand uses contrast stitching across the moccasin upper. In my experience, boots like the Danner Logger Moc 917 GTX tend to wear well with durable classics, like indigo blue selvedge or perhaps light olive chinos or slate grey canvas work pants.

And you can certainly style the Danner Logger Moc 917 GTX in off-duty fashion, but the waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX construction in the liner means you can take these boots off-trail and out into the field if need be.

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Complete with tonal laces to match the lower part of the moccasin upper, every detail has been properly thought out as far as the newly iconic, ultra-comfortable and assuredly hard-wearing Danner Logger Moc 917 GTX is concerned. Slip into a pair this fall season and let me know how they treat you.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This RRL Denim Trucker Jacket from Huckberry is a Stone-Cold Classic for Transitional Weather

There’s never quite a bad time to add something utterly classic to your menswear rotation, or to keep refining said menswear rotation, particularly as the weather shifts ever-so-slightly from summer’s high heat into the cooler climes of early fall.

This, of course, is where one of the best denim jackets for men comes into play, often made with tough, sturdy construction and an impeccable eye for detail — at least, that’s the case with the RRL Lot-271 Denim Jacket, a heritage-focused take on the timeless, Western-inspired men’s denim trucker jacket. And per modern tradition, you can expect one of the best online menswear shops — Huckberry, in this case — to stock and sell as fine an example as any on the outerwear market.

Find out more and shop now at Huckberry

As past RRL reviews have pointed out on this very Brooklyn style blog, the brand — a rugged and historical, Western-inspired offshoot of Ralph Lauren — doesn’t do things half-speed. Attention to detail, heritage quality and remarkable construction are all points of pride for RRL, and that certainly carries over when it comes to the RRL Lot-271 Denim Jacket.

Fashioned from 100 percent premium Japanese cotton denim, the build of this jacket should prove sturdy yet supple, as vintage-inspired stitching and detailing nicely complements contrasting hardware.

The RRL Lot-271 Denim Jacket is pleasingly broken in (at least in its expertly worn-in Leland Wash), and that should make it all the more wearable with everything from black selvedge jeans to burgundy corduroys or a pair of the best chinos for men.

And the rugged nature of the RRL Lot-271 Denim Jacket makes it a natural fit atop staples you already own, be it one of the best men’s henleys, a white Oxford shirt or a simple, casual pocket tee for a sense of effortless cool. As the good folks at Huckberry note, this timeless denim jacket was “inspired by the details found on vintage workwear,” and should wear as stylishly as jackets favored by its namesake designer himself.

Of course, these exceptional details mean the RRL Lot-271 Denim Jacket comes at a hefty price tag compared to other variations on the best denim jackets for men, but in my experience, RRL is surely worth the price tag. If you end up bolstering your style rotation with this must-have investment, let me know in the comments below — happy early fall layering, and stay stylish, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Buck Mason Free Flows Linen Polo is a Refined Summer Classic for the Season’s Heat

Best polo for men this summer.

There comes a time every summer — particularly right now, as the thermostat climbs without end in sight — where a guy needs to find the right balance between staying ultra-cool and looking, well, ultra-cool. How to dress stylishly in the heat is a main concern in my neck of the woods, especially if everything from rooftop happy hours to coastal getaways remains on your calendar in the weeks ahead.

One of the best men’s polos can help nail the delicate balance between comfort, style and crisp looks — make it a breezy, fashionable polo from the classic menswear purveyors at Buck Mason, and you’ve got yourself a winning upgrade as far as the best summer style essentials are concerned.

Find out more now at Buck Mason

In fact, I’d go so far as to say the Buck Mason Free Flows Linen Polo takes an already-versatile silhouette and makes it even more wearable for the days and weeks ahead. It’s part of the new Buck Mason Free Flows Collection, an assortment of the best lightweight menswear that blends effortless cool, dependable good looks and breezy, textured fabric across the board.

And while the brand also excels at rugged menswear like one of the best Western shirts, the Buck Mason Free Flows Linen Polo is a touch more refined and plenty easy to style with linen trousers, soft-shouldered summer suiting and the brand’s utterly classic chinos.

There’s an air of retro cool to the Buck Mason Free Flows Linen Polo, which is billed by the iconic modern American brand as a “fully fashioned slim fit polo made from an airy blend of textured Italian cotton and linen,” (the blend is 70 percent seeded cotton and 30 percent linen, for the record). It forgoes a traditional button placket in favor of an on-trend yet timeless open V-collar, while the handsome Buck Mason Free Flows Linen Polo features a chest pocket for some added visual appeal, plus ribbed cuffs at the sleeves and bottom hem — not unlike one of the best sweater polos on the market.

The colorway of the Buck Mason Free Flows Linen Polo is crisp and classic, with a Natural shade that pairs well with everything in your wardrobe, from rolled light wash denim to olive chinos, tobacco-hued linen trousers, even grey or navy utility shorts.

The even better news? You can score all of these casually cool menswear essentials from Buck Mason alongside the elegant, rakish Buck Mason Free Flows Linen Polo. Your summer deserves a lightweight upgrade, and the accessible, retro-inspired Buck Mason Free Flows Linen Polo is the right way to go this season.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: This Shinola Ceramic Monster Automatic Watch is a Rugged Summer Wrist Game Essential

Shinola Monster Watch review.

While we’ve talked plenty about the best summer gear across the board — from stylish boat shoes to breezy T-shirts, versatile buttondown shirts, stretch chino shorts and even canvas sneakers — it’s high time we considered another crucial addition to your summer gear rotation. Take a look at your wrist: Are you a fan of watches? A budding watch enthusiast or a seasoned veteran?

Or perhaps somewhere between the two, but with a knowledge of and appreciation for the finer things in life, like Shinola men’s watches? Then you’ve come to the right place today as we consider one of the best watches for men — especially as you look to plot out your next summer adventure.

Learn more now at Shinola

Wearing a wristwatch in this day and age isn’t quite for everybody, as we’ve learned over the years, but if you’re into the style, intentionality and classic looks the right timepiece can provide, then I say again: You’ve come to the right place as we consider the adventure-ready delights of the Shinola Ceramic Monster Automatic Watch.

When it comes to Shinola reviews, we’ve talked about refined watches for everyday wear, as well as complementary pieces like one of the best leather duffel bags for men, and the Detroit-based brand has the market cornered as far as blending the best of the past with the present as far as the best men’s watches are concerned.

The Shinola Monster line of watches is also a personal favorite for that reason, boasting larger case sizes than typical dress watches and featuring more bells and whistles made to take on the deep waters of the Great Lakes (or the dust of the hiking trail, or somewhere in between the two).

The rugged Shinola Ceramic Monster Automatic Watch gets its good looks from the use of a black ceramic material for its case and outer bezel — the material is strong yet lightweight, and made to resist the elements.

The company also finished off the crown of the Shinola Ceramic Monster Automatic Watch with a stainless steel coating for further durability — it’s like the brand has taken the best stainless steel dive watches, then lightened them up across the board with cutting-edge ceramic.

It doesn’t hurt that its minimal black build is complemented nicely by an integrated black rubber strap — this strikes me as the sort of watch that looks as at home with a short-sleeve henley and blue jeans as it does with swim trunks and a pocket tee on the shore. Even the caseback is adorned with red detailing, a touch one can’t help but love in terms of rugged, functional looks.

The wave-edged dial of this handsome yet sleek watch reminds the wearer — yourself included — of the depths of the Great Lakes, tastefully accented by red dial details. And you can be sure accuracy is top of mind as you wear this watch day in and day out, from city to shore, thanks to its SW200-1 Automatic movement.

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If you want a hard-wearing adventure watch that packs in plenty of bells and whistles in a subtle manner, then the latest Shinola Ceramic Monster might just be for you — and if it’s your first introduction to a legendary modern brand with hard-working Detroit roots, I say for a final time: You’ve come to the right place.

by Beau H.

The Thursday Buy: These Frye Leather Sneakers are a Refined Set of Summer Sneakers for All Occasions

Best leather sneakers for men.

It seems that anything goes these days in the menswear world — well, not just anything, but there are more options out there for stylish guys than ever before, and that certainly includes the availability and wearability of the best sneakers for men across the board.

Think of it this way: While dressy occasions were once only the domain of, well, dress shoes and perhaps loafers in the summer months, there are options aplenty for the guy who wants an elevated pair of sneakers he can wear with business casual looks, and Frye (Northeast-based footwear purveyors for well over a century) certainly delivers.

Learn more and shop men’s shoes now at Frye

Yes, that’s correct, my friends: When done the right way, a pair of leather sneakers like the Frye Astor Leather Sneakers can get the job done with chinos and a lightweight blazer as readily as they can pair with linen lounge shorts and a breezy short-sleeve polo. Let’s dive in further, shall we?

Best known for rugged lace-up boots for spring (as well as stylish shoes for fall and winter), the brand’s sneakers are worth a closer look — particularly given the fact that they blend form and dressy appeal with comfort.

The Frye Astor Leather Sneakers use a classic court sneaker design, swapping out canvas for rich tumbled leather in handsome shades like Caramel seen above. The leather itself should patina nicely over time, but these fashionable men’s leather sneakers also come in shades like crisp White — the ultimate pair of leather dress sneakers, if you will, especially when worn with olive chinos and a white Oxford shirt, for example.

With a sturdy contrasting rubber outsole and a leather lining that should mold nicely to your foot over time, the Frye Astor Leather Sneakers blend luxury with an accessible price (try $148 on for size right now, ehh?). Other pairs of the Frye Astor Leather Sneakers, especially sleek Black atop a white outsole, are on sale for as low as $99 as well — not bad at all for sneakers you can (repeat after me!) dress up or dress down.

When your casual canvas sneakers aren’t quite the right move and when you want the comfort of sneakers at the office blended with the casually cool look of the right pair of lace-up kicks, I’d suggest — wholeheartedly — that you give the Frye Astor Leather Sneakers a shot this season.