Tag / travel style

by Beau H.

Online Shopping Picks: Best Men’s Travel Accessories

Where in the world (or across the country?) will you be heading this summer?

Where in the world (or across the country?) will you be heading this summer?

So with summer coming up quickly and Memorial Day approaching even faster, there’s a good chance you’ll be hitting the road in the coming weeks and months – be it for a music festival, a trip to see old friends, a summer wedding or some much-deserved R-and-R. Either way, how exactly are you going to get there and what are you going to bring? I’ll leave you to figure out your travel reservations — but in the meantime, get prepped to pack with all of the stylish essentials you’ll need, from a great weekender bag to the clothing you might want to throw in it.

The Weekender Bag: Navali Stowaway Weekender Bag — $200

The Navali Stowaway Weekender bag in Carafe. A different color than the version up on the site now, but still a great model.

The Navali Stowaway Weekender bag in Carafe. A different color than the version up on the site now, but still a great model.

While the version for sale on the brand’s site right now comes in different color options than the bag pictured above, the nuts and bolts are still the same. With a Navali bag, you get a unique combination of quality and a relatively affordable price — a bag you’re going to depend on for getting from point A to point B had better be reliable, well-built and good-looking to boot.  It’s made from durable cotton canvas and features added reinforcement at key stress points and leather handles. If you’re in need of a larger or more business-friendly suitcase, you could pick up something sleek and minimal from Tumi.

The Dopp Kit: J. Crew Factory Carson Travel Kit — $34.50 And Toiletries — Brickell Men’s Products

J. Crew Factory's Carson Travel Kit pictured with some other travel essentials. Rubber strap watch by Stuhrling. Stainless steel watch by Invicta. Toiletries by Brickell Men's Products.

J. Crew Factory’s Carson Travel Kit pictured with some other travel essentials. Rubber strap watch by Stuhrling. Stainless steel watch by Invicta. Toiletries by Brickell Men’s Products.

Once you’ve loaded up your weekender bag with budget style essentials fit for a trip, what are you going to do with those toiletries? Even doing something as simple as buying a nicer receptacle for that plastic Ziploc bag to get through security helps tie together the complete travel/style combination. J. Crew Factory’s Carson Travel Kit comes in rugged shades of olive, khaki or deep navy, any of which would be a fine (and durable) addition to your travel lineup. On the cheaper yet still nice-looking side, Target is also making a nice toiletries kit. As far as grooming supplies go, you can’t go wrong on the skin and body care front with some travel-sized essentials from Brickell  Men’s Products — they’re affordably priced and they really do work wonders for your skin (full review here).

The Everyday Carry: Issara Laptop Sleeve (11″ or 13″)  — $116.10 OR $125.10

Navy + leather = quality your laptop can appreciate.

Navy + leather = quality your laptop can appreciate.

For those of us who pack up the laptop when we hit the road, carrying around something with a bit of a luxe feel to it can be a nice upgrade. There are less expensive, sporty options out there but something made out of fine full-grain leather like this laptop sleeve feels great to the touch and befits a laptop that probably cost a pretty penny. This piece and others are available for pre-order now, so keep that in mind as you hit the road. On another note, the navy leather is another step up as far as travel gear goes. If that color isn’t your thing, it’s also available in cognac or black.

The Wallet: Linjer Leather Goods Mocha Billfold

Made out of vegetable-tanned leather and with enough room for everything you need to hit the road.

Made out of vegetable-tanned leather and with enough room for everything you need to hit the road.

This accessory is another item that can easily become part of your everyday carry outside of travel, too. Linjer’s mocha billfold wallet is a beautifully crafted piece made out of supple leather. It’s got enough space for six cards and a nifty hidden pocket for important documents (or just extra cash). The site is taking pre-orders for those pieces currently, but if you travel exceptionally light and want a piece with some personality, The Hill-Side’s card cases combine excellent fabrics and leather in a slim profile. Of course, as part of your everday carry, it’d be wise to pack a sharp watch — best be on schedule!

The Reading Material: A great book

Weekend reading pictured. Would recommend a smaller book for travel. Leather valet tray by Made Supply Co. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta.

Weekend reading pictured. Would recommend a smaller book for travel. Leather valet tray by Made Supply Co. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta.

I’m a voracious reader in my spare time (if you’ve been following along with the weekly Friday Read pieces, you know that much), but getting into a great book is one of my favorite things to do when traveling. Picking up something digitally if you have a Kindle is definitely a nice option, and I also prefer excellent longform-focused sites like Narratively for digital perusal.

The Travel Outfit

An outfit that moves from place to place with easy. Unconstructed navy blazer by J. Crew. Chambray shirt by GAP. Suede wingtips by Oliberté. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta. Black denim by American Apparel.

An outfit that moves from place to place with easy. Unconstructed navy blazer by J. Crew. Chambray shirt by GAP. Suede wingtips by Oliberté. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta. Black denim by American Apparel.

What to wear while traveling is likely an entirely different post in and of itself (keep your eyes peeled for that!), but outfits that straddle the line between dressy and casual definitely seem to work the best — think something casual-cool, like the unconstructed blazer seen above with a four-season chambray shirt and black (or blue) denim for spring & summer travel. The goal would be to look good but be comfortable moving around and sitting — the suede wingtips seen above could easily be swapped out for white sneakers, while the chambray shirt could be traded in for a pocket tee; in the cold weather, a navy wool blazer would work just the same. Conversely, a great bomber jacket and a short-sleeve henley worn with dark denim works for spring and summer layering as you travel between chillier and hotter climes. Of course, if you’re bringing a suit to a destination, the best suggestion seems to be to simply wear it — more terrific suggestions on dressing for travel from the team at Dappered over here.

Now that you know the bag to grab and what to fill it with, let me know — what are your must-have travel essentials? What items not shown here would pack instead?

The Watchery

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by Beau H.

Brand Profile: Jack + Mulligan

The Newton Weekender from Jack + Mulligan — made right and made in the USA.

The Newton Weekender from Jack + Mulligan — made right and made in the USA. Photo courtesy of Jack + Mulligan.

Editor’s note: The following profile features quotes and photos provided by the brand. No compensation was offered in exchange for this post. To check out other brand profiles, head here.

Spring and summer travel season is quickly approaching (or has already started for some of us), and if you’re hitting the road anytime soon, you undoubtedly need a stylish weekender bag (among other grooming accessories) to be travel-ready. That’s where Jack + Mulligan can absolutely help you out. You might recognize the name from an Esquire piece that ran last year, but they’re absolutely a brand worth getting to know more. The brand is selling at a number of stores in the U.S. and also through a few international accounts  — I actually came across them a few weekends ago at The Lodge in NYC.

Founder Colin Gray launched the company a few years ago after working across the fashion industry in retail & magazines (among other stops) and later making small runs of leather goods to give to his friends. Along the way, he struggled to find a bag polished enough for the office but durable and well-suited for weekened trips — leading to a small collection of bags made and distributed to friends and family, and eventually, the creation of Jack + Mulligan; the brand’s name comes from Gray’s first dog, an Irish Water Spaniel named Mulligan, and three Jack Russell Terriers Gray had thereafter. Now, the company employs what you might call a tightly knit team of two full-time employees and a handful of part-timers.  That hasn’t hampered their attention to detail, though.

One of the company's knapsacks in action. Photo courtesy Jack + Mulligan.

One of the company’s knapsacks in action. Photo courtesy of Jack + Mulligan.

“Early on, I chose to hone in on those small details that I obsess over,” he said via email. “The fabrication, zippers, pockets, stitching and overall quality (of the bags). From the start, I focused on the details.” Gray was also focusd on making pieces that would stand the test of time in both style and durability.

“I remember the first time I saw someone on the street using one of our bags in Manhattan,” he said. “That was a great feeling.”

A twill briefcase in midnight and a line of dopp kits are also part of the brand's offerings. Available at www.jackandmulligan.com

A twill briefcase in midnight and a line of dopp kits are also part of the brand’s offerings. Available at http://www.jackandmulligan.com

The brand now has a sizable amount of product (some of which you can see above), ranging from a navy knapsack with fine leather detailing to a run of twill and waxed canvas duffels (like this particularly nice olive duffel). The company is perhaps best well-known for its classic weekender bags, available in three colors and retailing for just under $300. For beach trips and the like, Jack + Mulligan’s tote bags would definitely be worth a look, as well. Perhaps their closest aesthetic competitor might be Herschel Supply Co. in terms of smaller bags, but J+M’s larger pieces are certainly on-par with brands like Navali and Everlane, construced from sturdy twills and featuring leather reinforced handles and zipper pulls.

The Kennedy Duffel in Olive. Grab and go to the gym or the beach.

The Kennedy Duffel in Olive. Grab and go to the gym or the beach. Photo courtesy of Jack + Mulligan.

The brand’s varied offerings really complement an overall lifestyle, Gray said, while also noting that higher-quality accessories are a reflection of a growing interest in men’s fashion overall.

“Guys are having more fun with getting dressed and interested in finding their personal style,” he said. “It’s cool that guys seem to care more about where and how a product is made. An increasing number of people I speak to are becoming educated about fabrics and construction, which is interesting.”

The eyecatching Thompson Tote. Photo courtesy Jack + Mulligan.

The eyecatching Thompson Tote. Photo courtesy of Jack + Mulligan.

That growing lifestyle interest is also reflected in the home goods the brand produces, like passport wallets and luggage tags.  Jack + Mulligan’s water-repellent twill dopp kits also bring a unique combination of rugged style and function. And the brand has plans for the future, too — tapping into a growing customer base and exploring collaborations are both ongoing pursuits for the company, Gray said.

Jack + Mulligan partnered with shaving & grooming gurus Harry’s last year, and future collabs with like-minded brands are in the works — as are new category offerings, Gray notes.

While there are difficulties inherent in running a startup — especially building a brand from the ground up — Gray always tries to enjoy what he does.

“The whole thing is very challenging,” he said. “The most fun for me is the product, being able to take an idea and see it come to fruition.”

Tell me: Have you bought anything from Jack + Mulligan? What’s your favorite product from the site?

by Beau H.

The long way home: Recapping a winter weekend in Michigan

Me (Beau) posing in front, yes, Beaumont Tower on MSU's iconic campus. Overcoat by Kenneth Cole. Scarf by J. Crew Factory. Glasses by Warby Parker.

Me (Beau) posing in front, yes, Beaumont Tower on MSU’s iconic campus. Overcoat by Kenneth Cole. Scarf by J. Crew Factory. Glasses by Warby Parker.

This past weekend, I had the awesome opportunity to go back home — to my home state of Michigan, to my college “home base” (Michigan State University) and to a great town where I made so many great memories and great friends — East Lansing! Although getting into town was arduous thanks to the weather (a 50-minute flight from Detroit to Lansing was delayed by 4 hours), I eventually made it with my Navali Stowaway Weekender in tow and had more than enough time to hit the town both nights. 

Most of the spread for this past weekend in Michigan. Sweaters and shirts top left, bags top right. Jeans, shoes and socks bottom left. Dopp kit and other accessories on the bottom right.

Most of the spread for this past weekend in Michigan. Sweaters and shirts top left, bags top right. Jeans, shoes and socks bottom left. Dopp kit and other accessories on the bottom right.

I packed pretty heavy on the winter clothes for this particular trip, and with good reason — it was pretty chilly throughout the weekend, just as I suspected it would be. My outfit of choice on Friday ended up being both comfortable and versatile for both the flight and going out in East Lansing later that same night — I paired my Reigning Champ crewneck sweater with my Bonobos blue OCBD (similar option here) and brown Travel Jeans (as seen in the photo below), along with my wingtip boots (a prized pickup from JC Penney now out of stock, unfortunately).  My red J. Crew socks proved a nice complement to the entire outfit, too — and it’s a positive that the ensemble was so comfortable, as I had to hop on a ride with my good friend Matt to get halfway to Lansing from Detroit on Friday after a lengthy delay!

Allegheny Oak Travel Jeans from Bonobos, along with a Reigning Champ crewneck sweater and brown JCP wingtip boots for Friday's flight.

Allegheny Oak Travel Jeans from Bonobos, along with a Reigning Champ crewneck sweater and brown JCP wingtip boots for Friday’s flight.

On Saturday, I paired my extremely warm Todd Snyder cardigan with a rugged dark chambray shirt from GAP (as you can see below). This combination fortunately proved warm and pretty stylish for cheering on Michigan State basketball and hitting up some great bars in East Lansing (any fans of the Peanut Barrel out there?). Checking out MSU’s beautiful campus was also a huge highlight — my Kenneth Cole overcoat (now sold out), J. Crew Factory scarf and Target Merona gloves (similar option here)were worthy and much-needed accessories throughout the trek across East Lansing. My trusty pair of Bonobos dark denim worked great in tandem with the rest of my outfit, and I took a chance by wearing my Billy Reid x K-Swiss brown leather sneakers — probably one of my favorite pairs of shoes. They held up fine in the snow, although wingtip boots might have been a better option. To keep my feet warm, I threw on a pair of J. Crew ribbed stripe socks — the darker blue hues tied the rest of the outfit together nicely.

Saturday's outfit — Dark chambray shirt by GAP, shawl-collar cardigan by Todd Snyder. Not pictured: Bonobos dark slim jeans, Billy Reid x K-Swiss brown leather sneakers.

Saturday’s outfit — Dark chambray shirt by GAP, shawl-collar cardigan by Todd Snyder. Not pictured: Bonobos dark slim jeans, Billy Reid x K-Swiss brown leather sneakers.

For what proved to be a particularly lengthy travel day (more on that below), I kept things simple and wore my white henley from Everlane along with my Bonobos Travel Jeans and wingtip boots for both comfort and polish. Later in the day, I also changed into my charcoal American Apparel crewneck pocket tee. Unfortunately, what should have been a quick flight from Lansing to Detroit was delayed by roughly 4 hours — this, combined with another delay in Detroit, put me home at about 1 a.m. Sunday night! That made work a bit rough the next day. However, the trip was truly great overall — it was so fun to see great, great friends and even that made the lengthy delays much more bearable. As far as packing goes, I was well-prepared for the weather and also able to get around in style. I stayed warm in comfortable thanks to the sweaters and casual shirts in my bag, while my Bonobos jeans are quickly proving to be the most comfortable pants in my rotation — well worth checking out a pair. This trip combined so many great things and really made me appreciate my college experience even more — that’s worth far more than a lengthy plane delay.

Any harrowing travel stories to share? What are you bringing in your bag when you hit the road?

by Beau H.

The Product Review: Navali Stowaway Weekender Bag

The Navali Stowaway Weekender bag in Carafe.

The Navali Stowaway Weekender bag in Carafe. A sturdy, durable bag at a great price. 

Hitting the road (or hopping on a plane) doesn’t mean style should take a backseat. In fact, far from it. Traveling is a great way to put both your packing skills and your passion for style into practice. And getting to a final destination in style is a big part of the trip itself. That’s why what you carry with you should reflect similarly fashionable ideals.  If you’re a discerning traveler or a man interested in looking presentable, it’s time to ditch the gym bag when outside the gym, and reach for something infinitely more durable, stylish rugged-looking. I found all of those traits with my Navali Stowaway Weekender Bag, and it’s definitely worth picking up, especially for under $100 (as it is right now on Navali’s website).

The particular model featured here (bought at full price) has a rich brown (or ‘carafe’) color, accented by darker brown leather straps and fastenings. It’s a sturdy bag that’s already held up fine for a cross-country trip to San Francisco, and should hold up well for the foreseeable future (Navali gives its Weekender bag a lifetime warranty). First and foremost, it’s got great functionality — it fit neatly under the seat in front of me on each plane trip, making for convenient and remarkably easy access. And as you can see from the below photo, it was packed fairly full:

Travel well: Most of the spread for a weekend music festival in San Francisco.

Travel well: Most of the spread for a weekend music festival in San Francisco.

Throughout the trip, it handled exactly like I hoped it would. Combined with a detachable shoulder strap, the bag was easy to carry — not too heavy to lug around when filled with clothes and shoes. The strap sat nicely on my shoulder and didn’t dig in or slip, a nice bonus when considering how frequently it’ll have to be carried through airports and the like. The bag’s zipper is strong and the top of the bag feels reinforced and not nearly as flimsy as my old Everlane Canvas Weekender bag (it doesn’t look like these are sold through their site anymore? Seems as if the sturdier Twill version has taken its place). Unfortunately, the Everlane bag suffered a bad rip, and the hole worsened from there — leading me to this Navali number.  The bag’s handles, which I used a decent amount of the time, are easy to grip yet don’t feel too flimsy; the leather is soft and should wear in nicely over time.

The bag comes with a lifetime warranty, and could easily last that long.

The bag comes with a lifetime warranty, and could easily last that long.

The bag features a number of handy extras, too. For starters, it has an exterior zipper pocket running the length of the back of the bag, useful for storing things like phone chargers or other odds and ends. Two exterior pockets on the opposite side combine thick brass and leather fastenings for yet more outer storage space, and an interior zipper also provides more room. An open pocket on the inside of the bag (as seen above) further adds to the utility of the piece without taking too much space away from the main compartment.

A closer look at the durable fastenings on the bag's exterior pockets.

A closer look at the durable fastenings on the bag’s exterior pockets.

Notably, this bag seems like it can take even more than what I threw at it. The washed canvas exterior is malleable without being too soft, and the bag itself held enough clothes for four days on the road with room for just a bit more — exactly enough space for the stylish traveler. On top of its tremendous function, the bag is a pretty handsome-looking piece. The rich brown color, combined with the deeper brown leather finishings, stands out in all the right ways compared to a normal gym bag or even a black duffel bag. Also available in a lighter ‘natural’ color as well as charcoal grey, the brown shade (or ‘carafe’) finds the right balance between being weekend-appropriate and polished. It manages to look rugged yet refined, the absolute best way to look when traveling across the country or just up the road.

Any experience with this particular piece? Any favorite luggage pieces when traveling? Leave it all below.