The Friday Read: Sebago’s 70th Anniversary and Summer Style Must-Haves

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.  

The full selection of men's and women's spring product from Sebago -- essentially the ideal pair of footwear you need for casual days at the beach.

The full selection of men’s and women’s spring product from Sebago — essentially the ideal pair of footwear you need for casual days at the beach. Photo courtesy of Sebago.

How has your week been? It’s certainly been a packed week up and down the East coast, from last weekend’s trip to Washington, D.C. to a busy week of planning for a press preview at my day job. And that rolled through to the very cool event pictured at the top of the page — the launch of a special pop-up shop in NYC celebrating the 70th anniversary of Sebago , the iconic maker of a lot of very summer-friendly footwear. A big thanks to the team for the invite, too! It was certainly a treat to check out some upcoming Fall styles (think moc toe chukkas with crepe soles and classic brown leather loafers), and I also enjoyed getting a look at the brand’s assortment of Spring product, too. In fact, it’ll be sticking around ’til August, so if you’re in NYC over the summer, I’d suggest a visit (it’s at 254 Elizabeth Street in the city). And if you don’t yet have a pair of leather loafers for spring in your arsenal, give these Sebago loafers a try! It’s always nice to be able to sip on some nice craft brews (in this case from Sebago Brewing, as well) while checking out menswear. Am I right, or am I right? At any rate, we’ve got you well-covered on other matters of style as well, from this week’s earlier Style Guide #OOTD on how to style a polo for spring, to the shorts you need for summer. And if that’s too much to buy at once, allow me to suggest our regularly scheduled Friday programming below — catch up on all things #menswear, and look for a Style Pick of the Week entry tomorrow. Have a great Friday!

  • A seemingly weekly favorite for inclusion in these pieces, Get Kempt covers your summer style must-haves — how many of these do you have in your wardrobe?
  • We turn back to footwear, and specifically sporty spring sneakers — Nike has ambitious plans to double its business while impacting the environment half as much; how is that possible? The industry insiders at Footwear News have the scoop.
  • So this isn’t a style feature, but as a huge Harry Potter fan, it seems especially relevant — GQ.com tells us about a group of guys who, well, skydived from a plane to get in a game of real, live, airborn Quidditch.
  • Style Notes of the Week: We’ve got two noteworthy releases on the docket — if you’re a fan of eyecatching eyewear and cool collaborations, the team at KOMONO (makers of the Winston Herringbone Watch as featured on this site) has paired up with electronic music festival Tomorrowland to launch a sunglasses collab. Is there a pair of frames more suited to warm weather and outdoor tunes? And, the folks at GREATS — makers of some of this site’s favorite sneakers — have teamed up with Robin Hood, the largest poverty-fighting organization in New York City — to release a sneaker that’s eye-catching, colorful and sold for charity (every penny goes to Robin Hood). Not a bad effort at all!

Need more men’s style content in your life?

  • It was a busy week of writing outside of The Style Guide — check out some of my favorite brands as featured in my Spring Style Essentials post over at GearMoose, and be sure to take a gander at five ways to wear leather loafers over at Effortless Gent; that was a fun post to write, and I hope you enjoy!
  • Lastly, lest you think we’re finished, the team at Taylor Stitch just partnered with Mission Workshop to release a line of technical, stylish essentials that are up for pre-funding on the Taylor Stitch site — it was fun to cover that collab for The Manual!

With all that writing in the books, I’m certainly looking forward to a relaxing spring weekend. Catch up on what I’m wearing over on Instagram, if you so choose. And stay stylish!

-Beau
Frank & Oak

Florsheim

The Friday Read: Fashion Supply Chains, Steph Curry and the Guinness Debate

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.  

Things have been developing quickly on The Style Guide this spring — it’s tough to believe it’s already nearly May! Right? If your spring has been going as fast as mine feels like it has, perhaps you’ve already locked down a stylish spring jacket or an awesome pair of leather loafers? What about some made-in-America sneakers? Join us for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week — no more hints. And in the meantime, let’s get on with the Friday Read. This past week, we’ve been in the midst of planning another spring event for Timberland — yet this time, we’re looking toward the brand’s Fall 2016 collections. Maybe that’s where the time is going! But back to the matter at hand. Is there content you’d like to see on the blog? Outfit suggestions? Certain categories covered more? Definitely let me know.  We’ll be angling to cover more lifestyle content in the coming weeks, including some changes coming to this particular feature. That doesn’t change the below #menswear news we’re covering here. Read on, and enjoy the weekend!

  • We’ll start with a worthwhile read for every fashion fan, as VICE dives into that arena by looking at how big-name fashion brands — some of the biggest in the world, in fact — are using secret supply chains; not very ethical, to say the least.
  • Just how valuable is Steph Curry to Under Armour as a brand? Pretty darn valuable! To the tune of … well, $14 billion. With a B. Pretty neat.
  • Like any self-respecting beer drinker, I love a good Guinness. Even if it’s pretty pervasive, is it craft beer? Check out what Men’s Journal had to say on the matter.
  • Style Note of the Week: In case you hadn’t caught wind of this as of yet, Well-Spent reminds us all that the Taylor Stitch Beach Jacket continues to fund — and continues to impress. Check out how to style it in this week’s #OOTD.

Still looking for more men’s style content? Get a load of the below.

That’s all for now, folks — look out for tomorrow’s Style Pick, and give us a shout on Facebook with style questions!

-Beau

The Friday Read: Spring Sneakers, Brian Johnson and What Women Really Think of Menswear

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.  

So, did you survive Coachella last weekend? (Kidding? Maybe? If you went, how was it?) And how about this past week? It was another one that flew by, what with several press previews to check out from some great brands, ranging from Herschel to Jason Scott (the brand’s 8th Avenue store is very much worth a look if ever you find yourself in NYC, and the knitwear is exceptionally soft). On another press preview-related note, if you haven’t given the folks at AVI-8 Watches a look, their military-inspired timepieces are rugged, durable, and sure to get better in the coming montsh. It’s exciting to be able to see what’s happening in the menswear world at large, and you can look for a lot of that content in the coming weeks and months via my writing work at The Manual! And with fall press previews already ramping up, that means another thing in this moment, more importantly — spring is officially here (confusing, right?). If you’re heading out on a spring bar crawl, we’ve got some gear to get you ready. And if you’re wondering what to wear for a casual spring weekend, knock yourself out. I hope the weather’s nice in your neck of the woods — we’ve got a great one in the works here. Get some styling inspiration for yourself (if need be) via my Instagram. And stay stylish in the meantime!

  • High fashion often leaves something out of the equation for those of us more interested in matters purely related to “style” — so the swirling rumors that a high-fashion designer (or designers) might join the more everyman-focused Calvin Klein are pretty interesting, to say the least.
  • Megan Collins (a good friend of The Style Guide) and some other stylish ladies spoke to Esquire.com earlier this week about what women really think of menswear trends — it’s a pretty neat piece!
  • Do you have a great pair of classic white sneakers in your arsenal as of yet? Men’s Journal recommends the five best pairs of white sneakers to wear this spring.
  • Long Read of the Week: It was big news in my neck of the woods when it was announced that Axl Rose would replace Brian Johnson in AC/DC. If you’re a hard rock fan (read: A fan of one of the greatest bands in the world, for that matter), Brian himself. issued a really heartbreaking letter about how his hearing issues forced him to stop performing in AC/DC. Tough stuff to read — if you’re in a tough spot as to what to do about your tickets, that makes two of us!

But wait, there’s more menswear!

  • There’s perhaps no brand associated more with the water — and uniquely styled looks built around that environment — than SWIMS. Learn about the brand’s Spring 2016 collection via my post this week at The Manual!
  • Grab a sharp pair of spring sneakers via this very Web site — if you missed that post when it originally ran, we’ll give you a pass (this time).

Enjoy the weekend, folks!

Thanks, as always, for reading,

-Beau



The Friday Read: What to Wear to Coachella, Spring Style Tips and Tommy Hilfiger

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.  

Is anyone else feeling ready for the weekend? Tell you what, this #menswear writer sure is. Unlike last week’s Masters 2016-centric Friday Read, we’re back to basics here on The Style Guide. This post in particular caps off a week filled with the best suede chukkas to buy now, plus a SprezzaBox giveaway –a HUGE thanks to all who participated! Outside Style Guide HQ, things were hectic but incredibly rewarding, as myself and my colleagues at Coyne PR headed to the great city of Boston to run a brand event on behalf of Timberland (catch a behind-the-scenes look at the action on Twitter). Although our time in Boston was too brief, our evening at the excellent Row34 was well-spent as we dined with some of Boston’s best style bloggers and media. With such a quick trip in the books, I definitely need to get back!

Frank & Oak Logo

If you have any recommendations as to other travel stops in Boston,  let me know about it at The Style Guide Facebook page! As to other happenings during the week, I was excited to be able to check out the upcoming Autumn/Winter 2016 line of Troubadour — are you familiar with these guys? I was more than pleased with my first look at the brand’s excellent, modern leather weekender bags, backpacks and tote bags, some crafted from rich leather and others using a blend of leather and waxed canvas.  We’re talking pieces that are clean, minimal and yet handsomely done. Look for more on The Manual soon! With all of that being said, it’s about time we head into the weekend — yes? Whether you’re heading to Coachella or knocking back a few at a patio bar crawl, the Friday Read has you covered.

  • Tommy Hilfiger takes you back in time with a collection inspired by the 9os — are you a fan of the brand? Or do they get a thumbs-down? For lightwash denim that might be more your speed, click here.
  • This post ran late last month, but we’re digging it back up for posterity, because you don’t need that many steps to upgrade your style this season. In fact, Men’s Health covers off on three tips to upgrade your spring style.
  • And as this weekend is the first of two out west, let’s get to it. Get Kempt tells you exactly what you should be wearing to Coachella — and it’s a heck of a lot more stylish compared to a regular festival kit.

Not done reading about #menswear? Continue below.

  • As summer travel looms, we should all be focused on the little style details that make or break an ensemble — including your dopp kit. I covered the best dopp kits for men over at GearMoose, and had a heck of a time doing it!
  • We’re revisiting an older post here — the folks at Minimum Squared, makers of simple, effective and stylish wallets for guys, just received the prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design, celebrating the company’s perfectly minimal, refined and soundly designed wallets. Read more on Minimum Squared at VOUCH Mag!


The Friday Read: The State of #Menswear, Batman v. Superman and Spring Style

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here

As things stood going into last week’s Friday Read, I was quite hoping we’d have the chance to talk some Michigan State basketball here on the blog. But. Well. We’ll leave it at that. At any rate, it was still fun to host my great friend Stephen Brooks he covered Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament, and all that activity played into a big week itself. On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of catching up with the four brothers behind Brothers & Craft — Zac, Clay, Kirk and Matt –who happened to be in NYC for a whirlwind trip as they launched their next special project (check out their Instagram for more stylish things ahead!). They’re a great group of guys, generous with their time, fun to be around and a real pleasure to know. I was lucky enough to be able to hop down to the opening of the Daniel Wellington SoHo pop-up shop that very same night. And on that note, look for more details on Daniel Wellington’s new line tomorrow on the blog! As the week rolled along, it was even more thrilling (if that’s possible!) to attend the  prestigious WWD Menswear Summit on behalf of my day job at Coyne PR — it was an excellent look at the state of the industry itself, and covered everything from social media to retail trends to designer outlooks for the next few years. What a week — it really is extraordinary to get continually greater opportunities so frequently. It’s busy, to say the least — and given all of that, I need a bit of a nap this weekend. Maybe before you settle down, take a glimpse at the below #menswear reads. Enjoy!

  • Have you been following any other brackets out there besides March Madness? Namely, any style brackets? The one put together by the team at Get Kempt moved into the Style Sweet Sixteen this week.
  • Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill have been hitting the road to promote the upcoming release of the much-hyped Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice flick — but have they been doing it in style? GQ.com investigates.
  • The massive trade show that is Baselworld just wrapped up this week, and Esquire.com offers up its drool-worthy list of the top watches from Baselworld that you should get on your wrist … now.
  • While this is neither a long read nor a style note, Lollapalooza announced a truly epic run of artists to celebrate its 25th anniversary, from LCD Soundsystem headlining to Lana Del Rey, Kurt Vile and stellar folks like DREAMERS and Arkells billed further down.

Is your shopping cart empty? Fill it up with some buying suggestions.

    • Grab a stylish spring sweater to layer up with for those chilly nights, in case you missed our latest Online Shopping Picks piece.
    • Stock up on more spring style essentials via my latest post at GearMoose.com — this one was a ton of fun to write!


The Friday Read: March Madness, South by Southwest Music and Spring Camo

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here

Since we last spoke during the ole Friday Read, it’s certainly been quite the week. I had the great fortune to spend this past weekend in Florida visiting with my dad and as luck would have it, a few friends from Michigan State University. Add to that mix a busy work week, some building buzz surrounding the NCAA Tournament and oh yeah — St. Patrick’s Day yesterday (!!), and it’s been a heck of a week! I’m even more excited for this weekend though — I’m hosting my best friend from college, Stephen Brooks, as he covers Notre Dame men’s basketball in the NCAA tourney … in Brooklyn, just a few subway stops away (catch all the action over at his Twitter) . Isn’t it crazy how things work out sometimes? Hopefully, you’ve got an exciting weekend of college basketball — or just relaxation — ahead of you. If you’re catching all that college basketball action live, here’s what to wear for the NCAA Tournament.  And if you’re still recovering from St. Patrick’s Day? Godspeed, and hopefully, the below #menswear news makes things a bit more bearable.

  • This humble menswear writer figured the camo trend was waning a few years ago, but it’s still sticking around — GQ.com picks out three ways to wear camo this spring (fairly tastefully, that is).
  • I always enjoy reading what the folks at Well-Spent have to say, particularly in regards to the goods they’d buy this month…instead of covering rent.
  • The state of the New York menswear scene — much like the state of the menswear scene in general — is shifting, expanding and changing pretty rapidly at the moment. The trend forecasters at WGSN offer a pretty excellent analysis of the whole thing, thankfully (note that to get full access, you need to be a subscriber … sigh).
  • Long Read of the Week: If you’re lucky enough to have made it through most of this week at South By Southwest, there still might be a few top music acts you need to catch — Consequence of Sound picks the top 40 acts at SXSW.

Not fully ready to start the weekend? Fear not.

  • Spring jacket season has (thankfully) arrived — look for a full rundown on this site on Monday, and catch up on the Bridge & Burn Hayden Gray Jacket through my latest GearMoose post.
  • Throne Watches crafts sturdy, durable timepieces with an eye toward inspiring American cities as part of its 1.5 Collection — get the full scoop over at VOUCH Magazine.



The Friday Read: Spotlight, The Foo Fighters and the $10,000 Suit

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get a serious case of spring fever. Last weekend’s weather in NYC was truly amazing (temperatures in the 50s — the 50s!) but this week has been a return to temperatures I’m more used to seeing in my home state of Michigan. So spring’s not fully upon us yet, but that didn’t stop me from planning out my spring style wish list and also looking toward some sharp spring business-casual style with this week’s #OOTD post. There’ve also been some even more exciting spring-centric writing ventures in the works, including an ongoing Style Essentials series I’ve been penning for GearMoose — in fact, this week I featured one of my favorite sets of sneakers, the GREATS Royale in White. Needless to say, I’m definitely in full-on spring mode. Are you in the same boat? Feel free to get a discussion going on over at The Style Guide’s Facebook page, if so. Know that next week, we’re coming in hot with suggestions for how to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day — plus, an exciting reader giveaway opportunity on Monday with the folks from Owen & Fred.  It’s all happening … well, most of it, anyways. Enjoy your weekend downtime and catch up below on the week that flew by. Thanks as always for reading!

  • Did you get around to seeing Spotlight? As a journalism grad and former reporter, the story was an intriguing one, without a doubt — Esquire.com uncovers the editor behind the real-life Boston Globe expose in light of its success at the Oscars?
  • We’ve got another coming at ya from Esquire.com this week — I’m admittedly only a passing fan (sorry I know, I know), but the Foo Fighters addressed break-up rumors with a hilarious comedy sketch video.
  • And lastly, why does a $10,00 suit cost … well, $10,000? GQ lets us know.
  • Style Notes of the Week: With new spring releases are dropping left and right, and GREATS is back with a  set of colorful, quirky spring sneakers with the refined folks at Orley. On that note — are you pining for spring and summer, long days at the beach and warmer temps? Surf and lifestyle brand Reef is tapping into that sentiment with the second entry in its “Just Passing Through” series.

Stay a bit longer with a few more choice reads.

    • If you need an extra reason to get excited for spring, know that denim jacket layering is in full-force. And in that regard, I rounded up the 15 best denim jackets for men over at GearMoose.
    • As it is the weekend and everything, I’d highly suggest you pour yourself a nice drink (if you’re into that sort of thing). You can now upgrade your whiskey drinking with cool gear from Time & Oak — get the scoop in my latest entry at VOUCH Mag.


Florsheim

The Friday Read: Mr. Porter, Dia: Beacon and New Music from Mainland

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here

Here we sit on the doorstep of another start to a winter weekend — maybe you’re feeling a bit tired of chilly weather at this point? I certainly am — as a heads-up, tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week will aim to get you thinking ahead in a good way. It was a nice and slightly less hectic week around these parts, so that’s positive — still waiting on spring though! I’m particularly excited about some recent writing work I’ve been able to do with GearMoose (an excellent site in its own right), so that’s kept me busy outside of my day job, too.

Now if you do get the chance to step away from your busy days, I’d highly recommend a trip to the lovely small town of Beacon, NY — I took the time to get away for a bit last weekend and check out the sights and sounds of a relaxing (and on this weekend, very chilly) locale. It’s home to the world-class Dia: Beacon art museum, and some tremendous spots for craft beer and gourmet food — namely, The Hop and Draught Industries, both surefire winners. It was great to rest and recharge a bit. If you’re looking to do the same just an hour outside of NYC, that’s where I’d recommend you go. And that brings us back to the start of this weekend — before we get things going, sit back with some freshly-tapped #menswear news.

  • Have you ever shopped at Mr. Porter? Or is it a bit out of your price range? I find myself looking at a few items from time to time on the site — and with that, Mr. Porter is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its launch via GQ. The product mix certainly leans more continental, but it’s still worth a look if you know what you want.
  • Question No. 2: Are you a watch fan like yours truly? If so, Esquire dug up the best watches from SIHH (the international timepiece extravaganza), here for your viewing pleasure.
  • Question No. 3: On a non-style related note, are you looking to dig into some new music? Might I suggest Brooklyn indie rockers Mainland — they’re a heck of a band, they just wrapped a tour with Marianas Trench, and their music is catchy and relatable; get to that link for more details on their latest single.

Need more links to shop through? Start here.

    • Stock up on the best men’s grooming products for winter with my choice picks from this week’s post — they’ll have you beating the chill in no time.
    • The Style Guide (AKA yours truly) is all about excellent style essentials — that’s the focus of my new GearMoose series, in fact. Read more about Mott & Bow raw denim at that link.


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The Friday Read: Valentine’s Day, Ryan Reynolds and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here

While last week was a big one (for me, at least), with the second iteration of  #NYFWM, perhaps this week has been a big one for you. After all, Valentine’s Day is upon us! What are you set to wear? Here’s your Valentine’s Day style suggestion. And do you have a gift all sorted out? If not, best get to it with these Valentine’s Day gift suggestions for that special someone. And if you have all of that in order, congrats! Enjoy what’s hopefully a three-day weekend! But before you get going on that last-minute shopping and outfit wrangling, catch up on some menswear (and yes, non-menswear) news. I won’t bug you for too much longer — after all, there are gifts to buy! Look for a Monday product review covering the standout Color No. 8 Diplomat Boot from Thursday Boots, followed by another sharp #OOTD entry and of course, the usual weekly content here at The Style Guide. Stay stylish!

  • This could come in handy in advance of Valentine’s Day, as GQ offers some standout layering tips courtesy of Ryan Reynolds — huge fan of that electric blue cardigan.
  • It might not quite be spring yet, but Apolis still is offering up its Civilian Travel Suiting bundles for a nice deal — within the higher-end market, that is.
  • Get away on a tropical vacation (or at least, start dreaming of one) by checking out the first in a series of global travel and adventure videos from the fine folks behind lifestyle brand Reef.
  • Long(ish) Read of the Week: Harry Potter fans, rejoice! Unless you’ve been living under a rock (apologies if so), Time and others have reported that the script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — the play, that is — will be published in book form later this summer, and released, fittingly enough, on Harry Potter’s birthday! So exciting.

Frank & Oak

On the hunt for more to read? Look right here.

    • The newly revamped VOUCH Mag is up-and-running in a big way — check out my latest feature on the best boots to survive winter, and keep an eye out for some brands you might recognize.
    • Here’s a new one, too — never lose your umbrella again with the BLUNT + Tile Traceable Umbrella; it was neat to learn more about it for GearHungry.

Florsheim

The Friday Read: J. Crew Sunglasses, American Apparel and Mark Zuckerberg’s Closet

Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here

So this week was yet another exciting and fast-paced one — we’re knee-deep (or maybe neck-deep?) in planning for what should be a fun and enjoyable #NYFWM event for my 9-to-5 job working on behalf of Timberland. In particular, we’ll be hosting a styling suite and a “recharge” lounge for men’s style editors, writers and bloggers during the hustle and bustle of various runway shows (including those from Style Guide favorites like Todd Snyder and Billy Reid). It should be a fun couple of days, to say the least! In the midst of all that preparation, I was also thankful to check out some great menswear trade shows — so there’s certainly lots going on all at once! And that makes me even more grateful to get the chance to write about it through this blog and other platforms. With all that being said — time to log off, rest up and get ready for next week. In the meantime, enjoy this week’s Friday Read and check back here for the weekly Style Pick on Saturday.

  • This piece comes to us from earlier this month, but it’s still newsworthy — what’s the classic distinction between a dress watch and a sport watch? And when and how should you wear one? The Wall Street Journal’s horological expert dives on in. (You can always click the following link for a slightly less complicated look at why it’s important to wear a watch, too).
  • Former American Apparel CEO Dov Charney is, as Esquire.com reports … “screwed” in the settlement reached this week by the company; it effectively cuts off his company stock and returns control of the company to its lenders — will this change things up design and product-wise in addition to a financial boost? We’ll see, folks.
  • Mark Zuckerberg gave the Facebook community (read: the Internet at large) a look at his famously minimal wardrobe when he returned to the office after paternity leave (spoiler: his closet is filled with hoodies and gray tees).
  • Style Note of the Week: We again turn to the fine folks at Esquire (lots of good stuff outta there this week) for another piece of menswear news for all you J. Crew fans  — the brand just launched its own sunglasses line, which includes nice styles that should prove versatile the whole year ’round.
Need to up your boot game? Or kill some more time?
    • Last but not least, I caught up with our friends over at Thursday Boot Company to cover the Natural Diplomat Boot — and why you need ’em — for GearHungry.