Tag / weekly style recap

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Raf Simons, Red Wing Heritage and Usain Bolt

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.  

This past week was all about reflection and appreciation for me — appreciation for a great weekend spent in Michigan, appreciation for the chance to head back to my home state again in just two weeks for my good friend Andy’s wedding, and appreciation for what’s so far been a great summer in NYC. I’ve had the chance to take in some excellent concerts by my favorite bands, I’ve had the chance to travel, and I’ve also had the chance to explore the Big Apple with amazing friends — seriously, put an NYC trip on your bucket list. With all that being said, it’s still tough to believe we’re already into August. But, that means one of the best times of the year for us #menswear fans isn’t too far off — we’re talking, of course, about fall, and all the great style transitions it brings with it. Looking too far ahead? Perhaps. For now, I’m looking forward to a relaxing, warm weekend in the city before I get ready to travel across the country in the next half of the month (a family visit to Florida and a work trip to Las Vegas are in order). If you’ve got your own summer travel still left on the horizon this weekend, accessorize with a stylish dopp kit or a functional weekender bag. And in the meantime, kick back and enjoy the Friday Read. To keep up with daily style inspiration from the blog, head over to Instagram.

  • Even if you’re not into fashion (that is, fashion with a capital “F,”) shockwaves went through the industry this week when it was announced that Raf Simons is the new creative director at Calvin Klein. The former creative director at Dior, this is his first foray into American fashion; ultimately, it could signal a new direction for the iconic American brand — and it likely means they’ll be back in a big way at next year’s New York Fashion Week: Men’s, among other fashion week happenings.
  • For those who like their athletic performance mixed in with some eye-catching style, check out FOURLAPS — named for the number of laps it takes to run a full mile, the folks at Valet recommend you look at this new athletic brand that’s mixing up the market.
  • Red Wing Heritage is back with a mighty interesting release, partner — the brand just launched its Pecos Collection, featuring two silhouettes inspired by the boots worn by Western ranchers all the way back in the 1930s. It’s a style that’s probably not for everyone, but if you’ve grown weary of your trusty suede chukka boots or even leather chukkas, you might consider grabbing a pair.
  • Long Read of the Week: It’s been a while since this entry made an appearance in the Friday Read, but its return is a fascinating one. The New Yorker looks into (with varying responses) how fast Usain Bolt would run the mile — yes, read on and ponder away.

What else is on your reading list? Make it one of these pieces, will ya?

  • There’s no better time than August to slip your feet into some stylish boat shoes before Labor Day — check out my list of the 10 best boat shoes for men over at GearMoose.
  • For rock-ready style that’s just as modern today as it was in 1970s, turn to the new Levi’s 505C — I had a blast covering the brand’s latest launch for The Manual, and know that these jeans (as seen on my Instagram) really are way comfortable.

Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.

by Beau H.

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

by Beau H.

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



by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Masters 2016 Edition

jonnEditor’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.  

Greetings, Style Guide readers! Today, we’re mixing things up a bit on The Style Guide and deviating from our usual Friday Read entry. What’s that, you say? Fear not. One of the things I’ve learned over the years as I’ve developed an interest in #menswear is that certain things just go hand-in-hand. That is to say, as you learn about style staples like dark denim or a stylish blazer, you develop a more nuanced taste in other areas — be it home design, quality literature, gourmet cuisine– you name it, and it’s likely that it plays well with men’s style.

That’s doubly important in the realm of the finer things in life — given that it’s Friday, we’re talking tasty cocktails. And not just any Friday. It’s an important day on the calendar for a wide swath of sports fans out there — the kick-off of Masters weekend. I’m not a huge golf nut by any means, but I’ve hit the links (badly) from time to time, and I always enjoyed watching PGA tournaments like the sadly defunct Buick Open in my home state of Michigan. So if you find yourself much more intrigued by golf (and intrigued even moreso by a fine cocktail), you’ll find the recipe of interest below. If you’re wary, know that it comes courtesy of a recommendation from the folks at West Coast lifestyle purveyors Johnnie-O — and what better way to enjoy the Masters than by grabbing a nice blazer and sipping on a delicious beverage, particularly a mojito? Not many. While it’s not for everyone, the Player’s Blazer is just the ticket if you want to add a shot of color to an Oxford and chinos, too. Read on for the recipe below, and let’s bond over crafty cocktails (and beer) via Twitter.

One blazer plus one beverage = a solid and stylish kick-off to Masters weekend.

One blazer plus one beverage = a solid and stylish kick-off to Masters weekend.

   The Masters Mojito Recipe:

Got all that down? Done and done. In the meantime, head here to catch up on another outfit tailored for the weekend — how to dress for a spring bar crawl. And I’d advise you to maybe (maybe?) catch up with some of my writing work at GearMoose — if you need a minimal watch, I put together a full watch guide for that site. That’s all for now in this neck of the woods; we’ll be back tomorrow with a great Style Pick from Jack Erwin, and we’ll have a look at the best suede chukkas to buy for spring coming up on Monday. Enjoy!

-Beau

by Beau H.

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