Tag / what to wear to a bonfire

by Beau H.

#OOTD: Wear This Gear to Your Next Summer Bonfire

I’ve talked on the blog before about how to dress for a summer bonfire — and namely, how summer bonfires remind me of the lovely, warm nights back in my home state of Michigan. I don’t often get to go to many bonfires now that I live in NYC, but if I did … this is the gear I would wear, starting with a stylish lightweight jacket for taking on summer breezes. Heck, these are the summer style essentials I’d recommend you wear as well, including a stylish short-sleeve shirt and more gear picks that toe the line between casual & rugged, just as ready for a day on the boardwalk as a beach bonfire later. Dressing for a bonfire, although seemingly casual, doesn’t mean you throw on athletic logo shorts & a baggy T-shirt and call it a day — at least, not to me. No sir, grab some classic SeaVees sneakers, throw on a vintage-inspired cap, load up a craft beer growler, and take in a lovely evening around the fire. If you’re surrounded by a multitude of family and friends? All the better. We’re running out of chances to enjoy summer, so it’s best you do it in style. And y’know what’s even better? This is the type of #OOTD you can wear all day long, and into the night. Sounds great to me. Enjoy!

The right mix of casual and rugged for a summer evening bonfire.

  • The Lightweight Jacket: Relwen Covert CPO, $148.98 — This stylish lightweight jacket is a heck of a deal when on sale, and it’s the perfect summer jacket for a breezy night around the fire.
  • The Shirt: Taylor Stitch Short-Sleeve Jack Shirt, $98 — This is the first of two Taylor Stitch picks gracing this outfit — a stylish short-sleeve shirt is an easygoing summer style essential, especially for a day at the beach & a bonfire.
  • The Shorts: Taylor Stitch Trail Shorts, $88 — While you still can, wear stylish shorts, especially this utility-minded pair from Taylor Stitch. These are some of the best men’s shorts for the rest of summer.
  • The Sneakers: SeaVees Legend Sneakers in Chambray, $88 — For just a shade under $90, get the classic sneakers that are simply perfect to wear to a bonfire — durable, comfortable & made with that iconic SeaVees quality.
  • The Watch: Komrade White Pointer Watch, $808.98 — For a day on the water or the trail, or an evening when you’re called into firewood duty, wear a durable dive watch — sure, Komrade makes an investment-level watch … but it’s worth it.
  • The Everyday Carry Essential: Filson Ranger Backpack, $225 — Whether you’ve packed up this rugged Filson backpack as part of a day hike or a beach trip, it’s the everyday carry essential to haul, well, everything you need (bug spray not included).
  • The Hat: Faherty Brand Sunset Patch Cord Hat, $38 — Throw on a classic ballcap from Faherty Brand to top off this outfit — it’s got just enough rugged style for an evening bonfire.
  • The Craft Beer Must-Have: OtterBox Elevation 64 Tumbler, $56 — If you show up to the bonfire with some delicious craft beer, that’s great. If it’s being transported in this OtterBox tumbler with enough to share? Even better.

If the above #OOTD is any indication, then the bar has been raised when it comes to dressing for a summer bonfire, starting with the perfect summer jacket to help you fight an unexpectedly chilly summer night. It’s the kind of piece that pairs ably with a stylish short-sleeve shirt from one of my favorite brands (that’s Taylor Stitch, folks), and the combo gets even better when teamed up with stylish utility shorts from the same brand. They’re functional enough for a day getting around town, and they’re laidback enough to enjoy some cold beers from an OtterBox tumbler, right? This outfit gets even more bonfire-ready when you look at what’s on your: perfectly casual, classic sneakers in a summer-friendly chambray fabric. Leave the heavy leather boots at home for this venture, folks. One thing you shouldn’t leave at home? A durable dive watch you can wear all day — even to snag some extra firewood. Top everything off, literally, with a classic ballcap from Faherty Brand, and be sure to haul along your gear with a rugged Filson backpack for whatever the day has in store. Do you think this #OOTD is missing anything? Be sure to hop over to Twitter to let me know. Thanks for reading!

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Layer Up for A Breezy Summer Night

Ready for today’s #OOTD? I hope you are — I sure am. Although we’re (sadly) getting down to the last few weeks of summer here, I assure you that today’s post is jammed with summer style essentials that still function well into the early fall.  Growing up in Michigan, I loved going to bonfires with family and friends, or spending nights on a river or lake enjoying a S’more and taking in the simpler things in life — it’s tough to find time to do that in NYC. Yet, if youre’ lucky enough to have another bonfire or backyard BBQ coming up, there’s a chance that once the sun sets, things will get a bit chilly. Not “polar vortex” cold, but breezier nonetheless. And when that time comes, you want #menswear that works with you — not against you. Men’s style staples that are crisp-yet-casual, easy to wear and easy to layer are going to be critical. You certainly want to dress for the occasion — think of it like dressing for a summer BBQ, where you’re there for a great time and ready for anything (don’t forget the beer). Keep these essentials around, and you’ll be glad you prepared accordingly — among my favorite picks from this #OOTD, I sure do love the Life/After/Denim Awash Hoodie, and I think you’ll find it’s a perfect casual menswear essential. What about the rest of these picks? Read on, shop away and catch up with me on Instagram to see how I’m spending these last few weeks of summer.

 

men's style essentials

Light, easygoing menswear staples for a breezy summer evening around a bonfire or at the beach.

The Hoodie: Life/After/Denim Awash Hoodie, $80 —  The breezy, casual Awash Hoodie features an absolutely perfect blend of laidback style and premium quality. It doesn’t look half-bad if your date needs to borrow it, either.

The Tee: Flint and Tinder Slub Tee in White, $38 — What’s more American and summer-friendly than a classic white T-shirt? Not a lot. Flint and Tinder makes its Slub Tee with just the right amount of comfort and rugged appeal.

The Denim: Nudie Jeans Grim Tim, $140.98 — While you could easily reach for a pair of classic summer shorts, the light wash of the Nudie Jeans Grim Tim plays nicely off the dark blue Life/After/Denim sweater. Ya dig?

The Belt: Sturdy Brothers Everyday Belt in Natural, $80 — That perfect, rugged yet wearable everyday belt (pun intended here) can be quite tough to find. This handsome Sturdy Brothers belt should certainly do the trick, yeah?

Timex

The Sneakers: SeaVees Maslon Desert Boot, $82.98 — What better classic sneakers to slip into than a pair of well-made, affordably priced and easygoing SeaVees sneakers?

The Socks: CHUP Labdien Socks, $16 — Cool, casual style calls for rolled light wash denim, classic white sneakers and stylish men’s socks with enough personality to speak for themselves after you’ve ditched your sneakers.

Florsheim

The Watch: Komrade Urban Diver Watch, $429 — There’s no better way to cap off an outfit filled with breezy, casual staples than by throwing on a tough-yet casual, rugged dive watch — right? Yes indeed — and Komrade surely makes an investment-worthy timepiece.

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The Essential: Orange Vessel Co. Stoneware Growler, $68.99  — Craft beer delivered in a stylish, durable growler — definitely an essential for your next bonfire. This one from Orange Vessel Co. is pleasing, well-made and easy to transport.

When we talk layers and essential, casual men’s style, I’d say a piece like the Life/After/Denim Awash Hoodie makes perfect sense for a breezy summer night around a campfire or at a cabin on a lake.  It’s a reliable, easygoing piece to slip on over a well-made, classic white T-shirt  from Flint and Tinder  — you’ll get a lot of mileage out of that combo as long as you step into versatile, slim light wash jeans. And on the accessories front, don’t skimp when it comes time to put on a rugged dive watch or load up a durable growler full of your favorite beer. Sneaker-wise, I’d say that classic SeaVees sneakers are always in play — particularly for kicking back on a patio with good friends and family. What’s on your #menswear list when it comes time to dress for a shindig in late summer? Let me know on Twitter or in the comments below — thanks for reading!

-Beau

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