Folks, thanks for joining me on another fine Friday as we roll into the first weekend of the holiday season and the first weekend of December. I’m rolling into ot with a dram of whiskey in hand, of course, but it’s not just any selection from my bar cart. This weekend, I’m visiting the stunning beauty of Wyoming with the one and only Wyoming Whiskey — what a locale and what a trip so far!
I’m here as part of the many freelance writing pursuits I undertake these days, specifically writing about spirits for Maxim, just one of a few trips I’ve undertaken as of late — if you follow me on Instagram, you know I just wrapped up a Caribbean and Florida Thanksgiving vacation, but this jaunt is particularly special.
It’s a special trip out to Jackson Hole and Wyoming ranch country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Wyoming Whiskey, a distillery with rugged roots and a focus on all-American craftsmanship (not unlike so many of your favorite brands I talk about here at The Style Guide, naturally). While I can’t bring you all with me out to Wyoming, you can indeed order Wyoming Whiskey for yourself at Drizly to get it delivered to your door in the meantime. How about that, my friends?
Stay tuned for more at Maxim on my trip — and stay tuned for regular blog content this weekend, including tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week — but just know that the significance of these trips isn’t lost on me. I’m always ever so grateful to travel the world, to write about new and exciting menswear, whiskey and luxury brands, and to meet seriously cool, talented people all along the way. To me, that’s worth toasting today (and every day). Thank you for being here and for reading! And cheers to Wyoming Whiskey, of course. Have a great weekend, my friends!
If you ask me, it seems the menswear calendar has been moving at an ever-faster clip as of late, be it a seemingly earlier-than-usual start to holiday shopping deals or a quicker-than-normal jump to the best Black Friday deals — right after Halloween, in fact. You might recognize that lineup above, filled with some of the best men’s boots, and it’s worth keeping just about every sort of deal in mind heading into Black Friday (even though, for the record, Black Friday doesn’t hit until next week!).
So, take this as a recommendation to start your weekend: My friends at Huckberry are offering some of the best early menswear deals on more gear than you can shake a stick at, so shop accordingly while you plan for the calm before the storm. With that in mind, I’m offering a few more quick pre-Black Friday shopping picks below. And then, well, I’m off to enjoy some rest and relaxation in the Caribbean sun.
If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been on a family vacation to Turks and Caicos since earlier this month, and I’ve got a trip to Florida to follow shortly thereafter. Of course, that won’t stop me from buying the best menswear for fall and winter right now, and it shouldn’t stop you either, my friends. Here’s to holiday shopping early and often, folks.
If you keep up with the blog on the regular, I’m willing to bet you’re no stranger to the first entry on my list of recommended weekend shopping picks. Yes indeed, it’s high time you laced up a pair of the best men’s boots from the fine folks at Austin-based HELM Boots, and there’s no time quite like the present to find the rugged pair of leather boots that’s right for you (as I mentioned at the start of this post, after all). Start your search with my thoughts on the HELM Zind Boots, some of the best boots for guys to lace up now.
Before you can shop online for the best menswear deals, a bit of refreshment is in order, yes? That’s where my latest whiskey feature comes into play. Over at Maxim, I wrote about (and tasted!) one of the best new whiskies on the market, the new HIRSCH Whiskey Cask Strength Cognac Finish — in fact, I visited the 2022 Kentucky Derby and tried this very bourbon that same weekend back in May. Think of it like a luxe bar cart upgrade to enjoy and savor this winter.
Speaking of stylish early holiday deals, here’s another choice pick. Now, not to worry — I’ll have a full guide to the best deals for Black Friday early next week. In the meantime though, head over to the Huckberry Gift Guide and shop the best under-$75 gifts for everyone on your list, be it the rugged man, the whiskey enthusiast or the seasoned style vet.
That trio of style picks brings today’s Friday Read to a close. Whether you’ve got your eye on the best under-$75 gifts or perhaps one of the best new whiskies or even a rugged pair of leather boots, I’m willing to bet your seasonal shopping is off to a good start (I hope!) if you follow a few of the tips above. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Saturday Style Pick. In the meantime, cheers and thanks for reading!
My friends, welcome to another Friday — a summer Friday, at that, but a great chance all the same to start thinking about the season ahead. Granted, we’ve not yet reached Labor Day, but is it ever too early to start shopping the best fall menswear from Filson? They’re but one of my favorite and recommended brands to get you ready for what you might call “beanie and waxed jacket” season, so consider checking out a whole host of Filson New Arrivals in the weeks to come. Think of it like an early, menswear insider tip to start your weekend in style.
As for the rest of your weekend (and my weekend!), I’ve got a full slate packed with both menswear writing and of course, a much-anticipated New York City concert. I’ll be trekking tonight to famed, historic Queens concert outpost Forest Hills Stadium to see a longtime favorite band, Michigan-born folk rockers Lord Huron! I’ve been a fan since my days back in college in Pure Michigan, so to see stylish frontman Ben Schneider take the stage in NYC is a true, long-awaited treat.
Naturally, I’ll be covering all the fun on my Instagram, and it’ll be a nice, tranquil way to slide on into a breezy summer weekend. In the meantime, consider checking out those Filson New Arrivals — and consider spinning the music of Lord Huron, too. Cheers and let’s get into the rest of the Friday Read!
Whiskey lovers, rejoice — actually, make that whiskey lovers AND lovers of high-voltage rock n’roll (guilty as charged). It was a pleasure to both uncork and write about an excellent new whiskey from FEW Spirits out of the Midwest (Evanston, Illinois). FEW Spirits worked with San Fran rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on a standout new Motor Oil Whiskey, and it was so very cool to be able to write about that launch over at Maxim. Cheers, my friends. Best of all? The fact that you can get FEW Spirits delivered to your door with Drizly. Again, cheers!
Consider this one more style tip to get your weekend rolling before I leave you to the rest of your Friday. The good folks at Huckberry have done it once again — and by “it,” I mean teaming up with Alabama-based Billy Reid on the Billy Reid x Huckberry Dover Hoodie, and what a piece it is. My latest blog post covers everything you need to know about this supremely stylish hooded sweatshirt. Get to it, folks.
That’ll bring us to the end of another Friday Read — are you feeling a bit more ready for the weekend? I know I sure am, but first, I’ve got my aforementioned trek up to Queens to see Lord Huron this evening. Be sure to follow along with all the fun on my Instagram, and as always, thanks for reading!
Do you ever get the feeling like your menswear wardrobe could use a bit of a shot in the arm (aside from my standout style picks, that is)? If so, the launching point in today’s Friday Read is right up your alley. Back in May, I had the chance to connect with Brandon Snower, founder of upstart, classic-meets-modern New York outfitter Le Alfré.
Over beers at Brooklyn’s Wild East Brewing, we had the chance to chat menswear and to catch up about his one-man operation, a brand shaking up the world of men’s shirting and loafers right here in Manhattan. Perhaps you’ve seen the brand over at Gear Patrol or elsewhere on the World Wide Web — if not, read on, my friends.
The idea behind Le Alfré is simple: Take the classic buttondown shirt and mix it up a bit, using a cool contrasting collar — like an old-school banker’s shirt — but doing it in a fun way with fresh colors and the best material in the business. The result is Le Alfré, making some of the best men’s shirts on the market at a 66-year-old Portuguese shirtmaker meticulously researched by former Wall Street man Snower himself. His operation is also focused on sustainability through ethical production processes and it helps that these modern Oxford shirts are sharp yet easy to dress up or dress down.
I’d urge you to take a look today if you want a stylish men’s shirt that’s as ready for the office as it is for, well, a happy hour brewery hangout. We’ve got plenty more to cover in today’s Friday Read, and this won’t be the last time you hear about Snower’s brand, either. Here’s to the weekend ahead, folks!
Looking for a refresh when it comes to both your activewear and loungewear rotation? You’re in luck, because as of yesterday, the fast-selling, highly versatile and extremely well-made Olivers Apparel All Over Shorts — a true fan favorite for guys on the go — are back in stock in a variety of colors and sizes. These durable, moisture-wicking, water-repellent stretch shorts can pull double-duty as some of the best workout shorts or heck, just a pair of the best lounge shorts, if you so choose. Consider them an easygoing alternative to the Olivers Apparel Compass Pants, which you can also wear, well, just about anywhere you please.
Speaking of a summer wardrobe refresh, your luck just got even better if you want to stock up on versatile, durable gear that works for hot summer days, weekend getaways and even a work-from-home Zoom call or two. That’s because the Western Rise Warehouse Sale — running through the end of the month is giving you up to 50 percent off select styles. The brand, known for its performance shirting for men and dependable stretch pants, doesn’t often offer its gear on sale, so this is one to shop early and often.
In the spirit of getting ready for early fall — as we’ve talked about time and time again here on the blog — you should never be caught off guard when the season hits. That’s where my latest guide for SPY.com comes into play, seeing as I’m talking about the best sweaters for the season ahead. Shop now, my friends.
I’ll leave you with one last early fall style recommendation, my friends: If you want to lace up in style in the weeks to come, you’d do well to check out my post on the best men’s boots from TAFT. The rugged-yet-refined TAFT Rome Boots are dressy and versatile, ready for the office or a visit to your favorite whiskey distillery in equal measure. That’ll do it for me today, folks. As ever, check out my Instagram to stay connected to the latest in my neck of the woods. Cheers!