There’s a reason why classic menswear essentials are, well, so classic. They’ve stood the test of time and proven their functionality in the real world, be it the workwear durability of a canvas deck jacket, the utility of one of the best men’s henleys or the reliability of a rugged winter sweater, like the Buck Mason Seafarer Crew shown above.
It’s modeled after old-school sweaters, the kind worn on the high seas, and that’s about as classic as it gets in terms of reliability and toughness, in my experience. And it’s exactly the sort of piece the iconic modern brand excels at making, with heavy Americana influence and modern style points any day of the week.
The key with the Buck Mason Seafarer Crew is its 100 percent cotton construction, which is done up in a cardigan rib knit. That gives this stylish men’s sweater its durability, texture and visual appeal (and the Vintage Ivory colorway isn’t half-bad either as an homage to retro fisherman sweaters). It also comes in other versatile, neutral shades of olive and grey, but my personal favorite is this rich Ivory colorway.
The crewneck construction of the Buck Mason Seafarer Crew works well to layer over crewneck T-shirts or even a classic Buck Mason Oxford shirt for a bit of prep style at the office or out on a winter date. Even better is the fact that your new favorite sweater can be worn year-round, thanks to that cotton build: Think cool spring and summer nights, brisk fall days and plenty of chilly winter mornings, starting right now. The Buck Mason Seafarer Crew beckons, so shop accordingly right now.
My friends, welcome to the first Friday Read of 2024! It’s hard to believe, but as of this writing, I’ll have been running this humble style blog for more than a decade, from my college bedroom back in Michigan to my abode in Brooklyn (which you might have seen glimpses of if you follow me on Instagram).
It’s all a great time for reflection and perspective, especially with a new year already barreling by rather quickly. Crucially, it’s one of my favorite times to think on the best menswear essentials to guide the path ahead (perhaps including a new timepiece — like the one above — from my friends at Huckberry, yes?).
As we’ve talked about here on the blog, a new year can be a great time for a style reset or revamp, or it can be a great time to consider what you like about your wardrobe, what you want to continue wearing and what you might need to switch up entirely. There are really no hard-and-fast rules out there (some of the time, at least). Sure, more casual trends like athleisure are firmly now in the mainstream, yes, but some guidelines certainly still apply.
And here at The Style Guide, we go for a mix of versatility, comfort and effortless style, with an emphasis on classics updated for modern times.
Take the rugged, durable Timex x Huckberry watch at the top of the page — it’s the kind of timepiece you can wear on your wrist alongside the rolled sleeves of an Oxford shirt, but it’s dependable enough to wear in the yard for days of winter work.
As to some of those other rules out there: Black tie dress codes are still black tie, big-time client and work meetings might still require a suit, but if you find yourself shifting between say, working from home, hitting the road and heading back into the office, things might tend to feel a bit all over the place.
Hopefully, this blog is a helpful resource, since style is rarely ever just “one thing” — it’s the right blazer and chinos at the office, but it’s knowing when you can mix in a chambray shirt, or when you should opt for an Oxford shirt and knit tie, for instance. You see, folks? Versatility is the key, and you should look to pieces that move seamlessly between scenarios.
That’s why I tend to lean on brands I can trust, brands that make modern variations of the classics. I’m talking about the kind of pieces and brands that you can mix and match, be it a Buck Mason Oxford shirt and a Huckberry wool blazer or Taylor Stitch chinos, a rugged henley and a shawl-collar cardigan for a blend of high-low style. At least, that’s how I’ve found myself dressing on frigid Brooklyn winter days so far.
For me, it’s all about striving to put my best foot forward: Even when working from home, I choose to opt for comfortable yet stylish basics like a merino T-shirt and stretch joggers, the kind I feel comfortable even wearing to run errands around the neighborhood.
What are your menswear resolutions in 2024?
Use The Style Guide to help get there!
How about you? I’d love to hear about your style goals for the new year: Do you want to dress up more “just because,” be it days at the office or date night? Do you want to find the perfect pair of jeans and rugged leather boots? Or do you want to upgrade your off-duty joggers and sneakers for remote work? Or, heck, something else entirely?
And what brands are you relying on to get the job done to kick off a new year? Keep me posted in the comments below and on The Style Guide Facebook page, and here’s to an even more resourceful, stylish and yes, fun year here on this very blog! Cheers, my friends, thank you for reading and let’s really get after it in 2024.
A new year is, of course, a stellar opportunity to re-evaluate your menswear wardrobe (among other aspects of your life!) and sometimes, that can mean turning towards stylish updates to classics, pieces that you’ll get a ton of wear out of in the new year.
Take one of the best blazers for men, for instance. The particular blazer in question hails from Huckberry, and from the retailer’s refined Wills clothing brand, known for making some of the best cashmere sweaters and much more.
It’s part of the Huckberry Smart Casual lineup, a rundown of tasteful, elegant clothing that’s dressy enough for the office but cool enough for date night — all without trying too hard. It’s the right kind of balance to strike heading into a new year, if you ask me — and the Wills Stretch Wool Blazer is endlessly versatile and a perfect example of a go-anywhere jacket.
Your new favorite wool blazer wears easily with dark blue jeans and your favorite Oxford shirt at the office, but it can also pair seamlessly with, say, some of the best corduroy pants for men and a chambray shirt during a dressy date night. Especially in Heather Black, it’s also got some interesting texture and depth to the fabric, making it more appealing than, say, a standard black sportcoat.
And the Wills Stretch Wool Blazer also has another critical component making it ideal for winter: That wool blend fabric for winter warmth, which also pairs nicely with matching suit pants for a casually cool seasonal suit. In terms of other details, it also boasts half-canvas construction, which means the jacket will form nicely to your chest and shoulders while holding its shape over time.
In my book, this stylish wool blazer is one of the best blazers for men, the sort of jacket you can mix and match for multiple outfits in the same week — that’s reliability in style you can depend on, and that’s just the Huckberry way. Here’s to a new year and an even more stylish wardrobe, my friends.
The theme of this week, as we roll into a new year, is putting your best foot forward as often as possible (like the photo above!), especially in matters of style. Refreshing or revamping your wardrobe doesn’t need to cost you an arm and a leg, as you know if you read my weekly (and near-daily!) men’s style sale dispatches here on the blog.
A reminder is always a safe bet, particularly if you’ve had your eye on an item or two from one of your favorite online menswear brands, and that brings me to the Taylor Stitch Last Call section. The sale section, which tends to sell out quickly, is often packed with hard-to-find, exclusive items from the famed San Francisco retailer (like the incredible Taylor Stitch Mariner Coat), along with tried-and-true favorites (like the Taylor Stitch Gibson Jacket).
Savings within the remarkable Taylor Stitch Last Call offering tend to vary based on the time of year, with savings as high as 50 percent off during year-end and seasonal sales, but other picks among the best menswear essentials usually hover around 20 to 30 percent off or so.
It’s not a bad deal any way you look at it, especially if you opt for easily wearable seasonal style essentials like a pair of the best everyday pants for men (as seen at the top of the page).
Helpfully, the Taylor Stitch Last Call section is packed with just about something for every taste and sense of style, as is the rest of the brand’s full-priced offering. The world is your oyster, so to speak, with savings galore via the Taylor Stitch Last Call section, so take full advantage and refresh your #OOTD for a new year — good luck out there, folks.
As the year draws to a close, reflection and perspective is top of mind here at The Style Guide and elsewhere in my neck of the woods. I’ve got plenty to look back on, after all, in my many freelance writing pursuits, which took me everywhere from Morocco to Minneapolis to Boston to cherished family time in Florida and nights spent at more than a few of New York City’s best bars. Thank you for following along on Instagram and via this blog — and that gratitude is an understatement!
But before we can ring in 2024 and start talking about men’s style resolutions for the months ahead, there’s some business on my own list. You’ve no doubt seen the fact that Huckberry is running one of the best menswear sales of the year right now, the site’s #SeeYouOutThere Sale, and it’s as prime a time as any to refresh your wardrobe for the weeks ahead.
We’ll be giving you one final reminder on Sunday as we close out 2023, but for now, start your watch and keep track as the minutes tick away on menswear savings.
As for me this weekend, I’m closing out the new year where it started: Back in Brooklyn, with plans to visit the Arlo Williamsburg this coming Sunday night for a special soiree to welcome what lies ahead. What’s on your own agenda? In the meantime, perhaps some quick and easy online shopping for your favorite menswear will prove fruitful. Take your time with a few of my top weekend reading picks below, and then get ready to add a few items to your cart, my friends.
I tend to cover plenty of brands I admire and appreciate here on the blog, especially brands with an heirloom-quality attention to detail and rugged aesthetic. Chief among those brands? The good folks at Filson, and it seems many of the dedicated readers of The Style Guide (thank you!) feel the same way: In fact, my Filson review of the Filson Tin Cloth Short Lined Cruiser Jacket was the most popular new post published on the blog this year! How about that? If you scoop up this jacket now, you’ll undoubtedly reap the rewards throughout 2024 (and many years beyond that).
New Year’s Eve is very quickly bearing down on us, so while you might only have just enough time to secure an online order for a few new items, you can still take some style inspiration from the experts. In this case, my friends at Style Girlfriend put together a very handy guide on what to wear on New Year’s Eve, so consider your next #OOTD sorted.
Now, there are plenty of the best men’s style Web sites that I respect and read frequently, one of them being Valet Mag. In the spirit of reflecting on the year and perhaps refreshing your wardrobe and home goods assortment, take a look at Valet Mag’s best products of 2023. There’s something for everyone on that list, my friends.
Now, I’ve said it at least once before and I’ll say it again: I know the final weekend of the year is an exhilarating one (hopefully!), with plans to close out 2023 and welcome 2024 with open arms in style. But before we get there, note once more the Huckberry #SeeYouOutThere Sale — and stay tuned for another brief reminder this coming Sunday. For now, stay stylish, stay safe and have a cold beer for me later!
The demands of winter weather seem never-ending at times, both in matters of style and performance, but if you read this men’s style blog on the regular, I’d wager you’ll be plenty prepared when it comes time to layer up. It all starts outward and works in, especially when it comes to one of the best winter jackets — a winter jacket like the classic, all-time great Billy Reid Bond Peacoat.
It’s likely not the first time you’re reading a Billy Reid Bond Peacoat review on this here blog, of course, but a refresher is always necessary when dealing with something as cool, functional and stylish as James Bond’s favorite peacoat.
Of course, the Alabama-based designer specializes in rugged staples made refined (and refined staples made rugged) for the modern man, from soft-shouldered blazers to one of the best fisherman sweaters and much, much more. The peacoat has real-world functional roots, trusted by the U.S. Navy and other seafarers, and it’s made its way onto dry (yet snowy) land in recent years, thanks to its burly and highly functional build.
The Billy Reid Bond Peacoat is packed with all the bells and whistles a stylish man could ask for in a winter peacoat, made from a thick and warm wool-blend fabric and finished with handsome detailing like a leather trim underneath the back collar (and yes, the OG model is the same peacoat worn by James Bond in Skyfall— how can you go wrong?).
This year’s edition of the Billy Reid Bond Peacoat retains that same charm and worldly appeal, with genuine horn buttons, strategically placed handwarmer pockets and a double-breasted cut that’s flattering no matter whether it’s paired with wool dress trousers or dressy, crisp dark blue jeans.
And yes, the famed Billy Reid Bond Peacoat is a splurge at nearly $800, but it’s an heirloom piece that’s as handsome and fashionable as it is functional — and it’s likely a stylish winter jacket you’ll have for years and years. That’s as great of a reason to invest in your new favorite peacoat as any, so step right up to the plate and swing away, my friends.
Well, folks, we’ve made it: The final push before Christmas and a great last chance to stock up on the best men’s holiday gifts from some of your favorite online retailers. Perhaps by now, you’re all stocked up on men’s gifts from Bespoke Post and sites like Huckberry, but consider the spread above (from Bespoke Post!) a reminder to cross off those last few names on your list.
Whether that person loves rugged sweaters, sleek watches, a durable flask or other everyday carry essentials, well, you know that if you read the blog, Bespoke Post has what you need (and that’s simply my own personal endorsement).
Yes indeed, Bespoke Post is one of my go-to spots for holiday gift-giving, and again, it should prove much the same in your neck of the woods. As I wrap up my shopping (and start on wrapping!), I’ll be spending some much-needed time with family in Florida, relaxing, taking in the sunshine and enjoying a cold local beer from Point Ybel Brewing, per tradition.
What’s on your holiday slate? Here are a few choice reads to get you in the holiday spirit before Christmas Day dawns.
If you’ve been dealing with frigid winter weather, then here’s an option sure to help you sort things out: Head over to Maxim to check out my latest menswear guide, this one on the best parkas for winter. From purely functional to super-luxe, winter weather won’t stand in your way this season.
Right here on the blog, I covered a crucial, yet sometimes overlooked, style need — the need to step into the best boot socks for winter before you can put on a pair of your favorite leather boots. So, I took a deeper dive into WORN Brand Socks, a company I’ve been testing out back in Brooklyn these past few weeks — trust me, your feet will certainly thank you.
Allow me to make one last men’s style pick from Bespoke Post: Earlier this week, I wrote about how to save 30 percent on one of the best denim shirts from the famed NYC retailer, and this deal is still sticking around (just in time for rugged winter looks, yessir).
In the spirit of letting you get on with your holiday festivities, shopping, wrapping and imbibing, I’m closing up shop on today’s post. Hopefully, you found some style inspiration from the selections above. If not, well, we’ll be back here tomorrow and Sunday for my Style Pick of the Week, as well as some Christmas Eve savings via the Sunday Sale. In the meantime, thanks as ever for reading and stay stylish!
Rugged gear that blends an old-school vibe with modern quality is the name of the game over at Taylor Stitch, as you well know if you read this blog on the regular. And what better time than the present to pick up some throwback menswear made modern, be it the iconic Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket or the rugged henley sweater shown above?
It’s part of the Taylor Stitch x Danner Ridge Collection, a meeting of the minds between a famed Pacific Northwest heritage brand and a company making waves in modern menswear (and it resulted in some of the best boots for men this season, too). The Taylor Stitch Sidecountry Sweater personifies what Taylor Stitch does best — it’s rugged and outdoor-inspired, made from thick 12-gauge 100 percent merino wool in a waffle weave for warmth and durability.
Plus, the Taylor Stitch Sidecountry Sweater mimics the look of a henley, thanks to the button placket, yet bundles up all the warmth of a sweater at the same time. A ribbed neckline and cuffs ensure a secure fit and even more durability, while the Coffee Heather color is well-suited to the style demands of the season.
Taylor Stitch probably says it best when they note that the Taylor Stitch Sidecountry Sweater is “a tip of the hat to the rugged outdoor gear that was popular in the days of Charles Danner himself,” and that sounds like the sort of essential, casual layering piece you should keep close at hand this season. Layer up accordingly, my friends.
It’s the little details that really elevate an outfit — the comfort and warmth of one of the best sweaters for men will be evident right away, after all (especially coming from a designer like renowned, award-winning American designer Todd Snyder). But what about the rest of a piece? Like a ribbed collar or a carefully stitched sleeve, or expertly textured fabric?
Those little things can take even your favorite sweaters from good to great, and that’s certainly the case with the Todd Snyder Donegal Crewneck Sweater.
On the surface, Donegal fabric is more rough and rugged — it’s named for the region from which it hails, after all, and the knit is prized for its warmth and durability. But like one of the best flannel shirts, even pieces that are more straightforward or utilitarian take on a more refined air in the hands of Mr. Snyder himself.
It’s finely crafted touches like thin vertical ribbing at the hem and cuffs that elevate this sweater, but the slightly thicker knit ribbing at the collar gives the Todd Snyder Donegal Crewneck Sweater some character, too.
It’s as if this sweater was pulled ready-made from the rolling hills of Ireland, then added to your cart alongside, say, some expertly faded Todd Snyder denim or Todd Snyder dress trousers for winter shindigs aplenty.
Wear it on cozy mornings at home in front, of the fire, wear it to the office with some of the best corduroy pants or wear it beneath your favorite peacoat for a night on the town — just be sure you’re splurging (ever-so-slightly!) on the Todd Snyder Donegal Crewneck Sweater this season.
If you’re anything like me, it seems that there comes a certain point in any season where something fresh yet familiar is the right move when it comes to men’s style essentials. So, taking something tried and true, like one of the best men’s shirts, and flipping the equation on its head slightly — say, with a rugged Western shirt that’s timeless and yet on trend.
All the better if it’s sold by Huckberry, which is certainly the case with today’s Style Pick of the Week. Now that we’re well into February, perhaps you want to shake up your wardrobe ever so slightly (as we’ve talked about frequently on the blog as of late!), and that’s where the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt can lend quite the helping hand.
Now, men’s style essentials at Huckberry are nothing new around these parts, whether it’s the stylish, unique Wellen Blanket Chore Coat or the rest of the dependable lineup from in-house brand Flint and Tinder, from stretch chinos to Oxford shirts and yes, the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt. Old-school styles like Western shirts and Western boots seem to be everywhere these days, so if you want to dip your toes into that trend without going full-on “Yellowstone,” then a classic Western shirt could be just the ticket.
The detailing, from the point stitching and pockets to the snap buttons and a pleasingly faded series of wash options, is as on-point as you’ve come to expect from Huckberry. The 8oz. cotton denim is an agreeable weight, able to be layered easily over one of the best men’s henleys, buttoned up on its own or worn underneath a classic shawl cardigan. Of course, the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt works very well right now in colder weather, and should function readily as one of the best men’s shirt jackets as the weather slowly but surely warms up.
For good measure, the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt is priced agreeably for a shirt that’s both a shirt and, well, a shirt jacket — it’s available at Huckberry for $158, and that’s a heck of a deal for one of the best USA-made shirts out there. The Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt comes in two classic blue wash options, but there’s also a Salt-and-Pepper addition to really switch things up this late winter and into spring.
Reach for one of the best men’s Western shirts when you want a casually rugged layer to carry you to a laidback day at the office, then out to your go-to bar and back home — or anywhere you please that calls for timeless, old-school cool. That’s the Flint and Tinder Bone Button Western Shirt for you, folks.
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