Ready to rock this week? I know the music of Cold War Kids is a fitting retro callback to get me in the writing spirit, but more on them in a moment. Heck, I know that rugged Filson bag as shown up top has plenty of throwback style, too (again, more on that in a moment!). Thanks once again for joining us (well, just me) for another edition of The Style Guide In Brief. We’re really starting to hit the proper fall stride around these parts, as the leaves change and chances abound to sip fall’s best beer and wear fall’s best menswear. When early fall starts to hit, I’m often drawn back to fond college memories in Michigan, and it’s with that spirit in mind that today’s lead-off song lights the way. My fall walks look a bit different (Prospect Park is a far cry from East Lansing!), but again, the same spirit still holds true. You know the drill, so let’s get into it for Tuesday.
What To Listen To This Week: “Lost That Easy” By Cold War Kids
For me, the venerable SoCal rockers Cold War Kids remind me of my college days — this slow-burn 2013 jam off of “Dear Miss Lonelyhearts” in particular. It was a song in heavy rotation that year, and that fall specifically, and maybe it’s a yearning for nostalgia or for fall in Michigan, but it felt high time to revisit it. It’s a truly rocking track that still holds up, with a great bit of drumming and of course, searing lyrics from longtime frontman Nathan Willet (note the headline at the top of this newsletter). Cold War Kids have been a consistent band in my headphones over the years (I especially love “Miracle Mile” off of the same album — perhaps fodder for another newsletter!), and they’ve even got some special resonance in NYC. I’ve seen them play in Brooklyn (both at Rough Trade in April 2017 and Brooklyn Steel in April 2018), and in Manhattan (at Webster Hall in February of this year, in fact). Once they hit their stride, there’s not much stopping them from putting on an unstoppable live show.
They play roaring rock and slick hooks with ease, and they’ve got plenty of hits to back it up (they could certainly get by with playing only tracks off the 2006 blog rock classic “Robbers & Cowards”), but it all holds up nicely. I’m also a fan of the band’s newer material — heck, I’m looking at a poster for 2017’s “LA Divine” on my wall right now — but it’s that hint of nostalgia I love in particular about this album and this track. If you feel the same way, be sure to hit me up on Twitter so we can chat tunes and menswear. Speaking of menswear …
What To Shop This Week: American Giant Roughneck Pants
If you’ve read my blog, you’ve likely read about American Giant, purveyors of rugged, American-made menswear (and women’s wear!) that know a thing or two about how to craft a proper hoodie, T-shirt and specifically, the best pair of pants for fall. The American Giant Roughneck Pants are a highly versatile pair of men’s pants, what with that classic five-pocket construction, the ability to be worn to do, y’know, actual yardwork, and of course, the style to look great everywhere else. It’s the rugged stretch canvas fabric and five-pocket construction that give ‘em the perfect blend of workman-like performance, durability and yet great looks. Plus, they’re available in both Slim and Straight fits, and in a range of easily wearable colors. To me, these are the pants you wear on a fall weekend stroll, preferably with Cold War Kids in your headphones as you head out to pick up a to-go craft beer. And on that note …
Shop American Giant
What To Sip This Week: 3 Floyds Gumball Head Wheat Ale via Drizly
Is it any wonder that I’m once again recommending you get some of the best craft beer delivered right to your door via Drizly this week? To me, not in the slightest. I’m certainly passionate about finding and enjoying fresh craft beer all around Brooklyn, so imagine my surprise and delight when I started to see Midwest craft beer kings 3 Floyds pop up at places like Gold Star Beer Counter.
This Brooklyn beer counter itself is outfitted with a handy to-go order window, all the better to enjoy this remarkably fresh wheat ale for the first time in the NYC market. Of course, the great news for you is that, yes, you can get 3 Floyds Gumball Head Wheat Ale right to your doorstep just in the nick of time. An incredible ale made with white wheat, it’s so fresh and so drinkable, any day of the week (but especially for any upcoming fall weekend happy hours you might be enjoying on your back deck). Cheers, my friends.
The Final Pick: Filson Rugged Twill Original Briefcase
I told you we’d circle back to this rugged Filson bag eventually, and well
, here we are. Pacific Northwest heritage style purveyors Filson strike the right balance between rugged and refined, as they’ve done for more than 100 years, and the Filson Rugged Twill Original Briefcase is as fine an example as any of the type of quality and dependability you can expect from the brand. As it were, the Filson Rugged Twill Original Briefcase is a great grab-and-go bag as you hit the road this fall, featuring classic, weather-ready Filson fabric and great looks that’ll only get better with age (and as you head out on more fall adventures). If that all sounds highly agreeable, you’re not alone — it’s about time to hit the road in style, is it not? For more, head to my blog to check out my guide to dressing for a fall road trip. See you out there.
If you’re in the spirit of fall just a bit more after reading today’s newsletter, well, that’s great news indeed. I know I’m ready for the season to keep rolling, what with my eyes on the Filson Rugged Twill Original Briefcase and my tastebuds pining for some 3 Floyds Gumball Head Wheat Ale. Seriously, that sounds like an ideal combination right there, and if you throw in the soulful stylings of Cold War Kids, consider it a recipe for success. In the meantime — and if you want more fall style tips aplenty — head to the Huckberry Journal to get my latest, and keep an eye out for my work at Maxim.com, too. There’s plenty more on the way there, I promise you that. Thanks for reading & cheers to the season!