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Some days as I sit down to write The Style Guide In Brief — think of it as a shorter, more varied version of my menswear blog, The Style Guide if you’re just joining us today — inspiration strikes quickly. Other times, it’s less, well, easy. Today, however, is a good day, you might say. I’ve been revisiting my top albums and top menswear of 2020 but also finding time to dive back into the classics — take the deeply emotional track “Guest Room” by Ohio indie rockers The National, a longtime favorite and the masters behind today’s featured track (in fact, that’s the band performing at producer Peter Katis’ wedding above). It’s always great to revisit classic picks in the midst of a tumult of new music and menswear releases, and I find the music of The National (of course, my favorite band) always grounds me and sets me on the right path for the day and week ahead. Hopefully, you feel the same way and can start the day off with some new perspective, an old favorite track in the background and some new menswear in your shopping cart. That’s what we’re all about here, so let’s get into it.
What To Listen To This Week: “Guest Room” By The National
When things start to get too busy, the volume and clutter of life rising to a fever pitch, I always find it helpful to step back, get grounded and listen to a timeless classic — like this song, off 2007’s momentous and exceptional album “Boxer,” one of the first albums I ever heard from the band. It was my first entry into the lyrical stylings of one Mr. Matt Berninger, a hero of mine and one of the finest songwriters around. The music of The National could just as easily be about my life or your life, or that of your family and friends — it’s that meaningful, emotional and well-done, and that certainly holds true after all these years. Plus, certain times of year — a la the start of a cold winter — just fit quite well with the moody baritone of Mr. Berninger and the carefully composed musical stylings of Aaron and Bryce Dessner on guitar. It’s also quite fitting to soundtrack my nightly walks through Brooklyn these days. And sometimes, you don’t need to go too far out of your way to get a solid outlook for the week ahead — maybe, just maybe, the music of The National can do that for you.
What To Shop This Week: Proof Strong Shirt
The music of The National was, in a way, my first introduction to Brooklyn (the band’s home base for many years) and immediately drew me to the borough — a way of dressing, a way of life and of music, menswear and craft beer that I loved from the get-go. As dramatic as it might sound, it’s still quite neat to be able to draw both style *and* writing inspiration from one band, hence the classic chambray shirt shown above. It’s the sort of shirt a certain lead singer often favors on stage (or in this case, in archive livestream concerts), and it’s a great template for a classic menswear piece you can mix and match with anything (rock concert on the books or not). Just as with, say, The Killers — another favorite of this newsletter — I can often put together an outfit only with the stylings of an all-time great band in mind, and that’s really saying something.
What To Sip This Week: Sixpoint The Crisp Lager via Drizly
It’s in a fitting homage to Brooklyn and the music of The National that I’m recommending you pick up this brewed-in-the-borough favorite for happy hour later. Sixpoint has been a staple beer for me since I moved to Brooklyn, one you’ll often find in my fridge or in my hand after a long day of writing. Sixpoint’s The Crisp is a modern take on the German Pils: It’s flavorful, fresh, easy to drink and always available throughout Brooklyn, and it’s pretty neat that there’s even now a Sixpoint Beer Garden (open as of this year!). I have yet to check out said beer garden, but rest assured that it’s high on my list for a safe outdoor drinking option these days. In the meantime, you can always get Sixpoint beer delivered via Drizly, as I often recommend. Cheers to that, folks!
The Final Pick: Unmarked Toro Boots
Much like my recent entry on the moody and atmospheric music of NYC indie rockers Muzz, it seems to me that there are certain menswear picks that just fit well with certain musical stylings. Of course, that’s pretty apparent right up front with The National, masters of introspective indie rock and carefully crafted denim shirts and blazers. That’s also the case with these handsome and refined black leather boots, the sort of pair I could see working at an outdoor beer garden or of course, at a triumphant rock show when live music (and The National!) roar back onto the stage. How about it, folks?
OK, here’s the deal, folks. You know what to listen to this week: The moody, emotional and deeply impactful music of The National. You’ve got your black leather boots at the ready. And of course, you’re going to pick up your new favorite beer (that’d be Sixpoint’s The Crisp) to enjoy for days on end this holiday season. With all that being said, be sure to join us here again on Saturday for a weekend edition of The Style Guide In Brief. Cheers!