SG’s Picks of the Month for October

Each month, I share my favorite finds – from trends to music to books to body products, and more. Share your own discoveries (or rediscoveries) in the comments, then check out past SG-approved months here, here, here, and here.
Tweed coats, L to R: J. Crew, $425; Charles Tyrwhitt, $349; Club Monaco, $750
Soap: Dr. Squatch, $6 | Lightweight jackets, L to R: ASOS, $85; Old Navy, $35; Gap, $348
The Drink
My pal Mark Byrne, who drinks professionally over at GQ, says, “I think a sherry-based cocktail is kind of nice as it gets colder. ‘The Bamboo’ is an old-school drink, like a Manhattan, without the whiskey. I like it because it riffs on something familiar but has its own awesome, robust character.” Nobody puts sherry in a corner?
Here’s how to make it:
1.5 oz dry sherry
1.5 oz dry vermouth
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters
Stir with ice. Serve neat, with a twist of lemon.
The fabric
At last week’s Polo event, everyone gravitated towards the same tweed sport coat, and I could see why. The traditional material feels fresh when you pair it with a pop of color under the collar. And it goes with everything from jeans to cords to dress pants. Tell me below, how do you wear this not-so-stuffy pattern?
The grooming goods
I long ago gave up the fight when it comes to guys and soap. To me, a body wash is infinitely easier to deal with in the shower—there’s literally no possibility of a “drop the soap” situation. But I know when I’m outnumbered.
That’s why I’m always on the lookout for great soaps for you guys. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right? This one, from Dr. Squatch, is my new favorite. Made with “ingredients you can pronounce” as the founders put it, the soap lathers up really nicely, and cleans off without leaving too much soapy residue. I like the manly-sounding (and smelling!) Pine Tar, and the wake-you-up scent of the Spearmint Basil scrub.
The routine
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about routines. I love how having a routine—whether that’s a typical outfit you wear or a normal gym schedule—takes the guesswork out of each day. Far from limiting you, a routine frees you up to be more creative and to focus on the big picture (What am I going to do next year with my career?) versus the small (What am I going to have for lunch?). That’s why I loved this video featuring designer jeffstaple on his morning routine. I don’t know about you, but I hope I never stop learning from other people.
The jacket(s)
Light jackets, to be only a little more specific. Last weekend, I was interviewed on a South Florida sports talk radio station (I know! I don’t know why they asked either, but it was a lot of fun), and we spent practically the whole interview discussing my love of light jackets. My point was basically: You could wear the same exact outfit every day, and as long as you were wearing a different coat, no one would be the wiser. Just think: Monday, a crisp Harrington jacket; Tuesday, a bad-boy leather bomber; Wednesday, a polished mac coat grazing just above your knees; Thursday, a beat-to-hell denim jacket, and Friday; a sporty anorak. See what I mean? This is why my coat rack is continually at its breaking point—I love fall coats.
The tunes
Taylor Swift’s 1989 is still on repeat at SG HQ. And it came out Monday. Before you roll your eyes at me, take a second and realize that every woman in your life is either 1) listening to or 2) secretly listening to this exact album at this very moment. So judge not lest ye get in trouble for by proxy teasing your wife or girlfriend.
Not that I feel the need to defend myself here, but I will say: I’ve been a fan of Swfit’s since her very first album, which came out seven million years ago/when I was still in college. My boyfriend and I had broken up right before Christmas, and when I came home to my parents’ house for the holidays, this package from Amazon, filled with country albums (we shared a mutual love), was sitting on my bed. Including this 17-year-old upstart’s self-titled album. In a box full of albums by established artists, she was the only one I hadn’t heard of. It took me a few days to get around to listening to it, but when I did, I couldn’t believe it—this girl was mirroring my own life experiences back to me, just a few years behind. My friend Rembert wrote a great article on Grantland about how the songs work when they don’t quite line up chronologically with your own experiences, which is why I was anxious to hear the new album about her time in NYC, my hood! It’s great. Stop hating on her. Give it a listen. And don’t act like you haven’t had “Shake it Off” in your head the past two weeks anyway.
TELL ME:
WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE FINDS THIS MONTH?
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I started Style Girlfriend to help guys look, feel, and act their best.