[anchored style nautical bow tie]

Today is National Bow Tie Day (yes, it seems there is a "holiday" for everything), which gives us the opportunity to showcase a brand we really like: Anchored Style. We're always interested in brands that have a compelling story and make their goods in the US, and Anchored Style fits both criteria. On top of that, they have some awesome products, like today's featured bow tie.

The Red Signal Flag bow tie ($58) mixes nautical flags with a bold red and white stripe design. A bow tie like this is certain to grab attention, which could be the perfect thing for one last summer fling this Labor Day weekend. It also comes in several bright colors, including lavender, aqua, orange, kelly green, and navy so you can choose the one that matches your wardrobe. While we might typically go for the classic navy, the other options are refreshingly unique and are certain to help you stand out. 

[preppy kid's birthday wish list]

[Southern Proper pullover: $125] [Hudson Sutler dopp kit: $60] [Smathers & Branson belt: $165]

[Daniel Wellington watch: $195] [Austen Heller loafers: $195]

[CB Station monogrammed weekender: $110] [J. Crew wallet: $25]

Birthdays are a good opportunity to splurge without feeling too guilty. Whether it's for yourself or for a significant other/family member/friend, it's fun to get/give something special that you/they might not typically buy.

Even though our birthday was yesterday (24), we'll be seeing some family members this weekend for one last long weekend at the beach, so here are some ideas for them (wink wink)!

[beach essentials]

[Southern Proper hawaiian hat: $28] [Rainbow sandals: $51] [Kiehl's facial fuel: $25]

[Cape Codder Sunglasses: $120] [Banana Boat spray sunscreen] [Ralph Lauren swim trunks: $27.49]

While everyone else is talking about the start of fall, we're laying on the beach enjoying 90+ degree weather on the Carolina shore. Here's our list of beach essentials for your last summer jaunt, and yes, the Southern Proper hat is absolutely necessary. 

A couple notes: No, men do not need their own sunscreen, but it smells good so whatever. We didn't include a t-shirt because it's the beach and you're on vacation. Finally, Ralph Lauren is having a huge sale on swimwear, (up to 70% off!) which can be found here.  

[pen meet paper: state prints with lyrics]

When staying at my parent's beach house, I like to do something nice for them, whether it's helping them out with the house, cooking some meals, or giving a small gift. While flipping through an old copy of Southern Living magazine on the beach, my girlfriend and I discovered the perfect thank you gift from Pen Meet Paper.

Pen Meet Paper designs, draws and creates state prints by hand and uses lyrics that relate to the state. For my parents, we went with the Goin' to Carolina print ($16), which features lyrics from James Taylor's classic song "In My Mind, I'm Goin' to Carolina" (one of my parent's favorites). It has a great water color look to it, and arrived very quickly. My girlfriend put the 8 x 10 print in a simple white frame from Michael's since they'll be hanging it at the beach. A small thank you gesture, but my parents love it!

There are many other state prints available in the artist's Etsy shop, and you can also work with her to customize/personalize them. For the constant traveler who never stays in one place, I'd recommend the See the World Globe print.

[country road trip playlist]

This weekend, me and my girlfriend spent seven hours ten hours (thanks VA traffic) in the car driving to beautiful Sunset Beach, NC for a 9 day vacation. If I had it my way, we would have blasted country music the whole time, however since she doesn't love country music, that didn't happen. Instead, I created this Spotify playlist with 20 of my favorite country songs that are great for a long road trip, which is what I'll be listening to at the beach. What am I missing?

[harding-lane american flag hat]

I keep my collection of hats purposely small, but have had my eye on snagging a needlepoint one from Harding-Lane for a while now. With this navy American flag hat back in stock, I think I may have found just the right one.

The H-L American Flag on Bright Navy ($30) has a great weathered look and worn-in feeling, so its comfortable from day one. It proudly features a needlepoint American flag, which is always appropriate to wear and always in style. For a nautical touch, the adjustable back strap is made from white sailcloth. They just restocked this hat, so grab it before it sells out again!

[southern marsh seersucker swim trunks]

As hard as it is to believe, we're already almost halfway through August. However, if you're like me, you're trying to squeeze as much summer as you possibly can in these last couple weeks. In that effort, we'll be getting a lot of use out of our Southern Marsh swim trunks for one last beach vacation.

The Dockside Swim Trunk - Seersucker ($49) is comfortable for land or water wear, with a super-soft waistband, quick drying fabric and a 6" inseam. The trunks also feature well-placed grommets and back zippered pockets. It comes in three seersucker colors: red (shown above), blue and green. Instead of sticking with the traditional blue, this summer we've been exploring some new seersucker colors, (see: green seersucker Southern Proper shorts) so our pick is definitely the red trunks.  

[bonobos: favorite new arrivals]

[deep pine chinos: $88] [leather belt: $80] [grey gingham: $85] 

[geo print pocket square: $42] [navy and pink oxford: $88] [navy sweatpants: $88]

Bonobos recently added over 350 new items to their shop. We looked through all of them so you don't have to- here are our favorite fall items of the bunch.

Let us know what you think in the comments!

[duke & winston tie]

We've followed Duke & Winston for a while now, and have always been impressed with the brand's ability to maintain its strong personal identity amidst its quick growth. They continue this trend today with a new line of ties, proudly displaying Duke the bulldog, for which the first part of the brand's name is derived. The Winston Tie ($68) comes in three colors: navy, red and our personal favorite, green. Made of 100% silk and in the US, this tie is a playful addition to your 9-5 tie rotation that is perfect for the dog lover in all of us.