Field Notes Vol. 2

Mississippi | @emergentpattern

I’m in a text group with two of my best friends, one of those buddy threads that goes quiet for weeks and then suddenly lights up with jokes, sports scores, life updates… and obituaries. Is that normal? When someone shared the news of Robert Redford’s passing, it hit differently. Partly because, as a young journalist, All the President’s Men was the reason I wanted to chase stories in the first place. But it also made me wonder why we do this: why men, in particular, feel compelled to share the deaths of others. I asked around and realized my little text group isn’t unique. We’re not obsessed with loss; we’re memorializing impact. It’s part romanticizing, part history-loving, part reflective. The point isn’t to relive what was, it’s to carry the best of it forward.

GROOMING NOTES

THE GREAT FALL RESET.
The Science of Seasonal Skin

Cooler air means drier skin. Learn how to adjust your cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF to keep hydration locked in.

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WHY WE FELL FOR THIS 2-IN-1
Not all shortcuts are created equal

We’ve long warned against 3-in-1s but Heath’s 2-in-1 earned its spot. Clean ingredients, balanced results, and no shortcuts.

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HENKEY'S GPT
A New Way to Explore

We built our own GPT, a custom model embedded inside ChatGPT’s large language model. It’s trained on our product catalog, ingredient data, and brand voice, so when you ask, it answers like someone who actually knows your skin.

ASK SOMETHING

STYLE NOTES

Somewhere between spray-on skinny jeans and WIIIDE-leg pants, sanity has returned.

They're calling it Goldilocks Denim: not too tight, not too loose, just right. The kind of jeans you can sit, squat, or sprint in... where things - ahem - can breath.

Think classic, think Levi's 501s. Mid-rise, straight or athletic cut, a little structure without the squeeze.

They’re the jeans that say, “I’ve been doing this since before TikTok told you what selvedge means.”

Robert Redford wore them before you were old enough to appreciate his haircut. And if someone questions you: designer Jonathan Anderson took a bow at his Dior womenswear debut in Paris wearing the same fit.

If Goldilocks were a guy, this is what he’d wear to brunch, to the bar, and probably to fix something afterward.

Founded in London, Heath delivers modern skincare built for the way men actually live. Their products blend plant-powered ingredients and patented actives to protect skin from urban life, pollution, and the daily grind.

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SIGNALS

WHY COOL GUYS ARE WEARING SUCH UNDERSTATED CLOTHES — WSJ

Henkey’s take: The loud logo era is fading. The new move? Clothes that whisper but still speak volumes. Fit, fabric, and quiet confidence do the talking because style isn’t about being noticed first, it’s about being remembered later.

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THESE MEN EXPERIENCED 'MANOPAUSE' — NY Post

Henkey’s take: “Manopause” might sound funny but the fatigue, mood shifts, and loss of drive are real and it can effect up to 40% of men. It’s not weakness, it’s biology catching up. The smart move isn’t ignoring it, it’s adapting. Training, eating, and living with more intention than before.

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COOKS CORNER

Smoked Wings

There’s a special kind of pressure that comes with Buffalo in-laws. Every wing you make gets judged like it’s competing for the Lombardi Trophy. So we got to work.

Turns out, the secret to crispy smoked wings isn’t more heat, it’s a little cornstarch and a lot of patience.

We’ve tested this recipe in the smoker and the air fryer. Both pass the Buffalo test. Just don’t call them boneless.

And, Go Bills!