As you go through life, it is natural that you develop a unique style of dress, from the shoes that you choose, to the clothes that you adorn.
This is good; it’s important to be an individual.
That said, I feel there are a number of essentials for a man that form the foundations of his wardrobe.
These items will create the base that you can then layer your individuality over, in order to craft something that is truly YOU.
Here is 8 Items I think YOU should invest in this year!
Lets go through each item, and as we do, take a look through your own wardrobe and see what’s missing.
1. A Slim Fitting Pair of Solid Jeans
Whether Navy or Black, every man should have a pair of jeans that are solid in colour and fit well through the butt and thigh. They should then taper through the lower leg, creating a sleek profile, and making you look taller. The reason these jeans should be a solid colour is versatility.
A dark wash pair of denim looks equally amazing with a plain T-Shirt, or a Dress Shirt and Blazer combination. Pair them with Sneakers, Boots, you name it, it works.
My preference is for navy denim, and that will be reflected in the colour palette of this post, however a grey scale can look equally elegant.
2. Plain T-Shirts
Personally, I prefer Crew Neck to V-Neck, though both can look stylish. The important aspect is, once again, the fit. The T-Shirt should hug your arms, be snug through the chest and shoulders, but have a bit of room through the stomach. This is to highlight your broad frame, and highlight the work you have been putting in in the weight room.
Colour wise, I would go for neutral colours like grey, navy, and white. The more neutral, the more versatile. Though this can be a good place to start experimenting with some other colours like burgundy, olive, or tan.
2.5. Three Button Henley
As a bonus option, consider adding in a charcoal grey 3 button Henley. This is a perfect cold weather alternative to the plain T-Shirt, that adds a new dimension to your casual wear, and helps to create a rugged tone in your outfit.
3. White Sneakers
The staple of men’s footwear is the plain, white or off-white sneaker. There are many brands and styles of these available, but I prefer something with as few details as possible for most people. Ideally you want this sneaker to be versatile enough to be dressed up with a shirt or blazer:
Or dressed down, with your Jeans and T-Shirt combo:
4.The Perfect Tailored Suit
If you were looking to spend some money, this is the place to do so.
I would opt for a navy suit, and if you want to look your best, take it to your local tailor and get it altered to suit your dimensions. The intricacies of how a suit should fit are too numerous to list in this article, so look out for the “Getting your First Suit” article (coming soon) for more information on that. For now, I will say that the suit jacket should fit well through the shoulders and upper back, the sleeves should end around the wrist bone, and the tail should stop around where your butt meets your thigh.
The trousers should fit through the hip and thigh, and have a soft taper down through the leg, breaking just above where your shoe laces would be.
If you can afford to do so, having a suit Made-To-Measure is a fantastic option.
This Jacket can also be your blazer option, which can look fantastic as a complement to your dark wash denim in a more casual setting, though I would advise getting a separate Blazer actually fit for this purpose eventually.
5. The White Dress Shirt
Same rules apply here as for the Suit. Get as close a fit as you can find, and get it tailored, or MTM. As a starter shirt, I would go for a standard cuff and collar, with minimal detailing. This is not the place to experiment, this is the place to buy a quality classic. French cuff can be a great option to stand out amongst your peers, however this will limit the shirts use in more casual settings and necessitate that you also own cufflinks.
6. A Pair of Sturdy Leather Boots
These are your staple winter footwear. There are a ton of styles to choose from here: Chelsea, Laced, Military, Desert, Work. I would go for a brown leather Chelsea or lace up boot. This allows you to combine it with either your casual wear:
Or your formal wear:
7. Navy Pea Coat
This is possibly the most versatile piece of outerwear you will ever own. Coming from a long line of military heritage, this jacket screams style. The cinched double breasted nature creates a striking figure, with wide shoulders forming that desired V shape in the upper back. The large collar can be worn down for a refined appearance, and when the mood arrives, the collar can be popped to inspire that cool brooding energy of all the movie stars.
This is probably one of two jackets that you can comfortably pop the collar without looking like a dork.
The other being:
8. A Badass Leather Jacket
Bad Boy Personified. The leather jacket is as timeless as clothing itself. The oldest way of covering your body is by layering an animal pelt over the top of it, and that tradition still lives on to this day. Go with a brown racer or flight jacket and you can’t go wrong in terms of outfit.
Combine it with the jeans, boots, and throw on a crisp white T-Shirt, or especially the grey Henley, and you effortlessly summon up the rockstars of old. This outfit is the ultimate in rugged sex appeal.
With these essential 8 pieces, you can be confident that your basics are covered, and that you look sexy in any environment you may find yourself in!