Staples of your Wardrobe: A Guide on Menswear Essentials
A lot of people keep ask me what to wear and how to go about managing their wardrobes. After spending considerable time having flings with a lot of clothes, I've come to a few conclusions about how to go with your wardrobe such that you have all the essentials and don't have to depend on buying more clothes. These should be enough to get you through the days, hopefully. It's a guide to the things you must have in your wardrobe so you always have something to wear come any occasion.
Here's a list of your wardrobe essentials for the average joe, not the guys who are into trends or fashion. It's a universal guide.
T-Shirts
For your Tees, go with the basics. A plain white tee is something that will give you the right amount of cool. But the basic grey tee oozes even more cool. So make sure you have both of these tees.
[caption id="attachment_4120" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
White T Shirt[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4119" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Grey t shirt[/caption]
Apart from that, make sure you have a plain tee with stripes on it. It's not a plain and simple tee, but it is the right amount of pattern you need with your tees.
[caption id="attachment_4118" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
striped tee t shirt[/caption]
A big no to slogan tees. A guy wanting to be well dressed should know slogans actually scream "immature," and it's not impressive.
Polo Shirts
Buy a pair of basic polo shirts in two or three colors. Preferably one in yellow, one in blue, and one in maroon.
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="4117,4116,4115" orderby="rand"]
These would look great with your white khaki pants. Or the regular Khakis
Dress Shirts and Casual Button Downs
For your dress shirts, make sure to have two plain white button downs. Apart from that, have a shirt in stripes, the thin kind of stripes. Have one in blue stripes on a white back ground and one in white/lighter stripes on a black background. Also have a black button down. You never know, you might wanna wear that with your tux/suit.
If you're not comfortable with the basic colors, then you can always opt for patterned shirts. The most basic pattern for shirts would have to be the check. You then have the plaid and the gingham, the most basic patterns.
For your casual button downs, tartan/plaid would have to be the best option. Go for that hipster lumberjack kind of red plaid. And if you're into colors, then try something with a mixture of the colors.
A denim button down won't damage your wardrobe either. A basic button down denim is another must have casual wear.
Suits
A black suit. Please. Tuxes are just not meant to be worn everywhere, but you can wear your black suit to even those events where you can wear the tux.
Make sure it is the perfect fit. Else it would make you look really bad.
Ties
Buy a black tie. Not too wide, not too thin. That should get you through. Else, buy one in maroon.
Make sure your basic tie is a silk tie. They look better,.
Jackets
For your formal dinners and parties, you can go for your tried and tested old suit, or you can buy yourself separate jackets. A grey plaid jacket should do. A corduroy jacket in beige would look great too.
A black leather jacket for the winters. Every guy should have one.
A blue denim jacket. Yes, that's also good for your winters.
Dress Pants
Have a pair of black dress pants. They work with a lot of the dress shirts previously mentioned.
Apart from black dress pants, you should also have one in a lighter tone such as beige. A beige pair of dress pants can work formally and as well as casually.
Grey dress pants also work well.
Casual Lowers
Denim. Yes, jeans a must have. There is now a thing called casual business attire, and jeans are sometimes a part of it. For that, you must have two kinds of denim. One in dark blue, other light blue. These two denims are life savers.
Besides this denim, you should have either black chinos or black jeans. Whatever suits you.
Footwear
Now lets start with the formal wear. A pair of black oxfords is a must have. Oxfords are the kind of shoes that are universally acceptable at any event. If you don't like oxfords, you can opt for the patent leather shoes. They give you immediate class. Remember to buy lace ups.
[caption id="attachment_4097" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Oxfords[/caption]
For your casual footwear, buy a pair of trainers in white. Trainers are in, and now can be worn with your suits as well (if you wanna be that bold). A pair of black or blue Chuck Taylors are more than enough.
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="4095,4094,4093"]
Buy yourself a pair of black sandals too. Or brown. Whatever suits you.
Accessories
Watches make great accessories. Do yourself a favor and buy a metal watch. You can buy others, but this one is a must have. As it's a timeless accessory.
Buy a belt in black. Buy another in brown or tan.
There you have it folks. I hope it was helpful.
Images courtesy: Google Images
Here's a list of your wardrobe essentials for the average joe, not the guys who are into trends or fashion. It's a universal guide.
T-Shirts
For your Tees, go with the basics. A plain white tee is something that will give you the right amount of cool. But the basic grey tee oozes even more cool. So make sure you have both of these tees.
[caption id="attachment_4120" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
White T Shirt[/caption][caption id="attachment_4119" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Grey t shirt[/caption]Apart from that, make sure you have a plain tee with stripes on it. It's not a plain and simple tee, but it is the right amount of pattern you need with your tees.
[caption id="attachment_4118" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
striped tee t shirt[/caption]A big no to slogan tees. A guy wanting to be well dressed should know slogans actually scream "immature," and it's not impressive.
Polo Shirts
Buy a pair of basic polo shirts in two or three colors. Preferably one in yellow, one in blue, and one in maroon.
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="4117,4116,4115" orderby="rand"]
These would look great with your white khaki pants. Or the regular Khakis
Dress Shirts and Casual Button Downs
For your dress shirts, make sure to have two plain white button downs. Apart from that, have a shirt in stripes, the thin kind of stripes. Have one in blue stripes on a white back ground and one in white/lighter stripes on a black background. Also have a black button down. You never know, you might wanna wear that with your tux/suit.
If you're not comfortable with the basic colors, then you can always opt for patterned shirts. The most basic pattern for shirts would have to be the check. You then have the plaid and the gingham, the most basic patterns.
For your casual button downs, tartan/plaid would have to be the best option. Go for that hipster lumberjack kind of red plaid. And if you're into colors, then try something with a mixture of the colors.
A denim button down won't damage your wardrobe either. A basic button down denim is another must have casual wear.
Suits
A black suit. Please. Tuxes are just not meant to be worn everywhere, but you can wear your black suit to even those events where you can wear the tux.
Make sure it is the perfect fit. Else it would make you look really bad.
Ties
Buy a black tie. Not too wide, not too thin. That should get you through. Else, buy one in maroon.
Make sure your basic tie is a silk tie. They look better,.
Jackets
For your formal dinners and parties, you can go for your tried and tested old suit, or you can buy yourself separate jackets. A grey plaid jacket should do. A corduroy jacket in beige would look great too.
A black leather jacket for the winters. Every guy should have one.
A blue denim jacket. Yes, that's also good for your winters.
Dress Pants
Have a pair of black dress pants. They work with a lot of the dress shirts previously mentioned.
Apart from black dress pants, you should also have one in a lighter tone such as beige. A beige pair of dress pants can work formally and as well as casually.
Grey dress pants also work well.
Casual Lowers
Denim. Yes, jeans a must have. There is now a thing called casual business attire, and jeans are sometimes a part of it. For that, you must have two kinds of denim. One in dark blue, other light blue. These two denims are life savers.
Besides this denim, you should have either black chinos or black jeans. Whatever suits you.
Footwear
Now lets start with the formal wear. A pair of black oxfords is a must have. Oxfords are the kind of shoes that are universally acceptable at any event. If you don't like oxfords, you can opt for the patent leather shoes. They give you immediate class. Remember to buy lace ups.
[caption id="attachment_4097" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Oxfords[/caption]
For your casual footwear, buy a pair of trainers in white. Trainers are in, and now can be worn with your suits as well (if you wanna be that bold). A pair of black or blue Chuck Taylors are more than enough.
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="4095,4094,4093"]
Buy yourself a pair of black sandals too. Or brown. Whatever suits you.
Accessories
Watches make great accessories. Do yourself a favor and buy a metal watch. You can buy others, but this one is a must have. As it's a timeless accessory.
Buy a belt in black. Buy another in brown or tan.
There you have it folks. I hope it was helpful.
Images courtesy: Google Images