Every tool kit needs a hammer, wrench, pliers, tape measure and screwdriver. They’re the essential pieces for almost all projects. A man’s wardrobe has essential pieces, and without them, it’s hard to ensure you’re well dressed in every situation. The best way to do this it to think about the various environments you find yourself in every year, and how you should dress for them. Every man should understand how to build the foundation for a masculine wardrobe.
Every day Masculine Wardrobe
A mix of polo shirts, v-neck t-shirts, a few Henleys, and some sweaters should keep you prepared for any type of weather. Look to add masculine colors like black, gray, blue and white. Additionally, mix in a burgundy or dark green as well. Cuts makes really high quality casual shirts that fit extremely well.
Furthermore, two pairs of comfortable jeans (light blue and dark blue) and some loungers is plenty to ensure you won’t ever run out of clean pants. Mack Weldon makes really comfortable, durable loungers. Add a pair of casual sneakers, loafers and waterproof boots to keep your feet comfy and stylish.
Work/Business Casual
We all don’t work in corporate America, but there will be times where we will have to dress business casual, even if you’re in construction. Most job interviews these days require at least this level of attire. Hence, I recommend owning five button down, collared shirts: two white, one blue, one gray, and one other color (light green, lavender or black).
You should also have one blazer (dark gray or dark blue), two belts (one brown, one black) and two pairs of dress shoes (one black, one brown). As for pants, two nice pairs of jeans (one dark blue, one gray) and two pairs of slacks (one khaki/brown, and one dark blue/gray) should do the trick. Joe’s Jeans makes really comfortable, high quality pants. Consequently, this will get you through a full week before having to drop off at the dry cleaners, and won’t break the bank.
Pro tip #1: The color of your socks should match the color of pants you are wearing.
Pro tip #2: Your belt color should match the color of your shoes.
Formal/Wedding Masculine Wardrobe
When considering formal attire, think job interview, a rehearsal dinner, or an engagement party. For this, you’ll likely need a suit. I recommend having two tailored suits; one for the warm weather and one for the cold weather. When you’re in warm weather, your suit is best made from linen material, and is lighter in color (gray or blue). In contrast, the cold weather suit is made of wool, and is either navy blue or dark gray.
Additionally, have a couple white button down collared shirts ready to go, along with a few solid ties (most colors will do). To finish this look, you can use the same dress shoes and belts mentioned earlier in the article. In my opinion, Johnston & Murphy offers the best variety of high quality shoes available.
Formal/Funeral
Unfortunately, the longer you live, the more funerals you will attend. The suit you wear to a funeral will not be the same one you wear to a wedding or work event. Your funeral suit should be black or dark gray / charcoal, avoiding any flashy elements. Keep this, along with black dress shoes, in your closet for those unfortunate events.
Black Tie Optional
If you were attending a wedding, what would you wear? A nice suit, or a tuxedo is pretty standard. If you’ve been following Entering Manhood for awhile, you’ll recall I recommended purchasing a tuxedo for a variety of reasons. The traditional black and white tuxedo never fails, and should be a staple of every man’s wardrobe. You never know when you’ll need it, and it will never go out of style.
Vacation/ Cruise wear
On the flip side, some of the most fun times you’ll experience will be your vacations, and you’ll need appropriate attire for these as well. A couple of patterned shirts, along with two pairs of nice shorts should do the trick. Also, include comfortable sandals, a pair of boat shoes, and some masculine bathing trunks that fit you well.
In summary, you want to look sharp no matter what situation you’re in. Your comfort and confidence are crucial, and being dressed appropriately will solidify this. Above all, understand that your appearance says more about you in seven seconds that you could ever reveal in a conversation. So, if you have any style questions feel free to email me at YourBigBro@enteringmanhood.com.
-Your Big Bro
