When it comes to talking about fashion, men often get pushed to the side. But most men are just as concerned about their appearance as women are and they need to know the basics of looking good and presenting their best foot forward.
With such a limited amount of guidance for men’s fashion, when you find a great resource you want to stick to it and share it with everyone else! The good news is that there are budget-friendly ways to dress to impress without breaking the bank.
Here are 8 essential clothing items every man should have in his wardrobe and how to use them with style.
8 Basic Essentials for Every Man’s Closet
1. No closet is complete without a good-fitting pair of slim jeans.
Your favorite ratty, lived-in jeans are great for lounging around the house, but you really do need a decent pair to go out in public in. These jeans should fit you well but not tightly and should be slim. Boot cut might work in some situations, but as a whole, they are not an essential item.
Go with classic denim blue, too. There may be a time and place for black or stonewashed (like the ’80s) but for your closet, stick with the tried and true basics.
2. That perfectly pressed white buttoned shirt is a must.
Maybe ironing is not your thing, but you should always have a clean white button-down shirt ready for any unprepared occasion.
Maybe you have an unexpected date night with the potential love of your life, or your boss is calling you in for an impromptu meeting the next day and you are nervous about the outcome. Or maybe you just want to look nice for church or a dinner out. Whatever the case happens to be, that white shirt is the answer to all of those situations.
Just about everything goes with it and it can be worn dressed up or dressed down. It’s definitely the most versatile thing you can own, but you will need to keep it clean and pressed or hit the dry cleaners after every use for optimum benefit.
3. Slim navy blue or khaki trousers are for all occasions.
Jeans are almost everyone man’s favorite choice of pants to wear, but they really just are not for every event. For those questionable occasions when you are not quite sure if jeans are the right choice, or for those definite times when you need to look nicer, turn to a quality pair of navy blue or khaki trousers.
These trousers are also versatile and pair well with your white buttoned-down shirt, vests, t-shirts, jackets, and just about any nice top that you want to wear with them. Watch the shoes though – penny loafers and nice sneakers will work, but flip-flops and sandals with your trousers are a fashion faux pas.
You really only need one pair of khaki or navy blue trousers if you don’t get out of your jeans much. If you only have the one pair, though, you need to make them last by buying top brands that will stand the test of time and keep them pressed and clean.
You can purchase designer trousers for a discount now, so you don’t have to go broke to add this item to your wardrobe. You can find additional information on how to shop high-end on a low-end budget here.
4. Basic sneakers.
You have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to men’s sneakers. You can go wild and crazy with your high tops, adding inches to your height with the mega cushion on the soles for better performance or speed. You can buy your favorite colors and designs, too.
All of these options are great, but they can’t be your only pair of sneakers. Keep a pair of basic, well-made and designed, clean white sneakers in your closet for those occasions when your old, worn pair isn’t quite the look you are going for.
5. Tan dress shoes for the special events.
Tan dress shoes go with just about every color of trousers, so they will pair brilliantly with your khaki or navy pants. Make sure they are well-made by buying designer at low costs. Try a pair of derbies, penny loafers, or lace-ups, but splurge for these shoes, even if you rarely use them.
6. A clean, good quality white t-shirt is key.
This t-shirt goes with absolutely everything. But here’s the catch. You can’t use it for everything.
If you need a t-shirt to work on the car or the yard, this is not your shirt. If you need a t-shirt to eat messy pizza and greasy chicken wings or tacos in, this is not your shirt.
Make an investment in something that is high-quality and then only wears it on the occasions when it’s not going to get destroyed. Keep it dry-cleaned, too, because if you are using higher quality material and just washing and drying it as per your normal, it’s not going to last long.
7. A clean, good quality navy blue t-shirt, too.
That white t-shirt is great, but sometimes white is a little nerve-wracking to wear out to a nice dinner. Or it is not quite the look you are going for. No problem! You can buy the same exact high-quality shirt in navy blue and rotate wearing them!
8. A basic suit.
Suits are overlooked by many men because they can dress casually for work and play. But no one ever regrets keeping a universal, basic, single-breasted navy blue suit in their closet in case it is ever needed.
Essential Items Don’t Have to Be Expensive Items
The biggest block for most men in accumulating these items into their closet is spending big money on clothes or shoes that they are not going to use daily. The second thing is – let’s face it – they hate shopping.
Good news! Both of those obstacles are easily overcome by visiting discount online shopping sites. Easy, inexpensive, and done from the comfort of your phone. There’s no excuse anymore, so go out today and find those 8 essential items to beef up your wardrobe!