Many people nowadays complain about not having go-to pieces, as most of the clothes they own are either outdated or do not fit any occasion. This is why we believe that it is very important to know how to buy timeless and versatile clothes.
Following a few guidelines can help you find clothes that will go with almost anything, that will be appropriate for most occasions and that will last a long time.
Knowing where to shop is also helpful. Some brands have made it their goal to sell only strong, reliable, versatile and timeless pieces which can become those go-to pieces every man needs.
One of those brands is the all-American brand Osmium, which is named after the rarest and densest element. Isn’t it great how much fashion can teach you?
What really sets Osmium apart from other brands is the fact that they make highly long last products. Their items are thought not to go out of style too soon and are made from high-quality fabrics that will not tear apart easily. Currently, they are also creating a footwear line which will consist of dress casual shoes that will feature a removable foot-bed that will ensure an increased comfort. We really like them and feel that they are a great source of inspiration when it comes to timeless and versatile clothes.
In this guide, we will be looking at three easy, yet impactful things you can do to shop for timeless clothes, wherever you choose to shop, both on and offline.
Our tips are not unbreakable rules, but rather guidelines you can use if they fit your needs.
Shop wisely
One of the biggest shopping mistakes we’ve seen people do is buying things they can’t use or buying things that are too expensive.
The key to a sustainable wardrobe is to think and buy in outfits. Whenever you buy something, ask yourself “Do I have something to wear this with?” If you are just started shopping, then you should always consider the types of outfits you want to buy and what they are composed of. Don’t buy something you will never wear or that doesn’t go with anything in your wardrobe. When you are putting together an outfit in your head or on a piece of paper, it doesn’t need to be too precise. You can make short lists that will describe your outfits, such as:
Neutral pant
Printed shirt
Or
Jeans
Solid color shirt
Cardigan
After making a few such lists, you will be able to see that the items repeat themselves. Neutral pants might come up five times, but you don’t actually need five pairs of neutral pants, you can simply have two that you will incorporate in five outfits. The same goes for jackets, sweaters, cardigans and shoes. You don’t really need many pieces to have many outfits.
Invest in timeless pieces
Following a trend can be fun, but investing too much in trends can have a negative impact on your finances and on your wardrobe, as you risk turning your closet into a museum of trends – but you won’t have anything to wear today. We recommend keeping a balance between trendy and timeless pieces. For men, timeless pieces are clothes that can be worn today or in ten years and still look good. For example, a good suit that has a classic cut is definitely an investment piece.
When it comes to timeless pieces, these usually feature the following characteristics:
a) A design that has been around for a while. The Osmium clothes we were talking about are the perfect example of timeless garments: they are inspired by old designs that never went out of fashion, they have been updated, but not too much, therefore making them wearable and “in style” for years. Therefore, classic shirts, vests, simple pants and jackets are all timeless go-to pieces.
b) Most timeless pieces usually come in neutrals. In fashion, neutral colors are colors that can be paired with absolutely any print, pattern, texture or non-neutral. The most common neutral colors are: gray, black, white, ivory, tan, khaki, beige, brown, dark blue, etc. The reason why many timeless pieces are neutrals or basic solids is because certain patterns or prints, as well as different shades of different colors can be parts of trends that fade away. Paisley might be in now, but in six months it might be out and become a reference to the past. This is why we recommend that you get both strong neutrals and solids as well as printed garments and mix them up together.
Classic suits, dress shoes such as oxfords or wingtips, leather jackets, jeans, simple-cut pants, classic dress shirts and blazers are all timeless pieces that can make you look great and will probably last for a long time.
Buy versatile pieces
To make sure you will have a go-to wardrobe, you should always consider investing in versatile pieces. Versatile pieces are clothes that can be used to make many combinations. For example, a pair of yellow pants is not something you can easily match to anything, but a strong pair of jeans or a neutral dress shirt will go with almost anything, both in terms of design and color.
Solid-neutral and solid-color pieces are usually the most versatile clothes, followed by neutral-patterned clothes and color-patterned or printed items (in this order).
If you want to make sure that you don’t have a wardrobe that is boring or depressed, buy pieces from all four categories, but make sure that you have some strong go-to basics, such as at least one pair of neutral pants, two neutral shirts and a neutral jacket.
For a safe bet, but to make sure that you are always stylish and elegant, we have a simple tip: You can invest in neutral, versatile pants, such as dark-wash jeans, neutral khakis or chinos and a series of colorful and printed shirts. This way, you will be able to make sure that any shirt from your wardrobe will always go with any pair of pants and you will be able to create an outfit in five minutes in the morning.
For more visual interest, you can choose pieces that will add volume and depth to your wardrobe. A vest worn over a dress shirt is always a nice touch and will look deeper than a wearing just a shirt.
When you are shopping, always remember to choose quality over quantity.
It is better to buy better pieces than many pieces. Buying less clothes, but of better quality is always better and more economical than buying many, cheap pieces.
Following these tips will help you have a sustainable and easy-to-manage wardrobe, on which you will be able to rely at any moment of the day.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
How to create your own capsule collection
Less is more: A man’s guide to minimalist elegance
P.S. What are your tips on buying sustainable, timeless clothes? Share your thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!
6 replies on “Buying Versatile and Timeless Clothes: A Practical Guide (B)”
I love the three-piece outfit with the belt, really cool!
We really like it too, glad you enjoyed it just as much!
Great clothes, Id love the vest!
We like it very much too! If you want to buy it, you can get it here: osmium.com/collections/outerwear/products/tradesman-vest
So being only trendy is not the best…
It can be an option, if this is what is best for you, but then you would need to replace all your clothes twice a year.