Having good underwear is essential and a good place to start when you are building your wardrobe. The choices you make in terms of underwear are very personal. Each man will decide what type of underwear works best with his style and lifestyle. The debate on whether briefs, boxers or boxer-briefs are better continues, but in the end it all comes down to each individual’s needs. Ask yourself what kind of support you need and you will find your answer: do you need something to support you strongly, or can you deal with something more loose?

Undershirts also fall in the underwear category. They are great pieces to wear, especially if you are wearing dress shirts, as they will absorb your sweat, make your torso look good and they will make you feel well supported as well.

Moreover, even though they would actually fall under the “accessories” category, we can also add socks here. Most men keep their socks close to their underwear and that can work just fine. When it comes to socks, we definitely encourage you to wear colorful socks and interesting styles. However, even though we encourage you to have fun with your socks, one rule must not be forgotten: white socks are for sports and physical activities only! Don’t wear white socks with casual clothes, regardless of the color palette you are creating (white is a neutral, so it can be replaced with gray, tan, or khaki, so you have no “matching” excuse) or of the setting you find yourself in.

 

 

Casual clothes

Your casual clothes section is most likely to be the largest part of your wardrobe. However, there is not much to say here, as casual means so many things: polo shirts, sweaters, khakis, jeans, casual shirts, blazers, vests, sports jackets, etc. – everything falls in the “casual” department.

The only rule you should remember is that your clothes always need to fit you well. Fitting clothes are clothes that touch your body, without strangling it and without being too loose.  If something is not comfortable and doesn’t look great at the same time, it doesn’t fit! Wearing clothes that are not your size will look terrible, and you won’t look any bigger or smaller. Big men who wear small clothes to appear thinner will look strangled by their clothes. Also, if you are a big guy and wear bigger clothes to appear smaller, you will look even bigger than you are. Thin men who wear baggy clothes will look like they are drowning in their clothes, while thin guys who wear tight clothes will look even smaller. Wearing things that are exactly your size is the only good way to go!

 

 

Semi-formal attire / Suits

We believe that every man should own at least one, if not two go-to suits. If you want to have more suits, that is wonderful and we encourage it! If you are a guy who isn’t much of a suit guy, you should still have at least two suits. In case you fall in this category, we advise you to buy a suit that is very versatile. Neutral suits are usually very versatile; you can’t go wrong with a gray, black, tan, or khaki suit. However, probably the most modern choice is a dark blue suit, which will go with anything and which is something you can wear at both a date and a job interview.

 

Remember that when it comes to suits, there are a few essential rules:

– The jacket should be long enough to cover your bum and zipper.

– The width of the lapel should be the same width as your tie and as your shirt’s collar. The only exception is if you are wearing a very wide lapel, in which case it would be ridiculous if you wore such a wide tie and collar.

– Always leave the lowest button of the jacket unbuttoned. Of course, if you are wearing a one-button suit, you can leave it buttoned.

– When you are sitting down, always unbutton your jacket, and button it when you are standing up.

– Your shirt’s cuffs should pop only about ½ inch / 1,30 cm from your jacket’s sleeves.

– If you are wearing both a tie and a pocket square, these should not match in terms of material and color.

 

 

Sports clothes

Your sports clothes should have a special place in your wardrobe. We encourage you to have as many sports clothes as possible, especially if you engage in physical activities such as playing a sport, running or working out on a frequent basis and need to rotate them a lot. However, your sports clothes need to be kept for sporting activities only! Don’t wear sweatpants if you are not doing sports. Comfort is not an excuse. There are lots of pants, shirts, jackets, and sweaters out there that will feel just as comfortable, but that will make you look a lot more polished.

You should always keep your sneakers and work-out gear clean and tidy – if you sweat in a piece once, you should always wash it before wearing it again.

 

 

Accessories

Accessories are a great way to let people know who you are without having to say one word. Your choices of styles, colors, patterns, textures and materials speak volumes about your personality, your taste and your world view.

In this category falls everything from: ties, pocket squares and watches to cufflinks, bracelets and shoes.

 

When speaking of accessories, there are a few rules you should follow:

– Your accessories should always be proportionate to your body size: Men with bigger bodies should wear bigger accessories, such as wider ties, bigger watches and wider belts, whereas thin men should opt for skinny ties, thin bracelets and narrow belts. Average-size men should wear medium-sized accessories, but sometimes they can wear something larger or smaller as well, it depends from case to case.

– Your tie should touch your belt; it should not be longer or shorter.

– Your shoes should be an exact match to your belt, especially when you are wearing a suit. This will frame your body well and, by adding structure to it, it will make you look more polished and refined.

– You should never wear both suspenders and a belt at the same time. The reason for this is because they both serve the same function, which is to keep your pants from falling, so wearing both will make you look as if you are wearing two blazers.

– If you want to wear metallics, you should know that all metals are neutrals. Therefore, they can be worn with anything and mixed with each other. It’s not a faux-pas to wear both gold and silver at the same time.

 

If you have items from all these categories in your closet, you can start building a versatile and timeless wardrobe. Being organized when it comes to your clothes is key: you will save time, money, as you will know what you have enough of and where you need to add, and you will also be able to structure other aspects of your life as well, as being organized in one area of your life will lead to the ability to organize other areas as well.

Having something from each category will ensure you that you will be one step closer to excellent sartorial moments.

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

Further reading:

12 items a man should have for a basic wardrobe

Buying a versatile and timeless clothes: A practical guide

How to create a versatile wardrobe

A guide to creating a lasting and money-saving wardrobe

P.S. In which category do you have most items in your closet? How do you divide your wardrobe? Is there something else every man should have? 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!