Men's Fashion: The Essentials

Good evening!! First off, I would like to give a shout out and big thank you to everyone who has been checking out my blog, especially those from out of the country! I appreciate all the views and I hope that at least one thing that I have posted about has helped you in your journey to a better wardrobe, fashion, and style! As always, feel free to leave comments and continue to follow me!

Since I have posted a few more things about women's fashion than men's, tonite will be another post for men. I am going to talk about the staples that all men should have in their closet (and the pictures below to help display these looks).

Where to begin....how about shirts? For men, a few basic shirts will go a long way when on a tight budget or if space is limited. These shirts include:

• plain colored t-shirts(v-neck or rounded)
• polos
• printed tees
• long sleeve printed tee
• button up long sleeve/short sleeve
• WHITE(no excuses)
• plaid
• or other prints

 

And due to the fact that they are close in relationship to shirts, the jacket-type things that should be in a man's closet is:

• a sweater vest
• a sweater
• plain
• printed(argoyle is a popular and good print to go with)
• a casual partial zip-up sweatshirt
• a sports/suit jacket
• a plain vest

 

Now for the pants. Every man should have at least one pair of:

• dark wash jeans(you can NEVER go wrong with a good pair of dark wash jeans)
• lighter wash jeans
• khakis
• dress pants(whichever color you prefer)
• black
• grey
• brown

With these items you can create a multitude of outfits that can go anywhere from totally casual to completely dressed up with ease. For example......

This is just for one of those days when you wake up late and have enough time to throw something on and walk out the door. By throwing on this type of t-shirt, you get a little bit more of a put together look and with no effort(so much better than those old ratty t-shirts).

This is for something simple for school or going out dancing at your favorite rodeo. Who doesn't like a guy in a great button up and dark jeans with boots?

Again....for those who just don't feel like looking as put together as the previous outfit and just need something quick and on the go for lunch out with the bros at Wing Stop(or wherever you enjoy eating with your buds).

For the classic black button up-pair it with your dark was jeans and your dress shoes and you are ready to be catching all the girls. So classy this is...put a tie on and you are set to go for a date!

Here's a take on the white button up that every man should have in his closet-NO EXCUSES!!! Put one of your plain t-shirts under it with the dark wash jeans and here's another casual look.

If you don't really care for just plain t-shirts, put the printed tee under the white shirt and you get the same look.

 

The polos.....a polo and khakis are great for a job or for the fraternity you are in if there is something you need to look a little nicer for(plus you are already for the round of golf afterwards).

If you are just really into your polos and don't care for t-shirts that much, pair it with your jeans and you have yet again another casual look.

An example of what to wear with khakis...super simple choice is your white button up. This also makes for another good work outfit.

 

 

Though the picture isn't very clear, this is a printed button up with a pair of jeans. It goes very well with the theme of something simple and easy to throw on in the mornings to look put together.

Here's another version of the printed button up and printed t-shirt the proper way. Whichever shirt you pick to have the "bolder print" make sure that the other shirt is a more subtle print so as to not make your outfit look extremely tacky.

I know it isn't summer yet, but there are those guys who like to wear shorts year round no matter what the weather is. So for you men who are like that....any of these shirts will go good with a good pair of khakis. Just know you will get crazy looks for wearing shorts in the middle of winter.

Now to get a little dressier....pair your button up shirt with the sport/suit jacket with your dark wash jeans for a business casual feel. If you want a little extra dress, you can put on a bowtie(like shown below) or a tie.

 

Here is a great example of an argoyle sweater that should be in the closet. You can wear this a couple different ways. 1) you can put a t-shirt underneath it and be casual, or 2) you can put a button up underneath it and have more of a business casual look. For pants, go with either the dress pants(black would look best with this vest), dark wash jeans, or depending on the color you could possibly do khaki with this as well. A very multifunctional item of clothing.

 

And JCPenny does a fabulous job of a classic casual look that is a hit with the girls. I think it is pretty self explanatory as for what you need, but I will go ahead and tell you: button up, pull-over sweater, and dark wash jeans.

Here is another eye catcher and look for the business casual Friday's or even church. The suit jacket, printed button up, and dark wash jeans create this amazing look.

 

I know I just covered a lot, but you now have several looks to put together and wear, plus a variety to pick from for whatever the occasion may be. A final thought is that although it isn't a cheap thing to purchase, investing in a suit is well worth it. Not only will you be able to achieve several of these looks, but it can also be worn for interviews and other events that are more formal than business casual. All the outfits that are shown are from Old Navy and JCPenny. Though they are not the cheapest type of clothing, they are good brands and you can easily find them at a store such as Plato's Closet for much cheaper. I continue to hope that I help you in your journey to creating an amazing wardrobe selection and remember...always dress for the job or goal you want to achieve-success in your dating life or your job may be around the corner; one of these ensembles could put you one step closer to that accomplishment!

Good luck!!

Your Fashionista,
Justina