If you are like most men I know, you
probably don’t care much about your wardrobe, or the lack of one. A large
majority of guys would spend no more than 15 minutes while shopping for clothes
in a departmental store. And even then, they probably have the exact color, cut
and size of what they want to buy decided in their heads hours before they even
arrive at the store. For them, a shopping expedition is more like a ‘store
pick-up’ than a ‘browse, try on and select’ activity.
However, the last decade has seen the
birth and rise of a new species -the metrosexual male. Here’s a guy who not
just cares deeply about how he looks, he’s also pretty influential and is
dictating the style choices of millions of men around the world with his
trend-setting fashion sense.
While the average male may have a
tough time keeping up with the mani-pedi routine that is now a de-facto part of
the metrosexual male’s grooming regimen, he definitely needs to buckle up a lot
more in the fashion department.
If you’d rather die before being a
slave to high fashion, your laziness is no excuse anymore for not having the
most basic of clothing items available at any time of the year. I have some
personal favorites on this list, like the classic custom embroidered Polo Shirts, lace up dress shoes or even the most
versatile item of clothing of them all – a crisp white shirt.
So let’s dive right into the rest of
the list and remember, the next time you go clothes shopping, make sure you’ve
ticked off all of these items without fail.
1. Khakis
An ode to weekend dressing, khakis are
probably the one pair of pants that all guys from nerds to himbos, from your
local church pastor to the CEO of a Fortune 500 company own. For good reason
too. Khakis have that amazing ability to go from casual lounge around the house
wear to semi-formal business attire in minutes with just a switch in the shirt
you pair with them.
If you own no other pants than jeans,
then at least get one good pair of khakis to see you through the fancy events
as well as for a refreshing change on a weekend out with friends. Make sure you
avoid the 80’s style khakis with tons of pleats in the front and a baggy cut.
Keep the silhouette simple and sleek and you’ll fit right in with the ‘it’
crowd.
2. White Cotton Shirt
A crisp white cotton shirt is SUCH an
essential that it’s almost a no brainer that it figures on this list. From
wearing it under a suit to wearing it by itself on any pair of formal trousers,
to teaming it with khakis or even going with blue jeans and a white shirt, this
chameleon of a fashion essential handles it all with amazing flair.
Invest in a good quality cotton shirt–fine
Egyptian cotton is great, but if you can’t afford the price tag that comes with
it, go for regular cotton. Whatever you do, DO NOT make do with a polyester
blend shirt, because it just screams out ‘cheap’ from under whatever jacket you
might hide it under.
3. Polo T-Shirt
As mentioned earlier, there is a
certain charm about polo shirts that make them irresistible to me (and most
other women!). Polo shirts have been a staple go-to for casual wear for generations
of men, it’s only recently that they have seen such a huge comeback in fashion
circles. A large part of the credit for that ought to go to Ralph Lauren’s custom
embroidered polo shirts.
The cut is now sleeker, there is
usually a distinctive embroidered patch on the left chest and the pockets that
used to adorn older polo shirts are now missing in action. Nobody seems to be
complaining though, as the classic polo shirt re-imagined for the 21st
Century, gives guys a chance to look polished and sophisticated even without
going the buttons and shirts route.
4. Navy Blue Blazer
A perfect accessory for men who hate
the three piece suit, the blue blazer is a life saver in more ways than one.
While a navy blue blazer looks dashing with a pair of black or grey trousers in a
formal setting, throw on a blue blazer over a pair of khakis for a lunch date
or a meeting with your girlfriend’s parents and it still manages to live up to
the occasion.
You could even pair a navy blazer over
jeans for a relaxed, yet man-about-town look which is a great bonus for any
guy–metrosexual or not.
5. Classic Blue Jeans
However, the classic blue jeans in the
mould of the Levis 501 original are what I refer to here. This is a pair of
jeans that is guaranteed to never go out of style. It goes well with almost
anything you wear with it, unlike many other ripped or stonewashed denim
options. So go ahead and consider this one an investment – an all season pair
of jeans that looks great no matter what.
6. Gray Suit
Many guys, especially ones that do not
work in offices with strict dress codes sulk at the thought of wearing a suit.
Their only concession to a suit is probably a basic black suit that they bought
to wear at someone’s wedding or funeral. Time to grow up a tad bit.
Your black suit is probably more
boring than last week’s news. Pick up a well-tailored gray suit – it will serve
the purpose of having a suit in your wardrobe perfectly well, while helping you
stand out from the rest of the crowd that is very likely dressed in boring
black suits!
7. Dress Shoes
Just as many guys balk at the thought
of suits, dress shoes come a close second. Tragically, that’s an item of
footwear that you simply cannot do without. You may be able to borrow a tie
from a friend or a nice jacket from your Dad, but how will you find nice dress
shoes in your exact size before that all-important interview you are scheduled
for?
Turning up in a pair of sneakers or
casual leather shoes is career hara-kiri (unless you are interviewing for a
position at the local burger joint). I would recommend investing in a pair of
classic black lace up shoes that go with every color of suit and can be worn
just as well with only a formal shirt and trousers too.
It’s not a very intimidating list.
Make sure you have these seven essentials down pat, and then you don’t really
have to worry about keeping up with the fashionable metrosexual next door. You
would have beaten him with fashion classics that will outlast his skinny, tight
jeans any day.
Guest Article Written for the Apparel Search Fashion Blog by Eva Hines:
Eva Hines is a blogger who frequently
writes on diverse niches like fashion, beauty, and alike. She loves to spend
time with her friends every weekend and is a travel enthusiast. You can connect
with her on Google+