As an excellent post by friend and fellow blogger “T” pointed out earlier this week (dig the link here), it seems like the art of sartorial-ism has vanished into the dark recesses of yesteryear. What’s more, the new wave of “style” that appears to be permeating every inch of American culture, both here and abroad, is seemingly composed of bedazzled t-shirts, rhinestone jeans, baggy sweatpants, ill-fitting cargo shorts, rubber sandals with socks, and all sorts of other “Fraternity couture” (and ladies, you aren’t doing much better. Dig my own post on women’s style [or lack thereof] here).
It is, for lack of a better term, abysmal.
A lot of it is born out of laziness (as “T” pointed out) and a lot of it is born out of sheer ambivalence. But there are some guys out there who just…don’t get it. They want to look good. They really do.
They just don’t know how.
And so, they push onward and spend an inordinate amount of money on blousey, baggy, dress shirts and square-toed dress shoes and come out looking just as bad as their Ed Hardy counterparts.
But there’s hope.
It isn’t to say that this is just a matter of vanity. As a well-dressed man myself (hey, I never said I was modest), I can attest to the importance of dressing with a sense of personal style (and please note: dressing stylishly and in style are two very different things). I never set foot outside the house without looking my personal best. When I know I look good, I make more sales, get more numbers, and have much more confidence in general. I know this might not appear to be immediately linked to dating, but consider this: while the clothes may not make the man, the man can go a long way in making the clothes.
The following are 5 items every well-dressed man should have in his arsenal. And, to dispel the myth that dressing with style costs a small fortune, I’ve taken the liberty to include links to the best place to pick each of the items up at a reasonable price. So, without further ado:
5 Style Essentials for Every Man’s Wardrobe
- A Slim, Black Tie:
Take a page from Jay Baruchel’s playbook and pair it with a crisp, white dress shirt and you can’t miss. 5 o’clock shadow and slim-fitting grey suit optional, but recommended.
Where to Get the Look:
Where else but the one and only Tie Bar? They handcraft their own ties and produce some of the most stylish, affordable neck-wear in the business.
Solid Black Skinny Tie: $15.99 (And if you really want to get daring [and channel your inner James Bond], try picking the same tie up in knitted silk. It goes with everything the solid silk tie does, but has some seriously added flair. Plus, it’s perfect for summer (and perfect for pairing with our next style essential, which is…)
- A Slim-fitting Two-Button Navy Blazer:
Add a little sprezzatura to your wardrobe with one of the longest standing style staples in history; the navy blazer. Do like this gentleman and ditch the gold buttons and opt for a form-fitting number that flatters your physique. Pair it with jeans (a different shade of blue, please) and loafers for an easy, afternoon-in-Milano look, or dress it up with gray trousers and that newly-purchased skinny black tie of yours for the office.
Where to Get the Look:
The home for preppy staples, of course: J. Crew. Ludlow Two-Button Navy Blazer: $365.00
(I know what some of you are thinking; “$365 for a jacket!?” Consider it an investment. Use it as an anchor for your whole wardrobe. Wear it year round. If you take good care of a jacket like this, it will last you as lifetime. I’ve had mine for four and a half years now, and it’s only gotten better looking with age).
- A Pair of Wayfarer Sunglasses:
Do like James Franco here and pair your Wayfarers with everything, from a fitted cotton tee and leather jacket in the fall to a seersucker suit in the summer. Just don’t wear them indoors; you’re not Jay-Z.
Where to Get the Look:
While Ray-Ban did it first, Knockaround does it cheaper. You can’t go wrong with a pair of the original Wayfarers, but for the budget-conscious gentlemen, the $14.00 Jet Black/Smoke Wayfarers from Knockaround are hard to beat. Pick up a couple of extra pairs for when you inevitably sit on one.
- Dark Blue Straight Leg Jeans:
Follow Jake Gyllenhaal’s lead and keep your denim simple, slim, and dark. No weird washes. No “distressing.” No flap-pockets, no stitching, no patterns, and ABSOLUTELY no “bedazzling.” Pair them with everything, and wear them as much as possible. Avoid washing them too much; when they start to get a little ripe after three or four wears, turn them inside out and soak them in a bath tub full of cold water with a little baking soda. Wear them until they’re dry and fit you like a second skin.
Where to Get the Look:
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Levi’s 501’s are the quintessential pair of jeans, and cut exactly how you want them: straight and to the point. Buy them in the so-blue-it’s-black “Dark-Aged” wash.
Levi’s 501 Original Fit Jeans: $69.50
- Cartier “Tank” Wristwatch
Sometimes you truly can’t beat the classics. Cartier’s famous Tank wristwatch (inspired by Renault’s newly-designed tanks in WWII, and worn here by french actor Alain Delon) is easily one of the most versatile timepieces in the world. With its simple, elegant face and black alligator skin band, it goes just as well with khaki’s and a jean jacket as it does with a tux. Though the original can be acquired for a princely sum, modern watchmakers have started drawing inspiration from Louis Cartier’s 1917 design, and there are several less expensive versions out there. I wear a discontinued model by Kenneth Cole (black face, brushed aluminum bezel, black leather strap) as my go-to timepiece, a birthday present I received from my sister about four years ago. Citizen makes a particularly handsome model, and they’re some of the most reliable time pieces around.
Where to Get the Look:
Eco-Drive Strap by Citizen: $135.00
So there you have it. Five stylish, affordable pieces that will make you look like a million bucks while spending considerably less.
And remember:
“Never be afraid to be the best dressed man in the room.”
M-
(Enjoy this piece? Then make sure you stick around for my upcoming downloadable e-book, “The Art of Good Living: How to Dress, Drink, and Date Like a 21st Century Gentlemen”, available at no cost to anyone who subscribes to the blog!)
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