Sure, this is mostly a blog for women, but in all honesty, my favorite people to style are men! Building a man’s wardrobe can be quite simple with the right ideas to guide you through it. Whether you’re buying a few new pieces for your guy or a dude looking to up his style game, read on for a lesson in dressing like a boss. (Yes, that’s my handsome boyfriend.)
DECIDE ON A BASIC UNIFORM – Don’t try to change your look drastically because you won’t wear what you buy. Instead, stick with what you know you want to wear everyday and build everything else around that. For Evan, it’s:
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Jeans
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Cool shoes
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Button-down shirts
CHOOSE A MAIN COLOR PALETTE & ONE ACCENT COLOR – For your main color palette, I recommend starting with two neutrals so that you can play with all of the shades in between, as well. The accent color is up to you and depends on your work environment, preferences and bravery! For Evan, we chose:
- Neutrals – Navy and Gray
- Accent Color – Magenta
BUY OR PULL FROM YOUR CLOSET THE FOLLOWING BUILDING BLOCKS:
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FIVE SHIRTS – ONE OF THEM WHITE, THE REST IN YOUR COLOR PALETTE – I love these slim fit shirts from J.Crew on men. I buy them at the factory outlet on super-sale. There’s always a deal going on, so you can get them for about $40 each.
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ONE BLAZER in the darkest color of your palette. Example: We chose Navy for Evan because a gray blazer is not as versatile. A navy blazer can slip on over any outfit and immediately add polish.
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ONE V-NECK CARDIGAN in at least one of your colors. This is more about having an extra layer of warmth in cooler temps than anything else. For Evan, we chose this cashmere sweater in both his neutrals because it is lightweight enough to wear under a blazer and easily coordinates with each of his shirts.
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ONE BROWN AND ONE BLACK PAIR OF SHOES – if you’re not a shoe guy, at the very least, have one pair of brown oxfords/brogues/wingtips (I’ll cover the differences in another menswear post!), and one pair of black boots. We buy a lot of Evan’s shoes on uber-discount at stores like Nordstrom Rack.
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ONE BROWN AND ONE BLACK BELT to go with your shoes and for when you choose to tuck in your shirts. Evan wears his shirts un-tucked for a casual vibe unless we’re heading out on a date or to an event.
PULL THE LOOK TOGETHER WITH ACCESSORIES – That’s right, I said accessories – they aren’t just for women! I bought this collection of accent pieces at The Tie Bar knowing that the various pieces and options would allow Evan to customize his look in different ways each day. We’ve shown just three of several looks here. For the accessories, I suggest two each of:
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Socks
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Ties
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Tie clips
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Pocket squares
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Boutonnieres
INVEST IN A GREAT PAIR OF SHADES – a key element to making every guy look confident and sexy! Classic Ray-Bans are always a winner and suit most face shapes.
THE COHESIVE WARDROBE
SAMPLE LOOK 1
SAMPLE LOOK 2
SAMPLE LOOK 3
DETAILS
GUYS!!! You have it so easy. Just a few key pieces and you’re set for the whole season – if not the whole year! More menswear posts to come in the coming weeks and months so stay tuned!
In the meantime, head to J.Crew, The Tie Bar and Nordstrom Rack for your new wardrobe!
Belle
