Must Have Items

There are lots of items that can make your closet unique, but there are some items that everyone has to have.

Oxford Shirts
Oxfords are button down shirts. They are very diverse and can be worn in many colors and casually or to fancier occasions.

Oxford Shoes or Loafers
Oxford shoes, not to be confused with Oxford shirts, are any dress shoes with open lacing. Loafers, on the other hand, have no laces and are simply slipped on. Oftentimes the front is adorned with metal clip of some sort. Both are good choices for a dress shoe.

Slim Fit Jeans
Jeans are extremely important because of their ability to be worn with almost anything and almost anywhere. Note the word "almost". Don't try to wear them to a black tie event.

Slim Fit Chinos or Khakis
Chinos and khakis are important for the same reason as jeans, the difference is that they are fancier and should be fitted mire tightly.

Plain Tee/ V-neck
Not only can they be worn as undershirts, but a white/black tee is a classic look that never goes out of style. When in doubt you can always fall back on it.

Suits
We'll have a whole post about suits soon, but until then here's what you need to know. Everyone should own at least one. Take the time to get a bespoke suit or get your suit tailored. It's worth it, but before you dive into the world of suits here are some popular suit colors to consider:
Navy, Gray, Charcoal, Black,
Tan, Vertical Plaid.

Vests
Vests are a very popular piece of men's clothing. They can be worn in a variety of ways. There are Suit Vests, Sweater Vests, and Zip-up Vests. Suit vests and Sweater vests are usually associated with nicer events, while Zip-up vests can be worn to more casual events. However, unlike the sweater vest, a suit vest can be worn casually as well, making you look good at any occasion.

Three Piece Suits
Instead of a Sports Coat with dress pants, a three piece is a combination of a Suit Vest, A Sports Coat, and Dress Pants. A three piece comes in a single unified color/ design. Three pieces are very formal and are the superior suit combination.

Cardigans
A cardigan is a button up sweater. Cardigans come in varieties of colors and types. Depending on what your preference is, they can be thick or tight and well fitting. Slim fit cardigans can go on top of either a casual or formal button down.

Sweaters
Sweaters are commonly worn with formal or casual button downs underneath, along with a tie. Depending on your preference, it can be a V-neck or Crewneck sweater. Either sweater works well depending on the style you are going for.

Polos
Usually you will see these in the summer when a button down is too hot to wear. A polo is a regular T-shirt with a collar and three buttons on the top. A lot of the times, these come in brighter colors so you won't burn under the sun, and to match the bright colors of summer themes.

Flat-Faced Shorts
Commonly known as "Dress Shorts" Flat faced shorts usually have a button, and match to a polo, however they can also go very well with a dress shirt. These shorts often require a belt, since they do not have an elastic waist band. These type of shorts are very often seen in the summer.

Dress Socks
Meant to be worn with formal wear or suits, they come in a wide variety of materials and colors. Colors usually are black, charcoal grey, grey, navy blue, or brown. Lighter shades like tan match lighter clothing. Argyle patterns are the most common pattern on socks. Never wear dress socks with shorts.

Tie/ Bowtie
A tie can make anything look more formal, even casual wear. A tie usually goes together with suits and button downs. There are millions of designs and colors for ties. Darker, plainer ties are more formal then lighter, colorful ones. Bowties are the best choice to wear with tuxedos and are usually black. Ties can quickly change a casual outfit to a formal one.

Just as a reminder, these pieces of clothing are what we recommend you have in your closet, but feel free to adjust as you see fit. Not everyone is the same.

Have any question or concerns? Comment on this post or contact us at suityourselffashion@gmail.com

-Quinn and Mike