Men's Short Hairstyles
Men's Mid-length Hairstyles
Men's Long Hairstyles
Men's Curly Hairstyles
Men's Black & Afro Hairstyles
Celebrity Hairstyles
Introduction
So with the basics for casual wear and suits out of the way I thought it was time for another ’6 items’ piece. Last time we ran you through the pieces that every guy should have in his wardrobe so this time I thought I’d run through items that you maybe hadn’t thought about until now but are still none-the-less essential additions to your growing wardrobe. I have also tried to give mention to a few more accessories this time around because a lot of you guys have been asking for articles on them so I thought this would be a good foundation to build upon.
The Line-Up
- A Pair of Tailored Shorts - this would be the main crime of the summer I feel and there are plenty of articles on this site to rectify this solution. But just remember that, just as having them too long can mean running the risk of looking like a billabong surfer, too short also can see you running the risk of trying to be an 80′s music icon or, even worse, a 70′s pornstar. Stick with a pair that fall just above your knee and are as slim as you would have a normal pair of suit trousers. I would recommend staying away from the camo that most guys are so fond of and try out a pair in navy, camel or white.
- A White Pocket Square - thank the US TV Series Mad Men for this one or the fact that most designers are harking back to 50s and 60s for inspiration, but nothing smartens up your suit jackets or blazers like a pocket square. A plain white one is best to stick to for the moment as it goes great with any shirt you wear with it. And make sure it is made from cotton not silk, it was designed to soak up sweat after all.
- A Brown Strap Watch - I remember reading somewhere that the rule is to have a black strap watch for when you work and a silver bracelet watch for when you play. I don’t really buy into that. Or rather I can’t afford to buy into that. So instead go ahead and purchase one with a brown watch with a normal sized face. Simple, understated and versatile as always.
- Sunglasses - now this is a huge lake to even start to dip my toe in but let’s throw a basic rule out there first of all. Put those wrap around skinny framed ski sunnies in the bin. Now. Any sunglasses that look like wear designed for running or any kind of sport can go away too. Now get yourself in one of the three designs that really matter; wayfarer, aviator or the classic Persol style. For the last, get it in tortoise shell for the true style factor, the other two should always always be black.
- A Tie Bar - the simplest way of smartening up any look and hopefully a way to encourage you all to start wearing ties more often. I was going to say all the time but baby steps right? The tie bars that are available at the moment come in two varieties, clip on or slide. I would recommend the slide because the clip one varieties perforated teeth will start to tear at the material of your tie and eventually ruin it.
- Plaid Dress Shirt - final point is just a quick little tip for the autumn ahead of us as well. Now that you have got your plain and striped shirts sorted for the office, this is the ideal time to pick up a plaid dress shirt to add a new spin to your established suit combinations. Try to keep the plaids under control and not too big in size and always anchor it with a solid dark tie and suit. You won’t regret it.
So there you have it guys, another quick check list (see the other items: here and here) to see how you match up. If you don’t have any of these items, then start considering them! However, when it comes to the sunglasses and watch, hold off for a few more months because I have a feeling a few articles on them might be heading your way soon which might help you narrow down your choices.
Until next week guys,
Matt Allinson
New Season Examples
Obviously you will all have your own personal preferences about style, colours and brand, but here are a few examples of the items we have described above that you can get your hands on today online…
Men's Fashion Basics – Part 27 – How To Wear A Tux
Men's Fashion Basics - Part 25 - Dressing Down a Suit
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Nice article as usual, really like all the articles in your series Matt. I really like the use of tiebars but the ones you have featured are quite expensive, I’m fortunate enough to have received a gold one from my grandmother that was her husbands, I think vintage and charity stores are the place to look for tie bars.
Could you maybe do an article about using scarfs informally and formally and include examples that can be used in both situations (the silk mod kind i’m thing of) thanks and keep up the great work, much appreciated :)
You’ve knocked my next 3 intended purchased right on the head.
Im currently on the look-out for a strap watch [preferably black but brown is an option], a silver tie bar & a smart dark blue plaid shirt/gingham shirt.
I’ve got the first two pretty much sorted with a shortlist of 2/3 to chose from by payday but for the life of me i can’t find any decent ginghams… ideally i want want v.similar to the one young ed westwick is wearing but maybe with slightly smaller plaids, any suggestions.
Wayfarer only in black? Naa, they look great as tortoise shell too! It’s a shame you said that because I think it’s the only faux pas you made in this article.
To James,
Have you tried looking for smart plaid shirt/gingham shirts on debenhams as they have some, like this one for instance:
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_46497+0030192_-1?breadcrumb=Home%7EMen%7EShirts
welllll. I have tortoise shell wayfarers, but they’re the unisex ones with the thinner legs, I think they look pretty good. I tend to wear more earthy colours than black so they suit everything I have.
And what about my favorite peace from mens wardrobe? A very very good bag!
Im am astonished as to how similar our minds work!
Very good article and an amusing read.
Half way through the article I realised that out of the 6 new looks, my closet only lacked one. The tie bar is on the top of my ‘must buy’ list. And i must say, seeing Ed Westwick wear make it much more appealing.
However. To be very honest and with no disrespect, i just want to point out that, the last look on the list (the plaid shirt), though a good idea, looks a little out of place (strictly speaking of the last image of the 2 plaid shirts). They just look too ginormously checkerd and am sorry to say will ruin the appeal of your suit and attire alike.
Aah and yes, considering that the youth set the trend and its time for ‘the youth’ to head to college, maybe a messenger bag should be on the ‘essential list’.
Just a thought.
Hi Pavan,
I understand what you mean about checks being too big, but for now with most of the new collections not being released for A/W, we had to pick from what was available online and wanted to give our readers a visual idea of what they are looking for. I have seen a lot of large check plaid shirts in the forthcoming collections (and preview shows) which actually looked great when mixed with a suit. It is all about personal preference and style.
Welcome to the site though, I hope you enjoy the articles!
I know what you mean. Finding precisely what you want canbe practically impossible on the internet.
Either way,the look is worth a shot then, i figure.
And thank you for the welcome!
I hope my criticism is welcome too!
We are always open to suggestions and criticism Pavan, everyone is entitled to their point of view… it is what makes personal fashion and style so diverse!
The article is awesome :)) I was wondering can you give us and some advice on theme scarves , like them a lot
Where can I get a good normal short tie bar from? They’re impossible to find on even Ebay and Amazon. I’m not talking massive 50mm ones but instead like what Ed Westwick is wearing above or Zach Efron in his GQ shoot. Thank you.
callum – i found slim tie bars on amazon- they are the clip on type, if you want slide on i cannot help. i do not have a problem with my clip on tie bars – they have never ruined the material of my ties but perhaps i have just been lucky. On the subject of ties , are standard or slim most fashionable at the moment? Some people are saying that slim have had their day but i still see a lot about