Style Guide: Wardrobe Essentials For Men

         A few days ago i was going through the 360nobs fashion posts by Tokunbo (i love her work btw) and i saw her post on the "10 fashion must haves for men" which motivated me to write this post. Sometimes It is difficult to keep up with the constantly changing trends in fashion especially if you lead a busy life. You may not be the most fashion-conscious male out there and if you're the one who has to be literally dragged to a mall, you might even think that dressing well doesn't matter. Well, dressing well is an important part of presentation and the good news is that you just need to get a few items in your wardrobe right, and you can get through the entire year in style. I've put together a Men’s Wardrobe Checklist that every man should follow, read the following list and take note of which fashion items are missing from your wardrobe :).

A WELL TAILORED SUIT – Black,navy blue and gray. It does not matter if you have to dress up for work or not, you will need these suits, they are the essentials. Even if it's a "once a year" occasion, it's embarrassing to feel out of place and look like a cheapskate without a suit.

DRESS SHIRT - A dressy shirt is a must-have for suits and/or dressy pants for more formal occasions or casual as well. It's a classic article that will never go out of style.Go for a slim or semi-fitted style with your button down.I recommend both a white and blue dress shirt for versatility.

 BLAZER - Blazers are used to make a fashion statement. A blazer that fits well can come in handy all round the year. A black, classic grey or navy blue blazer is a must have in every male wardrobe, and can be used to create versatile formal and casual looks. You can team them with a pair of jeans or khaki pants apart from the standard trousers.

BLACK SHOE/ BELT- One of the biggest fashion no-nos is to mismatch the color of your belt with that of your shoes. Wearing black shoes and a black belt is a fashion fundamental and will bail you out for any occasion, whether it's casual or formal. A good pair of shoes will last a long, while if you take good care of them, and a belt will likely last for many years.Buy plain derby or Oxford lace ups. After that you can extend your collection with some brogues,

TIES (BOW OR LONG TIES) -  A tie is a fashion essential because it complements the suit. From the broad printed, patterned ones to the thin-barely-there variants in mono-color or stripes. It is important to have a variety of ties to coordinate with other items in your wardrobe or just match your mood. Also, if you wear suits every day, you should buy a trendy tie every season.

THE BAG - Following recent trends, not only women carry bags anymore; Men now carry bags and even in a more stylish manner. Before, most men, no matter their sexual orientation, personal style or level of comfort with their masculinity, don’t really want to look like they’re carrying a purse nevertheless man bags have come to stay.

WRISTWATCHES - The sole purpose of a wristwatch is to tell the time. However, it is no longer a tool for people to know time today. A good-looking accessory helps a person to have a good image. As one of the most important accessories for men, it decides whether a man leaves good impressions to others or not. If the timepiece he wears is a high-end piece which is made by a famous manufacturer, most people would consider it as a wealthy and successful person. 

COLOGNES - Every man needs to have a cologne as a wardrobe essential. Colognes also have a way of boosting men's confidence as it makes them smell good.. The masculine scent just always does the trick, its a confidence booster.

QUALITY JEANS - This is a piece that was actually made with men in mind. They look great, durable and appropriate to wear all year round.  You just need to get a couple of denim jeans either blue or black will do.Stay away from jeans that are too skinny or tight or too long. 

 KHAKI TROUSERS - Yes, I'm talking about style, but comfort cannot be compensated on. Khakis are comfortable and stylish. They are a part of casual dressing and can be teamed with shirts and T-shirts or even denim shirts. Choose a pair of khaki pants that are neither too baggy nor too skinny. They are commonly called CHINOS. They come in different colours too.

SOCKS - Socks constitute an important part of your overall attire. Just because they will be hidden underneath your trousers and inside your shoes, you CANNOT not pay attention to the socks that you are wearing. A very important rule is that the colour of your socks should match with the colour of your trousers and not your shoes. There are different types of socks from Checked socks to Broad striped socks to Monocoloured pair of socks in self stripes and also printed socks.

POLO SHIRTS - Perhaps no shirt is more versatile than the classic polo shirt. The short sleeve collared shirts provides a timeless look that is appropriate for just about anything from casual Sunday at home to a meeting at the office or a weekend trip visits to friends.

CASUAL SHOES - Adding a pair of any choice shoe to your classic closet is a must, an essential that creates a lasting focus on the feet from admirers. Casual shoes range from loafers to boat shoes to velvet slippers to sneakers. They could be a very good match with jeans or shorts.

POCKET SQUARES - The pocket square is the single most indispensable tool for defining a man of style these days. A simple thing as a good pocket square can do so much to your outfit. Buy few pocket squares. Silk and linen ones. When matching tie and pocket square make sure that they are not from the same material, for example don’t wear a silk tie and silk pocket square.

ACCESSORIES/JEWELRY - When it comes to men's jewelry, one piece can make a big statement. Im talking about chains, bracelets, rings, cuffflinks amongst others. Preferably gold or white gold chains whichever works for you. Im also going to place sunglasses under this category, they are really stylish and add a lot of detail to an outfit.

 

Other essentials include hats/caps, suspenders,slipper/sandals, traditional attire (for the African man).. The list is almost endless but i"ll limit it to these items i've provided. I hope y"all would find the list very helpful and keep your wardrobe up-to-date with these essentials (if you don't already have them all).Your comments on this are welcome :)

P.S: All items have been listed in no particular order.

Till next week guys, and always remember Whatever you do today, be fashionable! Make a statement! Own the room!