Becoming a stylish gent doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank, and it’s also easier than you think. With just a few simple additions to your wardrobe (and ditching the cargo shorts) you too are capable of turning more than a few heads with your style nous.
A white button down shirt
The white shirt is the epitome of versatility. It can go with anything, and anything can go with it. Heading to an interview? White shirt under your suit. Out for a drink with the boys? White shirt and jeans. This is quite possibly the single most important garment in your wardrobe and often the one viewed with derision. It’s just a white shirt after all, right? Try living without one and get back to us.
Simple sneakers
Now when we say simple, we mean simple. A plain pair of white sneakers are incredibly stylish and don’t get the attention they deserve. Sometimes less is more, and this is particularly true when it comes to the soles of your feet. Save the ostentatious high tops for the basketball court where they belong.
Tan shoes
There’s a common misconception among us men that black shoes are the be all and end all of formal footwear. For the office, weddings, interviews, and even date nights in fancy restaurants we can’t shake the notion that our shoes must be black and they must be shiny. Get out of that mindset and start wearing tan brogues with your navy or grey suit or even with your jeans for a classier casual look.
A high-quality white t-shirt
When dress down Friday swings by at the office the chances are that the majority of your male colleagues will arrive in branded t-shirts. There’s nothing wrong with that but these one-time original style statements have become far too common. Stick on a high-quality white t-shirt and a pair of jeans and you’ll be surprised how much you stand out from the crowd.
A beige trench coat
Think more along the lines of Humphrey Bogart than Inspector Clouseau, and you’ll see where we’re heading with this one. The beige trench coat is an excellent spring coat that keeps out the chills and rain on your daily commute to the office. But it’s often overlooked as a casual coat and to be quite honest we’re not sure why? It adds a touch of class to a casual jeans and t-shirt look and looks far better than your usual parka.
A navy blazer
The blazer or sports coat is your get out of jail card for any event where you’re not sure about the dress code. Not too casual to look out of place at a wedding and not too formal for friend’s birthday party, the navy blazer is always a safe bet. You can dress it up or down as much as you like but always add a pocket square.
Stylish sunglasses
You know those awesome Oakley shades you bought for biking and running? Well, that’s what they’re for, biking and running. Please don’t be one of those guys that shows up at the races or a wedding in his sports sunnies. If style is your main dress concern of the day, then your sunglasses should reflect this. Choose a pair of aviators or even retro square style shades and make sure you take them off when you go indoors or when the sun goes down.
A slim pair of chinos
Jeans are great, but everyone has at least five pairs in their wardrobe. So for a slightly different look and a tad more comfort, a pair of chinos is ideal. Nowadays you can get them in pretty much any colour you like, but we’re going to stick with navy blue because it pairs so well with everything.
A navy blue suit
And last but by no means least, the navy blue suit. Now we know that you will probably have a black or charcoal suit in your wardrobe, and if you already have one in navy, then we applaud your sartorial savviness. However, if you don’t then put it at the top of your to-do list. This is one of the most versatile suits you will ever own. Worn with black shoes and a tie it can be quite formal, whereas worn with those tan brogues we told you to buy earlier, it’s downright dapper in the most casual of ways.
We’re not suggesting for a moment that you max out the credit card on all of the above items and, in fact, you probably have quite a few of them already. But if you don’t, then make a list and promise yourself to buy at least two or three each month and in no time you’ll be quite the office style icon.
About the Author:
Jatin Vengurlekar is an Australian authority on mens style and mens fashion, and the CEO of Montagio, a leading boutique mens suit tailor shop in Sydney, Australia. Jatin has been featured on GQ, Huffington Post, Men’s Fitness Magazine, and many other publications. He also posts regularly at the Montagio Men’s Style Blog .
