Wardrobe Staples/Essentials - New to SF

So new to the forum, and learning at lot about my previous style and looking to slowly redefine my look with quality and nice clothes I am learning about here at SF. In reading here a short time, I see people mention the newbie over kill with buying everything that looks like a deal and not really going about picking items that match the style and look you're going for.


So without further a due, I ask the SF veterans what are some of the staples you suggest are a must for a newbie starting out. If you want to contribute to my thread, feel free to post a list of items and brands you would start out in. Lastly, I myself am a late 20's male early in his career, not a trust fund kid or hedge fund manager, so please keep that in mind.

What's the standard of dress in your workplace?

Definitely the first thing to do is invest in two pairs of good shoes. They will be a bit expensive, but having two pairs with shoe trees and rotating them, conditioning and polishing will make them last and instantly imrprove any outfit 10 fold. Good shoes make a cheap outfit look expensive, but bad shoes can ruin the best of suits. Look for Crockett & Jones, Alden, Church, Allen-Edmonds. You can often find deals on them. As far as color and style, that is where your personal taste comes into play. I would get one oxford and one derby to start with.

PB is spot on re shoes.
I would suggest finding a good tailor(alterations) in your area. It can be a small shop that does quality work or a larger chain(dry cleaners.) Just make sure that they do good work and listen to what you want. Get to know the owner/tailor. I have been going to the same shop for 25yrs.
Not expensive but they do great work!
Someone once said that a good tailor is more important to a man that a doctor!

Another vote for good shoes. Women look at your shoes first and you need to be alpha. I've had luck with Churchs, Allen Edmonds sometimes, and since I'm a bit of a dandy I also like Louis Vuitton loafers, although that's pushing the $.

You have to face the FACS. Fit, accessories, color, and style. Go to a good tailor and get your measurements. You can get some nice slim fit shirts for reasonable prices, so that's a good place to start. Polo Ralph Lauren was having a sale recently ($75 per shirt). Get custom fit shirts that are your real size not baggy nonsense.

Do you wear a watch? Do so.

Wear darker colors for jackets and lighter for shirts.

Slim fit is the style now but don't go overboard, because you'll end up looking like one of those guys with a giant head.

Hope that helps.

+1 on dress shoes. However, be careful and do not buy any old dress shoes not matter how luxurious and expensive (there is a chance you could do this if you see a good brand of shoes selling for cheap and buying for brand rather than style). I have seen numerous times, a good suit, shirt and tie combo ruined by daft looking shoes even if they did indeed cost $1K upwards.
Choose wisely my friend!

I work at a Fortune 500 company in Corporate Finance. The execs and director level wear suits, but below that level it's business casual and most dress in pretty sloppy business casual attire.

I went ahead a few days ago after some research here, and bought a used pair of AE LLoyd wingtips in Burgundy. I like the style and they were in great shape and the quality is noticeable. I was always a black shoe guy and trying to break that with the burgundy shoes, yet I don't know what slacks to match with the shoes.

On weekends I would like to start throwing sports coats into my wardrobe.

Currently my work attire is dress shoes, slacks, dress shirts and sweaters. I normally wear express slacks, banana slacks and sweaters from both these stores. Certainly would like to start upgrading my style with better brands, although I currently get banana at 50% discount.

Thanks for the advice, I will continue to read and see what items I can start adding to the wardrobe.

Feel free to keep this thread going with more specifics.

Originally Posted by NYliGuy

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, I will continue to read and see what items I can start adding to the wardrobe.

It's definitely going to take time to formulate your own style and reading a lot of threads on MC and searching through old threads will help you on your way. You'll probably buy stuff in the beginning that you'll look back on in a few years and wonder what the hell you were thinking. It's part of the learning process, though.

Originally Posted by NYliGuy

Click to expand...

I work at a Fortune 500 company in Corporate Finance. The execs and director level wear suits, but below that level it's business casual and most dress in pretty sloppy business casual attire.

I went ahead a few days ago after some research here, and bought a used pair of AE LLoyd wingtips in Burgundy. I like the style and they were in great shape and the quality is noticeable. I was always a black shoe guy and trying to break that with the burgundy shoes, yet I don't know what slacks to match with the shoes.

On weekends I would like to start throwing sports coats into my wardrobe.

Currently my work attire is dress shoes, slacks, dress shirts and sweaters. I normally wear express slacks, banana slacks and sweaters from both these stores. Certainly would like to start upgrading my style with better brands, although I currently get banana at 50% discount.

Thanks for the advice, I will continue to read and see what items I can start adding to the wardrobe.

Feel free to keep this thread going with more specifics.


as a fellow newbie, visit the WAYWRN section....this will give you plenty of idea on wardrobe pairings. look for the style that fits your taste...and guaranteed, you find your answers

Three basic rules and in order:

1. Fitment
2. Matching
3. Design (color, pattern, etc)

On to a basic wardrobe:

Basic Tee-s:
Black, white and grey (Round and v-neck)

Pants:
2 pair of jeans (Proper fitment and dark blue)
Can be used at week-ends and going out with a blazer.
A pair of black dress pants and a grey pair of dress pants

Shoes:
A pair of boots (Chelsea)
A pair of classic dress shoes (Oxford)
Both in black, most versatile
1 pair of classic sneakers (Adidas, Converse, Nike)

Shirts:
Classic dress shirt and some casual shirts

Sweaters:
Classic v-neck grey and black

Belts:
Simple black dress belt and a more casual for use with jeans.

It depends on what style you're looking for. But some basics are always good:

1. Slim-fit light/medium gray wool or flannel pants. For cheap stuff try H&M, for better quality find some Mabitex or Howard Yount.
2. Light blue, white and pink shirts from a made-to-measure site. Probably around $50 each. The more - the merrier.
3. 2 pairs of expensive shoes: 1 black lace-ups, 1 brown lace-ups.
4. 1 blue or navy sport coat.
5. 1 gray or navy suit if you need a suit.
6. White linen pocket square for all occasions. (shameless plug: I sell them)
7. Gray and navy socks.
8. A nice sweater or two if you live in a cold climate.

^^^ This is a minimum that I'd like to have no matter what. Of course, once you really get into clothes it's no longer about essentials anymore, it's all about what you want.

Thanks for the advice, I will continue to read and see what items I can start adding to the wardrobe.

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something that I may add...check out these links from another men's fashion site..this is where I found the link to SF...it focus more on suggested inventory rather than actual brands..

http://artofmanliness.com/2010/04/16...ly-wardrobe-1/
http://artofmanliness.com/2010/05/13...ur-wardrobe-2/
http://artofmanliness.com/2010/05/13...ur-wardrobe-2/

I started getting interested in style about 10 years ago, and I spent many a good dollar on the stores you mention (Express and Banana). These places are great to get your stuff at while you learn what you like. They are trendy enough to look cool, with a touch of the classic, at a price that on sale is hard to beat. Once you start getting a little older, and making a little more money, you'll start to delve into more expensive brands, that up the price but also up the quality. These brands were built to last longer than mall brands. You'll make mistakes, but thats ok, because you'll learn from them. You'll eventually learn to like what looks good on you (color/style/size) and then you'll have the eye, money and experience to know what to get, when to get it, and what to spend on it.

To start, I'd say a nice pair of raw selvedge denim (APC New Standard), a navy blazer and maybe a plaid one (or tweed), and some dress shirts in blue and white that fit well. You may even want to consider going bespoke on the shirts if you can find a place thats affordable (think $150-200 a shirt). Get yourself 5 shirts and then slowly build from that. I'd especially concentrate on shirts as you won't wear a jacket over them at work.

As far as shoes, go classic, rounded toe. Think Alden and C&J, and stay away from the overly chisled toe. The AE's you have seem a good start. For the weekend, get yourself a nice pair of plain sneakers. If you travel in a super conservative crowd, consider a loafer, otherwise ignore the pleas to get a pair from the more conservative guys. Just because it works for them, doesn't mean it will for you.

Then, scour B&S for a nice pair of grey slacks. One in flannel for the winter, one in a lighter weight for the other seasons and a nice pair of khakis.

After all that, you'll be well on your way!

Listen to NYR, he brings great wisdom and style to our sacred forums

Best first 14 posts to a n00b thread I have seen in recent times here.

Well done chaps.