So many of the men with an interest in fashion – and looking fashionable – lack a strategy. Perhaps someone you know owns the very best designer clothing that money can buy but, somehow, still manages to look like a fashion victim from “What Not to Wear.”
Yes, some men are fashion plonkers… even if they buy the expensive wine.
Clothes Budget ≠ Best Wardrobe
This bit of perception dawned on me one day as I picked the latest slogan shirt off the floor of my closet. Keep in mind that I love slogan t-shirts, especially when they express a funny and relevant idea with other people in my life.
But I’d worn this piece of slogan to a concert the night before and, honestly, saw myself coming and going a half dozen times. It was a strange and kind of sad experience.
That’s when I realized that the fifty bucks I spent on a slogan could be better used in the purchase of a classic jumper or country shirt that I can wear longer than the whims of fashion. Of course, I can combine the classic stuff with the trendy whenever I want.
How to Dress Well on a Small Budget
Some men believe that going to the cheapest retailer with the latest trends is the easiest way to dress well on a monthly budget. In my opinion, they’re wrong.
Here’s why. Trendy clothes with all the details we’re looking for in whatever season happen at light speed. Some trends occur within a single season and they’re never seen again.
Wearing a dead trend – especially a certain slogan that makes sense for a month but makes no sense thereafter – makes the wrong impression. It says “I cared enough to buy this trendy rubbish and now I don’t know it’s not trendy anymore.”
Country Clothes
Good quality basics and essential pieces, such as properly fitting shirts in basic colors, e.g. blue, cream, or heather gray, work harder. Not everyone’s going to remember a certain gorgeous sweater or pair of trousers by themselves, but they will remember how perfectly dressed the man wearing them is!
In my opinion, the best part of this strategy is that high quality essential pieces – perfectly-designed country clothes – make the rest of my less expensive jeans or jackets look high end. House of Bruar are an example of an online country clothes retailer.
Town and Country, Day or Night
These days, I work at home part of the time. The other days, I travel to an office. I always dress for work, wherever I am.
Perfectly-made country clothes—the high end essentials I’m speaking of – make my wardrobe. These clothes aren’t so fitted that they look constructed.
In these clothes, I look like I’m ready for anything – because I am. Practically, the change of seasons can mean unpredictable weather. If the temperature drops or we get a sudden spring snow flurry, I’m okay. When I combine a great shirt, sweater, vest, slipover, or cardigan with my favorite slacks or jeans, I’m game-ready for an unplanned client visit or whatever life brings my way.
Photos: Luca Barcellona, Chris Goldberg, Pierre Tognet
