In today's fast-paced world, where time is a precious commodity, having a curated collection of essential and versatile clothing items, not only ensures a polished appearance but also streamlines the process of getting dressed each morning.
After you have defined your style and edited your wardrobe, it is time to build your essential wardrobe items that will be the foundation for ALL your outfits. We’ve curated a list of 9 essential items that will be on regular rotation and change the way you see your wardrobe. *links are unaffiliated.
The 9 wardrobe essential pieces for men are:
- Tailored Button Down Shirts - It’s a classic and can be styled up to get you to work and styled down for a night out with friends. These are investment pieces so good quality shirts will last you a long time. You can make sure your shirts fit you well by taking it to a tailor. Have a couple white shirts and solid color shirts to easily pair with other clothing items.
Banana Republic Standard Wrinkle-Resistant Dress Shirt
Price: $80 Available Sizes: Slim, Regular, Tall
J. Crew Bowery wrinkle-free dress shirt with button-down collar
Price: $98 Available Sizes: Slim, Classis, Tall
- Quality Tee - A good quality T-shirt typically offers a better fit and cut than cheaper alternatives. This improved fit enhances your appearance, providing a more polished and put-together look even with a simple piece of clothing. High-quality T-shirts are often made from superior materials like combed cotton, pima cotton, or a cotton blend that offers a soft, comfortable feel.
Uniqlo Supima® Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt
Price: $25 Available Sizes: xxs-3xl
Everlane The Essential Organic Crew
Price: $30 Available Sizes: xs-xxl
Everlane The Premium-Weight Crew
Price: $45 Available Sizes: xs-xxl
- Casual Button Down Shirt - Casual button-up shirts offer excellent layering options, which is a key aspect of a versatile wardrobe. They can be worn open over a T-shirt for a laid-back look, under a sweater for added warmth, or under a blazer for a smart-casual ensemble.
Nordstrom Trim Fit Check Easy Care Dress Shirt
Price: $60 Available Sizes: 14.5-18.5
Bonobos Everyday Oxford Shirt
Price: $89 Available Shirt fit: Tailored, Slim, Standard, Athletic | Shirt Length: Short, Reg, Long
Mango Reg Fit Linen Shirt with Mao Collar
Price $90 Available Sizes: xs-xxl
- Sweater - High-quality sweaters that are designed with classic styles and neutral colors are timeless and ensures that they remain relevant and stylish year after year.
Mango 100% Merino Wool Sweater with Zipper Collar
Price $70 Available Sizes: s-xxl
Bonobos Washable Merino V-Neck Sweater
Price: $100 Available Sizes: xs-xxl
- Dress Pants - They pair well with dress shirts, blazers, and sweaters for formal and business settings, and can also be worn with a casual button-up or a high-quality T-shirt for a more relaxed, smart-casual look. Quality dress pants often require less intensive care to keep them looking good. They are less likely to fade, wrinkle excessively, or lose their shape compared to cheaper alternatives. High-quality dress pants are typically made from durable fabrics like wool, wool blends, or high-quality cotton, which resist wear and tear
Mango Slim Fit Wool Suit Pants Thermoregulating Easy Care
Price: $119 Available Sizes: 30-38
Banana Republic Wrinkle-Resistant Dress Pant
Price: $150 Available Sizes: 29-40W | Length 30-34L
- Chinos - These pants differ from dress pants by typically being made from cotton twill fabric, which is durable and has a casual to semi-casual appearance. Chinos can seamlessly transition from casual to smart-casual outfits, ensuring you get the most out of a minimal number of pieces.
Bonobos The Chino 2.0
Price: $90 Available Sizes: 28-46 | Pant fit: Tailored, Slim Taper, Slim, Athletic, Straight
Banana Republic Straight Brushed Traveler Chino
Price: $80 Available Sizes: 29-40W | Length: 30-34L
Everlane The Performance Chino
Price: $90 Available Sizes: 28-40 | Length 28-24 | Slim, Athletic, Straight
- Structured Blazer - A structured blazer can effortlessly elevate any outfit, whether it's paired with jeans for a casual look or worn over dress pants for a more formal appearance. Its versatility allows it to transition seamlessly between various settings, from business meetings to social events
J. Crew Ludlow Slim-fit unstructured suit jacket in Irish cotton-linen blend
Price: $248Available sizes: 34-50 | Slim, reg, long
Mango Reg fit suit blazer
Price: $229 Available sizes: 36-46
- Jeans - are adaptable for all seasons. Jeans come in a wide range of fits and styles to suit different body types and preferences. Whether you prefer a slim fit, straight leg, bootcut, or relaxed fit, there's a style of jeans that will complement your physique and personal style, ensuring a perfect fit in your wardrobe.
Everlane The Authentic Straight Jean
Price: $118 Available sizes: 28-40
Nordtrom Kingston Modern Slim Straight Leg stretch jeans
Price: $119 Available sizes: 29 - 42
Banana Republic Straight Traveler Jean 2.0
Price: $130 Available Sizes: 29 - 40
- Shorts - If you live in a region with warm or hot weather, shorts are often a practical and necessary clothing item. Shorts are typically associated with relaxed, informal settings. If your lifestyle involves frequent casual outings, outdoor activities, or leisure time, having a couple of well-fitting pairs of shorts in your wardrobe can be beneficial.
Banana Republic 11” Core Temp Short
Price $60 Available Sizes: 30 - 38
Mango 100% Linen Shorts
Price: $70 Available Sizes: 30 - 38
There they are, your 9 wardrobe essentials for a well-curated men’s wardrobe!
The beautiful thing about these wardrobe essential pieces is that they will not go out of style anytime soon. We recommend investing a little more time and money in finding these items in well-made, quality materials because they will be your staple pieces in regular rotation and will give your wardrobe longevity.
Still unsure how to start or need a little boost to get you to your elevated-wardrobe finish line, our friendly Style Space stylists want to assist you! Sometimes we just need a stylish friend to give us a confidence boost.
One client commented, “My stylist Whitney is so kind and clearly has amazing style. I felt like my new best friend with killer style was helping me with my closet. :D The session gave me so much confidence and the very next day I started wearing my clothes in new ways - still me, just an even better version.”
Step into our closet and try these style sessions on for size!