seven absolutely’s for the gentleman’s closet
These pieces I have chosen for this two part series ~ ooh la ~ are the popular items I am gravitating towards during a styling session & if a client doesn’t own any one of these off of this list, I add it to the top of their word document as “absolutely’s.” By no means is this an end all be all list ~ this is just a list based on stand-outs from my clients so far [men in their twenties]. I guess you could call them the players that will change the game of your closet ~ they will help you get more outfits out of the pieces you already own. If you want some serious inspiration for your looks I have curated a board just for “the man”.
a white tee
It doesn’t get more “staple” than this. Never underestimate a white tee with a good pair of denim; it can go a long way. It’s classic, flattering, & it can truly elevate your casual look if you get the right fit … you’ll look like you put in some serious effort when you really didn’t. I love a good, your actual size crew neck but I am not opposed to the over sized tee just as long as you’re balancing your proportions in your outfit. Oh and bonus points if you wear the tee underneath your suit.
to snatch up: Uniqlo, GAP, J.Crew, Hanes
a turtleneck
Okay I’m going to be honest right now. I have not seen a guy look bad in a turtleneck … ever. They are timeless & handsome on anyone! It is the perfect layering piece for casual and fancy looks alike. They are great underneath a crew neck sweatshirt with jeans & on the other hand it screams high fashion when worn with a suit. I think another absolutely for men would be not only a cotton, layering turtleneck but also a turtleneck sweater. You’ll catch a whole lot of turtlenecks on my Pinterest board.
to snatch up: J.Crew, Lands’ End, L.L. Bean
a crew neck sweater & sweatshirt
What I love about a crew neck sweater is that it works on almost any style preference. It’s the versatile piece that you can throw on to accomplish any preppy, 80’s/90’s, street, or polished look. I also love pairing a tee or turtleneck underneath to add a little layer moment! The crew neck sweatshirt can be dressed up and down as well & it’s easily the favorite absolutely of my clients. My brother Connor’s look would fit into the ‘polished’ category; a street look could be a crew neck front tucked into a pair of sweats with Nike’s. Actually I wore that on repeat at the beginning of quarantine now that I think of it.
to snatch up: J.Crew, OnlyNY, thrift!, grab one at your next trip’s destination
the life style sneaker
I cannot stress this enough! Every man needs one! It will seriously help you receive more versatility out of your closet as it dresses up your shorts and tee look & dresses down your suit for that easy, effortless look. This is the sneaker you can wear with your white tee and jeans for a date look or the sneaker you throw on with a pair of trousers and a turtleneck.
to snatch up: Nike, Adidas, Reebok, NewBalance, Veja
the boot
I was over on the West Side of town the other week with my mama & I complimented this guy’s Chelsea boots. He replied, “Oh my gosh thanks! I actually own 37 different pairs of Chelsea boots.” We are allowed to admit guys have more of a limit when it comes to fashion, so his answer didn’t come as a surprise to me. You don’t need 37 pairs of boots, but you do need at least one pair. They go with jeans, chinos, sweats, or a suit. You can dress them up or dress them down! You can go the Chelsea boot route or more of a combat boot route … whatever makes you feel like you! My favorites from Connor’s line up above would be the dark brown and the black pair next to each other in the middle.
to snatch up: DSW, Zappos, Nordstrom, FRYE
Have you noticed a trend in my absolutely list? VERSATILITY!!! Getting more bang for your buck! We love brand new closets without having to buy anything new!!!
image by Kenleigh McCart
good denim
Good denim can change everything! Head to a department store where they have many fits, styles, & washes to try on. Muster up the courage to try them all on to find a pair that make you feel like you and that aren’t uncomfortable [make sure you sit down in them to ensure they are comfortable and fit you well]. A wider, straight leg jean would be my brother Benjamin’s preferred fit while Connor prefers a slimmer straight leg.
to snatch up: Levi’s, J.Crew, Lucky Brand, Wrangler
Benjamin & I both share a love for OnlyNY!!
the sport short
This may seem out of place but it’s not!! I am adding the sport short as an ode to Benjamin. He has proven to me the versatility of a pair of Columbia, Patagonia, & OnlyNY shorts. They look fabulous with an over sized tee & a pair of NBs or a crew neck sweatshirt & your life style sneakers. Oh & some are water resistant so they can double as swim trunks. I think they are yet another piece that can be preppy or street. If the sport short isn’t your desired look, opt for a sweat short!
to snatch up: Columbia, Patagonia, Nike, OnlyNY
image by Kenleigh McCart
[bonus] the suit
It’s a bonus item because I think it’s pretty self explanatory why a suit needs to be an absolutely in a man’s closet, but I did have one thing to add. I do this with my suiting & it makes getting dressed so fun! Split up your suit to mix and match with other pieces. Like use your trousers with a cable knit sweater like Sawyer! It allows for that effortless, cool guy look.
Is there an absolutely you would add to the list?