Build the Perfect Men's Wardrobe - The Basics & Beyond
Tell us if you’re this guy…
You walk into a men’s clothing store thinking, “I need to pick out some new sport shirts and workwear.” Then you thumb through the sport jackets, luxury sweaters and polos, the slacks, maybe even the leathers department, and pick up the coolest, smoothest garments you can find. You build one solid outfit that makes you feel amazing and call the outing a success. Then you head home and despite all of your smooth and cool purchases, you can’t figure out what you’re going to do with any of your new pieces as separates. They don’t match up with what’s already hanging in the closet and mixing and matching is feeling overwhelming.
Well, the good news is that you are not alone. Plenty of people don’t plan their purchases - they think of ‘buying clothes’ instead of ‘building a wardrobe’. Their style choices end up feeling flat instead of standout, and you deserve better, don’t you?
Stick with us in this Style Guide entry, as we walk you through how best to plan and pair everything from your dress shirts and luxury sweaters, to your suits, sport coats and fancies (print + patterned slacks).
Here’s how to tackle your next visit to your favorite men’s clothing store…
BUILDING YOUR FORMAL WARDROBE
If you didn’t figure it out from the website you just navigated, we know luxury suits. We also know that you need to invest in some basic formal wear items as you build up the foundation of your oh so impressive wardrobe.
Suits
When building the perfect, men’s wardrobe we need to begin with the staples - those must-have, can’t-live-without pieces. And before we go any further, we have to tell you that basic does not mean cheap. On the contrary, your basics should be high quality since you’ll likely get the most use out of them. If you’re wearing something weekly or even bi-weekly, you don’t want poorly made, flimsy pieces that can’t withstand the wear and washings.
Every man should have, at a minimum, one blue, one black, and one lighter solid suit, think cream or grey. The key here is that these basics can be worn as single-colored suits to say a wedding or a formal business dinner. Then you can mix and match the individual piece goods for a less formal day at work or a night out with your partner. Like your cream vest from your three-piece suit with your favorite trim jeans, or your navy slacks with a simple spring polo or knit. These basics can turn two luxury suits into four outfits, and who doesn’t like that math?
Dress Shirts
Next stop on this adventure in luxury suiting is what goes under the jacket - the dress shirt or the sport shirt. A dress shirt is meant to be worn with a tie, with or without cufflinks. A sport shirt is meant to be worn open collar, dressed up with a suit or down with slacks or jeans. No matter the occasion, a classic, crisp white shirt will never steer you wrong because white goes with just about any suit color. Then of course there’s blue. Think a softer, sky blue for this one, not navy or cobalt. You’re looking for something that will match with most of your formal wear. At Onore, we offer these basics and we can help you step your game up with custom options too. So even though the color may be basic, the shirt can still have a bit of that je ne sais quois that will have you turning heads at your next event.
Accessories
An example of a basic blue shirt & versatile cufflinks.
A solid navy suit, white dress shirt and complimentary tie & pocket square combo.
Your suit and dress shirt are just the main event when it comes to building out your formal wardrobe, but accessories - they’re the dessert. You’ll need the right accessories, the cherry on top - that touch of personal flair that makes the outfit yours. For example, every man should have a set of basic cufflinks. Don’t go crazy now. No super heroes or sports teams on the first go around. Think a cool set of gears or something in black onyx or titanium. A nice pair of cufflinks will definitely elevate the look.
Cufflinks aren’t your thing? Onore offers an array of men’s accessories to help you finish every look -
Silk Pocket Squares - Stock up on a few solids in your most-worn colors AND a few fancies. This is a place for pop!
Dress Socks - Don’t ruin a great outfit with white socks, gentlemen. Make them blend, make them match, or make them pop with purpose.
Silk Ties & Bow Ties - If it’s a dress shirt, it’s screaming for a tie or bow-tie. Just one more place to bring color into the mix. Again, you’re going to want a few solids AND a few fancies. Pro tip? Buy your ties and pocket squares together so you’re sure to have matching and complimentary sets on hand.
Silk & Cashmere Scarves - Be warm. Be stylish. Apply the same logic that you applied to choosing your starter suits - stick to solids or reversible pieces at first and then graduate into prints, patterns or brighter colors.
Leather Belts, Italian Shoes & Leather Bags - We love to shop for our shoes, bags and belts at the same time. When they all match, finishing any looks gets that much easier.
BUILDING YOUR CASUAL WARDROBE
Now that we’ve covered the luxury end of things, we can head over to the everyday side of the closet. Here more than ever you have to think versatility. Solids that you can easily mix and match or wear solo are your bread and butter. These pieces will make it easier for you to pull things together in moments, rather than spending too long standing in your closet, dazed and wondering, “Who am I going to be today?”
Staple cream sport shirt & an example of layering like a pro.
Basics with a reversible scarf that gets the job done.
Black jeans & a versatile grey melange button up.
Everyday Wear
At Onore, our clothiers have access to all best casual wear - men’s sweaters and polos, sport shirts and tee’s, knits, designer jeans and chinos, blazers and more. When you’re first starting out, look for pieces that can carry across two seasons. For example, a tee with jeans and a blazer might be your perfect spring look, and in the fall you can swap that tee for a sweater and get even more use out of your sport coat. When cooler weather is upon us and you find yourself shopping, think in terms of layering. Can you wear that cable knit sweater over top a long sleeve polo in dead of winter and wear each piece separately in fall or spring? The answer is yes, you sure can! For your everyday wear, gentlemen, focus first on solids and subtle prints. Once you have the simple bases covered, begin collecting the brighter, more memorable pieces.
Outerwear
Just because it’s cold outside, doesn’t mean you can’t be a smoke show when you walk into a room. Just as before, think basic colors for your coats. Grey, black, navy, chocolate brown or even camel. We’ll admit, we have a few green, burgundy and burnt orange pieces in the shop that will almost certainly catch your eye, but save those stand out pieces for your next shopping spree.
Investing in Quality Materials
As we mentioned earlier, quality has to be king when we talk basics. At Onore we believe in investing in quality materials that will last longer and wear better than your typical department store purchases. So what materials do we look for in men’s clothing? Some of our most trusted fabrics include -
Wool, Super 120s and up
Cashmere & Cashmere Blends
Superfine Linen
Aqua & Pima Cotton
Corduroy & Flannel
Silk
Alpaca
Genuine Leather
Venturing Beyond the Basics
Once you’ve got your solids on lock, it’s time to take the plunge into prints, patterns and color. You already have your black, blue and lighter suit? Now try a plaid or stripe, or maybe just a brighter color, like green or burgundy. Apply the same logic to your dress shirts and sport shirts - once you have your whites and blues taken care of, explore the more memorable pieces. Remember, now that you’ve taken care of your basics, you have our professional permission to get a bit more adventurous. Make space in your closet for those items that call to you.
So the lesson is over, and now it’s time for the shameless plug. Here at Onore Clothing, we believe in building up the man as we build out his wardrobe. We believe in creating a sophisticated and polished look that will help our clients feel confident and comfortable in any setting. Let our experts remove the guess work. We’ll see you in the shop.
