Fashion Friday: Wardrobe Must-Haves for Men

It's Fashion Friday: Men's Edition!

It’s funny how things work out. A few weeks ago when I posted my wardrobe must-haves for women, I was going to create a poll on Instagram to see if men would be interested in fashion tips as well, when a friend of mine wrote me asking for them. I figured if you have to ask, I have no choice but to deliver. So here we are! Going forth, I'm going to be more mindful of my audience in having content applicable to everyone!

I love menswear because it’s so simple! And I don’t mean that in a bad way. I'm just saying, getting dressed on a day to day is a less complex process. Men don’t understand how easy they have it.Y’all can put on jeans and a t-shirt and still look good. But as a side note, I do appreciate a man that puts an extra effort to make sure he looks gewdt!! (all forms of grooming included). It shows you care, because believe it or not, presentation is EVERYTHING! Similar to women, there are items that I believe every man should have in his closet. As described before, must-haves make life easier when throwing outfits together. These are your go-to pieces. More often than not, at least one of your must-haves are worn on a daily basis, and if it's not that often, it's definitely multiple times a week. 

Coincidentally, my dad is literally the most fashionable man I know, and I’m not saying that to gas him because I know he’ll read this. It’s the honest to God truth. That’s why I say I get my love for fashion, style and expertise from him (no shade to Mommy though). Since I was young, I saw how fearless he’s been with fashion, always taking risks. I’m not as bold, but I’ve learned to follow in his footsteps. It made sense that I’d use him as my examples for men’s must-haves — he’s set the tone for the expectations I have for men and their appearance.

Denim Jacket

For women I mentioned both a denim and moto jacket, but truth is not every man can pull of a leather; and I think it's more than an opinion, it's factual. So we'll put that thought on the shelf with the moto jacket and just stick to denim. Denim jackets are super edgy and, especially on a man, provides a clean look. This is because unlike women, men don't really have the luxury of purchasing clothes of the opposite sex for an oversized look. But, a perfect fit equals a perfect fit if you know what I mean. Denim complements and completes any casual outfit (i.e.: jeans and a t-shirt, a button-down and chino pants, etc.). I believe EVERYONE should own a denim – coming from the person how has yet to own one because they can't find the perfect one that has the perfect finish and fit. As displayed, he's wearing a patched denim jacket with black distressed jeans and Timbs (please hold all New Yorkers and Timbs jokes), with accessories to finish the look. This outfit is good for anything from chilling with your home boys to hanging with your girl, but knowing my dad, he probably wore that to the grocery store.

Fedora

I loveeeee seeing men in fedoras. Why? Because it shows how elevated your style is and how grown you are. In other words, fitted caps are not appropriate for every occasion. While accessories are critical (some times more than others), that is not an excuse to leave the house with a fitted every chance you get. Switch it up a bit! Now, I'm not talking about wearing a top hat, although those are pretty cool too. I'm referring to the felt or straw hats that add a little umph to an outfit. For example, say you have a date that's semi-casual but you want to look like you tried even if it's just a little bit. If you put together a long tee with a lightweight cardigan, jeans and loafers or sneakers that are not Jordan's, a fedora is the perfect addition! Not only does it look like you put some effort into your outfit, it's so quick and easy you'll question why you've never done it before if you haven't. Do yourself a favor and go out and buy one, or a couple. They're cute and you won't regret it!

Blazer

Blazers serve as a great go-to for numerous occasions. Throw it on when you’d like to add some pizzazz to a casual tee-and-jeans outfit, or follow the dressy trend and complete a formal outfit. There are a lot of things women can get away with where fashion is concerned in terms of layering pieces and outerwear, so as security (because you never know when you're going to need it), every man should own a good blazer or suit jacket that is multi-purposed, or get a bunch that can be worn for all different occasions. Whichever way you decide, it's necessary. 

Chelsea Boots

I see memes all the time that joke about men and Chelsea boots saying that once they get a pair, they swear they’re fashionistas. True, but critical. I’m tired of men, especially grown men thinking sneakers, more specifically Jordan's and Nike's, go with every outfit. Please stop. Leave them at home with your fitted hats. There’s a midpoint between sneakers and loafers/dress shoes; the Chelsea boot. The other day I had to tell my dad he was slacking because he doesn't have a pair – he's usually good about keeping up and even being a trendsetter so I'm not sure what's going on lol. They complement pretty much any look — they look GREAT with jeans! They're easy to throw on when you want to be lazy but not too lazy (equivalent to the booties for women). Nonetheless, every man needs a go-to pair of Chelsea boots, preferably tan.

Men, it's your turn!

​Dig into your closet and see if you own any of these must-haves. If the answer is yes, start paying attention to how often you wear one or all of these and how much easier it makes life; if the answer is no, run, don't walk, to the store and get them – you can get the look for less and cash out at Zara for all of these must-haves, and then some!