BUSINESS GUIDE
25 Work Wardrobe Essentials Every Man Should Have in His Closet
From the one suit every man needs to the best dress shoes, we’ve selected the most important work wardrobe essentials every stylish man should have in his wardrobe.
In our previous articles, we’ve talked about 5 Shoes Every Style-Conscious Man Should Own to Items every entrepreneur should own– including clothing items, this time we’ll be talking about 25 Work Wardrobe Essentials for men.
The basic work wardrobe essentials that should make up every stylish man’s wardrobe is not very long.
We’ve selected the 25 work wardrobe essentials for men to form the foundation of any successful wardrobe.
25 Work Wardrobe Essentials For Men
1. A Navy Blue Suit
This is the backbone of every man’s wardrobe. The right navy blue suit pairs up with every dress shirt and ties in your arsenal when it comes to formal occasions or dates. If you wear a suit to work, you should always own more than one. Don’t forget to include at least 1 Pinstriped Navy suit in your work wardrobe.
2. Charcoal Grey Suit
A charcoal grey suit is an essential work item. The gray suit- looks sharp in two pieces or three pieces, is certainly one suit you would wear and expect your class and style to be instantly noticed.
Pair this suit with the right dress shirt, a power tie, the perfect combination of accessories and a pair of dress shoes to add that sleek twist to your classic corporate look. If you are in the Middle Management or Senior Management cadre, then you definitely would need at least one gray suit in Pinstripe pattern.
3. A Pair of Chinos
This is a good alternative to jeans if you don’t want to wear suit trousers or flannel pants to work. They can be worn with a shirt, jacket, t-shirt, etc – the options are endless. A slim or straight-fitting pair of cotton chinos can be a casual and formal wear. Wear with a button-down shirt and knitted tie for the office.
4. Wool-Flannel Trousers
Wool-flannel trousers are an alternative to chinos, it can be worn with a white shirt or with a plain t-shirt or navy blazer over the top. They are the ideal bridge between casual and formal. You can wear it on a perfect dress down Friday to the office.
5. A Button Down White Oxford Shirt
There’s very little that won’t go with a button-down with an oxford shirt. It is naturally smart because of its collar but it also has a casual feel. It can also be worn under a sweater or with jeans or teamed with a pair of slim chinos and a statement belt, it is the most versatile item in your wardrobe. You should have at least 5 all-white button-down Oxford shirts.
Asides White, other colours you must have include: A light blue, light pink, lilac and pinstriped shirts.
6. White Sneakers
Guess what goes with everything? White sneakers!!
Seasons change, but white trainers will always be a work wardrobe essentials for men. From a suit to joggers to a Tshirt and jeans, a pair of white trainers will look good with anything. If you consider yourself a well-dressed man then you should get this. The only thing you have to worry about is how to keep your white sneakers clean, but don’t worry we’ve got you covered.
7. Derby Shoes
These are less formal than an Oxford and easier to get onto your foot as the laces are quite flexible. If you’re looking for a dress shoe that can be worn casually, a pair of tan Derbies works as well with denim as it will with more traditional tailoring. And, just to let you know – the Derby is the foundation of most shoe collections.
8. A Pair Of Oxford Shoes
Oxford shoes are the key component of any man’s formal look. Whether you’re headed to a job interview or attending a business meeting, Oxford shoes are work wardrobe essentials that are simple enough to be worn with a suit, as well as a tux. If you really do want to stand out, feel free to pair classic Oxfords with an edgy statement tie.
9. A Timeless Watch
Want a timepiece that’ll go with your workwear? Aside from your shoes, it’s the next thing people will notice. Pick a watch that is sleek and stylish. Never wear a sports watch with a business suit! You can get a proper dress watch, like a classy piece either a leather or a chain watch.
10. Loafers
Loafers are a building block of any modern man’s wardrobe. You can team these classic loafers with some cropped, slim chinos or slacks with a white button-down shirt and a blazer for a business casual look.
11. Cufflinks
Every man needs a pair of cufflinks. They are very useful, even though many men do not consider them so. They should be stylish enough that they can be worn with shirts or suits.
12. Plain T-shirts
Every man needs good quality Tshirts, they are work wardrobe essentials because they go with everything you own. A basic quality T-shirt is a good throw-on item will match with anything you own – from a navy blazer to your denim or bomber jackets for a casual look. You should have them in white, black and navy blue, they will always come in handy.
13. A Blazer/Sport Coat
The Blazer and Sports Coat are work wardrobe essentials for a business casual look. You should have at least two (2) Blazers, two (2) Sports Coat, and one (1) Suit Jacket. You should go for a classic navy-blue blazer and a charcoal gray blazer in pattern or plain for a start. You can pair this with, say, jeans, chinos or slacks.
14. A Pair of Reading Glasses |Stylish Nerd Glasses or Sunglasses
What do you mean you don’t have one? You need a protective eyewear to protect your eyes from the lights emitted from your screen which can damage your eyes in the long run.
You should get a stylish pair of glasses to elevate your look. Pick the right frame that goes with your face.
15. A Powerful Man Bag
Stylish and practical Man bags will help you maintain the professional look at all times. A man going to the office looks incomplete without an appropriate man bag. Invest in a quality holdall that you can take to work or for travel.
16. Monk Strap Shoes
The double monk strap shoe is the dress shoe of the season. Although,it is considered the most advanced dress shoe, it looks as good with jeans and a denim jacket as it does with smart trousers. It’s a must-have!
17. A Polo Shirt
For when button-downs are too formal, Polo shirts are casual clothes for men. It is the most versatile shirts any man can own. They can be worn with jeans or slacks.
18. A Statement Tie
Your tie should always be darker than your dress shirt. A bold tie should be paired with a subtle shirt, your tie should always match your suit and shirt. For a start, you should have at least 8 to 10 good quality silk ties if your work dress code is always Suit and Tie.
Don’t forget the 10 Tie Rules All Men Need To Know.
19. Pairs of Socks
Socks are an important aspect of a man’s clothing but are most times a forgotten piece of clothing. Even if they are not the foundation of an outfit, they can comfort or add some extra pizzazz to your look
Our recommendation: Five pairs of black socks, two pairs navy socks, and about three (3) to five (5) colorful (but not-so-colorful) socks to add shine to your look every now and then.
A traditional rule of socks says that the color of your sock should match the color of your trousers, however, it is best you look at our article titled – A Man’s Guide to Socks | 7 Must-Follow Rules for Wearing Socks for more advanced Socks Rules for the modern gentleman.
20. Suede Boots
There is nothing remotely new about a pair of suede boots- be it a Chelsea or Desert boot, they can be worn with everything from suits to roughed-up jeans. On those regular days in the workplace, you will need a go-to business casual footwear. A good pair of Chelsea boots or desert boots is year-round work wardrobe essentials for men.
21. Belts
As a stylish gentleman, you should already know the Golden Rule of menswear: “Always match your belt with your shoes.”
Your belt should be the exact same color as your shoes. Black and Brown are preferable for a corporate look.
22. Pocket Squares
A pocket square is one of the few menswear accessories which can add an extra level of polish and elegant touch to your suit. Avoid matching it with your tie but in colors that complement the outfit.
23. Dark Jeans
For a business casual look, a dark blue or black pair of jeans is also appropriate for casual meet-ups, dress-down Fridays, client meetings, and conferences. They can be worn with a blazer, sports coat, a polo, or your favorite t-shirt.
24. Sweaters
Sweaters, also known as jumpers, are must-have for men. They add texture and layers to outfits and help you stay warm in chilly environments. You can wear it with smart grey chinos, a white oxford button-down shirts, jeans, etc.
25. Jackets
It can be worn with just about anything. They come in a variety of styles such as denim jackets, bomber jackets, leather jackets and many more.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m sure that this article has given you some insight on essential work clothes to have in your wardrobe.
Let us know which ones you do have on the list. Simply score yourselves – 10/25? 20/25? or could it be 1/25 ??? ☺ Can’t be!
Thanks for stopping by! Until next time gentlemen, Stay Dapper!
Yours in Style,
Kobi O. Mbagwu (Mr. Kobi)
Founder, MrKoachman.com
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Trip Browne
April 3, 2018 at 6:07 AM
Semantics aside a button down shirt is just that button down at the collar a dress shirt many people referred to as a button down shirt but it isn’t sports shirts are also shirts with buttons down the front and a sports shirt can be a button-down with buttons at the collar but you refer to a dress shirt without buttons at the collar is not a button-down simple .2