Getting dressed was easy as a kid: you
had an infinite array of t-shirts, you
could wear shorts whenever you
wanted and somehow there was no
time or place in which sneakers were
not appropriate.
Now you're a grown-up, and things
are more difficult, especially if you're
a guy. How do you dress like a
mature adult... without just wearing a
suit all the time? How do you
upgrade to nice shirts, slacks and
leather shoes... without breaking the
bank? And how can you build an
awesome, grown-ass man wardrobe
as painlessly as possible?
We've got some ideas. Below, 22
things under $100 that every man
should have in his closet.
1. A dark two-piece suit
Wear it to the office, to evening
events, to family gatherings, to
weddings... basically, a dark suit will
take you everywhere. Suit Pants and
Blazer, H&M, $84.90.
2. A light two-piece suit
It's bolder than a dark suit, but you
want some variety in your wardrobe.
Plus, you can experiment with darker
ties and darker patterned shirts with
a lighter suit, and it's great for the
summer. EDV Allen Slim Fit Stretch
Blazer and Pants, INC International
Concepts, $89.98.
3. A traveling garment
bag Because you're going to need to
take those suits with you, and a
grown man does not arrive with a
wrinkled suit. Garment Sleeve,
Travelpro Maxlite 2, $79.99.
4. Timeless sunglasses
No, not the wraparound sports ones
or the reflective styles that were cool
in the '90s. You need classic, timeless
shades like metal aviators or a
Wayfarer-like pair. Wearing them,
you'll never not look cool. S. Verdino
SV003, Solaris, $51.48.
5. A white button-down
shirt Wear it with jeans, wear it
with a suit, wear it with preppy
shorts -- you simply can't go wrong
with a white shirt. In fact, we don't
know how you'll get by without one.
Papelino Slim, Bonobos, $85.
6. A colored button-
down shirt Don't sell yourself
short and only wear white all the
time. Start with a button-down in a
basic light blue, then feel free to get
bolder and more adventurous with
color as you expand your wardrobe.
Long Sleeve Shirt, Zara, $59.90.
7. Brown leather dress
shoes Black shoes are great, but
they simply don't match as many
things as brown shoes. A great pair of
brown leather oxfords will work with
suits in navy, gray, tan and more,
plus they'll work with jeans (while
your shiny black leather shoes will
not). Persistt Wing-Tip Lace Oxfords,
Steve Madden, $89.99.
8. Quality white t-shirts
Some days, you're going to be lazy
about getting dressed, and all you're
going to want to wear is a white tee.
So make sure you've got options
beyond the threadbare Hanes and
Fruit of the Loom variety. Soft-Wash
Cotton T-shirt, Banana Republic,
$24.50.
9. A jacket you can
wear in the rain Rain
happens. Instead of a crinkly nylon
windbreaker, get yourself a trim
trench (belted, double breasted) or a
sleek mac (no belt, single breasted) or
even a weather-resistant army jacket
or field jacket. Hooded Military Style
Canvas Jacket, Old Navy, $69.94.
10. Shoes you can wear
in the rain Some men are
comfortable wearing wellies, aka
those clunky plastic rainboots girls
love so much. But for guys who want
a more subtle way to keep their feet
dry, we recommend a rubber
"overshoe" that you can slip over
your work shoes. They're cheap and
waterproof, and they come in a
variety of colors. Men's Loafer Style
Rubber Overshoes, Totes, $17.60.
11. A work bag that
holds your computer The
key: It should hold your laptop... but
ideally, it shouldn't be a "laptop bag,"
aka those black nylon monstrosities.
Get a leather or canvas messenger bag
or briefcase that will look just as cool
on the weekend as it does in the
office. Men's Oversized Tote, 3.1
Phillip Lim for Target, $59.99.
12. A nice watch It doesn't
need to be flashy, but your timepiece
should be high quality. Try a brown
or black leather band if you're more
of a quiet traditionalist, or opt for
shiny or matte metal if you prefer a
stronger statement. Just make sure it's
not digital. Originals Classic Round,
Timex, $65.
13. Dark jeans A pair of dark
jeans are the casual version of your
dark suit: They match everything, can
be dressed up or down and are
suitable for nearly any occasion. Wear
'em in and wash them infrequently.
1961 Slim Fit Jeans, Gap, $59.95.
14. Terry cloth insoles
Ever see the models in GQ and
Esquire go sockless in dress shoes
and wonder, "How are their feet not
sweating like crazy?" They may just
have on terry cloth insoles, absorbent
shoe inserts that keep your bare feet
from getting all sweaty when you go
sans socks. Which you should do, by
the way -- it's seriously stylish, and
dress socks can look silly in the
summer. Pumppals Terrycloth Insoles,
PediFix, $8.01.
15. A leather wallet You
know, one that actually holds
everything. You're a grown-up, which
means you've probably got a few
cards in that wallet plus some cash.
Respect your hard-earned money by
storing it in a respectable billfold, and
don't let any Velcro near that thing.
Wesson Leather Bill Holder, Jack
Spade, $75.
16. A quality lip balm
Some guys are afraid that applying a lip product might make them look
girly. We're here to tell those guys
that dry, flakey lips are a way worse
fate. Get a quality balm, preferably
untinted with a fresh (non-fruity)
scent -- Burt's Bees is a favorite. 4-
Pack Beeswax Lip Balm, Burt's Bees,
$10.
17. Gym shorts that
aren't shiny baggy
basketball shorts... You're
not in the NBA, so give up the
basketball shorts and get some sleek,
understated workout shorts that
actually hit above the knee. Capris are
not for dudes. Light As Air Short,
Lululemon, $64.
18. ... and gym shirts
that aren't dirty old
frat shirts Why should
working out be synonymous with
looking like a slob? Grow up and get
some real shirts. Miler UV, Nike, $38.
19. Socks that aren't
white Grown men graduate from
white ankle socks to real dress socks
in shades of black, navy and gray.
Reserve the white ones for the gym, if
that. Ribbed Cotton Dress Socks, J.
Crew, $14.50.
20. Collar stays It's not that
complicated: Collar stays are the metal
or plastic pieces that ensure the shape
of your shirt collar stays the way it
came. Without them, the edges of
your collars will begin to slightly curl
under, making you look sloppy. Don't
ever look sloppy. Collar stays, Banana
Republic, $12.50.
21. A Dopp kit Because you
can't just use an oversized Ziploc bag
for your toiletries, and that wipeable
nylon thing you've been using for
years is probably gross with layers of
spilled products. Time for an upgrade.
The GI's Leather Toiletry Kit,
Hammacher Schlemmer, $79.95.
22. A copy of "Dressing
the Man: Mastering the
Art of Permanent
Fashion" Because you're going
to need to know how to put it all
together. Amazon, $35.70.
Each and Everyone of these is not more than N17,000 ,you have no reason to be left out of a good life
had an infinite array of t-shirts, you
could wear shorts whenever you
wanted and somehow there was no
time or place in which sneakers were
not appropriate.
Now you're a grown-up, and things
are more difficult, especially if you're
a guy. How do you dress like a
mature adult... without just wearing a
suit all the time? How do you
upgrade to nice shirts, slacks and
leather shoes... without breaking the
bank? And how can you build an
awesome, grown-ass man wardrobe
as painlessly as possible?
We've got some ideas. Below, 22
things under $100 that every man
should have in his closet.
1. A dark two-piece suit
Wear it to the office, to evening
events, to family gatherings, to
weddings... basically, a dark suit will
take you everywhere. Suit Pants and
Blazer, H&M, $84.90.
2. A light two-piece suit
It's bolder than a dark suit, but you
want some variety in your wardrobe.
Plus, you can experiment with darker
ties and darker patterned shirts with
a lighter suit, and it's great for the
summer. EDV Allen Slim Fit Stretch
Blazer and Pants, INC International
Concepts, $89.98.
3. A traveling garment
bag Because you're going to need to
take those suits with you, and a
grown man does not arrive with a
wrinkled suit. Garment Sleeve,
Travelpro Maxlite 2, $79.99.
4. Timeless sunglasses
No, not the wraparound sports ones
or the reflective styles that were cool
in the '90s. You need classic, timeless
shades like metal aviators or a
Wayfarer-like pair. Wearing them,
you'll never not look cool. S. Verdino
SV003, Solaris, $51.48.
5. A white button-down
shirt Wear it with jeans, wear it
with a suit, wear it with preppy
shorts -- you simply can't go wrong
with a white shirt. In fact, we don't
know how you'll get by without one.
Papelino Slim, Bonobos, $85.
6. A colored button-
down shirt Don't sell yourself
short and only wear white all the
time. Start with a button-down in a
basic light blue, then feel free to get
bolder and more adventurous with
color as you expand your wardrobe.
Long Sleeve Shirt, Zara, $59.90.
7. Brown leather dress
shoes Black shoes are great, but
they simply don't match as many
things as brown shoes. A great pair of
brown leather oxfords will work with
suits in navy, gray, tan and more,
plus they'll work with jeans (while
your shiny black leather shoes will
not). Persistt Wing-Tip Lace Oxfords,
Steve Madden, $89.99.
8. Quality white t-shirts
Some days, you're going to be lazy
about getting dressed, and all you're
going to want to wear is a white tee.
So make sure you've got options
beyond the threadbare Hanes and
Fruit of the Loom variety. Soft-Wash
Cotton T-shirt, Banana Republic,
$24.50.
9. A jacket you can
wear in the rain Rain
happens. Instead of a crinkly nylon
windbreaker, get yourself a trim
trench (belted, double breasted) or a
sleek mac (no belt, single breasted) or
even a weather-resistant army jacket
or field jacket. Hooded Military Style
Canvas Jacket, Old Navy, $69.94.
10. Shoes you can wear
in the rain Some men are
comfortable wearing wellies, aka
those clunky plastic rainboots girls
love so much. But for guys who want
a more subtle way to keep their feet
dry, we recommend a rubber
"overshoe" that you can slip over
your work shoes. They're cheap and
waterproof, and they come in a
variety of colors. Men's Loafer Style
Rubber Overshoes, Totes, $17.60.
11. A work bag that
holds your computer The
key: It should hold your laptop... but
ideally, it shouldn't be a "laptop bag,"
aka those black nylon monstrosities.
Get a leather or canvas messenger bag
or briefcase that will look just as cool
on the weekend as it does in the
office. Men's Oversized Tote, 3.1
Phillip Lim for Target, $59.99.
12. A nice watch It doesn't
need to be flashy, but your timepiece
should be high quality. Try a brown
or black leather band if you're more
of a quiet traditionalist, or opt for
shiny or matte metal if you prefer a
stronger statement. Just make sure it's
not digital. Originals Classic Round,
Timex, $65.
13. Dark jeans A pair of dark
jeans are the casual version of your
dark suit: They match everything, can
be dressed up or down and are
suitable for nearly any occasion. Wear
'em in and wash them infrequently.
1961 Slim Fit Jeans, Gap, $59.95.
14. Terry cloth insoles
Ever see the models in GQ and
Esquire go sockless in dress shoes
and wonder, "How are their feet not
sweating like crazy?" They may just
have on terry cloth insoles, absorbent
shoe inserts that keep your bare feet
from getting all sweaty when you go
sans socks. Which you should do, by
the way -- it's seriously stylish, and
dress socks can look silly in the
summer. Pumppals Terrycloth Insoles,
PediFix, $8.01.
15. A leather wallet You
know, one that actually holds
everything. You're a grown-up, which
means you've probably got a few
cards in that wallet plus some cash.
Respect your hard-earned money by
storing it in a respectable billfold, and
don't let any Velcro near that thing.
Wesson Leather Bill Holder, Jack
Spade, $75.
16. A quality lip balm
Some guys are afraid that applying a lip product might make them look
girly. We're here to tell those guys
that dry, flakey lips are a way worse
fate. Get a quality balm, preferably
untinted with a fresh (non-fruity)
scent -- Burt's Bees is a favorite. 4-
Pack Beeswax Lip Balm, Burt's Bees,
$10.
17. Gym shorts that
aren't shiny baggy
basketball shorts... You're
not in the NBA, so give up the
basketball shorts and get some sleek,
understated workout shorts that
actually hit above the knee. Capris are
not for dudes. Light As Air Short,
Lululemon, $64.
18. ... and gym shirts
that aren't dirty old
frat shirts Why should
working out be synonymous with
looking like a slob? Grow up and get
some real shirts. Miler UV, Nike, $38.
19. Socks that aren't
white Grown men graduate from
white ankle socks to real dress socks
in shades of black, navy and gray.
Reserve the white ones for the gym, if
that. Ribbed Cotton Dress Socks, J.
Crew, $14.50.
20. Collar stays It's not that
complicated: Collar stays are the metal
or plastic pieces that ensure the shape
of your shirt collar stays the way it
came. Without them, the edges of
your collars will begin to slightly curl
under, making you look sloppy. Don't
ever look sloppy. Collar stays, Banana
Republic, $12.50.
21. A Dopp kit Because you
can't just use an oversized Ziploc bag
for your toiletries, and that wipeable
nylon thing you've been using for
years is probably gross with layers of
spilled products. Time for an upgrade.
The GI's Leather Toiletry Kit,
Hammacher Schlemmer, $79.95.
22. A copy of "Dressing
the Man: Mastering the
Art of Permanent
Fashion" Because you're going
to need to know how to put it all
together. Amazon, $35.70.
Each and Everyone of these is not more than N17,000 ,you have no reason to be left out of a good life
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