The other pant style needed for the well rounded wardrobe is the casual pant. These are usually your
khaki or tan, cotton-blend, duck-weave fabric pants, that are more versatile than dress pants (they look good with polo-style shirts and
t-shirts). In addition to the added variety of shirts they work well with, they can be dressed-up by pairing them with an oxford-cloth
shirt and simple tie. They also look very nice with a sport coat for a dressy-casual occasion.
Jeans:
Jeans, of course, are a staple of the modern wardrobe, with good reason. With their status as icons of
pop culture, denim has been elevated from the garb of the lowest working class (jeans were invented by Levi Strauss for wear by prospectors
and miners), to a fashion must-have for everyone. Most men own several pairs of jeans, but for the purpose of our list, you should have at
least two pairs of jeans (or more as your budget dictates).
It's generally a good idea to stick with classic styles of jeans. Jeans' manufacturers are constantly
adding new cuts and finishes to their line of jeans, but these reflect trends that will slip into and out of fashion. Unless you are
willing to update to current trends frequently, you want to stick with traditional styles - medium blue, button or zipper fly, straight-leg
jeans.
Shirts:
This is a more complicated area of the wardrobe, because there are so many cuts, fabrics and collar
styles to deal with. In an effort to stick to our theme, and to keep things as simple as possible, we'll break down shirts into dressy,
dress-casual, and casual.
Dressy: Every man needs dressy shirts to wear with his suits and dress pants. These
should be of cotton or blended fabrics, and should have a very smooth broadcloth weave. A man should have at least two white dress shirts
and two-to-three of different light colors that will work with his dress pants.
Dress-casual: The dress-casual shirt is also a broadcloth shirt, but it typically has
a coarse broadcloth weave, like oxford-cloth. The dress casual shirt also tends to have a button-down collar. It wears well with casual
pants and should be chosen with colors that will match, which is easy because many colors work with the neutral shades like khaki and tan.
Your wardrobe should contain three or four of these.
Casual: These are the shirts that aren't dressy or dress casual, and include styles
like colored, crewneck (and v-neck) jersey-knit t-shirts, logo or graphic t-shirts, flannel plaid shirts, polo-style knit pullovers,
Henleys, pub-collared shirts, and many other styles. There will likely be more casual shirts than any other type in the average wardrobe.
The specific styles and types will depend largely on personal taste, while the number of these found in your wardrobe depends on your
budget.
Underwear:
This is an area of the wardrobe that is usually overlooked. Some people consider it far too personal a
subject, but strictly speaking, underwear serves a specific purpose as a buffer between our bodies and the clothing we wear. Therefore, it
is an important part of the wardrobe. Some men prefer not to wear underwear, and while I respect each individual's right to make that
decision on his own, certain garments should never be worn without underwear.
