Covering the Basics

Writing a blog that is ostensibly about clothing, it can be easy after a time so slip into outlandish subject matter. I know I'm far from innocent of this. Let's for a moment take a step back and cover the basics. Though I may own more than my fair share of bold jackets and pants so colorful as to border on the downright silly, there are some things which are essential.

A blue button down oxford shirt (in this case Ralph Lauren, $2.99), a simple 3 inch wide bar stripe tie (Talbot's, $1.00) and a lightly starched pair of classic flat front khakis (L.L.Bean, $5.49) is a combination that's hard to beat, at least in the United States. And the versatility of these items, whether as a combination or separately, is endless.

If you're like me, and you enjoy dressing well, but your life far from requires it, this whole combination makes a great complete outfit any day. You'll feel dressed, but also comfortable, and really, this is pretty casual stuff. For a crisp look finish with penny loafers and a brown leather belt. Or turn things down a notch with a ribbon belt and Blucher moccasins (as I did today). On a chilly day, a cotton or wool v-neck, cardigan or cable knit sweater in navy, cream or even hunter green provides warmth, looks finished, and doesn't overdo things too much. I opted for a cream cotton cable knit, myself.

Should you require a dressier look, just put on a single breasted navy blazer with brass buttons. In Winter, a herringbone tweed in grey or brown works just as well. Dressier still, simply swap the khakis for charcoal grey slacks in flannel or worsted.

If you require a fully comfortable look, just ditch the tie...or keep the tie and wear jeans...or wear the whole rig with no socks and boat shoes. Throw a Barbour over the whole thing, or if you're young and hip, a jean jacket. Swap in a knit tie or a bow tie sometimes, or some argyle or brightly colored socks. Don't iron any of it, put your bare foot in some natural canvas sneakers, don a ball cap and head to the seaside for an ice cream. Wear the shirt, starched and pressed, with the tie under a navy suit to a job interview. The list goes on and on. Just don't wear it to a funeral.

I get a lot of emails from guys looking to up the ante on the way they dress, who have little money and feel, rightly so, exasperated by the daunting task of building a proper wardrobe. It's a plight I understand completely, being eternally broke myself. A guy doesn't really need a lot of clothes, just the right clothes, at least at first. Once you get bitten by the bug and have your basics covered, then you can fill your closet with fopperies. But a guy could do worse than owning a bunch of good khakis, blue, white, and blue and white striped shirts, quality basic ties, and shiny brown shoes. Throw in a navy blazer, a good dark suit, some sweaters and one really nice piece of tweed and you're well on the way. Once you become comfortable with these basics and the way they work for you, the rest has a way of falling into place.

And yeah, it's all been said before by better men than me repeatedly for more than half a century now, There's a good reason for that, you know.