Sometimes, when you’re building out a wardrobe, you want those “all eyes on me” pieces. We’re talking over-the-top outerwear, brightly colored pants, and statement shoes.
But before you can branch out into out-there menswear, you need to cover your bases—or, rather, basics. After all, those eye-catching pieces in your collection need a solid foundation.
Whether you like to reach for conversation-starting clothes or keep it simple, your wardrobe isn’t complete without some stylish and versatile menswear essentials. Here are six kinds of must-have menswear pieces you should always keep on hand.
1. T-Shirts
The top spot in our men’s wardrobe essentials list is an obvious choice: the t-shirt. No other piece of clothing is as fundamental. Your wardrobe is probably full of them already.
And there’s a reason: T-shirts go with everything and work in almost any situation. A plain white or black tee is the base layer for countless casual and put-together outfits. A more energized graphic tee paired with jeans or cargo pants shows off your personality and style. Contrarily, a simple patterned shirt with cargo shorts is the look of the summer.
Whatever kind of tee you gravitate toward, the key is to ensure it flatters you. An ill-fitting t-shirt can draw attention for all the wrong reasons. When you’re trying on graphic tees or regular shirts, the general rules are:
- The bottom of the shirt should land around your fly
- The shoulder seams should hit your shoulder bones
- The shirt should fall straight down your body
Once you’ve picked up some t-shirts that fit you well, you can style them in various ways. Try rocking a white t-shirt under a patterned short-sleeve button-up for a breezy look, or keep it minimal with a tee-and-jeans combo. This versatile is the staple summer streetwear outfit that allows you to stay stylish and comfortable in the heat.
2. Hoodies
The hoodie is like the t-shirt’s cool-weather brother. Equally comfortable, equally versatile, and equally celebrated in fashion, hoodies are the perfect outer layer for practically any occasion.
If you’re building a capsule wardrobe of essentials, we recommend picking up two or three hoodies you can style in different ways. Consider buying one of each of the following:
- A solid-color hoodie – As basic as a black tee, an Every Day Hoodie in black or gray can be worn with jeans, sweats, shorts, and more. You can even layer a classic hoodie under a denim jacket or bomber for a more intentional, layered look.
- A graphic hoodie – When you want to stand out, a striking graphic hoodie does the trick. Having an attention-grabbing logo or graphic up top allows you to dress simply on the bottom; pair these with blue jeans or some slim camo pants.
- A zip-up hoodie – With a zip-up hoodie, you have more layering options. Put a basic tee on underneath, and you can wear your hoodie half-open or fully undone. Finish the look with black jeans and your favorite sneakers.
3. Denim Jeans
Speaking of jeans, no wardrobe is complete without them. Denim jeans have been mainstays in the fashion world since at least the 1950s,1 and it’s not hard to see why: These pants go with everything.
Want to dress up for a special occasion? No problem. Put on some straight black jeans with a blazer and dressy boots, and you’re set. Need an ultra-casual look for a low-key night out with the boys? Jeans pair perfectly with a casual tee and sneakers.
As long as you have a few pairs of jeans in different washes and cuts, you’re ready for any dress code they throw at you. We suggest starting with a pair of versatile straight black jeans and some wider-leg blue jeans. Then, if you find yourself looking for more denim options, diversify your wardrobe with:
- Baggy denim jeans in a vintage black wash
- Straight-leg denim jeans in light blue
- Distressed blue jeans (for a more rugged look)
- Statement denim (like these ultra baggy bandana patch jeans)
- Denim shorts
4. Cargo Pants
While you could easily wear jeans every day, variety is the spice of life. So, switch up the lower half of your wardrobe by throwing some cargo jeans into the mix.
Cargos used to get a bad rap, but these days, the multi-pocketed pants are a streetwear wardrobe staple, especially as the utility trend takes off. Throw on a pair of brown cargos with an off-white graphic tee or hoodie, and watch the compliments roll in.
What makes cargo pants a menswear wardrobe essential is that they’re not just for the streets. When dressed up appropriately, cargos can make an appearance in smart-casual environments. Wear some simple black cargo pants with a fitted tee, a solid bomber jacket, and dark sneakers to the office, and no one will bat an eye (unless you work at a law firm).
If you’re new to wearing cargos, here’s one word to remember: contrast. Because cargo pants (and shorts, for that matter) are baggy and bulky, you’ll want to wear a tighter-fitting top to offset them. Reach for slimmer tees and sweaters with your cargos—unless you’re intentionally going for an ultra-baggy look.
5. Denim Jacket
Like denim pants, a denim jacket goes with everything, and no man’s wardrobe should have a jean jacket-shaped hole. Denim jackets are a versatile piece for layering, as they can easily go on top of:
- Tees
- Button-ups
- Hoodies
- Cardigans
- Sweaters
If you only have room for one denim jacket, opt for a light blue one. It’ll pair just as well with black jeans as it will with blue ones. Denim-on-denim for men is the latest trend that looks fashion-forward.
If you’re open to picking up multiple jean jackets, we have some suggestions for you. After a trusty blue denim jacket, reach for a simple black one that will complement any pair of pants.
Still craving denim? It’s time for a statement jean jacket. Something like this green frayed denim jacket is exciting enough to style into interesting fits yet simple enough to incorporate into casual looks.
6. Flannels
To button up this list, we’re going with the ultimate long-sleeve button-up: the flannel. Flannels are warmer than t-shirts but thinner than hoodies or jackets, making them the perfect gap fillers in your capsule wardrobe. Toss on a flannel shirt over a white tee and some jeans, and you have an ideal outfit for fall or spring weather.
That said, this clothing item is perfect for all-season wear. They’re terrific when worn over a tee and shorts on those cooler summer mornings, and they make a fantastic secondary layer during the winter; put one on between a tee and a denim jacket for a fashionable combo. Knowing how to layer clothes for men is essential to making the most of flannels, keeping you comfortable and fashionable no matter the season.
We love flannels because they provide textural contrast to all the smooth cotton tees and denim pants and jackets. A classic flannel shirt has a slightly rough appearance that gives your outfit an added layer of interest. When you think of flannels this way, it’s easy to see why they’re essential.
Build Your Essential Wardrobe with mnml
No matter your personal streetwear style, you need a backbone of fashion staples in your wardrobe. With the right tees, hoodies, jeans, and outerwear pieces, you can create dozens of iconic outfits, including stylish summer outfits for the warmer months.
Not sure where to start? Try mnml. Our collection of high-quality clothing essentials has everything you need to create a forward-looking foundation in your wardrobe.
Shop the collection today to see what’s in store.
Sources:
- PBS. Fifty years of Jeans Fashion. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/riveted-history-of-jeans-fifty-years-jeans-fashion/
