the THE ESSENTIAL WARDROBE CHECKLIST BUSINESS CASUAL
ABOUT THIS GUIDE The Essential Wardrobe Checklist is your guide to building the most versatile, minimal, essential wardrobe. This is the bare bones wardrobe you will need to get you started. Keep in mind, that because this checklist is minimal, it does not include certain weather specific recommendations such as snowboots, summer short, etc. I ll be giving you guides on those in the future. For right now, we want to remember the lessons we learned in the previous modules: 1. Focus on actions that make the biggest changes 2. Once those are taken care of, make the minor adjustments When it comes to an essential, minimal wardrobe, we re going to follow 3 rules: 1. Classic in design: A solid blue pair of Levis, not a ripped, painted, bedazzled pair. A crisp white 50s style t-shirt, not one that s long with a deep neckline. We want to choose pieces as close to how they were originally designed as possible. No fluff or trendy interpretations. There s a reason these classic designs have lasted 50+ years. It s a safe bet that they ll still be really stylish in the next 50. 2. Solid, neutral colors: For right now, we re sticking with solid, neutral colors. Black, White, Gray, Navy/Blue, Beige, Olive, Brown. Neutral colors are the perfect backdrop for more colors later on. They also mix infinitely with each other. You ll find that with a neutral core wardrobe, you don t need to know a single thing about mixing colors to look good! 3. No prints or graphics: This goes off rule 2, but it should be mentioned. A white t-shirt with a graphic of your favorite rockband of the 90s doesn t count as a neutral white t-shirt. We ll cover how to add some personality to your style later. But for now, focus on solid colors.
Building a minimal, versatile wardrobe solves several problems: Because all the pieces work together, you don t have to think about putting together any outfit. Less mental energy and less time getting dressed in the morning. The wardrobe does the work for you. By sticking to classic pieces, our wardrobe won t go out of style. Unlike trying copy the newest thing Celebrity X is wearing, we won t be stuck with clothes that we can t wear in a few months. A minimal, classic wardrobe is the perfect backdrop to trends we do decide to try. A clean, neutral wardrobe is the perfect backdrop to let you experiment with your look. And because we focus on having a predominantly classic wardrobe, we can always revert back to it, making sure we never go out of style.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Depending on your Style Needs Type you identified in Module 1, I will give you ONE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION for categories such as sports coat, button up shirt, casual sneakers, etc. By buying one of each recommendation, you ll create a wardrobe that s ready for almost any situation. You ll also have a strong foundation to build an amazing wardrobe on. You ll find that you ll no longer need to get rid of clothes like you used when when you got something new. Now, you ll add on to your essential wardrobe and make it even stronger. To make sure we don t stock too many classics (too boring), and veer too much into trends (not as versatile), we ve separated shopping/building our wardrobe into three levels. Think of it like a video game. You need to complete Level 1 before you move onto Level 2. (Sorry, no cheat codes here.) Once you hit all the points on the checklist for a level on your checklist, that ll be the go ahead for you to move onto the next Level. Level One: The Classics Classic styles & colors. This is what you want to buy first. By stocking the classic rendition of an article of clothing, say a classic white crewneck t-shirt, you ll have a piece that s timeless and mixes well. Maximum versatility and timelessness.
Level Two: Buy a variation of a Level 1 piece (different color, pattern or style) Once you have at least one classic style in your closet, you can explore variations, like another color or classic style. Level 2 is where you add more depth to your wardrobe, making your look a hell lot more interesting. Since you already got your classic white t-shirt, you add a couple more solid colors to your closet. Level Three: The Bonus Round : Buy a unique and/or trendy piece If you repeat Levels 1 and 2, you can build an extensive, classic wardrobe that mixes well with each other. If you want to try something a little different, you can experiment with some trends or less classic styles. Maybe you want a crazy ripped pair of jeans. Or a bright red leather jacket. Or you really like that pair of Nikes that just came out that everyone wants. Dabbling in trends makes your wardrobe new and fun. By completing Levels 1 & 2 of building our wardrobes, we ve ensured that when a trend
we try goes out of style, 99% of your wardrobe is still going to keep you looking really good. On each item page, we ll show you what to get first under Level 1. Once you get that, feel free to move up to Level 2 and pick up other recommendations. Level 3 recommendations are for the advanced wardrobe. I don t recommend you jump straight to Level 3 if you don t have at least 1 Level 1 and 2 piece. Level 3 recommendations will generally be pricier, and more experimental in design and colors. The Chino Pant Level 1: Khaki, Navy Level 2: Olive, Gray Level 3: Outlier 60/30 Chino
THE ESSENTIAL BUSINESS CASUAL WARDROBE
THE CHARCOAL GREY SUIT For days you need to dress up it up a bit, whether that s a business meeting or late night drinks (in that case, I recommend styling it with a black t-shirt). I favor the charcoal grey over the navy suit for one reason: the extremely versatile pant. Break up the suit and wear the pants on it s own with a chambray shirt and black leather jacket. LEVEL 1: 2-button, notched lapel suit (above, J.Crew Ludlow, $695) LEVEL 2: 3-piece, notched lapel grey suit LEVEL 3: Double breasted, peaked lapel grey suit
THE SPORTS COAT Consider a sportscoat (or blazers) more of a casual jacket than 1/2 of a suit. Sports coat are a bit more rugged fabrics like cotton or wool blends, and mix beautifully when worn with anything from chinos and jeans. I love patch pockets, a more casual detail, because they re a lot easier to use. But you can find sports coats with more traditional flap pockets. For your first sportscoat, I recommend a navy one for versatility. LEVEL 1: Navy LEVEL 2: Black, Olive or Khaki LEVEL 3: Bright colors, such as white or sky blue, or patterns like plaid
THE TOPCOAT/OVERCOAT Topcoats are a multipurpose piece that s perfect for colder months. Traditionally, it s meant to be worn over your jacket (hence the name). Personally, I treat it like a long jacket, wearing it over sweaters or button-up shirts. If you decide to go the traditional route, make sure you size up. Wear the jacket you want to wear it over when trying it on when you re shopping to get the perfect size. LEVEL 1: Single breasted in Charcoal Grey, Navy or Black in wool LEVEL 2: Camel LEVEL 3: Cashmere instead of wool and/or Double breasted topcoats
THE PEACOAT The peacoat is the jacket you wear when it s too cold for your sportscoat, but you don t want to wear your topcoat. It stirs up images of James Dean, Springsteen, and men who worked with their hands roughing the seas. In short, it s masculine and timeless. Everything you want in an essential wardrobe piece. LEVEL 1: The classic: Double breasted navy in wool LEVEL 2: Grey or Black in color. Or one trimmed with fur. LEVEL 3: Peacoats in finer materials like cashmere, or nicer wools
THE LEATHER JACKET Show me a man that doesn t want a leather jacket. Second only to the suit, the leather jacket is the piece of clothing you put on when you want to feel masculine and badass. There are a handful of styles out there, but for your first, essential piece, I recommend a racer style jacket like the one from Schott above. Signature details include minimal details, a center front zip, chest zip pockets and a band collar. It s a classic leather jacket with just enough restraint to make it appropriate with a button up shirt and dress pants. LEVEL 1: Cafe Racer style jacket in black leather LEVEL 2: Different styles, such as perfecto or bomber, in black or brown LEVEL 3: Wild colors like red and green, or details such as fur or mixed leathers
THE DARK WASHED BLUE DENIM No wardrobe is complete without a pair of jeans. When I did a survey with women on what they love to see on a man, the #1 winner was a perfect pair of blue jeans. Two areas where men get jeans wrong? The wash and the fit. Dark blue denim looks extremely clean and classic on a man. Light blues are great, especially in the warmer seasons, but for Level 1 essential pieces, we re going to go with the dark blue. I recommend picking up raw denim, which will form to your body (better fit) and wear down beautifully the more you wear it. LEVEL 1: Fitted pair of raw, dark blue denim (Such as this pair by 3ixteen) LEVEL 2: Black denim LEVEL 3: Prewashed and treated (lighter blues)
THE CHINO PANT If I could chose one pant to wear for the rest of my life, the chino would edge out a dark pair of jeans bit a tiny bit. Unlike jeans, the chino is a casual pant that can seamlessly be incorporated into a dressier outfit without looking out of place. Think of it like a dress pant made out of more casual fabrics (traditionally, a cotton twill) The chino has gotten technical upgrades from companies like Outlier, creating extremely comfortable stretch versions that are water and grease resistant. Just make sure you get a few classic cotton pairs before you spend the big bucks on those. LEVEL 1: Cotton chinos in khaki LEVEL 2: Cotton chinos in olive, navy or black LEVEL 3: Upgraded chinos, such as Outlier 60/30 chinos
THE SOLID CREWNECK T-SHIRT The solid t-shirt is an often overlooked staple. You ll find a handful of designers now creating the classic in premium materials, but nothing beats a crewneck in 100% cotton. Ensure the right fit by using the Clues are in the Construction trick, and start your essential wardrobe by picking up white t-shirts first. Then expand to other colors. When you re ready to jump to Level 3, show more of your personality by picking up some graphic tees or luxe it up with t-shirts made in cashmere or silk jerseys. LEVEL 1: 100% cotton white LEVEL 2: 100% cotton in solid neutral colors such as navy, grey and black LEVEL 3: Non-neutral colors like red, blue, green. Premium materials like silk jersey and cashmere
THE POLO SHIRT The polo has gotten a bad rap. Blame the frat bros who routinely don the polo in bright colors with the collars popped. But we can thank Mr. Bond for it s revival when Sunspel redesigned the polo for him in a recent movie. Think of the polo as the sweet spot between a t-shirt and dress shirt. A dressier alternative to the tee, slightly more casual than a button up. Wear it solo with a pair of chinos or swap it in for your oxford under your sportscoat. Just make sure whatever you do, pick a polo that is free of alligator or horse riding logos. LEVEL 1: Black, navy or grey LEVEL 2: White LEVEL 3: Non-neutral, brighter colors. Premium materials like silk jersey and blends.
CREWNECK SWEATER The crewneck are essential layering pieces during colder months. This gives you a lot more versatility versus buying heavier coats. There are a ton of different materials you can go for like merino and alpaca wools. But for me, nothing beats a cashmere sweater. They re thinner than wool sweater, less itchy and just as warm (if not warmer). Brands like J.Crew have solid entry level cashmeres that are great value. I highly recommend investing in cashmere if you ve never owned one before. LEVEL 1: Solid Grey Cashmere LEVEL 2: Solid Navy/Blue, Beige or Black (any material) LEVEL 3: Non-neutral solid colors (Red, Green, etc)
V-NECK SWEATER The V-neck is the dressier sweater for your wardrobe. The main purpose - to give you a piece to layer and keep warm just like the crewneck, but show off your button-up shirt underneath. This gives you a more dressed up look, as the crewneck would hide your button-up. When it comes to color, I recommend black for your first v-neck. LEVEL 1: Solid Black Cashmere or Wool LEVEL 2: Solid Navy/Blue, Beige or Black (any material) LEVEL 3: Non-neutral solid colors (Red, Green, etc)
OXFORD BUTTON-UP SHIRT For button-up shirts, start with the white oxford semi-spread or spread collar. Point collars give off strange dracula vibes. Most good brands like J.Crew have moved away from that style in favor of the shorter width, more flattering semi-spread and spread. After you get at least 1 white oxford, you can explore more classic colors like pale blue, as well as fine stripes. LEVEL 1: Solid white semi-spread or spread collar LEVEL 2: Solid pale blue and grays. Fine blue, brown or black stripes. LEVEL 3: Black or larger patterns (window pane or plaids)
THE CHAMBRAY SHIRT The chambray/denim shirt is one of the few pieces that looks universally good on any kind of guy. Tall. Short. Skinny. Big. Light Skinned or Dark. I would go so far to say that it works on more guys than actual denim jeans. The chambray shirt is a masculine piece of clothing. Maybe because of it s historical origins as workwear. It not only makes you look manly, but makes you feel more manly. Chambray is also unique enough to break the monotony of the white dress shirt. Wear it under a sports coat and chinos, or go casual and throw it under a leather jacket. Extremely versatile, my personal favorite. LEVEL 1: Solid denim blue with minimal details (dress shirt style, no washes) LEVEL 2: Light blues and washes, western style designs LEVEL 3: Black chambray
THE LACE-UP BOOT When it comes to the everyday boot, it s a close one between black and brown. Since I ll be recommended a black oxford next, I m going to recommend you get a pair of brown lace up boots for your first pair. Now, why would we get a boot when we have a dress shoe? For those times when you don t want to look too casual because you re wearing sneakers. A dress shoe can look odd sometimes when pairing it with, say, a pair of jeans. I m not a big fan of oxfords and denim. In these cases, I d go for a boot. LEVEL 1: Brown LEVEL 2: Black LEVEL 3: Less traditional colors like burgundy
OXFORD LACE-UP A vital piece of footwear when it comes to business meetings and formal events. Since we ve opted for the charcoal grey suit in this wardrobe, we re going to go with the classic pairing of the black oxford. While brown can certainly work with a grey suit, it s a bit more eccentric. When it comes to cap toe vs no cap toe, it s all personal preference (I say cap toe). Once you got this in your closet and want to take your dress shoe game to new levels, you go explore brown lace ups, suede and the more casual derby. LEVEL 1: Brown cap toe LEVEL 2: Black or brown derby LEVEL 3: Colors like green, burgundy and blue, and materials like suede
THE WHITE LEATHER SNEAKER Thanks to brands like Common Projects, the sneaker has broken free from teenagers and rebranded itself as a luxurious, stylish staple. Even if you can t stomach the $400+ price tag of these Made in Italy gold standards, $75 Adidas Stan Smiths are just a clean and accepted among the stylish elite. Wear them as intended with a t-shirt and pair of jeans, or take a risk and pair them with your suit. Trust me, as long as you keep them minimal and clean, you ll look more than appropriate. LEVEL 1: Entry level models like Adidas Stan Smith or Nike Tennis Classic Ultra LEVEL 2: Mid-level models like Greats The Royal Leather Sneaker LEVEL 3: Common Projects Original Achilles Low Tops
THE RUNNING SNEAKER Perfect for exactly what it s named for, the running sneaker is going to be your daily throw-on show when you need to run around to do some quick errands or grab your Sunday coffee. Key details of this shoe: the padded heal and cushy interior. Like the rest of these items on the essential list, you want your first Level 1 pair to be a solid, neutral color like gray, navy or black. For your second pair and beyond, feel free to go wild with the colors. LEVEL 1: Solid monochrome neutral color, like black, navy, olive, grey or white. LEVEL 2: Solid monochrome non-neutral colors like red and purple. LEVEL 3: Multi-colored or patterned running sneakers
THE POCKET SQUARE You can have a suit in your closet without a proper pocket square. You first should be white, and when it comes to price between brands there isn t much of a different. However, there s nothing more obvious than a cheap pocket square, they're stiff and a pain in the ass to try and press. This is one of those few instances that it s going to pay to pay a bit more. My recommendation: Charvet. You can t go wrong with a french company that s been making shirts and ties for the likes of Winston Churchill, Napoleon and Francis Ford Coppola. For $80, you ll be part of history and won t need to buy another white pocket square for the rest of your life. LEVEL 1: White silk pocket square by Charvet LEVEL 2: Solid colors like navy, black and burgundy LEVEL 3: Patterns and prints
THE ESSENTIAL WARDROBE CHECKLIST BUSINESS CASUAL LEVEL 1 ITEMS: Use this checklist to keep track of your Level 1 purchases (Your minimal, core essential wardrobe). Check off an item when you have at least one in your closet. After checking an item off, you are free to proceed to Level 2 and then Level 3 to add more depth and variety to your wardrobe. Charcoal Grey Notched Lapel Suit Navy Sports Coat Black or Charcoal Grey Topcoat Navy Wool Peacoat Black Cafe Racer Leather Jacket Dark Washed Raw Denim Jeans Khaki Chino Pants White T-Shirt Black or Grey Polo Shirt Grey Cashmere Crewneck Sweater Black Wool or Cashmere V-neck Sweater White Semi-Spread or Spread Collar Button Up Shirt Solid Blue Chambray Shirt Brown Laceup Boots Black Oxford Lace Up Shoes Minimal White Leather Sneakers Solid Monochrome Running Sneakers White Pocket Square