10 BASIC Items You Need To ALWAYS Look Stylish [0:00:00]
So, the first foundational piece that every man needs in his wardrobe to look good, the
classic sweater. Also known as a jumper, the sweater is not only stylish, but it’s also
functional. One of those easy pieces to put on and it just looks good.
Now, of course, there’s a few caveats with that. You want to make sure the sweater fits
you well. You want to make sure that it’s classic in design and the material used is
of high quality. Now, the sweater I’m wearing right here,
this turtleneck in maroon. I love it because I can pair it with a pair of dark jeans, boots.
Very simple, at the same time it sets me apart. Now, if turtlenecks aren’t your thing, simply
change up the style. Right here, I’ve gone with a classic crew neck. And make sure to
pay attention to the material. This is made from a cashmere wool means it’s going to
be really soft, a little bit more expensive. Wool, especially finer wools are perfectly
fine and they do a great job insulating heat. Once you get over to cottons, they don’t
do as great of a job insulating heat, but they can be more affordable. Be careful of
synthetics, they can look good, but usually after a few washes, they start to show wear
and tear. Next up, we’ve got this V-neck navy sweater.
This is not going to win awards for originality, but you know what it is going to do? Make
pretty much any man look good. So, a darker color like this with the V-neck
is going to draw attention to the chest, just make it look larger make you look more masculine.
In today’s video, gents, we’re talking about the basics that you need to always look
stylish. [Music]
Next style basic that should be in every man’s wardrobe, a little bit of fashionable footwear.
Now, when I say fashionable footwear, a lot of people assume I’m talking about dress
shoes. Not the case. You can simply step up your casual every day wear and all of a sudden,
you are looking good. You’re upgrading your style and this is a very easy way for your
daily style to improve it. So, throw out those running shoes and look
to get a nice pair of sneakers. You can go with something a little bit more complex this
year. Got this blue suede mixed in with a leather. But, if that’s too much for you,
then go with a classic. Right here, we’ve got this white in leather.
What I like about this, it’s actually a lot easier to clean. Then, you think especially
if you go with the quality leather and overall, this is going to match any casual outfit you
put it with. And for those of you guys that like high tops,
my son included. He actually grabbed the pair here out of my office. He at least asked.
Point being is find a style that works for you. What I like about this, we’ve got this
classic leather brown, but we’ve got that high contrast sole.
And speaking of contrast, your work shoe does not have to be boring, especially if you dress
up a bit. A lot of people think you got to go with a classic dress shoe all the time.
Not the case. Right here, I really like the contrast. Again, we got this blue suede mixed
in with the leather. Notice that pattern? I just love the idea
of blue mixed in with brown. That works so well and really works with a lot of clothing
I know in my wardrobe. That being said, you don’t have to have
different materials to have contrast. Right here, we’ve just got slight differences
in color and that is what draws attention to these shoes, but still does a good job
of maintaining the formality. And the style details matter. This looks like
a simple pair of dress shoes except when you look at the toe. What do we have here? A medallion.
Basically, just a little bit of broguing. It sets the shoe apart, just adds a bit of
style that you can wear in a very conservative environment.
Now, gents, all the shoes you’ve seen so far on today’s video are brought to you
by today’s sponsor, Ace Marks. Now, guys, if you’ve watched a few of my
shoe videos here at Real Men Real Style, you know that I love Ace Marks. I’ve been talking
about these guys for years because I love what they’re doing.
Gents, Ace Marks makes fashionable comfortable shoes affordable. And add to that, they’re
also innovating with footwear. Check out this latest project over at Kickstarter. Guys,
you got to check out these travel shoes. These are the first ever leather dress shoes and
leather sneakers that are fully collapsible, fit right into your luggage and save space
and there are no creases. Now, gents, I have a couple of pairs sent
to me here in the office and I have to say I’m absolutely in love with these. And I
like how they went with the classic styles. This blucher right here, this is something
that is going to work with sports jacket, you can even dress this up with a casual suit.
This is a shoe you’re going to get miles out of.
And these loafers here in blue, I asked specifically for these. I love the split toe, I love the
penny loafer design. This is classic right here. You can dress it up. I’m going to
dress this down with a sweater jean look. This is something I would wear to the airports.
I can slip on and off. I love how they pay attention to the style
detail. This is something that’s going to look great and it’s incredibly functional.
Now, specifically these can collapse down to two inches. What that means is that you
can get your shoes into your carryon luggage. What I love about this is you can have more
outfits, you have more options when you’re traveling and, again, you take them out there,
not going to be damaged. They are made specifically to do this.
And let’s talk about why the upper leather doesn’t crease, why are they able to fold
in. So, they actually developed a new technology in the toe and the heel, the counter area,
so that is made actually to fold in on itself. And, the leather they’re using up here is
a buffalo leather that’s resistant to creasing. And let’s talk about comfort. These are
soft, light, and flexible. And they use that Ace Marks last. This allows them to make incredibly
fashionable shoes that are very comfortable, break in very easily, these are no exception,
incredibly comfortable. You can wear this for twelve hours in the day and be fine.
Oh, and Ace Marks is more than just dress shoes. Check out their sneaker collections,
either a travel sneakers or just a regular sneakers they’ve got over on their website.
[0:04:57] Gents, what I love about Ace Marks is you
get great shoes at a fair price. What is a fair price? Okay. So, I got some shoes over
here, 1,000 bucks there, $500 there. These are the same quality level and guess what?
Under $200. How do they do that? They ship directly to
the consumer. These guys are the real deal. I know the founders, I know these shoes, and
I love these shoes. They’re always a great deal, so I love to bring them to you, guys.
Again, take advantage of this deal. I’m linking to it down in the description, their
Kickstarter to be able to get the best deal ever on these travel shoes. And I’m also
going to link over to their website because I talked about some other shoes, which are
not the travel shoes and you can just go over to their website, peruse, grab some great
shoes, they got some good deal. Just an awesome company, I’m proud to support them.
Again, guys, use that link, take advantage of the Kickstarter deal. It’s not going
to be around forever. Next up on this list, well-fitted denim and
what do I mean by that? Let me go ahead and pull up this chart right here and I’ve got
different body types in the style of denim that you want to go for.
Jean fit is so key. You want to make sure you got the right style for your body type.
The general rule here is if you’re a bit of a heavier guy, you don’t want to go for
anything tight or close. If you’re a thinner guy, you don’t want to go for anything baggy
or loose. This seems pretty much common sense, but so
many guys mess this up. And don’t be afraid to be able to take your denim into a tailor
to get it adjusted, because a small bit of a taper more towards the leg actually getting
them hemmed, so that you’re not dragging them. Yes, had that back torn up back part
of the denim, that never looks good. Make sure that you find a denim that fits
you well. And if it’s close, it needs to be adjusted, don’t be afraid to get it,
just so it fits perfect. Yeah, it makes a big difference. Remember, when it comes to
denim, fit, fit, and fit. Next up on this list, I think a basic item
that every man should have in the stylish wardrobe are trousers not made from denim.
So, so many guys that’s all they default to, but there are tons of other options out
there. And, really, for me pants in general, I like to keep them simple. To me, they’re
a canvas which you draw on with all your other clothing.
But, if you are going to go for something that stands out something a bit different,
chinos are great place to start. They come in a wide variety of colors made from cotton.
You can find them incredibly inexpensive. Again, make sure they’re tailored to fit
your body right. Maybe look at linen if you’re in really
hot weather you want something breathable, those make great trousers as well.
Now, with cooler weather, you got a lot of options, cavalry twill, moleskin, and flannel.
It doesn’t always have to be gray flannel. One of my favorites, but it doesn’t always
have to be slacks, you’re dressed up trousers like that.
You can go with casual jean style pants that have a flannel, a nap weave to them. And this
is just really nice especially in the fall, in the winter, the spring. Those cooler days
they’re just a little bit warmer and they look dressier than jeans.
Get a pair in gray, maybe olive, and those are going to work with so many of your tops.
It really just a great way to set yourself apart from the crowd.
And, gents, if you’ve ever dressed so damn good when you look in the mirror, you had
to give yourself a double look? Yeah, do me a favor, smash that like button. Seriously,
guys, when you interact with these videos, the YouTube gods know, hey, we need to pass
this around and help it reach more people. Next up, we’ve got the classic crewneck
t-shirt. And I think that you should always have a few of these in your wardrobe. Whether
you go cheap or whether you go expensive, make sure it fits your body.
If you’re a little bit heavier, it’s not something you’re probably going to wear
by itself, but you can wear it as a layering piece.
Now, what about graphic tees? Oftentimes, I throw them under the bus and that’s simply
because I don’t think that they’re as useful as most men think they are. They’re
overused, they’re overplayed. I really like a solid colored tee because
unless you’re getting paid by a brand, why wear the brand logo on your, you know, right
here on your chest? Instead, go for something that’s going to be versatile, something
that’s going to be interchangeable, something that even if you’re a big heavy and you
shouldn’t be wearing a t-shirt by in of itself, you can actually use it as a layering
piece. And that’s what I like to see. Now, if you are a bit heavier or if you’re
in great shape and you want to better show off the chest, you’re a thinner guy, look
at another type of t-shirt and that is the V-neck t-shirt. I really like V-necks especially
when they fit you well in the arm, they fit you well in the chest area, because, again,
it accentuates the chest, draws attention to that area and it just it’s great looking
style. Now, we’re talking about casual t-shirts,
let’s now jump into the henleys. So, the henley is a separate piece and I like this
one because it’s got that little bit of style detail right in the front two to four
buttons. So, it is a pullover, it’s not going to,
you know, be confused with a button down, but it doesn’t have the collar, so this
is going to be much more casual. You can pretty much wear it in any situation you would wear
a V-neck or a t-shirt. But, what I like about henleys is they come
in a wide variety of longer sleeve henleys. There’s just something about it and for
as a skinny guy, I love the fact that you can just roll them up a bit to your mid forearm.
It kind of builds up the arm area, you just look basically strong and masculine.
Next up, we’ve got the casual button down and not to confuse this with a dress shirt.
A dress shirt is traditionally white. You will see them in light blue, maybe some stripes
or patterns. But, dress shirts are made to be worn with a suit or a sports jacket.
A casual button down can be worn on its own as a layering piece. It’s oftentimes going
to be made from a heavier material such as oxford or a cotton that’s just got more
of a twill or heavier weave. And what I like about casual button downs
is they’re going to have those collars. And the collar, it does a great job of framing
the face. This is just one of those pieces that needs to be in every man’s wardrobe.
[0:09:58] The next foundational piece that should in
every man’s wardrobe, a jacket. When I say jacket, I’m talking sports jackets, leather
jackets, jean jackets. You find a style that works for you.
Yes, I think every man should own a sports jacket, but I get reality, the vast majority
of men just aren’t going to pull the off. God, they frame up the shoulders, they slim
up your waist area. They just make you look good.
But, I get it, if you don’t want to go for that type of jacket, then look at the leather
jacket. It does many of the same things, also builds up the hands. It just makes you look
more masculine. Jean jackets do a decent job. There are other
lightweight like fatigue jackets that will do a good job just slimming up the silhouette,
creating, you know, just a more enhanced look, make you look taller.
This is why I love the jacket and why I put it in here especially if you live in a part
of the world that it gets cool at least one season, then bring in that jacket, use it
as a layering piece. Even if it does stay warm most of the year in your area, look for
then a thin jacket, it’s going to be breathable. There are jackets out there especially sports
jackets that are made for summer, are made to be unlined, so you can wear them even in
the heat. Now, for this next item, I’m going to cheat
a bit because I’m going to put a few pieces in together and I’m going to say that you
need to have one suit in dark color that makes you look good and that you have ready for
those important times in life when you just need to dress up and you don’t have much
notice. Maybe a last minute wedding, you have a friend
that passes away and you are being asked to be a pallbearer at his funeral. Those are
events in which you want to show respect, you want to look your best and you don’t
want to have to be running out to purchase something that’s going to make you look
a clown and not fit you. So, a dark colored suit either in charcoal
gray or a navy, a white dress shirt, a tie preferably just go for a darker blue or maybe
a darker red maroon or something like that. And that a pair of dress shoes that don’t
really draw attention. You know, the shoes I showed you earlier,
you can go with a pair of wholecuts, those look amazing. Or you can go just Balmoral
oxford classics. Point being is have that outfit ready for the times you need it in
your life it’s there and it just it makes you feel great especially when you know it
fits you and it makes you look good. The next basic item that should be in every
man’s stylish wardrobe, a watch. So, watches are interesting because the more you get into,
the more you realize it’s about the story, it’s about your relationship with time than
it is the watch. This watch right here, I to save up for a
year to be able to afford this watch. I loved it as a kid. It had world temperature, world
time, and, no, it wasn’t actually getting, you know, satellite data. It was simply had
historical value, but I love this watch. You know, G-SHOCK, when I was in the military,
loved this. And then, I started getting into field watches. I looked up pilot watches,
never really got into them too much. Dress watches, I’ve got a few of those and they’re
nice. I really have settled on dive watches. That’s
kind of where my sweet spot is. I can dress them up, I can dress them down. Point being
is this is one of those pieces of male jewelry that you can have fun with. Tons of options
out there, find a style that works for you and, yeah, have fun with it.
Sunglasses, undershirts, what did I miss? Gents, let me know in the comments below.
You know, I love to hear from you. So, what video to watch next? Well, how about
this one right here, which I’m not going to tell you what it is. No, I’m not going
to rickroll you and I’m not going to send you off to something that’s not safe for
work. But, I will send you to a video on my channel
that not many people have seen. It is really good. And, yeah, what am I talking about?
Guys, find out, click on the mystery link, boom, right here.
Seriously, I’m not going to do anything bad, like it’s good for you. Check it out.
[0:13:17] End of audio