20 BEST BLAZERS FOR MEN

No longer reserved for the English gent or regimented Navy chap, the humble blazer has played a star role these past few seasons, since its debut nearly two hundred years ago. From the runway to the wardrobe, the blazer’s nostalgic roots only look to deepen in 2015.

And Bombs away, we say. Armed and ready to go, get to know the blazer and its many facets, before clicking through the slideshow of our 20 Best Blazers For Men.

Beginner Basics

The blazer traces its roots back to Cambridge University and its Lady Margaret Boat Club row team who, in 1825, created the blazer as a sporty top to row in. Worn in a bright shade for extra speed when competing, the term ‘blazer’ stuck. Not quite a suit jacket, the blazer stood alone as a fashion piece that could be worn outside of the boat too, so many men did.

Today, the blazer’s timeless silhouette, feel and fit means – even in the summer heat – it has its place. Not to be confused with outerwear, the blazer is not a coat. It won’t form the outer layer of a winter look and its fabric weight and slim fit mean its best layered or as a summer cover.

Nor is the blazer simply a matter of splitting a regular suit, grabbing the jacket and doing away with the trousers. The key to the blazer is knowing where it is you’re going and for what purpose it is required. But don’t stress. This piece of sartorial cloth rides well with flexibility. Dressed up, dressed down – any man can roll with the blazer.

The Fit

Unstructured

The unstructured blazer is for those gents who are maybe more blue-collar or artsy in profession and don’t have the workplace ‘need’ to be traditional. Or, they prefer a relaxed approach to incredible style. These blazers are designed to mould to the body, are relaxed and boast less rigid shape.

They still cut sharp on the shoulder and can hug close to the body of the wearer. But, unstructured blazers give a softer, relaxed fit – falling from the shoulder peak fluidly. Stripped bare, the unstructured jacket is just that – unstructured, so the typical inner folds and shapes given to retain a jacket’s shape, are gone.

Casual details maybe be added though; front pockets, exposed seams, lack of lining, multiple buttons and sometimes buttons in contrast colour to the jacket fabric itself. The lapel will nearly always be a shawl type (rarely a peak).

Plus, they are more likely to be made from one piece of cloth, so they are thinner, making them great for winter layering or going solely as a light add-on for summer.

Structured

The structured jacket is for men who need to look orderly for work and stylish at the same time – no room for creative licence here. The structured blazer is all about the fit; cut super close to the body and maximising shape, with the padding, linings and the inner jacket mechanics (that only a tailor knows best) worked brilliantly into the piece. Richer looking, the structured blazer requires quality fabric and engineering.

It will normally carry more defined shoulders, feel luxurious to touch and hug the body to enhance the slim fit. At first glance too, the jacket will appear simpler, elegant, with minimal details and can carry any three of the lapel types: peak, shawl and notch.

The Colour

Red

A colour statement, the red blazer is perfectly 2015 – be it a wild night out or Sunday lunch with the relatives. From vermillion to cherry to almost-maroon, red will give back some fire to your wardrobe. And in the form on the blazer, the colour becomes a classic. Pair with something textural and neutral in colour; grey-ish herringbone trousers for nights and stark white chino shorts for hot days.

White

Effortlessly European, the white blazer is a summer must-have. Heat reflective and as matchable as black, this Cannes-esque colour goes swimmingly with other nautical hues; navy pleated pants for the night or cherry cropped chinos for the days. Chuck on some boat shoes and sail away.

Blue

The navy blazer is the most versatile of the lot, colour-wise. So go get one, tout de suit, for any day of the week. Then, invest in a pastel hue (mint, pink, orange) or cobalt blue for 2015. Dashing for work and corporate events, pair it with grey trousers, a white, crisp tee or button shirt and tan brogues.

Checks

With the insurgence of prints on outerwear and tailoring at fashion week, now is the time to check yourself with a patterned blazer. Give your look the professor makeover with windowpane check or go micro-cubed if you’re after safe. Then, let the Gatsby vibes take you from the day into the night.

The only rule? Keep the base colour of the blazer strictly organic toned; that is, cream, brown, grey, green or blue – the colours of the earth and ocean.

The Fabric

Linen

The spring/summer season is when the blazer really shines. Stick with linen, a lightweight, natural fabric that breathes and allows heat to escape from the body. Linen’s tendency to crush means its far better as an off-duty blazer fabric choice.

Cotton

The next step up from linen, cotton is also relaxed, it breathes well but is more luxurious to touch. Cotton is also a superb yarn to form fabric blends with silk, wool and polyester, adjusting the quality of the fabric (Tip: avoid heavy amounts of polyester).

Take note by reading how much cotton is in your blazer and if a blend, opt for wool – for both seasons. Corduroy is a thick cotton where the yarn is twisted to form rifts. It’s a very English way of dressing and its density makes it a nice winter layering fabric.

Wool 

Also naturally derived, wool is the classiest way to don a blazer. Merino to mohair, a super luxe blazer with boast the subtlest of sheen in natural light and will hold its form graciously – ideal for the workplace and formal occasions. Tweed and herringbone are both textural fabrics and their ruggedness works nicely unstructured – best for winter, too.

20 BEST SNEAKERS FOR MEN

You’ve probably heard the terms ‘athleisure‘ and ‘sportsluxe’ thrown about by fashion types in recent seasons.

But what started off as mere trend – that is, the intermixing of luxury with active wear – has morphed into a fashion phenomenon for men. And the humble sneaker played a big part. Not since the Nineties has the sneaker been so pivotal to the men’s style canon. But in the Noughties, they’re sophisticated and chic. And we have the European fashion houses and some style-savvy sports brands, to thank for that.

Breaking It Down

From the low-tops to the super-yachts, a sneaker drop occurs most days. So, picking the design type, material and colourway are vital, before selecting a brand that runs in tune with your personal style. Then, understanding when and how to wear the sneaker is the final piece. Only now do you decide if you’re more ‘team Adidas’ or ‘team Nike’.

The Basics

As the name suggests, basic types are the ones you could pick up easily in your local retailer and burn through after 12 months wear. Usually made from canvas, or leather for the special editions, basics range from hi-tops to low, lace or slip-on with Converse and Vans being popular brands.

They are cheap and classic, and don’t really take much thought. Keep these kicks for casual days with a tee, jeans or chinos and denim shorts – not luxe enough for tailoring.

The Retro Sports

The retro sneakers are attributed for sneakers making a resurgence in the past few years. Like the basics, they offer a timeless silhouette and are comfortable, but they differ from say,Chucks in terms of overall edge. Their vintage-look makes them perfect suede candidates as a well as classic leather.

But colour is where the retro sports shines. Try brands and models like New Balance, Nike Air Max 90 and Reebok Pump, in an array of colour combinations. I like complementary and analogous colour matching for a perfect statement shoe under jeans and shirt. For suits and blazers, keep the clothing neutral in tone if you want coloured retro feet. Otherwise, grey, navy and black prints on shoes are great and play around with matching coloured parts of your clothing with your shoes, too.

The New Sports

These sneakers are actually designed for active pursuits in the gym or running outside, so take caution. The new sports models include Nike Roshe Runs and Adidas Ultra Boost; their hyper-coloured tones – orange, green and blue – electrifying the common man’s wardrobe – if worn right.

These sneakers look great paired with ‘athleisure’ gear: jogger pants, a neoprene bomber and tee. Stay away from relaxed, bunchy jeans to avoid looking like a bogan and the traditional feel of suit pants don’t sit well over the active vibe of these shoes. Available in non-fluoro hues, going neutral helps with the pairing of these technical gym shoes under casual wear.

The Super Yacht Sneaker 

The super yacht sneakers take your mainstream sports kicks to a new, luxury level, permitting men to wear trainers with smart attire. Though the posh versions maintain the same silhouette and function as the previous types, labels such as Givenchy, Valentino and Saint Laurent craft theirs in crocodile leather, pony skin and python – making little miss cow hide seem rather common.

The price of these sneakers makes them investment pieces and should be treated with meticulous care – as you would your dress shoes. Never wear these to the gym and keep your outfit on par with the sophisticated standard; the sleekness of these shoes sitting smartly under a casual suit look. Opt for a tee or sweater under the jacket instead of a button up shirt, and cropped pants with no socks add an extra edge.

Avant-Garde Sneakers

The futuristic style of the avant-garde sneakers means care must be taken to get the look right. Not for all men’s style types, the shoes – made big by Rick Owens and Yohji Yamamoto – are for gents accustomed to the longline, muted colour look, that sits drapey and a touch oversized.

These boots are often hi-top in silhouette and combine luxury skins with sporty, tech fabrics for a hybrid take on the luxury sneaker. Like the outfit pairing they require, the colour of these sneakers are best in stark white and solid black, letting the alien-shaped shoes and their out-of-this-world fabrics feature.

5 Sports To Steal Style Tips From

Investing in sportswear now is like backing Facebook in 2004; a guaranteed rocket return year after year. Put it down to the upcoming summer of sport – Euro 2016, Rio Olympics, Wimbledon, Tour de France – or a resurgence in 1990s-themed looks, but sports-inspired fashion has scored big in recent seasons.
So why is it a sudden crowd pleaser? “Sportswear always begins its life on the back of athletes, before becoming popularised by people in the public eye,” explains Mr Porterbuyer Daniel Todd. “It then gets reappraised by designers, making it a trend which cannot be ignored.”
The look goes beyond celebrity, though. By nature, sportswear is wearable, comfortable and adaptable, making it relatively easy to pull off. You want to look clean and tailored, not like you just ran 10k, and definitely not like a college frat kid.
Sport by sport, here’s a template of how it should done, without resorting to compression leggings in the office.

Track & Field

It’s safe to say the shell suit is up there with the worst ever trends we don’t want to see return. However, that’s not to say the track and field look can’t have a moment on the winner’s podium once again.
Start with a vintage track jacket or lightweight zip-up bomber in sporty fabrics such as a cotton-poly blend or nylon (you never saw Linford Christie in suede). Bring the look racing up to date by teaming with a crisp white shirt and slim-fitting trousers.

MANGO MAN 2016

Key Pieces

Baseball

Whether you support the Mets, the Yankees, or have no idea where either hails from, this summer it’s all about nailing a home run with your own baseball look.
SS16’s big hitter, the souvenir jacket, carries many of the same features as the baseball jacket – including a ribbed collar, cuffs and hem – but with an oriental twist.
In the market? Todd suggests Gucci or Valentino as the go-to names, but if they’re out of your price bracket, then high street brands do some excellent versions that are equally lightweight, low-maintenance and great for layering.

ZARA 2016

Key Pieces

Motorsport

Fancy looking like you’ve just stepped out of an Audi R18 e-tron quattro at Le Mans (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) all-over leather would be your first pit stop. However, it’s not the most practical choice for summer, so park that idea and pick up on some behind-the-scenes inspiration.
The boiler suit, the equivalent of a onesie you can wear outside, is a divisive look. While it won’t be one for everyone, labels such as Hermés and Louis Vuitton have all shown it can be done stylishly in past seasons.
Keep the look fairly fitted, roll the sleeves up and avoid any puddling at the shoes to avoid any whiff of a repairman.
ASOS Slim Boiler Suit In Oil Wash With Biker Detail, available at Asos, priced £50.

ASOS 2016

Sailing

Having been an anchor of summertime style for countless seasons, you should have by now mastered the nautical look. But when it comes to stealing from sailing, rather than the fisherman we look to in winter, think leather boat shoes, light knits in a marinière pattern (the original name for Breton stripes), slim chinos and lightweight rain coats.
Transform the daytime outfit by subbing in a pair of loafers and a crisp button-down for dinner on the deck. Equally, sail through an evening event in style by setting off in white trousers and shirt with a navy double breasted dinner jacket and bow tie.

MANGO MAN SS15

Key Pieces

Golf

Golf clubs (and we’re not talking about the ones you swing) have strict dress codes, meaning the expected attire is already a hybrid of sportswear and formalwear. Do it well and you can wear the same outfit from first tee to the ’19th hole’. The aim should be to nail the same transitional style when stealing the look.
Loud patterned trousers should remain in the bunker; team slim neutral chinos with a classic polo shirt in true Arnold Palmer fashion. A splash of colour is par for the course when it comes to a wool jumper or cardigan for an evening round.

SUITSUPPLY 2016

Key Pieces

 

 

10 Of The Best Brogues For Men

Even for men who live in trainers, there’s a frisson that comes with stepping into ‘proper’ shoes. Particularly when they’re as storied as brogues. The style’s distinctive perforations were originally designed as an escape valve for bog water, favoured by Irish farmers who spent half their work day stomping through submerged fields.
For much of its life, it stayed firmly in the country; appropriate for hikes, never in town. But in the 1930s the Prince of Wales adopted the style for golf, pairing his with a grey lounge suit. The holes were suddenly seen as decorative, not practical, and the brogue became a flamboyant staple in jazz clubs.
Although broguing is most common on Oxford shoes, because the moniker refers to the perforations, not the construction, examples are almost limitless. British traditional shoemaker Grenson even teamed up with New Balance for a brogued sneaker, all holey, caramel leather, but with a running shoe’s midsole and shape. This variety has helped the brogue become your wardrobe’s most versatile shoe; depending on the construction and level of decoration (as a rule of thumb, the busier the toe cap, the less formal the shoe), it wears with everything from a suit to shorts, everywhere from the office to beer gardens.
But that versatility comes with picking the right pair. “Look for real leather linings and uppers wherever possible,” says Steffan Stafhill, founder of Northern Cobbler. “Synthetic materials won’t react to heat and sweat, meaning they’re less likely to mould to your shape and less likely to be comfortable in the long run.”
You also want Goodyear-welting, a method of attaching the sole to the upper that leaves a tell-tale stitch mark where they meet. As well as making your brogues more durable, it also means a cobbler can easily switch the soles out when they get too worn. Vital, considering a decent pair should last long enough to hand down to your kids.
That longevity and versatility means it’s worth investing – no other pair of shoes in your wardrobe will get as many outings wear or last as long, which brings the cost-per-wear down to pence.
Here are 10 styles worthy of your hard-earned.

Hackett Full Suede Brogues

Most brogues are made from calf leather, but depending how formal you want to go you can swap the tried and tested out for a suede variation.
As previously mentioned, the perforations were originally used to provide drainage, but a suede pair is probably not best suited to treading the marshes.
Available at Hackett, priced £375.

Paul Smith Lincoln Brogues

Brown isn’t just for town, but also the office. Team your trusty navy two-piece with dark brown (not tan) shoes, such as these beautifully made brogues by Paul Smith, for a boardroom-appropriate look.
Available at Paul Smith, priced £310.

Grenson Archie

Grenson was the first shoemaker to use the Goodyear-welted construction technique, but here it’s the Archie model, with its contrasting rubber wedge sole, that gets our attention.
Despite the contemporary update, the style holds on to all the details of a classic brogue.
Available at Grenson, priced £250.

Armando Cabral Wingtip Brogues

Want to get in on the brogue game without giving up your casual lean? Hunt out a pair that fuse the upper of a classic brogue with the spongy rubber sole of a sneaker, in the same vein as Mr Armando Cabral.
Available at Mr Porter, priced £345.

Thom Browne Longwing Brogue

Less formal than standard smooth leather, but no less natty, grained leather offers a tactile take on the standard brogue.
Thom Browne uses a longwing style, where the broguing on the toe extends round to the back. The brand’s signature tri-colour even makes an appearance as a heel pull.
Available at END, priced £829.

Marks & Spencer Derby Brogue

While dress shoes are often rightly referred to as investment pieces, department store offerings – like these from high street stalwart Marks & Spencer – aren’t to be overlooked.
Winning on both style and price, there’s no reason not to buy a pair in every colour.
Available at Marks & Spencer, priced £59.

Northern Cobbler Hoki 2

The first brogues most men own are often tan in colour. However, graduate to a sleeker black version and benefit from easy pairings with both dark denim and suits.
Known for its shoe-come-coffee shop set-up in Leicester, Northern Cobbler uses premium tanned leather with a hand-stained finish.
Available at Northern Cobbler, priced £195.

River Island Leather And Denim Brogues

Stand out from the crowd by incorporating textures and colours into your footwear game. River Island has made the unlikely pairing of leather and denim with its two-tone offering. Though stylish, perhaps not quite suit-worthy.
Available at River Island, priced £55.

Base London Hi-Shine Brogues

No longer just for eveningwear, high-shine brogues take the footwear style out of the country and into the city.
Base London’s pair incorporates subtle use of colour with its green laces and red heel detailing. Always use a shoe horn when putting on to avoid excess creasing.
Available at ASOS, priced £70.

Ted Baker Leather Brogue Trainers

For those yet to jump on the suits and sneakers trend (and judging by our comments section, there’s a lot of you) this Ted Baker hybrid should ease your transition.
Equal parts formal brogue and sleek trainer, it goes anywhere you’d wear either. Just make sure you keep them clean.
Available at Ted Baker, priced £95.

 

 

GRADUATE STYLE: HOW TO BUILD A CORPORATE OFFICE WARDROBE

Graduate style: how much does your suit really matter when starting out as the new guy in the corporate world? If the adage “first impressions are the last impressions” still carries weight in modern times, then your corporate style – from day one – needs to be on point.

Why? Looking good at works means you can be trusted to represent the firm well on the outside. And you’ll more likely build rapport within the day-to-day runnings of the glassy-walled firm because you’ll be more confident in your appearance, even leading to the chance of promotion.

Even ancient academics knew the sartorial worth of the well-dressed. Herbert Harold Vreeland couldn’t have put it better: “Clothes don’t make a man, but clothes have got many a man a good job.”

So, young chap, a sharp office look does give you a stylish step-up in the corporate jungle. Here are five office pieces that every businessman should own. And how to work them, like a negotiator, from the get-go.

The Suit

A tailored two-piece suit is the foundation of your corporate office look. For the more traditional workplaces, stick to a navy, black or charcoal single-breast suit with a streamline notch lapel. Venture into light grey, dark brown, or a subtle check jacquard (not windowpane, too casual), if feeling adventurous. And a soft pinstripe (never chalk stripe) is a nice finish also.

While a bespoke or made-to-measure suit is always best (giving you a glove-like fit not possible off-the-rack) shopping from a reputable suit store – and then getting alterations as required, is a solid secondary option for newly-salaried graduate who can’t afford something custom made – just yet. As a guide, the suit should broaden your shoulders and cinch in at the waist, oozing confidence and impeccable attention to detail.

For suit fabrics, look to pure wools and cotton blends (depending on your budget); the polyester content increasing as the price lowers. All sized up, invest in two or three solid suits, having them readily available for workplace rotation. Then, look after them well, which means doing less. Only dry clean a suit every two-three months due to the chemicals typically used, spot cleaning any blemishes in between.

The Shirt

A button up shirt in a crisp cotton fabric is your next point of call. While white is the fallback colour of choice, splashing around with pastels gives you a step up. For a tonal look, with a navy suit, a pale blue shirt is business-style savvy. A faint pink, green or lilac hue is a subtle hint for sweeter palettes, avoiding oranges and yellow, which tend to offend more corporate firms.

For an easy yet stylish tie-and-shirt combination, button-up patterns should be kept to a minimum – lean stripes and fine checks only, using discretion with butcher stripes or gingham checks, which may be too casual. Instead of prints, you can opt for texture to create visual interest, via a herringbone fabric or cotton poplin.

Finally, the shirt collar is very important: the cutaway for a more traditional formality; straight point for something contemporary and the tab collar for the bespoke taste. A great all rounder is the button-down, particularly well-suited forday-to-night dressing and casual Fridays.

The Tie

“A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life,” wrote poet and dandy, Oscar Wilde. Stepping into your first big boy job, selecting a tie that is both stylish, functional and office appropriate is vital. For the city office worker this involves mild colour, offsetting the muted, somber tones of a navy suit and white collared shirt combination.

Silk business ties are great, opting for traditional prints such as dogtooth or tile, or something more polkadots or a thick stripe. Again, texture may be your preferred option too. Grenadine ties – woven from a high-twist silk yarn to create a fine knitted look – are a nice way to add depth to a neutral tie colour.

Finally, silk knit and flannel ties are having a moment, creating a strong textural look over flat cotton shirt. Cap the look off with a silver tie bar.

Pocket Square

Like the tie, a pocket square will awaken tailoring from its slumber. The pocket square is reactionary to the tie, opting for a complementary or contrast tie-and-square colour combination, depending on your taste. Our complete guide to colour matching will refresh your memory.

As a rule, let the pocket square do the sartorial talking. Due to the pocket square’s more demure positioning, geometric, floral or some sort of mosaic print will liven up a boring suit look, without the need for a garishly patterned tie. Finally, the either-or rule will keep you in the boss’s good books, coordinate your accessories, without matching exactly.

For example, a hint of burgundy in your pocket square’s print or pattern will team well with a burgundy tie.

The Shoe

Shoes are where your personal office style can shine, literally. A decent leather becomes the city slicker, and that means formal and refined, complementing all that hard work you put into tailoring. Key styles include oxfords, monk (single or double) strap and brogues, with a sturdy sole to pound that city pavement.

Keep the shoe leather black or dark brown for superior sophistication or something shady such as burgundy/oxblood. Consider tan as a fresh version of brown, which looks particularly stylish as a brogue with a Goodyear welt sole.

Finally, consider dress boot varieties of the aforementioned shoe types, ensuring the trouser break hits the top of the boot as it would a regular lace-up. And keep the sole neat and sleek, nothing with traction or hiking tread is necessary for the urban commute.

21 Things Every Man Should Have in His Closet

Yves Saint Laurent once famously said, "Fashion fades; style is eternal." What he was getting at is that seasons come and seasons go, and with them plenty of desirable items, but certain things—a trench coat, a perfectly cut navy suit—aren't subject to the ever-changing tides of cyclical trends. They're essentials for every man, and for good reason—it's the reason that images of Steve McQueen or Paul Newman look as relevant today as they did a few decades ago. Timeless, see?

Here, we've round-up those things that every man should have in his closet and two examples of each—one for the guy who doesn't mind spending a few bucks, and one for the guy who knows that style comes at any price.

The Oxford Shirt

What one thing looks effortlessly stylish on pretty much everyone? A crisp, white, slim-fit Oxford. Get one. Get multiples if you can.

Thom Browne Oxford Button Down Shirt with Grosgrain Placket, $370; Gap Slim Oxford Shirt, $49.95

Selvedge Jeans

There's nothing more American than a great pair of jeans. Get a sturdy pair in dark blue—there's literally nothing they won't go well with.

Valentino Slim-Fit Selvedge Denim Jeans, $690; J. Crew 484 Raw Selvedge Jeans, $175

The Crewneck T-Shirt

Another thoroughly American staple, the T-shirt has made its way from proletariat uniform to everyday classic. Find one that fits your body (hugs it, not a second skin) and wear it under a lightweight jacket or even on its own.

Visvim Velvet-Panelled Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt, $290; Calvin Klein Cotton Classic 3-Pack Crewneck T-Shirt, $39.50

Bomber Jacket

One of the most versatile styles of outerwear, it can be worn practically year-round and by most body types.

Lanvin Leather-Trimmed Cotton-Blend Bomber Jacket, $2,590; Zara Check jacket, $59.99

The Navy Suit

Gucci Navy Monaco Slim-Fit Wool Suit, $2,300; Suitsupply Napoli Blue, $399

Gray Crewneck Sweater

A fine gauge sweater is the perfect in-between layer for when it's not cold enough for a jacket but not warm enough for one layer. Gray compliments most other things you'll have in your closet, like, you know a white Oxford or selvedge jeans.

Maison Margiela Cashmere and Cotton Blend Sweater, $1,275; Everlane Cashmere Crew, $135

The Timepiece

Nothing is more elegant than checking the time on a wristwatch, not staring idly at your phone.

Jaeger LeCoultre Ultra Thin 1907 Grand Feu, $29,100; Daniel Wellington Classic Reading 40mm, $229

The Trenchcoat

Lifted from the military in early 20th Century, the trench coat is certainly stylish but it's also an incredibly functional piece of outerwear that can keep you dry and warm when the weather gets chilly.

Burberry Kensington Mid-Length Heritage Trench Coat, $1,795; ASOS Trench Coat with Belt, $120

The Lace-Up Boots

Bally Powell Boots, $675; Dr. Martens 1460 Boot, $135

The Everyday Bag

Modern times call for a bag that can go anywhere and do anything its carrier can. Something that's solid but damn good looking. Here are two options for the on-the-go guy.

Tom Ford Double Zip Briefcase with Shoulder Strap, $3,750; Filson Briefcase Computer Bag, $345

The Sportcoat

For those in-between occasions when you should wear a jacket but don't need to wear a suit. Corduroy (right) has a retro appeal whereas a subtle pattern (left) is a bit more rakish.

Polo Ralph Lauren Navy Slim-Fit Tweed Blazer, $895; J. Crew Ludlow Blazer in Corduroy,$198

The White Sneakers

Now that Casual Friday has invaded the other four days of the workweek, a pair of spiffy kicks can be worn with anything from a full suit to jeans and a tee.

Above: Saint Laurent SL/01 Classic Sneakers, $545; Vans Originals Premium Leather Authentic Decon, $65

The Polo Shirt

A summer staple, the polo shirt allows you to keep it formal (collar) but casual (short sleeves), and slightly sporty.

JW Anderson Hand Stitch Embroidery Polo, $630; H&M Printed Polo Shirt, $17.99

The Khakis

Because you can't wear jeans every day, can you?

Incotex Four Seasons Cotton-Blend Chinos, $380; Bonobos Washed Chinos, $88

The Jean Jacket

Once solely for the rebellious types, now the denim topper is a versatile closet essential.

AMI Bleached Blue Denim Jacket, $354; Levi's Trucker Jacket, $59.90

The Brown Lace-Up Shoes

Women notice shoes, and you should consider the brown lace-ups the most basic but also the most useful type of footwear out there. Invest (if you can) but there are plenty of options at many prices. And, again, these go with everything.

John Lobb Darby II Leather Wingtip Brogues, $1,435; Jack Erwin Wingtip Oxfords, $195

Field Jacket

Brunello Cucinelli Suede Field Jacket, $4,726; Alpha Industries M-65 Field Coat, $180

The Casual Shirt

Add a little pattern never hear anyone.

Saint Laurent Signature Yves Collar Shirt in Black and Gray Plaid, $750; COS Checked Cotton Shirt, $44

The Cardigan

Give the librarian look a try, you won't regret it.

Come des Garcons Pay Heart Cardigan, $465; Uniqlo Extra Fine Merino V-Neck Cardigan, $39.90

Sweatpants

No longer a sign of giving up, a slim pair of sweatpants should be your new go-to weekend look.

Vince Luxe Lounge Wool Cashmere Sweatpant, $365; H&M Tapered Sweatpants, $29.99

The Peacoat

An old marine standby, remade for stylish modern men.

Canali Slim-fit textured peacoat, $1,225; Gap Classic Peacoat, $148