5/9/2014 22 Things Under $100 That Every Man Should Have In His Closet

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22 Things Under $100 That Every Man Should Have In HisCloset

Getting dressed was easy as a kid: you had an infinite array of t-shirts, you could wear shorts whenever you wanted and somehow there wasno time or place in which sneakers were not appropriate.

Now you're a grown-up, and things are more difficult, especially if you're a guy. How do you dress like a mature adult... without just wearing asuit all the time? How do you upgrade to nice shirts, slacks and leather shoes... without breaking the bank? And how can you build anawesome, grown-ass man wardrobe as painlessly as possible?

We've got some ideas. Below, 22 things under $100 that every man should have in his closet.

1. A dark two-piece suit Wear it to the office, to evening events, to family gatherings, to weddings... basically, a dark suit will take you everywhere. Suit Pants and

Blazer, H&M, $84.90.

2. A light two-piece suit It's bolder than a dark suit, but you want some varietyin your wardrobe. Plus, you can experiment withdarker ties and darker patterned shirts with a lighter

suit, and it's great for the summer. EDV Allen SlimFit Stretch Blazer and Pants, INC International

Concepts, $89.98.

3. A traveling garment bagBecause you're going to need to take those suitswith you, and a grown man does not arrive with awrinkled suit. Garment Sleeve, Travelpro Maxlite 2,

$79.99.

4. Timeless sunglassesNo, not the wraparound sports ones or the reflectivestyles that were cool in the '90s. You need classic,timeless shades like metal aviators or a Wayfarer-

like pair. Wearing them, you'll never not look cool. S.Verdino SV003, Solaris, $51.48.

5. A white button-down shirtWear it with jeans, wear it with a suit, wear it withpreppy shorts -- you simply can't go wrong with awhite shirt. In fact, we don't know how you'll get by

without one. Papelino Slim, Bonobos, $85.

6. A colored button-down shirt Don't sell yourself short and only wear white all thetime. Start with a button-down in a basic light blue,then feel free to get bolder and more adventurous

with color as you expand your wardrobe. Long

Sleeve Shirt, Zara, $59.90.

7. Brown leather dress shoes Black shoes are great, but they simply don't match

as many things as brown shoes. A great pair of brown leather oxfords will work with suits in navy, gray, tan and more, plus they'll work with

jeans (while your shiny black leather shoes will not). Persistt Wing-Tip Lace Oxfords, Steve Madden, $89.99.

8. Quality white t-shirtsSome days, you're going to be lazy about getting dressed, and all you're going to want to wear is a white tee. So make sure you've got

options beyond the threadbare Hanes and Fruit of the Loom variety. Soft-Wash Cotton T-shirt, Banana Republic, $24.50.

May 9, 201 4

Posted: 10/17/2013 11:00 am EDT | Updated: 10/17/2013 11:05 am EDT

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9. A jacket you can wear in the rainRain happens. Instead of a crinkly nylon windbreaker,get yourself a trim trench (belted, double breasted) ora sleek mac (no belt, single breasted) or even a

weather-resistant army jacket or field jacket. Hooded

Military Style Canvas Jacket, Old Navy, $69.94.

10. Shoes you can wear in the rainSome men are comfortable wearing wellies, akathose clunky plastic rainboots girls love so much. Butfor guys who want a more subtle way to keep theirfeet dry, we recommend a rubber "overshoe" thatyou can slip over your work shoes. They're cheapand waterproof, and they come in a variety of colors.

Men's Loafer Style Rubber Overshoes, Totes,

$17.60.

11. A work bag that holds yourcomputerThe key: It should hold your laptop... but ideally, itshouldn't be a "laptop bag," aka those black nylonmonstrosities. Get a leather or canvas messengerbag or briefcase that will look just as cool on the

weekend as it does in the office. Men's OversizedTote, 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target, $59.99.

12. A nice watchIt doesn't need to be flashy, but your timepieceshould be high quality. Try a brown or black leatherband if you're more of a quiet traditionalist, or opt forshiny or matte metal if you prefer a stronger

statement. Just make sure it's not digital. Originals ClassicRound, Timex, $65.

13. Dark jeansA pair of dark jeans are the casual version of your dark suit:They match everything, can be dressed up or down and aresuitable for nearly any occasion. Wear 'em in and washthem infrequently. 1961 Slim Fit Jeans, Gap, $59.95.

14. Terry cloth insoles Ever see the models in GQ and Esquire go sockless indress shoes and wonder, "How are their feet not sweatinglike crazy?" They may just have on terry cloth insoles,absorbent shoe inserts that keep your bare feet from gettingall sweaty when you go sans socks. Which you should do, bythe way -- it's seriously stylish, and dress socks can look sillyin the summer. Pumppals Terrycloth Insoles, PediFix,

$8.01.

15. A leather walletYou know, one that actually holds everything. You're a grown-up, which means you've probably got a few cards in thatwallet plus some cash. Respect your hard-earned money bystoring it in a respectable billfold, and don't let any Velcronear that thing. Wesson Leather Bill Holder, Jack Spade,

$75.

16. A quality lip balm Some guys are afraid that applying a lip product might makethem look girly. We're here to tell those guys that dry, flakey

lips are a way worse fate. Get a quality balm, preferably untinted with a fresh (non-fruity) scent -- Burt's Bees is a favorite. 4-Pack BeeswaxLip Balm, Burt's Bees, $10.

17. Gym shorts that aren't shiny baggy basketball shorts...You're not in the NBA, so give up the basketball shorts and get some sleek, understated workout shorts that actually hit above the knee.

Capris are not for dudes. Light As Air Short, Lululemon, $64.

18. ... and gym shirts that aren't dirty old frat shirts Why should working out be synonymous with looking like a slob? Grow up and get some real shirts. Miler UV, Nike, $38.

19. Socks that aren't whiteGrown men graduate from white ankle socks to real dress socks in shades of black, navy and gray. Reserve the white ones for the gym, ifthat. Ribbed Cotton Dress Socks, J. Crew, $14.50.

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20.

Collar staysIt's not that complicated: Collar stays are the metal or plasticpieces that ensure the shape of your shirt collar stays the wayit came. Without them, the edges of your collars will begin toslightly curl under, making you look sloppy. Don't ever looksloppy. Collar stays, Banana Republic, $12.50.

21. A Dopp kitBecause you can't just use an oversized Ziploc bag for yourtoiletries, and that wipeable nylon thing you've been using foryears is probably gross with layers of spilled products. Time

for an upgrade. The GI's Leather Toiletry Kit, HammacherSchlemmer, $79.95.

22. A copy of "Dressing the Man: Masteringthe Art of Permanent Fashion"Because you're going to need to know how to put it alltogether. Amazon, $35.70.

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BuckyJamesDio 31,269 Fans · Watching the Friend count drop ...

The downside to an $85 suit is that, for the most part, it looks exactly like an $85

suit.18 OCT 2013 7:39 PM

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Dan C. (hardknocks) 1SUPER USER · 227 Fans · the future is unwritten

Must haves no doubt but I would add a v-neck sweater in there somewhere.18 OCT 2013 4:54 AM

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1 of 10Lessons From Male Style Icons

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2 PEOPLE IN THE CONVERSATION Read Conversation →

wetvprodcr 1361 Fans · I never argue with street people

A cashmere one, in navy or camel for sure.19 OCT 2013 11:20 AM

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Edward M. (Samson1) 1314 Fans

If your shirt costs nearly as much as your suit, you need to buy your suits in better

places.18 OCT 2013 2:30 AM

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Daniel H. (acire)

13 Fans

How come nice, well-constructed basics for men are so much less expensive and

last so much longer than any similar concept for women?18 OCT 2013 2:31 AM

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wetvprodcr 1361 Fans · I never argue with street people

Because they know that men can't be bothered with new styles every season. And

the more complicated they make it for them, the more likely they'll just throw their

arms in the air and walk away all together.19 OCT 2013 11:25 AM

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pyrmom 1130 Fans · Don't call me Progressive-call me a Liberal!

This article should be required reading for all 30+ men. Sadly, I see so many of this

age group that still dress like they are in high school.18 OCT 2013 3:18 AM

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WoofieBoy 1196 Fans

They forgot condoms!18 OCT 2013 3:52 AM

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ckhollow 12 Fans

This article oozes pretension, because an overpriced button up white shirt is really

something that "every guy" needs. Here's an idea, dress how you want to but don't

judge other people for the way they dress and tell them that the way you dress is

how it should be.18 OCT 2013 4:18 AM

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ph123

2 Fans

You're reading the style section. I don't think the article is pretentious so much as it

assumes that the men who read it are into these things. Agreed on the judging

though. Who cares what you wear as long as you feel good in it.19 OCT 2013 4:06 AM

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GuerrillaSensei 115 Fans

is this some kind of plug for products?18 OCT 2013 7:13 AM

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Bhg B. (ghvn)

21 Fans

Lip balm??? Why would a man need that? So vain....unless you got crack lips in the

winter.19 OCT 2013 4:53 PM

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Steve Wire (steviewire)

2 Fans

How to dress like a drone 101. This is great for the few people in the world who are

in the office/business sector.The rest of us wear working mens clothes. And we

don't to work out to get our muscles.18 OCT 2013 11:38 AM

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