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 His Closet 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 was no 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 a suit all the time? How do you upgrade to nice shirts, slacks and leather shoes... without breaking the bank? And how can you build an awesome, 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.

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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 shortswhenever you wanted and somehow there was no time or place in which sneakers were notappropriate.

Now you're a grown-up, and things are more difficult, especially if you're a guy. How do you dresslike a mature adult... without just wearing a suit all the time? How do you upgrade to nice shirts,slacks and leather shoes... without breaking the bank? And how can you build an awesome, 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 willtake 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 variety in your wardrobe. Plus, you can experimentwith darker ties and darker patterned shirts with a lighter suit, and it's great for the summer. EDVAllen Slim Fit Stretch Blazer and Pants, INC International Concepts, $89.98.

3. A traveling garment bag

Because you're going to need to take those suits with you, and a grown man does not arrive with awrinkled suit. Garment Sleeve, Travelpro Maxlite 2, $79.99.

4. Timeless sunglasses

No, not the wraparound sports ones or the reflective styles that were cool in the '90s. You needclassic, timeless shades like metal aviators or a Wayfarer-like pair. Wearing them, you'll never notlook cool. S. Verdino SV003, Solaris, $51.48.

5. A white button-down shirt

Wear it with jeans, wear it with a suit, wear it with preppy 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 the time. Start with a button-down in a basic lightblue, 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 ofbrown 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-shirts

Some days, you're going to be lazy about getting dressed, and all you're going to want to wear is awhite tee. So make sure you've got options beyond the threadbare Hanes and Fruit of the Loomvariety. Soft-Wash Cotton T-shirt, Banana Republic, $24.50.

9. A jacket you can wear in the rain

Rain happens. Instead of a crinkly nylon windbreaker, get yourself a trim trench (belted, doublebreasted) or a sleek mac (no belt, single breasted) or even a weather-resistant army jacket or fieldjacket. Hooded Military Style Canvas Jacket, Old Navy, $69.94.

10. Shoes you can wear in the rain

Some men are comfortable wearing wellies, aka those clunky plastic rainboots girls love so much.But for guys who want a more subtle way to keep their feet dry, we recommend a rubber "overshoe"that you can slip over your work shoes. They're cheap and waterproof, and they come in a variety ofcolors. Men's Loafer Style Rubber Overshoes, Totes, $17.60.

11. A work bag that holds your computer

The key: It should hold your laptop... but ideally, it shouldn't be a "laptop bag," aka those black nylonmonstrosities. Get a leather or canvas messenger bag or briefcase that will look just as cool on theweekend as it does in the office. Men's Oversized Tote, 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target, $59.99.

12. A nice watch

It doesn't need to be flashy, but your timepiece should be high quality. Try a brown or black leatherband if you're more of a quiet traditionalist, or opt for shiny or matte metal if you prefer a strongerstatement. Just make sure it's not digital. Originals Classic Round, Timex, $65.

13. Dark jeans

A pair of dark jeans are the casual version of your dark suit: They match everything, can be dressedup or down and are suitable for nearly any occasion. Wear 'em in and wash them infrequently. 1961Slim Fit Jeans, Gap, $59.95.

14. Terry cloth insoles

Ever see the models in GQ and Esquire go sockless in dress shoes and wonder, "How are their feetnot sweating like crazy?" They may just have on terry cloth insoles, absorbent shoe inserts that keepyour bare feet from getting all sweaty when you go sans socks. Which you should do, by the way --it's seriously stylish, and dress socks can look silly in the summer. Pumppals Terrycloth Insoles,PediFix, $8.01.

15. A leather wallet

You know, one that actually holds everything. You're a grown-up, which means you've probably got afew cards in that wallet plus some cash. Respect your hard-earned money by storing it in arespectable billfold, and don't let any Velcro near that thing. Wesson Leather Bill Holder, JackSpade, $75.

16. A quality lip balm

Some guys are afraid that applying a lip product might make them look girly. We're here to tell thoseguys 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 Beeswax Lip 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 workoutshorts 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 white

Grown men graduate from white ankle socks to real dress socks in shades of black, navy and gray.Reserve the white ones for the gym, if that. Ribbed Cotton Dress Socks, J. Crew, $14.50.

20. Collar stays

It's not that complicated: Collar stays are the metal or plastic pieces that ensure the shape of yourshirt collar stays the way it came. Without them, the edges of your collars will begin to slightly curlunder, making you look sloppy. Don't ever look sloppy. Collar stays, Banana Republic, $12.50.

21. A Dopp kit

Because you can't just use an oversized Ziploc bag for your toiletries, and that wipeable nylon thingyou've been using for years is probably gross with layers of spilled products. Time for an upgrade.The GI's Leather Toiletry Kit, Hammacher Schlemmer, $79.95.

22. A copy of "Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion"

Because you're going to need to know how to put it all together. Amazon, $35.70.

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Luxe materials can elevate a jacket from beat-up to broken-in. All-season leather lasts a lifetime, andtough outerwear matches every outfit, either by playing up or toning down contrasting elements.

Whose glove is more famous than Michael's? (Almost no one's.) An accessory is something you canrepeat without people wondering about your hygiene, and keeping one consistent puts a stamp onevery outfit to make it more you.

Outfits are like houses: They need a strong foundation. Sometimes the simplest base makes for thebest construction.

As we well know, anyone can pluck a jacket off a rack. We need to remind ourselves that one sizedoes not fit all, or even most. Taking a trip to the tailor is a valuable investment because properly-fitting garments will make you look -- and feel -- like a million bucks.

Early adopters might seem silly when they start out, but once a new look expands its reach, you cansay you tried it first. And hey -- those specs might just become your signature item.

Sure, we've spent all this time preaching the value of embellishments and signature pieces, but weknow those aren't for everyone. Keeping our whole outfit basic often allows us to feel morecomfortable, as we're not fussing with accessory placement or struggling to direct attention backtoward our sexy smiles.

When you know what works, stick with it, and you'll never have to wonder what to wear again.

In fact, it's encouraged.

Stylish Male Celebrities and Styling Tips from your favorite stars.

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest andInstagram at @HuffPostStyle.