Haute Concept

A working wardrobe is one of the essential keys to style. Not only will it make you more confident, but it will make the task of shopping much easier on you and your wallet. When you understand your wardrobe and what you have or don’t have, you will avoid unnecessary purchases.

The ideal wardrobe will take a man through any occasion in his life. He will be prepared to dress for anything without hesitation. The building of a wardrobe will also personalize a man’s style sense.

There are essential pieces that compromise a man’s wardrobe. These are the basic staples that every man should have to be well dressed for any occasion. They are the garments which are the foundations of any man’s wardrobe. This foundation consists of classics.

Classics are timeless pieces which never go out of style but are updated with each generation. The buying of classics fits our sartorial philosophy perfectly. We advocate spending more money on quality classic wardrobe pieces and spending less on the current trends that are flavor of the day.

This is even more necessary when shopping on a budget. Classic, quality pieces will save you the most money in the long run because they are timeless looks constructed to last longer when properly maintained.

Classic styles resist overt trends, relying on the details to set them apart. Menswear and and a man’s style in general is all in the details. A man who has these pieces will find a wardrobe that is resistant to passing fads, yet can be modernized by mixing current trends with classic looks.

With that being said, there are certain pieces that should be purchased first in the initial building of a wardrobe. Just as the house needs a solid foundation on which to be built, so does a wardrobe need this solid foundation to build on top of.

A man with this knowledge will find it easier to dress and shop, knowing what he already has and what he needs. A wardrobe will naturally expand over time, but the bare minimum keys are a must for those just starting to build a working wardrobe.

Key pieces of a wardrobe include:

• suit (charcoal or navy)
• navy blue blazer
• white cotton shirt
• dress ties
• black oxford shoes
• brown shoes
• sweaters
• slacks
• jeans
• coat

This is BY NO MEANS the end of what a man needs. But for the recent grad entering the workforce it will provide a basis for the professional world.

In the next few weeks we will be looking at each component of this wardrobe to further expound.

A major current trend in denim is a clean and dark wash.

This wash allows the jean to maintain it’s deep indigo color as opposed to the manufactured distress and fade caused by a more rigorous wash.

This trend is magnified by the growing interest in raw denim like selvedge. Raw denim is inherently deep indigo and stiff as a board. Washing in the manufacturing process will make the denim a bit less stiff.

A dark, clean wash allows the jean to be worn for a variety of occasions allowing the true versatility of denim to come out.

Dark clean denim is sophisticated enough to allow it to be worn at the office or in restaurants. It lends a dressed up vibe to denim. The clean look allows it to be paired with blazers, button-ups and shoes to give a polished appearance.