Building Timeless Style: How to Get the Look Without Breaking the Bank
My grandfather always wore a starched button down shirt with nice slacks and loafers. He was a product of his time and a timeless icon of how to dress. His shirt fit him well, if it didn’t he did a military tuck (WWII Navy Vet), his pants were tapered with a single break, and his shoes were real leather that he took care of by cleaning and polishing them regularly. He had a tailor he trusted and knew that looking sharp meant looking clean.
He always looked like he walked straight out of a Jon Le Carré spy novel. It was the casualness of how he wore his clothes, knowing that he looked good and not stressing about if his patterns matched or not. Part of that was he didn’t have as many options to choose from.
Today, we are inundated with so many brands online that sell fast fashion and are always changing trends that we don’t know how to feel that ease with which my grandfather always seemed to have.
Fear not reader, for we are here to help! Below are a few tips to finding your casual cool:
White Dress Shirt
Get a crisp, well-fitted white shirt. No need for fancy details—just something that works with both suit pants and jeans. Make sure the collar looks good with or without a tie.
Target’s Goodfellow & Co collection is affordable and easy to get!
Blazer
Invest in a navy blazer that fits well and can dress up or down. It should work with dress pants or jeans, and fit is everything! Keep it lightweight and unstructured.
A standout starting blazer is from Paul Jones on Amazon. Affordable and looks great without breaking the bank!
Shoes
A good pair of shoes will elevate your style. Whether you're into sneakers or leather shoes, find what makes you comfortable and confident. I'm a leather guy who wears boots or shoes that can handle anything from sitting in an office to going on a hike all in one. Lantz? Lantz rocks leather sneakers. Start with a medium/light brown colored shoe to draw contrast from the dark jeans and navy blazer.
Known for their comfort, AmberJack is a great, comfortable shoe that will last longer than others and looks great both dressed up or down!
How to find well-crafted, affordable alternatives to designer brands.
Since we are looking to build our “staple” clothes, we want to make sure that the clothes you choose fit and are affordable. Since we are talking about affordability, we want to look at stores that you normally shop at. These are clothes you know fit you and have a size that makes sense to you. Be looking for something that you can see yourself wearing several times throughout the year and something that will last for more than a year. Affordability doesn’t always mean cheap. Think of your clothes as an investment. Would you rather buy something that fits, looks good, and lasts for a long time, or something that is cheap and maybe starts to wear thin after a few washes?
The Fit
