The Best Wardrobe Basics for Men

Awhite T-shirtis without a doubt a wardrobe essential. Hanes’s “tagless” white T-shirt is one of the most popular options out there because it’s simple and affordable enough that guys don’t need to feel badtossingthem when they get stained ordirty. Alexander Chee, the author ofThe Queen of the Night,explains their appeal: “I only buy white T-shirts as undershirts now. I drink too muchcoffee, usually while walking, so I just kept ruining them immediately,” he says.

For a luxe white T-shirt, a few of the stylish men we spoke with recommended Sunspel, a brand that keeps coming up whenever we write about casual menswear (see: itsboxer briefs,black T-shirts, and whitepolo shirt). This shirt is also a favorite ofQueer Eye’sAntoni Porowski, who calls it “the most perfect white tee.”

Matt Schonfeld, creative marketing manager atRowing Blazers, calls Uniqlo’s Supima cotton tee “hands down the bestblack T-shirtI own.” He says it’s “light and breathable with a bit of stretch; you can literally wear it with anything.” Plus, Schonfeld says these last a long time for their affordable price.

No surprise here, Sunspel’s black T-shirt comes highly recommended as well. Michael Friedberg ofDummiessays, “It looks good when I wear it on its own or under a sweater, and what really sets it apart is the thinness of the little rib at the neckline. It’s also just got a perfectly well-proportioned sleeve and body length.

A goodwhite oxfordshirt is versatile — equally capable of being dressed up with a blazer or dressed down with a pair of jeans. Photographer Mikael Kennedy is a fan of this one from J.Crew. He doesn’t like spending too much money on oxfords because, as he puts it, “I wear [them] as often as I wear white T-shirts. The J.Crew slim-fit shirts tend to do the job. They’re not disposable, but they need to not be precious either.”

When we asked 14 stylish men for theirjean recommendations, we got picks for pretty much everyone, from slim jeans, to black jeans, to wider-leg jeans, to classics like Levi’s 501s. This Everlane pair recommended by Tim Melideo, the writer behind menswear site Stay Classic, combines a lot of things you might look for in a basic jean: a straight leg, a little bit of stretch, and Japanese denim. “My friends swear by Everlane denim,” Melideo told us.

When it comes to black jeans, a lot of guys love the slimmer fit of Levi’s 511s. Melideo and stylist Brandon Garr both singled out this cut, and you really can’t go wrong with a pair of slim black jeans. Plus, they’re well-priced, which Garr says is part of the appeal: “I can be a little bit more daring in them because I don’t have to worry as much about the replacement cost if they get a little roughed up.”

A simplecrewneck sweatshirtcan be very useful for cold-weather layering. Dejon Mullings, product communications manager at Pinterest, likes this model from Alternative Apparel. “I love, of course, that it’s made with organic and recycled materials, but it’s still extremely affordable,” he says. “I can wear this sweatshirt withjeansor chinos, and because it’s a little bit on the slimmer side, I’ll wear it as a layering piece under jackets all the time.”

We found this surprisingly affordable cashmere sweater while poking around Amazon looking for thebest sweaters. One purchaser even left a review writing that they like this sweater so much, they bought one in all 34 colors. (Yes, it’s available in 34 colors.)

Another gem we found on Amazon: these slim Champion “jogger”sweatpantsthat make a great dupe for the famous Todd Snyder + Champion line.

According to Ian Taylor, the London-based editor-in-chief of men’s style siteFashionBeans, Calvin Klein’s boxer briefs are still a classic. He does, however, suggest opting for a pair in black or gray. As he explains, “In photo shoots, you often see people wearing white, which looks great when it’s well-lit and photographed on a model with a six-pack. But if you’ve been wearing them for six months, they won’t look quite as pristine. Grays and blacks have a bit more of a shelf life.” Our roundup of thebest boxer briefs for menfeatures 12 other options, including an affordable zebra-print pair from Urban Outfitters and shorter-legged “trunks” from Tommy John.

When we asked 14 stylish men to recommend some coolsocks, three of them mentioned Uniqlo’s simple and affordable cotton-blend model, available in more than 30 different colors. “They’re medium height and thickness, so they’re versatile for many different outfits and activities,” says Phillip Wong, the co-founder and creative director ofHawthorne. “They also come in a wide range of amazing colors, so depending on your outfit, you can have a nice tonal moment.”

“I live and die by Uniqlo’s no-show socks,” says publicistJon Salas. “They’re super comfortable, durable, light, and breathable.” He tries to wear them as close to year-round as possible, which can be hard in New York City, but he especially likes them in the summer with sneakers because they “show a little ankle” and the sock stays hidden. “And you just can’t beat the price,” he adds.

We’ve written about the Converse 70 high-tops a lot.Chris Blackis a fan, saying, “You can never go wrong with a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor ’70 high-tops. Coke white, of course — or sunflower if you need a little color.” They also topped our100-teen poll. And they even appeared in our piece on the nextstatus gym sneakerssince, as celebrity trainer Jason Wimberly explains, a flat-soled sneaker is actually preferable for weight lifting. “While there is some benefit to cushy running shoes if you’re going for distance, when it comes toweight training, it can actually hinder your lift.”

When we asked a bunch of stylish guys about their favoriteraincoats, responses ranged from a very technical (and expensive) GORE-TEX model from Arc’teryx, to a classic yellow slicker, to a more sophisticated trench. But Patagonia’s Torrentshell rain jacket was mentioned more than any other style because it works just as well in the city as it does on a hike. AsChris Blackputs it, the jacket is a “hard-wearing classic.”

We heard about these surprisingly well-priced Nikegym shortsfrom Grub Street editorAlan Sytsma, who says they’re “just short enough to avoid being baggy without being so short and extreme that I look like a marathon wannabe.” He also really likes the hidden “interior back pocket” that’s great for storing keys during a run.

Image consultant Patrick Kenger calls these Polo Ralph Lauren swim trunks “an essential in classic navy. Nothing special about this pair, which is what makes it so special.” There seems to be a new trend inswim trunksevery summer — big bold prints, tiny minimalist prints, short vintage-style length — but a smart basic pair like this should stand the test of time.

Daniel DuGoff, a menswear designer and founder ofHomoco, likes Baboon’s 22-literbackpackfor everyday use. Even in a wild color like this (DuGoff’s favorite), it still looks professional enough for the office thanks to the minimalist design. It’s made of durable cordura nylon, has a built-in padded laptop sleeve, and is backed by the company’s lifetime warranty.

Our expert on all things tech, David Pogue, has used this “messenger-briefcase hybrid” almost daily for the past five years, and he says it has held up remarkably well. He writes, “It’s soft-sided and built of nylon, but it’s more handsome and briefcase-y than a typical messenger bag. I’m not embarrassed to stride into, say, a meeting with a publisher with this thing slung across me.”