There are some things a man just shouldn’t be without, and good grooming is right at the top of that list. Depending on the occasion, of course, what a man wears will say as much about him as the car he drives or the money in his wallet.
A sense of style doesn’t have to be expensive.
Some things never change. A classic becomes a classic because it has a timeless elegance and sophistication that endures throughout generations, trends, crazy fads and world wars. Because of this, there are a number of items every male old enough to shave should have in his wardrobe.
The clean white shirt
It doesn’t matter whether you’re going out in blue jeans or to dinner with the ambassador’s daughter. A crisp, clean white shirt will never, ever look out of place, and this is the first item of clothing that no man should be without. From the rolled up sleeves of a presidential election candidate to the suave sophistication of James Bond, you’ll find a white shirt says an awful lot about the man, but says it with a quiet confidence that doesn’t require bold, brash bravado.
The shoes
Black or brown? Loafers or laces? The truth is, both will work with a nice two-piece suit, but they need to be leather, and they need to be immaculate. Scuffed shoes are like bad haircuts—they can both ruin an otherwise perfectly acceptable ensemble. And canvas is for sailors and artists; that is, acceptable in certain situations but not with a good, classic suit.
Loafers are simplistic and minimalistic so will never really go out of style, but if you’re going to go without laces, it’s probably best to stick with basic black. Whereas, if you want to go with the more traditional look, i.e. leather and laces, a nice brown pair of shoes will not look out of place with a navy or even a black suit.
You can get away with just one suit
While it would be preferable to have more than one in your wardrobe, it’s certainly possible to get away with a single two-piece suit, but there are some conditions attached. If you’re just going to have one (as we said at the outset, style doesn’t have to be expensive), then try to avoid bright colours and/or wide pinstripes.
Let’s be honest—if you wore a sky blue suit to every occasion, people are going to notice you, but not necessarily in a positive way. On the other hand, if you stay with a darker colour like navy, gray or even black, you’ll always look good, and it’s unlikely anyone would even wonder if it’s the same suit you wore to the last big event.
The other thing you’ll have to remember if your wardrobe is limited to one suit is to take very good care of it. Get it dry cleaned whenever the need arises, and always remember to store it in such a way as to keep it looking its best. Do that, and your suit could give you a lot of years of faithful service, and you’ll look good every time you wear it.
When it’s cold outside…
The arrival of cold weather shouldn’t mean a departure from good fashion sense. Quite the contrary, in fact, as a man’s overcoat can add to his stylish appearance.
As with the white shirt and the suit, subtle colours and a single-breasted style will stand through the ages, so think of that when making your selection. Also, try to pick out a coat made from an always-popular fabric. Let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with cashmere.
Accessories
Now that you’re wrapped up from head to toe, you’re all sorted, right? Wrong! Accessories play a key role in polishing off your look, and without the right ones, your efforts can be largely wasted.
If the occasion calls for a tie, you might feel you can get away with something flashy, since you’re wearing a white shirt and solid-coloured suit. However, the truth is, if you want something that will look good today, and in 20 years, go with something solid and dark. Navy blue or deep burgundy will never look out of place.
While gold cufflinks are popular, silver is more subtle and will never look out of place, provided they’re not adorned with slogans or shaped like dinosaurs.
Even your wallet can contribute to the fashion statement you want to put across. Once again, something simple and understated, but made out of classic material will stand the test of time. There can be no doubt that black, leather, bi-fold men’s wallets will be around as long as there are credit cards, photos of the kids and paper money in circulation.
The watch is all-important
You’ve walked into the finest restaurant in the city and taken off your cashmere coat to reveal your dark gray suit, white shirt with silver cufflinks and burgundy tie. Your shoes are shining like the sun. You look like a million dollars, and then a lady who no doubt wants to get to know you better asks you the time.
You look at your watch, but before you can tell the lady that it’s 7:35, she’s already looking elsewhere. That’s when you remember you’re wearing a quartz watch with a rubber strap that looks like it should be on the wrist of a 12-year-old skateboarder.
A mechanical watch that exudes good taste is perhaps the ultimate fashion accessory. Frederique Constant specializes in producing watches that appear classic and at the same time contemporary. They are elegant but never gaudy or ostentatious. They are handsome and will never, ever look out of place.
Look at the wrist of any modern-day statesman, any man of style…any gentleman, and you will see a fine watch there. Consider, for example, the Frederique Constant Classic Manufacture time piece. Can you ever imagine a watch this elegant, even this sensual, ever going out of fashion?
We can’t; we don’t believe a watch like this would ever look out of place, and that’s why we continue to passionately design and produce watches that will, for many generations to come, make a quiet, confident statement about the men who wear them.