10 Fashion Items Every Man Should Own

Personal style differs from man to man. That being said, there are still staple fashion items that every man should own. Debonair analyzes the ten items that every man should have in his closet, on any budget: 1. The White Button Down Easily one of the most versatile pieces in fashion history, you can dress it up with a suit, dress it down with jeans, or dress it anywhere in between. It looks just as good pressed and with the perfect tie as it does a little wrinkled with rolled sleeves. It also looks pretty good on your naked girlfriend.
Burberry Classic White Dress Shirt - $165.00							Calvin Klein Pleated Placket Woven Shirt - $29.99

2. The Trench Coat When Thomas Burberry invented this wardrobe staple for the British army in 1901, who knew that he had made a piece of outerwear that has and will continue to stand the test of time. Few articles of clothing are at the same time contemporary and classic, but the trench coat is one that has transcended every style from prep to punk. If you haven`t already, you`ll want to let it transcend your style as well.
Burberry Men's Trench Coat - $995.00							Calvin Klein Trench Coat - $168.00

3. The Black Suit Because not every man owns or necessarily needs a tuxedo, a perfectly tailored black suit is something every debonair male needs. Though there`s no substitute for a tux at a black tie event, sometimes the occasion is just casual enough for a dressed up black suit. A crisp shirt, classic tie and shined shoes will give you the polished look for, say, a wedding. But don`t shy away from dressing down that same suit on the weekend with some white tennis shoes and a worn tee.

4. The Topcoat Knee length, preferably wool and either black, camel or gray in color. That`s all you need to remember when getting the perfect topcoat. Other heavy coat varieties such as the pea or duffle posses their own breed of charm, but nothing makes a statement quite like a well-fitted topcoat. Get one with slimmer sleeves and a slightly tapered waist for a more modern look. Whether it`s worn over a suit, or casually paired with a basic hooded sweatshirt, it`s the one coat you`ll keep pulling out of your closet winter after winter.
Calvin Klein Plaza Wool/Cashmere Overcoat - $495.00							CO-OP Barneys New York Herringbone Top Coat - $249.00

5. The Gray Hooded Sweatshirt Because sometimes you have to run and get milk in the middle of the night. Because sometimes Saturdays are just about being lazy and not worrying about what you`re wearing. Because the weather calls for that extra layer underneath your blazer, you need a gray hooded sweatshirt.
Lacoste Hooded Logo Sweatshirt - $116.00							Marc Ecko Cut & Sew Argyle Pickstitch Sweater Hoodie - $32.24

6. Oxfords Very few shoes have aged with time and not felt the need to change. Of all those stubborn stalwarts, the oxford is the one you must have on your shoe rack. Though not immune to variations, you can`t go wrong with a classic pair: brown or black, slim sole, thin laces, slightly pointed toe. Wear them with your suit to work and with your jeans on the weekends.
Mephisto Men's Gallo Oxford - $394.99							Rockport Ellingwood Cap Toe Oxford - $90.00

7. (Two Kinds of) Jeans This, mind you, is a rule of thumb. The more jeans the better we always say. But you must have two distinct pairs at least - the broken in, casual pair and the well kept, sophisticated pair. Save the latter for a night out when you can dress it up with a blazer and a nice pair of shoes. Your casual pair can be thrown on the floor, pulled from the hamper—basically put through hell, but they still feel and look great (no matter what you wear them with).

8. The Polo When there`s nothing to wear in your closet, the polo is always a fail proof back up. A step above a T-shirt and just below a button down on the formal fashion scale, it is one of few pieces that exudes its own character and history. They`re now easier to find with a tailored waste and smaller sleeves, meaning they give you a sleeker more stylish look. Lots of colors means you`ll never have a bad fashion day.
Ralph Lauren Classic-Fit Stripe Polo - $75.00							Company 81 Triple Stripe Polo - $30.00

9. Variety of Ties When we say variety, we mean at least three: a solid, a patterned and a knit. With these three ties you are basically set for any occasion. Just make sure they cover the ground of your wardrobe. If you get a dark solid tie, go for lighter patterns and/or knits. If the pattern is on the louder side, make sure the other two are softer and more suitable for less festive occasions. The best place to start is your shirts—assess what you have and match from there.

10. Athletic Gear For everything mentioned above to look its best on you, you`ve got to make sure your body itself looks good. A few pieces for the gym will not only motivate you to take care of yourself, but also give you some lounging clothes on the weekend. And listen guys, we`re adults—no more frat party T-shirts or hospital scrubs at the gym. It`s still an outfit, and, just like any other time, when you look good it only enhances performance.

Seth Plattner

Seth Plattner is the Men's Market Editor for Elle Magazine.