How to revive your wardrobe
Setting up the foundation for a better style with good basics, building outfits, brands I'm keeping my eyes on right now, and more!
I wore a jacket today for the first time in a while and I kind of enjoyed it. I mixed things up when it came to my style during the summer but I did end up falling into a uniform; tees from 3sixteen, these particular pleated shorts from Lownn that I haven’t been able to take off this season, and whatever all black shoes I had laying around — the SSENSE product photos do not do the shorts justice though. They are pretty flowy, so don’t expect a lot of structure to the shape that you see here. This is more of a relaxed garment that is thin enough to show the pleats naturally, but remain loose overall. Comfortable and easy to wear, especially when wearing them below the knee.
The weather is shifting though, and with potential trips coming up, it’s a great time to refresh the daily style you might have fallen into during the summer. In today’s letter, I wanted to talk about how you can approach the concept of refreshing your wardrobe This includes looking at where you can get good basics, building a few outfits together to get your ideas flowing, brands to keep on your radar for the coming season, and more!
NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE NEW
When we’re talking about a refresh, I don’t mean throwing everything out and just starting from scratch. It is helpful to clear out some unused pieces to help you think a bit more clearly about your wardrobe in general. If your closet is filled with items you don’t wear anymore, then you subconsciously get into a rhythm of feeling that you don’t have anything to wear because all of that clutter is stuck between pieces you’ve been wearing nonstop.
Sort and put away clothes you aren’t wearing as much anymore. You’ll have an easier time realizing what new items you might want to add, and what existing items need a refresh. We also have clothing that we’ve put away and don’t wear much anymore, and sometimes we end up storing something good that we just forgot about. Diving into the depths of your closet is a moment that could help you rediscover forgotten pieces that might be fun to wear again. I definitely recommend you do that before anything else. If you didn’t find anything exciting, then this is where the fun begins.
Sometimes you get to the point where you hate your entire closet and you need a complete refresh. If that’s the case, then you have a unique opportunity to approach your style in a completely different way. This is a chance to invest in yourself by acquiring better quality clothing — because good clothing looks better, gives people more confidence, raises their mood, which translate to better days in general. I mean, let’s be real, who doesn’t feel good when they’re looking good?
Starting out with a line-up of good basic items is key to a better foundation to all of your outfits. When talking about basics in your closet, I’m instantly starting with the tops. Think t-shirts, long sleeves, maybe a thermal of some kind. These items are easy to throw on, whether you’re running to the store, or going out that night. Refreshing these items first will help you set the tone for the rest. From there you can start looking at pants, shirts, knits, footwear, outerwear and finish things off with accessories — mind you that this doesn’t have to be in that specific order, that’s just how I break it down naturally.
Above are some outfits I’ve created with a more basic approach in mind. These items all focus on quality, which doesn’t showcase well over a screen, but when you compare an item that’s $50 vs $200 in person, the difference is clearly there. If you’re going for a simple pair of jeans, or a tee, then spend the money for something that will look good on you.
Some brands that I look at first when it comes to everyday basics that have that elevated quality that lasts:
Buck Mason — Variety of tees for all. Finding what tee works for you can only be discovered through trial and error. I personally enjoy the Classic and 90s Boxy styles offered on their site, which come in an array of soft colors. Also worth checking out their belt section if you’re looking for a simple leather belt.
Reigning Champ — A solid choice for those looking for more athletic focused gear. Great selection of tees, long sleeves, crew necks and sweatsuit options. They also offer their stuff at a reasonable price. I’d say that most of the items come in more slimmer fit, but they do also offer some wider options.
Lady White Co. — One of the top players when it comes to luxury basics. So many tee styles, you’re going to get lost. In a good way though. They’ve also been expanding their tops and pants selection that are quickly becoming one of my favorites. A brand with a great eye for choosing color palettes that end up living harmoniously throughout their collections.
Nanamica — Everything they make is elite. Their basics selection isn’t the largest but they do offer a much more relaxed fit that focuses on breathability that keeps you cool. Shopping online here is tough, but if you’re ever in New York I highly recommend stopping by their store to see the stuff in person.
Adsum — The New York based label is all about elevated goods that fit your everyday life. Choose from simple, yet elevated crewnecks, tees, and other tops that makes it easy for you to incorporate into your existing wardrobe.
3sixteen — I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. They make one of my favorite tee’s right now. The pima tee comes with a pocket option as well if you’re into that. It’s most likely the thinnest and most breathable tee I have, making it the ideal daily tee. They recently dropped a range of garment dyed versions of these shirts that I’m interested in trying out. A splash of color is always nice if you’re looking for something besides white or black.
Uniqlo for basics is technically fine, but the product doesn’t hold up for a long time. Their tees look fine after a few wears but then start to lose that crispiness, even after the wash. The neck becomes loose and the overall feeling to the tee is just not my favorite. I don’t know, I’ve just been investing into quality t-shirts and I don’t think I can go back.
Some of their basics are not all bad though. Here’s a thermal that I’ve been rocking with for a while now. I find that Uniqlo thermals are a nice item and actually seem to hold up better than some of their other products. The knit does get loose after a few wears and that causes the shape of the thermal to stretch, which could make it look a little sloppy. However, the trick that works is to throw it in the dryer to slightly shrink it after a wash. It sort of tightens up the knit while giving it that new feeling to the item. Rinse, and repeat.
You can’t expect insane quality from Uniqlo, but on a budget, this thermal does the trick.
PANTS
Ok. I always get hit up about pants for tall people, so let’s get that out of the way first. Mfpen offers denim in both 32 and 34 in length. They actually make some of my favorite fits for pants right now. Relaxed but not in an insanely baggy way because if we are being honest, I think it’s time for us to chill out on the super baggy fits.
Sunflower is also another great Scandinavian brand that offers their bottoms in 34 length. They actually just dropped a bunch of new styles as part of their recent collection that I highly recommend giving a look at. Since we are on the topic, I would also just recommend going through the entire brand as a whole. They have a great selection of simple tees, pants and more. A well priced brand that has a great take on the current menswear cycle.
There’s nothing really crazy about these fits, but that’s just how I like it. It’s all about simplicity mixed with quality. That’s what I look for. Get yourself pieces that can easily be swapped with each other. This will give longevity that is easy and more enjoyable to wear.
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