Wardrobe essentials for men

By Rebecca Gonsalves on 16/4/2020

Give your style a boost with these 'buy now, wear forever' pieces, which provide the simple building blocks of a spring wardrobe. Designed to be interchangeable, this capsule wardrobe will provide the clothing you need for almost any occasion and, once you've mastered the foundations, can be bolstered with seasonal trends and touches of flair.
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The crew-neck T-shirt

An indisputable style classic, a plain T-shirt will be one of the frequently worn items in your wardrobe. But it's surprisingly easy to get it wrong: avoid skin-tight or super-saggy fits and don't touch a V-neck, unless you think Simon Cowell is a style icon. A slim version in easy-wash cotton is ideal, and can be worn alone (with sleeves slightly rolled for extra definition) or under casual shirts on cooler days. White or grey always look good – especially with denim – but don't be afraid to experiment with subtle colours too.

CW pick: Uniqlo U crew-neck short-sleeved T-shirt, £9.90 – buy here

The versatile suit

Flattering, timeless, versatile: a well-cut navy suit is the little black dress of the menswear world and can be dressed up or down with ease, as well as split into its component parts to create even more options. The formalities of the office and big social events might be briefly on hiatus, but business as usual will resume and, after months of sweatpants, having a reason to dress up will be something to celebrate.

CW pick: Sandro cool wool suit jacket, £420, and suit trousers, £210

The tan leather shoes

A classic pair of tan leather lace-up shoes will be an item that you turn to time and again as they can be worn with a suit, chinos or jeans. Of course, investing in made-in-Britain quality isn't mandatory, but it will pay dividends when you can pull the same pair from your wardrobe for decades to come, especially if you treat them with TLC.

CW pick: Grenson Curt, £460 – buy here

The workwear jacket

When it comes to menswear, workwear influences just won't quit. And while pulling off a utilitarian boilersuit might be beyond most men, a patch-pocketed jacket is far more approachable. Choose a versatile colour such as tan, navy or black and you've got the final layer for your spring outfits sorted.

CW pick: Albam Foundry cotton-twill jacket, £260 – buy here

The blue shirt

When it comes to the shirt world, classic white is an undisputed champion, a giant in the field. So much so that you probably have a wardrobe full of them already (if not, start here). The blue shirt, however, has a great amount of power too. It can be worn with a suit or blazer, of course, but where it comes into its own is the bridge between smart and casual: wear it with chinos, jeans, even smart shorts – more on that later.

CW pick: Officine Generale button-down blue Oxford shirt, £130 – buy here

The wear-anywhere jeans

As one of the few items in a man's wardrobe that is susceptible to trends, finding the perfect pair of jeans can be a Sisyphean endeavour. Spray-on styles are to be avoided and skinny styles have largely had their day, but a slim-cut pair will weather changes pretty well. Dark blue denim with subtle, natural-looking fading and no extraneous bells and whistles (rips, slashes and bleach splashes, I'm looking at you) will only get better with age.

CW pick: Re/Done blue straight-fit jeans, £280 – buy here

The sturdy sandals

Sandals for men can be a hard sell, which is unfortunate as sweaty summer feet do nobody any favours. While the sporty style of Tevas has been making waves for a while, it's hard to beat the classic two-strap Arizona from Birkenstock. Supportive soles and soft suede uppers mean they're comfortable, too. Just make sure toenails are neat and clean and soften any hard skin (this is your secret weapon) before you step out in sandals.

CW pick: Birkenstock Arizona two-strap sandals in stone, £65 – buy here

The simple sweatshirt

Clean and fuss-free, a simple crew-neck sweatshirt should be in every man's wardrobe. It can be worn under a suit for a smart/casual look, but it works perfectly with blue denim, white trainers and a light spring jacket. Light grey marl or navy will go with just about everything, but washed-out shades of pink, yellow or blue are a flattering, subtle way to incorporate colour into your look.

CW pick: Arket French terry sweatshirt, £35 – buy here

The neat shorts

Shorts needn't be a source of shame among men, restricted to swimming trunks and sportswear. A neat pair of tailored shorts will work for all manner of casual summer events and should pass muster for smart/casual office dress codes, as long as they're balanced out with a button-down shirt and plain low-top trainers.

CW pick: Oliver Spencer Eden organic cotton herringbone twill shorts, £110 – buy here

The clean white trainers

Trainers are often the only item a man will experiment with, falling for bright colours, fabrics, crazy detailing or huge logos. These details are all well and good, but sometimes you just need a hard reset, the sort of simple, understated footwear that instead of screaming 'personality' simply whispers 'confidence'. Converse Chuck Taylors, Nike Air Force Ones, Adidas Stan Smiths, or Veja Campos are classics for a reason, but adding something a little more uncommon to your footwear arsenal (and keeping them clean) will set you apart from the crowd.

CW pick: Nike Court Vintage Premium, £67.95 – buy here

The short-sleeved shirt

During the winter a patterned shirt would take some serious confidence to pull off (or mark you out as one to avoid at the neighbourhood Christmas party). But things change in the summer months – there's a relaxing of the rules as well as collars – and patterns suddenly become acceptable. This comes with its own set of rules, however: sleeves should be short, cut should be loose but not billowing and patterns should be balanced against plain items.

CW pick: Jacquemus Jean floral-print cotton-poplin shirt, £280 – buy here

The chinos

Simple tapered trousers bridge the gap between formal tailoring and casual jeans, making them ideal for almost any scenario. Look for a sturdy fabric with a hint of stretch and a leg length that can be cuffed to add a bit more definition. Classic navy can be worn year round, but shades like tan and sand come into their own in the warmer months.

CW pick: Scotch & Soda Fave structured chinos, £129.95 – buy here