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A GREAT PAIR OF SUIT
Operative word here gentlemen is "great." It can’t be any less than that. Pay attention to the cut, the fit, the fabric; in other words, everything. It need not be designer. Most of the time, going to your good ol' sastre is even better than buying off the rack. It can be cheaper, too. It's good to have a suit ready because you will never know when you'll need one and it’s such a hassle to borrow from friends simply because it’s not measured to fit you.
CRISP WHITE SHIRT
The Crisp white shirt is possibly the most hard-working piece in your wardrobe. You can wear it to a job interview, to an actual office-based job, to a formal event, to meeting your girlfriend's parents; hey your girlfriend can wear it, too! If you can afford to have more than one, better! Then you can go all the way and use it for cruising over the weekend or pair it with plaid shorts for a preppy vibe. Other colors you may consider: baby blue and pinstripe blue-and-white.
A WHITE T-SHIRT
Pile on the T-shirts! You can never have too many! Get the one that fits you right. It is more flattering than those slouchy big ones. Besides, you will wear them under a long-sleeved shirt so it's best to get them in an almost-tailored fit. Hey, you can also wear them casually with shorts or jeans. (Gap)
KHAKI SHORTS
A pair of flat-front khaki shorts may look smart but you can definitely dress it up or down depending on the occasion. Take it to the mall with a collared tee, to roadtrips with your favorite t-shirt, or to the airport with a button-down shirt. Nothing else could be more versatile and worth your money.
LEATHER SHOES
Don’t push it, the limited edition leather Chucks won’t do it. Think smart, dressy, slighty pointy. One you could wear to a wedding. Oxfords are classics while loafers are very modern. Take your pick.
PLIMSOLLS
Of course you will have to give your leather shoes a break during the weekend. Plimsolls match your khakis and your good ol’ jeans and they look better than rubber flipflops, or your gasgas Chucks. (Topman)
DRESS SOCKS
Remember: Never, ever wear white socks with your leather shoes! Dress socks for dress shoes, sports socks (or those cute ones) for mostly everything else. Get a bang for your buck by getting 3-for-1 that some brands offer. Just make sure you get the basic colors: black, navy, dark brown. (Burlington)
SATCHEL
Give your backpack a rest. A leather bag may be more pricey but will likely survive wear-and-tear than a PVC and therefore much more practical. Satchel styles can go from work to weekend. (Topman)
LEATHER BELTS
A belt completes your whole look. It can spell the difference, make you look smarter than you already are. Be sure to match it with your shoes: black with black, brown with brown.
WATCH
One of the things that people will look at is your watch (the other is your shoes). At this point, you might want to not rely on your mobile phone to give you the time. A smart-looking watch is much more dependable than that. Also, gives you that professional in-control air around you. You'd want that, believe you so. (Alexandre Christie, P3185. Jacque Martin Chrono, P5065.)
