Wardrobe Essentials Every Man Should Own - outfits for men

A guide to timeless pieces that form the foundation of a versatile wardrobe. Outfits for men who want to stand out!

 

I was recently at a meeting in London at a large office on Baker Street.  Now, I know I am old fashioned in some ways, but I was shocked at the casual attire that most of the men were wearing.  When I am in Rome, almost without exception the men look well-dressed and refined, looking as if they mean business, but in London they looked as if it was “dress down Friday”!

It probably isn’t a very popular view, but I really feel that if you want to get ahead of the competition, you have to look the part and dress for the part.  Dress for success, dress for the job you want, but above all, dress as if you respect yourself and you will, in turn, be respected.

So, what should a well-dressed man have in his closet now?

A single-breasted suit in navy or grey

A simple, elegantly cut, single breasted suit will be your go to for an outfit for men.  Obviously worn for work, it will also look good for evening visits to the theatre, smart suppers or drinks parties.

Plain white shirt

This is an absolute must.  Worn with a tie preferably – remember we are dressing to impress - it is always an elegant piece worn under a smart suit.  Or, you can wear it open-necked with chinos or blue jeans, for a more casual look.

Plain pink or blue shirt

These classics, like the white shirt, will look amazing with your suits and just as good with chinos or jeans.  Invest in good quality, heavyweight cotton so they don’t crease too much.

Dinner Jacket (Tuxedo)

Every gentleman should own one.  You never know when you might need it.  Stick to black and it won’t go out of fashion. 

Blue Jeans

Jeans have become a staple of everyone’s wardrobe these days, but to be truly classy, make sure they sit on your hips, not high waisted and definitely not so low that you show your boxers, or worse your backside!

White T shirts

A classic white t-shirt will never go out of style and will never let you down. 

Grey or blue T shirts

Great with jeans or a blue chino for your weekend off-duty look.

Navy cashmere sweater

This will look cool with a white t-shirt and jeans, classy with a white shirt and chinos, great under your bomber or blazer for that extra bit of warmth and is a great piece for popping on to travel in, be it on the train or a plane, as it is light-weight and will fold easily into a hold-all or briefcase.  What’s not to love!!

Sports Jacket/blazer

Investing in a good quality, blue blazer, will be something you will never regret.  They never go out of fashion and if you go for a classic shape, in a wool/cashmere blend, it will last you for ever.

Trenchcoat

My husband is still wearing his Burberry trench that he bought in the 1980’s.  It still looks smart and current and a trench will look good over a suit for a more casual look.

Again, invest in a good one – it will pay you back in spades!

Crombie Overcoat

There are town Crombies and Country Crombies!  The town one should be in a navy blue with a velvet collar.  The Country should be in a tweed.  They can be worn over suits (tweed in the country) and over chinos or jeans for a more casual look.

Bomber Jacket/Harrington

Steve McQueen rocked this look and what better Icon is there than him for looking cool!

This is your answer for a smart casual dress code, worn with a cashmere sweater, white T-shirt and chinos.

The Harrington brand is a classic and comes in a number of colours, the most useful being a stone or blue.

Chinos

Chinos are your classic smart/casual wear.  They look just as good with a blazer and shirt, as they do with a t-shirt and bomber jacket.  With or without turn-ups – your choice!

Essential Shoes

Brown brogues

Brown brogues are a classic and work just as well for the town or the country.  But please NEVER wear them with a black, navy or grey suit!

Never bright orange/light tan colours:- dark brown or oxblood only.

Black lace-up shoes

Classic black leather tie-up shoes are a must for any classic wardrobe.  Wear them with your suits, or your jeans.  Keep them cleaned and shiny and they will serve you for years to come.

Good pair of classic suede loafers

Brown jodhpur boots or similar to go with jeans, smart trousers, etc. 

Ties

I know that ties are not worn as much these days, but if you want to stand out from your peers, then a tie is the way to go.  You will look instantly more put together and smarter, without trying too hard! 

You will need at least three types, for casual, very formal and smart but flamboyant for wearing with a suit. 

Cufflinks

Never too ostentatious, silk knotted are good for casual and for a more formal look, metal/gold or silver pairs are good for suits.  Gold is always a winner for evening wear, as it is understated and classic.

Briefcase

I think a briefcase always looks smarter than a “man bag”.  Obviously, it depends on the type of job you have as to the style of case or bag you choose, but always buy the best you can afford, as a good quality bag will stand up to the wear and tear it will receive on a daily basis.

Belt

Black for a formal suit and plain brown for casual trousers.  Keep the buckle “subtle” and not too large.

Sunglasses

You can never go wrong with a pair of aviator sunglasses.

And lastly –

Handkerchief

A true Gentleman should always have a clean handkerchief in his trouser pocket and in a pocket square in a suit or blazer pocket – just don’t match it to your tie!

And please – avoid back packs, bum bags and baseball caps – and NEVER wear them backwards!

If you would like to talk to me about personal shopping and up-levelling your wardrobe then I would be delighted to help info@elinorsalter.com

Picture credits

https://www.crockettandjones.com/

https://www.piniparma.com/

https://savilerowco.com/

https://www.cordings.co.uk/menswear

https://uk.velasca.com/

https://www.bogliolimilano.com/

https://lucafaloni.com/

How to wear red at 40 and beyond

Fashion Tips for Wearing Red at 40 and Beyond

Dressing Boldly: How to Incorporate Red into Your Wardrobe After 40

Red is a colour that will make you stand out.  It is a colour that signifies strong emotions of energy, power and determination.  It attracts attention.  But it is also a warm colour that evokes feelings of excitement, energy and happiness.

If you want to stand out from your colleagues, or dress for success and empowerment, then red is your colour!

The colour has been in the shops for a while now and shows no signs of abating anytime soon.  As I said in my previous blog – red goes so well with another trend of the moment and that is animal print.  The two together look classy and bold!

If you are worried about standing out too much, just introduce the colour in small amounts.  A pair of red trousers and a white shirt is always a winning combination.  Or maybe just add a red handbag to your neutral wardrobe, or a pair of red shoes.

Mixing and Matching Red with Other Colours for Women Over 40

A monochromatic look, wearing red, or shades of red, from head-to-toe, will give a very dramatic and slimming effect.  Not for the faint hearted, but this is a great way to make a statement!

Mixing red with the triadic colours blue and yellow, or the complementary colour of green will give a bright, impactful and energetic combination bound to brighten up anyone’s day!

Red goes well with browns, beige, grey, white and black and will lift a neutral outfit with a pop of colour.

Accessorizing Red Outfits for Women Over 40

The easiest way to bring a bit of red into your life is to add a red accessory.   A red bag will brighten up any outfit, whatever the colour! 

Red shoes are always a little girls dream and I don’t think it changes much as we get older!  There is something lovely about putting on a pair of red shoes – don’t ask me why!!

Finding the Right Shade of Red for Women Over 40

Don’t think that you can’t wear a colour because it isn’t in your “season”.  For a start, if you don’t like the type of red against your face, wear it on your lower half.

But there is a red for everyone in some shade or hue.  If you have had your colours done, you will have one on your sheet, be it a dark red, burgundy, pillar box red or an orange red, to name a few.

If you haven’t had your colours done, then try lots of them out, hold them up against you and see which ones make your eyes “ping” and your face less shadowed.

Seasonal Red Outfit Ideas for Women in Their 40s

And of course, don’t forget the festive season coming up!  Wearing red for Christmas is always a hit and teamed with a dark brown is a good alternative from black.

Try teaming a pair of red wide leg jeans with a sparkly top in gold or silver, or a silk button

-up shirt for a semi-casual look for lunchtime drinks.

A red, maxi dress will make a statement and teemed with a pair of blue slingbacks and a yellow velvet jacket will add a colourful impact for the office party!

A red skirt, with a black or brown cashmere sweater would be lovely for Christmas lunch. 

Add a pair of wellies and a Barbour jacket and your afternoon family walk will be stylish as well as refreshing.

 You will also like - Wearing Animal Print Over 40

and four tips for wearing red with style

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How to Wear Animal Print for Women Over 40

Embracing Animal Print Fashion After 40

How to Wear Animal Print for Women Over 40

Love it or hate it, animal print is everywhere once again this season.  And I have to say that it is my guilty pleasure! 

I say guilty, as when I was growing up in the UK we had (and in fact still have decades later!) a series on TV called Coronation Street, set in Manchester and one of the main characters, a lady called Bet Lynch, used to wear head-to toe animal print which was deliciously unsophisticated and in bad taste!

Of course, when the animal print actually came from real animals, it was only worn by the rich and famous, so was considered incredibly sophisticated.  Luckily, now, we have very good quality imitations, so everyone can participate, without cruelty.

Timeless Animal Print Looks for Women in Midlife

Stylish Animal Print Outfit Ideas for Women in Midlife

Animal print, especially leopard print, is considered a “neutral” as it goes with almost anything and any other colour.  I love it with red – it really seems to make both the print and the plain red “pop”!

Although it can be worn head-to-toe, like Bet, if you aren’t a dramatic style personality, I would recommend just sticking to one item, like a pair of trousers, a shirt, or perhaps a coat or jacket and mixing this with plain colours.  Or if you just want to dip a toe into the trend, then a bag or a belt in the print is a good way to start.

Mixing Animal Prints with Other Trends for Women Over 40

Mixing two current trends together, I love the wide leg, animal print jeans, that are in all the shops at the moment.  They are a really good look for women our age, especially the high waisted style (make sure the material isn’t too stretchy though as you want your tummy held in by the style, rather than highlighting it) and are very flattering.  If you are petite, go for a style that isn’t too wide and the print is smaller, so it doesn’t engulf you.

As I mentioned above, animal print also looks amazing with red, which is another hot trend this autumn and all sorts of different shades – one for everybody – can be found in the shops now.

Choosing the Right Animal Print for Your Body Type Over 40

There are lots and lots of variations of animal print –

Cow, Crocodile, Giraffe, Jaguar, Leopard, Snake, Tiger, to name a few.  They also now come in all different colour combinations and print size.

If there is part of your body that you don’t like to draw attention to, then keep the print away from that part, or keep the print very small and subtle.  Conversely, to draw attention away from that part, wear it on the other half of your body.  For instance, if you don’t like your bust area, wearing animal print trousers or a skirt, will draw attention away from your top half.

Snakeskin can be slimming, as the lines created by the design of the skin will elongate the area they are on, making the eye travel downwards, giving the illusion of length.

A bold giraffe print, because the pattern is bigger, is a harder print to wear and is probably best kept to accessories, or a coat.

How to Transition Animal Prints from Day to Night for Women Over 40

Animal print can look amazing for both day and night wear.  An animal print dress can be worn with boots, and a cardigan or jacket for the day-time, and then for the evening maybe add some elegant heels and a wrap for the evening.

Similarly, a skirt or trousers in animal print can be worn with a sweater during the day and then maybe a silky shirt and velvet ballerina shoes for the evening.

An animal print jacket can be slung over a cocktail dress for an edgy evening look.

The little black dress can be jazzed up with an animal print handbag or shoes.

The possibilities are endless!

The Dos and Don’ts of Wearing Animal Print After 40

As you will know, I am not a fan of fashion rules.  I think if you are to follow your instincts and dress for the person at your core, following rules is the antipathy of this.  However, that said, I would recommend caution with animal print and only wear it from head-to-toe, if you have a very dramatic style personality!

You might like to read Comfy shoes for women over 50

Let me know in the comments what you feel about animal print!