10 Men's Wardrobe Essentials for 2023

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Looking to up your wardrobe for 2023? Check out our list of the 10 men’s wardrobe essentials to up your style game!

1. Henley

Think of the henley as the more rugged and stylish alternative to the classic t-shirt. Don’t get me wrong, a classic crew neck or v-neck t-shirt is an awesome piece to have in your casual rotation, but a henley just brings something more unique and masculine. Personally, I find that long sleeve henleys look better than short sleeve but it really is personal preference. You can wear the henley just like you would wear your t-shirt.

Check out 5 classic ways to wear a henley.

2. Light Blue Button Down

Most men don’t wear suits for work. In fact, over the last couple of years, the workplace has become more and more casual and today we hear the term business casual being thrown around alot. What does business casual mean exactly? Check out our easy to understand guide to business casual style for men.

Anyway, back to the light blue button down collar shirt. This is a great semi-formal shirt to have in your wardrobe and it truly is a wardrobe staple in my opinion. You can wear it on it’s own with dress pants for chinos. You can also dress it up by pairing it with a blazer/sport coat and tie. For more casual days, you can also wear it with jeans for masculine and refined look.

3. Crew Neck Sweater

The crew neck sweater should be a staple in everyman’s wardrobe. You can dress it down by wearing it with jeans and even shorts. Or you can dress it up by wearing it over a dress shirt and underneath a blazer or suit jacket.

If you tend to wear ties a lot in your outfits, then I would instead opt for the v-neck because it is specifically designed to be worn overtop collared shirts and ties. But I personally find that a well fitting crew neck just exudes masculinity and modern style.

4. Dark Jeans

Dark denim is always going to be in style. Moreover, you can wear dark wash jeans with practically anything. You can dress them down with a t-shirt or hoodie and you can also just as easily dress them up with a dress shirt, tie and blazer. Just make sure the jeans fit your body well.

Check out: How Men’s Jeans Should Fit

5. A Classic Suit

A suit is a must have in everyman’s wardrobe. Even if you don’t need a suit for work, you might need one for a wedding or funeral. Therefore, it’s best to stick with a classic color and fit so you can get maxium versatility. Dark gray (charcoal), medium gray, navy and brown are all great options so choose whichever one suits your complexion and style. If you live in a moderate to warm climate, then go for a medium weight wool fabric which will serve you well throughout all seasons.

6. Outerwear

I’m going to leave this category of outerwear pretty much open to interpreation. And the reason for this is that it will truly depend on where you live and your needs. Trench coat, top coat, pea coat, field jacket, leather jacket are all great options and you should choose whichever jacket(s) suit your climate and lifestyle.

If you wear suits frequently, then opt for the topcoat since it looks best paired over a suit.

If your style leans more business casual then the peacoat can work really well.

But both these coats are for cold winters so what if you live in a more tropical or warm region? You can then go for a blazer or a lightweight field jacket.

What if it rains a lot? Then consider the trench coat which is designed to keep you dry.

The point here is that I can’t just list 1 outerwear option because that might or might not work for you. Instead, I’ve given you a few ideas on the best outerwear garments depending on your weather and style.

7. Dark Brown Chelsea Boot

I’ve put a lot of thought into this because I only wanted to include 1 footwear option for this list of men’s wardrobe essentials. The shoe had to be versatile enough for both casual and formal outfits. A dark brown chelsea boots works incredibly well paired with jeans and chinos, all the way up to a full 3 piece suit. Opt for a high quality version so that you can wear it often and have it resoled year after year.

8. Sunglasses

With tonnes of options to choose from, it’s best to stick with classic styles such as the aviator, wayfarer and club master.

ray ban sunglasses, men's wardrobe essentials — Ray Ban

My personal favorite is the ClubMaster from Ray Ban. These frames have a retro yet modern look and look great with t-shirts up to a full suit.

Randolph Engineering make probably the most durable version of the Aviator. What I like about these particular frames is the rectangular shape as opposed to the typical teardrop. I find that this frame shape suits more men’s faces than the teardrop.

Persol makes excellent sunglasses. They’ve been worn by celebrities and fashion icons for decades. I find that their frames have a modern meets classic look and are incredibly comfortable to wear due to their lightweight yet durable construction.

You can also wear any one of these sunglasses with casual and formal attire which provides great versatility.

9. Seiko 5

When it comes to buying a quality watch with classic styling, the Seiko 5 is hard to beat. You don’t need to go out and spend thousands of dollars to get a watch that should last you a lifetime. There are plenty of different versions of the Seiko 5 so choose whichever one suits your style. All of the these watches are quality made and are versatile enough to be dressed up or down (depending on the model).

seiko 5 watch mens wardrobe essential — Buy From Amazon

10. Leather Wallet and Bag

If you’re not in high school anymore, then you shouldn’t be carrying around a nylon or polyester backpack. Instead opt for a leather or suede messenger bag, bag pack or briefcase.

If you’re in university, a bag pack might be a better option since it gives you the comfort and convenience of a regular bag pack but in a premium material.