Happy Thursday, ladies! Let me tell you: we definitely have something different for you today. Something we haven’t really tried before: how to build a casual wardrobe for the man in your life.
Ok, ok: let me give you a little context as to why I decided to do this post. A few weeks ago, my oldest decided to completely overhaul his wardrobe. He asked for Kelly and my help, so we decided to work with him.
Through a lot of back and forth (and many returns), we completely rebuilt that wardrobe by laying strong, classic foundations. So, I wanted to share some of what we learned along the way.
I figure, most of us have a man in our life whether it be a father, husband, child, or grandchild. And sometimes, just sometimes, those men can use a little help leveling up their style game.
So, you can think of today as a capsule wardrobe of sorts—inspiration to build the foundations for a casual Fall & Winter wardrobe for a man in your life.
As usual, I’ve broken things down into categories:
- Jackets
- Tops
- Bottoms
- Shoes
- Sweaters
For each category, my son & I worked together to pick the absolute essentials of his revamped wardrobe. So, for each category, we pulled together 4 different items from a variety of different retailers at a variety of different price points.
Let’s get right down to it.
The Summary
Today, my oldest son and I joined forces to show you how to build a casuals wardrobe for the man in your life
We’ve broken the post down into categories—from jackets to shoes
For each category, we pulled together 4 of his favorite items from those categories and provided you with an example outfit on how to style the items
Everything is shoppable via a text- or image-widget
How to Build a Casual Wardrobe For the Man In Your Life
1. Jackets
For jackets, we went the classics no man should be without:
- Leather
- Denim
- Trucker
- Peacoat
We consider all of these worthy investment pieces as they never go out of style. Each of these jackets works perfectly with a pair of jeans but also goes great with a pair of khaki chinos.
Wool Blend Peacoat (Pendleton) | Leather Biker Jacket (Treasure & Bond) | Broadway Terrace Trucker Jacket (Levi’s) | Corduroy & High Pile Fleece Trucker Jacket (Marine Layer)
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Similar outfit
Board: Corduroy & High Pile Fleece Trucker Jacket (Marine Layer) | Moccasin (Clarks) | Athletic Slim Selvedge Jeans (Madewell) | Cozy Half-Zip Sweatshirt (Banana Republic)
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2. Tops
For super comfy casual, we went with a classic crewneck and henley in grey. And while most of this capsule wardrobe sticks to neutrals, every man should own at least one plaid button-up in a variety of different colors. Every man looks good with one paired with a peacoat and a worn-in pair of boots.
Regular Fit Wool Shirt (Pendleton) | Rian Henley T-Shirt (Banana Republic) | Twill Easy Long-Sleeve Shirt (Madewell) | Crewneck Sweatshirt (Vince)
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Example Outfit
Board: Wool Blend Peacoat (Pendleton) | Sid Chino Pants (Carhartt) | Twill Easy Long-Sleeve Shirt (Madewell) | Heritage Classic Moc Boot (Red Wing)
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3. Bottoms
Our bottom choice range from super comfy loungewear to khakis that work well for a night out to dinner.
A note on men’s denim: my son and I both agreed that a dark(er) wash is essential. So, we went with a classic blue and black. And while a bit more pricey, my son is absolutely loving his new pair of selvedge jeans.
Athletic Slim Selvedge Jeans (Madewell) | Cozy Cargo Jogger (Banana Republic) | Cigarette Skinny Fit Jeans (AllSaints) | Work in Progress Sid Chino Pants (Carhartt)
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Example Outfit
Board: Regular Fit Crewneck Cotton Sweatshirt (Vince) | Cozy Cargo Jogger (Banana Republic) | Ezra Slipper (Toms)
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4. Shoes
My son cannot speak more highly than he does of his pair of Red Wing boots. He’s owned a pair of the heritage classics for over a decade. They’re still going strong and go with just about everything.
These Toms are also great for indoor lounging but also afternoon runs to the mailbox as they have a sole.
To round out our selection, we went with a pair of Clarks moccasins. (Mr. Style loved them too!) And a pair of Vans classic slip-ons, as they never ever go out of style. (And I’m yet to meet a man they don’t look good on.)
Heritage Classic Moc Boot (Red Wing) | Moccasin (Clarks) | Ezra Slipper (Toms) | Slip-On (Vans)
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Example Outfit
Board: Broadway Terrace Trucker Jacket (Levi’s) | Twill Easy Long-Sleeve Shirt (Madewell) | Classic Slip-On Shoes (Vans) | Cigarette Skinny Fit Jeans (AllSaints)
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5. Sweaters
Last but not least, men’s sweaters. No real surprises, here, except for Pendleton’s classic: The Westerley. My son absolutely loves his and gets complimented on it all the time.
Importantly, all of these sweaters are timeless classics that will stand the test of time and go with just about anything you pair them with.
Westerly Sweater (Pendleton) | Slim Fit Wool Cardigan (AllSaints) | Cotton Piqué-Stitch Crewneck Sweater (J.Crew) | Cozy Half-Zip Sweatshirt (Banana Republic)
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Board: Westerly Sweater (Pendleton) | Heritage Classic Moc Boot (Red Wing) | Rian Henley T-Shirt (Banana Republic) | Athletic Slim Selvedge Jeans (Madewell)
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In Case You Missed It
This morning, Kelly shared her essential winter coats & jackets for petites. Click the title or image below to read the article.
Winter Coats & Jackets for Petites
About The Author
Yay! More of this, more of this! Thank you…I have 4 men that I would like to style; the main one being my husband. I really like the suggestions in all categories, except maybe the shoes. I don’t picture my men in any of those styles, except for maybe the Vans. I think it’s so hard with men. My husband is a runner, and basically, he has tons of sneakers…turns out, that’s all he wears casually, everyday! I think that’s true for many men, because they just don’t think about alternatives.
I like that you started with classics. You’ve given some stepping stones to get started. Thank you!
I loved seeing this post on helping the men in our lives build a better wardrobe. I’ve already gotten some ideas. Thank you,Beth!
I really liked this post It will be helpful in updating & choosing the core pieces. Thank you
I love this post on casual styles for men. My husband and I were just talking about this yesterday. I have never tried to change his style. He likes to look good but his priorities are practicality and low price. All his nicer pieces I have bought him as gifts…..this gives me some GREAT ideas. Thanks so much!
My husband retired at an early age. It’s been quite some time since he’s updated his wardrobe. He lives in very casual clothing, but when we do go out he really needs an updated look. Appreciate this post!