Unlike the popular Nigerian saying, Obi cannot remain a boy forever, and must now be initiated into the world of men.
While a wristband blaring YMCMB or a chain hanging from your jeans might have seemed like the in thing in your teens, these days it's the mark of childishness, kpaftness and for lack of a better expression, An outright 'Juuman'.
It is important to realise the importance of investing in accessories that not only look good but do their job and are built to last.
A gentleman’s wardrobe is indeed a work of art and it reflects a person’s work ethic. The contents of the wardrobe separates the real men from the rest and for many men, coming up with the right wardrobe can be a huge challenge to fathom. It’s really never easy and to some people, it may appear like it’s time wasting.
However, as with all walks of life, paying attention to the details will always make you stand out above your peers, and would certainly give you an edge with the ladies.
With that in mind, Here are six and half accessories every man should have in his wardrobe:
1. Classic Sunglasses
Choosing the right pair of sunglasses can be a daunting task. That said, it’s always best to try out several different designs in front of a mirror to find that perfect fit. As a general rule of thumb, those with square and heart face shapes should go for curved styles like aviators to soften their strong features, while oval and round face shapes will benefit from sunglasses with strong brow lines such as wayfarers and clubmasters.
These aforementioned frame shapes – aviators, clubmasters and wayfarers – will give you the best value for your money, as they never go out of style no matter the season.
It's worth pointing out that sunglasses are designed, first and foremost, to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays, so it’s imperative that you buy a pair that features 100 per cent UVA and UVB protection, while also keeping your eye out for those that offer high percentages of light reduction.
Quick tip;
In terms of colour, stick to classic black or tortoiseshell frames or for aviators, try a simple silver or gold rimmed version. It would be wise to disregard the industry’s current penchant for bold, multi-coloured, or reflective lenses and stick to neutral hues in order to guarantee longevity.
2. A Fabulous Time Piece
There’s no denying that the first impression others form about you is largely influenced by your clothes and your accessories. And one of the few men's fashion accessories that allows you to express your personality is the wrist watch.
For many men, a Wrist Watch is the only hand accessory which they can invest in and it really helps to make it an exceptional timepiece. The watch you wear does more than just tell time. It also tells people a little about you.
When buying a wrist watch, You should Choose your brand carefully. You don’t want to wear a cheap generic watch from a local aboki shop. It's a real buzz kill when you see a man, all dappered up, only to be sabotaged by a knock off wrist watch that says Pucci and Dogbanna.
That said, You shouldn't want your wrist watch to be distracting. Simply aim at looking nice, confident and sauve, and make a good first impression. That’s all.
Quick Tip;
It's wise to colour code your wrist watch to your outfit. If your watch has a brown strap, then you should wear a brown belt and brown shoes. A black strap or silver bracelet style watch band would go best with a black belt and black shoes. If your watch has gold tones, then you’ll want gold tones in your belt buckle. If you’re wearing a blue suit, you may even want to try a watch with a blue background on the dial.
3. A Selection Of Quality Cotton Socks
Often overlooked, a pair of well-considered socks is not the most ‘sexy’ of accessories, but they do have the ability to make or break an outfit.
Although modern menswear publications often advocate using neon coloured or vibrantly patterned socks as a way of making a fashion statement, the occasions when they are appropriate are actually few and far between.
“For those moments when you don’t want to look like your mum’s still in charge of your wardrobe, neutral cotton socks are essential,” says James Welch.
Socks in neutral or muted hues are the definition of ‘essentials’, even with the rise of sockless and ankle-baring looks. A fail-safe rule when matching any pair of socks to your outfit is to go a tonal shade darker or lighter than the trousers you are wearing. This makes socks in shades of grey, blue and brown/beige ideal for combining with everything you have.
Quick tip;
Like the rest of your wardrobe, you should try to adjust your sock collection to match the season. For summer, try lighter neutral and subtle pastel-coloured socks.Similarly, in autumn/winter, you can opt for richer tones such as emerald green, burgundy and burnt orange if you want to introduce a refined contrast to dark wool tailoring, or earthy hues like brown, olive and cream, which would look great slotted into an outdoors- or military-inspired ensemble.
4. The reversible Brown/Black leather belt
A good quality reversible belt kills two sartorial birds with one stone by virtue of its suitability to match almost any outfit.
You’ll also find that having two colours on a belt will make it an easy team up with a whole host of other hues that you already have in your wardrobe, from green and grey to burgundy and navy – versatility that you will quickly come to appreciate when pulling together an outfit each morning.
Quick tip;
Try the brown side of your two-faced belt on a smart-casual white polo shirt, beige chinos and leather brogues (in a matching hue) combination, while the black side will perfectly finish off any all-black look, including a black suit and black patent leather shoes pairing.
5. A leather weekender
A quality leather weekender is arguably the only bag you will ever need. Practical, versatile and able to double up as hand luggage for short trips away, if you’re over twenty years of age and travel more than three times a year – whether for work or pleasure – there’s no excuse not to invest in one.
Quick Tip;
Opt for a holdall in 100 per cent leather and make sure it has strong stitching around the handles. Additional buckles and a detachable shoulder strap will help distribute weight evenly throughout the bag, reducing the strain on individual areas.
When it comes to colour, stick to neutral hues for ultimate versatility. Black, brown and tan are classic shades that will work in any look, while navy and grey are modern options that still retain a sense of timelessness.
6 Leather Wallet / Billfold
Underestimated as an accessory, your wallet should not just be limited to something used to make sure your cash is crisp and your cards are organized. It should also make a bold statement about who you are.
A wallet is the most basic form of a personal organizer, and this will keep your back pockets from bulging when your cash, cards and receipts start adding up.
Which wallet you choose depends on your needs. If you’re a frequent traveler, a billfold that is large enough for a passport, pen, and various other incidentals is handy.
A slim billfold that fits in the back pocket, however, is more suited for daily use. Just remember that if you have the space, you’ll fill it. Therefore the best way to avoid walking around with two inches of backside bulge is to own a wallet that doesn’t tolerate that type of expansion.
6.5 A Basic Tie
Every man needs a tie, whether it be for work or an annual event, like a wedding. When you wear a necktie, you want it to compliment your outfit, not dominate the conversation. You find that The best ties aren’t the outrageous ones, but those that speak understated class.While a wristband blaring YMCMB or a chain hanging from your jeans might have seemed like the in thing in your teens, these days it's the mark of childishness, kpaftness and for lack of a better expression, An outright 'Juuman'.
It is important to realise the importance of investing in accessories that not only look good but do their job and are built to last.
A gentleman’s wardrobe is indeed a work of art and it reflects a person’s work ethic. The contents of the wardrobe separates the real men from the rest and for many men, coming up with the right wardrobe can be a huge challenge to fathom. It’s really never easy and to some people, it may appear like it’s time wasting.
However, as with all walks of life, paying attention to the details will always make you stand out above your peers, and would certainly give you an edge with the ladies.
With that in mind, Here are six and half accessories every man should have in his wardrobe:
1. Classic Sunglasses
Choosing the right pair of sunglasses can be a daunting task. That said, it’s always best to try out several different designs in front of a mirror to find that perfect fit. As a general rule of thumb, those with square and heart face shapes should go for curved styles like aviators to soften their strong features, while oval and round face shapes will benefit from sunglasses with strong brow lines such as wayfarers and clubmasters.
These aforementioned frame shapes – aviators, clubmasters and wayfarers – will give you the best value for your money, as they never go out of style no matter the season.
It's worth pointing out that sunglasses are designed, first and foremost, to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays, so it’s imperative that you buy a pair that features 100 per cent UVA and UVB protection, while also keeping your eye out for those that offer high percentages of light reduction.
Quick tip;
In terms of colour, stick to classic black or tortoiseshell frames or for aviators, try a simple silver or gold rimmed version. It would be wise to disregard the industry’s current penchant for bold, multi-coloured, or reflective lenses and stick to neutral hues in order to guarantee longevity.
2. A Fabulous Time Piece
There’s no denying that the first impression others form about you is largely influenced by your clothes and your accessories. And one of the few men's fashion accessories that allows you to express your personality is the wrist watch.
For many men, a Wrist Watch is the only hand accessory which they can invest in and it really helps to make it an exceptional timepiece. The watch you wear does more than just tell time. It also tells people a little about you.
When buying a wrist watch, You should Choose your brand carefully. You don’t want to wear a cheap generic watch from a local aboki shop. It's a real buzz kill when you see a man, all dappered up, only to be sabotaged by a knock off wrist watch that says Pucci and Dogbanna.
That said, You shouldn't want your wrist watch to be distracting. Simply aim at looking nice, confident and sauve, and make a good first impression. That’s all.
Quick Tip;
It's wise to colour code your wrist watch to your outfit. If your watch has a brown strap, then you should wear a brown belt and brown shoes. A black strap or silver bracelet style watch band would go best with a black belt and black shoes. If your watch has gold tones, then you’ll want gold tones in your belt buckle. If you’re wearing a blue suit, you may even want to try a watch with a blue background on the dial.
3. A Selection Of Quality Cotton Socks
Often overlooked, a pair of well-considered socks is not the most ‘sexy’ of accessories, but they do have the ability to make or break an outfit.
Although modern menswear publications often advocate using neon coloured or vibrantly patterned socks as a way of making a fashion statement, the occasions when they are appropriate are actually few and far between.
“For those moments when you don’t want to look like your mum’s still in charge of your wardrobe, neutral cotton socks are essential,” says James Welch.
Socks in neutral or muted hues are the definition of ‘essentials’, even with the rise of sockless and ankle-baring looks. A fail-safe rule when matching any pair of socks to your outfit is to go a tonal shade darker or lighter than the trousers you are wearing. This makes socks in shades of grey, blue and brown/beige ideal for combining with everything you have.
Quick tip;
Like the rest of your wardrobe, you should try to adjust your sock collection to match the season. For summer, try lighter neutral and subtle pastel-coloured socks.Similarly, in autumn/winter, you can opt for richer tones such as emerald green, burgundy and burnt orange if you want to introduce a refined contrast to dark wool tailoring, or earthy hues like brown, olive and cream, which would look great slotted into an outdoors- or military-inspired ensemble.
4. The reversible Brown/Black leather belt
A good quality reversible belt kills two sartorial birds with one stone by virtue of its suitability to match almost any outfit.
You’ll also find that having two colours on a belt will make it an easy team up with a whole host of other hues that you already have in your wardrobe, from green and grey to burgundy and navy – versatility that you will quickly come to appreciate when pulling together an outfit each morning.
Quick tip;
Try the brown side of your two-faced belt on a smart-casual white polo shirt, beige chinos and leather brogues (in a matching hue) combination, while the black side will perfectly finish off any all-black look, including a black suit and black patent leather shoes pairing.
5. A leather weekender
A quality leather weekender is arguably the only bag you will ever need. Practical, versatile and able to double up as hand luggage for short trips away, if you’re over twenty years of age and travel more than three times a year – whether for work or pleasure – there’s no excuse not to invest in one.
Quick Tip;
Opt for a holdall in 100 per cent leather and make sure it has strong stitching around the handles. Additional buckles and a detachable shoulder strap will help distribute weight evenly throughout the bag, reducing the strain on individual areas.
When it comes to colour, stick to neutral hues for ultimate versatility. Black, brown and tan are classic shades that will work in any look, while navy and grey are modern options that still retain a sense of timelessness.
6 Leather Wallet / Billfold
Underestimated as an accessory, your wallet should not just be limited to something used to make sure your cash is crisp and your cards are organized. It should also make a bold statement about who you are.
A wallet is the most basic form of a personal organizer, and this will keep your back pockets from bulging when your cash, cards and receipts start adding up.
Which wallet you choose depends on your needs. If you’re a frequent traveler, a billfold that is large enough for a passport, pen, and various other incidentals is handy.
A slim billfold that fits in the back pocket, however, is more suited for daily use. Just remember that if you have the space, you’ll fill it. Therefore the best way to avoid walking around with two inches of backside bulge is to own a wallet that doesn’t tolerate that type of expansion.
The number of ties in a man's wardrobe should be calculated based on the number of men's suits he has. It's the general suggestion that a man should, for every suit (whether a business suit or a casual suit) in his wardrobe, own three neckties. Bow ties inclusive, for the more adventurous men.
The classic men's tie colours comprises of different shades of blue, green, dot, plaid, club, foulard and paisley. When purchasing these ties and adding them to your wardrobe, it is recommended that you start with simple solids and stripes to gain first-hand knowledge and experience in ascertaining what looks good on you.
If You don’t need many ties or you limit your tie wearing to once in a purple moon, you should look for one that can easily be matched with whatever shirt or suit you happen to have.
Stay Stylish ❤ ❤
- July 29, 2015
- 4 Comments
