“What suit should I buy?” “Which shoes are the most versatile?” “Do you have a favorite button down?” This Essentials Shop is an attempt to provide some answers to those FAQs. No, we’re not suggesting you buy everything below. The goal here is to give you a few options for each category. Also know that prices on the below items can fluctuate quite a bit depending on sales, codes, and promos. Follow us on the main page for steals, deals, and opportunities to pick up these wheelhouse items, and more, for less (sometimes a lot less). We’ll do our best to keep this shop updated, but know that in today’s retail world, stock and prices can change fast. Got a question or a tip about any of these items? Send those to: joe@dappered.com.
Click on an item to skip down to our choices:
- Suit
- Navy Blazer
- Sportcoats
- Brown Dress Shoes
- Black Dress Shoes
- Sneakers
- Chukkas
- Dress Watches
- Dive Watches
- Casual Watches
- Dress Shirts
- Casual Shirts
- Sweaters
- Polos
- Jeans
- Chinos
- Dress Pant
- Belt
- Neckties
- Briefcase
The Suits
A good suit can elevate any wardrobe, but doesn’t have to break the bank in the process. Start with navy and charcoal options. Half canvas construction if you can afford it, or a flexible fused suit if you need to go cheap.
- Spier & Mackay’s Slim or Contemporary Fit Core Line Suits – $448+: Nice fabrics, two fits, and half canvas. As good as it gets in terms of bang-for-the-buck. Stock comes and goes with Spier. Which is understandable, considering how much “suit” you get for the price. People love these things, so they can sell out.
- Bonobos Jetsetter Suit Separates – $625: Multiple fits. All season weight stretch wool fabric. Bemberg lining. Non-functioning sleeve cuff buttons for easy tailoring. Ships and returns for free.
- Oliver Wicks online custom – $799+: For the hard to fit. One of those “you measure yourself, then they make it” companies. Nice fabrics. Made in Europe.
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The Navy Blazer
A navy blazer is timeless and incredibly versatile. Look for updated but not trendy versions, which are sleek, slimmed down but not tight, and made of breathable wool.
- Suitsupply Tailored Fit Blazer – $449: Breathable, Italian hopsack wool. Ships and returns for free.
- Bonobos Unconstructed Italian Hopsack Blazer – $400: Versatile, airy, unconstructed. A bit of a legend.
- J. Crew Factory Wool-Blend Blazer – $240ish: Versatile and classic. Price varies depending on sales.
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The Sportcoats
There are many reasons to wear a sportcoat. And they’re a great way to branch out from your navy blazer.
- J. Crew Slim-fit unstructured jacket in Irish cotton-linen – $298: A warmer weather favorite that also looks great with jeans when it’s cooler. Totally unconstructed. Light and airy. Occasionally goes on sale.
- Nordstrom Wool/Linen Plaid Sportcoat – $399: Butterfly lined for ventilation. Subtle plaid pattern.
- Bonobos Italian Wool Sportcoat in Grey – $400: Just about as versatile as your navy blazer. Goes well with jeans, darker gray trousers, etc.
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The Brown Dress Shoes
More versatile than black dress shoes, and often more eye catching. These are a true workhorse for many a man’s wardrobe. Stick with medium to dark brown shades for maximum versatility.
- Allen Edmonds Park Avenue – $450: Timeless. Goodyear welted. Crafted in the USA. Review here.
- Spier & Mackay Balmoral Cap Toes – $208: Blake stitched soles. Full grain leather.
- Nordstrom Dane Cap Toe Oxford – $69.97: Cheap. Simple, warm brown cap toe. Review here.
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The Black Dress Shoes
For the serious stuff. Big job interviews at conservative places of work, funerals, weddings, etc. Can be worn with navy suits/trousers despite many saying they can’t.
- Allen Edmonds Carlyle Oxford – $450: More modern than their Park Avenue, but still sober and sharp. Sometimes goes on sale.
- J. Crew Ludlow Cap Toe Oxfords – $248: Goodyear welted. Occasionally on sale. Review here.
- Nordstrom Dane Cap Toe Oxford – $69.97: Cheap. Nothing fancy. But that’s the point.
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The Sneakers
Many sneaker trends come and go, but simple, leather or canvas, court or training inspired kicks have always been in style. Start with white as they’re the most classic and versatile.
- Nike Air Force 1 – $115: Versatile. Comfortable. Iconic.
- Beckett Simonon Morgen Trainers – $179: Made to order with nice materials. Sometimes on sale.
- LUCA Leather Terra Low – $156 ($195) Made in Portugal. Materials and overall design are really impressive
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The Chukkas
Not everyone needs (or wants) a heavy pair of boots. But chukkas? Chukkas are good just about anywhere, just about any time.
- Clarks Bushacre 3 in Beeswax – $70ish: A casual staple. Textured sole is tough to dress up, and they’re not super sleek, but you’ll still wear them a ton. Review here.
- J. Crew MacAlister desert boots – $198: English leather. Soft crepe rubber soles.
- Sanders Hi-Top Chukkas – $275: An icon worn by movie stars. Made in England. Review here.
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The Dress Watches
Clean, subtle, but interesting. That’s what you’re looking for in a dress watch. Try and keep it simple and timeless (while it’s still easy to tell the time).
- Orient Bambino O.G. – $180ish: Their original flagship dress watch. Reviewed here.
- Dan Henry 1937 Dress Chrono – $290: A chrono but still plenty dressy. Old school glamour. Seiko Mecaquartz movement. Reviewed here.
- Tissot Swiss Automatic Powermatic 80 – $825: There’s a reason it’s called “The Gentleman.”
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The Dive Watches
Sturdy but still smart enough to dress up with a suit if you choose, dive watches are the choice for many one-watch-guys because they look great with just about anything.
- Invicta 31290 Auto – $120: 40mm case size, warm gilt accents, inspired by the past. Simple. Review here.
- Timex Deepwater Reef – $219. Shockingly good. Dependable quartz, great finishing, quick release spring bar pins for easy strap switching. Review here.
- Seiko 5KX Dive Style Automatic – $325: Seiko’s sporty automatic foundation diver. Can go on sale. Review here.
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The Casual Watches
Casual but not cheesy, these are the watches that look good with jeans and a t-shirt, or a sportcoat and chinos. Note that any of the dive watches already listed could fit in here too.
- Timex Weekender – $40: Cheap. Looks good. Tells the time. Review here.
- Seiko 5 Sports Automatic Watch – $295: Automatic movement. Goes-with-everything-gray. Review here.
- Hamilton Murph 38mm – $895 or original 42mm – $995: From the movie Interstellar, now with a sized down 38mm option (which is also available on a bracelet if you prefer.)
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Dress Shirts (white, light blue, striped or check)
Most men can get away with a few white and light blue solid dress shirts. For those wanting to branch out, avoid jumping too far ahead in the order of what to buy when. You risk getting stuck with loud checks or stripes when you truly do need solids. Stick with mid-spread collars for their versatility.
- Target Goodfellow Performance Dress Shirt – $33: Inexpensive. Widely available. Lots of colors.
- Nordstrom Trim Fit Non Iron Dress Shirt – $69.50: Good quality, white or light blue, ships/returns free.
- Ledbury White Madison Fine Twill Custom Shirt Dress Shirt – $135: Six different collar options, three fits, and sleeve lengths down to the half inch (no more extra tailoring charges). Delivered in a few weeks since they’re Made to Order.
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Button Down Casual Shirts
“Button Down” usually indicates the style of the collar. “Button up” usually implies a more casual shirt. These would be button down button ups.
- UNIQLO Oxford Cloth Button Down – $39.90: Oxford cloth that’s more substantial than poplin, but not weighty like flannel. Available in white, blue, etc.
- J. Crew Secret Wash Cotton Poplin Shirt – $60ish when on sale: Their bestselling casual shirts in a classic navy check. Will go on sale. Slim, classic, tall, and untucked fits available.
- Rhone Performance Fabric Commuter Shirt – $138: Absurdly expensive. Absurdly comfortable. Wicks. Stretches. Dries fast.
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Sweaters
There are a ton of different styles of sweaters. But remember the name of this shop: “Essentials.” That’s why we’re sticking with classics here.
- Spier 100% Merino V-Necks – $58 ($68): No matter what brand you go with, you’ll probably want a few merino wool V-necks in basic colors like navy, gray, black, and camel.
- BR Factory Merino Crewnecks – $40ish: Same strategy for Crewnecks (navy, gray, black, etc.)
- Spier 100% Merino Chunky Shawl Collar Cardigan – $198: An investment, but worth it. Shawl collar cardigans are classic, masculine style. And they can double as (non waterproof) outerwear in the warmer months.
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Polos
Polos are such an important part of a guy’s wardrobe that we devote a big round-up post to them every single year.
- Target All in Motion Jersey Tech Polo – $20: Cheap. Great collar. Performance fabric.
- Target Goodfellow Pique Polo – $12: A basic, but well executed for being so… basic. Cotton/poly/spandex.
- Rhone Commuter Hidden Button Down Collar Polo – $98: Expensive, but pretty much perfect if you like tech-wear that looks as good as it performs. Made from the same fabric as their Commuter shirts. Breathable, wicking, and lightweight.
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The Jeans
Even as society moves more towards athleisure, a pair of dark wash denim will always be a key foundation to any guy’s wardrobe. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have options…
- B.R. Traveler Jeans 2.0 – $130: Spendy, but if you prefer a good amount of stretch in your denim, these are pretty great. Can drop to $80ish during sales. Review here.
- Amazon Essentials Slim Fit Jean – $40ish: 98% cotton, 2% elastane. Ships fast thanks to being an Amazon product.
- Target Goodfellow Slim Fit Jeans – $36: Inexpensive, and they can sometimes be had for less when on sale.
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The Chinos
Because there’s more to your pants-life than just jeans. Look for a trim but not tight fit, and feel free to avoid the standard pale-khaki color of Dockers circa 1996 if desired.
- Old Navy Rotation Chinos – $30ish – $40: An affordable basic made in 98% cotton/2% spandex, eleven colors, and slim, straight, or athletic fits.
- J. Crew Stretch Chinos in Slim, Straight, or Athletic – $89.50: The pants they built a smart casual empire on. Can go on sale too.
- Lululemon Warpstreme ABC Trousers – $128: Expensive, but they’re the best tech-pant (that doesn’t feel or look or sound like a tech pant) on the market.
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The Dress Pants
Because sometimes a suit can be overkill. Look for slim but not tight trousers made from good quality, four season wool. Favor grays and blues since they’re the most versatile.
- Lands’ End 98% wool / 2% spandex Year’rounder dress pants – $90ish: One of the few pairs of wool dress trousers you can find for under $100 (assuming they’re running a code/promo/sale.)
- Spier & Mackay Wool Dress Trousers – $118: Flat front. Lots of colors. Super 110s merino wool.
- Brooks Brothers 1818 Wool Dress Pants – $248: If anyone knows classic office wear, it’s Brooks Brothers. Made from Italian wool, three fits, and does go on sale on occasion.
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The Belts
Belts are a bit like refs in sports. If you notice them, that’s maybe not the best thing.
- Nordstrom Reversible Leather Belt – $49.50: A simple, reversible belt. Black on one side, a warm/lighter brown on the other. Most will want an additional medium to dark brown belt to match darker brown shoes.
- GAP Leather Belt – $35ish: Often on sale. Works with anything casual to smart casual.
- Marino Ratchet Belt in Amber – $19.99: Don’t knock ratchet belts until you’ve tried one. Just make sure it looks like a regular belt at a glance. And avoid the cheesy looking buckles.
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The Neckties
Unless you’re in a suit five days a week, you don’t need nearly as many neckties as you might think. But you do need a few. Here’s what you need.
- Kent Wang Navy Grenadine Tie – $75: Expensive, but you’ll have it (and use it) for the rest of your life. Made in Italy. Here’s a cheap alternative if you can’t swing the $75.
- Tie Bar Black Grenlaux – $28: It might not see a lot of use, but when you need a black necktie, you need a black necktie.
- J. Crew English Silk Tie in Diagonal Stripe – $69.50: Because sometimes a stripe is called for. Made in the USA. Often on sale.
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Briefcases
The goal is to find the direct midpoint between a true, schlumpy messenger, and a hard sided attach©. Meaning: softish sides, quality materials, a detachable shoulder strap, and a top grab handle for shorter trips.
- Boconi Slim Zipster Laptop Briefcase – $120 ($298): You could do a lot worse for a hundred and twenty bucks.
- Maverick & Co Manhattan Leather Briefcase – $299: Very professional looking. Textured, structured, saffiano leather. Review here.
- WP Standard “The Woodward” Briefcase – $348: Classy. Great leather. Lifetime guarantee. Full review here.
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