This article was featured first on The Nifty Report Vol. 10.
With Bonus: Tips for shopping with budget limitations
“Where do I start?” This is one of the most common challenges a man has when he wants to upgrade his wardrobe. I can remember asking myself this question nearly three years ago. At that time, most of my clothes were from high school and my shoes were in such bad shape I was embarrassed to wear them. I can remember struggling about where to start and what to do. If you are like I was three years ago, here is simple handbook to get you started.
To start the transition you must know what your budget is. If you do not set a budget you will quickly find yourself broke. The larger your budget the quicker you can build your wardrobe. The smaller your budget the more PATIENT you must be. Here are 5 steps to build up your wardrobe.
1. Purge your current closet and at minimum, cut it in half. As you get your closet built up revisit and purge older items again.
- Recommendation: Immediately target your T-shirts. It’s best if you have less than 10. More than that is unnecessary.
2. Build a foundation of classic pieces that will last through the trends. The following are a few suggestions that I feel are staples to any closet.
• 3-5 oxford dress shirts. I recommend that they be in white and light blue.
• 1 Blazer – I recommend that it be a solid color in blue, navy, gray or black.
• 1 pair of dress shoes. I recommend they be brown but black would be acceptable.
• 1 topcoat/jacket. I recommend that the color be camel (brown) or black.
• 2-3 sweaters. I recommend you get one v-neck, one cardigan, and one shawl sweater. Stick with the classic colors (blue, navy, gray, black, and brown)
• 3-5 pairs of denim and 2-3 pairs of chinos. I recommend chinos be in classic colors (brown, black, and gray)
• 1 leather belt. I recommend it be brown or black.
• At least 1 pair of sneakers. I recommend the classic style sneakers like Chuck Taylor, Killshot, or Adidas originals (white).
3. Once you have a foundation now its time to define the new you. I suggest you search on social media (Instagram or Pinterest) to find styles you like. Create a board or save the photos to refer to later.
- Recommendation: Spend at least 2 weeks searching and refining your ideas. Once you find great sources of inspiration, start searching for similar items. Don’t go on big shopping sprees, and be selective on what you purchase. Remember patience is your friend.
4. Focus on accessories.
- This is a wide open topic but to give you some ideas this would be watches, rings, cuffs, hats, etc. This is all personal preference. Again be selective and go for the style you are going for. Find sources of inspiration on social media if needed.
5. Once you’ve got 1-4 built up pretty well, it’s time to find your unique pieces. This could be vintage items or limited run collaborations/styles. Think of this step as your ‘statement’ or ‘conversation’ pieces.
Bonus Section
If you are on a limited budget here are a few additional tips for you:
1. Purchase clothes from your favorite stores/brands during offseason.
- The downfall to this approach is you likely will not be able to wear the clothes till next year BUT you will be getting the clothes at fantastic prices. I typically wait till clearance/final sale.
2. Never pay full retail price for any item in your wardrobe.
• I know this may be difficult if you really want a particular item…but if you are patient the price will go down…even if its only 10%. This means a lot if you have limited funds.
3. Create a list of specific items you like from your favorite brand(s), then shop around for cheaper alternatives.
• Name brands typically have a high markup and if you shop around you can find very similar pieces at a much cheaper price tag.
4. Don’t be afraid to consider ‘lightly used’ sources.
• This may sound strange but if you are on a budget this is a key source to find fantastic deals. I recommend that you search around on the following alternative sources for great products:
• Online – Grailed, Mercari, Swap.com & ebay
• Brick & Mortar – Goodwill & Salvation Army
Remember, building your wardrobe does not happen overnight. It takes patience and some research to achieve your ideal new you. Best of luck and have fun clothes hunting!
Matt Hartman
@runnineverlong (Instagram)
@runnineverlong (Pintrest)
