T: Last week, we talked about the 3 essential t-shirts that every man should own.  (We stole this idea from the good folks at style hunting by the way). 

The ideas of this post is that if your entire wardrobe was stolen and you could only have 3 shirts, these would be the ones. 

1. White semi-spread collar shirt:

Every man has big occasions in his life.  For big occasions (and smaller occasions), a man needs a white shirt.  For your suiting needs, nothing is better than a white, spread collar broadcloth shirt.  I think that the best value for your money is the extra-slim Brooks Brothers option.  Note: you many not look as good as Don Draper in your shirt.

2. Oxford Cloth Button Down (some folks on blogs call this an OCBD):

I have said this several times, but I still think that the best option to take you from the office to out for the night is a durable, comfortable oxford shirt.  Oxford shirts are not as formal as broadcloth shirts because they tend to have a button down collar and because of their heavy weave, they never get as crisp as broadcloth shirts.  If you are interested in my opinion (I would think you are because you read this blog), I think that the Brooks Brothers extra-slim joint is the best on the market.

For those of you who don’t know, oxford shirts are made of a heavier cotton made from two interwoven threads that make a kind of basket-weave type look.  To see our post on these workhorse shirts, check here.  As for colors, I would suggest either pink, white, blue, or blue/white stripes.  Run of the Mill also makes a tasty option (look right).   

3. For my third choice, I kind of cheated (don’t tell the blog police) by picking 4 shirts. I think that every man needs a seasonal shirt because when the weather changes, a man changes his clothes—you wouldn’t wear a snow-jacket year round would you? Here are the winners with pictures that are also links (I know magic).  Obviously, madras and gingham are patterns that are usually found on light cotton and are thus more suited to warmer months and flannel and chambray are heavier and best for cooler months.

Summer: Madras (From Gitman Vintage)

Spring: Gingham (From JCrew)

Fall: Chambray (From Epaulet)

Winter: Flannel (From L.L. Bean)

Brooks Brothers is offering any 2 shirts for $99 from May 27-May 28.  For all of you who aren’t math teachers like me, this deal is essentially buy one-get one free.  Brooks Brothers makes some fine  quality shirts and now that they have Extra Slim Fit, they actually fit people under the age of 35 and 250 pounds.  This sale is a good excuse to stock up on staples or to treat yourself to a new work shirt for summer.   You really don’t have an excuse—for the price, the quality of these shirts can’t be matched. 

T: Was that a terrible title?  Even if it was, I would be remiss if I didn’t devote a post to a major development: the Gap no longer sucks.  Patrick Robinson (formerly of Armani) took the reins last year and he has been bringing the Gap back to what it does well: classic and simple Americana (I’m going to devote another post to the “new” Gap soon).

I picked up this sweatshirt last week and I couldn’t be happier with it.  A gray sweatshirt is as classic and casual as it gets and this one is perfect.  The outside stitching, the marled pattern, and the V on the front of the sweater give it some character and set it apart from the kind you would get at Russell Athletic. 

I’m not endorsing all of the clothing from the Gap (I still think that the price is too high for the middling quality of the clothes)  but at 35 dollars, this sweatshirt is a deal.  Also, Gap offers “tall” sizes at no extra cost on-line which is great for someone like me who is 6’5”. 

This sweatshirt can be worn over a t-shirt during a cold summer night or over a cotton oxford (as I am doing it right now).  Gray is also very versatile because it can be worn with blue (jeans) and tan (khakis). Think of this sweatshirt as an adult upgrade to your comfortable and warm college hoodie you got from the college bookstore.  

T: Every man needs some ties.  It doesn’t matter if you wear one to work every day with a suit or if you work in some “artsy” field where everyone wears torn jeans and ironic t-shirts—there will be occasions when you will need a tie.  And when that time comes, you must be prepared.

The basis of every man’s tie arsenal should be one striped tie.  As a card carrying WASP, striped ties are our bread and butter.  A long time ago, the colors and patterns on striped ties stood for something—like what University you attended.  Additionally, British regiments all had their own tie to identify and distinguish themselves from the other platoons that traveled the world taming savages in the name of the crown.  Here is an example of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guard currently available for purchase from Smart Turnout in the UK.

But, as men became less formally dressed and ties eventually were phased out as combat wear, men began to wear the same ties to office work, to dinner, and to the normal trappings of modern life.  We here at T&A think that striped ties look best when worn with a plain Oxford shirt because unless you really know what you are doing, its hard to mix a stripe pattern with a stripe shirt.

If we at T&A were forced to make a recommendation for just 1 striped tie, we might decide to put aside our hatred for Thom Browne and pick this one from Brooks Brother’s fancy line, Black Fleece.

Tune in for part 2 of the essential ties tomorrow.