Hate putting in thought on what to wear for a first date, but just can’t help it? Yeah, us too. Fortunately, there are a few things that’ll always be winners, and they’re good past the first date—which is the goal, isn’t it?
A White Button-Down Shirt
This is the foundation of the modern man’s wardrobe. A white button-down can go with any suit, any tie, any sweater, or without any topside accompaniment. Untuck, roll up the sleeves, and unbutton the top button and you’re casual. Plus, if you’re lucky, she’ll be wearing it the morning after.
A Pair of Loafers
We know that you own a pair of sneakers, because you’re a guy. We also know that you own dress shoes, because you’re a guy with a job. But between those two extremes you need something else—something that wouldn’t look out of place during a stroll in the park or at a candle-lit dinner. So get a pair of loafers or a pair of Chelsea boots. And keep ‘em polished, unless you like the suede.
A Leather Jacket
It’s hard to go wrong with a jacket in this country, and leather provides an opportunity to project your sense of style. Want an experienced look? Go with something distressed. Classic? Zip-up bomber jacket. A little tough? Biker jacket. Sans patches, of course.
A Pair of Japanese Selvedge Jeans
Jeans are essential for a casual look, but you never want that look to be cheap—and there are plenty of cheap jeans out there. So spring for the best—Japanese selvedge denim. It’s great for a lot of reasons, but the main one is that you care about quality.
A Suit for Social Occasions
This is different from something you wear to work. Get something stylish, fitted, and—well, something you love. Then keep it out of your regular work rotation. Why? Well, partly because your workplace attire will be a bit more conservative, but mostly it’s a psychological thing: this suit only comes out when you’re done with email, meetings, and strategic thinking for the day and you’re ready for fun.
This post was sponsored by Philips. The views and opinions expressed in this article, however, are purely my own.
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Photo courtesy of Mazzali.
