THE PERFECT WARDROBE
What do you need before you’re ready for summer? We help you take inventory.
SPRING/SUMMER 20/21 Check off the clothes you already own to see what’s missing from your wardrobe.
T-SHIRTS AND POLO SHIRTS
□ LOTS OF WHITE CREWNECK T-SHIRTS. Heavy cotton will age better…
□ SOME GRAY CREWNECK T-SHIRTS. For a change from the white ones.
□ SOME SHORT-SLEEVED COTTON PIQUÉ POLO SHIRTS. Stick to classic colors: navy, red, green, white and black.
□ SAILOR’S JERSEY. Great for layering.
Extras
□ SHORT-SLEEVED KNIT POLO SHIRTS. More refined than cotton piqué.
□ LONG-SLEEVED T-SHIRTS. Opt for a loose cut, with ironed sleeves if you dare. Wear them with chinos.
□ OLD ROCK’N’ROLL, SURFING OR AMERICAN UNIVERSITY T-SHIRTS. You can’t have too many.
□ PASTEL T-SHIRTS. Best with a chest pocket. Wear it alone or under other garments.
SHIRTS
□ SEVERAL OXFORD SHIRTS WITH BUTTON-DOWN COLLARS. White, blue, pink, yellow, striped. For daily wear.
□ ONE WHITE AND ONE BLUE POPLIN SHIRT. With a long collar. Wear it with a tie, or open-necked and wrinkled without. Ideally well worn.
□ A CHAMBRAY SHIRT. Two buttoned pockets, with or without a flap, and double or triple white topstitching. 100% workwear…
□ A SHORT-SLEEVED POPLIN SHIRT. With a loop collar and no collar stand. Any color you like.
Extras
□ A TWILL MILITARY SHIRT. Green or khaki. Wear it over a white crewneck T-shirt.
□ A POPLIN SHIRT IN A BRIGHT COLOR. Green or red with patch pockets. Wear it with flair, open-necked and wrinkled.
SWEATERS AND SWEATSHIRTS
□ A CREWNECK WOOL SWEATER IN A BRIGHT COLOR. Green, red or yellow.
□ A DEEP V-NECK SWEATER IN A BRIGHT COLOR. Wear it over a white or pastel T-shirt…
□ A WOOL CARDIGAN. Wear it open over a printed T-shirt
□ A GRAY CREWNECK SWEATSHIRT. With raglan sleeves, of course.
□ A GRAY OR NAVY HOODIE. For Sunday mornings.
Extras
□ A COOGI SWEATER. If you dare (Google it)
□ AN ARGYLE WOOL V-NECK SWEATER. Like Burlington socks. Also works as vest.
□ A V-NECK CRICKET SWEATER. Wear it over a white T-shirt or, if you’re fearless, on its own. Works as vest, too.
□ A NAVY SAILOR’S SWEATER. You’ll need it sometime between March and July.
SUITS, BLAZERS AND TIES
□ TWO SUITS, ONE NAVY AND ONE GRAY. Two or three buttons. Best made from Fresco fabric…
□ A NAVY BLAZER WITH GOLD BUTTONS. Lined or not. Single-breasted. Always a must.
□ A BLACK KNIT TIE. Absolutely essential.
□ A SILK CLUB TIE. Another essential.
Extras
□ A DOUBLE-BREASTED NAVY PIN-STRIPE SUIT IN FRESCO. Utterly classic.
□ A BEIGE TROPICAL WOOL SUIT. Wear it with a sky-blue poplin shirt.
□ A SEERSUCKER BLAZER. Wear it over a T-shirt or knit polo shirt.
□ A MADRAS BLAZER. Same as for the seersucker blazer.
□ A TEBA JACKET FROM JUSTO GIMENO. In any lightweight fabric.
□ BLACK FRESCO BLAZER WITH SILVER BUTTONS. For a touch of flamboyance.
JACKETS AND COATS
□ A TRUCKER JACKET. Make sure it’s a good one; we trust you.
□ AN OLIVE-GREEN MILITARY JACKET. A jungle jacket, for example.
□ A “BLOUSON.“Check out Harrington or Valstarino and choose navy, beige, black or red. And look up the translation of the French word “blouson“if needed.
□ A NYLON WINDBREAKER. A coach or surf jacket.
□ A BEIGE RAINCOAT. Classic.
□ A TECHNICAL PARKA. Stone Island, Arc’teryx, Prada or Berghaus are good bets.
Extras
□ A VARSITY JACKET. Vintage, of course.
□ A TARTAN “BLOUSON.“You know the word by now.
PANTS AND SHORTS
□ TWO PAIRS OF STRAIGHT-CUT JEANS. If possible, at two different stages of aging.
□ FIVE-POCKET WHITE PANTS. Some call it - wrongly - white denim.
□ CHINOS. Not slim, please.
□ GRAY FRESCO PANTS. Wear these as you would wear jeans.
□ OLIVE-GREEN COTTON PANTS. Fatigue pants, for example.
□ BERMUDA SHORTS. Roomy, in navy blue or beige.
□ SWIM SHORTS. In a bright color – why not?
Extras
□ NYLON RUNNING SHORTS. For sports or not. Choose a short, comfortable pair.
□ SHORT WHITE TENNIS SHORTS. Again, for sports or everyday wear, if you dare.
□ CARGO PANTS. Olive green, ripstop fabric if you like, and loose-fitting.
UNDERWEAR
BRIEFS OR BOXERS? Up to you. We also trust you to throw out those damn invisible socks.
□ WHITE TANK TOPS. Just do it.
□ SEVERAL PAIRS OF NAVY AND GRAY SOCKS. Perfect with a navy or gray suit. Preferably made of mercerized cotton.
□ A FEW PAIRS OF WIDE-RIBBED COTTON SOCKS. Treat yourself to a pastel shade: butter yellow, sky blue or mint green.
□ WHITE OR CREAM RIBBED SOCKS. City – not sports – socks.
Extras
□ BURLINGTON SOCKS. Obviously.
SHOES
□ BLACK OR BROWN LOAFERS. Preferably penny loafers.
□ BLACK OXFORDS. For business.
□ BROWN DERBIES. Preferably suede.
□ WHITE CANVAS SNEAKERS. Take your pick: Converse, Superga, Spring Court, Vans, Asahi, Doek, etc.
□ BLACK CANVAS SNEAKERS. Ditto.
□ TECHNICAL SNEAKERS. Not just for running.
Extras
□ HORSE BIT LOAFERS. Gucci, if possible.
□ ADIDAS SPEZIALS. Or the Samba or Gazelle models – it’s all good.
□ RONDINI SANDALS. Go for it.
ACCESSORIES
□ A COTTON BASEBALL CAP. Always a classic.
□ A WOVEN BELT. In black or navy for versatility.
□ A LEATHER DRESS BELT. Keep it thin (about an inch wide), in brown or black. Wear it with a suit.
□ ACETATE SUNGLASSES. Black or tortoiseshell. Or both.
□ METAL AVIATOR SUNGLASSES. Comfortable when it’s hot.
□ A HEAVY-CANVAS SHOULDER BAG. Take it to work on weekdays.
□ A 48-HOUR MILITARY KITBAG. A weekend bag.
Extras
□ A LINEN OR COTTON BUCKET HAT. Logo-free, if possible.
□ A ROLLABLE FELT OR PANAMA HAT. Known as the "traveler’s hat" it slips easily into your suitcase.