As with most things in life, when expressing your personal style by wearing a suit or jacket, the difference is in the details. For many men, any time you don a suit, you’re going to garner a few compliments. I think it is one of the pluses of living a society where suits are no longer considered normal, daily wear. Any suit shines as something special. Personally, I would prefer to wear a suit most days, and I am slowly moving my personal wardrobe in this direction. However, if a guy wants to help his suit stand out amongst the other suits, like I said, he should pay attention to the details: fit, accessories, fabric quality, and splashes of color, to name a few.
But what do you shop for? How do you give a gift of clothing that takes a lifetime to cultivate? I think it best to shop by brand, and I don’t necessarily mean picking up overpriced brands from your local departments store. I mean shop for those brands that are known for their quality, fit, colors, fabrics, etc. When looking for quality, I like to look at brands that have been around for more than a minute. It seems like menswear brands are popping up every day right now. I don’t need the latest geometrically shaped tie or wooden watch. That doesn’t mean I don’t love finding a new brand that’s crushing it right now either. But chances are that if a brand has lasted for decades, they know what they are doing, and they will still be around for decades to come. I’m more interested in permanent style as opposed to fast fashion. While most items in this guide fit that mold, there are some newer names too. All will make winning gifts.
Allen Edmonds Oxfords // Pantherella Socks // Drake’s Tie // Brooks Brothers Double Breasted Blazer // Bonobos Trousers // Z Zegna Overcoat // David Donahue Cufflinks // Sunspel Low Waist Trunks // Twillory Sea Island Shirt // Montblanc Meisterstuk // T. M. Lewin Tie // Suitsupply Sienna Suit // To Boot New York Monk Strap Loafers // Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece Shirt // Magnanni Belt // Barneys New York Umbrella
