All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Fashion is a fickle thing. Seasons change, trends fluctuate and what’s “in” one day is “out” the next. Style, however, is a different matter. The key to great style? A reliable selection of clothing essentials that make for a firm foundation to build on with those pesky, oh-so-undependable trends. hinged bathtub door
Despite the cyclical trends in fashion, certain men’s clothing essentials – a selection of the best T-shirts for men, a pale blue button-down shirt, dark indigo jeans, the best men's knitwear or a pair of box-fresh white tennis shoes – will always keep you looking fresh, no matter the time of year. And when the time comes to layer up with trend-dictated details such as a puffer vest or sleeveless sweater, it's of intrinsic importance that you have a dependable starting point — say, your very best white dress shirts — for your timely runway-ready ensembles.
For more fashion, grooming and technology releases delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our GQ Recommends newsletter.
You'll find all the specific clothing essentials worth your consideration in the gallery below, but first, here are the 31 pieces that our editors insist you'll need in your sartorial arsenal…
A preppy, mottled grey loopback sweatshirt is an off-duty essential, as slick worn on the way to the gym as it is beneath a double-breasted camel coat with a crewneck tee or a crisp white collar popping out of the neckline. In most cases, you’ll get away with wearing a minimalist option that’s free from branding several times in a single week, but if you’re really sweet on this look, consider investing in some subtle logo branding that’ll add a sense of luxury to this otherwise simple piece.
Once championed by Marlon Brando and Kurt Cobain, the white T-shirt's staying power has been exhibited by Harry Styles, David Beckham and Robert Pattinson in more recent times, to name just a few. It's not difficult to see why. The humble white tee is fashion's safest bet, worn under a suit or with a pair of jeans in any colour. Something with a crewneck in a mid-weight should be a go-to for your everyday uniform.
Don’t confuse short-sleeve shirts for garish Hawaiian monstrosities. While there’s a time and a place for these so-called party shirts, many shirts that go short on their sleeves come in versatile neutral hues and are, for obvious reasons, a lighter and more fitted choice. Go for a short-sleeve shirt with a Cuban collar and you’ll have yourself a piece that looks as good buttoned up as it does undone with a white T-shirt underneath.
Whether you've lost your go-to shades or you're having a bad hair day, the power of the humble baseball cap knows no bounds. The humble headpiece has been known to help us style out a multitude of sartorial conundrums, all whilst adding a sporty, retro touch to off-duty 'fits.
Few wardrobe additions sit so nicely in the smart-casual space as the knitted polo. Tucked into a pair of pleated trousers or simply worn with your go-to jeans, the knitted polo has become office and date night uniform for many a well-dressed man, and while a finer knit sans buttons will breathe some refinement into your ‘fits, Percival is mustering something of a monopoly on the piece with myriad incarnations of its button-down signature.
There's just no formal style right now gaining traction like the linen suit – that's a simple fact. Undergoing a major, major, resurgence, the linen suit has eschewed its reputation for dressing pretentious filmmakers/filling the costume department of 1999's The Talented Mr Ripley, and has become the ever-louche face of summer tailoring. Chic, sharp, and oh-so-breathable – it's hard to go wrong.
Invest a bit of extra money into a classic white work shirt and you’ll reap the rewards. Among the best dress shirts that aren’t custom-made can be found at Uniqlo and Charles Tyrwhitt, ideally worn with a tie, rather than open-necked. Alternatively, for a more modern take, Brioni is a safe bet for crisp, Italian minimalism done right.
As easy to dress up with a navy-blue jacket and shirt as they are to dress down with some tennis shoes and a grey marl sweatshirt, every wardrobe needs a good pair of indigo jeans. The fit should taper in at the bottom and they should always be turned up to show off a pair of white kicks or chestnut Derbies. Extra points if they're cut from selvedge denim and feature that all-important exposed stitching.
Taking their name from the London borough they were first adopted in, the Chelsea boot's appeal found its A-list adopters in The Beatles and then The Rolling Stones. These days, its style icon backing spans Ye to our June cover star, Austin Butler. For formal dress codes, black and leather is the way to go – the shinier the better. A more casual form of the boot exists in supple suede, best done in tan and brown shades that pair perfectly with light and dark denim alike.
No off-duty look is complete without a louche, laid-back hoodie. A go-to in the transitional seasons and even for layering under more tailored jackets in the winter months, celebrity style icons are favouring plainer, subtly branded designs, with sustainably-minded emerging brands like Pangaia proving particularly popular among the likes of Tom Holland and Harry Styles. For a slightly edgier look, Manchester label Represent's Owner's Club hoodie is one of its hero pieces, distinguished by its Cobrax popper closure.
Close your eyes and think of a belt. We'd bet our bottom dollar that the first image that's come into your head is black and leather. Don't underestimate the power of this style – punctuated by a shimmering silver or gold buckle, a black leather belt can be the stand-out feature of a formal look. And if the thought of shopping for one is yawn-inducing to you, you'd be surprised at the hundreds of takes out there, elevated by either unique buckle styles, tactile textures or reversible colourways for more playful occasions.
20mm cabinet door While the temptation is all too real to follow in the footsteps of Elton John when it comes to sunglasses, even the whackiest of men's style icons have a classic pair of wayfarers, aviators or clubmasters for lower-key moments. These are best done in black or rich tortoiseshell acetate, and can add a touch of luxe with gold or silver hardware (see Tom Ford Eyewear and Ray-Ban) or the subtle flex of a designer logo at the temples. Keep this with you whenever there's the tease of sunshine on the forecast, and save those more statement cat eye and matrix shapes for bigger 'fits.