Versatile Clothing Men Can Dress up or Dress Down

A man’s wardrobe is important — it not only affects how other people perceive you, but also how you perceive yourself. It’s easier to feel your best when you look your best. If you have a social event after a day at the office, there’s no need to pack an entirely new outfit — if you purchase the right clothing, you can make some small adjustments to go from professional to appropriately casual almost immediately. Whether you’re looking for versatile clothing to save the effort of packing for busy days or if you’re just wanting a more efficient wardrobe for simplicity’s sake, here are some options that can be dressed up or dressed down.

Accessories 

The best accessories not only look good, but are functional. There’s nothing wrong with a well-placed and mature-looking bracelet, but it doesn’t serve any purpose other than aesthetic. In clothing, some things are essential: pants, shirts and shoes; maybe a jacket. Anything else would probably be considered an accessory. 

Watches are perhaps the most classic of all men’s accessories. Don’t wear a calculator on your wrist. Find a statement piece, and make it something that you could flash from under your suit coat but could also wear at a baseball game. Victorinox watches range from polished to ultra rugged, with many somewhere in between. 

Be careful with your sunglasses — many people think sunglasses are inherently cool so long as the eyes can’t be seen, but this is surely not the case. Sunglasses that look particularly sporty don’t go well with a suit, but if you go the other way around, and find a more classic styling, those often can go with anything. Go with a classic silhouette and you’ll be able to dress those up or down. Avoid gimmicks like a mirrored lens: stick with something dark. 

Tops 

Not all button-up shirts are created equal. A mistake made by countless men daily is assuming that a shirt with buttons is inherently a dress shirt. Pay attention to the fabrics and patterns, and opt for something with a little more substance to the materials, and go minimal. Minimal doesn’t have to mean solid colors; in fact, if you’re looking to dress up and dress down, go for something with a very simple pattern. Avoid plaids. 

A good fisherman sweater can do a man many favors. Not only are these a classic look, but they are warm and can look just as good in a board meeting as they do in the middle of the sea. 

A solid black T-shirt is a man’s best friend. If you wear a nice blazer over a nice black tee, you’ll look polished. Remove the blazer, and you’re ready to play darts. Invest in a few nice shirts; pay attention to the fabrics and silhouettes to avoid wearing an undershirt in the wrong settings. 

Bottoms

It’s hard to make shorts look professional. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, but unless you really know what you’re doing, stay away from them as part of your ‘dressed up or dressed down’ repertoire. 

Chinos are the king of versatile pants. A good pair of chinos can look in place on a sales call or at a skatepark. Having a few pairs of chinos in different colors will amplify the quality of your wardrobe — experiment with different tops and shoes to see how versatile they really are. 

Shoes 

Chukka boots are like chinos: they look good with just about everything and in just about any situation. 

Many people think think wingtip shoes are among the fancier dress shoes, but here’s an easy rule: the more designs you see on a dress shoe, the more casual it is. Consider tuxedo shoes, which are typically solid in their styling. However, a good pair of wingtips are very much like a good button-up shirt: dressy enough for the office while simultaneously casual enough for a first date. 

If you follow this advice, you’ll optimize your outfits so you can go more places with less wardrobe changes. You don’t have to go full suit and tie to look professional, and going casual doesn’t have to mean you look like you’re ready for the beach. You can learn more about the best options for various occasions by reading mens magazines or books that are written specifically on the subject.