EssentialsBuild your wardrobe with these easy to wear basics
It was Cary Grant who, when talking about style, said, “All it takes are a few simple outfits. And there’s one secret - the simpler the better.” Clever man, that Cary Grant. When it comes to dressing well, and looking stylish, there is nothing more important than a well-stocked wardrobe of considered basics - the higher quality, the better.
Looking beyond Mr. Grant, if you consider some of the most stylish men ever to have walked the earth - the kind of men featured time and again on the pages of men’s fashion magazines - there is one thing that connects them all. Devastating good looks aside, each and every one had a signature look, and that look was always based around one or two deceptively simple wardrobe essentials.
For Marlon Brando it was an unassuming white T-shirt; close cut, beautifully made and flattering. For James Dean it was a red Harrington jacket and for Paul Newman it was a simple pair of white sneakers. Steve McQueen? A classic pair of sunglasses.
The same rules should be applied to your own wardrobe. Before getting bogged down in transitory trends and seasonal shifts, it’s essential to invest in an arsenal of easy to wear basics: from soft white T-shirts and perfectly cut jeans, to box fresh white leather sneakers and effortlessly simple black blazers.
Perhaps even more important is a solid foundation of high quality underwear. You might think that no one will be bothered by your threadbare boxers and holey socks, but you’d be wrong. Invest in high quality underwear on a regular basis and you’ll set failsafe groundwork for the rest of your wardrobe. As Tom Ford said, “Always [buy] new socks and underwear (throw away the old ones every six months).” Never was a truer word spoken.
In homage to the greats who have redefined what a ‘modern essential’ means, Lane Crawford speaks to a series of Hong Kong men from lawyers to personal trainers, on how they like to wear their basics.
Solong Zhang, Dancer
“Comfort is the most important factor for me. Not just because I’m a dancer, but also because I’m generally quite active even when I’m not in the studio. I love pieces that have street influences.”
Benny Liu, Personal Trainer
“Predictably, I’m in activewear all day but how good is that? I would hate to be in a suit all day, especially during Hong Kong summers. But that doesn’t mean you can’t accessorise. Every man needs a watch and good razor for optimum grooming purposes.”
Clifford Tse, Hospital Operation Manager
“I like to wear my suit more casually because it gives more opportunity for you to play with certain elements of style and attitude. The perfect suit would have to provide good flexibility and movement but maintain a sharp fitted look, be made of light breathable material and styled with just the right amount of texture and colour for a simple but great look for any occasion.”
Kenneth Kwan, Lawyer
“I believe in keeping it simple and dressing appropriately. Less is more when it comes to fashion. At work, suits are part of the dress code and I always ensure my suits are tailored to perfection. But on the weekends, the white tee is an essential piece of clothing. You can never go wrong with a simple white tee because it’s so easy to dress it up or down depending on the occasion.”
Jack Leung, Musician
“Every man should own a black double-breasted coat, a tailor-made suit and a decent suitcase. But the one piece that I wear the most? My Raf Simons bracelet because I feel safe when I put it on.”
Jackel Wong, Hair Stylist
“As a hair stylist, I wear a shirt and tie most days along with a tailor-made leather apron, slim fit black jeans and a pair of classic leather shoes. I like shirts to be cut tight to the body but be comfortable at the same time. Thom Browne’s shirts are great as they enable me to mix and match with everything from denim to dress pants for different occasions with ease.”
