Whether you’re a long-time style aficionado or just dipping your toes into the water of looking like a put-together adult male, there are a handful of must-have pieces for your wardrobe. High-quality accessories elevate any outfit and are the difference between you looking good and great. Luckily, acquiring and wearing these is a much simpler process than you might think.
A Good Watch
This is more for looking your best than just telling the time. You’ve got a phone for that. Though, it’s also possible you want to just spend less time on your smartphone, so win-win. Either way, a good watch (read: good-looking) is one of the first accessories you want to acquire if you don’t already have it. There are tons of great options out there under $100, so you don’t have to break the bank. Plus, it makes you a better person.
Rings
Yes, you already know that the right men’s wedding band makes you look cooler. If you didn’t know that previously, well, now you do. Still, you don’t have to stop at one ring. There’s definitely a law of diminishing returns with too many rings (and too many accessories in general), so be careful on this one. Keep the basic rules for ring-wearing in mind. You can follow or break those rules as you see fit once you learn them.
Bracelets
We understand that not every guy is a watch guy. You may find that bracelets are a little more your speed. Bracelets take up less space and tend to have a bit more personality to them. Plus, you’ve got a phone, so why keep the time on your wrist anyway? There are tons of options out there, so maybe pick up a few and vary between metal and fabric bracelets.
High-Quality Sunglasses
Alternatively, sunglasses that look high-quality don’t need to be high priced. You can get tons of mileage out of a $5 pair of sunglasses if they look good, so no need to drop Ray Ban money if you don’t have it. Plus, if you lose a cheap pair, you’re only out a few bucks and you can go replace them. That said, if you’re a more established man with a little extra cash, you may find the quality sunglasses to be worth the higher price tag.
Tie Bar
Now we’re getting a bit into the details. The tie bar is for a guy who already has all the basic accessories dialed in. He’s got a good watch, maybe a couple of rings, maybe a bracelet he likes. After all those, it’s time to get specific. That’s where the tie bar comes in. Not only does it look good, but it prevents your tie from flying around and whacking you if the wind picks up. Both of those things are important.
Most tie bars are going to be metal, so be sure you pick one that complements the other metals you plan to wear. You can also go with tie tacks, which are basically just fancy pins that do the same thing as a tie bar. That’s more of a preference thing, though.
Pocket Square
And by this, we mean several pocket squares. Your pocket square needs to complement (not match) your tie. Unless you only have one tie, you probably need more than one pocket square.
Cufflinks
In a league with the tie bar, cufflinks are for some guys but not others. If you expect to actually use cufflinks at least a few times a year, they’re worth it. Unless you know you’re going to use them, though, don’t spend the money. If you know you’re going to use them, absolutely get yourself a good pair. Consider something that matches those titanium rings for men you’ve been looking at. You’ll get good mileage out of both.
Belts to Actually Match Your Shoes
So many guys are out there looking like their belt and their shoes are distant cousins who see each other once a year at best. Basically, they’re wearing a brown belt and brown shoes, but oh man, are they different browns.
You don’t need to be absolutely perfect with this, but you do have to be close. If you’re unsure, you can always bring your shoes with you when shopping.
A Hat That Fits Your Head
We don’t always consider hats when we think of accessories, but they absolutely are. A good casual hat – for most men, this is a dad hat or something similar – is a staple. A hat that actually looks good on you elevates any casual outfit and comes to the rescue on bad hair days.
Necklaces
Necklaces are another one of those accessories that aren’t for everyone. However, if you can pull it off, it really adds dimension to your outfits. Any guy should at least try a simple gold or silver chain, if nothing else.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t have most or all of these, start small. No need to go out and buy everything at once. Add a couple of pieces from this list, figure out what you like and build from there.
