Men. Hello. I presume you need some clothes for work and don’t know where to start. Common problem, I assure you. Not with me, mind you, but other men, sure. Rather than make your life too easy, though, I’m not going to tell you exactly what to buy, but rather, will give you some helpful hints for when your in the store of your choice (as long as it’s not Roger David or Fletcher Jones).

Well, in these bleak times you’re going to want to buy something that will last a while. Yes, counterintuitive or not, you should expect to pay more for better clothes.  

My recommendations: avoid black suits at all costs unless you’re going to a funeral, rather, go with grey or navy – they can be dressed up or down, and will probably match lots of items you should already have in your wardrobe.

Steer clear of:

1.    Massive shoulder pads, no matter how big or small you are. Unless you’re buying a zoot suit because you are the national swing dancing champion.
2.    Lapels a mile wide. They should be thin-ish, and I would suggest the peak rest somewhere near the collarbone.
3.    Overly strong pin-stripes, as it will make you look like a merchant banker/date rapist. (Not saying they’re synonymous, just very similar looks.)
4.    Shiny fabric.

Look, there’s much more that could be said on this, but I’ll end the sermon with a warning: make sure your clothes fit. And there’s no need to stick to suits. The relaxed American look is, to my mind, where it’s at right now. A pair of chinos, an oxford collar shirt, and a pair of loafers – if it worked for Jack Kennedy, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, it’s pretty much a guarantee it’s a good look. Swap a jacket with a cardigan; wear cordovans instead of vans, and don a silk scarf: instant Chuck Bass.



I’d suggest that these labels would be a good start for you, on this sartorial journey:

•    Calibre, Marcs, Arthur Galan, Saba – for a long time, Italian styling has been on the rise in Australia, with slim fits and more, how to say this, exuberant details. These stores carry a fine range of basics, at a decent price for their quality, but also produce some items that one should be careful to avoid (basically, lots of shiny, frilly nonsense)
•    Ralph Lauren – is charging a bit more, but their product is classic, with an English style, and the fabrics arguably better. I’m picking up several pieces for myself.
•    Department stores can sometimes have a decent selection of suiting, David Jones staff are incredibly helpful. But I can’t help but think of Are You Being Served every time I’m browsing Myer.
Once you get comfortable in these stores, start to venture further afield into the smaller boutiques. There’s too many to mention, but if you’re lucky, I might give you additional tutelage in the future.

The header image features images from Arthur Galan, and Calibre collections respectively, and the footer is from the latest Hickey shoot. The latter features probably my favourite ever male model, and was found at the always brilliant A Continuous Lean.