Ahh, syllabus week: the purgatory between summer ending and classes beginning where we cling to the last of our freedom before the new year. It’s the one week of school where even the teachers slack off. Amidst the haze of hot weather and sleepy eyes, though, we forget that the most important education is revising what we already know, or at least should know. So I bring you the syllabus week of fashion: from the basics of building a wardrobe to building an outfit and finally, accessorizing.
Before you can complete an outfit, you need the right wardrobe to go with it. Chances are it’s time for a wardrobe upgrade. If your closet is filled with graphic tees and torn jeans from high school, it might be time to invest in a few pieces that will grow with you from student to professional. That’s not to say you have to get rid of your old wardrobe (though I’m sure some pieces have seen better days), but moving forward, it might be time to consider how you want your clothes to represent you.
I always say that the first steps to a better wardrobe are to wear things that fit and are clean…but that doesn’t help when we’re looking to buy new pieces. So what should be in the wardrobe of a young, inspiring engineer or scientist? Depending on the job your looking for, you might end up with a required uniform or certain dress code for safety. So let’s talk about a comfortable, casual style that can go from the street up to a very casual business setting. Suiting and formal wear is another monster.
First off, invest in your basics. This is great for those of you that don’t love shopping because it means selecting fewer pieces of a higher quality. This way you don’t have to go out and re-buy everything when things start to fade and fall apart or trends change.
Think of basics as your wardrobe starter pack! A solid white or gray t-shirt, a white button down, dark blue, untorn jeans, tan chinos or khakis, a solid colored sweater, a navy blazer or sports jacket and a nice pair of boots or shoes. If you’re wondering why the basic wardrobe sounds so boring, it’s because you can’t mix and match colors without the proper basics to pair them with. The wardrobe staples I listed are staples because they can be worn with anything and needed to balance out more colorful pieces.
Plain t-shirts are the epitome of casual style. They can be worn under open jackets or button down shirts, layered under sweater or just styled by themselves for hot days. Button downs are the next step up from a t-shirt, and you should familiarize yourself with the term “oxford”. In a nutshell, an oxford shirt is named for the way the fabric is woven, but all you need to know is that it can go from casual to dressy with a mere change of pants. Classically, they come in white and light blue, but after you have a few basics you might try a few colors and patterns. They also come in short sleeves!
Pants are self-explanatory. Just buy the right size and fit. The jacket is the last piece that ties an outfit together. A sports coat is a looser fitting more casual blazer. Both can be used to dress up an outfit either for street or business wear. Denim, leather or suede jackets are another more casual alternative to a blazer.
Finally, your shoes should be just as nice as everything else you’re wearing. If you opt for sneakers, they shouldn’t be the same pair you wear to the gym. Shockingly, there are footwear options for men other than sneakers. Desert boots and Chukka boots (think Clarks) are a popular boot-sneaker hybrid that matches the dressy-casual feel. You could also choose loafers, brogues, or boat shoes.
Now that you have the essential wardrobe, you can start trying bolder styles to mix in with your basics. But it’s syllabus week, so we only need to worry about first chapter for now.
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