The 20 Best Style Basics for Men

The foundation of any man’s wardrobe is rooted in basics: tees, sweatshirts, jeans, chinos. Versatile and functional, they are your daily go-to. Even better, they get better with age — we all have our favorite tee or worn-in jeans. For contemporary inspiration, look to these current, must-have basics.

Additional contribution by Grant Tillery.

The T-Shirt

You can never have enough tees.

[image id='775c56fe-454e-4bad-a48c-380183e6c3b0' mediaId='71173ca8-3ecf-4b7b-9cea-62094532905a' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Resin Crew Slub Tee by Buck Mason $28

[image id='6f0c2334-3d3a-4492-8b2a-21aed19c6420' mediaId='b774dc17-4c1d-4f06-a275-bd0f38a71d37' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Sojourn Tee by Outerknown $42

[image id='a86ce1fa-057a-41ae-acbe-9b1aaece7014' mediaId='7364cbab-39e7-46f6-9674-043daecb4c76' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Slim-Fit T-Shirt by Alex Mill $55

[image id='56125a61-279d-495b-88be-87240d20386e' mediaId='97a101eb-55dc-4538-aa5c-a36cdf0c4d1a' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Regular Tee by Velva Sheen $59

The Polo Shirt

Like your favorite tee, but dressed up.

[image id='a4968c63-19e6-471b-a688-d8254dfc3aff' mediaId='78bfe02e-1de1-413f-a028-585e21ae7ccb' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Polo Shirt by Lacoste for J.Crew $98

[image id='08c9b1a6-c8a6-4793-b672-41aa9a1261dd' mediaId='6a08bc59-0a53-4973-b8b4-c27b6a68671f' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Felix Polo Shirt by Orelebar Brown $120

[image id='78f03b22-afea-4fcb-9ccc-8df41f1c92b1' mediaId='6ada7427-6d81-4ad3-aca4-4da0f452c43b' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Cotton-Piqué Polo Shirt by Maison Kitsuné $150

[image id='4e4e9f81-893e-4d3e-8ab4-3efdfc26cc3b' mediaId='e37ad26d-946e-4716-82e7-d4de47325ffd' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Riviera Polo Shirt by Sunspel $150

The Sweatshirt

For relaxed weekends and casual settings.

[image id='c333d872-8515-414d-a940-e7c3d9a6b769' mediaId='f96d4329-ca18-4de4-91cf-81d332a5d23b' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Classic Pocket Sweatshirt by Todd Snyder + Champion $98

[image id='b873b233-0f1d-4f12-bb25-4ea48c7aefe8' mediaId='ac7dbcb6-112d-47bd-a7fc-e600ebf70ce1' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Garment-Dyed Loopback Sweatshirt by Aspesi $140

[image id='597160b7-53fa-4c10-a81c-1f26cb2cff4d' mediaId='41ffc675-ab07-4682-a53b-540feb8f8c77' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Loopback Cotton-Jersey Sweatshirt by Reigning Champ $150

[image id='d8b134ca-7de7-471e-9516-c86a82140c21' mediaId='d3afc4e6-b4e0-48a8-8be3-6235d6c382af' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Freedom Sleeve Sweatshirt by The Real McCoy’s $159

Chinos

A step up from Dockers and Dickies.

[image id='69d283d7-8bcb-4d4d-a7c7-ee3ba78ee9b2' mediaId='aca86d22-7218-4c56-9664-c64ebe7af8c1' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Connor Slim-Fit Chinos by Club Monaco $100

[image id='0078157b-6111-403f-9b0f-be42bfedd593' mediaId='421ed36f-dd23-42e5-b22c-722fa5e71df4' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Gio by Unis $198

[image id='8d489fa8-b5af-4f15-a65e-fb06df0a83a4' mediaId='c1fa94bb-eaa2-4c92-9618-cef93fdede39' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

New Fisherman Cotton-Twill Chinos by Officine Generale $275

[image id='7fbcaecd-4e69-453d-80dd-91bfd24faea6' mediaId='036cc796-3c80-4108-a678-0587e868956c' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Slim-Fit Chinos by Incotex $335

Jeans

Wear them in, and wear them for years.

[image id='008da0c9-f566-46d2-b01f-03f49faaa62c' mediaId='1e096fcd-71b3-41ad-9cc3-ebb4242814ae' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Petit New Standard Jeans by A.P.C. $195

[image id='007b3535-a2e7-41be-ad02-2a4e797d9499' mediaId='1a3038ac-e9b0-4af2-9c3e-e4c03ea6cc1b' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

1960 606 Jeans by Levi’s Vintage Clothing $225

[image id='2785ead9-611c-40c3-beaa-77bb8a06d62e' mediaId='d9a88710-d6f5-4180-9286-4d1a3b255003' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Slim-Fit Stretch-Denim Jeans by AMI $245

[image id='0561b712-671d-408a-b5d1-01849223973a' mediaId='b4719b13-9e7a-4173-a5db-0e7b91d69196' align='center' size='medium' share='false' caption='' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

107 Ivy League Slim Jean by Orslow $329