5 clothes every man needs in his wardrobe
By sneakersInn team · Updated
Every man needs five pieces of clothing before anything else: a white shirt, a set of plain T-shirts, dark tailored trousers, dark jeans and one good layer such as a knit or overshirt. With those five you can dress for work, church, a date and a weekend without buying anything new.
| Piece | Why you need it | Wear it to |
|---|---|---|
| White button-up shirt | Goes with every trouser, suit and shoe you own | Work, church, interviews, weddings |
| Plain T-shirts (white, black, grey) | The base of most casual outfits | Weekends, under a jacket or knit |
| Dark tailored trousers | Smarter than jeans, cooler than a suit | Office, dinners, events |
| Dark jeans | One pair covers most of your week | Weekends, travel, casual Fridays |
| One good layer | Turns a plain outfit into a finished one | Air-conditioned offices, harmattan mornings, evenings |
Why start with these five?
Because they work with each other. Each of the five goes with the other four, so five pieces give you well over a dozen outfits. A wardrobe built from loud single pieces gives you the opposite: lots of clothes and nothing to wear.
They also suit Accra. Average highs sit around 31°C for most of the year, with humidity often near 80% (climate of Accra), so the core of a wardrobe here has to be light, breathable and easy to wash.
1. Why is a white shirt the first thing to buy?
A white shirt is the one piece you can wear to an interview, a wedding and a Saturday lunch. Under a suit it looks formal. With the sleeves rolled and worn over dark jeans it looks relaxed.
Buy cotton, ideally oxford cloth or poplin. Oxford cloth is a little thicker and casual; poplin is smooth and smart. Check the fit at three points: the shoulder seam sits on the edge of your shoulder, you can fit two fingers in a buttoned collar, and the cuff ends where your wrist meets your hand.
Own at least two, so one is always clean.
2. What makes a good plain T-shirt?
A good T-shirt keeps its shape after washing, has a collar that lies flat, and fits close without pulling across the chest. Heavier cotton (often sold as 180 to 220 gsm) holds its shape longer and is less see-through than thin tees.
Start with white, black and grey. Three of each colour is enough for most men. Wear them alone, under an overshirt, under a knit or under a denim jacket.
3. Which trousers should I own first?
Dark chinos or wool-blend trousers in navy, charcoal or olive. They sit between jeans and a suit, which makes them the most useful trouser in a working man's wardrobe.
Look for a flat front, a slight taper and a length that just touches the top of your shoe. Too long and they bunch at the ankle; too short and they read as a mistake rather than a choice.
4. Do I still need jeans if I have chinos?
Yes. Jeans are for the days chinos are too neat: travel, errands, weekends. One pair in dark indigo, with no rips or heavy fading, works with a white tee, a white shirt or a knit.
Wash them inside out in cold water and only when they need it. Dark denim keeps its colour much longer that way.
5. What counts as a "good layer"?
A layer is anything you put over a shirt or tee: a fine-knit crewneck, a quarter-zip, a cardigan, an overshirt or a light jacket. It earns its place in Accra because of air conditioning, early harmattan mornings and evenings out.
One layer in navy, grey or olive is the right start. Our knitwear guide and jackets guide cover which one to pick.
How do I upgrade my wardrobe without starting again?
Upgrade in this order, one step at a time:
- Clear out. Remove anything that doesn't fit, is stained or that you haven't worn in a year.
- Fill the five. Buy the pieces in the table above before anything else.
- Fix the fit. A tailor can shorten trousers, taper legs and take in shirts. Fit matters more than price.
- Add shoes. Five pairs cover almost every occasion. See the 5 shoes every man needs.
- Add a suit. One navy or charcoal suit covers weddings, funerals, interviews and church. See the 5 suits every man needs.
- Build outfits, not piles. Plan what each new piece goes with before you buy it. Our outfits guide shows five that cover most of life.
How do I know if a piece is worth the money?
Work out its cost per wear: the price divided by the number of times you will realistically wear it. A shirt you wear every week costs less per wear than a cheaper one you wear twice. Use it to decide where to spend more (shoes, a suit, your everyday trousers) and where to spend less (trend pieces).
Questions
Which colours should I buy first?
Navy, grey, white, black and olive. They all go with each other, so every new piece works with what you already own.
How many of each piece do I need?
Two white shirts, six to nine T-shirts, two pairs of tailored trousers, one or two pairs of jeans and one or two layers. That covers a working week with room for washing.
Does sneakersInn sell these clothes?
Menswear (knitwear, quarter-zips, outerwear, shackets, denim jackets, jackets and suits) is coming soon. Until then you can see what we sell today on the facts page, or ask us anything on WhatsApp.