My husband walked into the bedroom in the same pair of jeans he’d been wearing for a month and asked, quietly, if I was still mad about something. He wasn’t. He just needed an update — again.
We did a full reset on his wardrobe last year, and it went so well that we decided to run it back. I used to spend a lot of time on the sales floor with gentlemen clients back in my buyer’s assistant days, and here’s what I learned: styling a man is not that different from styling a woman. Every good outfit starts with the right bottom. For him, that’s current jeans and clean chinos. From there, a couple of jackets, a few shirts, and shoes that are stylish and actually comfortable. And just like that — the guy in your life looks transformed.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is on right now, which makes it the right moment to refresh his basics. I’ve pulled together pieces that are solid, well-made, and wearable by pretty much everyone — the kind he’ll reach for again and again. All of them are marked down for a limited time. Here’s the formula, in order of where to start.
Start here: denim and easy khakis
This is the foundation. If his pants are tired, nothing you add on top will fix it. The styles I keep coming back to for clients and for my own husband: the AG Everett, the AG Tellis (a slimmer cut), Frame’s classic straight leg, Rag & Bone, and Paige Federal. Pick one wash he’ll actually wear, get the fit right at the waist and ankle, and the rest of the wardrobe gets easier from there.
Khakis work the same way — one pair in a neutral that goes with everything he owns. That’s it. Two bottoms, done.
Then add a cool jacket
Guys need third pieces too, and the jacket is the one that does the most work. An unlined blazer, a shirt jacket, a bomber — the options are endless, and one good jacket turns a basic tee and jeans into an outfit. In really warm weather it goes out the window during the day, but honestly? Not for evenings. A jacket completes an outfit even in summer.
Shoes that are actually comfortable
Here’s the rule I give every man I dress: if he won’t wear them, they don’t matter. Stylish sneakers are the workhorse of a modern wardrobe — clean lines, neutral colors, a comfortable sole. Pair them with everything from chinos to weekend denim, and add loafers for the days that call for a bit more polish.
Layering: shirts and knits
This is where the rotation comes from. A few solid shirts, a couple of knits in colors that match his denim and jackets, and suddenly every piece does double duty. I edit men’s wardrobes the same way I edit my own capsule: if a layer can’t be worn with at least two other pieces in the closet, it’s not earning its space.
Travel basics and fragrance
Two quick wins. A good duffel or carry-on he’ll actually want to use, and a fragrance that becomes his signature — the kind where people turn around when he walks in. Neither is complicated to shop, and both make a big impression for very little effort.
Bonus: for your sons
If you’re also shopping for a son, the same formula applies, just in his proportions. Plaid shirt jackets, a good denim or trucker jacket, reliable sneakers, and a hoodie set for the days he refuses to be dressed. He’ll outgrow it fast, which is exactly why you only buy the pieces he’ll wear on repeat.
Style Formula: current jeans + a cool jacket + clean sneakers = instant update, no full closet overhaul required.
Try one swap this week — start with the jeans — and let the rest follow. Wear it well — Elise.