10 Classic Workwear Staples Every Man Needs, Inspired by Icons

When you’re a busy man with a ‘to-do’ list which outgrows your beard, you need to minimise time spent on your morning routine and invest it in your work-load.

Getting dressed and organised for the day is always more of a chore than an art and when you have a list of priorities to tick off before you’ve had your 11am coffee break – you need all the help you can get. For the ‘man on the move’ we have sourced 10 Classic Workwear Staples which will take you from Boardroom to Bar in an instance.

Our workwear pieces have been chosen with fashion and functionality in mind and pay homage to some of our favourite male style icons, so you’re never going to look less than sharp on the commute.

The Trench Coat

The Trench Coat or Mac is an invaluable, trans-seasonal piece which has featured on many an iconic man in Hollywood. Picture George Peppard stealing the heart of the adorable Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ or Humphrey Bogart’s iconic Trench Coat and Fedora combo in ‘Casablanca’.

As a workwear piece, the Trench Coat is light, neutral and looks great layered over just about anything. For a shower-proof piece that features in every classic love affair, chuck a Trench Coat in the back of the car for a go-to cover up when grey clouds are looming.

Humphrey Bogart wears the Classic Trench Coat

Chelsea Boots

Popularly adopted by the fashion-forward Mod squad, the Chelsea Boot has grown to become a much-loved staple of many men’s wardrobes. Commonly sported by Paul Weller, you don’t have to be regarded as a ‘Modfather’ to own this footwear trend – Available in a variety of colour ways and materials, the Chelsea Boot is a practical alternative to a Leather Loafer and a stylish take-on the casual Desert Boot. Whether you ride your scooter to work or take the morning bus, the Chelsea Boot will see you through come rain or shine.

The Clean White Shirt

Can you think of a classic Gent who hasn’t, at some point, rocked a clean white shirt? A crisp white button-down shirt should feature in every guy’s easy capsule wardrobe.

A men’s white shirt is a versatile piece which can be layered over or under other essential work-wear pieces. When buying a classic white shirt, consider getting a good-quality, tailored piece which won’t lose shape after a few wears.

A Quality Knitted Sweater

Finding the perfect capsule, workwear wardrobe as a man is all about layering fundamental workwear pieces. A quality knitted crew-neck sweater is a timeless piece which can be layered under coats and over shirts when the temperature drops.

Wear your knitted sweater over a fitted shirt for the office and loose it for evening drinks for a quick ‘day to night’ transition. We recommend shopping for a Knitted Sweater in either Navy or Grey for easy wear-ability.

Colourful Socks

Sometimes work isn’t always fun, but that doesn’t mean your workwear can’t be. Play around with colour in a subtle way with a pair of bright and colourful socks. Elvis was a big fan of flashing a little ankle and nothing breaks up that trouser/shoe area more stylishly than a flash of a colourful sock.

Fun socks for men aren’t such a faux pas anymore, many male designers and high-street brands design socks in a fun colour palette for the fashion-forward business man who dares to bare.

The Timeless Blazer

A well-fitted, tailored Blazer will always remain a man’s best friend. A timeless blazer is the easy-wear, essential that most men tend to ignore or forget about. Nobody wore a timeless Blazer quite like Cary Grant – his contrasting blazers in the movies, helped build his charismatic character and delivered maturity in every role.

Today top male, style icons like David Ghandy, pit the Blazer as their most-worn piece. Pair a blazer with jeans or slim fit trousers to bring a sophisticated edge to low-cost pieces. We recommend Navy or Tweed.

The Functional ‘Man Bag’

Okay, the ‘man bag’ has been the butt of many a joke but a Gentleman’s work bag doesn’t have to play up to the fads. There are plenty of men’s bags that are both practical and stylish without compromising on your masculinity.

The messenger bag and satchel are both popular styles of men’s bags which have been worn by David Beckham, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig. We favour the timeless leather Satchel, it’s ideal for keeping your paper-work neat and just gets more stylish with age. Choose a style in Oxblood or Brown for bonus style points!

A Slim Trouser

Every man has been guilty of wearing a pair of trousers which are ill-fitting and majorly uncomfortable. Invest in a decent pair of Slim Trousers to style up with a range of alternate pieces and make the most of your work-wear wardrobe. A tailored, slim-trouser will elongate the leg for a flattering fit on most men.

Worn by The Beatles, the slim-trouser is now a favourite of modern musicians like Alex Turner and Miles Kane. Team with a button-down shirt, t-shirt, sweater, bomber jacket….the possibilities are endless.

Wayfarers Sunglasses

Recognised as the best-selling sunglasses of all time, the Ray-Ban Wayfarers are a classic design which have that unprecedented ability to perfect any work-wear ensemble. Carry these retro sunglasses with you or leave them in your car for a vintage update when he Sun finally does appear.

Muhammad Ali wears the best-selling Men’s Sunglasses of all time, Ray-Ban ‘Wayfarers’

A Pair of Leather Brogues

Leather Brogues are the ultimate investment shoe for the busy, business man. The lace-up men’s brogue has been a classic feature on every influential gentleman and continues to make a statement on the modern man.

Second to a Tuxedo, the Rat Pack were known to be big fans of a polished Brogue and Frank Sinatra has even inspired contemporary, men’s shoe designers with his iconic footwear choices now worn by Brad Pitt, Eddie Redmayne & Idris Elba. If you’re hoping to buy a brogue, go for Black or Brown and match your belt to pull together your entire ensemble.

We hope our article ‘10 Classic Workwear Staples every Man needs – Inspired by Icons’ has helped you re-consider your workwear wardrobe and refresh your tired, old tailoring.

If you need more advice on men’s fashion or inspiration when buying men’s clothing, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram and leave us a little feedback on your most worn men’s fashion piece.