If you鈥檙e not used to dressing up, then finding nice clothes can be intimidating and a听pain in the ass. But fear not:听we have you covered this holiday season. Here are some听solid pieces that can be used at the office, dinner parties, and social events听for years to come.
A Nice Blazer
Our Pick:听
A good blazer, while spendy, should always be your first choice if you want to spiff up. Wear it with jeans or slacks, leather shoes or hiking books, and you鈥檒l look more refined听immediately. 听is my favorite because of its stretch and the fact that it鈥檚 made from a blend of wool, rayon, and polyester鈥攁 combo that鈥檚 cozy on cold days.听
Pants That Actually Fit Right
Our Pick:听
听look like a classic pair of chinos鈥攑erfect for dinner parties. But just like the Relwen blazer,听they鈥檙e not stiff. Flint and Tinder used a little spandex in the mostly cotton build, which means they鈥檙e great on the bike if you commute to work. The slim cut is flattering, and the 365 comes in a ton of colors, so听you can coordinate perfectly.
A Belt with a Pop of Color
Our Pick:听
A Benjamin is a lot to pay for a belt, but there鈥檚 good reason with this one. Each is sourced from high-quality Colombian tanneries and then hand-cut, dyed, and stitched by Colombian artists. The leather will take on a beautiful patina over time, looks great with your new slacks, and will last a decade or more if you take care of it.
Simple, Stylish Boots
Our Pick:听
Traditional dress shoes look out of place anywhere except at formal events (and some offices).听Enter the . These kicks compliment your blazer and slacks听but also fit in at work, on a train through Europe, and听pretty much anywhere else. Like all Lems, they fold in half听so you can pack them easier, and they come with a wide toe box for extra comfort.
A Flannel That鈥檚 Not from a Thrift Store
Our Pick:听
Cut from听ultrasoft brushed-cotton flannel, 听is tailored nicely鈥攏ot too svelte听but never baggy鈥攁nd the plain color options are what you want under a blazer. Go for the plaid if you want a nice shirt you can wear untucked at work.听
A Grown-Up Travel Bag
Our Pick:听
If you鈥檙e traveling over the holidays and need to bring your laptop, ditch the backpack and use instead. It鈥檚 made from a rugged cotton twill that鈥檚 so densely constructed it鈥檚 nearly waterproof and totally bomber. You could have it听for the rest of your life if you treat it well.听I also love details like the sturdy saddle-grade bridle leather straps and brass zipper.
Sunglasses Fit for Any Activity
Our Pick:听
Regardless of whether John John Florence makes the Olympics, are a must-have听accessory. The gold lenses pop against the black frames, and you鈥檒l really stand out if you wear the removable eye cups. They also work damn well. Electric built the JJF12 with polarized lenses and听a scratch-resistant coating. We听love the听generous but sleek rubber grippers on the nose and temples, which prevent听slippage.
A Toasty Parka
Our Pick:听
You don鈥檛 have to look like the Michelin Man when you wear a puffy. 听has a smooth polyester听exterior, and the baffles are only visible when it鈥檚 unzipped. Askov Finlayson stuffed it with lots of recycled synthetic insulation, so it鈥檚 眉ber warm. It also has classic touches like a button front and snap pockets. Kudos to the company for tracking its carbon footprint and then doing something about it听by buying carbon offsets equal to more than 100 percent of its total emissions for the year, as well as contributing to climate-change organizations.听
A Weatherproof Shell for Layering
Our Pick:听
Thanks to a long,听svelte cut, the 听looks just as at home on the street as it does on the chairlift. I also dig the front pockets, which add a touch of flair, and the muted dark slate option that doesn鈥檛 scream听鈥淚 love to ski!鈥 Of course the jacket performs on the snow, too, with a three-layer Gore-Tex build and features like wrist gaiters and a mesh-lined goggles pocket.
A Little Something to Tie It All Together
Our Pick:听
Smelling good is the frosting on a nice outfit. And luckily we鈥檙e in an age when brands are producing creative, gender-neutral fragrances. 鈥攚ith notes of cardamom and ylang-ylang鈥攊s more subtle and way less headache-inducing than what you鈥檒l find听at the department store. (Another favorite brand is ,听out of Portland, Oregon, which also makes a whole list of smart and fun fragrances.)