What you need in your closet

Gentlemen, it doesn't really matter how suave you are, whether you talk a good game or have an attractive bank account. Women, people, the world will look at you with a side eye if you don't know how to dress. Fact.

It can be argued that traditionally, the modern man doesn't need to dress to impress. OK strike that, we aren't even going to bother to argue that point. No matter where you come from, what your occupation is and who you are, if you don't care how you present yourself, then the world won't care about you. It sounds harsh, we know, but the wise words of Tom Ford come to mind when he so boldly proclaimed, 'dressing well is a form of good manners.'

Just to be clear, we don't take those words lightly not only because they are true but because Tom Ford is no ordinary man. Designer, film director, screenwriter, and film producer, he's a man of refined taste with universal appeal, so his advice is worth taking.

Now we don't expect any of you to be the next Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Lucky Blue or even Drake. Neither do we expect you to all dress exactly the same in order to conform to some idea of what being stylish means. Fashion and style is malleable and you should  always adopt trends and looks to match your personality.

With that in mind, we've listed 10 essential items that every man, no matter what his preferred style is, should have in his closet. Think of these items as the bread and butter of your style. Ready for men's fashion 101? Let's go!

Sun Glasses
Every man should have a classic pair of sunglasses from a timeless and reliable brand. Not twenty, just one. Whether classic aviators, browlines or retro squares best suit your face make sure they aren't too on trend. If you really fancy reflective lenses or coloured frames, make sure they are a cheap brand and spend the money on something classic and timeless.

Cologne
This is probably one of the most important, vital items you will ever own. It's what people will comment on when they first meet you and remember you for when you leave the room. Your scent should say more about you then the fact that you take regular showers. Whether zesty, fruity, fresh, luxurious or powerful, the right cologne for you should never be overpowering but should be unique not only to your personality but to your skin. Believe it or not, when it comes to owning a signature bottle of cologne this is where you should spend.

Suit Jacket
Navy or grey. Or both. It's not a hard choice. Make sure you own a suit jacket with thin shoulder pads or none at all so that it doesn't feel like your heading to a court room to defend your honour when you're going to brunch with friends. Nave and grey are versatile and whether you have the sleeves up or down, whether your wearing a collard shirt or a shirt, sneakers or dress shoes you your whole vibe can totally change!

White Collard Shirt
It is the most stylish, classic and timeless item in the universe. A clean, crisp, white shirt is something every man should have in his closet. It's in essential and incredibly versatile. The key is fit. Make sure it's not too baggy or too tight, make sure the collars are thick and substantial - we recommend either an abbreviated spread collar or a forward point collar.

Wrist Watch
Watches, especially in Dubai are all the range. No one is expecting you spend thousands on a Tag Huer or a Zenith, but ever man should have one watch that you can wear both casually or for a night out. This could have a leather or bracelet strap, be a bit subtle or more eye catching as long as it matches who you are and isn't out of sync with the rest of your outfit.

Brown Belt
Although it might seem practical to own a black belt, it makes much more sense to invest in a brown one. Black belts are more for formal occasion and in fact can look a bit weird during the day. Hence why owning a matt or semi glossy brown belt makes more sense as you can dress it up or down. 

Man Bag
The modern man has a lot of things. Yup, it's true. A phone, a wallet, a book (modern men read didn't you know?) a water bottle, his protein bar, sunglasses etc despite what we believe (and how fun the challenge might seem) we can't fit everything in our pockets. It's simple, buy a bag. Whether leather or canvas, a briefcase or backpack, make sure there are lots of little pockets inside and that it will last the test of falling down a long flight of stairs.

Dark Denim Jeans
Denim is life. A good pair of jeans can be like man's best friend. We aren't kidding. There are two things to consider when purchasing a really good pair of denim. The first is fit. Make sure the fit is right for your body type and that it's also classic (don't buy flares - please!). The next is colour. Dark denim is classic, longer lasting and can be worn with anything. If you want your jeans to be a bit different, don't under any circumstances purchase a pair filled with rips, but look at other more subtle details like stitching.

Socks
This seems like common sense to us but, unless your hitting the gym, DON'T under any circumstances wear white socks EVER. Make sure you a nice range of subtle colours to suit the type of job you have and always invest in a few pairs that are bright in colour or have an interesting pattern that tell people something about your personality.

Brown Leather Shoes
Whether they are from the oxford family, brogue family, derby family, monk family or even some kinds of loafers, never for a minute think that brown leather shoes means one thing. Do your research on exactly which of these style would best suit you and your lifestyle an din vest (key word here) on a good brand where the leather will age gracefully.