My Top Clothing Brands for Men as a Pro Stylist
As a personal stylist for men, one of the questions I get asked all the time is: "What’s the best place to buy clothes?"
And most guys are disappointed when I tell them the truth: There isn’t one. There is no magical store or brand that solves everything.
Why?
Because the right place to shop depends on your body type, your proportions, your personal style, your lifestyle, and your budget. What works incredibly well for one guy can look completely wrong on the next.
That’s also why, when we work with clients inside our virtual and in-person styling packages, everything is done 1-on-1 and tailored specifically to them.
That said, it still helps to know a few strong starting points. So instead of telling you what’s universally "good" or "bad," I’ll tell you where I personally like to shop and why. I’ve been fortunate enough to be doing this for over a decade, so I've had the chance to try a lot of brands along the way, so you don't have to.
And to be clear, this is not a complete list, and not every brand here is right for every man. But if you want a few solid places to begin, these are some of the brands I personally like.
Here are a few that I think are worth knowing:
For basics, these are solid starting points for things typically made from cotton, like tees, polos, simple knitwear, and foundational wardrobe pieces.
COS: clean, modern, elevated basics. The construction and fabric here is great.
Uniqlo: affordable essentials like tees, polos, jeans, and underwear. The quality for the price is insane.
Asket: strong wardrobe staples with a simple, understated feel. Great if minimalism is your vibe.
Sunspel: premium basics with a more refined edge. James Bond wears Sunspel. You should too.
For knitwear, when you want pieces typically made from wool with a little more richness, texture, and refinement.
John Smedley: excellent knitwear. The go-to name.
Quince: Great pricing on cashmere and super good quality.
Drake’s: Beautiful texture, character, and personality
Ghiaia Cashmere: luxurious knitwear with an elevated Italian flair
Filippo De Laurentiis: strong modern knitwear with an Italian vibe
For elevated casual and business casual, which is a category a lot of men live in. Think polished, versatile clothing that works for dinners, dates, meetings, etc.
Reiss: sleek, tailored, modern. I get a lot from here.
Pini Parma: elegant menswear with a classic Italian feel. Great fabrics.
Todd Snyder: stylish, masculine, and easy to wear. Almost anyone can find something here.
Suitsupply: solid value, especially for tailored clothing like suits and dress shirts, but I like their knitwear too.
Officine Générale: understated and tasteful with a more fashion edge
Massimo Dutti: clean, versatile pieces that punch above their price point
For shoes, here are a few brands worth looking at...
Koio: sleek minimal sneakers
Meermin: excellent price for dress shoes and boots
Morjas: A go to for almost every type of shoe
Allen Edmonds: classic American dress shoes. Buy once and you're good.
Bruno Magli: More polished, dressier options in Italian flair
The key, though, is this: Don’t shop based on brand alone.
Shop based on whether the piece actually works for your body, your coloring, your lifestyle, and the image you want to project. That's why when I'm working with a client, we always focus on strategy first, and only then do we figure out what brands will work for him and start shopping.
That’s where most men go wrong. They buy from "good brands" and assume that means they’re well dressed. It doesn’t.
The right item on the right man will always beat the wrong item from the "right" brand.
If you want help figuring out which brands, cuts, and pieces are actually right for you, reply to this email with the word STYLE, and we’ll point you in the right direction.
And if you want to explore what working together looks like, you can explore our personal styling packages here, or book a call with me here, and I'll see if I can help you.
Hope that helps.
x Patrick
