The Measure

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If You Liked This, Try This

The start of a new year is a prime opportunity to address those aspects of our lives that need a little freshening up—wardrobes included. To make the process as painless as possible, it’s helpful to think of what you enjoyed wearing the previous year and how that may guide your new choices in the year to come. In summary: if you liked this, try this.

If you like navy suits, try a mid-navy suit.
The navy suit is the indispensable suit—until you have one in your closet, we wouldn’t recommend anything else. But once you’ve checked that box, you might be ready to try something that’s a bit less versatile but a lot more fun. Consider the mid-navy suit: its brighter hue makes it less of a match for formal or somber occasions, but suits it well to weddings, social outings, and separate wear with a pair of light-colored chinos.

If you like grey suits, try a grey windowpane suit.
Next to navy, grey is the other foundational suit color. It’s every bit as versatie, but slightly more serious. If you already have a solid-grey suit in your closet and wish to double-dip on the color, look for a subtly textured suit like a grey windowpane. The soberness of grey gives it a serious tone, even as the windowpane pattern lightens it up and adds extra visual interest. 

If you like khaki chinos, try khaki wool trousers.
From button-down shirts to blazers, a pair of khaki cotton chinos can pair with almost anything. If you’d like to reserve the same level of versatility—but add a dressier touch—consider picking up a pair of wool twill trousers in that same goes-with-everything khaki hue.

If you like solid-colored shirts, try dobby-weave shirts
A solid-colored shirt is always a safe bet. Aside from appearing more formal and at home in professional environments, solid-colored shirts can be counted on to match with even patterned suits and ties. For those reasons, we can understand why you want to stick to a solid color for your shirting, but know that you can inject a bit of pattern without altering its solid hue. That’s the advantage of dobby weave shirts, which feature small-scale geometric patterns and a raised, textural hand, all while sticking to the solid-colored script. 

If you like flannel shirts, try brushed cotton shirts
Flannel shirts are a dependable, hard-working staple for the fall and winter months; we understand the urge to stockpile them well. But if you’d like to add some diversity to that cold-weather stash, consider opting for a brushed cotton shirt. Thanks to the raised fibers created by the brushing process, a brushed cotton shirt will feel soft to the touch and more effectively trap heat for greater insulation.