A MESH TO KEEP WARM

The mesh designates all knitted pieces, as opposed to woven clothing (jackets, jeans, suits ...). We are talking in particular about sweaters and cardigans.

Again, these are pieces that you must necessarily have to spend the winter serenely. They'll keep you warm.

To find out the quality of a sweater or cardigan, you will need to look at its composition, which is always present on the label. Prefer natural materials, especially wool which keeps very warm and does not sweat, unlike synthetic materials.

Do not panic if polyester or other synthetic material has slipped into your sweater, it contributes to the maintenance of the piece and facilitates its maintenance. Just make sure that the proportion of synthetic does not exceed 30%.

Also, when you buy a sweater or cardigan, don't rely on the softness of the piece to control its quality. Indeed, many brands treat their materials with tons of softening products which damage it and will leave from the first wash.

For sweaters, there are more noble but also more expensive materials, such as cashmere or alpaca. Their advantage is that they are warmer and softer, but they last less time and are more difficult to maintain.

Regarding maintenance, you never put a mesh in the dryer! They must be dried flat, never on a hanger, at the risk of completely deforming the part.

HOW TO PROPERLY INTEGRATE A SWEATER OR CARDIGAN IN AN OUTFIT of Men fashion wear?

Regarding sweaters, we recommend to start favoring the round neck to the V neck, as for the t-shirt. The cervix should reach the collarbone.

You can very well wear it with a T-shirt underneath which protrudes slightly, or even on the skin. You can also associate it with a shirt, the collar should then be perfectly proportioned.

In addition to the sweaters, a good large knit cardigan will be very useful to face the winter. It can be worn on a T-shirt or a shirt, and even with a tie for a little more formalism. In this case, it must be worn closed.

Please note, as for suit jackets, you never button the last button.

WHERE TO FIND A GOOD MESH?

• Monoprix  : there are good basics (light cardigans, cashmere sweaters ...) at the entry level, solid and accessible.

• Six & Seven : unbeatable on light cardigans made of pure merino wool (warmer, softer and more robust wool), around 140 euros.

• Hircus : if you're looking for a good cashmere sweater, look no further. Hircus offers one of the best value for money on the market with high-end pure cashmere sweaters, between 150 and 200 euros.

• SNS Herning : we are entering the very high end with more expensive products (count around 270 euros for a large knitted cardigan), but very robust and which will last you several winters.

• Inis Meáin : an incredible heritage brand with traditional know-how. You will find robust, thick and authentic pieces.

• Inverallan : very high quality large knit cardigans at a price of 330 euros. An important investment but worth it!

THE SHIRT: AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE MALE WARDROBE

It is the very basis of the male wardrobe. It is one of the fundamentals to have and that is why it must be well chosen. Cut and material are the essential elements to take into account during the purchase.

Without going into all the details of a perfect shirt widely explained here, you will have to choose:

• A collar proportional to your face;

• Correct seams at the shoulders (which, again, must follow the natural break of yours);

• And above all a nice fall at the level of the back, once it is put on (avoid bloating with a balloon effect which gives the impression that you are hiding a parachute behind your back).

HOW TO WEAR A SHIRT WELL?

First, there are two main families: 

formal shirts and casual shirts.

The former are made to be worn with a suit. The fabrics mainly used are poplin, thread to thread or even twill. You also have to look at the shape of the collar: the stiffer and wider it is, the more difficult it will be to wear it casually.

These shirts are found more in a formal environment. When this is the case,  it is best to tuck them into the pants.

Conversely, casual shirts have a much more relaxed appearance because of their cut (often shorter and a little less fitted), but also of the materials used: oxford, chambray or even flannel.

It can be worn closed, tucked in or out of the pants, and even open on a T-shirt. In short, you are much more free to choose with a casual shirt. However, it will be inappropriate with a suit.

Last advice: prefer long-sleeved shirts to short-sleeved shirts , even if you want to roll up your sleeves if you are hot. They are much more modern and current.

WHICH BRANDS OF SHIRTS SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

I invite you to take a look at:

• Hast : very good value for money-style (especially for an entry-level brand), with a lot of choice of fabrics and cuts.

• Boggi : for less than 100 euros also, you will get a quality shirt in an Italian style with more flared collars.

• Suit Supply : their plus is to offer three different price ranges (the first two at less than 100 euros), always in an Italian style.

• Office Artist  : they offer rather formal all-purpose shirts - although they have just launched their first line of casual shirts - cut from fabrics that never disappoint.

• Abbie & Rose : also less than 100 euros, you have a large selection of very well cut casual shirts. Collars are more generous than most shirts of the kind that you will find on the market.

• Hartford : the prices are higher but so is the quality. It is a French brand that offers high-end materials, traditional finishes and original patterns, all in a relaxed style!

• Black Flag : beautiful shirts with tartan pattern cut in Japanese and Italian materials. Please note that the material may move a little after the first wash.

T-SHIRT: A BASIC ESSENTIAL ALL YEAR ROUND

As Alexandre - our head of collection - very well says, a well-cut T-shirt that fits you is not so easy to find, contrary to what you might think.

Here are some criteria to observe to know if it suits you or not:

• First, the shape of the collar. Prefer the round neck to the V neck, often a source of error. It should not tighten you at the neck, without being too indented.

• The seams at the sleeves should follow the natural break in your shoulders.

• Sleeve length should stop at the biceps. They should neither squeeze you nor be too loose.

• At the bust, it should be adjusted to the pectorals without molding your stomach.

HOW TO WEAR A T-SHIRT?

The advantage of a beautiful T-shirt, which suits you perfectly, is that you can wear it in any outfit, summer or winter.

Finally, as you can imagine, a beautiful T-shirt can also stand on its own (especially in summer when an extra layer would be too much).

It is therefore the first essential basic. Choose light tones that will fit easily with the other pieces of your outfit: a white, a beige, a mottled gray. It's already a very good start!

THE RIGHT BRANDS OF AFFORDABLE T-SHIRTS

• Uniqlo :  despite their fairly small collar, the quality is flawless. They will survive as long as the seasons of Friends !

• GAP :for Alex 2, this is the best offer. Three T-shirts for 20 €, with super cool plain or mottled models. They do not move in the wash.

• Monoprix : they offer very affordable prices thanks to their astronomical orders reducing their costs. Quality is at the rendezvous, both on cotton and linen tees. Only problem, the sizing is sometimes very approximate.

• Muji : Luca is a fan of it. The cuts are really great! Well, their site a little less.

And if you want to put a little more substantial budget in it:

• Alternative Apparel :  yes, you read that correctly, Alternative Apparel and not American Apparel (which I advise against because it is far too expensive for what it is). There is a lot of choice ... and a very nice vintage side.

• Velva Sheen : They are durable, strong, do not shrink in the wash and have no visible seams. In short, the best of the best. The price is high but they will last you for many years!

• APC . : They offer simple and screen-printed t-shirts from 65 euros. This represents a real cost, but the T-shirts are impeccable and the serigraphs hold up well in the wash.

BASIC MEN'S ESSENTIALS

When I started to be interested in clothes, before meeting Benoit, I must admit that I had big problems of consistency in my outfits. 

I was so obsessed with my quest for the strong piece that I forgot that my white V-neck t-shirt was not necessarily going to do the trick ... until I realized that I had no basis solid on which to build my style.

My guide is simply intended to give you concrete, not to say fundamental, bases and to help you avoid mistakes (which have cost me dearly over the past five years, ouch!).

Now it's up to you to play the game and test these brands to make up your own mind! They are not only given to be read, but really so that you can really progress and realize that there are good standards in terms of clothing.

What you are going to read is simply based on my experience: your feedback and impressions are welcome (your good plans too).

A MEN Fashion wear WARDROBE STARTS WITH GOOD BASICS

The advantage when wearing effective basics is to be well dressed, with the impression of ease and obviousness in your look .

On the other hand, it is the way of choosing your basics that will differentiate a boilerplate (even neglected) outfit from a simple but well thought outfit!

Having good basics is essential for everyone. First for those who decide to  start from scratch and redo their wardrobe , but not only!

In fact, a basic is a simple and well-cut piece, which everyone must have. These are the clothes that will accompany you for several years and that will serve you as a base before incorporating other pieces, more original, more personal, in short, strong pieces.

For example, the white (or gray heather) T-shirt is an essential basic, pillar of the male wardrobe 1. These are coins that you will use all your life (even if you have to buy them twenty times).

That's why choosing your basics is for everyone, not just beginners. Besides, taking a close look at the basics of your wardrobe is also taking an interest in your daily comfort! Live mornings without headaches.

So now that you are convinced of the benefits of basics, let's see together which are really essential and how to choose them. Even when it comes to standards, it's easy to get lost.

CHOOSE A QUALITY GARMENT

We often talk about checking the quality of a garment before buying it, and estimating its quality / price ratio.

However, this quality criterion is quite confusing, since several designs conflict. There are those for whom a quality garment is:

• Solid and functional,

• Beautiful and well cut.

In this article, we look at the relationship between these two criteria.

CHOOSE A QUALITY MEN AND WOMEN WEAR, WHEN YOU HAVE A VERY FUNCTIONAL AIM

Many readers discover BonneGueule when they have for several years had a purely functional approach to clothing.

"I dress to protect myself from the cold in winter and not be naked ."

Following this criterion, we would choose a garment only according to its technical characteristics:

• keep warm,

• raincoat,

• solid,

• comfortable,

• Lightweight.

Indeed, this is the best way to think about when planning a hike on the GR20.

A good product (based on these criteria) requires specific attention to the material and finish. For example, a T-shirt that is antiperspirant, non-irritating to the skin and that regulates heat well requires technical material. In the same way, for a raincoat to be perfectly waterproof, there is a real research and development work to be done on the seams (there are, for example, waterproof seams which are heat sealed).

This type of clothing is very easy to find at Decathlon, and they are rather inexpensive. However, these garments are generally aesthetically unsuccessful. And that's normal: it is not part of the list of criteria of customers and designers .

HOW TO DRESS WELL WITH STYLE AS A CRITERION

If we replace the "functional" criterion with the "aesthetic" criterion.

The well-cut shirt replaces the t-shirt won at the cognac marathon. The jacket and coat replace the old parka, which is too big. We drop the waterproof seams in favor of a breathtaking style.

So let's admit that we put all the functional criteria aside to focus on these aesthetic criteria:

• style,

• chopped off,

• design,

• easy to match.

Brands that focus only on these features succeed in producing inexpensive and successful designs. This is the case of Zara or H&M.

However, these garments are generally very poor in quality with regard to the materials used, the finishes or their solidity.

A “stylish” coat bought for less than € 50 in PAP has a good chance of not keeping you warm or protecting you from the rain. And after a season of heavy wear, it will have lost its shape and the pockets or lining may have torn.