Whether you’re a seasoned fashion vet or a fresh-faced menswear noob, basics are the foundation of every great wardrobe. Sure, it’s incumbent on the best clothing brands for men to push the envelope to new limits, but before you get there, you need to start from square one. Even GQ editors had to master the fundamentals, and even Tyler, the Creator has a go-to plain white tee.
A crisp Oxford shirt; the perfect bodega-run sweatshirt; a roomy pair of chinos—these are the mitochondria of your wardrobe’s cells, if you will, the powerhouses that keep your style stable from season to season, year after year. But just because a white T-shirt boasts designer origins doesn’t mean it’s worth the money. So we gathered the best men’s clothing brands to stock up on right now, 21 labels that consistently deliver unbeatable value, craftsmanship, and versatility—along with a handful of other tried-and-true men’s fashion brands to help you on your journey.
The Not-So-Basic Wardrobe Basics Every Guy Should Own
- The Cropped Workwear Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch Cropped Zipped Workwear Jacket, $150
- The Upgrade Tee: CDLP Midweight T-Shirt, $98
- The Versatile Button-Up: Alex Mill Striped Poplin Mill Shirt, $165
- The Slightly-Looser Levi’s: 555 Relaxed Straight Jeans, $98
- The Summer-Weight Knit: Beams Plus Mohair-Blend Sweater, $485
- The Comfiest Nike Sweats: Nike Club Knit Joggers, $55
- The Do-Anything Shorts: Patagonia Baggies Shorts, $65
- The Fun Socks (That Aren’t “Fun Socks”): Uniqlo Colorful 50 Socks, $5
- The Leveled-Up Zipped Sweater: Lady White Co. Mesh Full Zip, $250
- The Unstructured Linen Suit Jacket: J.Crew Ludlow Jacket in Irish Cotton-Linen, $298
In This Shopping Guide
The One-Stop-Shops
J.Crew
J.Crew is well past its early-2010s heyday of Italian blazers, selvedge jeans, and loafers, but under the direction of streetwear royalty Brendon Babenzien it remains the best place to find quintessential preppy staples at prices that belie the quality involved. The brand still makes some great suiting. which can get you by at the office (or even nab you a promotion), but its east coast history means you can also sink into some sumptuous cable knit sweaters and Madras button-ups. And don’t forget to check out their in-house workwear-inspired label, Wallace & Barnes, which could easily pass as true vintage grails.
L.L.Bean
Dads love a deal, and dads love L.L.Bean. That affection is largely due to the unbeatable value proposition the brand offers on the build-blocks gear your old man wears on the daily. Be more like your dad. You might know them for their famed Bean boot. Good! But you should also know them for their top-tier flannel shirts, surprisingly sturdy denim, and classically gorp-y outdoor gear.
Abercrombie & Fitch
There’s something of a formula to how Abercrombie has been getting its basics so right: classic staples are imbued with a bit of volume and a dash of archive inspiration, and everything clocks in at prices that won’t make you blanche. These days, Abercrombie’s clothes feel nostalgically like how mall brand clothes used to feel—substantial and well-made, yet easy to wear from day one. This all adds up to mean that you can easily turn to Abercrombie and Fitch to build the foundation of your whole wardrobe, or just use certain pieces as spackle to cover up some of your existing closet gaps.
Levi’s
Levi’s makes a whole lot of clothes that the opposite of basic—think: pearl-snap Western shirts—but, c’mon, no one makes more consistent jeans and denim jackets. And just because it invented the 501, that doesn’t mean it isn’t constantly updating its line to make the perfect basics for this decade—from slightly more relaxed jeans to runway-ready denim jackets. It even has a fancier sibling, Levi’s Vintage Clothing, where the brand gleefully revives entirely faithful riffs on its archive grails.
Todd Snyder
Todd Snyder’s basics are so sophisticated, even his weekend clothes and Champion sweats are nice enough to wear to dinner. And that’s only the beginning. The designer darling of the menswear world has an unrivaled CV which includes stints at Ralph Lauren and J.Crew. What does that mean? It means he’s mastered the modern dude’s wardrobe from head to toe. Think impeccable suiting, boss-level coats, and Japanese denim, not to mention an all-star roster of collaborators including Paraboot, Private White V.C., Moscot, Timex, and more.
Uniqlo
Come for the Christophe Lemaire-designed pants or the ridiculously warm puffers, but don’t leave without a stack of ribbed socks and soft cotton boxers—a.k.a. the real prize of shopping at Uniqlo. Uniqlo offers some of the most style for your buck, which is why it’s a regular among our Best Stuff articles. Its button-ups are well-crafted, the raw denim jeans are consistently some of the best for the price (good luck finding a pair before they sell out), and you can always bet on a sick collaboration every season.
The Elevated Underpinnings
Calvin Klein
It pays to invest in your underwear. You don’t need to spring for the highest-end luxury undies, there are options that are a great value. The best among them has to be Calvin Klein who revolutionized men’s underwear with his perfectly-fitting boxer briefs and trunks, not to mention his iconic ad campaigns. His boxer briefs have been among our favorites for years, but don’t sleep on his undershirts, either.
CDLP
Reigning from Sweden, CDLP makes some of the finest underwear and daily basics we’ve ever tested. It all comes down to the fit and fabric choices, which are at once both luxurious to the touch and built for the long haul.
Everybody.World
If you love fresh-outta-the-box tees but want to indulge consciously, Everybody.World makes deeply excellent T-shirts using 100% recycled fabrics and ethical labor practices.
Merz B. Schwanen
If you’ve paid any attention to television, you’ve no doubt heard of Merz B. Schwanen because of The Bear. The German label has been known by the menswear illuminati for next-level T-shirts and sweatshirts which are knit on ultra rare loopwheel knitting machines. On top of that, the label has expanded into a full-fledged menswear brand that’s full of closet staples that are as good as its tees.
Skims
Unfortunately, the Kim K underwear brand is good. And not just good, but so good that its boxer briefs usurped our long-time favorite undies in a stunning upset. So do yourself a favor and upgrade your underwear drawer and add a couple of tees while you’re at it.
The Workday Workhorses
Alex Mill
Alex Mill From boxy striped tees to drawstring chinos to rumpled oxford shirts, everything at Alex Mill has a relaxed ease that’s built for 2024. You’ll feel less stressed upon contact. Alex Mill’s overall aesthetic leans preppy but has a clear love for hardwearing vintage staples like beefy flannel shirts and tough chore coats.
Banana Republic
With the Bananassaince in full swing, there’s never been a better time to load up on BR’s rustic, archive-indebted hits. Stuff your cart with plush cashmere knits, slinky trousers, and luscious suede jackets. (The jeans are a standout, too.)
COS
There are basics you want to lay on the couch in, and then there’s the stuff from COS. In its modern, sophisticated clothes, you’ll be motivated to do way more than binge bad TV.
Madewell
The latest phoenix to emerge from the ashes of your local mall? Madewell, which recently appointed Luke Linder, an ex-Gap honcho, to revamp its menswear, with a little help from design whiz Aaron Levine, formerly of Club Monaco and Abercrombie, and erstwhile GQ deputy fashion director Jon Tietz. The silhouettes are spot-on, the styling is perfectly executed, and the whole overhaul has us buzzing about what the brand will do next.
Taylor Stitch
Plenty of brands claim to make hardy menswear designed to “take a beating”. Taylor Stitch actually delivers on the promise, turning out beefy flannels, stellar chore jackets, and dialed-in riffs on classic Americana with just the right amount of rough-around-the-edges appeal.
The Weekend Warriors
Nike
Nike needs no introduction. The biggest clothing company in the world made its name putting athletics first, but the brand’s impact in the clothing arena extends far beyond its reputation for record-breaking performance gear. From comfortable tees to plush sneakers and simple sweats, there’s a reason the streets on your city are lined with swooshes: Nike is affordable, comfortable, and—don’t deny it—makes everyone feel like a bit more of an athlete when they wear it. These are the basics to grab, though you might own them already.
Champion
Champion got it very right when it invented its durable, and shrink-proof, reverse weave fabric in the ‘30s. The brand has been putting out some of the best hoodies that we’ve been wearing since high school and don’t intend to stop now.
Lady White Co.
A GQ staffer favorite, Lady White Co.’s tees are made in LA from high-quality ring-spun cotton and come in strangely-hard-to-find colors like sand and rose. FWIW, the sweats and socks also kill.
Reigning Champ
The Canadian label makes one of our favorite heavy-duty hoodies of all time, but all of their sweats are worthy of your time—whether you’re spending it in the gym, on the couch, or anywhere between. With top-shelf fabric, god-tier construction, and impeccable fits, few other brands take loungewear as seriously as Reigning Champ does.
Russell Athletic
You can’t put together a list of the best basics without Russell Athletic, the literal inventor of the sweatshirt. Its crewnecks and hoodies are as popular—and comfy!—today as they were a century ago.
The Reliable Upgrades
Another Aspect
Another Aspect is a Copenhagen-based menswear brand that makes thoughtfully-designed goods with a minimalist bent. From their merino wool knits to their selvedge denim to their organic cotton sweats, the cheerful Danes brand takes special care to imbue their wares with plenty of timeless appeal.
Buck Mason
Los Angeles brand Buck Mason made our best white T-shirts, best black T-shirts, and Best Colorful T-Shirts lists. There’s a cut, weight, and price point trifecta happening here that is simply magic—and ever since the label expanded its remit to include a full line of menswear, its tees might be the least exciting thing it has going on.
Knickerbocker
Premium fabrics and grade-A construction are standard at Knickerbocker, which trades in classic designs inspired by vintage workwear. Don’t miss their impeccable knits and camp shirts.
Sid Mashburn
Sid Mashburn’s been a beacon of casual American tailoring that few labels even come close to touching. From high-quality button-ups to impeccable suits and blazers, Mashburn’s the place to get your dressier staples locked down.
Beams Plus
Think of Beams Plus as a next-level J.Crew. It’s replete with preppy classics at a solid price point and even better quality. But it’s also a great bridge to more advanced fashion with its offbeat renditions on Americana classics and wild collaborations.
