There are some things every man should have in his arsenal. The essentials of style, nay the building blocks – the foundations upon which style must be built. Often they are the key to a well-put-together outfit, even though you don’t really see them. They are the hidden touches, the details in the shadows that give that nondescript pop that makes a man stand out. Here we break down these critical items, why they’re so important, and how to use them to get the most out of your own personal expression.

• The Classic Plain V-Neck: This is perhaps the most versatile and useful article of clothing a man can own. The plain cotton v-neck (we recommend having at least a few in white, black, and gray) can be used as a comfortable night shirt, or slapped on with a pair of jeans for a great casual yet stylish look. Furthermore, the v-neck makes for an excellent undershirt to a button down shirt any time one is necessary. The v-neck looks far more relaxed as an undershirt than a regular crew-neck because it is less prominent as an undershirt should be.

• Trunks: Underwear style is of course a personal choice but really it doesn’t get any better than a good pair of Jockey trunks. Trunks are the perfect middle ground between roomy boxers and form fitting briefs. Many men  make the mistake of going for boxer-briefs because this seems like the obvious choice given the name. Boxer-briefs though generally have longer “sleeves” which tend to bunch up when worn under form fitting pants. Trunks are shorter and hence the ideal choice.

• No Show Socks: The sock-less look has really come into style lately – it gives a touch of class as well as an air of nonchalance. However not actually wearing socks leaves you with two options – sweaty, stinky uncomfortable feet, or annoying powdered feet. No-show socks are made to solve this little dilemma – they have a very low rise, giving the sock-less look while still providing the full on sock comfort.