Trousers
Every man should own a good pair of jeans. Dark preferably. There are a couple rules to denim that I live by and so should you. If the brand is from Japan you can almost guarantee it will be quality made denim. Go in store, try them on and feel the denim. The rougher the better. They will break-in over time and last for years. Not too baggy, not too tight. Again, everyone is different. How they look on your favourite actor, is not exactly how it will look on you. Lastly, no design on the buttocks. We are gentlemen here, not a cast member on the Jersey Shore. While ripped or graphic design jeans are still considered jeans, they are not quite the pair of pants I am referring to. As I mentioned above, every man should own a good pair of jeans and to go with the theme of this website, I highly value a capsule wardrobe. If you are able to find a good pair of jeans that will last years and be robust enough to wear with a multitude of items, you have nailed it.
In contrary to the iconic denim trouser, would be the intensely historic pleated pant. Fellas let me let you in on a little secret: this style is back like it never left! Well, essentially, that’s because it never did. I am not sure what it was about the early 2000s but people lost their minds. Clothes got baggy, waistlines got lower, puka shells were a thing and Abercrombie & Fitch was all the rage. The pleated pants have been battled and tested through many generations. Their origins are hard to trace back. The pleated style was first noticed over 2,000 years ago in India. Then fast forward to 1914, they were seen as a common look for the military men of Nepal, which were nicknamed the Gurkha trouser. In parallel to that, some say the french designer, Lara Larsen was the orchestrator behind the pleat, and others say 1930s western culture promoted it as their own. Anyway, who ever made it what it is today, I think you get a good understanding about the rich history of these trousers. Which only cements them as a staple of a capsule wardrobe.
Some good ways to wear them, could be with a good tuck of your t-shirt, oxford or polo. Which could elegantly paired with a workman jacket, sport coat, zip jacket - you name it. Or for those who want to pursue a more casual look, untuck your t-shirt or polo and have it gently lie on your waist. There can be different variations of course. Linen, cotton, flannel and wool. In a perfect world, get them all.
Some brands to check out on the pleated front: Informale, J.Mueser and Rubinacci. Ask Steve at Informale, tell him Nick sent you.
Jeans can be a little tricker, because it all comes down the feel. Alexander Kraft is coming out with a unique pair of quality jeans. Clutch Cafe in London has a great collection of Japanese denim. Lastly, for those who want to discover something new. Brands such as, Orslow, The Workers Club and Edwin I have grown to like as well.