10 Clothing Items Every Man Should Own By His 30s

Image via Complex Original

As you get older, it's not that you need to remove sneakers from your wardrobe, it's just that they need to grow with you. You shouldn't discard your What the LeBrons or your Supreme Foams (do you have any idea what those are worth?!) but you should be phasing them out for simpler footwear as get older.

Not only are simple white sneakers a mainstay of any guys wardrobe, regardless of age; anyone can agree that if you're trying to pull off Jeremy Scott adidas' and you have a kid on the way—you're going to look ridiculous.

It's a simple formula, cop a pair of all whites—be it Common Projects Achilles or a pair of "coked out" Forces—and be on your way. Simple as that. No matter how much you spend on your sneakers, this is a style that will be well worth the investment.

Workplaces have changed in the past few years. Maybe 10 or 20 years ago, guys needed to wear a jacket to the office. Today, most workplaces don't have dress codes that are loose enough to allow a clean T-shirt and jeans. That's not a bad thing, but it means that most younger guys don't have a need for any kind of suiting or tailoring (beyond a pair of pants or a buttondown shirt).

Unstructured blazers aren't necessarily a formal piece of clothing, they're just a classic top layer that tightens an outfit. Sure, guys may not need a blazer in their younger years, but as guys get older, they'll be happy they have the pieces together when they figure out the true meaning behind “jacket required.”

We get it, more guys are wearing sneakers, more often. To be honest, that's a great thing when you consider how versatile a great pair of simple kicks are. But there's no sneaker that can replace the importance of an oxford shoe. Like any kind of tailoring, this may not be something that guys are reaching for on the regular, but this is the type of piece that “when you need it, you need it.”

A simple black or brown oxford is the metaphorical period to anything suiting related, and it's likely that if you find a pair that's comfortable and clean—you'll be reaching for them even when you're just hanging out with friends or going out on a date.

This will become one of your wardrobe's structural pillars (if it hasn't already). It's a piece that's as timeless as it's over 150-year history, and it's a piece that can be flipped to handle multiple situations. Need to tie together a t-shirt and jeans? Done. Need to dress down a shirt and tie? Done. To be honest, getting older is about doing more with less, and with functional quality built into the very concept of the jacket—you'll be getting more than another decade of use out of it. Make the most out of your clothing with pieces like denim jackets, and you're going to keep a lot more money in your wallet too.

It's the quintessential “dad jacket.” With a history in popular culture that stretches back to the Vietnam War (and a few decades before) the M-65 is one of the military's most recognizable and iconic contributions to the way guys get dressed. Ultimately just a utility jacket with a bunch of pockets, it's something that's going to be in rotation almost all year round. If you're copping one that's truly authentic, expect it to handle the autumn winds, the winter snow, and the spring showers. With a hidden hood designed in to the jacket collar (among other clever details), it's meant to be as streamlined as it is durable.

Without a doubt, guys live in their jeans. No matter how old you get, everyone has a solid, reliable pair of jeans that fit like a glove and are the de facto pant in their life. That said, it may be worth your while to cop a pair of quality chinos to balance out the rotation.

No, these won't be replacing your grail-level denim stockpile, but in life, it pays to dress it up every once in a while. While “dad style” implies that you buy a pair in khaki or navy, and then proceed to tuck every shirt in your wardrobe into them, that doesn't need to be the fate of your chinos. Considering that even a classic pair of skater-tested Dickie's dwell in this territory, there's plenty of ways to rock a pair of flat fronts without looking like your old man.

Remember when we were talking about modern guys' relationship with formalwear? It's less likely that dudes may need to suit up on a daily basis, but every guy should have a solid suit on hand. In practical terms, this means something constructed out of a light wool, and in color like charcoal grey, or navy blue.

Again, like many of the items on this list, you're not going to need them, until you need them. But the moment the situation arises, you're not going to want grab one last minute. Especially considering that the best suits usually involve some level of tailoring. Depending on what you're buying, expect to have pants brought up, arms lengthened, or any other number of tailoring work completed before you ever wear your suit out on the town. It's something that requires work from the moment that you try it on, but that's what makes it one of the strongest pieces in your entire closet.

Make the investment sooner rather than later, it'll pay for itself in time.

Snapbacks are an irreplaceable menswear staple. Let's get that out of the way right now. But there's something about the lightly structured sport cap (naturally worn with the curved brim, you savage). Yes, it's one of the pillars of “dad style.” But as the '90s become ever more relevant in contemporary fashion, it's a solid alternative to the stockpile of fitted hats and snapbacks that most guys have tucked away on a closet shelf. The best part, is that these caps look better with age.

Buy one, wear it forever.

It's not that we're suggesting you have a Rollie by the time you blow out the candles on your 30th birthday. But there's something clean and classic about a watch in steel or gold. Sure, by the time you've reached a certain age, you've picked up a timepiece or two, but for a mix of luxury and timeless simplicity a metallic watch is where it's at.

No shade to leather bands, they have their place too. But you'll be entering an era where you should be valuing quality over quantity , and while metal watches will likely run you more than a Timex with a leather strap, take solace that this is a watch you'll probably have until you hit your 40's (and you still don't need to spend a fortune on one either).

Most guys have a backpack, and that's a smart practical piece. Sure it's been in your position since you started high school, but there's a reason that you've kept it for so long. But as you age out of your school years and progress into adulthood, you might want to invest in a leather carryall.

Sure, it's going to serve the same purpose as that vinyl duffle or tote bag you have lying around, but having a leather bag is minor detail worth considering—especially when you're bringing it on job interviews. A backpack or tote will certainly carry your gear no problem, but there's something refined about a simple leather bag in brown or black. Realistically, you should aim to cop a bag that's able to hold all the gear you'd need for a weekend at your S.O.'s parent's house—but still small enough to not be over 75% empty if you were carry it to work.

No, don't throw out your backpack. But never underestimate the power of quality leather goods when you're putting together your kit.