Image via Complex Original
Style isn't just about the clothes. It's about consistency. You can buy every single hyped item out there, or have every garment expertly tailored to fit your body, and you'd still only be halfway there. The tools of the trade aren't just pants, shirts, jackets, and shoes. Here are 21 Non-Clothing Items Every Stylish Guy Should Own.
RELATED: 10 Uncomfortable Truths About Style
RELATED: 50 Life Hacks That Will Make You More Stylish
LIKE COMPLEX STYLE ON FACEBOOK
21. Books
You can't just read the Internet all the time. Nor can you just look at catalogs and a dog-eared copy of Fuck Yeah Menswear or Take Ivy either. Find actual authors and read their work. After all, it was John Waters who advised: "If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't fuck 'em! Don’t sleep with people who don’t read!"
20. Tape Measure
No, not the one you would find at a construction site. Although, vintage-style metal tape measures like the one pictured above are easily found on eBay and Etsy, you can't go wrong with a flat tape measure you can find just about anywhere. Use this to measure yourself and your clothes to find out what fits and also what to tell the tailor.
19. iPhone
Sorry Android users, the iPhone is just more stylish than its contemporaries. You just can't deny that. It's also got excellent selfie capabilities and the best looking cases on the market. You see Supreme and Kenzo making Android cases? Yeah... didn't think so.
18. Sewing Kit
If you lose a button or need to fix a small tear, don't waste your money taking it to a tailor. Do it your damn self. Get one of these army-inspired sewing kits and McGyver your way into a new button.
17. Flask
This is one of those things that's good to have on hand when it's especially chilly, but extremely problematic if you can't leave home without it. Ideal situations for flasks: gameday, nights out in the winter (save yourself some bar money and offer a lady friend some nips between clubs), and special occasions like weddings with a cash bar. Not ideal for: funerals, work, babysitting.
16. Nice Pen
You're a man now. Stop using that Bic you stole from the bank. A well-designed fountain pen like the Kaweco Sport is one of those luxury items you have that reminds you "holy shit, I'm an adult!" You will find reasons to write with it, whether it's thank you notes or thoughtful cards to family members on birthdays and holidays. Plus, you'll finally have a reason to practice all the cursive you all but forgot once texting replaced letters.
15. Bicycle
Even if it only gets ridden a few times a week, a lesiurely bicycle is a stylish item that can make you look awesome without the hipster connotations. They key is to have a nice frame in a subtle colorway with leather accents like a Brooks saddle or a basket in the back for groceries (like beer). You'll also want to have brakes, and consider single speed instead of fixed gear. If you're a hardcore cyclist, by all means have your other other ride ready for the Tour De Blood Dope, but have a trusty steed ready for things like biking to a cafe or just a simple afternoon ride in jeans and a blazer.
14. Notebook
Not everyone is a poet, and we actually think far, far fewer people should be. But you don't carry around a notebook for your illest limericks and sestinas. It's just perfect for jotting down the pragmatic like grocery lists and online passwords, to the idealistic like rap lyrics you'd never tweet and all of the questions you would ask Kanye West about style. Did we mention it also leaves a totally sick back pocket jean fade?
13. Steamer
When you're traveling, you might not always have time to iron your stuff. A garment steamer works just as well, so when it comes time to get your suit crisp before that big meeting, or refresh a buttondown before going out, one of these will have your gear looking great in no time.
12. Lighter
You don't have to smoke to own a Zippo. The classic flip-top lighter is simply badass on its own. Whether lighting up for a lady friend or just practicing your Zippo tricks, this little silver tool can come in handy.
11. Shoe Horn
Don't deterioriate the backs of your shoes by slipping in your heel and stomping them on like a heathen. A leather shoe horn will set you back less than $30 and make you feel like more of a gentleman than you really are. Trust us.
10. Seam Ripper
An absolute must for the modern logophobe. Don't wear a polo shirt because of the logo on the pocket? Seam rip it off. Like the pattern on a five-panel but can't stand the front tag? Boom. Seam ripper. Love the fit of a pair of jeans but can't stand the back pockets? You get the picture.
9. Wooden Hangers
Don't hang your good clothes on crappy plastic or wire hangers. The shoulders can get all misshapen from thin, wiry hangers and plastic hangers can stretch out and lose their shape. Upgrade to wood. Your wardrobe will thank you.
8. Umbrella
Not enough cash to hire your own Farnsworth Bentley? Looks like you'll have to stand under your own umbrella. A compact one in a dark color or subtle pattern like blackwatch plaid or even camo is classic enough and easily stowable in the average backpack or bag. Keep one handy when the forecast calls for rain, and actually, keep one in the office too--for emergencies.
7. Shoe Trees
If you've dropped some serious dough on shoes, you're gonna want to protect your investment. Shoe trees prolong the life of your hard bottoms, and they also help make them smell better by absorbing odor and moisture. You should have a pair for well, every pair.
6. Nike Fuelband
Most people that have one of these will agree: it's essentially the calculator watch of our generation. A mixture of watch, athletic signifier, and hyped item, the Nike FuelBand struck a chord with people who actually use it to track workouts and folks who just liked it because of its initial scarcity. One thing's for sure: they've definitely overtaken the once-ubiquitous LIVESTRONG bracelet, and without any role models with skeletons in the closet carrying the FuelBand's flag, it's hard to see this product's fall from grace anytime soon.
5. Whiskey Tumblers
Throw away those red cups. You're too old for beer pong, and a proper drink deserves a proper glass--so no novelty Star Wars glasses or pints that you drink OJ out of, either. Whether entertaining guests or enjoying a solitary nightcap after a long day at work, drowning your sorrows in a whiskey tumbler is often more relaxing than living vicariously through tumblr.
4. Ironing Board/Iron
You should have learned how to do this in college... at the latest. If you have a steady job that requires you to look halfway presentable, that means ironing your shirts and pressing your pants. It's not that hard!
3. Stationery
Saying something personal goes the extra mile when it's literally personalized. Whether you choose to get monograms or one of those "from the desk of..." joints, proper stationery makes a statement to people who receive it, and that statement is "the person who sent this to you gives enough of a shit to kill a little bit of a tree for you." In an eco-friendly world steadily going green, that means a lot more than an e-mail or Facebook message.
2. Lint Roller
Whether you have a pet or just find yourself in a dusty room, chances are a lint roller will come in handy at least once a day. If you wear dark colors and wool suits a lot, you'll definitely want to not only have one at home, but have a few travel-sized lint rollers on hand. These things will save your style on many occasions. You can also use them to clean out backpacks and messenger bags every once in a while. Just flip the bag inside out and go to work.
1. Gym Membership
What good is having nice clothes if you're not putting them in the best frame? True, not every guy has a six pack and the muscles of the average member of The Expendables, but you'd be surprised at what regular exercise can do for your style. It promotes better posture, tightens muscles, and in general just makes sure you can keep rocking all that slim-fit gear without fear of having male muffin top. And like having good style, it makes you more confident. What's the harm in that?
