The Best Men's Clothing Brands: A Buyer's Guide

Cut and fit, more than the logo

A well-fitting garment sits tidily on any build. Before looking at the logo, pay attention to the shoulders, sleeve length and garment length; these details make the final look.

The simplest fit test is this: the shoulder seam should land exactly on your shoulder bone, neither higher nor lower. A shirt sleeve should reach the wrist bone, and the hem should not pull out of your trousers when you raise your arms. Get those three right and the garment sits well.

Feel the fabric

Fine cotton, quality denim and well-draping wool mark the difference of a good brand. Good fabric breathes better, wrinkles less and lasts longer.

Crush the fabric in your fist and let go: if it springs back quickly and leaves no crease, the fibres are good. A thin shirt that light passes straight through usually has a low-density weave and loses its shape after a few washes.

At Rizemize, men’s brands are offered with a guarantee of authenticity and a range of sizes so your choice is more assured.

Shirts, trousers and jackets: what to check

On a shirt, the collar and yoke stitching matter most; the collar should stand firm without rippling. On trousers, check the rise and the crease line, and make sure they are comfortable when you sit. A few extra centimetres at the waistband leave room for a tailor.

For a jacket, two things decide it: the lapel should lie flat against the chest with no gap, and the buttoned front should not pull into an X-shaped crease. A clean lining and flat seams show the jacket was carefully made.

Build a base wardrobe

A few base pieces — a white tee, a navy shirt and tailored trousers — are the backbone of a men’s wardrobe. With just these you can build dozens of formal and casual combinations.

Add a pair of dark or black jeans, a thin knit, a cardigan and an unstructured blazer. Those eight to ten pieces cover most days of the year, and your next purchase simply completes that base instead of starting over.

Keep colours simple and coordinated

Navy, grey, black, white and beige are the colour spine of a men’s wardrobe and all combine with each other. One or two further colours, such as olive or brick, are enough to keep things from looking monotonous without making outfits harder to assemble.

A simple rule: keep shoes and belt in the same colour family, and never wear more than two patterns at once. Those two small rules are what move you from merely dressed to well dressed.

Buy smart, care properly

Instead of buying several cheap pieces each season, buy one good piece and keep it. Wash shirts and trousers cold and inside-out, hang jackets on a wide hanger, and rotate your shoes so each pair gets time to rest.

In the end, the best investment is a good tailor. Shortening trousers or taking a shirt in costs very little, yet it turns an ordinary garment into one that looks made for you.