Pieces That Are Worth Investing In
When you're building your 'adult' wardrobe, you'll come to learn there are a few items where spending a little extra money goes a long way.
Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned menswear veteran, knowing where to invest in your wardrobe is the best lifelong fashion hack.
As a man of modest stature, building a wardrobe on a reasonable budget has added difficulty because it's impossible to find quality clothes that are cut proportionally.
It's as if companies are intentionally not making clothes for shorter men. Think of it as a tailor tax, an added cost for the tailoring and the additional time it takes when you could have been wearing it off the rack.
Thankfully, Peter Manning has you covered with all of the basics as well as the investment pieces. You can rest assured you’re receiving a top tier product that's cut proportionally and ready to wear.
Here are the top investment pieces for your wardrobe:
The Leather Jacket
When you think of the word badass when it comes to menswear, what comes to mind? For me, it’s without a doubt a leather jacket!
The leather jacket is the personification of swagger, only outside of Broadway Joe Namath’s fur coat.
You’ll know that you’ve found a high quality leather jacket when it’s soft to the touch and uses minimal pieces of hide and stitching.
Most leather jackets that you can find for cheap are actually not made of leather, and it shows. After normal wear and tear, the 'fabric' will start to flake away.
Sizing is also difficult for guys like us. We often choose a smaller size because the sleeve length is better, but it ends up being too tight. On the other hand, when sizing up, everything feels too big and completely out of proportion. It’s a no win situation.
And while it is possible to alter a leather jacket, we don't recommended it, because it’s risky and can be expensive.
The lambskin leather jacket by Peter Manning is made from 100% full grain New Zealand lambskin and cut proportionally, to fit you right. It'll be the best-fitting leather jacket you've tried, I promise.
High Quality Denim
Denim pants hold an interesting role in a man’s wardrobe. They’re a highly used and a versatile garment, but most of us overlook investing in quality.
You’ll notice in poor quality jeans that the stitching is shoddy which can cause frayed edges. Additionally a fabric of lesser quality is thin and susceptible to visible defects, such as tears and puckering.
These jeans are made in collaboration with bandanny and are made in Italy, with soft, durable stretch fabric from famed Italian mill, Candiani. They are pre-washed to feel soft and broken-in, when you put them on for the first time, but will maintain their structural rigidity with wearing.
With two different fits (slim/skinny), 3 washes, and inseams from 26-29 inches, your jeans will take on a new life and be a stylish ninja.
Merino Wool Sweaters
Great for the office, home or home office, the merino wool sweater is a classic menswear staple, and not just for dressing up.
Merino wool is widely recognized as one of the more luxurious yet soft, breathable and comfortable fabrics to wear.
The main problem with low quality merino wool sweaters is that they pill too easily.
Sure you can use a fabric shaver but that will only go so far and by doing so, you end up removing fabric from the garment which will make it thinner, eventually wearing it out.
For shorter men, sweaters can be frustrating to fit when it comes to sleeve length, the most common complaint with a more regularly cut garment. Alterations can be done to the merino wool sweater, but as with the leather jacket, it's risky and expensive. And who has the time?!
Luxuriously soft and lightweight, this fabric will keep you warm and looking good. And a proper-fitting cut (shorter sleeves and body) will ensure you're looking dapper as well!
The Cashmere Topcoat
If the navy suit is the Swiss Army knife of menswear, the wool topcoat takes reign as the Swiss Army knife of outerwear.
The wool/cashmere overcoat by Peter Manning has the correct sleeve and body length to fit you just right (and without any alterations). It is also blended with cashmere and made with a sturdy Bemberg lining, for a super luxury look and feel. Available in four great colors, with contrasting collars, it's really a can't-miss item.
Style it over a suit or with a sweater and jeans and you’ve got sophistication and pizzazz on lockdown.
With just a few essential items, the number of outfit combinations is endless. If you can't afford them all, start with one. You'll be on your way to building a wardrobe full of quality pieces that will keep you looking good, no matter the situation.
