Guys tend to have a whole different approach when it comes to clothes shopping. Rather than spending hours trawling the internet for the perfect look – be it a wedding guest outfit or a different ensemble for each day at a festival – they instead prefer a one-shot approach. Generally speaking, that means a bulk order of pieces they’ll wear on rotation throughout the year, from a select few men’s clothing brands. Smart, streamlined and reliable.
That could be shirting, tailoring, T-shirts, denim, outerwear, polo shirts – you name it, lots of men like to get almost everything from a handful of places. With that in mind, it’s handy to know the best men’s clothing brands so you don’t end up buying the first thing you find on Google.
It can be tempting to embark on a complete wardrobe overhaul, but men with an innate sense of style amass clothes steadily over time. This way, you can learn what you like – and what you don’t – and become familiar with brands’ product offerings. And when you begin to discover labels that resonate with your personal style and taste, you’ll not only end up becoming a loyal customer, but you’ll have a clear idea of the discrepancies between sizing and silhouettes at different retailers, making it easier to shop.
When building a hard-working wardrobe, it’s best to follow a quiet luxury agenda: not just because “stealth wealth” has been on the rise ever since Logan Roy and his family first graced our screens in back in 2018, but also because menswear looks best when understated quality is prioritised. You’ll get maximum use out of pieces – buy well, and they’ll last a long time – plus you won’t be hard-pressed to find something to wear, given pared-back staples are easy to mix and match.
Our advice? Look for brands that do the classics and do them well. The key is to remember it’s all in the detail. Those who favour a holistic approach should curate a capsule wardrobe, comprised of versatile basics including T-shirts, denim, shirts and knitwear. Retailers including Cos, Sunspel, Asket and Studio Nicholson excel in this department. And while essentials can form easy, mix-and-match foundations for an outfit, it’s also worth investing in a designer accessory that will make a look truly your own, from the likes of Bottega Veneta, Prada and Loewe.
Scroll on for ’s edit of the best men’s brands, organised by category for ease.
High-street heroes
Cos is the place to go for pieces that look far more expensive than their RRP. Think: elevated fabrics, interesting silhouettes and clothes you can happily wear on repeat – and the kind that can take you from desk to dinner without a second thought.
If you're looking for simple collections that put construction first, Arket is the place for you. The Scandi high street hero is an all-in-one solution for guys who like to dress in one brand from head to toe, covering everything from knitwear to denim, shirting and basics.
It’s no secret that Uniqlo has some great staples – at this point, almost every guy has a couple of the Japanese brand’s T-shirts to hand – but it’s strong across other categories, too, like cashmere, shirting and tailored trousers. Our favourite piece right now? The red crew-neck jumper.
Marks & Spencer’s fashion offering is getting better and better – so much so that the high-street stalwart is debuting at London Fashion Week this September. While the womensear is riding high right now, the menswear is no exception, with a range of contemporary silhouettes and premium textiles.
Relaxed Fit Zip Through Funnel Neck Jacket
Relaxed Fit Lyocell Rich Pleat Front Trousers
Luxury labels
Ever since Jonathan Anderson took the helm at Dior, the brand has risen to the top of every fashion insider’s wish list. Buy-in starts modestly with a preppy striped tie and stretches all the way to an XL tote bag for £5k – the kind of investment you’ll be using for many seasons to come.
Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada have been working together at Prada for over six years, and the collections are still some of the most sought-after on the market. It’s the place to go for understated, cool-guy pieces that always look completely effortless.
Collapse Antiqued Nappa Leather Sneakers With Hooks
Since Daniel Lee’s tenure at Bottega Veneta, the Italian house has cemented itself as a serious It-brand. Accessories are always strong, from the statement aviator sunglasses to the Intrecciato-woven crossbody bags.
After Alessandro Michele’s maximalist Gucci, Demna Gvsalia’s direction marks a hard swing back to the label’s sultry Tom Ford era. Think: leather and second-skin basics – without forgetting the trademark horesebit loafers, of course.
Elevated basics
Asket has nailed the capsule wardrobe, covering every men’s staple you can think of – from T-shirts to shirts, jackets and trousers. Even better, each garment comes with an Impact Receipt that details its environmental cost, down to the water usage and carbon emissions.
Sunspel’s classic T-shirt is often lauded as the best white T-shirt you can find: from the fit to the fabric, it’s a top that just reads as luxurious with no effort required. Since the label also delivers on minimal knitwear, denim, tailoring and outerwear, you could put together an entire capsule wardrobe without shopping anywhere else.
CDLP specialises in underpinnings – from underwear to socks, tank tops and T-shirts – elevated by a real focus on fabric, from lyocell to premium cotton blends. The result? Staples that feel several steps above your standard basics drawer.
Independent designers
Grace Wales Bonner’s design language sits at the crossroad between sportswear and tailoring, a signature that runs through everything from her mainline to her Adidas collaborations. Expect tracksuits, blazers, polo-shirts and everything in between.
Our Legacy is the ultimate IYKYK menswear label. There’s nothing loud or showy, just good, solid pieces with interesting finishes that deserve a second look. LVMH’s recent investment in the brand means everyone else will soon catch on.
2cm Bullet Chain Belt
Labrum London blends West African heritage with sharp British tailoring for collections that span everything from richly-patterned shirting to statement tailoring and elevated outerwear. If you’re into a statement piece, this is the brand for you.
For denim
Levi’s invented denim as we know it today: the 501, released in 1873, was the world’s first pair of jeans – and it’s still a favourite at 153 years later. If you want to try something more contemporary, though, the 565 is a worthy alternative.
Any pair of jeans you buy from Nudie Jeans is a lifelong investment. Not only because they’re built to last, but also because of the brand’s free-repairs-for-life policy. Expect classic cuts and top tier textiles for the type of jeans that only gets better with wear.
Rad Rufus Blue One Wash Jeans
There’s a lived-in, SoCal ease to Agolde’s trademark baggy silhouette – no surprise there, given the brand’s LA roots – and you can feel the quality of the denim instantly. One tip: they tend to come up big on the waist, so it’s usually best to size down.
Studio Nicholson is a brand for minimalism with a twist. Expect oversized tailoring, exaggerated silhouettes and textured fabrics rather than your run-of-the-mill basics – plus jeans that’ll make a statement.
Marylebone Straight Leg Denim Pant
High-end high street
Though Reiss was once revered for tailoring alone, the British store’s casualwear offering is now just as impressive. Knitwear, polos and jersey basics are all cut with the same kind of precision as the suits, so it’s the place to go if you want to look sharp, even when you’re off duty.
Ribbed Long-Sleeve Henley Top in Chocolate Brown
Atelier Cotton Blend Harrington Brown Jacket
Sandro is the master of undone Parisian cool. The shirts, knitwear, denim and outerwear all share the same easy, unbothered feel no other city does so well – wear it right, and even the Parisians might do a double take.
Percival does wearable classics with a playful wink: timeless silhouettes revived with boxy fits, interesting fabrics, and painterly prints. The quality is there, too, so you’re not sacrificing longevity for personality.
Gant has defined Ivy League style since launching in 1940s New Haven – a stone’s throw from Yale. Now headquartered in Sweden, the collections still capture the same preppy, all-American feel that’s central to the brand’s DNA – including the iconic Oxford shirt.
