Dear readers, my name is Barth, I am 22 years old and I have been actively following BonneGueule for four years now.
Following my move across the Atlantic to Montreal for my studies, my wardrobe had to slightly adapt to local weather conditions (polar cold in winter and "tropical" heat in summer). And this, on a student budget.
I try as best I can not to fall into the boots and big parka combo
Today I am launching myself as a contributor for BonneGueule, with the aim of sharing with you my vision of this passion that we all have in common. Without further ado, here are my ten favorite pieces , those which form the basis of my wardrobe.
Good reading !
My white t-shirt
The white t-shirt is, in my opinion, the most timeless basic in a men's wardrobe [Editor's note: its story was told here by Jordan ], it also makes up the majority of my outfits. I like its versatility and its vintage side which immediately gives its holder a James Dean style.
I wear the white t-shirt almost every day, whether to go to university with jeans and a pair of sneakers, or in a slightly more chic look with high-waisted pleated pants and a pair of derbies.
I personally recommend the models offered by Uniqlo and Gap , which cost around 13 euros each and which, in my opinion, are the best priced at the entry level.
Note from Nicolò: the white t-shirt is perhaps the most basic and reassuring piece of men's wardrobe, but it has two big disadvantages.
First of all, it relies a lot on the physique of the wearer: a tan or even darker complexion, as well as a certain physical shape are good ways to highlight a white t-shirt... Or rather to allow the t-shirt to highlight the wearer.
And secondly, with respect to other clothes, it shines above all by its modesty, and the way in which it highlights them itself.
So, my opinion is the following: the white tee is not necessarily the one you should wear the most on a daily basis or have in the greatest number of copies. One or two good white tees are actually more than enough, I think.
Instead, I suggest expanding your collection by turning to non-primary colors: khaki or olive, beige, wine red, ocher, sky blue... Particularly ecru, if you want something that works with the same pieces than your white tees, but which is more original. These colors will match well with the main colors you probably have in your wardrobe.
However, avoid too “primary” shades, such as bright red, a simple navy, forest green, etc. We often tend, by reflex, to want to “complete the collection”, only to end up realizing that they are pieces of very little use, unless accompanied by a singular texture or a particularly interesting material.
The step above, when you have the budget, is to look for more elaborate materials and knitting stitches, to provide texture and visual richness.
In the meantime, if you have the opportunity to come back to France to see your family, I cannot recommend enough that you take a few Tricot de la Tour tees (brand mentioned in my nuggets here ), the quality/price ratio of which is unbeatable on slightly worked tees with quality materials. This will be a very good first step, which will remain in line with your student budget.
You will be able to continue to use the white tee in its role as a “support piece” which it always fulfills wonderfully, while also having t-shirts that hold their own as a main piece.
You will also find our other brand recommendations in Michel's t-shirt guide .
Note from Benoît: also think of the Wool & Prince brands, which specialize in merino wool shirts and t-shirts, two essentials in a winter wardrobe .
My APC raw jeans
With my exponential passion for clothing, I am more and more interested in denim , a key piece of the men's wardrobe. When I talk about denim, I'm talking about beautiful Japanese canvas, raw and selvedge.
I used to buy all my jeans from Levi's , naively thinking that it was THE go-to brand. What a mistake !
So I decided to move up to the next category and asked Santa to give me a purist one, with a straight cut to change from my semi-slims.
I found what I was looking for at APC with the New Standard. Despite its cardboard canvas during the first ports, it very quickly relaxed and became very comfortable. I generally wear these jeans with a casual shirt and sneakers, or with a white t-shirt and a nice pair of shoes.
Note from Benoît: no worries about the jeans, I spent a winter in Montreal in jeans, just remember to wear merino leggings underneath ( I talked about it here ) it will change your life during the big years cold.
And besides, to make it more comfortable, don't hesitate to choose pants that are a bit wider than usual.
Stop by Tate + Yoko to take advantage of Canadian prices on Naked & Famous .
And if you can, get some wool pants from Frank & Oak, COS or SuitSupply: the insulating power of wool is greater than that of jeans.
My Blundstone ankle boots
I'm a huge fan of boots. Chelsea, chukka, or even jodhpur, I find that they enhance any outfit made up of basics. Unfortunately I can't afford to wear them when it snows for fear of ruining them.
While browsing in Montreal stores, I came across the Australian brand Blundstone [Editor's note: Jordan selected them in this article ], the perfect alternative for keeping your feet dry while remaining elegant. I gave them to myself in September 2018, and I simply fell in love with them.
Their design is simple, clean and rootsy with this thick sole to combat slippery sidewalks. Wear with jeans and a turtleneck to face snowstorms while remaining stylish.
Note from Benoît: very good choice for Montreal slush, I hadn't thought of that! For now, I would really advise you to invest in a pair of Gore Tex Converse running shoes (which I talk about here ), and to remember to clean them from time to time to remove the salt on them.
And otherwise, few people know it, but Nike has a range adapted to Montreal weather, these are the duckboots which they have available in several models, colors, etc.
I know LL Bean will be your friend.
Regarding workwear brands like Red Wings or Wolwerine : they can do the trick, but they are expensive for a student budget, and I think that the slush risks leaving an irreparable mark on them.
My Hermès watch
I've always really liked watches, but I hate anything bling bling and “have you seen me”. I'm more on the discreet side, that is to say flat watches with a simple design with a beautiful leather strap.
My father gave me this magnificent Hermès as a gift on my 18th birthday. I haven't left her since. I pair it with absolutely all my outfits, from the most formal to the most casual, and it always has a great effect.
In addition to being very aesthetic, this object is dear to my heart for its emotional side.
My October Editions velvet overshirt
During my stay in Paris this winter, I started looking for a beautiful overshirt to give character to my most casual outfits. I turned to the French brand Octobre Editions that I discovered on BonneGueule, which offers timeless and good quality basics.
This corduroy overshirt is great for winter: it's very warm, well cut and very versatile which is perfect for layering. I really like wearing it over a white t-shirt, with raw jeans and a pair of sneakers or shoes.
Note from Benoît: an overshirt is essential in this type of climate. Don't hesitate to take something warmer than velvet (cotton), like a real wool overshirt or wool flannel.
PS: we also have two overshirts in wool and Polartec Alpha for exactly the use you describe.
My straight COS coat
The straight coat is, in my humble opinion, the elegant masculine piece par excellence. However, I was looking for one that was a little out of the ordinary in order to stand out from the simple camel or gray overcoat that many men own.
I literally found what I was looking for at COS, a brand that I love for the simplicity of its pieces and its Japanese signature. This piece has the particularity of not having a collar, which reminds me of kimonos.
This piece is not so easy to wear, so I prefer to pair it with more casual chic looks: a cardigan, a white t-shirt, pleated pants and a pair of sleek sneakers.
Note from Benoît : this coat is nice, and since you're in Montreal, get yourself a mid layer from Frank & Oak to add more possibilities.
My Patagonia jacket
When I arrived in Montreal, I purchased a Canada Goose parka to combat the cold. It's not very original, I grant you, but it's nevertheless effective. Unfortunately, I had it stolen a year later in a nightclub…
In order not to die of cold, I set my sights on a Patagonia jacket which combines both style and comfort. I wear it all winter, both with a simple white t-shirt in the mildest weather and with a good turtleneck in the coldest weather. The bright yellow of this jacket gives character and warmth to my simplest outfits, which I don't mind in winter.
In this respect, this yellow is interesting: differentiating but not too bright, garish.
If you want to dig deeper into the subject of the parka (the brands, the different degrees of warmth, waterproofing, etc.), I invite you to read the two articles that I wrote about it:
Uniqlo Classic Socks
I really like using a nice pair of socks to add character to my outfits, I find it really elegant and original.
I got mine from Uniqlo (around 9 euros for four pairs). I took them in all colors, from blue to pine green, including red and orange.
A beautiful pair of colored socks like burgundy worn with jeans and white sneakers instantly brings an elegant and neat touch to my most sober outfits.
Be careful not to overload your outfit with too many colors, you will quickly look like a rainbow.
If you want to know more about cold feet, you can watch:
- Benoît's Parlons Clothes episode specifically on this subject
-
Our selection of 5 pairs of socks
- Our warm merino wool socks
Monoprix turtleneck sweater
The turtleneck [which is the subject of an episode of Panache , Editor's note] is the piece in my wardrobe that makes me look forward to winter. I love the almost sartorial elegance that it brings to an outfit, always with disconcerting ease. It is also the most pleasant sweater to wear in winter thanks to its enveloping collar which completely replaces a scarf.
This one comes from Monoprix, a brand that I know very little about. However, the speckled design of the sweater immediately caught my eye. Its versatility makes it as easy to pair with jeans as it is with pleated pants or chinos.
Don't hesitate to take real chunky knit, like a good 700g for a size M, it's very pleasant for facing the cold.
As Benoît says, other brands have an interesting entry-level style proposition for this type of product, Massimo Dutti for example.
However, there are still some decent things in each collection from the brand.
Note from Michel: in a wardrobe that must be minimalist, adapted to a limited budget as well as a certain thermal range, I 100% approve of the choice of a merino turtleneck. A keen connoisseur of the financial constraints of student life, if I had to confine myself to one or two sweaters in my wardrobe, they would exclusively be turtlenecks.
It brings a nice touch of sophistication to any simple outfit
For anyone in your situation, I think the minimum and ideal configuration would be to have two. One thin and one thick. Thanks to the thermoregulatory and anti-odor properties of wool, as well as by alternating with other categories of clothing, it is enough to last your weeks from fall to spring.
