The Goods

I once helped a roommate move from Chicago to New York. He insisted upon packing several large boxes of books to line the shelves of his new room.

“Why do you need so many books?” I needled.

“Because they bring me comfort,” he replied with unheralded contentment.

A pair of friends have worked hard to teach themselves how to cook and eat well, seeking out the best equipment and highest quality ingredients their hard-earned money can buy (there’s a reason favorites are called “comfort foods”).

As with books or food, I’ve come to embrace the comfort derived from wearing a well-made garment in harmony with other well-made garments.

A couple years ago, while strolling through some of the little shops in my neck of Brooklyn on a lazy Sunday with a girlfriend, we pared my closet down to a few pieces. We called it “a utilitarian guidebook.” The goal was to whittle away every unnecessary article of clothing until I had a closet of basics that conveyed my sense of style and fit me well. The word utilitarian is misleading. I occasionally wear some pretty wild clothes with great stories behind them, but for the most part my wardrobe consists of stuff that I wear virtually every day.

Inspired by recent posts at Esquire and Valet on the subject, this week, all plaidout begins a series called “The Goods” which will highlight the essentials of a man’s wardrobe. It will include many from that “guidebook” and as my own style evolves, I hope to share new discoveries as well. From the indispensable winter cap, to the perfect pair of cowboy boots, each week, here at all plaidout, you’ll receive a golden nugget about the goods that every guy should stock.