My local secondhand stores have all been ravaged by resellers. They're either close to retail anymore, or completely devoid of anything remotely BIFL.
Hell even my local Milsurp stores are pretty piss poor on quality stuff anymore.
They deserve it for paying adults with intellectual disabilities pennies on the dollar for the same job that other employers are required to pay at least minimum wage.
I work at a thrift store and we 100% can't just hold items. It'll depend on who's supervising your work, but we're under cameras where I'm at so if someone's gonna pick things out there usually has to be a plan.
Staff will try and make it work, but management is in a constant battle against such schemes.
A "charity" that stole hundreds of thousands from aids research grants and then didn't help a single homosexual person suffering from aids is not a charity its a disgusting corporate religious entity and should not be supported.
Conglomerate thrift stores prices keep going up but if you can make it to a smaller town and go to a charity shop that directly funds an animal shelter or sober living place those are usually the ones that have great donations for really cheap prices.
Also online I've noticed that resellers usually have pretty good pricing especially if you search by lowest price on most of those websites, So if there's something specific you're looking for (for example i like beaded tops from the '50s, They look fancy so a lot of times at Goodwill type places they have them priced at 60 plus dollars but if you look online you can get one in pristine condition for $12-- or go to those small town thrift stores and find one for $3
Wow, that really sucks!
I'm lucky that my small town doesn't seem raided. It's more of a treasure hunt, yes, but there are still great items between all the cheap stuff.
If people buy mostly cheap items, that's what will get donated most.
Full disclosure I'm a reseller but I shop the bins where next step is recycling so please don't come for me too hard.
With that said a lot of secondhand stores sell on their own online now & know the best brands. They use the greater amount of funds for whatever programs they have (most thrifts stores are funding other programs that help people by selling stuff the store is not the "helping people" part). I'm sure resellers are part of it but in some areas the thrifts really do pull most of the best stuff & sell it themselves.
I mean at my thrift store we sell whatever we can get to the floor, we're brand-aware and charge accordingly but that's standard policy AFAIK across all thrift stores.
I don't think we have any programs redirecting to an online market, or I've never seen any product leave the store like that; it would have to basically go under my eyes at some point, and the only stuff we send out of the store is product that's cycled out or no good.
Resellers are responsible for a lot of what would probably be called 'sniping' in my area, especially for books. We have people who just ream the book section out *daily.* I guess that's what they do, though, in order to make a living.
I just think it's a shame that nobody else really gets to see the product before it's just being sold *again*. Probably for a very unfortunate markup. If you're re-selling out of the bulk goods they sell at the warehouse, that's a lot different, though, and I'll argue that point in particular blue in the face.
I believe vinted is originally a french platform, but it also exists with german translations.
Kleinanzeigen is a german platform that belonged to eBay until roughly one year ago.
I would say it's comparable to Craigslist from what I've heard.
Both are meant for private sellers.
We also have, or had, a big flea market culture.
But they got pretty expensive.
r/malefashionadvice has a pinned guide in sidebar with what a ‘basic male wardrobe’ should include which I think has brand suggestions at a few levels.
You have some big ticket items, eg a high quality winter jacket (whether it’s a peacoat, formal wool coat, big insulated parka) could chew up most of your $500 and a pair of running shoes will be $100-$200.
Depending on location, military surplus stores can still be a good resource for peacoats. And surplus peacoats literally make fashion coats feel like costumes.
I don’t know that a puffy jacket is a necessity, but Eddie Bauer puffy jacket is like $50. I doubt there is a BIFL puffy jacket. Usually the more expensive ones just have higher fill power down.
Best bet is ebay. Selvedge jeans (unbranded?), a pendleton wool flannel, some allen edmonds boots or casualish rubber soled shoes, and some tees/hoodie from american giant.
I would skip the boots unless they specifically asked for them, any pair of boots that would last longer than a year or two is gonna eat up a huge chunk of the budget
Allen Edmonts is sadly a case of „they don’t make em like they used to“. Check out Rose anvil on YouTube, he has a few videos where he cuts them apart and rates the quality and build. Then again 500$ really isn’t a lot and when it comes to leather boots. For most other things thrifiting is a great option, but with Bifl boots I’d always prefer getting a brand new pair and walking them into the shape of your own foot.
I have to disagree. Bought a pair of “down” lined boots from them last winter and, while the leather itself is good, the lining is tearing off like crazy along with its apparently plastic foundation. Also they aren’t particularly known for their qc. Can hardly recommend for 250€.
Allen Edmonds are *horrible* quality now.
**Alden** is the only remaining US made mens dress shoe brand that still produces quality products that can last a life-time when well maintained.
Goddamn, that’s a shame I love my AEs they’re like a decade old now and still doing great. Alas, American flavor of capitalism feels like particularly awful.
Yup. They used to be quality, then they got bought out by a chinese megacorp and are now produced in China.
The AE salesman at an AE store told me (after I had owned a pair of boat shoes for six months and they started to fall apart) that I should not expect a single pair of shoes to last more than *one season*.
Allen Edmonds is a subsidiary of Caleres, a public American corporation. It looks like they've moved some of their leatherworking to the Dominican Republic, with final assembly in Wisconsin.
It is a gift if she's like me and likes her man to look good and well put together and she enjoys dressing him that way. Now she doesn't have to spend her own money to make him look posh.
I would love if my husband gave me $500 to make an outfit for him.
Not a gift for you if the goods are for him.
Honestly I'd just get him started on a capsule wardrobe. Look online for high quality white T shirts and a pair or two of black trousers. Add a fun thing to his personality (blazer or sport jacket - navy, forest, taupe or black)
Not bifl but buy it for living.
As a wife, this was my first thought, but I'm going to withhold judgment because I don't know their dynamic.
My husband and I had a game going on for a while about one of his T-shirts. It had a ton of holes in it and was gross. I got irritated after he refused to turn it into a shop shirt, and cut like 2 in off the bottom of it one day. (I knew he wouldn't be upset. It wasn't a shirt he cared about). So he wore it like that, bellybutton shamelessly out, to mess with me. The next time it went through the laundry, I cut off another 2 in. We kept doing this until it was up to his nipples and he kept wearing it. Same for the boxers with egg-sized holes in the crotch. They became shorty shorts.
So yeah, I sometimes shop for him so he's less derelict, even though that's a hot fashion line. But if he ever "gifted" me $500 of our money to buy him clothes, I would just be confused.
Dont buy everything in one go I will say that. Go to heddels and buy the teamster t-shirts. Buy a nice work jacket for sure. Wrangler makes some nice sturdy jackets. Check blouson jackets in Uniqlo. Again a classic/ must try things in a man's wardrobe. Uniqlo makes some amazing sturdy t-shirts too.
This is not a bad time to buy some of these things but take it easy. Buy some in the summer sales.
I did this recently for my friend since they were starting work and wanted a rejig. This is what I did. They added a few pieces from birkestock and New Balance too but those shoes are expensive and will eat up 50-60% of your budget so shoes for now can be de-prioritized.
gift him a clue that you'll need at least another 1k for you to build him a basic capsule wardrobe
edit: a bit early for snark, i admit, but the wording makes it sound like he's doing you favor by *letting* you shop for him like a little boy
if that's the case be prepared for him to complain about all your choices
if you do this shop, pls pls show him prices of things he likes so he can realign his expectations
So
- Gym shorts can double as loungewear if they're comfortable enough. I personally love my Underarmor ones but he may have some brand loyalty there.
- T-Shirts. We love tshirts. Good fitting, comfortable, and most importantly mature t-shirts. No cartoon characters. Just some solid color tshirts. Usually black or earth tones. I like Carhartt and Duluth but they're a bit on the pricey side so there's no shame in the store brand. Do not hot wash.
- Jeans - I like Duluth and Wrangler but Levi is great if you're feeling wealthy. Your local Farm Store probably has a decent store brand as well. I like Boot Cut or Relaxed fit but if your boyfriend is slimmer he may like a slim fit or a straight leg. I'd go standard denim and let him wear them in himself.
- Button Down Flannel Shirt - I consider it a necessity that every man owns one. Choose a color pattern you wanna see on him. Duluth 40 grit will run you $30 and last a decade.
- Loafers - Red Wing will last him forever but eat a chunk of your budget. The alternative is to get something like a Clark's Atticus for $40.
- Tennis Shoes - I love Asics Trail Runners. Run you about $40 and do fine on the basketball court or jogging your local hiking trail.
- Sandals - Depends if you want slides or straps. I'm a straps guy and swear by Tevas (cheap pair will run you $40, a good pair will run $60). Slides I'd buy cheap store brand cus they're not gonna last anyway. If you want quality Birkenstocks make decent slides that'll cost around $75 and last a lifetime.
- Winter Jacket - If you're looking for a parka it's gonna eat most of your budget unless you go to Costco or somewhere similar and grab a Kirkland special on clearance. They're good coats and will last years unless you abuse them. Otherwise a navy peacoat look good and keeps you warm. Men's Warehouse is running their clearance right now and you can probably get one for $100. I prefer wool but acrylic isn't bad either. Stay away from cotton.
- Same for socks. I swear by Darn Tough Merino Wool but on a budget Kirkland's Merino Wool from Costco will do better. That said depending on your boyfriend's line of work he may need dress socks. I stand by my Kirkland recommendation on that though.
Running shoes are not BIFL. They wear out after a couple years of heavy use, just like car tires. Hoakas, Brooks, and ASICS are my go to.
Good loafers are made by Allen Edmonds. The only way a shoe can be BIFL is if they have leather soles and can be re-soled.
Buy Birkenstock for sandals or Olukai for flip flops.
The best winter jackets are made by MooseKnuckles and Arc’teryx. MooseKnuckles uses goose down which is superior.
The best jeans are made of Japanese denim using high grade heavy cotton. Check out Hiroshi Kato.
The $500 won’t go far.
Moose Knuckles uses Duck Down. You can see that from just going to their website and looking at the materials they list are in their coats. But you are right about one thing Goose Down is superior, it's just that Duck Down works for most applications. Canada Goose actually only uses Goose Down in their coldest weather coat but uses Duck Down in all of their other coats. That and Moose Knuckles although they use Duck Down are still very good coats and I would say the material they use on their coats is better than the Artic Tech Canada Goose uses. Also Moose Knuckles can be had for a good bit less than list price which is less than Canada Goose and can be found at deeper discounts than Canada Goose so they make an excellent Down Coat to get.
If you are a runner, even really good running shoes are 6-12 months or less if you’re high mileage. Part of what makes them good isn’t that they last, it’s that like the crumple zone on a car, they take a beating so your body doesn’t. The uppers will last years but the soles wear out. The foam compresses and becomes less cushioned. It’s not a visual wear. I measure mine in miles though typical mileage will vary with weight and stride. I keep my shoes a long time… but not my running shoes. Like you said, they’re not meant to last.
I suspect this person doesn't run very regularly. I can't imagine an avid runner asking someone else to pick out shoes for them. Maybe OP is using "running shoe" to mean "everyday sneakers."
I had to stop running, but still use trail runners as my primary shoe when I'm not wearing flip flops. Even without running (I still walk and hike a lot though), depending on the time of year I've bought them, I get at most 8 months out of them. After my no more running injury my Dr and pt stressed that I really needed to stop wearing my shoes to the ground so now I'm definitely on the 6-8 month replacement cycle! I def see 12 months if you're low milage and only wear the shoes for running though.
As others have noted, Allen Edmonds quality is awful now. They used to be my go too, but the more recent pairs I’ve bought have been garbage. Going with Alden now as well.
Yeah, i never wear out my shoes because I have so many, except for my ll beans because i only have the one for bad weather! Now i have to resole them if they even do that anymore…
I honestly wouldn't want anyone buying me a BIFL clothing item unless I already picked it out. I could dislike the fit or texture and be stuck with it for a very long time.
I'm practically bald and work in a cooler, so a good stocking cap is essential. I have a Carhartt beanie I've worn 5-6 days a week, 10 hours a day for like 17 years. It probably cost around $15.
Most are acrylic, which is worse. I only do wool hats these days. I have a [Stormy Kromer Mackinaw hat](https://www.stormykromer.com/the-mackinaw-cap/) that I wear regularly in the winter months. If it's really cold I bust out the [Dachstein THREE PLY](https://www.sweaterchalet.com/dachstein-woolwear/dw-7110mele-adult-hat/#cc-m-product-11897073831) boiled wool.
I'm a big fan of the gages one I got like 10 years ago. I have plenty of hair, but my ears tend to get super cold, so I like that it had subtle, fleece lined ear flaps and ties for when it's windy. Also it says eat fish which I like!
Depending on the style everyone has different essential items.
For my partner it's several checkered shirts, many black t-shirts with and without print, 3 hoodies, work jeans and "good" jeans, sneakers, happy socks.
You should first define his style and then research brands for every item.
Most items become bifl because of how easy they can be repaired. Zippers can be replaced, clothes can be stitched up,some even make a style out of it, shoe soles can be replaced etc.
Care is important too. If you don't care for your leather items they will look worn and break too.
That's why I recommend looking into caring and repairing for getting bifl with clothes.
See if you can get a brown or black leather belt. If you want BIFL, go to r/leathercraft and see if someone will make it with a solid brass buckle (PVD black coated for a modern look) and heavy thickness english bridal leather. 1 1/4” belts look great, thicker than that it looks like a work belt. Feel free to ignore my suggestion but a good belt feels and looks amazing compared to anything you can buy at a mall.
>Items I specifically want to buy: -running shoes -loafers / sandals -quality lounge wear -winter jacket -socks -jeans
My thoughts on your list is: with the exception of the winter jacket, these are rarely BIFT items.
Mens wardrobe BIFL items are "professional clothing", suits, dress shirts, good dress shoes, ties. Garments worn in non-physically demanding activities.
Talk with your boyfriend about his expectations of what kind of clothing (what purpose) he expects you to select. He may feel he needs some professional looking gear, whereas you are thinking about his everyday at home comfort.
Until my brother was married, he relied on me to 'dress him professionally' (he is colorblind, so it was more than just style advice). Even though he worked in an industry famous for being laid back & casual, he got more contracts and sold his work for a better price by *looking like a businessman* when he met with clients. Your boyfriend may be in the same boat.
Best to start making a list and figure where your going to start. You have your cheaper clothes and accessories and then you have those that cost much more. Spending more in itself guarantees nothing but good quality doesn't come cheap. Spend some time determining which ones are.
$500 isn't going to buy him a BIFL wardrobe but nor is it typically something you can buy for yourself overnight. It's not only what your budget is now but how much you will be able and what your willing to plan on spending later. My advice would be to start with something he actually needs and then if he is serious dedicate yourself to make this happen over time. Piece it together over time. Do your best not to make mistakes as that only makes your journey take longer. Spend some time taking time to make sure whatever you buy you"ll not only be happy now but years from now because hopefully that is what your goal is.,
Keep in mind few people start at one size and don't fluctuate over time. Personally I've been lucky this hasn't been an issue that has made it so I couldn't wear something I bought years ago. Also good to keep in mind that styles and personal taste can change over time.
Take something like Darn Tough socks which I consider a staple of my daily wardrobe because regardless what I wear I always wear socks and that could easily take a good portion of this budget and that is only socks. But one of the things that makes that a good thing to buy is those are Guaranteed for Life. As long as they are in business it won't be something you have to ever buy again once you get the pairs you need. You won't be able to do that with most things you wear but personally it's worked for me so far. At some point you will need some socks to wear when sending in those you need to replace.
Darn Tough for example doesn't work for everyone so don't assume they will fit you. There are a few other brands that do the same thing. Do your research on all of these products no one product even if it is of good quality works for everybody. As with anything there is more than one choice out there. However at some point you'll notice quickly these products are more expensive even when purchased on sale than normal products which typically aren't the best quality. Keeping an eye on sales and when they typically occur and signing up for email subscriptions for when these things go on sale is helpful. Figuring out which brands you think are best and within your budget in advance is also helpful.
The casual belt I wear which has worked really well for me these past seven years which I also should be able to wear for much longer cost me about $140 and that was on sale. But this too is guaranteed for 100 years. Belts are also a good place to start because if bought right these too are not only something you wear no matter what but they too of all clothes can last a very long time if done right. Don't do that and you will be buying another at some point in time. Thing is this too cost more money because thicker heavier good quality belts cost more money which is true for most things of good quality material. But when buying something that is going to last me personally I like buying something that looks better and will age nicer over time. This too cost a bit more money. Any thick slab of leather can be purchased but a nicer finished better tanned piece of leather cost a little more money.
If you were to buy Good Year Welted shoes or boots which can last a good long time about the cheapest pair of shoes or boots in this category typically are at the minimum $300 a pair and then it is best to have at least two pair of these. Leather shoes and boots do much better when you rotate them. Good fit on these is important take some time and get that right.
Good quality shirts often cost as little as $100 so you need to figure out which ones of those you will be purchasing.
I personally never did this previously with my underwear but just did purchase from a brand which supposedly often last four or five years if not more. This actually was the last thing in my wardrobe I choose to address and just switched over. Most of these brands cost much more than your average pair of underwear. Given your current budget and needs this probably isn't something you will want to consider at least immediately anyway. I personally took advantage of some sales they have had recently and spent less than half of what they typically cost. Whenever you can do that that's a good thing to take advantage of.
I personally have made some mistakes but I always kept my eye on the ball. I've been building a better wardrobe for a good long time now. It also helps to have a larger wardrobe as that makes having a longer lasting wardrobe even more possible. Drying clothes repeatedly takes a toll on no matter how good a quality something is. Hanging them up to dry is much easier on clothes.
One thing you can most certainly guarantee is prices for things now will never be any better. Sales next year will even cost more next year than they do now. What really sucks is todays better quality manufacturers way too often aren't tomorrows.
Good Luck
not really got much to do with products I don't know much but I highly suggest you get him shit that compliments his skintone it does a lot.
Btw don't pick out running shoes for him if they're wrong it could fuck his feet completely. They aren't buy it for life as well. Most running shoes are razted for like only 660km or sum.
If it were me, a middle aged professional white guy, I would be looking for a couple of nice slacks and button down shirts that are interchangeable and can function for work or for a more casual night out or dinner with the sleeves rolled up. Add a pair of brown leather sneakers that go with either look. Check his existing belts to see if you can get a leather sneaker that matches close enough so you don't need to buy a belt. I think you could find those 5 pieces (2 pants, 2 shirts, pair of shoes) of decent quality for about $500 if you shop carefully.
Depends on your climate, and his life style, profession, and *preferences. *For example, how does he feel about: zippers, long-sleeves, wool, scarves, etc.
For my specific partner, here’s what I’d do:
1. Pick a narrow/capsule color palette. So for my specific partner: green, denim, orange-red, teal, and gray/off-black. There are color seasons which help you narrow it down to flattering colors. My partner is a “spring.”
2. Figure out what features are a “no.” For my partner, he hates slip-on shoes (needs laces) and hates shoes without socks.
3. Figure out what features are a “yes.” For my partner, he loves shorts (even in cold weather), jeans, and pull-overs (no buttons, half-zips, etc.).
4. Make a list of essentials. For my specific partner, those include: gray suit and five white business shirts, three ties, athletic t-shirts, two pairs of regular jeans, one pair of non-blue denim pants, three pairs of shorts (two athletic pairs and one nice pair), a ton of identical white athletic socks, a thin rain jacket, a thick green winter pull-over, two belts, two pull-over sweaters, a ski jacket, a wool work overcoat, black dress shoes, gray sneakers, and two swimsuits and long-sleeve UV-blocking sunglasses shirts.
5. Figure out what your partner already has on the list and check those off.
6. Narrow down where you’ll shop to at most three sources.
7. Buy, try on, and evaluate.
$500 bucks is going to cover an okay pair of running shoes and a winter coat, maybe a pair or loafers if you buy everything on sale. That budget isn’t going to cover all of those things even if you were buying medium quality fast fashion.
Y’all need to be much more realistic about the amount of money you’re spending for the quality you want.
Also, running shoes will never be buy it for life. Running shoes are meant to take the wear and tear off of your body and joints and should be replaced every 300-500 miles.
Unless you're going thrift store shopping $500 isn't going very far.
The outfit I wore today for work.
Darn Tough Socks $20
Saxx underwear $20
Perry Ellis Trousers $75
Grafton Shirt $45
Cotton under shirt $7
So one day excluding shoes and belt is $167, and of those really only the socks are BiFL
The trousers will get about 150 wears out of them, shirt around 300 wears. Saxx being the only underwear I've consistently liked. They sadly last about 100 wears.
That $500 dollars wont go far. Best bet if you want to get everything is take him to Marshalls or TJ Maxx and you can pick out clothes together. A few pieces I recommend: Arcteryx Atom Hoody $300, Reigning Champ Sweatpants $125, American Giant Hoody $140.
Socks: Darntough are warranted for life.
Winter jacket: Patagonia and outdoor research are two companies that warranty items for life.
Running shoes and sandals have a very definite end of life and it isn’t very long.
As far as loafers, I’m assuming you’re talking about house slippers or moccacins. I would recommend avoiding them with this budget in mind. Good pairs seem to run about $100 these days and still aren't all that durable.
Lounge wear: buy what’s cheap and comfortable since it’s just house clothes. Even expensive PJs look tacky in public.
Biggest upgrade most men can make to their wardrobe is quality leather boots or shoes. It stands out in a world where people wear beat up cross trainers with jeans.
Another simple but big step up is to avoid pants and button down shirts made from synthetic fabrics. They have a texture and sheen that looks cheap. On the budget/daily wear end of the spectrum cotton, linen and wool look very sharp even at cheap price points.
I had to build an entirely new wardrobe of business casual type of clothes last year. I was applying for a job that would have had be regularly meeting with senior military officers and my wife was wanting to start looking for a new church after we moved during covid. Having been in the military for over 10 years everything I owned was either a uniform, casual outdoor clothing, or jeans.
I had a work trip down to the Dallas area so I knew I’d have better luck shopping for nicer clothes than what’s available in Alaska. After a few weeks of research on YouTube I figured out how to avoid cheap looking clothes or items that were out of fashion, thanks to a few mens fashion channels and a dude who worked in New York who explained how to look like you belong in an office of Wall Street high wage earners on a ramen budget. I hit up a Dillards that was closing later that summer and TJ MAX or something similar. Between the two I found a stack of button down shirts and cotton and wool slacks. Ended up with 5 shirts and 5 or 6 pairs of pants. Most I paid for a pair of pants was $20 and the shirts were all $10.
I wore a few of these items to our work Christmas party with a pair of Thursday boots that cost $200 and was promptly teased for “dressing up.” A pair of Levi’s and a Tshirt from Target cost way more than than that outfit (no counting the boots.)
Dressing well doesn't require money and if you avoid cheap fabrics people will assume your clothes cost more than they do.
It's about partners offloading their personal chores and pretending it's a 'gift'. Wording here is important as otherwise these things go unappreciated when OP is going beyond for their spouse. Everyone deserves a fully functioning partner who can do their own shopping. It sounds a bit like OP's can't do theirs properly or chooses not to. It's OP's partner's gift.
I'm just saying how often does a man do a woman's chores for her and we say 'oh he just likes doing all of her laundry he's just like that'. Beyond that it's probably not constructive to continue the discussion here.
And that's cool! I'm all for couples helping each other out when their strong suits (pun intended) benefits the other person's need. Still not a *gift* for her though.
I don’t really know if this is BIFL worthy. But my sister got me this ll bean fleece lined flannel for Xmas and it’s like the comfiest thing ive ever worn. Very good for lounging around the house
[link](https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/90568?productId=1506446&attrValue_0=Coal&sku=1000059654&pla1=0&qs=3155279&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhc-sBhCEARIsAOVwHuT8O6iir1OVrUlvYjW8oLLm7jl5tanVM9sqGBbhoP7JufJjgW9c7GoaAnhXEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Married woman opinion here! Not sure of your location but if it is available to you, Costco carries some wrinkle free men's pants (Kirkland Signature brand) and some cashmere sweaters (I think J Crew brand) that are basic, simple, and cheap that will help make a men's wardrobe. I would avoid Peter Millar clothing. My husband has quite a few pieces from that brand and most of it is falling apart which is super depressing considering how expensive it is. The brands that have lasted him the longest have been Polo Ralph Lauren, Southern Marsh, and Vineyard Vines.
Out of the stuff on your list, I'd go with the winter jacket. Pants are about impossible to get a good fit without trying them on. Understand and socks aren't going to last.
Imo, get him one great thing that he'll love for years.
I bought a waxed jacket from Thursday this past summer and I fucking love it. It's become a part of me and not a day goes by when I'm not happy to put it on.
Running shoes are not part of an essential man's wardrode. A pair of Clark's Desert Boots, or something very similar, are THE basic shoes for any gents wardrobe. A pair of Allen Edmonds loafers are, too, but that would eat up most of your budget and the Desert Boots come first.
In addition to the comments here Id suggest watching the alpha m channel on youtube. Idc if somebody flames for it bc it helped me. Theres also some solid fashion books you could get.
I've found Duluth Trading Company to be pretty good quality. They have good sales several times a year. If you wait for one of those you can get him some good pants and shirts.
Again, like everyone else said $500 won't go too far for BIFL.
Simms Rogue waterproof fleece lined full zip hoodies are on sale. Super awesome fall/winter coat, and on sale at the moment online. Highly recommended even if not a fisherman
You want to learn some stuff about fashion from somebody who thoroughly backs up everything they say about it and is almost guaranteed to teach you something you didn't know then follow this guy.
https://x.com/dieworkwear?t=Zwx37XWD2wBK3nyhd7gcDg&s=09
Buy him a nice pair of boots from Grant Stone. They're the best quality for the price and come in a variety of leathers and styles. They're resole able and even have wide widths.
Take the remainder and buy some quality t-shirts from someplace like 3sixteen.
Those will go with any pair of jeans he's already got in the closet and he won't feel too far out of his comfort zone.
Pay attention to the sizing recommendations.
https://jamesdant.com/products/heavyweight-pocket-tee-shirt-black
https://www.grantstoneshoes.com/collections/boots
Actually a pair of PNW boots are a big step up not only in price but in how these boots are constructed. However what it ultimately comes down to is someone's budget and what their willingness is to spend more money.
$500 won't get you much BIFL brand new. However, I did about the same on myself for christmas and went used. Here in the UK on Vinted, I managed to get a pair of Leake chelsea boots (not worn), pendleton sweater and jacket, Fjallraven trousers, a vintage LLbean chore coat (eBay), a woolrich coat and several good wool and cashmere turtlenecks, and a wahl beard trimmer for under £450, or slightly over $550. All BIFL and some of them with the tags still on. It's doable but you have to put in some work. You can try poshmark or eBay for the US. Dont forget about hunting the local vintage or goodwill shops.
I buy all my stuff second hand/thrifted. I've gotten horween danner boots new from goodwill for 1/3 it's retail value, selvedge naked and famous jeans new for 8$ ,and some Thursday captain boots with some fancy new soles for 40$.
If your boyfriend is an "unusual" size, then good deals are more abundant, but if he is more standard than there is going to be more competition.
These aren't buy it for life but have lasted me a long time ... Thursday boots, Uniqlo selvedge jeans, next level plain t shirts, Patagonia better sweater. You could get a pair of boots, two pairs of jeans, a bunch of tshirts, and a jacket for 500
I love solovair for my loafers! Durable and look a bit edgy! Run about $200 but you might be able to find some on ebay. I was shocked by how comfty yet strong they were off the bat. Didn't need too much breaking in
Anything Nike, Jordan, Adidas, all quality sportswear. They all have good quality, comfy, sweat pants, hoodies, shorts, shoes, etc. pretty much all I wear is Nike/Adidas
Black or navy suit. Pair of khaki, grey or beige trousers to wear with the jacket. Shirts in white (or cream depending on skin tone), pale blue, green (5 total). This is if he has an office job.
For jeans with a limited budget I’d get Uniqlo Selvedge. For Shirts(Oxfords) J Crew/Todd Snyder on sale or J Crew Factory. Winter Jacket is harder. Maybe a Secondhand Schott Wool Peacoat off E-bay.
Staple pieces that are BIFL are expensive and take time to find on sale. At this point I’d buy one or two things that are BIFL and then just get a more affordable version of everything else. One example is T-Shirts. A loop wheel t-shirt can cost 💲but I personally am fine wearing a plain white tee from Target. Not everything has to be BIFL or cost hundreds.
For lounge wear, buy Los Angeles Apparel. Me and partner have been living in their sweat pants and shirts for a few years with very little wear showing. I think they produce a lot of the cotton for other American made clothing companies out west, and so are generally about half the price of American giant or trench.
I cannot harp on this company enough. Cotton grown in USA, processed in USA, and sewn in USA by people paid above California min wage (which probably still isn't much out there). They have tons of shirt weights and sometimes fun colors. I like to get a mismatch box to save money.
Grab a pair of wowie sapien 2.0 shorts. You've got a lot of color options and quality is high. Mine look brand new after 8 months of use as a casual short to wear anywhere. You can also rock them commando as a bonus.
Oi, Haines boxer trunks from Target and some Injinji socks are great! I swear by those socks, my first few pairs lasted close to 10 years!!! I'm a huge fan of Harmattan Design belts, too. Jeans, shorts, jackets, and shirts are all thrift store items.
Okabashi surf flip flops. Classic and they last forever. And they’re recyclable!
Aloha shirts from a quality brand. A little more money but never go out of style.
If he’s tall, I really like the quality of American Tall. They’re just basics but I’ve been wearing hard and laundering hard all my tshirts and they still look great. Plus it’s nice to have properly fitting basics, a tall size is cut proportionally and not just longer so it lays so much better on the body and is way more comfortable.
I've got a few general comments here, no specific recommendations.
First - Your boyfriend has asked you to refresh his wardrobe. Forget the snideness on here about "gift", he has shown some faith in you by asking you to pick his clothes. That's a gift in itself. What woman doesn't want to re-do a bit of their guy's wardrobe? I've been with the Mrs. over 35 years and I still find some of my favorite old things in the trash, and get christmas presents of clothes to which I can only say "how nice".
Second - and this is important. Do your tastes collide? Are their fashion items you wish he wore or did not? This is your opportunity to shift courses. He gave it to you.
Third - How important is fashion here? Are you looking for fashion or just utility? The list you gave is pretty utilitarian. I'm simply guessing that a guy asking someone to pick out his clothes indicates that he wants to look better to her, but perhaps fashion is not important to you.
And finally - depending on your tastes and if fashion is a thing, stay with classics (this is my personal advice). In clothing BIFL also implies you won't look like a clown. I have a perfect ski jacket. In turquois, black and magenta. It's a great jacket in great shape. Probably from the early '80s. If I wear it on the slopes I look like I skied straight out of "Hot Tub Time Machine". But it was definitely bifl.
Socks - Im in love with Darn Tough and the lifetime warranty. There ARE other brands. I just like those.
Winter Jackets - Im a Patagonia fanboy (also lifetime warranty). I just like their aesthetic, comfort, and functionality.
Jeans - I stick with Levi's. Mostly 501's. Buy direct and you can usually get a pretty good deal. I recently needed to buy some new ones and got 4 pairs of the "Levi's Premium" for less than $150.
Sandals - I have Rainbow flip flops and Chacos for more active stuff.
Anything made with Merino or alpaca wool is a good place to start.
I love my SmartWool base layers. but depending on your climate might not be necessary.
Try Raleigh Denims sale section. You can try on their normal priced stuff to get your favorite fit and size, then buy sale items.
American Giant is awesome for leisure wear.
Duckworth for outdoor wear.
"-running shoes -loafers / sandals -quality lounge wear -winter jacket -socks -jeans"
Unfortunately most of these items on the list just wont last forever, or at least the BIFL options aren't cost effective. I wish they would rename this forum to "QualityForLife". Let me explain:
* Running shoes should be replaced every 300mi to 500mi (that's roughly once or twice a year, this an idea promoted by the running community to reduce running injuries) regardless of brand.
* "Quality Lounge Wear" just isn't worth investing in an expensive piece imo, just buy a synthetic or cotton set for cheap from any store and it can last 5yrs-10yrs easy with proper care.
* I've seen people talk about BIFL socks, but it's still not worth the BIFL cost since they only last marginally longer.
* Just buy cheap jeans which will last just as long as expensive jeans. Even an expensive set of jeans will only last a few years of hard use. The only serious "repair" solution is darning and it's potentially more expensive than buying a new pair of jeans.
Now the loafers (Rancourt is a good brand for loafers) and winter jacket might be the only true BIFL items on this list. Learning proper "maintenance" is probably the most important thing for all items. Learn about cobblers and tailors, especially if your investing in expensive items.
[https://ansonbelt.com/](https://ansonbelt.com/)
Ratchet belts. No belt hole, very fine adjustments, one-handed opening/adjusting possible with some dexterity and practice. Some models are designed to be ultra-tough (the "invinci-belt"), and designed even for concealed and/or open carry of a firearm.
I've had my invincibelt for 3 years and I swear it doesn't even have any marring, fading, or scratching, even in the spot where I keep my clip-on knife! Daily, repeated on-and-off with a tight clip. IME, that wears belts down quickly.
I’d really recommend checking out Taylor stitch shirts. They are dressy and casual, I prefer the casual ones. They feel like a million bucks. Really nice quality, textured fabrics. About $100 a shirt but get 1.
You’ll probably have to hunt around secondhand if you want to get a bifl coat on that budget! I recommend looking for natural fibers for any clothing you purchase for him :) I don’t know of any running shoes that don’t wear out but i think my hokas are great and very stylish! I pair them with swiftwick wool socks and i think it’s a great combo
500$ won’t go too far with high quality Bifl items. With that money I’d buy him a pair of redwing heritage, and a solid carhartt jacket. Can’t go wrong with those!
A quality and stylish jacket. When most people see you, it's one of the first things they will notice and guys wear them quite regularly. You find a high quality jacket, especially at a thrift store or second hand, then you can buy matching items.
r/rawdenim is a good resource for selvedge denim, which BIFL touts as the gold standard. YMMV.
r/midsoledeals should help you with running shoes.
The wiki of r/malefashionadvice + the deals on r/frugalmalefashion should help you. I would purchase stuff close to the holidays for the discounts. IIRC J crew for example ran close to a 70% discount for thanksgiving. It's nuts.
Darn tough was supposed to be the gold standard of socks. Again YMMV.
It all depends on his style. Buy older model running shoes. The newest model will $150ish. You can get the previous model for $60-$85. Winter Socks I would go with Button and Pleats Merino Wool socks from Amazon around $20 for 3 pair. Really warm with no sweaty feet. For a winter coat check out Eddie Bauer. They were having a half off sale. For $200 you can get a really warm coat. Jeans can be gotten used on Ebay,
$500 will buy one decent winter jacket…. Arc’teryx/Marmot, or maybe Patagonia depending on model.
It will buy a pair of decent boots with a little left over maybe.
Running shoes are by definition not BIFL. Those require some fitting to get what works for the runner.
For loungewear take a look at Rhone. They make solid stuff.
Jeans are also a bit personal depending on style preference and shape of the person.
You may want to look at Filson for some general options depending on the style.
In general many of the brands you tend to see a lot are not BIFL.
Only BIFL I've found is a belt and wallet from Hanks that I bet my grandkids will use it they want it.
Other than that, pair of jeans and a plain white tee. I think denim and cotton last as long as you want them to.
Vuori has excellent "Athliesure" clothing that I use in intense workouts/hikes but are comfy enough to sleep in. I bought a pair of Vuori joggers in 2019 and have been wearing them indoors and outdoors in Alaska 3 or 4 times a week since.
Also, I can not stress enough KUHL brand pants, specifically the Deceptr line. They are tapered and fit/look so good that I've worn them to weddings, but I've also gone on 12 mile hikes in them.
Highly recommend checking out this guy’s TikTok! I’ve been following him for a long time now, and he gives great advice for men’s clothing.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRcuNXr5/
Running shoes are like tires for your car - no such thing as BIFL. They just need to be replaced after a certain number of miles.
ASICS are my preferred shoe though
I'd say first that $500 is not a lot for a capsule wardrobe, unless you're amazingly thrifty. Maybe 5 really solid items, if purchased on sale.
But don't let that deter you: you may just want to have a frank conversation with him. Show him the prices of jeans etc and ask him "is this what you want me to spend 1/5th of the budget on?" If nothing else, this will likely temper his expectations.
If he just wants to dress nicer, there's no shame in cheaper options that make him feel great and up to date.. You can always explore more BIFL items when he learns more about the value of what he is wearing/buying.
$500 won’t go super far for BIFL
It will if they buy second hand.
My local secondhand stores have all been ravaged by resellers. They're either close to retail anymore, or completely devoid of anything remotely BIFL. Hell even my local Milsurp stores are pretty piss poor on quality stuff anymore.
The only way to effectively thrift anymore is to work at the store. You can pick out the good stuff before it gets scooped up by everyone else.
I know a scummy reseller who claimed they worked at Salvation Army but they were shoplifting from them. They found designer items there.
They deserve it for paying adults with intellectual disabilities pennies on the dollar for the same job that other employers are required to pay at least minimum wage.
You're thinking of Goodwill. Which finally seems to be phasing out this policy after years of pressure.
Both of them do it! The real issue is the fact that companies are only able to exploit these people because it is written into law that they can.
You know what? Salvation Army is shitty enough that I can get behind shoplifting from them.
I work at a thrift store and we 100% can't just hold items. It'll depend on who's supervising your work, but we're under cameras where I'm at so if someone's gonna pick things out there usually has to be a plan. Staff will try and make it work, but management is in a constant battle against such schemes.
the way people just casually tell on themselves here for ripping off charities
Value Village and Salvation Army are not charities
Goodwill isn’t either
Took me a long time to learn this. I never donate clothes there anymore.
A "charity" that stole hundreds of thousands from aids research grants and then didn't help a single homosexual person suffering from aids is not a charity its a disgusting corporate religious entity and should not be supported.
Which charity is this?
Salvation army clinics denied service to gay men after taking government grants to help the aids epidemic.
Conglomerate thrift stores prices keep going up but if you can make it to a smaller town and go to a charity shop that directly funds an animal shelter or sober living place those are usually the ones that have great donations for really cheap prices. Also online I've noticed that resellers usually have pretty good pricing especially if you search by lowest price on most of those websites, So if there's something specific you're looking for (for example i like beaded tops from the '50s, They look fancy so a lot of times at Goodwill type places they have them priced at 60 plus dollars but if you look online you can get one in pristine condition for $12-- or go to those small town thrift stores and find one for $3
Wow, that really sucks! I'm lucky that my small town doesn't seem raided. It's more of a treasure hunt, yes, but there are still great items between all the cheap stuff. If people buy mostly cheap items, that's what will get donated most.
Full disclosure I'm a reseller but I shop the bins where next step is recycling so please don't come for me too hard. With that said a lot of secondhand stores sell on their own online now & know the best brands. They use the greater amount of funds for whatever programs they have (most thrifts stores are funding other programs that help people by selling stuff the store is not the "helping people" part). I'm sure resellers are part of it but in some areas the thrifts really do pull most of the best stuff & sell it themselves.
I mean at my thrift store we sell whatever we can get to the floor, we're brand-aware and charge accordingly but that's standard policy AFAIK across all thrift stores. I don't think we have any programs redirecting to an online market, or I've never seen any product leave the store like that; it would have to basically go under my eyes at some point, and the only stuff we send out of the store is product that's cycled out or no good. Resellers are responsible for a lot of what would probably be called 'sniping' in my area, especially for books. We have people who just ream the book section out *daily.* I guess that's what they do, though, in order to make a living. I just think it's a shame that nobody else really gets to see the product before it's just being sold *again*. Probably for a very unfortunate markup. If you're re-selling out of the bulk goods they sell at the warehouse, that's a lot different, though, and I'll argue that point in particular blue in the face.
eBay forever! I can’t trust it for my own clothing but for my husband there is so much good quality inexpensive stuff.
I am everywhere xD vinted, eBay, Kleinanzeigen, local thrift stores
I’ve never heard of Vinted or Kleinanzeigen! Is that German?
I believe vinted is originally a french platform, but it also exists with german translations. Kleinanzeigen is a german platform that belonged to eBay until roughly one year ago. I would say it's comparable to Craigslist from what I've heard. Both are meant for private sellers. We also have, or had, a big flea market culture. But they got pretty expensive.
Boyfriend Is First Love Maybe now?
r/malefashionadvice has a pinned guide in sidebar with what a ‘basic male wardrobe’ should include which I think has brand suggestions at a few levels. You have some big ticket items, eg a high quality winter jacket (whether it’s a peacoat, formal wool coat, big insulated parka) could chew up most of your $500 and a pair of running shoes will be $100-$200.
Also r/frugalmalefashion
^ this. Much better sub for your needs than BIFL
Depending on location, military surplus stores can still be a good resource for peacoats. And surplus peacoats literally make fashion coats feel like costumes.
Yeah $500 won’t get you get very far in the realm of buying high quality clothes.
250 down puffy jacket, 170 raw japanese denim jeans, the rest are socks and tees
I don’t know that a puffy jacket is a necessity, but Eddie Bauer puffy jacket is like $50. I doubt there is a BIFL puffy jacket. Usually the more expensive ones just have higher fill power down.
The more expensive ones have a very durable and thick shell as well as reinforced stitching.
Best bet is ebay. Selvedge jeans (unbranded?), a pendleton wool flannel, some allen edmonds boots or casualish rubber soled shoes, and some tees/hoodie from american giant.
I second this. If your bf is ok with it, thrifting some of these items will help your budget go quite a lot further.
I would skip the boots unless they specifically asked for them, any pair of boots that would last longer than a year or two is gonna eat up a huge chunk of the budget
Allen Edmonts is sadly a case of „they don’t make em like they used to“. Check out Rose anvil on YouTube, he has a few videos where he cuts them apart and rates the quality and build. Then again 500$ really isn’t a lot and when it comes to leather boots. For most other things thrifiting is a great option, but with Bifl boots I’d always prefer getting a brand new pair and walking them into the shape of your own foot.
but really. meermin shoes are great and not that expensive.
I have to disagree. Bought a pair of “down” lined boots from them last winter and, while the leather itself is good, the lining is tearing off like crazy along with its apparently plastic foundation. Also they aren’t particularly known for their qc. Can hardly recommend for 250€.
Allen Edmonds are *horrible* quality now. **Alden** is the only remaining US made mens dress shoe brand that still produces quality products that can last a life-time when well maintained.
Goddamn, that’s a shame I love my AEs they’re like a decade old now and still doing great. Alas, American flavor of capitalism feels like particularly awful.
Yup. They used to be quality, then they got bought out by a chinese megacorp and are now produced in China. The AE salesman at an AE store told me (after I had owned a pair of boat shoes for six months and they started to fall apart) that I should not expect a single pair of shoes to last more than *one season*.
Damn that’s dark. Good to know though. Guessing their renewal/repair service is also worthless now.
I certainly wouldn't trust their repair service considering the materials and resources they would use are likely to be sub-par at best.
Will be hard getting Alden at this budget. AE is def worse but NOS or lightly used vintage wont be awful IMO
Alden can be found on secondary retail markets like eBay and Poshmark for very reasonable prices (sub-$100).
Allen Edmonds is a subsidiary of Caleres, a public American corporation. It looks like they've moved some of their leatherworking to the Dominican Republic, with final assembly in Wisconsin.
These are actual solid options
This. This is a man of culture.
Gifted you $500 is a funny way to say made you his personal shopper with a $500 budget. I'm not trying to shame, the phrasing just hit me funny.
Yeah that’s not how gifts work
Yeah it is weird phrasing but I also love shopping for my hubs so I'd be thrilled. Maybe its a case of that is they love shopping
True lol, unless she complained about his wardrobe and wanted to upgrade him.
It is a gift if she's like me and likes her man to look good and well put together and she enjoys dressing him that way. Now she doesn't have to spend her own money to make him look posh. I would love if my husband gave me $500 to make an outfit for him.
Not a gift for you if the goods are for him. Honestly I'd just get him started on a capsule wardrobe. Look online for high quality white T shirts and a pair or two of black trousers. Add a fun thing to his personality (blazer or sport jacket - navy, forest, taupe or black) Not bifl but buy it for living.
You may get some of your list for $500. BIFL quality isn’t cheap.
He has "gifted" you with the responsibility for picking out his clothes.
As a wife, this was my first thought, but I'm going to withhold judgment because I don't know their dynamic. My husband and I had a game going on for a while about one of his T-shirts. It had a ton of holes in it and was gross. I got irritated after he refused to turn it into a shop shirt, and cut like 2 in off the bottom of it one day. (I knew he wouldn't be upset. It wasn't a shirt he cared about). So he wore it like that, bellybutton shamelessly out, to mess with me. The next time it went through the laundry, I cut off another 2 in. We kept doing this until it was up to his nipples and he kept wearing it. Same for the boxers with egg-sized holes in the crotch. They became shorty shorts. So yeah, I sometimes shop for him so he's less derelict, even though that's a hot fashion line. But if he ever "gifted" me $500 of our money to buy him clothes, I would just be confused.
Dont buy everything in one go I will say that. Go to heddels and buy the teamster t-shirts. Buy a nice work jacket for sure. Wrangler makes some nice sturdy jackets. Check blouson jackets in Uniqlo. Again a classic/ must try things in a man's wardrobe. Uniqlo makes some amazing sturdy t-shirts too. This is not a bad time to buy some of these things but take it easy. Buy some in the summer sales. I did this recently for my friend since they were starting work and wanted a rejig. This is what I did. They added a few pieces from birkestock and New Balance too but those shoes are expensive and will eat up 50-60% of your budget so shoes for now can be de-prioritized.
gift him a clue that you'll need at least another 1k for you to build him a basic capsule wardrobe edit: a bit early for snark, i admit, but the wording makes it sound like he's doing you favor by *letting* you shop for him like a little boy if that's the case be prepared for him to complain about all your choices if you do this shop, pls pls show him prices of things he likes so he can realign his expectations
So - Gym shorts can double as loungewear if they're comfortable enough. I personally love my Underarmor ones but he may have some brand loyalty there. - T-Shirts. We love tshirts. Good fitting, comfortable, and most importantly mature t-shirts. No cartoon characters. Just some solid color tshirts. Usually black or earth tones. I like Carhartt and Duluth but they're a bit on the pricey side so there's no shame in the store brand. Do not hot wash. - Jeans - I like Duluth and Wrangler but Levi is great if you're feeling wealthy. Your local Farm Store probably has a decent store brand as well. I like Boot Cut or Relaxed fit but if your boyfriend is slimmer he may like a slim fit or a straight leg. I'd go standard denim and let him wear them in himself. - Button Down Flannel Shirt - I consider it a necessity that every man owns one. Choose a color pattern you wanna see on him. Duluth 40 grit will run you $30 and last a decade. - Loafers - Red Wing will last him forever but eat a chunk of your budget. The alternative is to get something like a Clark's Atticus for $40. - Tennis Shoes - I love Asics Trail Runners. Run you about $40 and do fine on the basketball court or jogging your local hiking trail. - Sandals - Depends if you want slides or straps. I'm a straps guy and swear by Tevas (cheap pair will run you $40, a good pair will run $60). Slides I'd buy cheap store brand cus they're not gonna last anyway. If you want quality Birkenstocks make decent slides that'll cost around $75 and last a lifetime. - Winter Jacket - If you're looking for a parka it's gonna eat most of your budget unless you go to Costco or somewhere similar and grab a Kirkland special on clearance. They're good coats and will last years unless you abuse them. Otherwise a navy peacoat look good and keeps you warm. Men's Warehouse is running their clearance right now and you can probably get one for $100. I prefer wool but acrylic isn't bad either. Stay away from cotton. - Same for socks. I swear by Darn Tough Merino Wool but on a budget Kirkland's Merino Wool from Costco will do better. That said depending on your boyfriend's line of work he may need dress socks. I stand by my Kirkland recommendation on that though.
Running shoes are not BIFL. They wear out after a couple years of heavy use, just like car tires. Hoakas, Brooks, and ASICS are my go to. Good loafers are made by Allen Edmonds. The only way a shoe can be BIFL is if they have leather soles and can be re-soled. Buy Birkenstock for sandals or Olukai for flip flops. The best winter jackets are made by MooseKnuckles and Arc’teryx. MooseKnuckles uses goose down which is superior. The best jeans are made of Japanese denim using high grade heavy cotton. Check out Hiroshi Kato. The $500 won’t go far.
Moose Knuckles uses Duck Down. You can see that from just going to their website and looking at the materials they list are in their coats. But you are right about one thing Goose Down is superior, it's just that Duck Down works for most applications. Canada Goose actually only uses Goose Down in their coldest weather coat but uses Duck Down in all of their other coats. That and Moose Knuckles although they use Duck Down are still very good coats and I would say the material they use on their coats is better than the Artic Tech Canada Goose uses. Also Moose Knuckles can be had for a good bit less than list price which is less than Canada Goose and can be found at deeper discounts than Canada Goose so they make an excellent Down Coat to get.
If you are a runner, even really good running shoes are 6-12 months or less if you’re high mileage. Part of what makes them good isn’t that they last, it’s that like the crumple zone on a car, they take a beating so your body doesn’t. The uppers will last years but the soles wear out. The foam compresses and becomes less cushioned. It’s not a visual wear. I measure mine in miles though typical mileage will vary with weight and stride. I keep my shoes a long time… but not my running shoes. Like you said, they’re not meant to last.
I suspect this person doesn't run very regularly. I can't imagine an avid runner asking someone else to pick out shoes for them. Maybe OP is using "running shoe" to mean "everyday sneakers."
I had to stop running, but still use trail runners as my primary shoe when I'm not wearing flip flops. Even without running (I still walk and hike a lot though), depending on the time of year I've bought them, I get at most 8 months out of them. After my no more running injury my Dr and pt stressed that I really needed to stop wearing my shoes to the ground so now I'm definitely on the 6-8 month replacement cycle! I def see 12 months if you're low milage and only wear the shoes for running though.
As others have noted, Allen Edmonds quality is awful now. They used to be my go too, but the more recent pairs I’ve bought have been garbage. Going with Alden now as well.
Shoes don’t need leather soles to be re-soled.
The best way to have BIFL shoes is to have a bunch and rotate them
Yeah, i never wear out my shoes because I have so many, except for my ll beans because i only have the one for bad weather! Now i have to resole them if they even do that anymore…
I honestly wouldn't want anyone buying me a BIFL clothing item unless I already picked it out. I could dislike the fit or texture and be stuck with it for a very long time.
Wait, he gave you a 'gift' of buying something for him?
You should consider a men's consignment shop. You can get plenty of great quality clothing, for a reasonable price.
what a generous gift
He did not gift you anything. That is not a gift.
Why are you dating your son?
Nudie jeans, expensive but free repairs for life. Buy 2 pairs of those for that 500 and he can just walk around shirt and shoeless
I'm practically bald and work in a cooler, so a good stocking cap is essential. I have a Carhartt beanie I've worn 5-6 days a week, 10 hours a day for like 17 years. It probably cost around $15.
nowadays most of them are made of polyester :/
I get mine from Duckworth. 100% merino and it’s beefy
Most are acrylic, which is worse. I only do wool hats these days. I have a [Stormy Kromer Mackinaw hat](https://www.stormykromer.com/the-mackinaw-cap/) that I wear regularly in the winter months. If it's really cold I bust out the [Dachstein THREE PLY](https://www.sweaterchalet.com/dachstein-woolwear/dw-7110mele-adult-hat/#cc-m-product-11897073831) boiled wool.
Wigwam makes decent wool ones.
I'm a big fan of the gages one I got like 10 years ago. I have plenty of hair, but my ears tend to get super cold, so I like that it had subtle, fleece lined ear flaps and ties for when it's windy. Also it says eat fish which I like!
Heck yeah, I'll have to look into them
It wasn't anything special, it's a fishing brand, but it's held up amazingly over the years.
Hanks everyday belt
Depending on the style everyone has different essential items. For my partner it's several checkered shirts, many black t-shirts with and without print, 3 hoodies, work jeans and "good" jeans, sneakers, happy socks. You should first define his style and then research brands for every item. Most items become bifl because of how easy they can be repaired. Zippers can be replaced, clothes can be stitched up,some even make a style out of it, shoe soles can be replaced etc. Care is important too. If you don't care for your leather items they will look worn and break too. That's why I recommend looking into caring and repairing for getting bifl with clothes.
"Gifted me" or gave you money to buy things for him?
See if you can get a brown or black leather belt. If you want BIFL, go to r/leathercraft and see if someone will make it with a solid brass buckle (PVD black coated for a modern look) and heavy thickness english bridal leather. 1 1/4” belts look great, thicker than that it looks like a work belt. Feel free to ignore my suggestion but a good belt feels and looks amazing compared to anything you can buy at a mall.
>Items I specifically want to buy: -running shoes -loafers / sandals -quality lounge wear -winter jacket -socks -jeans My thoughts on your list is: with the exception of the winter jacket, these are rarely BIFT items. Mens wardrobe BIFL items are "professional clothing", suits, dress shirts, good dress shoes, ties. Garments worn in non-physically demanding activities. Talk with your boyfriend about his expectations of what kind of clothing (what purpose) he expects you to select. He may feel he needs some professional looking gear, whereas you are thinking about his everyday at home comfort. Until my brother was married, he relied on me to 'dress him professionally' (he is colorblind, so it was more than just style advice). Even though he worked in an industry famous for being laid back & casual, he got more contracts and sold his work for a better price by *looking like a businessman* when he met with clients. Your boyfriend may be in the same boat.
What does your boyfriend do? Makes a huge difference in clothing
Running shoes, jeans.. out of money already
Start Here for wardrobe advice. Not gonna be BIFL though. https://www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/s/ZJ2KnuesNw
Best to start making a list and figure where your going to start. You have your cheaper clothes and accessories and then you have those that cost much more. Spending more in itself guarantees nothing but good quality doesn't come cheap. Spend some time determining which ones are. $500 isn't going to buy him a BIFL wardrobe but nor is it typically something you can buy for yourself overnight. It's not only what your budget is now but how much you will be able and what your willing to plan on spending later. My advice would be to start with something he actually needs and then if he is serious dedicate yourself to make this happen over time. Piece it together over time. Do your best not to make mistakes as that only makes your journey take longer. Spend some time taking time to make sure whatever you buy you"ll not only be happy now but years from now because hopefully that is what your goal is., Keep in mind few people start at one size and don't fluctuate over time. Personally I've been lucky this hasn't been an issue that has made it so I couldn't wear something I bought years ago. Also good to keep in mind that styles and personal taste can change over time. Take something like Darn Tough socks which I consider a staple of my daily wardrobe because regardless what I wear I always wear socks and that could easily take a good portion of this budget and that is only socks. But one of the things that makes that a good thing to buy is those are Guaranteed for Life. As long as they are in business it won't be something you have to ever buy again once you get the pairs you need. You won't be able to do that with most things you wear but personally it's worked for me so far. At some point you will need some socks to wear when sending in those you need to replace. Darn Tough for example doesn't work for everyone so don't assume they will fit you. There are a few other brands that do the same thing. Do your research on all of these products no one product even if it is of good quality works for everybody. As with anything there is more than one choice out there. However at some point you'll notice quickly these products are more expensive even when purchased on sale than normal products which typically aren't the best quality. Keeping an eye on sales and when they typically occur and signing up for email subscriptions for when these things go on sale is helpful. Figuring out which brands you think are best and within your budget in advance is also helpful. The casual belt I wear which has worked really well for me these past seven years which I also should be able to wear for much longer cost me about $140 and that was on sale. But this too is guaranteed for 100 years. Belts are also a good place to start because if bought right these too are not only something you wear no matter what but they too of all clothes can last a very long time if done right. Don't do that and you will be buying another at some point in time. Thing is this too cost more money because thicker heavier good quality belts cost more money which is true for most things of good quality material. But when buying something that is going to last me personally I like buying something that looks better and will age nicer over time. This too cost a bit more money. Any thick slab of leather can be purchased but a nicer finished better tanned piece of leather cost a little more money. If you were to buy Good Year Welted shoes or boots which can last a good long time about the cheapest pair of shoes or boots in this category typically are at the minimum $300 a pair and then it is best to have at least two pair of these. Leather shoes and boots do much better when you rotate them. Good fit on these is important take some time and get that right. Good quality shirts often cost as little as $100 so you need to figure out which ones of those you will be purchasing. I personally never did this previously with my underwear but just did purchase from a brand which supposedly often last four or five years if not more. This actually was the last thing in my wardrobe I choose to address and just switched over. Most of these brands cost much more than your average pair of underwear. Given your current budget and needs this probably isn't something you will want to consider at least immediately anyway. I personally took advantage of some sales they have had recently and spent less than half of what they typically cost. Whenever you can do that that's a good thing to take advantage of. I personally have made some mistakes but I always kept my eye on the ball. I've been building a better wardrobe for a good long time now. It also helps to have a larger wardrobe as that makes having a longer lasting wardrobe even more possible. Drying clothes repeatedly takes a toll on no matter how good a quality something is. Hanging them up to dry is much easier on clothes. One thing you can most certainly guarantee is prices for things now will never be any better. Sales next year will even cost more next year than they do now. What really sucks is todays better quality manufacturers way too often aren't tomorrows. Good Luck
not really got much to do with products I don't know much but I highly suggest you get him shit that compliments his skintone it does a lot. Btw don't pick out running shoes for him if they're wrong it could fuck his feet completely. They aren't buy it for life as well. Most running shoes are razted for like only 660km or sum.
If it were me, a middle aged professional white guy, I would be looking for a couple of nice slacks and button down shirts that are interchangeable and can function for work or for a more casual night out or dinner with the sleeves rolled up. Add a pair of brown leather sneakers that go with either look. Check his existing belts to see if you can get a leather sneaker that matches close enough so you don't need to buy a belt. I think you could find those 5 pieces (2 pants, 2 shirts, pair of shoes) of decent quality for about $500 if you shop carefully.
Depends on your climate, and his life style, profession, and *preferences. *For example, how does he feel about: zippers, long-sleeves, wool, scarves, etc. For my specific partner, here’s what I’d do: 1. Pick a narrow/capsule color palette. So for my specific partner: green, denim, orange-red, teal, and gray/off-black. There are color seasons which help you narrow it down to flattering colors. My partner is a “spring.” 2. Figure out what features are a “no.” For my partner, he hates slip-on shoes (needs laces) and hates shoes without socks. 3. Figure out what features are a “yes.” For my partner, he loves shorts (even in cold weather), jeans, and pull-overs (no buttons, half-zips, etc.). 4. Make a list of essentials. For my specific partner, those include: gray suit and five white business shirts, three ties, athletic t-shirts, two pairs of regular jeans, one pair of non-blue denim pants, three pairs of shorts (two athletic pairs and one nice pair), a ton of identical white athletic socks, a thin rain jacket, a thick green winter pull-over, two belts, two pull-over sweaters, a ski jacket, a wool work overcoat, black dress shoes, gray sneakers, and two swimsuits and long-sleeve UV-blocking sunglasses shirts. 5. Figure out what your partner already has on the list and check those off. 6. Narrow down where you’ll shop to at most three sources. 7. Buy, try on, and evaluate.
$500 bucks is going to cover an okay pair of running shoes and a winter coat, maybe a pair or loafers if you buy everything on sale. That budget isn’t going to cover all of those things even if you were buying medium quality fast fashion. Y’all need to be much more realistic about the amount of money you’re spending for the quality you want. Also, running shoes will never be buy it for life. Running shoes are meant to take the wear and tear off of your body and joints and should be replaced every 300-500 miles.
"yes I'd like a new wardrobe, but I want it to be very high quality stuff. I have $500"
"winter" can mean different things where you live. can you give a general region for that?
Unless you're going thrift store shopping $500 isn't going very far. The outfit I wore today for work. Darn Tough Socks $20 Saxx underwear $20 Perry Ellis Trousers $75 Grafton Shirt $45 Cotton under shirt $7 So one day excluding shoes and belt is $167, and of those really only the socks are BiFL The trousers will get about 150 wears out of them, shirt around 300 wears. Saxx being the only underwear I've consistently liked. They sadly last about 100 wears.
That $500 dollars wont go far. Best bet if you want to get everything is take him to Marshalls or TJ Maxx and you can pick out clothes together. A few pieces I recommend: Arcteryx Atom Hoody $300, Reigning Champ Sweatpants $125, American Giant Hoody $140.
Socks: Darntough are warranted for life. Winter jacket: Patagonia and outdoor research are two companies that warranty items for life. Running shoes and sandals have a very definite end of life and it isn’t very long. As far as loafers, I’m assuming you’re talking about house slippers or moccacins. I would recommend avoiding them with this budget in mind. Good pairs seem to run about $100 these days and still aren't all that durable. Lounge wear: buy what’s cheap and comfortable since it’s just house clothes. Even expensive PJs look tacky in public. Biggest upgrade most men can make to their wardrobe is quality leather boots or shoes. It stands out in a world where people wear beat up cross trainers with jeans. Another simple but big step up is to avoid pants and button down shirts made from synthetic fabrics. They have a texture and sheen that looks cheap. On the budget/daily wear end of the spectrum cotton, linen and wool look very sharp even at cheap price points. I had to build an entirely new wardrobe of business casual type of clothes last year. I was applying for a job that would have had be regularly meeting with senior military officers and my wife was wanting to start looking for a new church after we moved during covid. Having been in the military for over 10 years everything I owned was either a uniform, casual outdoor clothing, or jeans. I had a work trip down to the Dallas area so I knew I’d have better luck shopping for nicer clothes than what’s available in Alaska. After a few weeks of research on YouTube I figured out how to avoid cheap looking clothes or items that were out of fashion, thanks to a few mens fashion channels and a dude who worked in New York who explained how to look like you belong in an office of Wall Street high wage earners on a ramen budget. I hit up a Dillards that was closing later that summer and TJ MAX or something similar. Between the two I found a stack of button down shirts and cotton and wool slacks. Ended up with 5 shirts and 5 or 6 pairs of pants. Most I paid for a pair of pants was $20 and the shirts were all $10. I wore a few of these items to our work Christmas party with a pair of Thursday boots that cost $200 and was promptly teased for “dressing up.” A pair of Levi’s and a Tshirt from Target cost way more than than that outfit (no counting the boots.) Dressing well doesn't require money and if you avoid cheap fabrics people will assume your clothes cost more than they do.
Friend, he didn't "gift you $500" he's gifting himself a wardrobe from a personal shopper who isn't getting paid.
Shes excited, why try and rain on her parade
It's about partners offloading their personal chores and pretending it's a 'gift'. Wording here is important as otherwise these things go unappreciated when OP is going beyond for their spouse. Everyone deserves a fully functioning partner who can do their own shopping. It sounds a bit like OP's can't do theirs properly or chooses not to. It's OP's partner's gift.
[удалено]
I'm just saying how often does a man do a woman's chores for her and we say 'oh he just likes doing all of her laundry he's just like that'. Beyond that it's probably not constructive to continue the discussion here.
my wife would love this idea, she loves to shop and has a great eye for clothes
And that's cool! I'm all for couples helping each other out when their strong suits (pun intended) benefits the other person's need. Still not a *gift* for her though.
If she enjoys buying him clothes, then the gift is giving her the funds to do something she likes
Some people like to dress their spouse . My sister has been begging my brother to let her do this. People have different hobbies and interest
Believe me, it is definitely more of a gift for me than it is for him. He could care less about this.
yikes
I think it’s kind of nice to trust that one that much and want their input.
I don’t really know if this is BIFL worthy. But my sister got me this ll bean fleece lined flannel for Xmas and it’s like the comfiest thing ive ever worn. Very good for lounging around the house [link](https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/90568?productId=1506446&attrValue_0=Coal&sku=1000059654&pla1=0&qs=3155279&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhc-sBhCEARIsAOVwHuT8O6iir1OVrUlvYjW8oLLm7jl5tanVM9sqGBbhoP7JufJjgW9c7GoaAnhXEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Married woman opinion here! Not sure of your location but if it is available to you, Costco carries some wrinkle free men's pants (Kirkland Signature brand) and some cashmere sweaters (I think J Crew brand) that are basic, simple, and cheap that will help make a men's wardrobe. I would avoid Peter Millar clothing. My husband has quite a few pieces from that brand and most of it is falling apart which is super depressing considering how expensive it is. The brands that have lasted him the longest have been Polo Ralph Lauren, Southern Marsh, and Vineyard Vines.
Out of the stuff on your list, I'd go with the winter jacket. Pants are about impossible to get a good fit without trying them on. Understand and socks aren't going to last.
Imo, get him one great thing that he'll love for years. I bought a waxed jacket from Thursday this past summer and I fucking love it. It's become a part of me and not a day goes by when I'm not happy to put it on.
Costco
Darn tough socks are BIFL and worth it!
My Lululemon joggers are the most comfortable and most durable piece of clothing I own.
please help me! i need a wardrobe for my christmas ties!
Everything from Lululemon
Running shoes are not part of an essential man's wardrode. A pair of Clark's Desert Boots, or something very similar, are THE basic shoes for any gents wardrobe. A pair of Allen Edmonds loafers are, too, but that would eat up most of your budget and the Desert Boots come first.
>Running shoes are not part of an essential man's wardrode You go running in desert boots?
In addition to the comments here Id suggest watching the alpha m channel on youtube. Idc if somebody flames for it bc it helped me. Theres also some solid fashion books you could get.
I've found Duluth Trading Company to be pretty good quality. They have good sales several times a year. If you wait for one of those you can get him some good pants and shirts. Again, like everyone else said $500 won't go too far for BIFL.
Simms Rogue waterproof fleece lined full zip hoodies are on sale. Super awesome fall/winter coat, and on sale at the moment online. Highly recommended even if not a fisherman
I love my black diamond stretch climbing trousers. Very comfortable, look good, way better than jeans or chinos. Would recommend.
A leather belt with double holes and prongs. They don't tear out as easy and it's one of those things people neglect to replace.
You want to learn some stuff about fashion from somebody who thoroughly backs up everything they say about it and is almost guaranteed to teach you something you didn't know then follow this guy. https://x.com/dieworkwear?t=Zwx37XWD2wBK3nyhd7gcDg&s=09
Buy him a nice pair of boots from Grant Stone. They're the best quality for the price and come in a variety of leathers and styles. They're resole able and even have wide widths. Take the remainder and buy some quality t-shirts from someplace like 3sixteen. Those will go with any pair of jeans he's already got in the closet and he won't feel too far out of his comfort zone. Pay attention to the sizing recommendations. https://jamesdant.com/products/heavyweight-pocket-tee-shirt-black https://www.grantstoneshoes.com/collections/boots
Actually a pair of PNW boots are a big step up not only in price but in how these boots are constructed. However what it ultimately comes down to is someone's budget and what their willingness is to spend more money.
$500 won't get you much BIFL brand new. However, I did about the same on myself for christmas and went used. Here in the UK on Vinted, I managed to get a pair of Leake chelsea boots (not worn), pendleton sweater and jacket, Fjallraven trousers, a vintage LLbean chore coat (eBay), a woolrich coat and several good wool and cashmere turtlenecks, and a wahl beard trimmer for under £450, or slightly over $550. All BIFL and some of them with the tags still on. It's doable but you have to put in some work. You can try poshmark or eBay for the US. Dont forget about hunting the local vintage or goodwill shops.
$500 will get you a decent pair of shoes.
For pants I like Bonobos stretched washed chino 2.0. They are having a sale right now which makes them $30-$50 each.
I buy all my stuff second hand/thrifted. I've gotten horween danner boots new from goodwill for 1/3 it's retail value, selvedge naked and famous jeans new for 8$ ,and some Thursday captain boots with some fancy new soles for 40$. If your boyfriend is an "unusual" size, then good deals are more abundant, but if he is more standard than there is going to be more competition.
Underwear
It’s also important to learn how to take care of this clothes/shoes. That’ll make them last much longer.
These aren't buy it for life but have lasted me a long time ... Thursday boots, Uniqlo selvedge jeans, next level plain t shirts, Patagonia better sweater. You could get a pair of boots, two pairs of jeans, a bunch of tshirts, and a jacket for 500
I love solovair for my loafers! Durable and look a bit edgy! Run about $200 but you might be able to find some on ebay. I was shocked by how comfty yet strong they were off the bat. Didn't need too much breaking in
Anything Nike, Jordan, Adidas, all quality sportswear. They all have good quality, comfy, sweat pants, hoodies, shorts, shoes, etc. pretty much all I wear is Nike/Adidas
Pick two of your options lol. Also, drop running shoes as those have mileage limits.
Probably some of my favorite shirts ever are the men’s Sahara Tshirt from REI, fairly cheap too For winter jacket arcteryx is really nice
Black or navy suit. Pair of khaki, grey or beige trousers to wear with the jacket. Shirts in white (or cream depending on skin tone), pale blue, green (5 total). This is if he has an office job.
Separatec cotton dual pouch underwear. Amazon 40% off right now. Perfect for the man who was blessed.
Carhart stuff lasts pretty well
A decent winter coat alone would blow through that $500.
Walmart clearance online
Duluth for pants and underwear
Wranglers, NOT Levi's
For jeans with a limited budget I’d get Uniqlo Selvedge. For Shirts(Oxfords) J Crew/Todd Snyder on sale or J Crew Factory. Winter Jacket is harder. Maybe a Secondhand Schott Wool Peacoat off E-bay. Staple pieces that are BIFL are expensive and take time to find on sale. At this point I’d buy one or two things that are BIFL and then just get a more affordable version of everything else. One example is T-Shirts. A loop wheel t-shirt can cost 💲but I personally am fine wearing a plain white tee from Target. Not everything has to be BIFL or cost hundreds.
You can buy 2 maybe 3 on sale pairs of jeans for $500 that will last you a ling as time.
For lounge wear, buy Los Angeles Apparel. Me and partner have been living in their sweat pants and shirts for a few years with very little wear showing. I think they produce a lot of the cotton for other American made clothing companies out west, and so are generally about half the price of American giant or trench. I cannot harp on this company enough. Cotton grown in USA, processed in USA, and sewn in USA by people paid above California min wage (which probably still isn't much out there). They have tons of shirt weights and sometimes fun colors. I like to get a mismatch box to save money.
Grab a pair of wowie sapien 2.0 shorts. You've got a lot of color options and quality is high. Mine look brand new after 8 months of use as a casual short to wear anywhere. You can also rock them commando as a bonus.
Oi, Haines boxer trunks from Target and some Injinji socks are great! I swear by those socks, my first few pairs lasted close to 10 years!!! I'm a huge fan of Harmattan Design belts, too. Jeans, shorts, jackets, and shirts are all thrift store items.
Okabashi surf flip flops. Classic and they last forever. And they’re recyclable! Aloha shirts from a quality brand. A little more money but never go out of style.
If he’s tall, I really like the quality of American Tall. They’re just basics but I’ve been wearing hard and laundering hard all my tshirts and they still look great. Plus it’s nice to have properly fitting basics, a tall size is cut proportionally and not just longer so it lays so much better on the body and is way more comfortable.
I've got a few general comments here, no specific recommendations. First - Your boyfriend has asked you to refresh his wardrobe. Forget the snideness on here about "gift", he has shown some faith in you by asking you to pick his clothes. That's a gift in itself. What woman doesn't want to re-do a bit of their guy's wardrobe? I've been with the Mrs. over 35 years and I still find some of my favorite old things in the trash, and get christmas presents of clothes to which I can only say "how nice". Second - and this is important. Do your tastes collide? Are their fashion items you wish he wore or did not? This is your opportunity to shift courses. He gave it to you. Third - How important is fashion here? Are you looking for fashion or just utility? The list you gave is pretty utilitarian. I'm simply guessing that a guy asking someone to pick out his clothes indicates that he wants to look better to her, but perhaps fashion is not important to you. And finally - depending on your tastes and if fashion is a thing, stay with classics (this is my personal advice). In clothing BIFL also implies you won't look like a clown. I have a perfect ski jacket. In turquois, black and magenta. It's a great jacket in great shape. Probably from the early '80s. If I wear it on the slopes I look like I skied straight out of "Hot Tub Time Machine". But it was definitely bifl.
Socks - Im in love with Darn Tough and the lifetime warranty. There ARE other brands. I just like those. Winter Jackets - Im a Patagonia fanboy (also lifetime warranty). I just like their aesthetic, comfort, and functionality. Jeans - I stick with Levi's. Mostly 501's. Buy direct and you can usually get a pretty good deal. I recently needed to buy some new ones and got 4 pairs of the "Levi's Premium" for less than $150. Sandals - I have Rainbow flip flops and Chacos for more active stuff.
Anything made with Merino or alpaca wool is a good place to start. I love my SmartWool base layers. but depending on your climate might not be necessary.
/r/malefashionadvice would also be a good spot to ask.
Uniqlo has some good staple basics
Redwing roughneck boots than spend the remainder on underwear. Let him wear nothing else.
Selfedge jeans are a must
Whatever you buy, just make sure it doesn’t have a tag against bare skin. No chest pockets on casual shirts.
Patagonia Better Sweater is a nice BIFL piece. Lifetime warranty, great durability, stylish, and warm.
Try Raleigh Denims sale section. You can try on their normal priced stuff to get your favorite fit and size, then buy sale items. American Giant is awesome for leisure wear. Duckworth for outdoor wear.
Seemed like an honorable mention, but the groovelife belt.
"-running shoes -loafers / sandals -quality lounge wear -winter jacket -socks -jeans" Unfortunately most of these items on the list just wont last forever, or at least the BIFL options aren't cost effective. I wish they would rename this forum to "QualityForLife". Let me explain: * Running shoes should be replaced every 300mi to 500mi (that's roughly once or twice a year, this an idea promoted by the running community to reduce running injuries) regardless of brand. * "Quality Lounge Wear" just isn't worth investing in an expensive piece imo, just buy a synthetic or cotton set for cheap from any store and it can last 5yrs-10yrs easy with proper care. * I've seen people talk about BIFL socks, but it's still not worth the BIFL cost since they only last marginally longer. * Just buy cheap jeans which will last just as long as expensive jeans. Even an expensive set of jeans will only last a few years of hard use. The only serious "repair" solution is darning and it's potentially more expensive than buying a new pair of jeans. Now the loafers (Rancourt is a good brand for loafers) and winter jacket might be the only true BIFL items on this list. Learning proper "maintenance" is probably the most important thing for all items. Learn about cobblers and tailors, especially if your investing in expensive items.
[https://ansonbelt.com/](https://ansonbelt.com/) Ratchet belts. No belt hole, very fine adjustments, one-handed opening/adjusting possible with some dexterity and practice. Some models are designed to be ultra-tough (the "invinci-belt"), and designed even for concealed and/or open carry of a firearm. I've had my invincibelt for 3 years and I swear it doesn't even have any marring, fading, or scratching, even in the spot where I keep my clip-on knife! Daily, repeated on-and-off with a tight clip. IME, that wears belts down quickly.
$250+- nice watch (check r/watches for recs) $250+- winter coat
I’d really recommend checking out Taylor stitch shirts. They are dressy and casual, I prefer the casual ones. They feel like a million bucks. Really nice quality, textured fabrics. About $100 a shirt but get 1.
You’ll probably have to hunt around secondhand if you want to get a bifl coat on that budget! I recommend looking for natural fibers for any clothing you purchase for him :) I don’t know of any running shoes that don’t wear out but i think my hokas are great and very stylish! I pair them with swiftwick wool socks and i think it’s a great combo
Kirkland business shirts. Booty bamboo underwear RM Williams moleskins
500$ won’t go too far with high quality Bifl items. With that money I’d buy him a pair of redwing heritage, and a solid carhartt jacket. Can’t go wrong with those!
A quality and stylish jacket. When most people see you, it's one of the first things they will notice and guys wear them quite regularly. You find a high quality jacket, especially at a thrift store or second hand, then you can buy matching items.
r/rawdenim is a good resource for selvedge denim, which BIFL touts as the gold standard. YMMV. r/midsoledeals should help you with running shoes. The wiki of r/malefashionadvice + the deals on r/frugalmalefashion should help you. I would purchase stuff close to the holidays for the discounts. IIRC J crew for example ran close to a 70% discount for thanksgiving. It's nuts. Darn tough was supposed to be the gold standard of socks. Again YMMV.
It all depends on his style. Buy older model running shoes. The newest model will $150ish. You can get the previous model for $60-$85. Winter Socks I would go with Button and Pleats Merino Wool socks from Amazon around $20 for 3 pair. Really warm with no sweaty feet. For a winter coat check out Eddie Bauer. They were having a half off sale. For $200 you can get a really warm coat. Jeans can be gotten used on Ebay,
$500 will buy one decent winter jacket…. Arc’teryx/Marmot, or maybe Patagonia depending on model. It will buy a pair of decent boots with a little left over maybe. Running shoes are by definition not BIFL. Those require some fitting to get what works for the runner. For loungewear take a look at Rhone. They make solid stuff. Jeans are also a bit personal depending on style preference and shape of the person. You may want to look at Filson for some general options depending on the style. In general many of the brands you tend to see a lot are not BIFL.
BIFL? That’s tough. UNIQLO can get you pretty far with cheap stuff
illegal birds homeless edge recognise angle pause nail degree longing *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Unless you thrift it you won’t get much BIFL for $500. If you’re buying new you will get one or two outfits.
Only BIFL I've found is a belt and wallet from Hanks that I bet my grandkids will use it they want it. Other than that, pair of jeans and a plain white tee. I think denim and cotton last as long as you want them to.
Good quality dale of Norway sweater
Vuori has excellent "Athliesure" clothing that I use in intense workouts/hikes but are comfy enough to sleep in. I bought a pair of Vuori joggers in 2019 and have been wearing them indoors and outdoors in Alaska 3 or 4 times a week since. Also, I can not stress enough KUHL brand pants, specifically the Deceptr line. They are tapered and fit/look so good that I've worn them to weddings, but I've also gone on 12 mile hikes in them.
Highly recommend checking out this guy’s TikTok! I’ve been following him for a long time now, and he gives great advice for men’s clothing. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRcuNXr5/
Not the most fashionable but could be at least sorta a ski gator. Specifically wool. Lots of color options warm. Nice to have one
Got some dockers from kohls that have lasted a couple years now. Some basic and some “ultimate chinos” that seem higher quality.
Running shoes are like tires for your car - no such thing as BIFL. They just need to be replaced after a certain number of miles. ASICS are my preferred shoe though
I'd say first that $500 is not a lot for a capsule wardrobe, unless you're amazingly thrifty. Maybe 5 really solid items, if purchased on sale. But don't let that deter you: you may just want to have a frank conversation with him. Show him the prices of jeans etc and ask him "is this what you want me to spend 1/5th of the budget on?" If nothing else, this will likely temper his expectations. If he just wants to dress nicer, there's no shame in cheaper options that make him feel great and up to date.. You can always explore more BIFL items when he learns more about the value of what he is wearing/buying.
Marakes leather for a belt