Best Men’s Accessories: The Fashion Essentials for Every Man
Offering the perfect finishing touch to any look, men's accessories are a far cry from being an insignificant addition to your wardrobe. They're a great way to dress up even the most basic outfits and offer a fast track to style success – so, make sure you leave enough room in your drawers and cupboards for them! As well as supplying an extra twist to your outfits, accessories often serve a practical purpose – keeping you warm, sheltering your eyes from harmful rays of sunshine, informing you of the time… The list goes on! Obviously, the functionality may differ dependent on the item, but the look-good, feel-good nature of men's accessories is a constant. So, without further ado, here’s our recap of all the essential accessories every guy should own…
Accentuate your neckline!
Just like most accessories, scarves have a dual purpose. First off, they’ll protect you from the elements, whether that’s the buffeting wind in autumn, the freezing cold in winter or simply a light breeze in the milder months. They supply warmth in abundance, and let you nuzzle into super-soft snugness. Second, they bring a chic energy to any everyday outfit, promising to complement any top, shirt, jumper or jacket, so long as the colours work well together! For added eye-catching style, opt for a chunky scarf or one with a playful pattern.
Keeping the focus on your neckline, other accessories to adorn include ties and bow ties. Better suited to smarter and more sophisticated outfits – and intended for formal occasions and the office rather than relaxed weekends – these add an extra-refined touch of sophistication to your finest garments. Evidently, bow ties are best worn with a classic suit, for certain super-swanky occasions. Ties, however, belong in the group of smart accessories that can be donned whenever! While their raison d’être is one-dimensional – let’s face it, these accessories are purely decorative – their guarantee to elevate any look means they still deserve a top spot on our list of wardrobe must-haves. Choose from plain and patterned designs, to spruce up any style. Take our word for it, investing in a couple of ties is a good idea for all guys!
Men's leather belts or braces? Both make for a brilliant accessory…
Although a little retro, a fine set of braces is a worthy addition to any guy’s wardrobe, even in 2024. While some men may be more in the habit of adorning this accessory than others, there’s nothing to lose in giving them a go. You might love them so much that you decide to pair them with your trousers on a regular basis! Braces are an easy way to jazz up any look, and are the perfect complement to a basic shirt-trouser combo. So, if effortless style is what you’re after, these might be all you need…
Far more common than braces, belts can no doubt be found in almost every wardrobe up and down the country! Practical and aesthetically pleasing, they keep your trousers and tucked-in shirts in place, while marrying together whatever you’ve opted for on your top and bottom half. But do you have all the models you need? Diverse in design and coming in an array of colours and materials – including the highest quality leather, nubuck-effect split-leather, and cotton canvas – there are numerous styles you could opt for. A studded belt – embellished with a metal medallion or smooth-finish end piece, and featuring a bold buckle – will pair perfectly with any authentic look. Think checked shirts and jeans, or any outfit inspired by old-school Westerns! Woven belts on the other hand are another stylish option, great for infusing texture into any outfit and smartening up even the most basic shirt and trouser (or polo shirt and trouser) pairing. The added benefit of these designs is that they don’t feature any holes – you can simply slip the prong of your belt through the interlocking weaves, meaning a great fit is guaranteed. These practical designs are therefore perfect for fluctuating waistlines, promising total comfort from one day to the next! While split-leather black and tan belts are perhaps the most versatile models – smart-casual and easy-to-pair with trousers and shorts in any shade – one less common but oh so handy design to have at your disposal is a hidden money belt. Featuring a cleverly concealed inside zip pocket where you can stash your cash, this type of belt is travel-friendly and even practical for your day-to-day excursions.
Men’s wrist and pocket watches – a timeless and trendy essential, to keep you punctual!
Here’s yet another accessory that is both functional and fashionable – the wristwatch! Whether you’re more of an analogue man or a digital dude well accustomed to our digital age, this is one style piece you should never go without! If you love the outdoors and are an exercise enthusiast, then a sporty model should be your first shout, especially if your personal style revolves around activewear. Split leather designs with contrasting topstitching offer a more classic, understated look, while stainless steel or plated models with metal links and numerous dials will bring more attention-grabbing glitz and glam to smarter outfits. You could even opt for a skeleton watch, carefully carved with no-end of subtle details, for next-level style.
While it’s a tale as old as time that men's watches are forever on trend, your style choices are not limited to this one timepiece. If you’re someone that favours less conventional, more daring looks, or if you simply don’t love the feel of wearing a watch on your wrist (side note: hypoallergenic designs are great for those who suffer from allergies), then you might choose to opt for a pocket watch. It's up to you whether you go for a silver or gold-coloured metal chain. Channeling vintage vibes, these designs will add an extra-special, traditional touch to all your smart-chic looks.
Headwear, from wooly winter hats to cool, casual caps
Any man's wardrobe is incomplete without headwear. For top to toe fashion, hats are essential. Whenever the sun graces the sky, a baseball cap should be your go-to accessory (along with a sleek set of sunglasses of course)! Perfect for protecting your head, face and eyes from UV rays, caps with a wide visor are your forever friend. In hot weather they’ll keep you cool, and in chillier temperatures they’ll grant you a little extra insulation. Despite their practicality, over recent decades caps have become an iconic addition to sports-inspired casual clothing closets thanks to their stylish character. Intricate in design, you can find caps with piped finishes, embroidered or printed motifs, contrasting panels and eyelets, and so much more… With so many styles to choose from, all you have to do is select a design that takes your fancy and that features an adjustable tab at the back for an optimal fit. While baseball caps are best kept to laidback looks, flat caps are a great alternative when a slightly smarter edge is required.
Caps may be a year-round essential, but their cold-weather counterparts are just as deserving of a place in your wardrobe! Intended for autumn, winter and the beginnings of spring, knitted wooly hats or super-soft fleece models will keep you ultra-cosy in cold climes. Some winter hats are even water-resistant, protecting you from damp and drizzly weather. So, as temperatures drop, style up with a snug design! Plain models will pair with anything, while patterned designs will provide a festive look.
What is the most important accessory of a men's wardrobe? It’s a bag – great for travel and daily adventures!
While bags have traditionally been a go-to accessory for women, men have every right to get in on the action. After all, you need somewhere to put your wallet! Bags win first place when it comes to men's must-have accessories, due to their indisputable practicality. Trust us, once you've put a men's bag to the test, you'll never look back... They're everything a man could want. With multiple compartments to store all your things, they'll let you go about your daily ventures hands-free and worry-free!
While there’s a huge variety of men’s bags available on the market, backpacks are particularly great for day-to-day and weekend travel, as well as outdoor adventures. Most of these models are sporty by nature, but smarter designs that are more suited to the workplace are easy enough to come by. Holster bags are another option for carrying your essentials. Best paired with casual clothes, these cross-body or over-the-shoulder designs are intended for everyday use, and you'll love their lightweight and compact style. Messenger bags are on the smarter end of the spectrum and, last but not least, bum bags are great for city breaks and travels!
How important are accessories for men? It turns out very...
And there's our selection of key style pieces to complete your wardrobe and bring a touch of sophistication to all your outfits. As we've already implied, accessories are a vital addition to every man's personal clothing collection, in terms of both style and practicality. Keeping our advice in mind, be sure to browse our full selection of men's accessories, investing in the most important items. With hundreds of designs to choose from, there really is something for all tastes!
Now you've got your fashion accessories sorted, ready to set off your whole look, you may be searching for even more style advice to keep you trendy from head to toe! If that's the case, why not take a look at our other dressing guides? From the ultimate capsule wardrobe for men to insights on what to wear with jeans, Atlas For Men has got you covered.