Figuring out what men’s essential accessories are is a challenge, even for the most experienced gentlemen. There’s always something new in the market, especially for us men who were never the demographic for self-care items in the first place.
With the increasing availability of men’s products, how do you differentiate what’s essential or not? Well, we’re here to help you figure out what you should and should not get. While this list covers very basic items, there’s a lot we need to go over so strap yourselves in!
Here are our top 10 picks of men’s essential accessories, as well as some honorable mentions! Let’s dive right in.
Confidence
While this might seem like a corny topic, this isn’t actually part of the top 10. This short Segway is a disclaimer and reminder that being confident is your number one essential. Now, don’t confuse confidence with a swaggered walk and a snobby attitude.
Being a pretentious douche is more arrogance than confidence. In this article, we’ll go over a lot of things that you may not be comfortable with at first, especially if you’re new to the world of buying your own stuff as a man.
With that being said, understand that confidence is not about being sure that people will like you, but being okay if they don’t. It’s the assurance that you’ll be alright regardless of the outcome, knowing full well that you’re comfortable as yourself.
The items below are not listed in any particular order, as all of these are must-haves. Now, let’s start with the first items on this list!
Two Handkerchiefs
A little overkill? No. There’s no wrong time to have two handkerchiefs ready, especially when a damsel in distress or random person needs help. Being that one guy who offers a handkerchief to someone in need is both a feel-good gesture and one that’s always commendable.
The reason you need two handkerchiefs is so you don’t give away the one you use. It would be distasteful and very inappropriate to give someone a handkerchief that’s smeared with your germs. Having two hankies means you can keep yourself clean, while having one ready to offer out.
This is especially helpful for any social setting that involves potential friendships. You can pleasantly surprise anyone if you have a spare handkerchief that you can let them borrow when they’re in a pinch.
Don’t ask for it back though, as this is the perfect opportunity for a second meeting. While that might seem like a waste of money, the gesture goes a long way with the right people. Managers, business owners, or anyone who values a kind gesture will go out of their way to get it back to you, and then some.
Pocket Knife
You’ll never realize just how convenient having a small knife is until you finally have one. Keeping a pocket knife with you at all times can go a long way, especially if you’re a handyman.
Don’t pick out a big knife as it would leave a significant bulge on your pants. There are a lot of knives in the market that fold neatly and seamlessly. Card knives make the perfect cutting accessory that you can carry with yourself at all times.
A card knife allows you to fold the card into your wallet, just like a normal bank, ID, or credit card. You don’t need a long knife for this one, as it works more of an accessory instead of something for self-defense.
Getting a 2-inch knife gives you plenty to work with, cutting away loose threads, ties, wrappers, and so on. Believe me, I never realized just how useful having a pocket knife was until I had one at the ready.
A Formal Watch
With casual wear, you can pretty much get away with not having a watch at all. We understand that there’s a demographic of men who don’t like wearing watches. For what it’s worth, I find them annoying when I’m typing away in front of my computer too.
However, there’s never a good reason as to why you shouldn’t be wearing a proper watch to a formal event. Formal occasions call for the best of the best, and this includes putting on a dangling clock around your wrist.
Metal straps are great, but leather is arguably a better dress watch because it’s less popular. There’s a sophistication and sense of style that a leather watch brings to the party that metal straps just don’t do well enough of.
With that being said, try not to wear rubber straps or outdoorsy looking watches. These are meant for the outdoors and should be kept there. The right fit for a watch is when it can slide up and down half an inch or so. Keep it a little loose for the after party though!
Electric Clipper
It’s the 20th century. Grab yourself an electric clipper and start manscaping yourself. Seriously. No one likes hair. If you have it on your head, then sure. Beard and moustache? As long as it grows well. Pubes, stomach, thighs, and underarms? Neanderthal.
All humor aside, hair that grows back longer and thicker after shaving is an old wives’ tale. Manscaping yourself will not make you hairier! In fact, it’s going to make you smell better and bathe easier.
Yes, you will have to dedicate about 20 minutes every 10-15 days to groom yourself, but the results are worth it! Muscle definition is much clearer with shaved hair, and germs won’t colonize your body as much as it used to.
Shaving will make you sweat less, boost your confidence, look better, and even improve your sex life. Perhaps the reason why the Mrs. doesn’t get on her knees often enough is not because of a decreasing faith in God, but due to the forest around your genitals.
It just feels better. Knowing that you aren’t sweating, your pubes aren’t fermenting, and your nether regions are always groomed is a confidence boost unlike any other. With that said, get an electric clipper for your arms, underarms, thighs, and around your pubes. You can leave your delicate balls to your razor.
Belt
Don’t be that guy who adjusts his pants every 2 minutes because it’s loose. Even if you do have well-fit pants, you never know when your zipper breaks or your button falls off. Having a belt around your waist gives you that extra bit of security you need when heading off to the day.
If you’re thinking about what kind of belt you should buy, get a leather one. It doesn’t have to be the expensive kind, but it helps to get one with excellent quality. Remember, you don’t need a lot of belts so it would be a smart investment to purchase one that will last you years.
That being said, leather is a great material for a lot of reasons. One, it’s formal and works well with dress clothes, especially for parties and other prestigious occasions. Two, it’s sexy and comes in handy if you and your lady are feeling raunchy.
Overall, having a belt just gives you that confidence boost like something is keeping you secure. Say goodbye to loose pants and hello to another of men’s essential accessories.
Sunscreen
Having a crusty pair of heels might be something you can hide, but don’t cheap out on sunscreen! Your face is the number one thing people see of you every day, so you should definitely go the extra mile to take care of your face and its wrinkles.
Sunscreen helps protect you against harmful rays from the sun that will wear and tear the tissue on your face. This will literally help minimize wrinkles, dryness of skin, and prevent the premature aging of your skin cells.
Don’t make the mistake of discarding this entry just because you don’t work outside or under the heat of the sun. Even if you’re inside a building or under the shade, up to 80 percent of the UV rays from the sun can still hit your face.
This is especially important for those of you gentlemen that like to take care of your face with creams and moisturizer. If you want to look good 10 to 20 years from now, sunscreen should be the number one product on your face.
Boxer Briefs
Arguably one of the most underrated pieces of clothing a man can wear—boxer briefs are a hit and miss that you live with for years. If you take the time to sit down and think about the secrets of the universe, you might realize that your underwear plays a big role in your life.
For one, it’s something you wear every day. That alone should let you know how essential it is to find the best of the best to protect your balls and give you that premium comfort. Additionally, just who do you think gets to see your briefs?
Your dog, yeah. Guy friends? They’ll even try to take them off. But your date? A crush you’ve been meaning to hit it off with? If you’re fortunate enough to end up in someone’s room after dinner, don’t put yourself under the bus by wearing some tighty-whities.
Even if your body isn’t anything impressive, at least wrap your package in a great pair of underwear. Besides, a good pair will last you for a long time and it’s just one of those things that only you know about, but pays off in the right situations.
Wallet
Although these items aren’t arranged in any order, there’s a consistent theme here that you can find with every accessory. It’s something you can use for years. A great wallet can last you a long time, especially if you take care of it.
There are a lot of affordable and durable wallets you can choose from in today’s market. A popular variation is the metal case with a mechanism that pushes your cards out from the top when you need them.
If you’re a classic man, you can get a vintage leather skin wallet. Those never go out of style. Whatever the case, ditch the coin purse or “pocket wallet” and don’t put your bills in your pants or your bag.
Headphones or Earphones
A great pair of noise cancelling earphones or headphones can feel like a blessing from heaven in many situations. Noisy transit and commute, waiting in line, going out on a jog, working out at a gym, there are literally tons of situations where earphones are the best company to have.
Drown out the noise and focus on work, or receive a phone call even in the most rowdy situations. Don’t tell anyone, but you can even just leave them in your ears without playing any music. This way no one gets to bother you and you don’t have to get distracted by music, if you prefer working in silence.
We suggest getting a pair of Bluetooth earphones, as the wireless earpieces provide a lot of value for its now affordable price. A good pair of wireless buds can let you listen to music while your phone remains safely in your pocket or bag.
However, if you’re particular about getting the best audio out of your songs, then wireless technology still hasn’t come close to studio-level headphones. You’ll be better off getting a wired headset that’s worth a couple hundred bucks to satisfy your audiophiliac needs.
Cologne
Looking good also means smelling good. If you’re easy on the eyes, try not to repulse women with your smell when they get close to you. Getting an effective spray of cologne can be one of the sexiest things you do even before striking a conversation.
Just make sure you don’t spray too much on yourself, making the space around you a nostril-irritant zone. A good rule of thumb when getting cologne is by spraying it on your skin first and smelling it after waiting for 15 minutes.
This is because the chemicals from the cologne will mix with your natural musk, giving off a scent that’s unique to your body’s chemistry. Choosing the right cologne can be an intimidating investment, considering you’ll be left with any entire bottle if you aren’t pleased with what you purchased.
That being said, we’ve published a complete guide on how to choose the right cologne for you. Take the extra 5-10 minutes to check that and find out how you can pick the perfect scent for you!
Honorable Mentions
Now for the honorable mentions on this list. These didn’t quite make it into the top 10, but there’s definitely a time and place for these items on your wardrobe.
Dress Socks
Don’t show up to the party with a nice looking suit, leather watch, and a lazy pair of no-show foot socks. Wear the appropriate attire and invest in a good $8 pair of dress socks, you can rest assured they will go a long way.
The lack of flair in a black suit can be made up for with the right pair of socks and tie. You can give yourself the benefit of choosing this out yourself, as this is a subjective choice that enhances your personality.
Hair Gel
Another item that you can definitely get for yourself is a small container of hair gel. You can get a pomade instead if your hair strands are thinner than normal. Point is, hair gel is a great item to have in your arsenal when your hair doesn’t feel like cooperating.
Take it a step further and invest in some beard oil to keep your facial hair healthy and properly maintained. This way, you can rest assured that every follicle on your face is healthy and fashioned beautifully.
Baseball Hat
You don’t have to be a dad to get a good baseball hat. Sometimes, having the sun away from your face comes in handy during any outdoor activity. At the same time, if you’re too tired to style your hair with gel, you can cover it up with a cap!
A baseball hat is an umbrella term here, you can pick any headwear that works better with your outfit. Despite that though, don’t underestimate the power of a good hat! It works well with a lot of outfits and doesn’t look too bad, especially if you get one with a good design!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Men’s Essential Accessories
What accessories should every man have?
There are a lot of accessories that every man ought to have. Essentially, you can break this down to a wallet, watch, and cologne. However, if you want to be completely equipped, then the list extends to more than ten items.
Are suits part of men’s essential accessories?
For the most part, yes. You should always have a suit ready for formal occasions, especially for a proper funeral. That being said, if your work completely avoids formal parties, then you can stick with just renting out suits instead.
A Final Word From The Trending Man
A lot of items can be considered one of men’s essential accessories. While every man is different and you will have essentials that matter to you that isn’t listed here. Having the top 10 accessories in this list is something every man should have at the ready.