The Coach Transatlantic Travel Carryon would be my "Go Bag". Image from Coach.com.

Every dude needs a “Go Bag”. 

Repeat, every dude needs a “Go Bag”.  Why?  Because when you have to make that last minute trip to say, er, Vegas with your boys or say, Vegas with your girl or say Vegas by yourself, you want to make sure you can just take off in a moment’s notice.

And why not make your “Go Bag” something that is stylish, classic and can stand the test of time?

My personal preference would be something in brown leather with a worn patina.  It just says, “yeah I’ve been there and I’m not going to talk about it.”

Just make sure you’ve got all the other necessities in there for a night of mayhem:  Toothbrush, toothpaste, cashmere sweater, “money” suit, swimming trunks, cologne, clean underwear and some cash.

Actually make it enough cash to get you into just enough trouble, but not have to worry about making rent next month.

For more information about the Transatlantic Travel Carryon, you can check out Coach’s official website at http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/-men_totestravel-10551-10051-88-en?t1Id=82&t2Id=88&tier=2&LOC=LN.

The Hurley Weezer hoodie. Available at (and image from) pacsun.com

I love hoodies.

If you want to be gangster, you just wear a black hoodie and cover 1/2 your face with a hood.  If you want to have some street cred, simply wear a hoodie underneath your leather jacket.  If you want to stay warm, just get a hoodie with some thick and cushy lining.

You can get them at a bargain basement price or you can get them from places you have to take out a second mortgage.

You can get them dark or you can get them light.  You can get them thick or you can get them thin.

You can get them anywhere in between.

But the most important thing is: you should get one for yourself to add to your fashion essentials.

We’re rapidly approaching summer, and we need to get a few pieces to round out our wardrobe.  While you are planning your escape to that tropical island, or a beach wedding, or yachting through the Greek Isles, don’t forget to pack your linen pants.  They are dressed up enough to hit the nicest restaurant on Lake Como, and relaxed enough to roll around in the sand with your new French girlfriend in Biarritz.

Looks like someone shares our affinity for linen pants.

Most basic linens are drawstring in a very neutral color.  You really can’t go wrong with that.  I would shy away from pleats, or at least keep them to a single, to stay true to the simple nature of the pant.  I’ve owned royal blue linens, courtesy of Ralph Lauren Purple Label, that were pretty bold if I do say so myself.  I still have a pair in black by Calvin Klein that I have had for more than a few seasons.  The faded shades of blue and even green can be a nice little departure from the norm.  I always like white, they just seem crisp and clean.  Invest well and take care of them, the style is timeless and they will last.  Pair them with a linen shirt, a loose v-neck t-shirt, a summer weight sweater, or collared shirt, and then just wait for the lovely ladies to start flocking.  Bring it on, summer, we’re ready!

Collar up, collar down, layered, doubled up, there is no wrong way to wear a polo shirt.

What a d-bag.

I stand corrected.

The polo shirt has been around for a long time. Brooks Brothers produced it in the late 1800′s, Lacoste gave it a go in the 1920′s, and in the 70′s Ralph Lauren made it the fashion staple that it is today. The genius of the polo is that it was made for sport, AND it looks good. Imagine going out to a club in your UnderArmour Heat Gear. Not gon’ happen. The polo is as great with some linen pants sailing to Monte Carlo as it is comfortable with cargos on safari in Swaziland.

Gratuitous hot chick shot. Marisa Miller in Victoria's Secret polo.

My take on the polo is that it should have a little color to it. Black or white is blase. Since the style itself is so conservative, you can go big with the color. Crazy shades of blue, or even more chick friendly shades like purple or pink are all good with me. The originators Lacoste and Ralph Lauren have an endless array of fit and color options, and Penguin and Fred Perry bring something a bit different to the game. Nike and Adidas have killer fabrics for golf polos, and Banana Republic and Hugo Boss make styley options, too.

 Just one last note, if your corporate logo is on your polo, don’t wear it out socially.

We couldn't help but insert the other thong here. Image courtesy of Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Thinkstock.

I’m not a big fan of wearing shoes unless I have to and they are some kick ass shoes.  

Not kick ass like in a Bruce Lee kind of way, but kick ass in a Zoolander walk-off kind of way.  California surf culture combined with increasingly acceptable casual fashion has led sandals to be pretty mainstream.  

I mean, you can wear them with jeans and still go out to a nice dinner.  Ohhh, that’s rich.  I’ve got a few pairs, but let’s break down the basics of flip flops, thongs, chinelas, oh, you get the point.

Everyone should have a basic pair of flip flops.  

I go for Reef Dr. Simmons.  They have a bit of arch support, and a decent tread.  The footbed is also cut in a way that keeps my feet cool, and let’s them breathe.  If you want a cool color, and don’t mind that you are just wearing a piece of rubber on your feet, then Havaianas are a good option.  They are also a favorite of your everyday ordinary Brazilians like Gisele Bundchen.

Olukai Ohana, that is supple

Stepping up to the higher end, the new kid on the block is Olukai.  They are styley, comfortable, and durable.  I own a couple pairs of the Makau.  They are a little more spendy ($50-$100), but I think they are definitely worth it.  On the high fashion end, Prada has always brought the heat.  Now, these can be a downright ridiculous sum to spend, but, it’s only money, right?

Summer’s right around the corner, so get your footwear game tight.  And cut those toenails!

Cypher Brigg Quiksilver boardshorts. Available on quiksilver.com.

I don’t care if you’re gay, straight, live in Miami, live in Europe or don’t care too much for the beach – every self respecting man should have a pair of board shorts in his closet.

I’m not talking about swimming trunks either.  The only people who should wear elastic wasteband swimwear are children under the age of 10.  As an adult, you should get the real deal boardies used by pros and bros alike.

Originally designed for surfers, these fashion essentials will help you stay legit when the summer comes back around on your side of the world.  Just make sure they fit well and fit correctly.  Last thing you want is to have all your glory on display when the shorts stretch from the water.

The Standard 18" board shorts from Quiksilver.

Due to the latest retro fashion craze, the great thing now is manufacturers have been giving different options for board short lengths.  You can go from the original 22″ to shortest 16″ to match your taste and preference.

My personal preference would be to go a bit shorter for practical and physical reasons.  I’m below average height and play a lot of beach sports. Having my shorts get caught on my knees is just a hassle.

Tom Ford.

Yesterday, I was going through some of the online videos from GQ.com and saw an exclusive interview with Tom Ford regarding the experience with his new movie, style and what he feels are fashion essentials.

My interest was peaked when he discussed men’s fashion essentials because (as you already know) we have a whole fashion essentials section on our site dedicated to the most basic items a man would need in his closet.

If you’ve been following our site closely, you know that we have featured Tom Ford as an ESM Icon, so we definitely wanted to hear what he has to say (especially when it comes to fashion).

Here’s Tom’s list:

• A good pair of jeans
• A good pair of shoes
• A beautiful watch
• A perfect tuxedo
• A good dark suit
• A tie

He believes that you can go to almost any occassion with those very specific items.

The vintage racing jacket from Grand Prix Originals. Our first fashion essential.

Here’s our list (to date):

• A vintage motorcycle jacket
• Ray-Ban aviators
• A vintage bomber jacket
• A classic chronograph with automatic movement
• A valet
• A basic black tie
• A vintage track jacket
• Black Havaianas
• A vintage t-shirt
• A pocket square
• A v-neck t-shirt
• A pea coat
• A dopp kit
• A velvet jacket
• A black suit
• Levi’s 501 jeans
• A cashmere sweater
• A classic tux
• Wrap around sunglasses
• A killer pair of cufflinks
• A pair of khakis
• A casual white button up
• A pair of loafers
• A cable knit turtleneck
• A scarf
• A black turtleneck
• A golf umbrella
• Slip-on boots
• Pinstriped pants
• A pair of Chuck Taylor all-stars

Purely based on the length of Tom’s list versus ours, you would probably think that our fashion essentials aren’t quite “essentials”.  I beg to differ.  Since all of the items on Tom’s list are on ours, I would like to think of his list as the abbreviated version.

If you’re interested in seeing the full interview, check it out here.

The ever classic Chuck Taylors from Converse.

For about $44, why wouldn’t you have a pair of Chuck Taylors in your shoe quiver?  Originally created in 1917 as an “All Star”, these shoes have stood the test of time decade after decade as a quintessential classic.

From rockabillys to hip-hop legends to former U.S. presidents, it seems that Chuck Taylors have been a favorite of many well known figures in history.

James and Chucks.

There are, however, things you shouldn’t do when it comes to Chuck Taylors.  First off, don’t go with the crazy colors that are available.  Stick to white, black, navy blue or grey.  These will go with almost anything you’ve got.  Secondly, keep those babys clean.  They’re cheap enough where you can replace them after they get worn down.  Finally, don’t be afraid to use them in different types of situations.  You’ll be surprised how situation appropriate Chuck Taylors can be at almost any occassion.

JFK with his chucks.

Finally, you can get Chuck Taylor All-Stars pretty much anywhere from your local Footlocker to almost every online retailer.  Go grab yourself a pair and see what everyone has known about for the past century.

For more information about the history of the Chuck Taylor All-Stars, you can check out its entry in Wikipedia.  You can also view more information about Converse on their official site.

Italian wool pinstripe Ludlow suit pant from J. Crew.

Every man should have a pair of pinstriped pants in his closet.  Whether they are grey, blue, brown or black, pinstriped pants go great for almost all occassions.

Business casual at work?  Try on a pair of grey pinstriped pants with brown suede shoes, a matching belt and a crisp button up and you will have that additional detail which gives you that distinct look.  Going on a date?  Pair those same pants with a black v-neck t-shirt and black slip on boots to give yourself that casual-cool look.  Going on your friend’s boat but lost your luggage except for the pair of pinstriped pants you wore on the plane?  Pair it with a cashmere sweater and some Converse Chuck Taylors and you should be all good.

Pinstriped pants from Banana Republic.

Whatever the occassion, those pinstriped pants can always work with whatever you’ve got.  Even that black tie affair.  Just throw on a crisp shirt and a velvet jacket and people will think you own the place.

Kenneth Cole's "Long time a bow" boots from bluefly.com.

For something that looks good and saves your socks from getting all wet, we recommend getting yourself a pair of slip-on boots for the season.  Something with a sleek silhouette, light and hopefully has a solid sole with a rubber bottom (for slippage).

They’ll run you anywhere from $125-$500 (if you want to spend $500, but you shouldn’t) but should last you about 2 years even with high usage.

The Clean Cut by Kenneth Cole. Available on kennethcole.com.

For the lower end prices of the spectrum, definitely check out Macy’s, Kenneth Cole, Aldo and Banana Republic.  For the higher end, I would recommend not paying full price and taking a look at Bluefly.com and Overstock.com.

The Township by Kenneth Cole. Available on kennethcole.com.

The GustBuster umbrella from gustbuster.com. One of the most popular umbrellas for the PGA tour.

I think the funniest things to look at when it is raining really, really hard are oversized men with undersized umbrellas.  You know, the umbrellas that barely cover your head and everything else ends up getting wet anyway?  Why not just buy yourself a big hat?  It will be much more convenient and cooler to look at.

For me, there is nothing better than a really nice golf umbrella.  They’re big, sturdy and worth every penny when it is raining hard and gusting harder.

There are a lot of golf umbrellas out there and they range from $20 to $50, depending on the size and quality.  Although they are a little bulkier to carry, they are worth it – especially when you see that pretty lady in the rain without an umbrella.  Trust me, your big umbrella will save the day (if you know what I mean).

The 42" Nike collapsable golf umbrella from scorelow.com.

The black turtleneck. The go-to shirt for fighting crime... or committing them.

Our “Fashion Essentials” segments aren’t exactly rocket science (as you probably already noticed).   Much like this black turtleneck, they are very simple and available in almost every retailer.

Our goal for Fashion Essentials is very simple – if you were to purchase each item suggested in every article, you would have a foundation for a very functional and stylish wardrobe that will last you for a long time.

You can even pair it with a gun holster.

Better yet, each item we select can pretty much mix and match with each other.  For example, the black turtleneck can go with a peacoat, a camel colored overcoat or even a velvet jacket (if you’re feeling a little Bruce Wayne).  Pair it with some aviators and a vintage leather motorcycle jacket to look like the King of Cool.  Pair it with a ski mask and you’re ready to make a withdrawal from your local bank (I’m just sayin’).

For a more modern flare, make sure to get one that is a little fitted, but no matter which style you choose, you can’t go wrong with a simple black turtleneck.