As males, we already have been blessed by the fact that our outfit choices for a typical day are fairly simple and painless. Unlike the ladies, it’s pretty much a guarantee that when a guy gets ready, no more than 5 minutes will be spent on choosing what to wear and changing into those desired clothes. Despite the fact that getting ready for us guys is a breeze, it’s still important to look at least halfway decent and presentable. So today, we’re going to look at the top 10 essentials that every SEC male should have.
In no particular order:
1) A Nice Suit: At the very least, one decent suit will go a long way for you during your (fingers crossed) four years of college. Between the infinite amounts of date parties, formals, and potential interviews, there are going to be several situations where a nice suit is going to come in handy.
2) A Rain Jacket: Do you enjoy walking to class in the frigid rain without an umbrella or rain jacket? I didn’t think so. The rain can certainly put a damper on anyones day, but it can absolutely ruin your day if you get caught in the midst of it without the proper gear. Do yourself a favor, and go get a rain jacket.
3) Game-day Apparel: Nice game-day apparel, that is. Not a low quality T-shirt that you can buy at the Supe Store, but a good quality button down or polo that you can sport throughout football season. There are plenty of stores around the Tuscaloosa area, such as The Shirt Shop and The Locker Room, that have anything and everything you may be looking for. Game-day gear really is an essential for any guy in the SEC.
4) A Pair of Quality Sunglasses: I said a “pair of quality sunglasses” for a reason, because apparently when people think of ‘quality sunglasses,’ Costas are the only logical option that comes to mind. Now, I’m certainly not a hater of Costas--I own 3 pairs of them--however, they’re not the only brand out there worth buying. If you want to get a pair of Costas, then go out and get a pair. It is estimated that 99 percent of the student body has a set already. Regardless of whether you do or don’t, I would encourage everyone to buy at least some form of nice sunglasses, because nothing is worse than having a blinding glare beating down at you while you’re trying to enjoy the Tide playing in Bryant Denny.
5) Barbour Jacket: Although a Barbour isn’t cheap, the jacket is worth every penny. Not only can you wear it for nearly every occasion during the Fall and Winter months, you will be able to have it for many, many years, making a Barbour worth its top dollar price tag. There’s not much more you can ask for than a nice looking, warm coat that you can keep for years.
6) Duck Boots: Everyone needs to own a pair of Duck Boots. It’s as simple as that. These water-resistant boots are one of the best shoes to wear during rainy and snowy days (because apparently it snows around here now). Duck Boots aren’t just useful on a rainy day, however, but can be worn for nearly every outdoor activity imaginable.
7) Button Down Shirts: We guys really do have it so much easier than the girls. Its 8:30 p.m. on a Friday and you are about to change for the night. What do you do? A) Spend 30 minutes trying to pick out 50 variations of outfits? Or B) put on a button down and jeans and head on your way. I hope for the sake of manhood you chose option B, and that’s why having a variation of button down shirts is so important. We’ve been blessed by the Almighty with the simplicity of wearing basically the same exact shirt, in a different color/variation, to the bars every night. So do yourself a favor and go get yourself some.
8) Chacos: I always say that Chacos are the shoe equivalent to a man’s best friend. Why? Because they’re so darn comfortable. When the temperature finally begins to hit 70 degrees, guys and girls alike will flood campus with the greatest sandal to ever grace this planet, and I for one cannot wait. I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t enjoy a Chaco tan--or better yet, the dirty Chaco smell.
9) Levi Jeans: by the grace of God we go to school in Tuscaloosa, Ala., not New York City. Here, it would be unheard of to see a man walking around in a $200+ pair of dark skinny jeans. If you did happen to see someone sporting them, then you might want to turn around and walk the other way. Levis and Wranglers are all you need in a pair of jeans. Spend $45 on a pair that you can wear everywhere, and you’ll be set for the year.
10) Frat Tees: Last but not least is every SEC male’s favorite piece of clothing: the frat tee. We’d be lost without these bad boys. After graduation, it’s going to seem unnatural not displaying their greatness on a daily basis. Whether you wear your frat tees to class, lounging around the house, a casual night out, or giving them to random house guests in the morning, the frat tee is useful for “60 percent of the time, it works everytime time,” and you can’t beat those statistics.
