So last week I noticed my closet looked straight outta 2010 – all baggy jeans and graphic tees. Felt like I needed a style reboot bad. Figured I’d tackle men’s fashion shopping smart for 2016 without breaking the bank or looking like I tried too hard. Here’s exactly how it went down:
The Game Plan (Before Hitting Stores)
First thing I did? Grabbed my laptop and dove straight into research mode. Not talking fancy trend reports – just checked what regular dudes were actually wearing in street style blogs and coffee shop shots. Spotted three things popping up everywhere:
- Skinny chinos in weird colors like olive green
- Those ugly jogger pants everyone suddenly loved
- Chelsea boots – literally on every second guy
Made a strict $200 budget and swore I wouldn’t blow it all at H&M like last time. Packed my worn-out Vans sneakers too – learned the hard way you gotta test shoes properly before buying.
Mall Mission Gone Wrong
Hit up the department stores first since they had sales racks. Huge mistake. Felt like I was wrestling wild animals in those cramped clearance sections. Grabbed some navy chinos that looked decent on the hanger. Tried ’em in the fitting room and wow – fit like garbage bags around my thighs. Sales guy kept pushing button-down shirts with weird floral prints claiming “it’s in for spring.” Nah. Walked out empty-handed.
Thrift Store Goldmine
Almost gave up till I remembered that sketchy thrift spot near the laundromat. Took some digging but scored two killer finds:
- Vintage bomber jacket ($12!) with barely any wear
- Dark wash jeans that actually fit my waist without sagging
Pro tip: smelled that jacket hard before buying – no funky odors meant washable win.
The Final Stretch
Still needed versatile tops. Hit up Uniqlo since their basics never fail. Grabbed:
- Three solid color tees (black, grey, heather blue)
- One light grey hoodie for layering
Skipped those overpriced Chelsea boots though – tried ’em on and immediately knew they’d murder my arches. Settled for clean white leather sneakers instead. Got everything tailored next day ($15 hem job on the jeans = best money spent).
What Actually Worked
Ended up spending $178 total. Realized fast that “2016 trends” mostly meant spending money for pain. Key takeaways:
- Fit kills trends every time
- Thrift stores hide gems if you got patience
- Accessories upgrade anything – swapped my old belt for a simple leather one
Biggest surprise? That ugly olive bomber became my most complimented piece. Still wear it years later.
