Everybody has heard the old adage that the clothes make the man, but the fact that it’s old doesn’t make it obsolete. With the ubiquity of mass-produced, homoge nized clothing, it seems more important than ever. A man should take pride in build ing a wardrobe that is both practical and expressive of his personal style. However, no matter what that style may be, there are several ele ments, which should remain constant.

The first thing to consider when purchasing any piece of clothing is fit. Fit is the foundation of any successful wardrobe. It doesn’t matter what designer’s name is on the clothes or how much they cost; if they fit like a potato sack, they simply will not look good.

Pants are probably the trickiest thing to fit properly and can set you apart from the crowd if worn well. In general, pants should fit just tight enough at the waist that a belt is not necessary to hold them up.

Pants such as chinos, slacks and jeans should fit your legs at both the top and the bot tom. This means there should not be more than a couple of inches of slack at any point along the leg. For most men, slim or straight fit pants will do. Men with larger thighs will be better served by pants with a taper to the leg.

Length of pants of ten comes down to personal taste, at least for casual pants, as cuffing them is always an option. Formal pants are typically cut so they touch the top of the foot. Shorts should have the same fit as pants and be cut at the knee, give or take a couple inches. Whether it falls above or below the knee is a matter of personal choice.

The same rules of thumb apply to the fit of shirts, but even more so. Shirts should follow the contours of the body closely enough to show them off, but not so tight as to restrict movement. To this end, the first concern should be the fit across the chest and shoulders. This same logic applies to mostly all shirts, from the most casual to the most formal. Again, most men should have no prob lem with a straight or slim cut shirt, which hangs straight down from the shoulders.

Another major thing to consider when assembling a wardrobe is versatility. Each article of clothing in your closet should look good with a variety of combinations of styles, cuts and colors. This means that seven-foot-long multicolored scarf is off limits.

In terms of color, earth tones are always a f lexible choice. These include tans, browns, muted greens and greys and warm reds and oranges. Black and white are obvious choices, but still ef fective. However, men who let black become a crutch tend not to stand apart in a crowd. Never be afraid to branch out.

Shoes are the items that need to be the most adapt able, since one typically owns fewer pairs of shoes than anything else. Canvas sneakers and boat shoes are easy choices, but none too original. Brown or tan leath er shoes are a more mature choice that can be worn in a variety of settings and can in clude desert boots, moccasins and wingtips.

Aside from the aforemen tioned casual leather shoes, there are certain tried and true pieces of clothing that should almost certainly be in every man’s wardrobe.

Often underestimated is the classic button-down shirt. Typically found in white or other light, pastel colors, the button-down shirt is brilliant in its simplicity. It can be worn with almost anything, from shorts and sandals to a full suit.

Jeans are a staple of mod ern American style, but most men don’t use them to their full potential. Colored jeans with fading and patches can be fun, but a pair of dark blue jeans with minimal distress ing can be worn every day, even in a business-casual setting.

A proper coat is also a must during the winter months. Pea coats are a popular choice at the moment, with alterna tives being duffel coats, field jackets and leather jackets. All of these choices are warmer than the typical hoodie and look better as well.

A pair of tall, leather boots will go nicely with one of the above coats in the event of ice or snow or to provide extra warmth. Taller boots will offer more coverage from the wind and typically offer deep treads, whereas ankle-height boots typically have smooth soles.

However, spring attire is more pressing at the mo ment, as winter is nearly over. Shorts and t-shirts in solid primary or pastel col ors or with simple patterns are a good foundation for the transition to warmer weather. Moccasins and boat shoes are good substitutes to the ever present flip-flops.

Of course, the beautiful thing about style is that none of this has to apply to you if you don’t want it to. All of the above are good tips, but ulti mately, style is the personal process of expressing oneself. Every man should find what works for him and be proud of the outfit he sees in the mirror each morning.