The Best Fabric For Menswear

It’s a great time to be a man. Men’s fashion is more popular than ever, and there’s a wide array of different brands and styles that can cater to even the pickiest menswear icon. Knowing what to wear and how to wear it hasn’t always been so easy though — 2017 survey found 73% of men found picking the right outfit for an event difficult.

Clothes make the man, and it’s high time that fashion literacy became the norm rather than the exception. And the foundation to good fashion? Fabric. If you aren’t sure whether you’re appropriately dressed for the occasion, have a look below at our quick guide to some of the most popular fabric for menswear. Once you know what you should be wearing, picking an outfit is like second nature.

Merino Wool

Some fabrics hold up better than others when it comes to wrinkle resistance— cottons and linens, for example, while breathable, can get wrinkly fast. If you’re looking for outerwear or suits that can stand prolonged use and still look fresh, then our article on merino wool might point you in the right direction.

Merino wool is wrinkle resistant, so bunching up your clothes won’t have much of an impact on their overall look. Clothes in this fabric maintain their form better, and are easier to care for. Merino wool clothing items are pretty much wash and wear, making it a great fabric for suits and outerwear that’s meant to last you years.

Polyester Blends

One thing that men don’t tend to think too hard about is underwear. Men’s underwear rarely tops the list when it comes to priority fashion items, but it’s actually crucial to your comfort and overall look. Buying men’s sexy underwear in comfortable fabrics should be a priority if you want all day comfort, and polyester blends are usually the best option.

Luxury men’s underwear brands like 2(X)IST offer comfortable polyester blends that are great for more athletic men. They offer breathable dri-fit underwear made from these blends that’s moisture-wicking and designed for use during heavy activity. Forget uncomfortable underwear at the gym. Investing in men’s underwear from brands like 2(X)IST means that you get a pair of underwear that’s not only designed to look good, but great for athletics and strenuous activity, too.

Cotton

One type of fabric that every man’s probably tried on at least once is cotton. Cotton makes up over 50% of the fabric sold throughout the world, and is used in formalwear like suits, and casualwear like jeans and t-shirts. This fabric is popular not only because it’s widely available, but because of its other benefits too.

Cotton is especially known for its breathability, making it a favorite fabric for the warmer months. Brands like AllSaints maximize their clothing pieces, which are designed to be layered, by using organic cotton. This keeps their summer looks fresh and exciting, but prevents wearers from feeling too stuffy even when they’re layered.

Linen

A lot of men’s fashion has to be functional, and fabric plays an important part in that. You want your clothing to be able to hold up to the wear and tear of daily use, while still maintaining that fresh, neat silhouette that you bought it for. Linen is two to three times stronger than cotton, which makes it perfect for long-term use.

Made from flax fibers, it’s breathable and moisture-wicking, and can come in a wide variety of colors thanks to its ability to hold dye well. The downside is that linen tends to wrinkle, so it’s not always the best option if you don’t have a steam iron onhand. Still, it’s fantastic if you want to put together a fresh and breezy look. A linen blend overshirt from Tom Ford or Ermenegildo Zegna can make a fantastic light jacket for the summer months.