A Fred Perry olive fishtail parka, a Levi’s rigid two denim jacket, and an H&M black bomber

We all know that fashion is inherently a materialist industry; in order to look nice, we fork over our time and money for pieces that we like. Whether you want to express yourself through your clothing or just wear “hype” brands, fashion is an expensive hobby.

But, you don’t always need more. Often, in fashion, you can mix & match a few well-chosen garments to create a lot of great-looking, interesting outfits. In fact, learning to do a lot with a small wardrobe will will make your style even better once you start incorporating more unique pieces into your outfits. Outerwear is uniquely good for this because it’s rarely used to make a statement; good outerwear is minimal and streamlined enough to elevate an outfit and accentuate other statement pieces, like a rare pair of sneakers or a rare graphic tee.

With that in mind, here are the only three jackets you need to make (almost) any outfit work:

1. An Olive Fishtail Parka

This is probably the most basic jacket you can buy. Olive will go with almost anything — black pants, dark blue jeans, you name it. The fishtail parka design is a classic military staple with a streetwear edge; it will work with both business-casual formal outfits (think chinos, a button up, and boots) and streetwear (think a graphic tee, jeans, and sneakers).

2. A Dark Blue Denim Jacket

A classic. Get one in dark raw denim (like the Levi’s Rigid Two) and wear it for the next ten years. Denim jackets are great because they are one of those rare pieces that are truly timeless. Everyone has worn one, from Prince to Kendrick Lamar, and they all looked great doing it. Get one in dark blue because it’s the most versatile color; pair it with pretty much anything except dark blue jeans (you don’t want to end up wearing a Canadian Tuxedo).

3. A Black Bomber Jacket

Bomber jackets scream “badass” — wear a nice black one on your next night out to elevate the rest of your outfit. A black bomber will pair with any color pants and (almost) any kind of shoes. Put one over a high-end graphic tee for “rich punk” vibes.

You might have noticed that I chose jackets in three neutral colors — olive, navy (dark blue), and black — with minimal detailing and graphics. I don’t think jackets in interesting colors or patterns are bad. In fact, I think they look great. But, everyone has to start somewhere. You should branch out and invest in statement outerwear eventually, but learning how to work with basic neutral colors and classic, minimal designs will pay dividends later.

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