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Here's how I organize my closet. Hope it helps with some inspiration!

Shirts and coats are all hung up in order of color. Nothing fancy or special with the hangers; originally I was going to pick up some wooden hangers, but ultimately decided against it when I determined that I would need to decrease my wardrobe size to accommodate the increased width of the hangers.

All my shoes are distributed in Ikea Bissa Shoe Cabinets. The quality is what is to be expected with Ikea, but since they're basically the only major company that makes something like this it has to be accepted. You can fit 4 pairs of shoes per section, so with 6 sections available that's a total of 24 shoes that can be stored - more than enough for most men. I don't own any boots, so I haven't developed a storage method for those, but I have seen others place their boots on top of the cabinet. If you don't like that you might be able to make/order a boot box and slide that into the cabinet.

Ties are on a tie hanger. I don't love this thing, but since it does the job well enough it has yet to be replaced.

Work bag goes on the right wall. My watch travel boxes, cufflinks, shirt stays, and other miscellaneous things go on top of the right cabinet.

Baseball cap(s) go above the door on little hooks. I also installed an automatic light since the closet did not have anything wired up. The OxyLED T-02S has motion tracing, an automatic timer, and is rechargeable - which is basically everything needed for a closet. I'm definitely a fan of this little guy, especially considering the price.

I know you only asked for a closet shot, but I decided to include my dresser so you can get a full idea of my clothing organization. Surprise, surprise, everything has a group and is organized according to its space needs.

• Top: Short Sleeve Shirts | Middle: Pants | Bottom: Sweaters
  
  
• Top: Socks, Scarfs, And Belts | Middle: Boxers And Compression Shorts| Bottom: Knit/Half- Sweaters
  
  
• Top: Long Sleeve Shirts And Workout Clothes | Middle: Bed Linnens And Gloves| Bottom: Shorts And PJ Bottoms
  
  Overall I like my current setup, but if I were to change anything it would probably be to add a belt hanger to my back wall behind the tie rack. It's an easy thing I could change, but since I only have 4 belts I just haven't prioritized it enough to actually make it happen. I also have been considering a watch box of some sort, since my collection of watches currently reside in my desk drawer.

One of the big "gimmes" in this type of discussion is that things made in China are crap. This is not true simply because things are made in China, it is true because manufacturing companies make things according to specifications. If the specifications allow for a large margin of error (usually to keep up production demands), you will inevitably end up with crap. The big X Factor in any manufacturing, is quality control. If there is little to none, there will be quality issues.

At this time, I would like to admit there are definitely a world of other issues in Chinese manufacturing, but for the sake of this discussion, I don't really want to get into it right now. For those interested in further reading, take a look at (Poorly Made in China)[http://www.amazon.com/Poorly-Made-China-Insiders-Production/dp/0470928077]

Now, to bring it back to America, how many of you have purchased Allen Edmonds Seconds? Odds are you took a look at the shoe and thought "Damn, I don't see a single thing wrong with it!". And yet, it still failed a particular standard of quality control that it was not sent out for normal sales.

Three of my favorite examples of quality control are Budweiser, McDonald's and Levi's. This is not intended to say they're examples of awesome products, but they know what they're doing when it comes to production.

Budweiser is the third most popular beer brand in the country. Yet you can buy a Bud anywhere and it will taste exactly the same. They produced 16 million barrels of beer and you don't have to worry that what's about to enter your mouth was going to taste like Budweiser.

McDonald's has restaurants all over the US and the world, and I have eaten at various locations (US, Asia, Europe, Mexico) and the exact same food items taste the same everywhere you go. McDonald's has food scientists to ensure every local area has access to the ingredients that will make sure the food tastes the same. I believe I read that for Moscow, they had to find a particular type of cow and genetically bred a particular type of potato.

Levi's I am specifically including because much of their manufacturing is outside the US. Although there can be a bit of a swing in consistency between sizes, for the most part, I can safely walk into ANY store selling Levi's, pick up my size and cut and buy it without trying it on (depending on how picky I am feeling about fit that day).

I have no doubt there will be naysayers to these examples, and that's fine. I believe they're examples of excellent quality control. And ultimately, I think that's where the fault lies. In certain Made in America products, the level of quality control is just higher.

And just for the sake of making a list here is a generic wardrobe one could make using things made in the USA.

Shoes

• Oak Street Boot Company
  
• Alden
  
• Allen Edmonds (most of my collection)
  
• Rancourt
  
• Quoddy
  
• Walk-Over
  
  
  Socks
  
  
• Darn Tough (personal favorite)
  
  
• Thorlo
  
  
• Zkano
  
  Underwear
  
  
• Duluth Trading
  
  
• American Apparel
  
  
• Union House
  
  
• Body Aware
  
  Chinos
  
  
• Bill's
  
  
• Alex Maine
  
  
• Jack Donnelly
  
  
  Jeans
  
  
• Gustin
  
  
• Round-House
  
  
• The Stronghold
  
  
• Left Field
  
  
• a billion others
  
  Shirts
  
  
• Gitman Vintage
  
  
• New England Shirt Company
  
  
• Hamilton Shirt Co
  
  
• Mercer
  
  
• Many others
  
  T-shirts
  
  
• American Giant
  
  
• Good Wear
  
  
• TS Designs (completely vertically integrated, as the company says "from dirt to shirt")
  
  Blazer
  
  
• Anderson Little
  
  
• Brooks Brothers (not all of them)
  
  Suit
  
  
• Hardwick
  
  
• Hickey Freeman
  
  
• Hart Schaffner Marx
  
  Accessories
  
  
• Gitman Brothers
  
  
• Robert Graham
  
  
• Collared Greens
  
  
• Jetset threads
  
  Knitwear
  
  
• Columbiaknit
  
  Anyone else can feel free to add on to this list

Reading: Tribe, by Sebastian Junger. Already half way through it. Introspection on society and war and anxiety/PTSD/depression... It's just wild.

Watching: Ozark on Netflix. Wild show, and pretty engaging.

Listening to: CONVERGE, "Eve." probably give most people an aneurism, but CONVERGE is one of the most talented and influential bands of it's genre. Totally get disimssing it as "ah, screaming" but they teach their album Jane Doe at Berklee College of Music. Their lead singer Jacob Bannon does all the art too, which... The cover for Jane Doe is iconic

Anyway, I listen to everything from Ravel to Rammstein to Red Hot Chilli Peppers to Rihanna (okay maybe not Rihanna), but that harcore/metal has always had a special place in my heart, and their new album sounds amazing.

Mr. Pompadour's Beeswax Paste is the best hair product I've ever used and I've been trying various crap for over 20 years. If your hair is short-to-medium length, this stuff is heavenly. Smells good, the hold is amazing yet pliable. Makes your hair look natural, not wet or crusty.


Trader Joe's hand cream is fantastic in the winter for dry hands. Besides that, I'm all about Aquaphor. I use it as lip balm and inside my nose when things really dry out up there in the winter.

Vintage Bag Leather Handmade Vintage Style Backpack/College Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EHILTXW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.ZJbBb7TFAX37

This is what I wear and I get compliments on it all the time, it was only $40 when I bought it but, the price has increased a bit since then.

Definitely would recommend bc like most trad garments you’ll be able to pass it down for generations if you take care of it.

It also can be used as a messenger or a back pack

I have had a very large bag similar to this one since the early 90s and it still looks new, but it was an investment.

Almost two years ago I started looking for a slightly lighter bag with a shoulder strap and I found a bag and found this was highly rated on Amazon: KPL 18 Inch Rustic Vintage Leather Messenger Bag Laptop Bag Briefcase Satchel Bag. It had a strong leather smell the first week or so, but since then it has become my everyday work bag and has held up beautifully. At under $63 it costs about 10% as much as my briefcase, but I get a lot of compliments for it.

If you're interested in a deeper understanding of Buddhism, I highly recommend Practicing Wisdom.

The book was written by the Dali Lama. It's a heavy read and goes very in depth into a crucial chapter of Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva. It focuses on key verses from Way of Bodhisattva and analyzes them through the lenses of two differing schools of Buddhist thought with the Dali Lamas thoughts interjected. It's fantastic.

When I was in my early twenties I took this book everywhere with me. I've read it from a cafe in Amsterdam to a tent on the plains of the Serengeti. It deserves to be read thoughtfully and thoroughly. I read it in small bits and would reflect on passages for days at a time before moving on or rereading parts I wanted to understand more. This turned into a little longer than just a book recommendation, but anyway.
its p good lmao

Should I buy these Timberland boots? I never thought I'd actually like a pair of Tims before but these seem like a great budget option. I need something in between my Bean Boots and regular CDBs that I can beat up a bit but also look good. Stuff like Red Wings are way out of my price range :/

Like several posters wrote, drivers aren't durable, so I wouldn't recommend them to someone on a budget, but I'm guessing you like the look, so maybe you should go for a light soled penny?

I like Sebago's Trenton pennies a lot. It's a good shoe and you should be able to get a good deal on them.

http://www.amazon.com/Sebago-Mens-Trenton-Penny-Loafer/dp/B00ENYKW2K

> My concerns with the Sperry's are that I've read that they fall apart relatively quickly

I've had mine for for a year and they're still going strong, although they're a little beat up. That's the charm of boat shoes though. They definitely become more casual as they age which is why I'd recommend buying penny loafers first.

> it's better to go with Sebago

Both are fine (and owned/produced by the same company), but I personally prefer Sperry due to its tradition.

> Also, I see the white soles and I know I'm going to dirty them and they'll look awful

Sperry has brown soles. Part of the charm of boat shoes and loafers is that you can let them fall apart before you have to retire them. I plan on wearing my Sperry's until I wear down the soles or leather. They're great shoes.

> As far as the Logans, I don't really like the glossy coating. It looks a little like plastic. Would you know of a way to take that off?

I'd recommend going with the Wilton Weejuns, Sperry Bellinghams or the Cole Haan Pinch Air Pennies.

> The lady friend isn't too thrilled about having a bonus fridge in the living room though.

Yeeeeeeah, I'm running into that as well lol. I picked up one of these a couple weeks ago, which should be more than sufficient along with some frozen water bottles. I'm hoping to start a new batch this weekend, we'll see how it works!

This is GOLD!!!!! Thank you so much; very very insightful!

I was looking at DSW and Shoe bank for brown lace ups. All I have now is just Cole Haan burgundy loafers and the bottoms have already started chipping at the heels because it's worn and abused so much!!

It's definitely time for something new.

I thrifted a charcoal suit yesterday (less than $30!) It was from a member of a forum. It's very good quality material and will just need minor tailoring for things I Ike the hem, and maybe bringing it in a little bit for a more trim fit look.

Someone offered me a briefcase for $90 shipping included.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007ZQIWRA/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

but I just wanted to give you an idea that I'm not going crazy and dropping entire paychecks on items out of my budget. I'm looking to get the park avenues thrifted or through shoe bank for less.


thanks so much!! Please stay tuned for updates and further questions.

The general consensus here is that I should invest more in shirts and chinos and I think that's what I'll do. I'll try lands end shirts, BB, LLB. each week I'll put about $60 towards a shirt or Chino.

I picked up a rain coat in dark green - grey from Hickey Freeman for $60 including shipping. I just need the khaki beige one now for more versatility so I'm not wearing the same thing every day

can't go wrong with the woodlore tie/belt rack - can be had for $25 on Amazon or cheaper on sale.

Here's how I have mine set up - it holds 30-50 ties with ease.

There is also a slightly cheaper version that doesn't have the shelf above which you can get for about $15.

I think a wall mounted option is best unless you just want to keep them in your closet on tie hangars. I just urge anyone that wants to use a wall mounted hangar uses a stud finder and drills it into a stud (or a drywall anchor) as they do get pretty heavy and will rip out of the drywall otherwise.

i love these blank hats... great colors and fit.

Sebago beefrolls - Some pretty good markdowns but it seems like the price is shifting around. Grabbed a pair for $60 but now it's back up to $130. Showed up today and I am pretty happy so far. On par with my rancourts for comfort and I won't feel nearly as bad about beating them up.

For the love of all that is holy do not do that (soak them in water, or worse coating in salt, or worst of all salt water). Like I said above oiling them will definitely help develop a patina, It will also protect the leather from actual damage.

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If you want them to look a little worn in quicker I would seriously recommend looking into a boot conditioner, again I recommend Danner's:

https://www.amazon.com/Danner-97401-Boot-Dressing-Brown/dp/B002L9E9MS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538451098&sr=8-1&keywords=danner+boot+dressing

​

The little bit of dye and the conditioning agent will darken the leather a little bit and take out the uniform shade of tan that makes them look so shiny and new. It will also break in the leather and make it much softer, while also protecting them (at the end of the day the most important point). If you take care of them you'll have these boots for life, so don't go trying to take years off of their life by artificially destroying them. Wear them instead, and get your scuffs and dings the old fashioned way, by using them as the Good Lord intended: hunting stuff in the woods.