Best Designer Menswear Brands worth a Long-term Investment

As Carrie Bradshow quotes in Sex and the City series, "I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet." If you’re splurging on your clothes then you might as well buy the very best for yourself, right? For men who are into fitting, tailoring, function and not just flashy logos on their tees, there is a plethora of menswear brands that you can choose to give you a fashion fix for life.

With the world moving at a fast pace, it is very important to look beyond fast fashion and invest into brands which are working on sustainability as well as to a better world. Sometimes, with sustainability comes a higher cost where raw and pure materials can cost a lot, unlike factory production, each piece of clothing will take hours to be created. Hence, the price of your favorite suit can cost a fortune. Nowadays, designer wear means unmatched sophistication, tailoring of the best quality fabrics, and perfect cuts that gets your adrenaline rushing the moment you set your eyes on it even if that requires investing a huge sum of your pay-check or utilizing your savings. With a list of the best menswear designer brands we are here to guide you to the designer wear that are not only going to help in stepping up your style quotient but also that you won’t ever regret spending a lump sum amount on. You’re surely going to leave with a ca-ching sound by the end!

Ralph Lauren

In 1968, a young man started working from a small showroom in the Empire State Building creating neckties and hasn’t ever stopped creating masterpieces since then. The creator of Polo Shirts, Ralph Lauren offers fine tailored wardrobe staples of classic fits. Ralph Lauren has also won the COTY award for his menswear collection. From his impeccable crisp suits from the Purple Label to relaxed knits and colorful polo shirts Ralph Lauren is among the most preferable brands for designer menswear. The brand became more popular when it was given the contract for designing the clothes for the movie- The Great Gatsby.  The U.S based brand is a master of quality, design and high-end fashion and as of in 2019 is valued at $6.3 billion.

“I don't design clothes, I design dreams.”

-Ralph Lauren

Tom Ford

With a rich history as the Chief-Creative Director of Gucci and then Yves Saint Laurent Group for all product lines, Tom Ford is famous for his precision. Balancing between old-world charm as well as the Avant Garde, Tom Ford has a wide collection for menswear, right from his dinner jackets to chinos, classic tuxedos, turtlenecks and casual clothes that come in a myriad of colors and prints. If nothing, the classic blacks are sure to level up one’s wardrobe style.  Ford’s work has also been recognized by various organizations such as the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). The brand is yet in its younger years as it only started in 2006 but yet has flagship stores all over the world, Milan, Las Vegas, Tokyo, New Delhi, Zurich, Dubai and many more!

“I probably do have an obsessive personality, but striving for perfection has served me well.”

-Tom Ford

Gucci

Influential, progressive and exhilarating, Gucci is reinventing the whole fashion industry itself. A leader amongst the luxury couture brands, Gucci is an Italian luxury brand found back in 1921 by Guccio Gucci. The brand is unrivaled for their quality and attention to detail. For menswear, they have a wide offering of pieces right from the impeccably crisp and somber Italian suits to casuals and chic . You can recognise a Gucci item the minute you see its webbed green and red stripes. Through the years, Gucci has seen ups and downs but it remains to be one of the most famous brands thanks to the creative director, Alessandro Michele. With excellent quality and classic leather goods Gucci is soon to complete a hundred years in the luxury fashion industry.

“Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.”

-Guccio Gucci

Giorgio Armani

The maestro of style and sophistication, Giorgio Armani is a brand started in 1975 by Giorgio Armani himself. Standing on the foundation of core values like class, quality and exclusivity is the luxury fashion brand Giorgio Armani. Giorgio Armani has earned it’s respect among the fashion industry through it’s relevant, classic and exceptional designs. His sophisticated power suits created quite a stir when they appeared in the television series, ‘Miami Vice’. Besides this, the brand surpassed the roofs of fame when it was showcased in the Richard Gere starrer ‘American Gigolo’. Various celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Megan Fox and Rihanna have been the face of the brand. Known for its top-of-the-line luxury fashion and high-end men’s suits, Giorgio Armani has one of the best menswear collections out there.

“To create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail”

- Giorgio Armani

Louis Vuitton

Part of the biggest fashion houses of the world- LVMH, I doubt there’ll be anyone who hasn’t seen the iconic logo of Louis Vuitton- LV. Louis Vuitton knows what luxury means, what started out as a trunk maker in the 19th century in Paris is today’s iconic luxury fashion brand. Known for its classic leather goods and accessories, Louis Vuitton was founded back in 1854! It offers a Leather goods, ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes, watches and jewelry all designed by Virgil Abloh from 2018.

Dolce & Gabbana

Founded by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the brand describes itself as “new luxury, authentic and unconventional – a style that expresses new forms of elegance, presenting itself as a modern classicism” Founded in Milan in 1980, Dolce & Gabbana started as a designer consulting studio. It also had a sister brand D&G, a more casual chic brand who would be more likely to set trends than follow one. But it got discontinued in 2011 to keep their focus on the original brand.

“Style is personality. It's the ability to look at things beyond fashion and the self-confidence to transform even the simplest thing into something special.”

- Dolce & Gabbana

Burberry

The inventor of Trench coats, Burberry is a Britain based brand founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry. The iconic Burberry tartan plaid is one of the most widely copied trademarks in the history of the fashion industry. Today, the brand is well-known for outfitting many renowned military officers and adventurers. This quintessential English brand has created clothes made from a material called Gabardine, which is completely breathable and waterproof, and exclusively made for the brand. You’re not allowed to be called a fashion geek if you don't own a Burberry coat or scarf.

Calvin Klein

Madly popular, this brand is more than just a cool underwear brand. Founded by the American Designer, Calvin Richard Klein in 1968. Calvin Klein offers a wide range of products like clothing, perfumes, watches and jewellery. Still a menswear traditionalist, CK boasts of good old washed up jeans, and while the Calvin Klein knitwear is famous, their suits are dapper too. With a cool, chic and casual approach, Calvin Klein is one of the best brands for menswear.

“We're not doing outrageous fashion; I make sports clothes that are relatively conservative, clothes that everyone wears.”

- Calvin Klein

Paul Smith

Balancing between high fashion and formal wear, Paul Smith’s outfits are inspired by everyday things, the core value of the brand is ‘classic with a twist’. Paul Smith is famous for his creative aesthetic, which is infused with tradition and modernity. While the clothing line has a line of sharp suits it also has loud statement shirts and socks too! Colorful and bold patterns and prints are Smith’s famous pieces.  But if you’re looking for some more classic and taste, the Paul Smith also offers classic navy, grey and of course black!

Hugo Boss

Hugo Boss is a German based fashion and lifestyle founded in Metzingen that specializes in high-end menswear. A fashion mammoth, you can find 6,000 Hugo Boss outlets in 110 countries across the world. The two main sub-brands of Hugo Boss are Hugo and Boss who have various lines under them which sell clothing, shoes, bags, watches and fragrances as well. If you’re looking for business and social event worthy clothes then Boss Black is your go-to brand. On the other hand, if you’re looking at more colorful, metal-coloured clothing then Boss Orange is the one.

There are many more brands for designer menswear like Prada, Comme des Garcons, Dior Homme, Balmain, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, True Religion and Diesel which you can check out and I promise you won’t regret spending a sum on. Each of these brands are iconic and offer something unique in its own way. So express your style with the best at your disposal and do not just go after trends.