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Whether you’re a seasoned fashion vet or rolling up fresh-faced to the menswear table, basics are the foundation of every great wardrobe. Yes, the best men’s clothing brands are paid to push things forward, but before you get there, you need to start from square one. And honestly, we GQ editors probably spend more time focusing on the fundamentals—plain white tees, the perfect bodega-run sweatshirt, a roomy pair of chinos—than we actually do chasing the next new look.
Tees, sweatshirts, slacks, underwear: These are the mitochondria of your wardrobe, the powerhouses that keep your style stable season to season, year after year. They’re also the pieces every brand makes, which can make choosing the right basics supplier a minor existential crisis. To help, we gathered the best men’s clothing brands to stock up on right now: 20 brands that consistently deliver unbeatable value, craftsmanship, and versatility.
The Not-So-Basic Basics Hit List
Merz B. Schwanen Organic Cotton Tee
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Alex Mill Reverse Seam Crew In Wool Cotton
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Abercrombie & Fitch Baggy Jean
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Calvin Klein Cotton Classics Boxer Brief (3-Pack)
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Nike Cortez Sneakers
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Abercrombie & Fitch
There’s a pretty simple formula to Abercrombie’s hot streak: familiar staples imbued with a little volume and dash of archive inspiration, and priced so you don’t have to pysch yourself up at checkout. Taken all together, it makes Abercrombie an easy place to build the backbone of a wardrobe, or just grab a few key pieces to patch the holes in the one you’ve already got.
Alex Mill
From classic chinos to crewneck sweaters, everything at Alex Mill has a relaxed ease that’s seen it succeed even more in 2026. The brand’s overall aesthetic leans preppy, but there’s a deep love for hard-wearing vintage staples like beefy flannels and sturdy outerwear. Just as important: the brand pays close attention to handfeel, so everything feels as good in your hands as it does on your body.
Banana Republic
With the Bananassaince in full swing, there’s never been a better time to load up on Banana Republioc’s rustic, archive-indebted hits. Stuff your cart with plush knits, soft tees, and airy boxers. Don’t sleep on the jeans, either.
Buck Mason
LA-based brand Buck Mason tops our best t-shirt guide for good reason. There’s a cut, weight, and price point trifecta happening here that is simply magic—and ever since the label expanded its remit to include a full line of menswear, its tees might be the least exciting thing it has going on. Which is why we’ve clocked Buck Mason as the America’s next great everyman brand.
Calvin Klein
It pays to invest in your underwear. But you don’t need to spring for the highest-end luxury undies when there are some great value options. The best among them has to be Calvin Klein, who revolutionized men’s underwear with perfectly-fitting underwear and risqué ad campaigns. His boxer briefs have been among our favorites for years, but don’t sleep on his undershirts, either.
CDLP
Reigning from Sweden, CDLP makes some of the finest underwear and daily basics we’ve ever tested. It all comes down to the fit and fabric choices, which are at once luxurious to the touch and built for the long haul.
Champion
Champion got it famously right when it invented its durable, shrink-proof, reverse weave fabric in the 1930s. The brand has been putting out some of the industry’s best chill-out gear for the almost-century since, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Everlane
There was a recent moment at the GQ offices when we realized that Everlane had not only refreshed its whole appearance, but also returned with a whole host of really great clothes. The brand that had a chokehold on our basics in the 2010s is officially back in the mix, and we’re delighted to see them.
Everybody.World
If you love fresh-outta-the-box tees but want to indulge consciously, Everybody.World makes deeply excellent T-shirts (and hoodies, and sweatpants) using 100% recycled fabrics and ethical labor practices.
Gap
Oh, you thought there was a chance Gap wouldn’t be in this story? That’s funny. The brand that made incredible basics (and incredible playlists) in the ’90s is still delivering its affordable takes on the elevated good life. And judging by how often one of our colleagues comes in boasting about their fresh Gap find, we’d say they’re doing an excellent job at that.
J.Crew
J.Crew is well past its early-2010s heyday of Italian blazers, selvedge jeans, and loafers, but under the direction of streetwear royalty Brendon Babenzien it remains the best place to find quintessential preppy staples at prices that belie the quality involved. The brand still makes some great suiting, but its East Coast history means you can also sink into some sumptuous sweaters and hardy slacks.
Lady White Co.
A GQ staffer favorite, Lady White Co.’s tees are made in LA from high-quality ring-spun cotton and come in strangely hard-to-find colors like sand and rose. FWIW, the sweats also kill.
Levi’s
Levi’s makes a whole lot of clothes that are the opposite of basic—think: pearl-snap Western shirts. But come on, no one makes more consistent jeans and denim jackets. And just because it invented the 501, that doesn’t mean it isn’t constantly perfecting its line further—from slightly more relaxed jeans to runway-ready denim jackets.
L.L.Bean
Dads love a deal, and dads love L.L.Bean. That affection is largely due to the unbeatable value proposition the brand offers on gear your old man wears on the daily, from top-tier flannel shirts, to surprisingly sturdy denim, and snug shawl-collar cardigans. Be more like your dad.
Merz B. Schwanen
If you’ve paid any attention to television, you’ve no doubt heard of Merz B. Schwanen because of The Bear. But the German label had already been known by the menswear illuminati for next-level T-shirts and sweatshirts knit on ultra rare loopwheel machines.
Nike
Nike needs no introduction. The biggest clothing company in the world made its name putting athletics first, but the brand’s impact in the clothing arena extends far beyond its reputation for record-breaking performance gear. From comfortable tees to plush sneakers and simple sweats, there’s a reason the streets on your city are lined with swooshes: Nike is affordable, comfortable, and—don’t deny it—makes everyone feel like a bit more of an athlete when they wear it.
Reigning Champ
The Canadian label makes one of our favorite heavy-duty hoodies of all time, but all of its designs are worthy of your time. With top-shelf fabric, god-tier construction, and impeccable fits, few other brands take loungewear as seriously as Reigning Champ does.
Russell Athletic
You can’t put together a list of the best basics without Russell Athletic, the literal inventor of the sweatshirt. And unlike most brands who get the honor of being “first,” they haven’t used it to jack up their prices.
Todd Snyder
Todd Snyder’s basics are so sophisticated, even his weekend clothes and Champion sweats are nice enough to wear to dinner. The designer darling of the menswear world has an unrivaled CV which includes stints at Ralph Lauren and J.Crew, which helped him master the modern dude’s wardrobe from head to toe. And yes, that includes impeccable suiting, boss-level coats, and Japanese denim, but also all of the things the modern dude wears on a lazy Sunday.
Uniqlo
Come for the JW Anderson-designed knits or the ridiculously warm puffers, but don’t leave without a stack of ribbed socks and soft cotton boxers—a.k.a. the real prize of shopping at Uniqlo. The brand offers some of the best style for your buck in the industry—its button-ups are well-crafted, the raw denim jeans are consistently some of the best for the price, but you can also always bet on a fresh supply of basics waiting to meet you when you walk in.
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