My boyfriend is 37 this month and has said he is ready for a wardrobe update. Its current look is based on graphic T-shirts (groups, sports teams) and jeans. He is a software developer and works remotely but is ready to invest. When it comes to high-quality casual men’s basics, what’s most important to keep in mind? – Katie, Brooklyn. new York

It’s like “The Princess Diaries”, but with a different genre and without the pomp and circumstance. Or maybe a real life version of Steve Carell’s Ryan Gosling recast in “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” only with a different starting point. We tend to focus on women when it comes to makeovers or wardrobe updates, in part because men’s clothing always seems so outlawed, but there’s also a long history ( although subtle) in male makeovers.

In fact, between the end of the costume as the default male dress code, the rise of working from home, and the general blurring of lines when it comes to gender expectations, I guess the male makeover may become more and more of a thing. . There’s a reason “She’s All That,” the 1999 high school makeover movie, just got a makeover as “He’s All That”. It’s in the air.

Plus, it doesn’t take much to modernize a wardrobe, just a few key pieces and a slight shift in perspective for clothes to be seen as investments in themselves for the long haul. To this end, a few general points to keep in mind:

First of all, focus on quality. This is true regardless of dress or gender. If you want clothes that last, you have to spend money on materials. Test the strength of the seams and make sure the prints are aligned. And take the time to research where and how something is made. If you’re going to spend the money, you might as well use it to support a brand that produces responsibly.

Guy Trebay, our menswear critic, suggested that whether or not a man returns to the office, the broader back-to-work vibe means maybe it’s time to “put on some hard pants and a jacket.” “. To that end, he said, there are “certain labels that make it possible to dress in style, if not in an aggressively fashionable way.”

He suggests Quaker Marine for “its re-imaginations of all-American classics,” particularly the drudgery coats – cooler than a blazer but still with a hint of structure; and Faherty for “a selection of stunning five-pocket or ‘comfort’ twill pants that look grown-up yet stretch enough” to connect with an ancient sartorial identity.

And, he said, keep an eye out for what Michael Bastian is doing at Brooks Brothers (especially when it comes to Oxford shirts) and what Brendon Babenzien, co-founder of Noah and former lead designer at Supreme , will do with J. Crew men’s clothing.

Unfortunately, he added, when it comes to graphic t-shirts, maybe it’s time to put them away for posterity. Although given the evolution of the resale market, they may prove to have investment value.

Your style questions, answers

Every week on Open Thread, Vanessa will answer a fashion reader’s question, which you can send to her at any time via E-mail Where Twitter. The questions are edited and condensed.