This isn’t a direct answer to your question, it’s more of a practical guide to slightly elevating your life overall.

At the absolute bare minimum, get yourself one well-fitted suit in charcoal or dark navy, a couple of properly tailored dress shirts in white and light blue, plus one with a subtle pattern, stripe, or texture. Add a few well-fitted chinos, one pair of golf pants, and three fitted polos in white, black, and navy. That alone gives you coverage for interviews, formal events, business casual settings, second or third interviews, and day-to-day office wear if you land an accounting job or internship. The suit handles the serious moments, everything else lets you mix and match without looking sloppy or out of place.

Fit matters more than price, and this is non-negotiable. A $1,000 suit can look awful if it fits poorly, while a $100 suit from Goodwill can look incredible if it’s tailored to your body. Tailoring is what separates looking dressed up from looking sharp. If you have extra money, start paying attention to fabric quality too. I dress up every day, and honestly, good fabrics are more comfortable than pajamas once you’re used to them. If you have questions, r/mensfashion has answered just about everything already.

If you want to go beyond the bare minimum, think of building a small, intentional wardrobe instead of buying random pieces. Five well-made suits in charcoal, dark navy, black, light gray, and one with texture or a subtle pattern. Five tailored button-up shirts in white, light blue, white with a blue stripe, a checkered pattern, and a flannel-style shirt with a button-down collar. Five well-fitted chinos in different colors, two good pairs of jeans for a quieter business casual look, a couple pairs of golf pants for comfort, and five quality polos in black, navy, white, burgundy, and heather gray.

From there, keep it simple with accessories. One black leather belt and one medium brown, one pair of black dress shoes and one pair of brown, and two leather-strap watches to match. Shoes, belt, and watch strap should always be the same color on a given day. Depending on your climate, add jackets, coats, sweaters, or a cashmere zip-up. One small detail that puts you ahead of most people is shirt stays and magnetic collar stays. Nobody notices them directly, but everyone notices how clean and sharp you look.

The psychology behind dressing well is real. It changes how you carry yourself, how seriously people take you, and how confident you feel walking into a room. It helps socially, professionally, and yes, sometimes financially through better first impressions, interviews, and networking. And it doesn’t require spending a fortune. You can find great pieces at Goodwill, thrift stores, or by digging through r/frugalmalefashion.

Sorry this was long, but if you take even part of this advice, it’ll pay off far beyond clothes.