Top 20 Must-Have Spring Accessories for the Gents

2. You just have to find some room in your wardrobe for these special shoes. After Noah Waxman spent a decade in Europe learning the craft of traditional, old world shoemaking, he then started his own line of the highest quality American-inspired footwear around. These spectators capture a fresh summer trend, mixing leather and suede in a classically modern way you will undoubtedly wear for years to come. The tan color is just right and creates a dapper finish for all your spring and summer neutrals. These shoes work with suits, cotton pants, and jeans alike, so you’ll get a lot of use out of this special investment.

3. With the importance of white soles and slip-ons, Cole Haan delivers with their fresh take on an American classic. The rich blue all leather upper stylishly contrasts with the white outer sole that has all the comfort and cushion of sneaker, and the polished look of an updated penny loafer. Wear this shoe with your shorts, khaki’s and jeans – anything that will get you through the weekend. It is a great way to update a casual outfit.

4. Canvas shoes are always important in the warmer months, and this season they are more prominent than ever. For the best in canvas, we don’t need to look any further than Sperry Top-Sider. Known for the boat shoe, this version is a modern update in a chino color that goes with everything from jeans to plaid shorts, and cotton pants of any color. Sperry’s comfort and cushioned footbed, along with it’s lace-up styling that conforms to the foot, will have you reaching for these on any day you’re going to get out and enjoy a great day. The trend-right non-skid white rubber sole is just an added bonus.

Ties/Bowties. 5. Summer is a time for gents to bring out the brighter colors and also the strong neutrals in all aspects of our wardrobes. This silk tie has a rich neutral ground color with tiny blue flowers that looks great with a white spread collar shirt and your favorite neutral suit or sport coat - grey, blue, tan, and olive all work. And the wide spacing of the pattern makes it work with those pieces that have patterns in them, too. The combination is very sophisticated. Massimo Bizzocchi ties are exquisitely made in Italy, and the quality shows through, so we’ve always been fans of adding a new tie from the line into our own closets each season.

6. Check and plaid ties look great with solid suits and sport coats in the summer months. And the two contrasting shades of blue really pop in this cotton tie in such a fresh way – it’s certainly one of our favorites for the season. The narrow 2 ½” width works beautifully with the crisp pattern and will be a sharp modern statement to update your tan, grey and navy jackets.

7. There’s nothing like a bright color floral pattern tie to bring some fresh fun to your summer style, especially for a night out with a grey, navy, or tan suit. Eton of Sweden, is actually made in Italy, and the silk quality is just beautiful, keeping the color saturated and the pattern scale just right. It’s designed to wear with a small check or grid pattern shirt so don’t be shy with this one.

8. We mentioned the importance of bow ties in our Clothes & Conversation this week – while they’ve been making a comeback, they certainly rise to the top once the weather warms up. A cotton bow tie is simply a great way to make a seasonal fashion statement. Alexander Olch’s soft cotton yellow and grey stripe adds a distinctive look to your neutral cotton jackets. And though you might not think of a cotton seersucker bowtie for your summer weight wool suits and sport coats, we’re here to tell you to reconsider – it looks so dapper, with a light contrast to the serious wool fabrics. Not only can you wear it with a solid blue or white shirt, it also works with a small check or plaid patterned shirt, effortlessly.

Bags. 9. A cotton canvas brief case is a great option for the more laidback days of summer. This one from Filson has everything a gent needs. The waxed cotton canvas is water resistant and durable. It has pockets for your phone and other small essentials you don’t want to dig around for. And from a style perspective, the rugged bridle leather handle and shoulder strap elevate the look of the bag, while making it easy to carry – especially if you decide to walk home from work on a nice day. We’re featuring our favorite color, navy – the rich color is so right for the season – but there are some other great neutrals to choose from as well, through the 'shop it' button.

10. Backpacks are big on the style front, but let’s not forget their best trait – how easy they are to haul lots of stuff when you are out and about on the weekend. Thanks to their importance these days, they're also getting better looking. This bag from Seil Marschall is living proof. The 120-year old German company knows quality, so it will stand the test of time – and use. But they also bring a lot of masculine casual appeal with saddle leather straps and brass buckles to stylishly secure the bag. The cotton canvas bag has a bunch of interior pockets, but our favorite detail is the extremely comfortable wool felt padded shoulder straps.

11. On the other side of the backpack spectrum, there are times when you want the storage and flexibility of a backpack but with a sleeker aesthetic. Tumi delivers with this so-cool sling bag. Click through the ‘shop it’ button to check out all the angles and see this on a model – it will win you over just like it did for us once we got to play with it in person. Made of ballistic nylon, it has all the key storage and compartment features of a backpack with a simple shoulder sling strap that lets you throw it over your shoulder when you are on the move. It even includes a tablet sleeve. The slim profile is perfect for the urban gent, and even comes in cool charcoal grey or rugged olive, too.

12. For the gym, your bag needs easily throw over your shoulder, it should be lightweight, and it should be functional to deal with workout clothes and shoes. Oh, and let’s make it good-looking. This nylon bag from Herschel Supply covers it all. The lightweight nylon is durable, with an exterior zip pocket to keep your shoes separate from your clothes. The detachable shoulder strap is an added bonus if your hands aren’t free, and the style of the barrel shape is functional and updated, especially in this fresh army green color. (It does come in black thru the 'shop it' button, too.)

Belts. 13. Belts are the finishing touch that you don’t necessarily notice – unless it doesn’t look good. Like shoes, you should have an updated width, and some of the basics covered to reach for each morning. This bridle leather belt from Filson is a great price for the fine quality – they’ve been making leather goods since the Klondike gold rush. This is a belt that’s made to last, and the updated 1 ¼” width is just right for a modern finish to your jeans and khaki’s.

14. It’s just as important to have a fresh looking belt to wear with your shorts and flip flops or sneakers on those casual days, and a heavier leather belt that you wear with your jeans just doesn’t look right. But this belt from Alexander Olch does. The heavy-duty cotton canvas with classic silver hardware is a stylish pop that isn’t trendy, in the timeless bold blue and 1 ¼” width. Fabric belts can wear easily, but the quality of this belt will hold up to many wears – over many summers – so it’s worth the price.

15. On workdays, or any day you’ll be wearing a suit or wool dress pants, a timeless belt is a necessity. Trafalgar’s cognac brown is the perfect shade to work with brown or tan shoes, so you’ll be all set for summer (and winter, too). The Italian calfskin leather is updated to a 1 ¼” width that is just right to finish any timeless look. This one comes in black, too, and it’s a great basic to have in both colors.

16. The same can be said for the timeless braided belt. They have become a trend again this season, and we know a lot gents that have always turned to this easy style since it looks good with both dressier casual cotton or linen pants, as well as jeans. Trafalgar’s version is hand braided with a brushed nickel buckle so the quality is top-notch. This medium brown (called tan through the ‘shop it’ button) is great with khaki’s and jeans, so we find it the most practical. It also shows off the braiding detail. It does come in black, which is equally good-looking if you tend to wear more black shoes.

Bonus Accessories. 17. Pocket squares are really a must-have for a well-dressed gent, especially in the spring and summer. It’s that sartorial finish that works whether you are wearing a tie or not. Make it pop color that coordinates but doesn’t exactly match your outfit. Ted Baker’s red one with the blue circle foulard pattern is a really versatile option that expresses color, but isn’t too bold. It is ideal for the warmer weather with your cotton and lightweight wool jackets – especially in solid tan, grey, and dark navy.

18. Let’s face it, with all the technology and wires and stuff that is part of our everyday lives, it’s easy for things to get lost in your bag – after all, it can’t all fit in your pockets. Herschel Supply‘s canvas zip pouch is just the right size for your chargers, cords, pens, pencils and earbuds. You’ll always know where to find them and this well-priced, durable pouch fits easily in your briefcase or any bag.

19. There’s no denying our dependence on technology. And the options get better every season. Once we know we can keep track of our health, there’s no denying it becomes more appealing to do so. There are a lot of options out there, and one of our new favorites is the Misfit Shine. It allows you to monitor your activity and sleep - track your running, cycling, walking, swimming and all those healthy things. It counts your calories burned and lets you know if you are on track to meet the goals you have set, through the cool lights on the face. It comes in a bunch of colors, including black, and can be worn on your wrist or popped off to attach more subtly to your clothing. This is a great option that the competition doesn’t always offer, which is ideal for the office. It has a long lasting battery and a wireless sync to your phone, tablet or computer and lets you view all sorts of charts and graphs. It’s also waterproof – and the price is just right.

20. For lots of gents, an early morning or evening run is the best way to prepare for or unwind from the day. And this armband from TuneBand is our top pick for an easy and comfortable way to bring along your iPhone. It has a secure fit and allows access to the phone’s screen and buttons. It comes with 2 straps and 2 screen protectors in a variety of colors, so it’s really good-looking, too – we know you’re just out for a run, but might as well look good at the same time. It is available for all iPhone models, so you’ll find we’re sending you to a page of all the size options through the ‘shop it’ button. Pick the one that suits your phone.