[ Part 1: Attire | Part 2: Shoes | Part 3: Accessories ]

Over the next three Tuesdays, Gear Patrol plans to bring you ensembles for the workplace that are sharp, inexpensive and easy to find - starting with attire. 5 Jobs. 5 Ensembles. Real Prices.

We read the magazines too, so we know how irritating it is that a fashion director somewhere in New York thinks he (or worse, she) honestly believes you’re willing to purchase $1500 suits, $300 shirts, $150 ties, $300 shoes, $30 socks, $200 belts, $350 wallets, and still have money left over for rent. Sure, a few marquee pieces in your wardrobe are worthwhile and we’ll deliver those to you in time, but lets talk about real money in real life. Whether you earn $50k, $100k or $200k here are five simple ensembles, by job, that won’t incinerate your paycheck, unlike that last trip to Vegas. Read on.

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I’m nearly certain this J.Crew Jersey polo will take you into your summer evenings in style and comfort. It has for me. The extraordinarily soft cotton jersey shirt is garment-dyed for a vintage look and tailored with a slimmer tennis cut (longer in the back) with side vents. Buttons are also real South American Corozo. J.Crew is offering this in 8 colors.

This polo is only available online at jcrew.com.

Editor’s Tip: The shirt makes it look like this polo matches with white denim well. It does. Problem is white denim doesn’t match you so skip it and stick with a lighter chino. Unless you can actually pull of white denim.

Cost: $47 @ J.Crew

Gap’s limited edition European Collection is back with some new choices. The designs conceived in, well, Europe, are crisp and clean with a touch of European style.

This blue dove checkered short sleeve shirt is a great addition to the wardrobe this summer. Perfect with a pair of well-fitting cargos. Yes, it’s a short sleeve button up which can instantly make you look like you hold an AARP card. Of course, that’s only when you choose the wrong shirt and that’s not going to happen because you read Gear Patrol.

Cost: $34 @ Gap

You know the name from tennis, but you should also know that legendary Swedish tennis star has his own line of clothing. Bjorn Borg was one of the greatest tennis players in history as a dominant player in the 1970’s.

This heavy jersey pique polo is made of 100% cotton with silver press buttons.

Editor’s Tip: Perfect with a pair of light jeans of a chinos, like these J.Crew Premium Officer Chinos.

So you’ve supplemented your summer wardrobe with a linen shirt and a good pair of flip flops. And I’m sure you already have a pair of shorts, but I bet you haven’t thought about formal ware. Yes, formal ware. I’m talking seersucker. Whether you summer in Cape Cod, the Outer Banks, or So-Cal your summer wardrobe isn’t complete until you have a seersucker suit.

As fabrics go, seersucker is the perfect for summer. Usually made from cotton, seersucker feels light and breathable. More so than any tropical weight wool suit I’ve ever owned. I think we all know that you couldn’t survive a day in the tropics in one of these.

For your seersucker needs checkout your J.Crew or go to www.jcrew.com. Memorial Day is less than a week away. Is your wardrobe ready?

What this means to you: You can leave the t-shirt, cargo shorts, and flip flops at home next time you go to a clam bake, regatta, horse race, etc…

Cost: $198 @ J.Crew

Bluefly is a purveyor of many-a-deals so their decision to move into a more refined haberdashery type of outfitting is nice to see. The Tailor, launching today, offers many of the more sophisticated suits, shoes and accessories one might find at a bespoke tailor.

That said, I agree with the gents at SavoirVivre that you’ll most likely need to visit your own tailor for any fine tuning of sartorial purchases. You do have your own tailor right?

The Tailor @ Bluefly

“Teen too young for ‘come hither’ pose? or “Colossal squid has soccer-ball eyes.”

The t-shirt craze has made its way onto the prestigious news network site where you can have select headlines printed on t-shirts. “40-lb. Hunk Of Metal Hits Driver In Face” for some reason makes me laugh. If you don’t already know CNN has garnered some satirical press for their extraordinarily truncated Latest News headlines. Just look for the t-shirt icon for headlines you can order.

What this means to you: Sartorial genius.

Cost: $15 @ CNN Shirt Store

If you’re a runner or biker than you probably relate to the frustration of having things in your pocket. Strapping an iPod to your bicep works but what about keys, cash and other things you might need on a long run? Well, the SPIbelt (small personal items) is designed for you. It’s svelte, early invisible profile will hold fast without bouncing or shifting and hold all your necessary gear. Take my advice and get it for your next run.

Cost: $20 @ Overton Fitness

Cut & Sew recently launched a store (one of seven) this past weekend here in Tampa’s Westfield Plaza and I attended the opening in search of some gear.

Searching through the store I found some items that I liked and the general vibe was chill. The clothes were on the casual side, with a dash of contemporary flare. If you’re looking for casual clothes with a little touch of edge, that will set you apart, check out the Cut & Sew lineup. You’ll find their products in specialty and high-end retail stores as well as online.

“From the mind of Marc Ecko comes Cut & Sew, a signature collection created for today’s fashion-forward young man. Blending classic tailoring with edgy graphics and embellishments, Cut & Sew turns the contemporary market on its head with a heavy dose of irreverence and swagger. Comprised of semi-tailored separates, sweaters, active wear, blazers, woven shirts, premium denim, and T-shirts, the Cut & Sew collection is the life, the style, the brand that others wish they had.” (Marc Ecko Enteprises)

Editor’s note: We feature a lot of gear for men that borders on the traditional side. Don’t be afraid to take a step away from the norm.

Everyone else goes for navy or khaki hues when they buy chinos, so why don’t you skip the standard affair and buy a pair that isn’t the norm, like these rock grey flat front twill chinos from Lacoste.

I don’t condone white so don’t call these pants white, not to mention your monitor might not actually show the true color of these pants. The pair that I’m wearing right now are far (far) from alabaster.

These 100% cotton chinos are a classic fit with a flat front and side seam pockets and like many Lacoste pants, have the signature logo embroidered across the inside waistband.

Editor’s Tip: Pair these with white canvas sneakers, brown boat shoes, or just some nice leather sandals, like these Steve Madden Salvtore’s.

Also See: J.Crew Officer’s Chino | $95