5 around $50

Economic downturn. Check. Need to look good. Check. Don't let the current financial atmosphere get you down. There are still ways to look good for not too much money. Here are five American staples for in the neighborhood of $50. Remember, it's not about how much it costs or who's name is on the tag, what matters is how the garment fits.

1. Your basic navy blazer. This can take you to a wedding (with trousers and a tie), date night (with jeans and a fun dress shirt), job interview (definitely a no-nonsense tie), or a picnic on a cool day (with chinos and sneakers). It's possibilities are probably endless. Try Target, sale racks at JCP, Sears, Macys, TJ Maxx among others. Make sure it's a two-button single breasted. Double breasted is great but harder to pull off. This one was found at amazon.com.

2. White oxford... to go with your blue blazer. This one is from Gap. They have it listed at $39.50 but since Gap has sales all the time, the chances are good to find one even less expensive. The quality is pretty solid. You can wear this under any sweater; navy or charcoal for work, black for night time, argyle. Wear it with the blazer or a cardigan or a sweater vest. Try it paired with chinos and plain white sneakers (no shock absorbers); roll up the sleeves come April and through on some madras shorts. It's the most versatile piece in the wardrobe.

3. Black loafer. Unlike the brown loafer, the black is just at home in the club as much as it is in the office. Find one with a high vamp (that's how high the shoe comes over your instep basically, lower vamp, more foot exposed. only for the opera). Wear the black loafer without socks in the warmer months and with cords in the cooler months, like right now.

4. The stainless steel watch. Leather bands are great but some will feel the need to wear the black strap with black shoes and so on. A SS band goes with just about everything. Wear it with a suit at work or a wedding, wear it with jeans and a rugby shirt and sneakers. Find one that's not too chunky, like this one from Croton, at overstock.com.

5. Blue jeans. If you're going to own one pair, why not go with a pair that's never gone out of style, the 501 from Levi's. The wash is versatile, it's neither too light or dark. For night, pair it with darker shades, in the day, wear it with loafers and a white oxford. Try it with a slim cut dress shirt or a fitted polo shirt. Wear them all the time. Jeans, especially a pair devoid of any decoration, save for the Levi's stitching and the tab, look better with age. Visit levis.com or retailers like JCPenny, Sears and Macys.