Yes, it's that time of year again. Amazon annual Prime Day sales are in full swing and Jeff Bezos is here to bless us with some deals on everything from Keurig coffee makers to Roombas. It truly does feel like a holiday and we're very thankful. However, did you ever consider looking through Amazon Prime Day sales to look for wardrobe essentials?
Yes, SSENSE sales and other end-of-season clearance deals from department stores are typically the way to go when hunting for cheap designer goods. But for those who are true bargain clothing hunters, you can't knock what Amazon Prime Day has to offer. While you're not going to find a discounted Stone Island or Junya Watanabe piece on Amazon, you'll certainly find the most basic wardrobe essentials for great prices. We're talking about socks, shorts, jeans, polo shirts, and other pieces every person should have in their closet.
But trust us, even when it comes to essentials, there're some true gems to pick up today and tomorrow. "Nah, ain't no way you copped that off Amazon," is what you friends will likely say when they see you sporting a trendy new pair of Oakley Radar sunglasses or a fresh Movado watch.
Here we rounded up some of the best wardrobe essentials you can buy on Prime Day 2023. Check them out below.
All products are independently selected by our editors. Complex may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop them
A Timeless Movado Watch
Price: $333.43 (Originally $595)
Let’s face the facts. Most of us will never make enough money to purchase a Jacob & Co. timepiece. But thankfully, you can purchase an affordable and stylish watch thanks to Prime Day. Our personal favorite is this faceless classic Movado watch that will only be on sale today. Movado’s faceless watches have always been one of hip-hop’s favorite timepieces. It has been worn by the likes of Nas, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and more. “Frank White the desperado used to rock the all-black Movado,” said Biggie Smalls on Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Get Money (Remix).” You absolutely can’t go wrong with a Movado that’s nearly 50% off. If you do miss this killer deal, there’s plenty of other good watches being sold during Prime Day. Consider these options from Citizen, Invicta, or Bulova.
A Pair of Waterproof Salomon Sneakers
Price: $135 (Originally $160)
As always, there’s a ton of great footwear options available during Prime Day. While you won’t necessarily find many high fashion sneaker deals on Amazon, there’s plenty of in-trend sneaker deals to be had. Our personal favorite is this all-black pair of Gore-Tex Salomon Speedcross 5 trail running sneakers. Yes, these do look different from the ever-popular pairs of XT-6’s worn by everyone today. But these Salomon sneakers available on Prime Day aren’t only cheaper but arguably more functional. Many popular Salomon styles sold at fashion department stores are actually sportstyle sneakers, which means its look is only inspired by Salomon’s performance-driven sneakers. So while this option doesn’t necessarily look as slick as an XT-6, these were actually designed to be worn on real trails. If you’re looking to get into trail running or are searching for a nice pair of hiking sneakers, this is the perfect option for you. And if you’re just looking to buy a pair of Salomons for street style, you honestly can’t go wrong with all-black trail running sneakers. These are perfect for rainy days in the city because of their waterproof Gore-Tex lining and Salomon’s trademark anti-slip “Contagrip” outsole. This deal will last for two days but will likely sell-out quick so don’t sleep. There are also other great Gorpcore footwear options from Adidas Terrex, Keen, and Columbia.
A Calvin Klein Boxers Re-up
Price: $55.81 (Originally $89.50)
Although we always wonder what could have happened if Raf Simons stuck around at Calvin Klein, we’ll never stop buying Calvins for our essential underwear needs. Yeah, Supreme Hanes are cool, but they can’t touch this tried and true classic. They come in so many different styles, are made out of soft and breathable materials, and last a while. Today and tomorrow, you can get a whopping 7-pack of Calvin Klein undies for nearly $25 off. So, why not throw a pair of these on and make your own iconic “In My Calvins” ad campaign for that special someone in your life? Not a fan of Calvin Klein? Consider these other Prime Day offerings from Fruit of the Loom, Hanes, and Gildan.
A Comfy True Religion Hoodie
Price: $63.20 (Originally $79)
Most of us may already have several hoodies in our closet. But are we really wearing them every single day? Like a pair of beater sneakers, it’s always good to own one hoodie that you can wear for anything and everything. One standout option being offered on Prime Day is this classic True Religion hoodie with the brand’s famous Buddha mascot printed on the back. This is the perfect hoodie for those trying to tap into the Y2K nostalgia trend. Remember when True Religion jeans and a hoodie was one of the freshest fits you could put together? Thanks to this Prime Day deal, you can restore that feeling. This offer will last for both days and serves as a great consolation prize for anyone who has FOMO from sleeping on Supreme’s collaborations with True Religion. If True Religion isn’t your thing, there’s other great Prime Day hoodie options from Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, and Lacoste.
Sturdy Pairs of Polo Socks
Price: $17.60 (Originally $22)
Socks are another glaringly obvious wardrobe essential that we sincerely hope you already wear. Yes, there’s a correct way to wear socks and we encourage you to educate yourself on proper sock-wearing etiquette. As our guide details, the length, color, and materials of a sock are of the utmost importance. While there’s so many socks that you can buy for cheap on Prime Day, we did the work for you and combed through hundreds of sock deals. We can confidently say this pack of colorful Polo Ralph Lauren socks are some of the freshest ones you can buy from Amazon right now. Trust us, you don’t have to be a Lo Head or Lo Life with a vintage Polo collection worth thousands to pull these off. These socks are made with cushioned soles for comfort, boast a soft cotton-blend, and a smooth toe seam. Although many prefer classic Polo socks with the embroidered horse, these feature a large spell-out logo that feels true to Polo’s golden era in the 1990s. This Prime Day deal lasts for both days and is available in an ankle-cut option.
A Pair of Dickies Work Shorts
Price: $19.99 (Originally $25)
A solid pair of shorts will always go a long way. And while our readers in Los Angeles likely have too many pairs of these in their closet already, you can never go wrong with a pair of Dickies Work Shorts. Prime Day will have many pairs on sale over the next two days. While the discounts aren’t crazy steep, these are being sold under retail and are some of the comfiest and sleekest shorts you can rock in the summer. Amazon has pairs in 11-inch, 13-inch, and 15-inch lengths. Workwear bottoms are definitely a wardrobe staple. Just make sure you know how to wear them right.
A Futuristic Pair of Oakley Sunglasses
Price: $182.70 (Originally $261)
Sunglasses aren’t just a year-round essential to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays. A good pair of sunglasses can truly make or break an outfit. While there are many different pairs of sunglasses available for low prices during Prime Day, the trendiest ones we found are undeniably these pairs of Oakley Radar EV Paths. Oakley’s Radar eyewear line is one of their most popular and these sunglasses boast everything the brand's known for like its trademark O Matter frames and proprietary Prizm lenses. It’s no surprise that Radar EV Paths were the sunglasses of choice when Brain Dead collaborated with Oakley earlier this year. While these are nothing like the “Over The Top” sunglasses that every fashion archivist drools over, this will certainly fill your desire for a pair of fresh Oakleys. For those looking for more traditional sunglasses, there are also classics from heritage sunglass labels like Ray-Ban and Persol.
A Classic Pair of Levi’s 501 Jeans
Price: $41.56 (Originally $79.50)
Trust us, you can never have too many jeans because they’re a wardrobe essential that goes with everything. And while we may never actually get our hands on those super hyped Denim Tears x Levi’s drops, Prime Day offers plenty of good old pairs of Levi’s 501s. This year actually marks the 150th anniversary of 501s, which were the first pair of blue jeans that Levi’s ever made. 501s serve as the blanks for Denim Tears’ hyped cotton-wreath denim is because they are truly timeless. You can wear 501s anywhere, in any setting, during any time of the year. Prime Day has loads of different 501s for sale. Definitely shop around to find the perfect wash to match every piece in your closest. Or perhaps just get one sturdy pair to beat up and distress for years to come.
A Chill Pair of White Reebok Sneakers
Price: $51.29 (Originally $80)
Another tried and true wardrobe essential is a pair of clean white sneakers that can be worn with nearly any outfit. Although all-white Nike Air Force 1s are the go-to for many, they are far from being the only perfect pair of white sneakers out there. If you still don’t have a pair, don’t trip. Prime Day thankfully has many pairs of discounted all-white Reeboks in stock. Our personal favorite is this all-leather pair.
A Classy Lacoste Polo Shirt
Price: $75 (Originally $98)
Sometimes, we want to wear something casual but not just wear another graphic T-shirt. That’s where your favorite polo shirt comes in. Polo shirts are one of the greatest wardrobe essentials because they always come in handy for family outings, in-office meetings, networking events, or just a casual day on the beach. While it may be a little too casual to wear to a wedding, it’s a good in-between top for an event that isn’t too formal or casual. So it’s essential to own a good polo shirt. When it comes to Prime Day sales for Polo shirts, there’re so many options to choose from. But personally, we’ll take some advice from Tyler, The Creator, who recently said he prefers “the alligator logo on my cotton polo” on “Heaven to Me.” Yes, Prime Day has blessed us with Lacoste polos in every colorway imaginable. Definitely pick up one or even two for yourself.