Depending on how bad you think the blow-up will be you will have different ideas as to how much depth you will need in this area. I figure that when the fiat economy blows up it will be at least a year before things begin to look "normal" and I base most of my assumptions on that. "Outside the skin" means literally your closest contact with the world, clothing, footwear outerwear etc. When the balloon goes up life will get a lot harder, a LOT harder, your designer jeans and stylish jacket won't last long in a world that cannot provide the cocoon of civilization.
You need clothing (lots of it) that is at least as tough as the times you will be facing. If you are an outdoor type you may be better off than most, but a lot of the stuff they sell for hikers and such are only good for the odd weekend or three a year. Hunters will be better off as hunting clothing is traditionally made to stand heavy use. My suggestion for workable, wearable clothes would be to examine the clothing worn by construction workers or farmers. These folks face a "heavy use" environment every day and understand the sort of wear and tear that the average weekend hiker does not encounter.
Let us start with footwear and work our way up. You need boots; sturdy, solid, heavy boots with thick soles and laces. You will need at least two pairs, I suggest four (to ensure that you can allow them to dry adequately between uses). These will last a long time if taken care of properly and will protect you from injury and fatigue. It is OK to have running shoes for bumming around but they will not hold up under heavy use and do not protect your feet from anything. Sturdy sandals are also OK for summer use, particularly if you will be getting wet a lot as they dry quickly and allow your feet to dry as well. If you do not spend a lot of time on your feet in harsh environments you do not have a clue how important it is to keep your feet warm and dry. It is crucial, absolutely crucial. Don't mess around with this it could make the diffference between be able to move about freely and being hobbled with blisters and "trenchfoot". You will want to break in all of these boots as you get them, do not wait until you need to walk ten miles or work all day in them to give them a try. Wear each pair for an hour or so a day in rotation so that the shoes break in evenly and your feet get used to them. In World War One armies lost more soldiers to trenchfoot than they did to bullets, don't mess around with this, keep your fet dry. Socks are also important, in a high-use situation they will wear out with stunning speed. Get good ones, get a lot while they are still cheap and stash them away.
Pants, those Dockers you have been wearing on casual day at the office won't cut it. You need heavy blue jeans or bib-front overalls for all around wear, get a dozen pairs and break them all in now. For colder weather you may want to stock in long-johns to help keep you warm. For truly cold weather you want Carharts (I am not a "brand-name" sort of guy but in this case you really do want Carharts) outdoor thermal coveralls and a jacket with several knit caps (swap them out as they get wet). If you live in a place with sub-zero weather (aside from a plan to relocate to warmer areas) miltary surplus sub-zero rated equipment will do you proud; me, I would already have relocated. For summer wear you might want to add a few pairs of lighter weight jeans or overalls but these will wear out fast, so be prepared for them to fail fairly soon. Some versions of cargo pants will do, and the cargo shorts are a handy way to still have pockets in really hot weather without giving up too much comfort. Miltary BDUs are a great option as well.
Most of the shirts you can buy these days can barely survive an office work-place for a year of occasional wearing. You need to look for shirts that are made of thick, sturdy cloth and are amply fitted; with well-sewn seams and buttons. They will cost more but will be worth it. Get a couple of dozen good-quality T-shirts, they are reasonably cheap, can be worn under other shirts to provide additional layers for warmth and take up very little space. Do not consider these to be outerwear, even in hot weather, they are too frail and do not protect you from the sun. Thermal shirts can add additonal warmth in marginal weather to save you troubling with a coat. The old-fashioned "redneck" flannel shirt is an excellent bit of clothing, it can be worn buttoned up for warmth, loose at the neck in normal weather and unbuttoned in hot weather while still providing protection from the sun and insects. Get a few, you will end up loving them.
Hats; hats have been reduced to fashion statements for the last few decades. In TEOTWAWKI scenario you will need several hats for sundry uses. The common baseball cap can be found everywhere and is not a bad choice in fair weather. In strong sun or hot weather you will need a light weight hat that has a wide brim to keep the sun off of your neck and shoulders, the Panama was developed just for the purpose, if you have access to a "coolie hat" it is also an excellent design, and of course a cowboy hat will also fill the role admirably. For colder/wetter conditions you will need a hat that sheds moisture and helps keep some heat in you. A wide brim is required to keep the rain from cascading down your neck and back and to keep it out of your eyes. There are many choices in pressed felt, wool or leather, think of an Indiana Jones hat and you will know what I mean. For winter wear you will need several knit caps and a heavier, windproof cover to stop the loss of heat through your scalp.
Undergarments are probably the most important item, the optimal item varies by person to the point where any suggestion is just silly. In a world where you are struggling to survive you will find that the items that are comfortable for a day at the office or a golf-outing will chafe and become intolerable very quickly. Try as many different brands and styles as you find until you come across the type that is "just right " for you, my recommendation is this, get the brand you like best, get lots of them. I mean lots. In the event that you do not have access to modern washing machines and cleaning products they will wear out fast and going commando really isn't an option at times.
Coats and jackets will provide protection for the vagaries fo the weather, you will need at least two light waterproof jackets with hoods, a heavier coat with either a high collar or a hood and at least one severe weather coat that can protect you against the worst weather (that anybody recalls) in your area. I would suggest that these garment all reach to mid-thigh to provide proper protection. As always, having a back-up for all of these is recommended.
Other items you will want to consider are gloves (some for warmth, other for work) eyeglasses (even if you wear contacts you should have at least two pairs of fairly up-to-date glasses around) sunglasses, sunblock/sunscreen, and several sturdy belts.
Most folks do not understand that this stuff will wear out fast, even the top-dollar goods will eventually fade away and fall apart. We have become so used to picking up an item whenever and wherever we need it that our perception of how we use clothing is warped, that combined with the ever-changing fashion styles means that clothing is now rarely made to last beyond one "fashion cycle" and is surprising fragile when given hard use. I suggest that you get the best stuff you can afford and stock up.
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