The only piece of cycling-specific clothing I use is shorts; they do seem to make a difference in comfort. MY top is a t-shirt, shoes are court-style (tennis) on flat pedals. I do wear cycling specific gloves in the summer, but in winter I use a pair of full-fingered work gloves from the local 'big-box' hardware store. And I wear a bicycle helmet if you consider that to be 'clothing'. Yes, I look like a nerd out there on the road. Experiment a little and use what works best for you.