How To Create A Capsule Wardrobe For Men
Jump To:
Have you ever looked in your closet wondering why you have nothing to wear while combing through large amounts of clothes you haven’t touched in years? Yeah, so do we, which is why we’re thrilled with capsule wardrobes, which – when built with your style, lifestyle, needs, and aesthetic in mind – will help you eliminate the majority of the guesswork when tailoring your outfits, get rid of clutter and unwanted/unworn items, and allow you to mix and match essential pieces that will transport you from season to season. So, what exactly is a capsule wardrobe, and how do you go about creating one? Let’s find out.
A capsule wardrobe is normally for a season with a set number of pieces and most importantly a shopping ban. Whereas a minimal wardrobe is more flexible without the rules of a capsule wardrobe and still retains the minimalist aspects of a capsule wardrobe.
What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?
Essentially, a capsule wardrobe is a clean wardrobe in which you can mix and match most, if not all, of the pieces that make it up. Capsule cabinets tend to err on the minimal side of things in terms of the number of clothes and accessories you own, if you’re someone with a less is more mindset, are considering a major overhaul of your wardrobe, or you want to get rid of unworn clothes or items that have no use in your wardrobe, then you may consider taking the leap into creating your own wardrobe – capsule dress.
Capsule Wardrobe Formula
One of the main things to consider when building a capsule wardrobe is quality rather than quantity. The idea is to have a certain number of items, usually in the 30-50 range. With which you can create a variety of outfits that will also last for several seasons. This means no quick fashion even for casual wear, as you will likely end up needing to replace these items as soon as possible.
How do you start to build a capsule wardrobe?
Building a capsule wardrobe can seem overwhelming or daunting. Capsule wardrobe breakdown, when you do a breakdown of your requirements, it’s actually pretty straightforward.
Analyze your style
The first step in creating a capsule wardrobe is to analyze your lifestyle, personal aesthetic, and overall style to determine which essential wardrobe pieces are right for you. If you work in a business casual or professional environment, the majority of your pieces will likely fall higher on the semi-formal and formal scale, as this is what you wear most days of the week.
If you’re a creative who maybe has meetings once or twice a week and has a more casual aesthetic, then you’ll likely have more streetwear or casual chic looks to choose from in your wardrobe. You should also keep in mind which color scheme you want to use or wear the most; neutrals like white, gray, black, blue, khaki, etc. are obviously easier to mix and match.
Organize by season or occasion
The next step when you start to create a capsule wardrobe is to organize your wardrobe by season and occasion. It would be best to do this before purchasing any new items to determine exactly what you need.
Lists
Something we strongly suggest is that you make a list or a spreadsheet of everything you want to keep, as well as things you miss and/or need. This will save you the huge headache of remembering what you wanted to keep and what you wanted to get rid of, as well as what you need when you go shopping.
Get rid of unused
Once you’ve organized your wardrobe, the next step is to clean everything up. Make a pile of what you keep and what you are willing to part with, and be sure to donate any lightly worn items if you can, or if you want to earn some extra cash, you can also use an application to sell items that are lightly used or still have the labels on them.
Capsule Wardrobe Breakdown – Essentials for a capsule wardrobe
Let’s start by saying that there is no one to guide how to create the right capsule wardrobe for your specific lifestyle, needs, and aesthetic – this will vary from person to person, as needs and everyone’s tastes are different. However, below are a few suggestions that will come in handy when creating a capsule wardrobe to suit your lifestyle.
Tops For Capsule Wardrobe
Look for tops that can be mixed and matched with casual and formal bottoms. Popular choices include:
- white or other solid color tees made from high-quality fabric.
- button-down long-sleeved shirts in neutral colors
- shirts with patterns in your wardrobe color scheme
- sweaters,
- hoodies,
- button-down collars, and
- crewnecks.
Again, the items you buy the most will depend on your style and lifestyle; However, it’s important to have options that can be dressed both high and low and pieces that can work for all kinds of occasions. You don’t want to rush at the last minute to find a blazer if you have to attend a wedding, and you certainly don’t want to wear a button to the gym.
Coats For Capsule Wardrobe
Trench coats are a wardrobe staple that will dress up any look during the colder months, so investing in a good trench coat in your particular color scheme is always a good idea.
If you’re creating a more casual wardrobe capsule, look for bombers, leather jackets, denim jackets, or waxed jackets in neutral colors to add to your wardrobe.
It would help if you also had a blazer or sports coat for chic and casual occasions, and at least a suit coat (with matching pants) for formal occasions.
If you are looking for more formal outerwear, a classic pea coat or Chesterfield coat is essential, and for those who live in heavy rain or snow area, outerwear that can withstand the elements is a must.
Bottoms For Capsule Wardrobe
There are a few pairs of essential pants that every guy should have in their closet, including:
- a pair of fitted chinos that you can dress up or down,
- high-quality denim,
- matching pants made from the same material as your suit coat,
- and something comfy that you can relax in or run errands in, like jogging.
Again, sticking to your preferred color scheme is paramount here.
Shoes For Capsule Wardrobe
The types of shoes depend on your lifestyle; if you’re in the office five times a week and the dress code is formal, having several pairs of oxfords or brogues is more important than building your athletic shoe collection.
If your style is more streetwear, focusing on sneakers and more casual shoes makes more sense.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to forgo a particular style of shoe – everyone needs a pair of dress shoes that can work in stylish, casual, or formal environments, as well as comfortable sneakers or designer shoes, the sport that will work for any casual event or occasion.
Accessories For Capsule Wardrobe
Include a leather belt, a beautiful watch, a briefcase or a backpack for work according to the dress code, a weekend bag for short trips, and sunglasses in a classic shape that will match both casual and formal outfits.
