Men’s Year-Round Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe - The Ultimate Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Capsule Wardrobe Mistakes Most Men Make

Here are the most common mistakes I see guys making when trying to build a capsule wardrobe:

• Thinking you can do it without any guidance.
  So many guys hear the term 'Capsule Wardrobe' and think "Gee, how hard could it be?!" before building a collection of ill-fitting, overly-trendy, and poorly-made items that look bad and aren't built to last. That is why I created this guide!

• Cheaping out.
  As I mentioned in the FAQs above, you shouldn't be pinching pennies when it comes to creating a capsule wardrobe. Now, I'm not talking about splurging on designer threads here, but more so investing in high-quality pieces that will last you for years to come.

• Not taking your location into account.
  If you live somewhere with four seasons, then you need to build your wardrobe to suit that climate. Likewise, if you live somewhere with a tropical climate for 11 months of the year, then you should probably avoid those lace-up boots and heavy wool overcoat.

• Not being open to getting your clothing altered.
  Believe it or not, a large percentage of your clothes were not designed to fit you, specifically. This is where a good tailor comes in. Having your clothing altered will not only make you look so much better but feel so much better too!

Features of a Capsule Wardorobe

Colors

Capsule wardrobes are best when they have foundational neutral colors in them like:

• Black

• White

• Gray

• Navy

However, that does not mean you can’t or shouldn’t add a pop of color or integrate some color into your wardrobe.

A common mistake my clients and readers/viewers make is going out and buying a bunch of statement pieces like neon green pants or mustard-colored sweaters. The problem is that they don't understand how this fits into their existing wardrobe and then it just sits in the closet collecting dust. So let’s start off with the basics in the capsule wardrobe to add as a foundation on which to build later.

Simplicity

Due to the color choices and foundational element of a capsule wardrobe, it will be simple, elegant, understated, and perfect - this is on purpose.

And, while on the hanger or in the drawer, it may look "boring" to the uninitiated, it will be the complete opposite to that in real-world usage.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication...

Agnostic

A minimalist wardrobe is age, body, height, and skin tone agnostic - on purpose.

Yes, you will need to find things that fit properly and there are some options that are better suited toward specific ages and body types, but in this article, I'm going to give you everything that will look great on every guy, regardless of these attributes.

So let's get cracking!

How To Build a Men's Capsule Wardrobe

1. Trust the Process

You're here because you want help. Admitting that is not always easy.

Maybe you don't realize it, but you're bringing preconceived notions about how things are or should be with your wardrobe. Your perception has been shaped by experience, your age, and what has been popular at different times of your life.

It's time to drop all that and let yourself be open to the process.

Every time I start working with a new client, they're adamant they just need a little help - 99.9% of the time, they need a lot of help. So before you rush to judgment, sit back, relax, and let me show you the way to dressing and looking better than you ever have before. Take it in, don't judge (because you're actually the worst judge in this scenario - more on that in Step 7), and look at the whole picture.

You're going to learn a lot during this process without realizing it - I promise.

2. Go Slowly (if you want to)

If you're nervous or uncomfortable about going "all in" right off the bat, try incorporating some of my suggested items a little at a time and see how you and others react before digging deeper.

3. Determine Your Needs

Before jumping in, you should determine your wardrobe needs. The guy who works as a tradesman and the one who works in a law firm have very different clothing requirements. Obviously, I can't account for every industry and location in an article like this, so I'm going to need you to figure that part out.

Buy more of what you use the most, less or none of the things you don't need or wear less often.

Maybe you only need a dress shirt and blazer or sports coat for special occasions a few times a year. In which case you'll grab only one of those and omit the rest of the dressier options.

Or maybe you typically need to wear dress shirts, blazers, chinos, and some type of dress shoe on a weekly basis but hardly ever t-shirts or jogger pants. You'd then grab one or two of those options and omit the rest.

4. Go Through Your Closet

This is when you'll look at the list of items that make a year-round capsule wardrobe and determine what items you already own and which items you should toss out (or donate) and potentially replace to fill in your capsule wardrobe.

When performing a closet audit, you will be:

• Pulling out items in a specific category. Example: t-shirts and then...
• Ensuring they're free of stains, rips, etc.
• Seeing if the colors work well. This means leaning on neutrals - white, black, gray, blue.
• Making sure the items fit your body appropriately - are they too big, tight, long, or short?

5. Fill In The Gaps

Now that you've performed a closet audit and only have things that work for a Capsule Wardrobe, it's time to fill in the gaps of items to complete the whole wardrobe so you can put together great outfits with little thought.

5a. What pieces should I invest in and what pieces can I buy cheap?

There's an old saying:

Invest in the items that separate you from the ground: your shoes, bed, and car tires.

I subscribe to this mentality, and go even further: invest in the things that touch your skin or protect you from the elements. My experience with hundreds of men over the years has proven this to be accurate.

You want to invest in quality shoes (specifically leather options), underwear, as well as outerwear (jackets) because it is ultimately cheaper in the long run since quality pieces tend to last longer and they are typically more comfortable and easier to maintain.

With cheaper options listed below, they normally last just as long as expensive options and the difference in quality from budget-friendly to high-end options is measured in very small degrees. That's not to say you have to follow this advice to a T. If you value luxurious t-shirts, please buy what you prefer.

You have my full permission to cheap out on these items:

• T-Shirts
• Sweaters
• Jeans
• Joggers

Spend some coin on these items (if you can):

• Jackets
• Coats
• Leather Boots
• Dress Shoes
• Leather Sneakers
• Underwear

6. Put Together Outfits

Based on the occasion, season and how you're feeling that day, you will be able to easily mix and match the items in your wardrobe to look great on a daily basis.

If you want a complete list of every type of outfit you can put together with your capsule wardrobe - based on your age, height, body type, and skin tone, then you should check out the Essential Capsule Wardrobe app.

7. Get Feedback and Take The Challenge

Here's where the fun (or horror) begins:

It's time to test out your new wardrobe.

But you're not going to ask family or friends. No, they already know you on a level that will color their impressions - some of them will be negative because certain people don't like change or are offended when people around them start bettering themselves because it highlights how they aren't doing anything like this.

Be very careful about getting feedback from people who know you. I always advise my clients to ask people who don't see them on a daily basis for quick feedback. The best feedback, however, is from impartial strangers because they're not used to seeing you one way or another like friends and family, my private community is very active with like-minded men who are always willing to provide unbiased feedback.

7a. The Challenge

If you're single, this is going to make meeting new people even easier. But even if you're taken, this is going to open up your world - I promise.

You're going to go up to a random stranger and say exactly this:

"Hi, you look like someone who knows how to dress well, would you mind telling me if you like this outfit? I'm trying to improve the way I dress and am looking for feedback."

Then just let them talk and take the advice at face value. The average person knows when something looks good or bad, but they likely won't know exactly why it looks good or bad, so don't ask for details.

Unless you've completely blown the advice, they're going to say you look fantastic because they have no notions of how the "old you" used to dress. They only see you as you are - which is now a well-dressed, stylish man who isn't trying too hard. If you're not getting compliments, you've missed something in my advice.

Capsule Wardrobe Items Checklist

The goal is to have a wardrobe that will easily get you through a week without having to do laundry while also accounting for various scenarios - weather, occasions, trips, formalities. Below are the base-level items that every guy should own.

• 2 Jackets (1 Dressy, 1 Casual)
  • Dressy:
    • Sport Coat or Blazer
  • Casual:
    • Bomber
    • Denim/Trucker
    • Harrington
    • Utility
      
• 8-12 Tops (a mixture of shirts and sweaters)
  • Shirts:
    • T-Shirts - Navy, White, Black, Heather Gray
    • Polo Shirts - Navy, Black
    • Oxford Button Down Dress Shirt - White, Light Blue
    • Semi-Spread Collar Dress Shirt - White, Light Blue
    • Work Shirt/Flannel
  • Sweaters:
    • Sweaters:
      • Crewneck Sweater
      • V-Neck Sweater
      • Sweatshirt
      • Hoodie
        
• 2-6 Pants (1-2 Casual, 1 Dressy)
  • Jeans - Dark Wash (Indigo)
  • Chino Pants - Navy, Sand, or Khaki
  • Joggers - Navy, Black, or Charcoal
  • Wool Trousers
    
• 4 Flat Front Chino Shorts
  • 2 Navy
  • 1 Sand or Khaki
  • 1 Gray
    
• 2 Pairs of Shoes (1 Casual, 1 Dressy)
  • White Leather Sneakers
• Pair of Oxford Dress Shoes (Medium Brown or Black)
• 2 x Boots:
  • Lace-Up Boots - Medium Brown Leather
  • Chukka Boots/Chelsea Boots - Medium Brown Leather
• 8 Pairs of Underwear
  
• 8 Pairs of Socks
  • 2 Pairs of Each Color
    • Black
    • Dark Gray
    • Brown

Accessories

• Belts - Leather (1 Black, 1 Brown)
  
• Sunglasses or Opticals (1 Black, 1 Brown/ Tortoiseshell)
  
• Bags (1 Backpack/Briefcase)
  
• Luggage (1 Weekender, 1 Roller Bag)
  
• Watches (1 Casual, 1 Dressy)
  • Casual: Metal Bracelet - Blue or Black Face
  • Dressy: Black or Dark Brown Leather Strap, White face/dial
    
• Wallet (1 Leather or Leather Substitute) - Black or Brown
  
• Hats (2 Casual, 1 Dressy)
  • Baseball Cap - Navy Blue small or no logo
  • Beanie - Navy, Black, or Charcoal

Climate or Event-Specific

• Suit (1 Gray or Navy)
  
• Heavy Jacket - Navy, Gray or Black,
  • Overcoat
  • Peacoat
  • Parka
    
• Wool Scarf (1 Black, Gray, or Navy)
  
• Lace-Up Boots (Rain, Snow, Cold weather)
  
• Ties (1 Navy, 1 Black)
  
• Workout Clothes

Outfit Ideas

Here is a selection of different outfits that you can create using the items in your year-round capsule wardrobe.