When it comes to putting outfits together, do you sometimes feel a little clueless? If so, you’re not alone. Even the most confident and well dressed men get it wrong sometimes. And that’s because creating a suave look is not something that happens by accident. Putting together a smart outfit takes planning, consideration and a bit of an eye for style. Thankfully, however, owning a capsule wardrobe can make this process ten times easier. We look at how below.
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A Capsule wardrobe is essentially a collection of key clothing pieces that can be mixed and matched to create an endless number of stylish outfits. A Capsule wardrobe should not only reflect the individual’s style but also be able to offer options for various occasions.
How do I create a Capsule Wardrobe?
Start with a clearout
A capsule wardrobe is a clean, simple and uncomplicated concept. This means anything that’s collecting dust in your wardrobe needs to go. Sift through your clothing and toss/donate anything you haven’t worn in the last three months. Once you’re left with your favourite pieces, you can start on build your capsule wardrobe.
Make a Note of the Pieces You Have
Now that you’re left with only clothing that you actually wear, you will need to create a list, containing the name of each garment. Organise the list into categories so you know exactly how much you have of each item. This will help you to shop smarter, and stop you from buying duplicates of garments you don’t need. A functioning capsule wardrobe relies on a minimalist approach.
Organise Into Occasion
You can do this by writing a list, by physically organising your clothing pieces or both! Categorise all your garments into ‘by occasion’ Sections, e.g. casual, everyday wear, formal wear and smart casual. If you’re having trouble deciding what pieces should go where, think as if you’re actually heading out to said event; what piece would you grab for say… a meal out with a friend, a trip to the pub or heading into the office?
Plan Around Your Lifestyle
Once you have your clothing organised into categories by occasion, it’s now time to plan your capsule wardrobe around your lifestyle. Your capsule wardrobe should work for your lifestyle specifically; this means you may need more smart pieces than casual pieces or vice versa.
Consider what your typical week looks like and create outfit concepts accordingly. For example, if you know you’re going to be working in the office 4 days a week, and working from home one day a week you then know you need more formal work wear than casual clothes. However if you’re working from home full time, or have a job that requires a uniform then you will need less formalwear and more casual pieces. Once you’ve considered the clothing needs of a basic week, you can create a wardrobe that works better for you.
Decide on a Colour Palette
This tip isn’t for every man but it can certainly help when making decisions on what to wear. Opting for a basic colour palette will not only make choosing outfits easier, but shopping easier too. Choosing a colour palette does not mean sticking to one colour, or even various shades of the same colour, it simply means selecting a few colours that complement each other well. If you’re not sure where to start, try with a single piece of clothing you like from your wardrobe and look to the colour wheel to find out which colours complement it. You should opt for analogous colours (the colours which sit next to your chosen colour) rather than the colours opposite.
Make a List of the Key Pieces You Need:
The key pieces listed below are the ideal foundation for a well put together man. All pieces can be mixed and matched with one another to create an endless array of dapper looks.
Check your wardrobe for the following key pieces:
Shoes:
A pair of smart black shoes
A pair of smart classic shoes such as brogues, monk shoes or oxfords
A pair of casual trainers
A pair of casual shoes such as loafers or moccasins
A pair of Seasonal footwear options e.g. casual boots for winter and men’s sandals/summer shoes for summer
Tops:
A couple of plain
T Shirts in Black and White
A long sleeved
Jumper
A
Cardigan
A long sleeved
Dress Shirt
A smart/
casual shirt with long or short sleeves
Jackets:
A tailored smart
jacket
A Leather Jacket or
Denim Jacket
A seasonal Jacket e.g. a
linen jacket for summer and a
quilted jacket for winter
Bottoms:
Two to Three Pairs of
Jeans
Two to Three Pairs of smart casual
trousers such as
chinos
A pair of
suit trousers
A pair of
shorts
Extras:
A
tailored Suit
Seasonal accessories e.g. a scarf and gloves for winter, a hat and sunglasses for summer
Creating Outfits
Now that you’ve cleared out and upgraded your wardrobe the only thing left to do is start piecing garments together to create your outfits. One of the main purposes of a capsule wardrobe is to take the effort out of dressing. Essentially, you should be able to pick any top and bottom combination from your wardrobe to create a slick look, whether that be casual or smart. But while this works great in theory, you may find it takes a couple of tries to get a look you’re satisfied with. Keep trying combinations until you feel comfortable and confident, good luck!
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