What, exactly, is a “men’s capsule wardrobe”? If you asked, oh, about a week ago, we’d have been pretty stumped ourselves. What we do, know, though, is this: we all own way too much clothing, and if it helps to think of a capsule wardrobe as a means of assessing the excess and deciding what to toss, we’re totally here for it. Take a long, hard look at your closet, and you might be surprised by how little of it you actually need—and how many outfits you can put together with the remaining number of items. That’s a capsule wardrobe in a nutshell.
If a closet full of pieces that make getting dressed a cinch sounds like a good idea, you’re in the right place. Not sure where to start? Allow us to help.
Wait, so what is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a tight collection of highly versatile essentials that can be mixed and matched to create a near-infinite spread of outfits. In theory, it should involve a decent amount of simplification. It means the intentional paring down of your closet so that what you have left works for most situations—a Kondo-adjacent philosophy to getting dressed that largely eschews joy in favor of cold, hard utility. With a proper capsule wardrobe, the thinking goes, you should be able to get dressed with your eyes closed.
How to build a capsule wardrobe
Building a capsule wardrobe is essentially building a foundation for your closet. (Think building blocks, but for your fits.) Focus on classic-leaning, quality staples that are impervious to trends and easy to style.
Most capsule wardrobes are a morass of basics in neutral colors: tees, sweaters, and jeans in black, gray, and navy. And what they lack in, well, joy, they make up for in efficiency. (Spend less time deciding what to wear, and you’re left with more time to focus on what really matters—or so every wannabe tech scion would have you believe.) There’s a kernel of truth to that strain of thought: when you’re rushing out the door, grabbing the first things you see in your closet can be a huge time-saver.
How many items you should have in a capsule wardrobe is a matter of debate. Plenty of folks would say 20; plenty more would say 40. But in putting together this list, we felt like we could do with even less. Once we excluded essentials like underwear and socks—and forwent accessories like sunglasses, hats, and scarves—we wound up with an unassailable men’s capsule wardrobe comprising just 15 items.
The Perfect Wardrobe in 15 Foolproof Pieces
- The Plain White Tee: Gildan Hammer Tee (2-Pack), $14
- The Multi-Hyphenate Sweater: Sunspel Shetland Wool Cardigan, $335
- The All-Occasion Boots: Blundstone Dress Chelsea Boots, $200
- The Charcoal Suit: Buck Mason Graduate Blazer, $798
- The Weatherproof Shell Jacket: Barbour Bedale Jacket, $415
- The Blue Jeans: Orslow 105 Jeans, $405
- The Do-Everything Loafers: G.H. Bass & Co. Larson Weejuns Loafers, $175
- The Oxford-Cloth Button-Down: Drake’s Oxford Cloth Button-Down Shirt, $295
- The Sturdy Work Pants: Dickies 874 Work Pants, $35
- The Classic Sneakers: Adidas Gazelle Sneakers, $100
- The Blue Striped Shirt: Gitman Vintage Classic American Vintage Slim Oxford Shirt, $205
- The Gray Crewneck Sweatshirt: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Crewneck Sweatshirt, $125
- The Badass Leather Jacket: Nudie Jeans Eddy Rider Leather Jacket, $800
- The Luxed-Up Topcoat: Auralee Oversized Double-Breasted Super 160s Wool Coat, $1715
- The Timeless Timepiece: Timex Q Timex GMT 38mm Stainless Steel Watch, $220
The Plain White T-Shirt
Everybody needs a plain white T-shirt. Whether you’re Joe Schmoe or Joe Jonas, the right one should be the bedrock of your wardrobe. You could wear it as an undershirt, protecting your sweaters and button-ups from sweat, or rock it solo for everyone to admire, with jeans, dress pants, and just about anything between.
The Multi-Hyphenate Sweater
There are a million different sweaters to choose from once the temperature takes a dive. There’s nothing wrong with a simple wool crewneck, of course. But allow us to posit a slightly off-kilter piece of knitwear, something a little more versatile and adaptable than the humble crewneck: the full-placket polo-sweater hybrid. It’s not the obvious choice, but the sheer amount of hyphens in its name is exactly why it’s the best one. Think about it: the look of a polo, the feel of a sweater, and the styling capabilities of a cardigan. What more could you ask for?
The All-Occasion Boots
It should be obvious by this point that capsule wardrobes are all about versatility. While you don’t have to opt for Chelsea boots, the right pair of boots should be able to withstand the elements—and any sideways glances from your office nemesis. They’re simple, clean enough to take a polish and a suit, but can be thrashed into the ground as much as you like.
The Charcoal Suit
Sooner or later, you’ll encounter an occasion that demands a suit. A job interview, a wedding, a funeral—there’s no avoiding it, and there’s rarely an acceptable substitute. Not sure what color to choose? If you have to pick one, make it charcoal. The specific shade we’re talking about here is formal enough for more somber contexts and the office (especially when they’re one and the same). But charcoal can play ball, too—all you have to do is wear the jacket with a sweater and jeans or ditch it entirely by mixing the trousers with a leather jacket.
The Weatherproof Shell Jacket
As much as we try, we cannot predict the weather. The best you can do is prepare for it with a damn-near impenetrable slicker. On rainy days, you’ll want a shell jacket that can keep you dry through Mother Nature’s worst. If you’re layering right, you don’t really need a bulkier joint with 800-down fill (remember, we’re trying to save you some scratch here).
The Blue Jeans
Find a pair that fits you, and blue jeans will never not look good. Thanks to their workwear origins, jeans are made to last—that they also help you feel ridiculously cool is just happy coincidence. Few pieces look better as they age, and after over a century-and-a-half outfitting the world, they haven’t lost an ounce of their luster.
The Do-Everything Loafers
Loafers are a sartorial panacea. They stroll the no man’s land between sneakers and dress shoes like Eliud Kipchoge in a park. They’re as clean as lace-up derbies, as unfussy as slip-on kicks. They’re a jack-of-all-trades—and a master of all, too. Give ’em a shine and a suit and they’ll impress your boss (or at least, not get you fired). Introduce ‘em to jeans and a tee, and you’ll unlock Jacob Elordi-levels of swag. Opt for a pair with rubber-lugged soles and you’ve got yourself a triple-threat that can also stand up to inclement weather.
The Oxford-Cloth Button-Down
Save for the occasional corporate criminal, nobody will ever come at you in a crisp white shirt. The most versatile of the bunch is the Oxford-cloth button-down, which borrows its name from the fabric it’s made out of, a meatier riff on the standard poplin fare. That fabric lends the style a little texture—and looks all the more rakish unpressed and a little rumpled. Leave the button-down collar undone, throw on a tie, and you’re left with a spread-collar dress shirt that knows its salad fork from its dinner fork.
The Hardy Work Pants
Work pants are handier than you might think. Sure, their burly fabric can stand up to some roughing, a feature both construction guys and skaters appreciate. But keep ‘em clean and a pair of work pants can moonlight as chinos without garnering any funny looks. In a pinch, you can even give them a crisp press and they’ll stand in as dress pants.
The Classic Sneakers
Today’s Sneaker Industrial Complex churns out freakier treats than the Wonka factory, but for our purposes, stick to the time-honored classics like Converse’s needs-no-introduction Chuck Taylor or Margiela’s just-tweaked-enough riff on the German Army Trainer.
The Blue Striped Shirt
Blue striped button-ups are like fancy restaurants that turn into clubs at night. They can sync up with a suit and tie without flinching, but look just as dashing with faded jeans and sneakers. When a white shirt feels a little too sterile, this is its work-hard, play-hard alternative.
The Gray Crewneck Sweatshirt
The humble gray crewneck sweatshirt has long since transcended its athletic origins to become a bona fide fashion staple. The right one should look swell with an oxford shirt peeking out from beneath its collar, an Ivy-inspired flourish menswear nerds still obsess over. And with a crisp pair of sneakers and proper trousers, it can transform your lounging-at-home looks from eh to excellent in about as much time as it takes for you to smash the buy button.
The Badass Leather Jacket
Come fall and/or spring, you’re going to need a mid-weight jacket. Don’t overthink it: the one you want should probably be black—and it should definitely be leather. First of all, it’ll make anyone look cooler and possibly famous. Second of all, they’re durable as hell, and with the proper care, will last you well into retirement.
The Luxed-Up Topcoat
Eventually, the weather will take a downturn and turn you into a popsicle lest you have the right winter coat. Your first thought might be a puffer jacket. No doubt it’ll keep you warm, but its range is too limiting. Instead, just turn your gaze to the swaddly wool topcoat. Unless the temperature regularly dips below freezing in your neck of the woods, a half-decent overcoat will get you through the worst of it if you layer strategically. Think of it like the star player on a sports team: Even if the rest of your ensemble is mediocre, it’ll make the whole roster look great.
The Timeless Timepiece
If there’s a single accessory you should add to your capsule wardrobe it’s most definitely a watch. It’s often the cherry on top, the missing piece that takes your outfits from a solid A to an A+. A classic watch can show your professionalism, tie together a formal outfit, and class up any casual fit, not to mention save you from showing up late. There’s an endless debate between silver and gold, but we think a silver watch with a metal bracelet is ultimately the most versatile, neither too casual, nor overly dressy.
