According to the fashion industry, every man buys 46 new pieces of clothing every year. We’ve become obsessed with fast fashion; trendy disposable clothes at cheap prices but are we looking any better for it? Dluxe Magazines men’s style correspondent Pablo Collelo thinks that less is more…
The idea of a capsule wardrobe has been around since the 1970’s, when a London boutique owner coined the phrase. This small collection of clothing is put together with the main purpose of reducing choice overload of owning too many clothing items by building an intentional, versatile clothing collection of a specific size.
When we talk about a capsule wardrobe we are talking about a minimalist, streamlined approach to personal style where, ideally, every item contained within can work together, and looks for different occasions can be built within minutes.
Most men, wanting to dressing better, think they need all their clothes to stand out but generally I like to keep the colour palette fairly neutral – blacks, blues, greys and whites. This is not only because neutrals tend to pair easily with one another, allowing you to maximise every item, but also because matching pieces is easier when there aren’t too many competing colours in it.
While each man’s capsule wardrobe will differ, this list is a good starting point to give you an idea of what yours should look like. Although not included below in detail, also consider – grey wool trousers, preferably in dark grey, polo shirts in white or grey and white trainers – to go from office to bar.
White T-shirt
The white t-shirt is the most versatile piece you should own. You can wear it with anything, having it act as a blank canvas to do what you want with. It’s super-chic and simple option and will not date like graphic t-shirts. Try to mix in V-necks as well as crew necks for variety sake.
Blue Shirt
The solid blue shirt is a menswear staple. Like the white t-shirt, you can wear it with anything as well as creating new looks by playing around with the buttons and sleeves, making it ideal for classical smart and casual looks.
Indigo Jeans
If there’s one pair of jeans every man should have in his wardrobe, it’s the dark blue kind. They’re timeless, versatile and the longer you wear them the better they look. For a smart-casual affair, strike the balance between dressed up and dressed down, opting for a slim or skinny fit with a plain white or black t-shirt layered with a shirt if you want to keep things casual.
V-neck Jumper
The V-Neck jumper is a key item for layering, wearing it over your shirts and T-shirts to stay warm during the autumn months. It also looks good under a tailored blazer in the depths of winter. A highly versatile piece of knitwear, this jumper will practically go with anything.
Navy Blazer
The fastest way to add a classic and smart touch to any ensemble is to introduce a blazer. Blazers have the knack of making anything look better, especially in navy. This classic choice will match very well with not only camel chinos, but also indigo jeans.
Leather Loafers
Leather loafers are a great choice for footwear. They are more stylish and dressier than their trainer counterparts, but informal enough to wear casually. Try playing around with the different design styles loafers come in.
Overcoat
During colder months, the overcoat is the first thing that people will notice about you, and so it has to be good. A great option is the pea coat, but an overcoat or duffle will work just as well. However, to compliment the rest of your wardrobe, make sure that it´s served in neutral navy, grey or brown.
Flannel Shirt
Flannel shirts in most colour schemes are low-risk, sitting nicely on top a pair of chinos or jeans, and equally worn unbuttoned over a classic white crew neck t-shirt. the key to embedding flannel into your outfit is to keep the rest of it pared back; a colourful pattern does most of the work so look to style it with neutral colours that complement your shirt’s palette.
Many of us feel less satisfied when we have too many choices, but this minimalist approach to dressing is the perfect way to refocus on quality over quantity. After having adjusted to a capsule wardrobe you’ll never look back.
