Capsule wardrobes are a great way to minimize how much you own and to limit your stress when selecting an outfit. When you build a capsule wardrobe, you focus on staple pieces that will never go out of style and coordinate with one another. It is best to stick with the colors and silhouettes you often wear when building your capsule wardrobe, as you want it to be simple to assemble any of the pieces. Capsule wardrobes can also be helpful when packing for your next vacation or business trip, as it ensures the items you bring will complement one another well enough to mix and match. One of our tips is to buy a few colors of an item that fits you well. You already know that you get a lot of wear out of the color you have, so purchasing some variations of the same piece will allow you to change up your outfits while sticking with the style you prefer. It is, of course, always ok to step outside of your comfort zone when purchasing clothing, but when building a capsule wardrobe, you will want to stick to those items you find yourself reaching for the most.
It is best to approach the creation of your capsule wardrobe by assembling a list of the things you get the most wear out of in your closet. Keep in mind during this process what you dress for on a daily or weekly basis (i.e., what is your work attire? Do you often attend events? do you live in a climate that requires changing your wardrobe for each season?). Answering these questions will help guide your decision on what to purchase for your capsule wardrobe and can also help you to purge items that are taking up space in your closet. It’s also a key point to notice what colors or patterns you gravitate toward, as these are most likely what you feel your best in, and this will connect back to what accessories you choose to keep or purchase.
Once you have gone through this exercise, we recommend starting with:
- One brown belt
- One black belt
- 3-5 ties in a variety of colors that coordinate with your shirt selections
- 3-5 custom dress shirts
- 3-5 pairs of tailored dress pants
- Two pairs of linen trousers
- Two pairs of shorts with a flattering inseam length
- Three blazers
- One pair of dark denim and one pair of light wash denim
- Five well-fitting short-sleeve t-shirts of various shades
- Three well-fitting long-sleeve t-shirts of various shades
- 2-4 thin knit sweaters (to be layered)
- Three polo shirts
- Three pairs of shoes
- One pair of white sneakers
- One pair of Oxfords or loafers
- One pair of suede or leather boots
- Three coats
- One down or insulated winter coat
- One tailored wool coat
- One trench or raincoat
- Three jackets
- One leather jacket
- One denim jacket
- One patterned jacket, such as a plaid flannel
Purchasing custom-made items crafted to your exact measurements is one of the best investments you can make. An outfit with pieces that fit you well helps accentuate your best features and ensures that you will reach for the items repeatedly. At Sal Lauretta for Men, we carry a variety of fabrics and colors so that we can create garments that you will wear for years to come.
