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Capsule Wardrobes for Men

July 20, 2016

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In a city like Toronto, closet space is at a premium, which is why we think that, the capsule wardrobe trend is here to stay. We became big fans of it right away because its minimalistic approach to fashion supports our ongoing message to buy less but buy better! For anyone reading and asking himself what the heck a capsule wardrobe is, it’s basically the idea that you don’t need a giant closet to look constantly fresh and put together; you just need a few strategic pieces.

The big secret to an amazing capsule wardrobe is in the quality of the few pieces you collect. You’ll find yourself disappointed if one of your five basic tees pills after only a few wears and will end up back in the habit of buying disposable clothing, wondering why you don’t love the fit. The key is to invest in the kinds of pieces you will want to take proper care of (*ahem* get cleaned professionally), and have for a long time.

Thanks to the blogging world, we’ve seen some awesome examples of capsule wardrobes for women and heard the secrets of choosing the correct investment pieces, but we think it’s time for the guys to share some tips. Men, wouldn’t you love to pare down your closet and always look your best? We thought so! Here are a few of the items you need to build your own casual capsule wardrobe.

If you’d like to go into more depth, we found a capsule guide e-book where you can really get into the details of choosing the right pieces. Even easier? The image in this post came from Cladwell, a subscription service that uses information about you and your style to help you form an ongoing capsule wardrobe for every season.

Pants – You need a pair of jeans, a pair of beige chinos, and a pair of black jeans to start. Extend your wardrobe with two pairs of other non-jean casual pants and a couple pairs of dress trousers.

Shorts – Depending on climate, one to two pairs of shorts are plenty.

Button ups – Make sure to have a plaid, a chambray or jean shirt, one other casual button up in a solid colour, and two dress shirts.

Sweaters – This category depends a little on your style, but you should have a sweater, a knitted pullover, and a hoodie (because let’s face it, you need a hoodie).

T-shirts – This is the one category where you can buy a few spares, but make sure to have at least one u-neck, one v-neck, and one crew neck in colours like navy, grey, and white. We also suggest at least one with a bit of interest, like a couple of buttons or a pocket.

Jackets – Make sure your closet includes a leather jacket, a casual jacket (maybe in khaki), and a sport coat.

Shoes – You really only need a pair of nice sneakers, a pair of black boots, and a pair of formal shoes in both black and brown.

If you have the kind of job that requires a little dressier attire, you should also add these items to your closet:

Formal Shirts – One white, one blue, and one grey!

Trousers – A pair of wool dark grey pants, a pair of black corduroy, and a pair of navy cotton twill should do the trick.

Suits – Find a nice navy suit, a charcoal grey suit, and a black tux (if your lifestyle requires it).

Blazers – It’s a good idea to have an extra blazer in addition to your suit jackets. One in navy or black is perfect.

For the skeptics out there, one of the big reasons that a capsule wardrobe can work is simple math. For example, if you have 4 shirts, 4 pairs of pants, 4 jackets, and 4 pairs of shoes, you technically have 256 combinations. This sounds amazing, but you probably couldn’t get away with wearing the exact same outfit four times, only changing out the shoes, and not expect anyone to notice. Even so, your combinations are plenty!

Quick tips:

  • Stick with a neutral colour scheme (Think: grey, white, navy), but with a couple of exceptions so you don’t get bored
  • Choose the best quality you can afford – don’t be afraid of fabrics that need special care.
  • Treat your clothing well by following the care instructions and enlist the help of some clothing care experts!

Are you a fan of the capsule wardrobe? We would love to hear about it! Tweet us @parkersdrycleaners and tell us what you think.

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