Contrary to popular belief, finding it hard to get dressed in the morning is not an issue that’s exclusive to women. Men can experience decision fatigue, too–that creeping feeling of dread when you’re faced with having to make a series of decisions in rapid succession.
You may have already heard of the capsule wardrobe, and how it can be the solution to this problem. But what is a capsule wardrobe, exactly, and how does one put one together? This article breaks it all down for you:
The capsule wardrobe, explained
The origins of the capsule wardrobe can be traced all the way back to the ‘70s. The phrase was coined by Susie Faux, owner of the Wardrobe boutique in London. She advocated for a minimalist philosophy with regards to clothing, encouraging others to choose high quality pieces in classic styles that will withstand the test of time. She also supported prioritizing comfort, function, and fit when shopping for clothes. In 1985, Donna Karan took the concept further when she unveiled her “The 7 Easy Pieces” collection, which claimed to include everything that a woman might need to wear for any daytime or nighttime occasion. Every piece in the collection was selected for its versatility and ability to play well with the others, no matter how one wore them.
Today, style gurus such as Tan France continue to champion the capsule wardrobe, but no longer limit the items in it to a sparse seven. The intent, however, is the same: a capsule wardrobe is a collection of essentials that can be used to create a variety of looks. By having a few key pieces, you can mix and match different items to create a unique style.
How to put together a men’s capsule wardrobe
Keep it neutral
You may have already seen the clip of Steve Harvey advising men to buy suits in 5 basic colors: black, navy, gray, brown, and tan. In addition to these suits, he tells men to buy 2 white shirts, 2 cream colored shirts, and 2 powder blue shirts. From these items, he claims that you can create a whopping 75 suits: “Every last one of those pants goes with every last one of those jackets. Every last one of those jackets goes with every last one of those pants.” Neutral shades, such as the ones Harvey mentioned, do pair well with each other, making it infinitely easier to get dressed.
Choose high-quality staples
Staple pieces make up the foundation of your wardrobe: the clothes that you wear every day. These usually include pairs of jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, sweatpants, and so on. When you shop for clothes, go for high-quality items that will last more than a few rounds in the wash. A heavy cotton hoodie is a wardrobe staple that you can wear practically anywhere no matter the season; buy them from a well-reputed brand, such as Just Sweatshirts. Just Sweatshirts’ heavy cotton hoodie (men’s) collection features this versatile garment in a variety of colors and styles that should go with everything else you own. Shop for a heavy cotton hoodie (men’s) today by visiting their website now.
Shop your closet
The easiest way to build a capsule wardrobe while saving money is to “shop” what you already own. Take an inventory of your closet and pick out the items that you wear the most, as well as the ones that you find yourself reaching for over and over. From here, you should be able to identify your personal style, as well as which pieces you consider to be staples in your wardrobe.
