Houston, we have a problem.
A “capsule wardrobe” sounds like something you’d wear to the space station, right? If you do some Googling, you might see a couple of articles about “Embracing your inner Marie Kondo.”
Don’t worry, a “capsule wardrobe” has nothing to do with sparking joy or spending a weekend in orbit. It refers to the essential dozen or so pieces of clothing every well-dressed man should have in his closet.
The benefits are straightforward:
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You can put together a stylish outfit in minutes.
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It’s easy to pack for a trip.
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You can score major brownie points by freeing up closet space for anyone you share with
Here’s the deal. We cut through the clutter to show you how to build a capsule wardrobe that lets you dress well every day (without using too much brain power).
Sound good? Let’s go.
What should be in a capsule wardrobe?
Like we said, a capsule wardrobe should contain the essentials. At a minimum, you need clothes for work, play, special occasions, and hanging out with friends.
The (clean) dozen: The essentials
Start with these 12 essentials:
T-shirts
The foundation of any wardrobe. Wear a t-shirt solo with jeans or dress it up with chinos. Or throw one on under a sweater or button-down shirt. Go with fitted or stretch tees (like the Jack Archer Anytime Tee) with a crew neck.
You need: Two black and two white T-shirts
Jeans
Get a pair of well-fitting dark wash jeans that are great for hanging out, yet still dressy enough to pair with a button-down shirt and blazer for work.
You need: One pair of jeans
Polo shirts
Polo shirts are super versatile. Wear them casually with jeans or pair them with chinos for work or dressier events. They also look great under a sweater for cooler days. Look for tailored-fit shirts in neutral colors that go with everything. The wrinkle-free Jack Archer Tech polo keeps you looking fresh at the office, on the golf course, or at brunch with friends.
You need: Two polo shirts
Button-down shirts
Button-downs are another versatile choice. They’re the perfect dress shirt for the office, and you can dress them down with jeans for a stylish night out. Cover your bases with two button-down shirts—one in a solid, neutral color, like blue, and one with a casual checked or striped pattern.
You need: 2 button-down shirts
Nice pants
Pick up a pair of pants in a neutral color. Olive green is a classic alternative to khaki or brown pants, and it adds personality to your wardrobe. Wear them dressed up with a blazer and button-down shirt for work, or replace the shirt with a sweater for date night. Jetsetter Tech pants are the perfect foundation for a capsule wardrobe—dressy enough for special occasions and casual enough for drinks with friends.
You need: One pair of really nice pants
Blazer
A classic navy blazer lets you dress up any outfit in your capsule wardrobe. Wear it with jeans and a black t-shirt for a chic evening out, or pair it with a striped button-down and trousers for a presentation at work.
You need: One navy blazer
Sweater
Top off your wardrobe with a sweater. Basic and neutral is best here. Go for a wool or cotton sweater in a tight knit and aim for classic neutrals like tan, black, or brown. You can wear a sweater with anything on our list—solo over a t-shirt and jeans for a super-casual evening, or dressed with a button-down, blazer, and pants for a work party.
You need: One awesome sweater
This capsule wardrobe is a good starting point. It will get you through a week of work (assuming you do laundry every weekend) or a business trip. But it’s also pretty basic. To really dial in the perfect capsule wardrobe, we need to consider your local climate and the touches that add personal style.
Let’s start with the weather.
Climate control: Adapting your wardrobe for the weather
Now that you’ve got a good foundation wardrobe, you need to tweak it for the weather and seasons. That means making swaps and additions for the typical conditions in your area.
Winter blues (and reds, greens, and browns)
If you’re in a wintry climate, you’ll need to adapt your wardrobe for colder weather. Consider adding a sweater or two for chilly days. You may also want to consider getting a darker pair of pants for slushy days—they hide stains better than lighter pants. Winter is also the festive season, so you may want to throw in a red sweater for parties.
Summer styles
For summer (and hot climates), your priority is staying cool while looking cool. Add two pairs of dressy shorts. Get one in a light color, like tan, and the other in a blue for maximum versatility. Blending the classic style of our Jetsetter pants and our premium Rebound™ fabric, Jetsetter Tech shorts take you from yacht to BBQ without a wrinkle or stain. For special occasions like summer weddings, consider adding a light sports jacket or blazer to stay cool.
Accessories and personal touches
Your capsule wardrobe gives you all the elements of a classic, simple style. Think of it as a blank canvas. By adding the right accessories and personal touches, you can create a great look that’s totally your own.
Statement socks
Socks are the unsung heroes of style. Have a few neutral pairs for everyday use, but throw in a few pairs for a bit of fun. You can make them a signature piece (like Justin Trudeau’s famous Star Wars socks) or just go with funky colors or patterns that add a bit of personality to your look.
Shoes
Ideally, your capsule wardrobe should include three sets of shoes to cover all eventualities.
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Classic sneakers (Chuck Taylors are a good go-to)
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Brown or black loafers
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Dressy boots
These all work with the pieces in your wardrobe. Pair the chucks with jeans, a white t-shirt, and a blazer for a classic, cool look, or slip on the dress shoes for an elegant evening style.
Watch
Invest in at least one watch. It nicely completes any outfit, and looking at your watch to check the time is infinitely cooler than hauling your smartphone out of your back pocket.
Outerwear
Include a jacket for cooler weather. You can’t go wrong with a good-quality black leather jacket. It’s a timeless look that elevates any outfit. The Jack Archer Legacy jacket in black complements any outfit.
Belt
Because you gotta keep your pants up! Two is ideal: One in black and one in brown. If you can only get one, go for black. Pick a high-quality leather belt with an understated buckle. And it goes without saying, make sure that your belt matches your shoes.
You’ve got the blueprint for a great men’s capsule wardrobe. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get started. We’ll finish with a few pointers to help get your wardrobe off the ground.
Your capsule wardrobe pre-launch checklist
Before we close, here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re building your capsule wardrobe.
Start by cleanin’ out your closet
Pare down your existing wardrobe before adding anything new. Put on The Eminem Show, set a timer for one hour, and dive in. Send these to the thrift store:
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Anything faded or torn
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Anything you haven’t worn in a year
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Anything that makes you wonder, “What was I thinking?”
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Cargo pants—you’re not 13
When you finish, you’ll have the beginnings of your capsule wardrobe and an hour of the best-selling hip-hop album of all time under your belt. Unless you threw your belt away.
Let’s move on.
Adjust your wardrobe for your needs
Our basic capsule wardrobe is just a start. You’ll need to adapt your wardrobe to your own needs. For instance, if you work in a suit-and-tie office, you’ll definitely need some suits and ties. Stick to the basics, though—focus on timeless pieces in neutral colors for maximum versatility.
Use the two-uses rule
In backpacking, you only pack things that have two or more uses. Like a knife—you can cut wood, chop onions, or fight off an onion-hungry bear. Apply the same rule to any clothes you add to your wardrobe. While that vintage Master of Puppets shirt may be totally fine for a concert, it might not be the best choice for work. It doesn’t mean you don’t get the shirt — absolutely, get the shirt (editor) — but it does mean it won’t be part of your capsule wardrobe.
Add clothes as you go
After you’ve gotten the basic pieces, continue to add clothes to your capsule wardrobe (keeping in mind the two-uses rule). A great place to start is to add a couple of shirts and another pair of nice pants. A denim or chambray shirt gives you a more casual alternative to button-downs, and they go with everything else in your wardrobe. Ditto a pair of navy blue casual pants.
Time for lift-off
So there you have it. Your no-BS guide to building a capsule wardrobe. As we like to say around here, it ain’t rocket science. Keep things simple, make sure everything matches everything, and you’re good to go.
And as always, Jack Archer is here to help you reach your sartorial goals.
