Change 2 elements to go from casual to smart.
What is a capsule wardrobe
Looking perfectly turned out takes a lot of time and effort - right?
Well, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to. If you have a well-chosen wardrobe, looking great can be as easy as waking up and instantly knowing what clothes and accessories to put on, before heading out for the day. A capsule wardrobe is a versatile streamlined collection of well-chosen seasonal clothing that can be mixed and matched to create stylish outfits for all occasions.
An important point to note is that it does have to be seasonal, as many hot weather items won’t work in winter and vice versa - jeans and chinos though tend to mostly work all year round. When personal shopping with clients we are only buy for one season, as summer and winter clothes are not available in-store at the same time. You are able to online shop for both seasons, but choice is limited.
Transitioning your wardrobe from winter to summer may initially seem like a hassle, but it will save you time going forward. Make sure to store those clean out of season pieces in air tight boxes.
Step 1: Consider your lifestyle
Things to consider when starting to build a capsule wardrobe are, what do you need clothes for and where do you wear them. What does a typical week look like for you, is it a blend of home and office working? What do you tend to wear on the weekend? How often do you get dressed up to go out and where do you socialise? Do you frequently travel for work and is the climate different to your native country? Make a list and include special occasions, as you may be at a stage where a lot of your summer is spent going to weddings.
Step 2: Clear Out Your Wardrobe
Start by going through all your clothing and putting anything you haven’t worn for at least six months to one side. If it’s something you wear only on special occasions, then store it elsewhere, or in a garment bag to the side of your wardrobe. Once you’ve cleared out some space, you should also be left with a core selection of clothing you wear frequently and want to hang on to. This will form the basis for your capsule wardrobe.
Step 3: Pick a colour palette
In a capsule wardrobe you want everything to co-ordinate, so it looks stylish when worn together. That means choosing a complimentary colour palette, one that suits your complexion, and one where you can easily combine colours into an outfit. It can help to look at your existing wardrobe and identify which colours you wear often – for most men experience tells me this includes a large helping of navy.
Neutral shades tend to form the foundation; however, you can inject your personality into your wardrobe with a brighter colour sweater, a patterned item, and/or accessories. Whatever you choose you should still be able to mix and match everything to create several outfit combinations.
Below are some colour palettes to get you thinking.
Colour palettes starting with a navy or black base, always include a white.
Step 4: Choose your Key pieces
Once you’ve sorted through your wardrobe, chosen a colour palette, and established outfits you need, you can start planning the key pieces for your seasonal capsule wardrobe. It will vary for everyone, but as a start point opt for:
· 2 pairs of jeans in different washes – one to be a smarter dark colour.
· 2 pairs of trousers in neutral colours.
· 4 t-shirts making sure at least one is white.
· 2 light weight knit jumpers, that can also be worn under a blazer/overshirt.
· 1 blazer.
· 1 casual jacket – could be an overshirt, bomber, field or harrington.
· 4 shirts – 2 smart - or 6 smart shirts if you wear a shirt to work Monday to Friday and 2 casual.
· Trainers.
· Smart shoes – a brown shade is more versatile than black.
· Smart suit – in a textured fabric so can be worn as separates.
· Brown belt.
Other pieces such as watches, jewellery, hoodies, cardigans, gilets, polo shirts, trench coats depend on your personal style and boots, winter coats, chunky knits, shorts, and linen depend on the season.
Personal Styling For Men
If you are unsure what styles work for you, see how men’s personal styling can assist you or email by clicking on the button below.
Thank you for reading!
Lisa
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