Not Just for the Ladies: 4 Tips For Creating A Men's Capsule Wardrobe
Yep. I said it.
Capsule-ing isn't just for the ladies. Theres a huge gap in the capsule wardrobe community and (although it's admittedly mostly female) there isn't much info or inspiration available for the guys when it comes to downsizing and streamlining your wardrobe.
And, I don't know if you've noticed or not, but guys wear clothes too and enjoying what you wear shouldn't just be a feminine subject. In fact, I know plenty of guys (both online and in real life) who enjoy fashion, have a personal style, and don't enjoy sifting through tons of clothes everyday to find something to wear. On the other hand, I also know dudes with four drawers of t-shirts. My husband, in particular, fell strangely into both categories. Until he decided to let me (I mean, us) do something about it.
Using Aj as my guinea pig (thanks babe), I set off to create a capsule wardrobe for men. We aren't totally finished with his yet — I'll share the full capsule eventually — but, not surprisingly, the process looks just about the same as it does for my own closet.
One of my favorite resources I've discovered on my men's wardrobe quest is Tripych, a men's brand specializing in creating basics specifically for capsule wardrobes. In fact, they create entire capsules specifically for guys, based on their style. Their current capsule and first collection is the Urban capsle, but they also sell their basics separately and have a newly launched membership option that gives you unlimited access to "the vault" and discounts on future capsules.
Here's a little sneak peek of their Urban capsule and how Aj's been putting it to good use:
Comfort is huge for Aj. If he doesn't feel good or comfortable in something, he won't wear it. And the minute he tried on these Comfort Chinos from Triptych, my fears of not being able to find him pants that weren't sweat pants or jeans were over. He wears them everywhere (the tees too).
And now, a few tips we've learned along the way for building a capsule guy-style (or, lets be honest here, tips for building a capsule for the guy in your life).
1. Focus on functionality
Regardless of your personal style, men's fashions are definitely geared towards practicality much more than women's are. Guys don't typically change their clothes 3 times a day depending on the outing (or at least I don't think they do...?) and the most valuable pieces in their closet will be the ones they can wear anywhere. Since a capsule should be made up of pieces you wear multiple times a week, invest in things that can double as work wear, coffee shop wear, or sitting at home-wear.
2. Build your basics first
I'm always a little bit discouraged by the lack of diversity of styles in men's fashion. But, since basics are truly a staple in most guys' closets, it makes sense to build a foundation around them and then pick a few "non-basics" to layer on top. Stock up on your tees, thermals, and button-downs (or whatever you would consider a "staple" for you).
3. Take your time
Like any transition, it will take time to go through the clothes you have and replace what needs to be replaced. Take it a drawer at a time.
(Ladies, if you're reading this trying to convince your guy to downsize, be patient. They might not get on board all at once, but even agreeing to declutter or invest in better pieces is progress!)
4. Detox and De-clutter
Getting rid of the clothes you have but don't wear is a necessary evil of building a wardrobe you do enjoy. Sort through the items you haven't worn in over six months. Get rid of them. Keep the ones you love. It's as simple as that.
Are you a guy with a capsule? What has been your biggest struggle in building one? I want to learn about the gaps that need to be filled so that I can learn how to create a capsule that works for everyone — regardless of gender or amount of t-shirt drawers.
