How to Assemble a Minimalist Wardrobe for Men

February 26, 2021 4 min read

How to Assemble a Minimalist Wardrobe for Men

Do you get anxious when getting dressed in the morning? If you open your closet to jampacked clothes and falling hangers and think to yourself, "I have nothing to wear," it may be time for a closet makeover.

We've all heard the phrase "less is more" at some point in our lives. In this guide, we'll show you how you can have less clothing and more things to wear, making your morning routine less anxiety-inducing. Here's how to build your minimalist wardrobe.

What is a Minimalist Wardrobe?

What Is a Minimalist Wardrobe?

A minimalist wardrobe, also referred to as a capsule wardrobe, is a closet with a limited number of strategically chosen clothing items. Each article of clothing is meaningful to you and provides value to your closet. Having a minimalist wardrobe makes morning routines easy because, generally, each piece matches to create an appealing outfit.

A minimalist wardrobe:

  • Has a limited amount of clothing
  • Tailors to a unique style
  • Follows a color scheme

What's more, a minimalist wardrobe allows you to invest in pieces that last longer, ultimately saving you money. And, having fewer pieces allows you to take better care of each piece, curating a well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing wardrobe.

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe for Men

Building a minimalist wardrobe is fairly simple. It follows four simple steps:

1. Go Through Your Current Wardrobe

Let's begin with your current wardrobe. Your wardrobe includes anything that you wear, including common items like:

  • T-shirts
  • Dress shirts
  • Pants
  • Shorts
  • Workout attire
  • Socks
  • Belts
  • Watches

When is the last time you went through your entire wardrobe? If you still have your favorite t-shirt from college or the same suit you wore for your job interview three years ago, then it may be time to purge.

Take everything out of your wardrobe and put it in a pile. Then, take each item one-by-one and ask yourself:

  • Would I wear this piece?
  • Does this piece fit me properly?
  • Can I plan at least three outfits with this piece?
  • Do I have anything like it?
  • Are there any holes, rips or other damages?

Depending on your answers, neatly put the clothing item back into your wardrobe or in a donate pile. Many organizations will gladly accept your unwanted clothing, like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Or, for more valuable items, consider selling them online and gather funds for building up your minimalist wardrobe.

2. Define Your Style

How would you describe your style? Do you gravitate towards denim jeans, or do you prefer to dress up with knitwear and tailored pants? After purging your closet, sit down and really think about what your style is.

Not sure how to define your style? A good place to start is to look at the pieces of clothing you kept. Consider your favorite pieces. If they're hoodies and T-shirts, you may prefer a more casual appearance. Or, if they're tailored business suits, you may enjoy a more business-formal style.

You can also determine your style by looking at men's fashion magazines. Pinpoint outfits you can see yourself wearing and circle them, cut them out or take photos of them for future reference. When you're shopping, look for pieces similar in style or ask a sales representative to help you find the style you're looking for.

Pick a Color Scheme for Your Minimalist Wardrobe

3. Pick a Color Scheme

Traditionally, minimalist color schemes stick to a neutral color palette. It's harder to match bright colors and wild patterns together, and much easier to match neutral colors. Some neutral colors to consider including in a men's capsule wardrobe are:

  • Black
  • Grey
  • White
  • Cream
  • Taupe
  • Navy blue

Neutral colors can be warm-toned or cool-toned. Just as it's hard to match bright colors, it's difficult to match warm-toned and cool-toned colors. When paired in the same outfit, warm-toned colors offset cool-toned colors, resulting in a slightly "off" appearance. So, try sticking to either warm-toned or cool-toned clothing.

A minimalist wardrobe doesn't mean sacrificing bold colors or patterns, though. Depending on your style, some accent colors you may consider including in your minimalist wardrobe are:

  • Burgundy
  • Olive green
  • Blush
  • Violet
  • Rust orange

Having a primarily neutral-colored wardrobe makes it easier to incorporate these bolder colors into your outfits. Neutral colors also make it easier to create outfits with common patterns, such as stripes or plaid.

Overall, you want neutral colors to make up 80% of your wardrobe. Use the remaining 20% to have fun with your style by adding colors and patterns.

4. Build up Your Minimalist Wardrobe

The defining characteristic of a minimalist wardrobe is having minimal clothing items. There's no textbook definition of how many clothing items to have. Rather, a minimalist wardrobe has just enough clothing items to get you through your weekly routine.

For guidance, follow this minimalist wardrobe checklist, organized by type of clothing:

  • Tops: Around eight tops — three t-shirts, three dress shirts and two casual shirts.
  • Bottoms: Around six bottoms — khakis, a dark pair of pants, denim jeans, two pairs of shorts and comfortable bottoms to relax in.
  • Shoes: Around four pairs of shoes — sandals, work shoes, exercise shoes and casual shoes.
  • Outerwear: Around three jackets — a winter jacket, a rain jacket and a windbreaker.
  • Athletic apparel: Two sets of workout clothes — a hoodie, a shirt and two pairs of shorts.
  • Work attire: Three sets of work clothes — two suit jackets, two suit pants and three dress shirts.
  • Accessories: Miscellaneous accessories include ties, socks, undergarments, watches and belts.

Wardrobes will vary depending on your lifestyle. If you're a businessman and wear primarily business clothes, you might want more work attire and less casual attire. Oppositely, if you're a fitness coach and spend a lot of time at the gym or on the field, you'll want more athletic apparel. Find a balance that works well for you.

Upgrade Your Minimalist Wardrobe at Penner's

Elevate Your Minimalist Wardrobe With Men's Attire From Penner's

Are you upgrading your current wardrobe? One of the defining characteristics of a minimalist wardrobe is having high-quality clothes that you'll cherish for a long time. Find your next favorite piece at Penner's.

Penner's is a men's clothing store proudly located in downtown San Antonio, Texas. We have over 100 years of experience selling guayaberas, suits, sport coats, jeans and much more. We invite you to browse our clothing online. And, if you have any questions on how to build your stylized wardrobe, contact us online or give us a call at 210-226-2487.