Men's capsule wardrobe: 10 pieces for the whole autumn

23 October 2023. Editor · Koen · Menswear Editor

A capsule wardrobe for men consists of about ten well-considered basics in calm colours that all combine with one another. It saves time, money and doubt in front of the wardrobe. For men it works especially well: with ten strong basics you have dozens of outfits for the office, dinner and the weekend.

The 10 pieces

1. A white or cream polo: fresh under a jacket or on its own.
2. A navy polo: the most versatile colour in any wardrobe.
3. A fine-knit polo with a quarter zip: polished and warm for colder days.
4. A white shirt: indispensable for formal moments.
5. A light blue shirt: softer than white, ideal for the office.
6. Dark trousers in black or charcoal.
7. Light trousers or chinos in cream or taupe.
8. Casual trousers with stretch for travel and the weekend.
9. Leather loafers: elegant with both trousers and chinos.
10. Minimalist sneakers: casual, but polished.

How do you choose the right colours?

Keep the palette calm: white, cream, navy, charcoal and one warm shade such as brown or taupe. That way every top goes with every pair of trousers. If you want variety, add accents with knitwear in a deep shade.

Quality over quantity

Because you wear each piece often, it pays to choose good materials and a polished fit. Merino wool and lyocell naturally stay fresh for longer, so you can wear them more often before they need washing.

How to build the capsule in three steps

1. Look at what you already have. Lay everything you want to wear this autumn on the bed and keep only the pieces that fit well and go with at least three other items.
2. Fill the gaps. If you are missing a second pair of trousers or a warmer polo, buy exactly that piece, in a colour from your fixed palette.
3. Test for a week. Wear only your capsule for a week. Note what you miss. What you don't touch can go.

One capsule, three moments

This is how you use the same pieces for very different days.

Five outfit formulas from the capsule

1. Monday at the office: the Hamilton shirt in white with an Italian collar, dark trousers and loafers.
2. Tuesday with clients: the Edmund in dark charcoal melange, a lyocell polo with a quarter zip, over the white shirt and the Ulysses in taupe grey, slim-fit herringbone trousers.
3. Thursday dinner: the Julian in ivory cream, knitted from cotton, silk and linen, with charcoal trousers and suede loafers.
4. Saturday in the city: the Alistair in navy, a piqué polo with a stripe detail, with light chinos and minimalist sneakers.
5. Sunday: polo with quarter zip, stretch trousers and sneakers. Comfortable, but still polished.

Fit: three points that make the difference

• Shoulders: the shoulder seam of a polo or shirt should sit exactly on the bone of your shoulder. If it hangs below, the piece is too big.
• Sleeves: a shirt sleeve ends at the wrist. On a short-sleeved polo the sleeve falls halfway down your upper arm.
• Trouser length: trousers just touch the shoe, with at most a slight break. With loafers and no socks they can be slightly shorter.

A good fit is what makes a capsule truly valuable. You wear each piece often, so you also see every detail often.

Care, so everything lasts the season

Air polos and knitwear after wearing and store them folded, so the shoulders don't stretch on a hanger. Hang shirts on a wooden hanger with the top button done up. Give suede shoes a brush now and then with a soft suede brush and protect them before the first rainy autumn days. That way ten pieces stay like new all autumn.

Materials: what the capsule runs on

Because you wear each piece in a capsule often, the material matters a lot. This split works well for autumn:

• Cotton for shirts: the Hamilton shirt is 100% cotton, sturdy and breathable, and can therefore be worn all year round.
• Lyocell for middle layers: the Edmund is 100% lyocell. It feels cool and smooth and naturally stays fresh for longer, ideal over a shirt at the office.
• A blend with silk and linen for dinner: the Julian combines cotton with silk and linen, which gives a subtle texture and a calm sheen.
• Trousers with a touch of elastane: the Ulysses moves with you through a long day and keeps its shape.

If you choose one good material per category, every combination from your capsule feels equally pleasant, from Monday morning to Sunday afternoon.

Expanding when it gets colder

A capsule doesn't stand still. As soon as the temperature drops further, you add two or three pieces without changing the base: a wool cardigan or jacket in a neutral shade, a thicker sweater in navy or charcoal and a warm coat. Choose them in the same palette and the new pieces also combine straight away with everything you already have. That way your wardrobe grows with the season, without the closet filling up again with single pieces that go with nothing.

Shop the look

Julian: polo men, ivory cream

Alistair: piqué polo men, navy

Edmund: lyocell polo with quarter zip, charcoal

Hamilton: shirt men, white

Ulysses: herringbone trousers, taupe grey

Laurence: suede loafer, navy

Frequently asked questions

How many pieces does a capsule wardrobe have?

There is no fixed rule, but between 10 and 30 pieces per season is common. Start small and add what you are missing.

Does a capsule wardrobe also work for the office?

Especially there. With two shirts, three polos and two pairs of trousers you already have more than ten office outfits.

Which colours do you choose for a men's capsule?

Start with white, cream, navy and charcoal and add one warm shade, such as taupe or brown. That way every top goes with every pair of trousers.

Loafers or sneakers in a capsule?

Both. Loafers carry your trousers to the office and dinner, minimalist sneakers cover the weekend. Choose them in a colour that goes with all your trousers.

Discover our men's polos, trousers and shoes.

23 October 2023. Editor · Koen · Menswear Editor