Capsule wardrobe · men
Men's Work Capsule Wardrobe: 14 Pieces, 180 Outfits
14 pieces that all work together make 180 complete outfits across the year. Every colour in it is a neutral, so any top goes with any bottom. Smart trousers, shirts and knits for five days a week. Tick what you already own to see what to buy first.
- 14
- pieces
- 180
- outfits
- 12.9
- outfits per piece
The checklist
Every piece, and which you already own
Tick a piece to add it to My wardrobe in this browser. The count shows how many of the capsule's outfits you can already wear.
You own 0 of 14 · tick the pieces you already have
Tops · 5
The reasoning
Why each piece is here
derby shoes in dark brown
The men's smart shoe that also works casual.
Look for: Plain-toe or with a light brogue detail.
blazer in navy
The piece that makes a capsule work for the office.
Look for: Navy first: it goes with grey, khaki, denim, white and black.
trench coat in beige
The spring and autumn coat of a capsule; goes over both tailoring and denim.
Look for: Beige or khaki is the classic; navy and black are cooler alternatives.
oxford shirt in white and navy
One shirt that covers the office, a date and the weekend.
Look for: A button-down or soft point collar that holds its shape without a tie.
pleated trousers in cream
A capsule's smart-casual bridge: sharper than chinos, easier than suit trousers.
Look for: Single or double forward pleats are the modern choice; make sure they lie flat when you stand.
sweater in black and olive
Autumn and winter capsules rely on two or three sweaters in neutrals.
Look for: Merino wool is warm, fine and layers well; lambswool is cosier and thicker; cashmere softest.
loafers in tan
The shoe that bridges smart and casual in a capsule.
Look for: Penny loafers are the most versatile; horsebit versions dressier.
chinos in grey and khaki
A capsule's hardest-working bottom: dressed up with a blazer and loafers, dressed down with a tee and sneakers.
Look for: Look for a mid-weight cotton twill with a little stretch (1–2% elastane); pure lightweight cotton wrinkles and bags at the knee.
chelsea boots in brown
The autumn and winter shoe that works with most of a capsule.
Look for: Suede for casual, smooth leather for smarter.
dress trousers in navy
The piece that turns a casual capsule into one that also covers work, interviews and weddings.
Look for: Wool or a wool blend drapes and resists creasing; polyester-heavy trousers shine at the seat within a season.
turtleneck in black
The smart winter top of a capsule: works with tailoring and jeans.
Look for: Fine merino layers under jackets; thicker knits work alone.
What it makes
8 of the 180 outfits
Picked so that between them they use every piece. Tap a colour dot to swap a piece for another colour that still works.
· All-neutral
· All-neutral
· All-neutral
· All-neutral
· All-neutral
· All-neutral
· All-neutral
· All-neutral
Plan the week
Seven days from this capsule
No shoes or top two days in a row, and as many different pieces as possible.
Mon
white oxford shirt, navy dress trousers, brown chelsea boots
Tue
olive sweater, khaki chinos, dark brown derby shoes
Wed
navy oxford shirt, cream pleated trousers, tan loafers
Thu
black sweater, grey chinos, brown chelsea boots
Fri
black turtleneck, cream pleated trousers, tan loafers
Sat
white oxford shirt, navy dress trousers, dark brown derby shoes
Sun
navy oxford shirt, khaki chinos, brown chelsea boots
Buy these first
The hardest-working pieces
Starting from scratch? These appear in the most outfits.
- 1dark brown derby shoesin 60 outfits
- 2navy blazerin 60 outfits
- 3beige trench coatin 60 outfits
When you're ready for more
The next three buys
Each one adds the most new outfits to this capsule.
- Shop black blazer →
black blazer+60 outfits - Shop grey sneakers →
grey sneakers+60 outfits - Shop navy chinos →
navy chinos+45 outfits
Make it yours
The same capsule in your colours
Want it in colours that suit you? Take the 30-second colour test, then come back: this capsule rebuilds itself from your palette.
Find my coloursQuestions
Quick answers
What should be in a work capsule wardrobe for men?
Tops: white oxford shirt, black sweater, olive sweater, navy oxford shirt, black turtleneck. Bottoms: cream pleated trousers, grey chinos, khaki chinos, navy dress trousers. Layers: navy blazer, beige trench coat. Shoes: dark brown derby shoes, tan loafers, brown chelsea boots.
How many pieces should a capsule wardrobe have?
Most capsules have 12 to 35 pieces. This one keeps 14, the point where every new piece still adds many outfits: the next best buy (black blazer) would add 60 more.
How many outfits can you make from 14 pieces?
180 here, counting only combinations where every pair of pieces works together in colour and formality, and where all pieces share a season. The hardest-working piece, the dark brown derby shoes, is in 60 of them.
Why is the dark brown derby shoes in this capsule?
It appears in 60 of the 180 outfits, more than any other piece. The men's smart shoe that also works casual.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A small set of clothes chosen so nearly everything goes with everything else. Neutrals do most of the work and a few colours add interest, so you get more outfits from fewer pieces.
Keep going
Other capsules
Verdicts and outfits come from published colour and dress-code rules, not paid placement; garment images are AI-generated illustrations of generic pieces. How we decide