The Working Man's Guide to Building a Capsule Wardrobe

You don't need 50 shirts. You need 10 good ones. The capsule wardrobe isn't about minimalism for its own sake - it's about having the right tools for the job.

The Foundation: 15 Pieces That Do Everything

Tops (6 pieces)

1. White Oxford Shirt - Meetings, dates, or rolled up for yard work
2. Navy Polo - The universal smart-casual option
3. Grey Crewneck Sweatshirt - Weekend essential
4. Black T-Shirt - Goes with everything
5. Chambray Shirt - Dressed up or down
6. Flannel Shirt - Layering champion

Bottoms (4 pieces)

1. Dark Indigo Jeans - Levi's 501 or similar
2. Khaki Chinos - Office-appropriate
3. Black Jeans - Evening ready
4. Work Pants - Dickies 874 never fails

Outerwear (3 pieces)

1. Denim Jacket - Spring and fall staple
2. Work Jacket - Carhartt Detroit or similar
3. Bomber Jacket - Clean lines, no fuss

Footwear (2 pieces)

1. White Leather Sneakers - Clean, versatile
2. Brown Leather Boots - Built to last

Why Secondhand Makes Sense

New clothes are a gamble. Will they hold up? Will they fade? With pre-owned pieces, the answer is already there. If a Carhartt jacket has survived 5 years of someone else's work, it'll survive yours.

Quality Over Quantity

One well-made jacket beats five cheap ones. Every time. The math is simple: spend $80 on a vintage Carhartt that lasts a decade, or $40 every year on something that falls apart.

The Bottom Line

Build once. Maintain. Replace only when necessary. That's how men have dressed for generations. No trends, no seasons - just clothes that work.