When you think about the ideal man’s wardrobe, you probably imagine something very specific. You might imagine a man who has an organized closet filled with tailored suits, crisp shirts, tweed jackets, and leather boots. That’s all well and good, but how many of those clothes do you really need? What are the essential items that a man needs to create various looks? With so many clothes available in so many different styles and variations, it can be difficult to determine exactly how much you actually need. After all, every man is different and what works for one guy won’t necessarily work for another. Fortunately, we have some helpful tips on determining how much clothing you need as well as what types of clothes you should invest in. Keep reading to find out more!
What’s the Ideal Man’s Wardrobe?
Josh BlumanCo-Founder of JJ Suspenders"As a business owner in the men's fashion industry selling the best suspenders, I often delve into discussions on wardrobe essentials and the balance between having enough clothing and having too much—especially for men. While there's no one-size-fits-all answer to how many clothing pieces a man should have, I advocate for quality over quantity.
A versatile wardrobe for most men typically includes around 5-7 pairs of pants, 10-15 shirts, a few blazers or jackets, and a selection of accessories like ties and, of course, suspenders to add flair and functionality. When shopping for the perfect pair of pants, it's crucial to prioritize fit and fabric quality, ensuring they're comfortable and complement your body shape. Investing in timeless pieces that can be mixed and matched effortlessly allows for maximum versatility.
On the flip side, a man might have too much clothing when his wardrobe becomes cluttered with items rarely worn or duplicates of the same style. When selecting clothing, it's essential to consider whether each piece adds value to your style and serves a purpose in your daily life. Streamlining your wardrobe to include only items you genuinely love and wear regularly not only simplifies your morning routine but also ensures each piece gets the attention it deserves."
Determining How Much Clothes You Need
Grace DaviesOwner ofDress Rental NZshares with us that"A man should have as many items of clothing as he will reasonably wear and use throughout the year, and a few pairs of high-quality shoes. When shopping, prioritize fit, quality, versatility, and comfort. You have too much clothing if your closet is cluttered, you rarely wear certain items, or organizing becomes difficult."
Basics: T-Shirts, Sleep Shirts and Shorts
If you’re just getting started in the world of fashion, you might want to start with a few essentials, like a few different types of t-shirts and shorts. T-shirts are a great item to invest in because they’re affordable, they can be used in a variety of different ways, and they can be paired with tons of different other items, like button-ups, shorts, and even blazers or jackets. Shorts are another essential that every man should have at least a few of. Whether you prefer athletic shorts, denim shorts, or swim shorts, shorts are a versatile piece that can be worn all year long.
Basics: Pants and Chinos
Pants are an essential item that every man should have at least a few of, especially if you have an office job. Chinos are a more casual alternative to pants that can be paired with button-ups, sports jackets, and blazers. Depending on how often you wear suits, you might want to invest in a few different pairs of pants and a couple of pairs of chinos. Depending on the type of work you do, you might want to invest in dress pants as well. These are a more formal variation of pants that are best paired with dress shirts.
Basics: Blazers, Coats, and Jackets
Blazers, coats, and jackets are essential items that every man should have in their wardrobe. Blazers can be worn for both formal and informal occasions, like work, dates or nights out with friends. Coats are perfect for the colder weather and can be layered over a variety of different outfits. Blazers and coats are made from heavier materials, which makes them perfect for the colder months. Blazers also look great when paired with dress pants for a more formal look. Blazer: A blazer is a type of jacket that has side pockets and is often worn by men as part of a suit. Blazers are perfect for pairing with formal clothes, like dress pants and dress shirts, and they can be worn for work and special occasions.
Basics: Dress Shirts and Professional Combinations
If you work in a professional environment, you’ll want to invest in a few different types of dress shirts. Solid color dress shirts are a great basic option that can be worn with just about anything. White dress shirts are great for special occasions, like weddings or fancy celebrations. Dress shirts can be paired with a wide variety of different pants, including chinos, dress pants, and suit pants. Depending on what type of work you do, you might want to have a few different combinations of pants and dress shirts in your wardrobe, like a pair of dress pants with a solid color dress shirt and a sports jacket.
Basics: Suits
Suits are an essential item that every man should have in his wardrobe. There are a few different variations of suits that every man should have at least one of, like a tuxedo, a three-piece suit, or a two-piece suit. Suits are best for more formal occasions and work. You really only need one or two suits in your wardrobe, but they’re perfect for interviews, fancy dinners, and special events like weddings.
Basics: Shoes and Accessories
Shoes are an essential item in the wardrobe of every man. You should have a few different pairs of casual shoes, like sneakers, hiking boots, and tennis shoes, as well as a few pairs of dress shoes. While shoes are an essential item, accessories are not. You don’t need to invest in a wide variety of belts, bags, or other accessories, especially if you’re on a budget. Instead, focus on a few key items, like a few different types of shoes and a few different types of belts.
Conclusion
When it comes to the ideal man’s wardrobe, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t need to own a lot of clothing to create various stylish looks. You don’t need ten different pairs of pants and twenty shirts to create a variety of different looks. Instead, you should focus on buying a few different types of pants, shirts, and jackets that can be paired with each other in a variety of different ways. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can add other items to your wardrobe as your budget allows.
Written by: Jimmy Sullivan
FAQs
Choose 33 items (or less) including clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories. Pack up and hide everything else and then you don't have to think about shopping or what to wear for the next three months.
What is the 333 rule for wardrobe? ›
Choose 33 items (or less) including clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories. Pack up and hide everything else and then you don't have to think about shopping or what to wear for the next three months.
How many clothes should a man have in his closet? ›
You should only own two weeks worth of clothing for each avenue of your life, per season, at one time. Two weeks for Summer, two weeks for Winter. No real need to own more than that.
What is the 70 30 wardrobe rule? ›
When I buy new clothes, I make a shopping list, size up my options, and stick to the 70/30 rule that Kathryn Finney taught me: “70% of your closet should be classic pieces like a great white top and awesome black handbag, and the 30% should be for trendy, fun pieces like orange skinny jeans.
What is the 333 method clothing? ›
The 333 styling method is a minimalist fashion challenge encouraging individuals to select and wear only 33 items for 3 months. This includes clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes, aiming to simplify wardrobe choices and promote sustainable fashion habits.
What is the ideal wardrobe ratio? ›
Finding the right balance of tops to bottoms in your wardrobe is about finding the ratio that works for you. (Don't worry, the math won't be scary!) A great place to start is 2:1. That means 2 Tops for every 1 Bottom.
What should a man's basic wardrobe include? ›
For example: a few pairs of great jeans, a few classic color shirts that make you look great, and lastly one key shoe in a few classic colors. These choices can make your style very easy and manageable, and build a strong foundation to your wardrobe.
What is the 1 3 2 3 rule clothing? ›
The key is to create a visual break in your outfit at either the end of the first third, or the end of the second third. Avoid putting the visual break of your outfit in the middle, because this can make you look frumpy.
What is the 30 clothes rule? ›
The 30 wear challenge is a commitment to wearing a new item of clothing at least 30 times. It forces you to pause before clicking buy and ask yourself, 'will I actually wear this 30 times?” If the answer is not 100% yes, then you don't make the purchase.
How many pants should I own for men? ›
A versatile wardrobe for most men typically includes around 5-7 pairs of pants, 10-15 shirts, a few blazers or jackets, and a selection of accessories like ties and, of course, suspenders to add flair and functionality.
You'll need at least a dozen dress shirts just for the office at a bare minimum. Add to that a handful of great shirts for casual gatherings, dates, outdoor activities, and going to the club, and you'll probably find that around 20 to 30 dress shirts is right for most men.
How many hoodies should I own? ›
There's no single right number of hoodies for everyone. It depends on your training schedule, climate, and how often you wear athletic apparel. For most LYFTLYFE fans, 5-10 hoodies form a solid rotation without excess. More active hoodie lovers will probably want a few more than that just to keep it interesting.
What is the 80 20 rule closet? ›
Separate items: Divide your clothes into two categories: the 20% you wear most often and the 80% you wear less frequently. Be honest with yourself during this process. If you say oh I should/could/would wear this - you know it doesn't belong in your 20% pile. In fact it should not even be in your closet!
What is the one in one out rule for wardrobe? ›
A popular wardrobe management and shopping strategy is the “one in – one out” strategy. This approach requires that for every new item you bring into your wardrobe, one item (usually the requirement is that it is in that same category) must leave your wardrobe.
What is 8 2 rule in fashion? ›
Each item in your closet is worth 1 or 2 points — 1 point for basics, 2 points for items that have more zing and pep. After you put on an outfit, tally up the point value of each item you're wearing. The goal is to keep your entire outfit to about 8 points.
What is the 3 3 3 rule for wardrobe? ›
The idea behind Project 333 is simple: Wear only 33 articles of clothing for the next 3 months. All clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes count towards your number. Exceptions include wedding rings, underwear, sleepwear, in-home loungewear, and workout clothing.
How many of each type of clothing should you have? ›
As an example, they've suggested six outfits for work, three outfits for home wear, three outfits for sports, two outfits for festive occasions, plus four outdoor jackets and trousers or skirts.”
What is the 3 3 3 outfit method? ›
The concept is simple: select 3 bottoms, 3 tops, and 3 shoes and see how many cute outfits you can make! We could immediately see the genius of such a simple styling strategy and decided we wanted to take on the challenge!
How many jeans should I have in my wardrobe? ›
Considering these factors, a reasonable range could be around 3 to 6 pairs of jeans in your wardrobe. This would provide you with enough variety for different occasions, styles, and seasons without overwhelming your closet.
How many long sleeve shirts should I own? ›
As a shirt-maker, my answer would be as many as possible!. However, realistically I recommend nine shirts for your wardrobe. This will cover shirts to wear at all occasions and events. The nine shirts combine key styles, fabrics, and colour options that will enable you to create several stylish outfits to wear.
I would say 7-10 is a good amount, especially if it's something you always wear. I think a good rule of thumb would be how many you need before you do laundry plus 2 or 3 more. So if you do laundry every 4 days you would need 6-7 shirts but could do more.
How to build a gentleman's wardrobe? ›
20 Things Every Gentleman Should Have In His Wardrobe
- Blue jeans. Every man needs a good pair of jeans, and you really can't go wrong with one in classic blue. ...
- Plain white T-shirt. ...
- Plain grey T-shirt. ...
- Navy cashmere jumper. ...
- Single-breasted grey or navy suit. ...
- Tuxedo. ...
- Sports jacket. ...
- Plain white shirt.
If you want to ensure you always look appropriate in your clothes as a 60-plus man, consider investing in classic, timeless pieces. Embracing classic men's fashion styles like a crisp oxford shirt, flat-front chinos, and white leather sneakers will make getting dressed easier and give you more confidence.
How do I build a 333 wardrobe? ›
The idea behind Project 333 is simple: Wear only 33 articles of clothing for the next 3 months. All clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes count towards your number.
What is the 333 packing list? ›
The 333 method is simple: Pack three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes, then mix and match for at least nine different outfits or 27 different looks if you're counting the various shoe options, too.
What is the rule of 3 in outfits? ›
Here's how it works. The idea behind the third piece rule is that for an outfit to go from good to great, it needs three key elements. Your top and bottom (pants or skirt) are your first and second elements. The third piece is that extra something that finishes off the whole look.
What is the ideal number of items in a wardrobe? ›
According to a report referenced by Vogue in 2022 that leans on sustainability goals, “The researchers found that a “sufficient” wardrobe consists of 74 garments and 20 outfits in total.
