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No matter which part of the world you live in, you must have had a day where you were worried about what to wear that day.
A minimalist wardrobe will urge you to purchase specific pieces of clothing that will all work together in almost any combination.
The appeal of dressing this way is that it is trans-seasonal, and it is timeless, so you won’t have to worry about what to wear ever again.
There are a few essentials that you must have in your possession to complete your minimalist wardrobe, and that is exactly what we are going to discuss here.
Here is our list with 24 minimalist wardrobe essentials for men.
1. Basic One Color T-shirts
You need to make sure that you buy a couple of one-color t-shirts because chances are you will end up wearing t-shirts more than anything else. This is because people often just keep on wearing t-shirts that are clean; however, for the minimalist way to work, you need to make sure that you don’t buy too many t-shirts. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should stick to plain t-shirts that don’t have any slogans or logos on them.
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2. One-color SWEATSHIRTS
Sweatshirts are another essential, but we are not referring to the ones you would wear to the gym. When you are buying sweatshirts, stay clear of the ones that have huge logos and go for black and navy-colored plain sweatshirts. The reason for choosing a plain sweatshirt is that it can go well with chinos and jeans.
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3. Selvage Denim Jeans
Denim jeans are some of the most versatile clothes you can buy, but when you are buying them, you should go for the ones that are cut from selvedge denim. The jeans should be dark enough for dinner parties and should not be so fancy that you freak out if something falls on them. Stay clear of faded and ripped jeans because you can only wear those in certain social gatherings. A pair of dark jeans will never disappoint you in your time of need.
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4. Black Jeans
Simple black jeans are a must-have because they require little to no maintenance, and they can become an integral part of any outfit if used properly. Jeans are the perfect thing to wear for your everyday troubles. However, you need to make sure that you don’t buy a colorful pair of jeans. You should stick with basic colors like black and grey because they are the easiest to work with and clean.
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5. Chinos
The next item that you need is a pair of chinos; you should instead buy two pairs of slim chinos, one in navy color and one in navy color. If you feel like you need a third pair of chinos, then buy a wide leg to make things customizable. Chinos are all the rage nowadays, and almost everyone out there is wearing them. It is a comfortable piece of clothing that will work with your minimalistic principles.
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6. Comfy Joggers
Joggers are another essential that you need to be mindful of. If you are someone who likes to walk long distances, then you need a good pair of comfortable joggers. You should go for simple white color joggers because you can’t go wrong with them.
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7. Oxford Shirt
Shirts are very simple to work with because with most shirts, the idea is pretty simple, and it is that simple-looking shirts are always better. Block or neutral colors are the winning choices, but the thing that you need to be more focused on is the fit rather than the shade. The shirt should be slim enough to fit under a jacket, but it should not be figure-hugging.
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8. Chambray Shirt
There are many kinds of chambray shirts that you can buy, and no matter what you choose, if you are going the minimalistic route, you only need one. You can either buy a chambray shirt that is basically denim, or you can buy ones that are so light that they resemble a blue oxford.
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9. Turtleneck
A turtleneck is something that often gets overlooked, but it is a must-have, especially when you are living somewhere it can get cold. You can easily wear a turtleneck under your jacket, and it will keep you pretty warm. Just like everything else on this list, you need to buy plain colored turtlenecks.
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10. Off-Duty Hoodie
The next thing that every wardrobe needs is a hoodie; it is something that you can just throw on the shirt that you were wearing that day and be on your way. When you think about versatility, a hoodie beats almost everything by a mile. They are easy to find, and more importantly, you need only one of them.
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11. Polo Shirt
When you are walking the smart-casual line, there is not much you can play with; however, polo shirts are an obvious choice. If you choose neutral-colored polo shirts, you can wear them with a blazer or even a normal pair of jeans. If you go for the long sleeve option, then you will have a little bit more freedom.
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12. Breton Top
A Breton top is not given enough love nowadays, it was a favorite among sailors, but the thirteen strips design has started to gain traction again. It is very easy to wear and is very similar to a t-shirt except for the fact that it normally has longer sleeves. You can also wear a Breton top under a blazer or jacket.
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13. Knitted Jumper
If you are a fan of minimalist fashion, you will need a knitted jumper, two in fact. One jumper will be lighter so that you can wear it underneath other clothes. The other jumper will be a heavy-duty jumper that will keep you warm during chilly days.
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14. Tailored Shorts
Shorts are essential, especially during the summers; however, there is a time and a place for basketball shorts. This is where tailored shorts come into place; these shorts have a timeless design, so you will not have to worry about your looks again. Just go for neutral-colored shorts so that you can mix and match more easily.
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15.Chino Shorts
We already discussed the importance of Chino pants, but we also have to talk about chino shorts. During the summers, chino shorts can be the perfect thing to complete your look. You can accompany the shorts with either a t-shirt or a shirt. Whatever you are comfortable with works. Chino shorts are available in many colors, but it is recommended that you stick with the base colors.
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16. Unstructured Blazer
The main difference between a structured and unstructured blazer is the padding. An unstructured blazer is basically a normal blazer but without all the stuffing, and this makes it much cooler in every sense of the word. An unstructured blazer is more comfortable as well. You can wear almost anything under the blazer, and it will look good.
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17. Dress Shirt
Going minimalist doesn’t mean that you have to dress one way for special occasions as well. On the contrary, it is crucial that you buy dress shirts as well because it is the best way to up your game. Just keep in mind that when you are wearing a dress shirt, you need to tuck them in because they don’t look good hanging out.
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18. Overcoat
There was a time when you would only wear an overcoat with a suit, but that was a past. Now, an overcoat is an important part of a minimalist wardrobe simply because it looks as good over a hoodie and jeans. Black looks a little too gloomy for an overcoat, so it is better to go for a navy color.
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19. Bomber Jacket
Bomber jackets were once considered a trend, but not anymore because now they have become a wardrobe staple. Bomber jackets are incredibly useful as they are weatherproof and will keep you dry even when it has been raining non-stop. You can just throw on a bomber jacket over a t-shirt and be on your way without thinking twice.
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20. Denim Jacket
If you are worried about how you look, you need to buy a denim jacket because it has a distinct look to it. One of the biggest benefits of denim jackets is that you can wear them all year-round. During the summers, it acts as outerwear, and during the winters, it can slip under a heavier jacket.
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21. White Sneakers
White tennis sneakers are a necessity, and we can see that over the last few years, these sneakers have overthrown Oxfords as the one shoe that every wardrobe needs. Not only are these shoes incredibly comfortable, but they are very versatile as well. You can quite easily find a decent pair of white sneakers that will work for you for several years.
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22. Black Oxfords
Dress shoes are a must because, without them, no wardrobe is complete. Let’s be honest; you won’t be wearing your sneakers everywhere, especially when it is a more formal event. High-quality black leather Oxfords are easily one of the best shoes that you can buy. They are very comfortable, and if you take care of them, they will stay in good condition for many years.
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23. Chelsea Boots
You need to have at least one pair of shoes that extend over the ankles, and this is where Chelsea boots come in. Most of the time, boots are not as versatile as other footwear, and you really need to focus on other parts of your outfit to make them work.
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24. Minimalist Watch
A minimalist watch is something that a lot of people forget about, but the truth is that it can be the cornerstone of your look. Whether you go for quartz or a mechanical watch is totally up to you, but one thing that you need to focus on is that watch needs to come from a maker that knows how to manufacture high-quality timepieces.
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25. Minimalist Necklace
Not all men like wearing jewelry, but if you are someone who is fond of it, then you should definitely go for a necklace. Since this is all about being minimalist, you need to make sure that you find a necklace that is not too gaudy.
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26. Minimalist Wallet
One of the last things to add to your wardrobe is a minimalist wallet; since the need to carry cash has diminished over the past few years, you can go for a slim wallet. This kind of wallet will have plenty of space for your cards and a little cash.
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FAQ:
What is minimalist style?
A minimalist style focuses on the essentials; this means that you will be getting rid of anything unnecessary and only emphasize the things that bring you joy and offer real value. Dressing in the minimalist way is definitely the future because most people nowadays don’t have time to try on various clothes before settling on one. When you are dressing up the minimalist way, you will not have to wear multiple layers, instead, you can just rely on few articles of clothing.
How to style with minimalism in mind?
If you are thinking about dressing in a minimalist way, there are a few things that you need to do first. A lot of people think that it all starts by throwing everything you own into the trash, but that is not true. The first step is to de-clutter your closet and only keep the things that you think you can work with. This means that you don’t have to buy a new set of clothes; instead, you can probably use a lot of the things that you already own.
Minimalist Wardrobe Considerations:
Versatility
When you are building a minimalist wardrobe, you need to think about versatility. This is because you don’t want to clutter your closet with multiple versions of the same thing. So, it is important that when you are selecting a clothing item, you should think about all the situations you can make it work. If you think that a particular piece will only look good one way, then there is no use buying it. A blazer that looks good with both chinos as well jeans is far better than one that is only good for formal occasions.
Neutrality
The cornerstone of minimalist attire is neutrality; if you are choosing this way of dressing up, you need to say goodbye to bright colors because they just don’t work. Before you get in too deep in this way of dressing, you need to pick a color palette that you are comfortable with. So, it is better to rely on blacks, drabs, greys, browns, and navy because they won’t let you down no matter what the occasion.
Quality
The next thing that you need to focus on is quality over quantity because it is truly the essence of a minimal wardrobe. A minimal wardrobe needs to contain fewer clothes because the idea behind the whole thing is that you will be wearing the same things a lot. You can, however, experiment by mixing and matching the clothes you have, but you need to forget any idea of buying new clothes.
How to start a minimalist wardrobe for men?
Consider Your Personal Style
To start a minimalist wardrobe, the first thing that you need to do is understand what style fits your personality the most. This can be done easily just by looking back at your fashion sense back in the day and identify what clothing items you would pick the most often. Once you have decided on your mainstays, you can start to build the rest of your wardrobe around them. You need to ask yourself what you feel the most confident in because if you choose something you are not comfortable with, it can unnecessarily clutter your closet.
Empty Your Closet
Now it is time to empty your closet and only keep the clothes that you think fall into the minimalist bracket. The easiest way to do this is to make three piles, one for clothes you will keep, one for the ones you will throw out, and one for the clothes you are unsure about. The keep pile should include everything that you intend to leave in your minimalist closet and the clothes that suit your personal style.
There is no use hanging on to clothes that you think you might wear sometime in the future. If you have this kind of attitude, then you have already defeated the purpose of the minimalist wardrobe. Anything that doesn’t make it into the Keep pile should probably end up in the toss pile. If you are someone who already owns a lot of clothes, then there are high chances that this pile will be the biggest.
Get to Know Your New Closet
Once you have cleaned your existing closet, it is time to get to know your new one. Now you have to look at all the clothes you have left and think about all the ways you can pair them. In this way, you will know what to wear at any given time without having to think about what goes with what. You can also identify any gaps that might be present in your wardrobe. This is because when you are cleaning out your wardrobe, you cannot expect to have everything in the end. You will need to go out and buy some new clothes to fill in those gaps.
