The 32 Item Minimalist Men’s Wardrobe + How to Build It

This guide will teach you how to build a minimalist men’s wardrobe that’s ready for any season or occasion.

Whether you’re a hardcore minimalist or a total clothes horse, you’ve probably asked yourself the following question:

How much clothing do I actually need?

It’s a good question. I mean, is it really possible to build a “complete” wardrobe? Can you actually get to the point where you’re done shopping forever?

According to menswear expert Barron Cuadro – founder of EffortlessGent and creator of the lean wardrobe philosophy – the answer is yes.

But you have to embrace the principle of interchangeability. You have to avoid owning clothes that don’t actually get worn.

While it’s okay to experiment with trends, maintaining a minimalist wardrobe requires you to pare down aggressively, and regularly (at least once a year).

It’s a lot of work, but it’s also rewarding!

Benefits of a Minimalist Wardrobe

If you build a fluff-free and versatile wardrobe, you’ll notice the following benefits:

Getting dressed is quick and easy

Using neutral, interchangeable colors, you can put together 100+ outfits with less than 20 wardrobe items.

This means that you can practically get dressed in the dark and still look good.

Sounds pretty sweet, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want that kind of versatility built into their wardrobe?

More closet space

Most closets are full of clothes that never get worn and shoes that just collect dust.

Imagine having a closet and shoes with plenty of space to see everything you own and enough room to avoid smashing your clothes together.

This is good for anyone, but especially those with limited storage space in their home.

Less mental effort = more brain space

A minimalist wardrobe makes getting dressed easy and frees up some extra brain space that was being used every morning (and before every big event).

There’s also an emotional weight we carry around when we own a bunch of stuff we don’t need (or even want).

Unburdening yourself of this weight by getting rid of useless clothes feels great!

How to Build a Minimalist Wardrobe

While this all sounds great, the obvious question becomes: “What should I buy?”

This post outlines exactly what you need for a lean, versatile wardrobe. If you’ve been looking for a list of essential wardrobe items, look no further. You’ve found it!

Note: if you want to dive deep into each clothing category, check out our Minimalist Collections Series:

• The Minimalist Men’s Shirt Collection
• The Minimalist Men’s Pants Collection
• The Minimalist Men’s Outerwear Collection
• The Minimalist Men’s Shoe Collection

We also have a YouTube video you can watch about this very topic.

Or, keep reading for a high-level look at the minimalist wardrobe.

One Quick Caveat

Here’s the thing: every man is different. We all have different preferences and lifestyles, so one man’s essential wardrobe is different from the next.

For example, a college student doesn’t need the exact same clothes as a business executive. And the business executive doesn’t need the same wardrobe as a factory worker or a computer programmer.

For simplicity, I’ll assume the following about your lifestyle:

1. You wear business/smart casual outfits during the week.
2. You wear casual outfits on the weekends.
3. You wear a suit several times each year.
4. You live in a temperate climate (no extreme weather).

You might be thinking, “That’s not me!” But before you stop reading, hear me out: not everyone fits perfectly into this criteria, and that’s okay.

This essential wardrobe list isn’t one size fits all. It’s meant to be used as a starting point that works for most men.

It’s your job to make adjustments as needed, according to your lifestyle and situation (climate, daily routine, age, etc.).

Got it? Okay, let’s start with the absolute essentials:

15 Essential Wardrobe Items

Note: This is the bare minimum. Undergarments, activewear, etc. are not included.

• Navy or grey two-piece suit
• Dark wash jeans
• Light wash jeans
• Tan chinos
• White dress shirt
• Light blue dress shirt
• Solid color button-up shirt
• Solid color t-shirt (2)
• Solid color sweater (2)
• Leather dress shoes
• White sneakers (leather or canvas)
• Charcoal necktie
• Dark brown leather belt

This won’t get you to the finish line, but if you could only choose 15 items, these are your best bet.

If you don’t currently own one of these items, it should be on the top of your list of things to buy soon.

Expanding on the Essential Items

Of course, you’re going to need more than those 15 essential items.

Let’s round out this essential wardrobe with a few more things, including your extra shoes, accessories and outerwear:

• Neutral sport coat or navy blazer
• Grey wool trousers
• Navy or grey chinos
• Tan or navy chino shorts
• Pattern dress shirt
• Pattern casual button-up shirt
• Short sleeve button-up shirt
• Solid color wool v-neck sweater
• Solid color polo shirt
• Brown/black leather boots
• Leather loafers
• Lighter color necktie
• Casual belt (woven, braided or nylon)
• Everyday wristwatch
• Sunglasses
• Lightweight casual jacket
• Mid-weight jacket (field or leather)
• Cold weather jacket (topcoat or parka)

Notice that there’s a lot of wiggle room with color. If you want to play it safe, stick with navy, grey, black, white, tan and charcoal.

If you want to mix it up, add some basic “extension” colors like brown, maroon, dark green, olive, oatmeal and pink.

You don’t need a ton of different colors in your wardrobe. One pop of color per outfit is plenty for most men, especially if you’re relatively new to the style game.

If you’re about to buy something in a new color, ask yourself: “Does this go with stuff I already own?”

If it doesn’t, don’t buy it! It won’t add to the versatility and interchangeability of your collection.

It Takes Time (Don’t Rush)

The first step is to figure out what you need. Use the above lists to do that, then take an honest look at your budget.

How much can you spend per month to build out your wardrobe? $200? $500?

After you decide how much you can spend upfront and per month, consider whether or not you like shopping. If you do, make it a goal to purchase one essential wardrobe item per month.

And remember: building a great wardrobe and improving/refining your style is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, and enjoy the process.

FAQs About The Minimalist Wardrobe

Here are answers to some common questions about building a minimalist men’s wardrobe:

Should I buy a navy or grey suit?

Either is fine. Navy makes you look younger. Medium-dark grey is a very safe bet.

What about a blazer or sports jacket?

You can wear your suit jacket as a blazer, so you don’t really need both.

Should I buy v-neck or crew neck t-shirts?

Whichever you prefer! Same goes for sweaters.

What about polo shirts?

They serve the same purpose as t-shirts. Feel free to replace the tees with polos.

What color should my one tie be?

Grey or navy is a safe bet. If you’re only going to own one, stick with charcoal.

Black or brown Oxfords?

Black is technically more versatile (and necessary for formal events like funerals).

Black or brown belt?

Just make sure it matches your go-to shoes.

Leather or canvas sneakers?

Either is fine. Stick with plain designs (no logos). Grey or off-white are okay too.