Stefano Ricci · Clothing
Sport Trouser
Stefano Ricci's sport trouser — Florentine casual.
New
Price at Amazon
See It at Amazon →The Boyfriend Closet · /mens-wardrobe-essentials/
The Boyfriend Closet: the capsule that actually works
Most men do not need more clothes. They need four better versions of things they already own, and permission to throw out the rest. A working capsule is roughly eight pieces and it costs less than the closet full of nearly-right items it replaces.
The order below is deliberate. Knitwear does the most visible work, footwear does the second most, and accessories are where a small amount of money buys a disproportionate amount of polish.
Build a Boyfriend earns affiliate commission from Amazon and from The Luxury Closet via CJ Affiliate. Prices and availability are the retailer's and can change at any time. How this works.
Layer one — knitwear and outerwear
One great crewneck and one heritage jacket cover autumn through spring. Everything else in the closet is a supporting act.
Layer two — fix the shoe rotation
If his entire rotation is trainers, one loafer changes more outfits than any garment could.
Layer three — the small expensive things
A wallet that is not falling apart, sunglasses that are not from a petrol station, one watch.
And the other end of the scale
Stefano Ricci trousers, tuxedo shirts and cashmere from loryn.com. This is the tier where a shirt costs more than most jackets, and pre-owned is the only sane way to buy into it.
Perfect Moment · Clothing
Chamonix Ski Jacket
The Chamonix — piste-ready and street-legal.
New
Price at Amazon
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Stefano Ricci · Clothing
Jeans
Stefano Ricci jeans — denim by a Florentine shirtmaker.
New
Price at Amazon
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Stefano Ricci · Clothing
Cotton Tuxedo Shirt with Studs II
A white cotton tuxedo shirt with French cuffs, cut for studs — Stefano Ricci formality.
New
Price at Amazon
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Stefano Ricci · Clothing
French Cuff Cotton Tuxedo Shirt
Italian shirtmaking at its cleanest — Stefano Ricci.
New
Price at Amazon
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Perfect Moment · Clothing
Chamonix Ski Pant
Perfect Moment's Chamonix Ski Pant.
New
Price at Amazon
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The accessible half of the wardrobe
Not everything has to be an heirloom. Knitwear, henleys, button-downs and a blazer from Coofandy, all under $90 — the layer you buy several of and replace when they wear out, rather than the pieces you keep for a decade.
The cheap half that still works
Cable knits, quarter-zips and a trucker jacket, none of it over fifty dollars. Buy several, replace freely.
SIMKHAI · Men's Knitwear
SIMKHAI Hezekiah Silk Cashmere Henley
Silk and cashmere, which is why it drapes rather than hangs.
$250–$500
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SIMKHAI · Men's Knitwear
SIMKHAI Hayes Silk Linen Henley
Silk and linen. The summer version of the same idea.
$250–$500
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SIMKHAI · Men's Knitwear
SIMKHAI Callum Cashmere Argyle Polo
Cashmere argyle, which is a genuinely old-fashioned thing done well.
$250–$500
Buy This for Him →
SIMKHAI · Men's Knitwear
SIMKHAI Reynolds Knit Polo
A knit polo, which hangs completely differently from a piqué one.
$250–$500
Buy This for Him →
SIMKHAI · Men's Knitwear
SIMKHAI Julian Pleated Trouser
Pleats, which have come back and which suit more men than flat fronts.
$250–$500
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SIMKHAI · Men's Knitwear
SIMKHAI Elvis Trousers
A tailored trouser cut like a jean. The gap most wardrobes have.
$250–$500
Shop the Look →
Amazon Essentials · Men's Knitwear
Amazon Essentials Cable Knit Crewneck Sweater
Twenty dollars for a cable knit. Not cashmere, but the shape is right.
Under $100
See Price →
Nautica · Men's Knitwear
Nautica Quarter-Zip Sweater
The quarter-zip is the most-worn thing in most men's wardrobes. This is a good cheap one.
Under $100
Shop the Pick →
Amazon Essentials · Men's Knitwear
Amazon Essentials Cotton V-Neck Pullover
Fifteen dollars, wears under a jacket, and nobody can tell what it cost.
Under $100
Get It Here →
Levi's · Men's Knitwear
Levi's Signature Trucker Jacket
The denim jacket, at half the price of the Levi's red tab and cut almost identically.
Under $100
Shop Now →
Amazon Essentials · Men's Knitwear
Amazon Essentials Regular Fit Oxford Shirt
One hundred percent cotton oxford at twenty-four dollars. The shirt that goes under everything.
Under $100
Shop Now →
Van Heusen · Men's Knitwear
Van Heusen Flex Collar Slim Fit Stretch Dress Shirt
The flex collar means he can do the top button and still breathe. Non-negotiable for weddings.
Under $100
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Amazon Essentials · Men's Knitwear
Amazon Essentials Slim-Fit Stretch Chino
Thirty-three thousand reviews. Buy stone and navy and half his wardrobe problem is over.
Under $100
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MERIWOOL · Men's Knitwear
Meriwool Merino Wool Midweight Base Layer
One hundred percent merino, midweight. Warm without bulk and it does not smell after three days.
Under $100
Shop Now →
Smartwool · Men's Knitwear
Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Crew
Smartwool's is finer knit and softer against skin. The one to buy if he says wool itches.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Amazon Essentials · Men's Knitwear
Amazon Essentials Patterned Dress Socks, 5 Pair
Fifteen dollars for five pairs. Pattern at the ankle is the cheapest bit of personality in a suit.
Under $100
Shop Now →
Hanes · Men's Knitwear
Hanes V-Neck Undershirt Multipack
A V-neck undershirt disappears under an open collar. The crew neck does not.
Under $100
Shop Now →
Dockers · Men's Knitwear
Dockers Leather Dress Belt
A plain black leather belt with a plain buckle. Every wardrobe needs exactly one.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Tommy Hilfiger · Men's Knitwear
Tommy Hilfiger Adjustable Braided Leather Belt
A braided belt has no fixed holes, which means it always fits.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Wardrobe Essentials FAQ
What should be in a men's capsule wardrobe?
A crewneck knit, an Oxford shirt, a white tee, dark denim, tailored trousers, one jacket, loafers and white leather sneakers. Add a watch, a wallet and sunglasses. That is roughly eleven items and it covers everything short of black tie.
What should I buy my boyfriend to upgrade his style?
Loafers, then knitwear, then sunglasses. In that order. Shoes change an outfit more than any other single item, and most men's shoe rotations are the weakest part of their wardrobe by a distance.
How do I get him to throw things away?
Replace before you remove. Men part with a worn-out wallet the day a better one arrives, and almost never before. The same is true of body wash, sunglasses and shoes.