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A summer capsule wardrobe for men with style.
Let me lay the situation out for you was clearly as possible:
- It’s summer
- You’re going to be traveling
- You want to pack light
- You want to stay cool
- And you want to look your best
Who doesn’t want those things, right?
Well, that’s where a capsule wardrobe comes in and asserts its dominance. I’ve put together a 10-piece capsule wardrobe specifically designed for summer travel — and just for clarity, let’s say it’s for a vacation and you’re going to a resort.
10 pieces and 19 different outfits. Let’s get into it!
What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?
So what is a capsule wardrobe? Let’s start with a simple definition. A capsule wardrobe is a small, edited collection of clothing items that all work together. This allows you to mix and match everything in the collection to create many different outfits with just a few pieces.
Capsule wardrobes are great because they save you time, energy, and money.
They reduce the number of decisions you have to make since you’re really creating some guardrails in terms of the pieces you’re working with.
And a capsule wardrobe is great for the environment because you are doing more with less.
You can design a capsule wardrobe around any situation, occasion, season, or dress code. I’ve done several already on our YouTube channel from a beginner’s capsule wardrobe to business casual to seasonal. Check them out if you haven’t already.
But today we are talking about a summer travel capsule wardrobe — 10 items total — so let’s get right into it.
What’s “Not” Included…But Still In
Now, before I get to the 10 items that I’m including in this capsule wardrobe, let me talk about the things that I’m not including but are things that you should definitely still pack.
I’m adding this little disclaimer because every single time — Every. Single. Time — I post any kind of travel wardrobe video or a what to pack video, someone will inevitably make a snarky comment like, “what about underwear? What about socks? What about toiletries?”
Well, obviously you’re going to pack those things, dummies.
But we’re talking about a capsule wardrobe here. And when I talk about a capsule wardrobe, I want to focus on the essentials — not that underwear isn’t an essential — but those essential pieces that will help you build your outfits.
So for the sake of argument here, in addition to saying that this is a summer travel capsule wardrobe, let’s also say that it’s for a vacation and you may be going to a resort.
Here are some other things that I would be sure to pack.
Underwear
I mean, obviously. Unless, of course, you’re going to a nudist colony. But even then you’ll need some fresh underwear for your journey to and from. Anyway… My favorite boxer briefs have been the Always in Motion model from lululemon. Though I’ve been trying out some Tommy John stuff recently that is also very comfortable.
No-Show Socks
Let me tell you my biggest menswear best kept secret — the best no-show socks for men are actually women’s peds. Don’t argue with me. And don’t knock it til you try it. If you’ve ever been annoyed that your “men’s” no-show socks actually show, take my advice and thank me later.
Baseball Cap
I always bring a baseball cap with me when traveling, whether on vacation or not. I like to keep it simple and classic even when it comes to my casual style.
Fragrance
Acqua di Parma’s classic Colonia is always on my packing list during the summer. It’s classic, perfect for the season, and works for any situation. Here are some more unique scents if that’s what you’re looking for.
Sunscreen
You should incorporate sunscreen into your daily skincare routine but it’s especially important during the summer if you’re going to be on vacation and in the sun. It’s hard to describe just how amazing this sunscreen is from Supergoop! but it’s like you don’t even have it on it absorbs so well.
Dopp Kit
I like to keep my dopp kit old school in every sense. That’s why a classic leather version is always my choice.
Swim Trunks
It may seem a little strange, but swimwear is one place — not the only, obviously — that I don’t mind paying for quality. I’ve been wearing Vilebrequin for about a decade at this point and I love their design as well as quality. This is a new pickup and I can’t wait to put it to good use.
Camera
My iPhone takes nice photos, but doing what I do, I need a real camera. About a decade ago, I bought a Fujifilm X100S (it’s now in the VI version). It was a very stylish looking camera but I had a heck of a time getting it to take good pictures. I’m sure it was all my fault, but I needed something that was easier for me to use. So I ended up buying the original Leica Q and, man, what a camera. Easy to use, great photos, an amazing feel in the hand, and style for days.
Tech Pouch
I love keeping my luggage neat and organized and cords and adapters make that very hard to do. That’s why I’m a big fan of little pouches and packing cubes to keep stuff together. Nothing better than Think Tank for tech things.
Watch Case
While I can get over deliberately limiting myself in certain areas — you’ll find out more about that below — I always bring more than one watch with me when I travel. Especially for a vacation, I need something sporty for the daytime and something a little dressier at night. The Wolf three-watch roll has been my go-to for quite some time.
Travel Catchall
How many times have been in a hotel room and freaked out because you couldn’t find your wallet or room key or watch or ring? Oh, it’s just me? Well, I figured out long ago that the best way to avoid that particular panicked feeling was to use a travel catchall. I use one at home for the same reason so why not when traveling?
You get the idea and I think I’ve proved my point here — I’m still packing all these things even though I’m not including them in the capsule wardrobe proper. Speaking of which…
The 10 Capsule Wardrobe Items
Let’s get into those 10 capsule wardrobe pieces. Since I’ve been dancing around it up until now, let’s really dive right in.
Slate Blue Glen Plaid Sport Coat
Up first is a slate blue Glen plaid sport coat. It’s 100-percent linen and half-lined, meaning it’s super light and breathable. The pattern is subtle but sporty and the patch pockets keep it casual.
Mid-Brown Houndstooth Sport Coat
Item number two is a cream and brown houndstooth sport coat in a beautiful wool, silk, and linen fabric. Extremely versatile — wouldn’t be in this capsule wardrobe if it wasn’t — and has been my favorite travel jacket this season.
Stone Linen Safari Jacket
Item number three is a stone linen safari jacket. I consider this to be a more casual alternative to a sport coat. I love the pockets, especially for travel. A great way to cover up from the sun or keep a little warmer on a breezy seaside evening.
White Dress Shirt
Item number four is just a simple white cotton button-up. Goes with everything. Easy to dress up. Easy to dress down. What else is there to say?
Funky Printed Shirt
Item number five is a printed short sleeve shirt. I always love a bold printed shirt in the summer. And a vacation is the perfect opportunity to trot it out.
Black T-Shirt
Item number six, just a classic black t-shirt. Obviously, very casual, but can easily be worn with a sport coat for a perfect dressy casual vacation combination.
Cream Linen Pants
Item number seven is a pair of cream linen pants. These are go-to for me during the summer. Light, breathable, versatile — perfect for the season.
Black Linen Pants
Next, item number eight, we’ve got a pair of black linen pants. Huge contrast from the cream linen and I like these especially for dressing up in the evening.
Sunglasses
Item number nine, sunglasses. These are the American Optical Original Pilots. Classic. Military heritage with the bayonet temple arm. And I’m including this in the capsule wardrobe and deliberately limiting myself because I generally tend to bring way more sunglasses then I need whenever I travel.
Suede Penny Loafers
And finally, item number 10, a pair of Grant Stone bourbon suede penny loafers. One pair of shoes for an entire capsule wardrobe, you ask? Yes, one pair of versatile shoes to rule them all!
Summer Capsule Wardrobe: 19 Different Outfits
Now that we’ve established our 10 capsule wardrobe items, let’s see how many ways they can be paired together. And I have to tell you that, yes, I know that 19 is a very odd number and I really did try to squeeze 20 outfits out here. But, as you’ll read, there’s a good reason for that.
Look 1
Look number one. Combining the white shirt with the cream trousers and the houndstooth sport coat. It’s tonal, minimal, little bit of visual interest via the houndstooth pattern.
Look 2
Look number two. Just going to switch up the jacket to the slate blue Glen plaid sport coat, which now becomes the focal point, still with a nice subtle pattern for some interest, super classic, absolute no-brainer.
Look 3
Look number three. Again, swapping the jacket out, this time for the safari jacket. Another tonal look that’s still somewhat dressy, but a little bit more of a casual and sporty vacation style because of the jacket.
Look 4
Look number four, I’m going without a jacket — just the printed shirt with the linen trousers. Much more casual and relaxed with the slightly oversized fit being great for keeping cool.
Look 5
Look number five. Similar but different. Just by simply tucking in the shirt I can completely change the overall vibe of the last look. A little dressier. Great for an early evening cocktail.
Look 6
Look number six. Just going to throw on the safari jacket. I love how the style of the jacket really plays into both the color and pattern of the shirt. Very summer. Very fun.
Look 7
Next, look number seven. A little more “respectable” with the houndstooth sport coat. To be honest, I wasn’t sure that the patterns were going to work together, but because they’re different scales — jacket small, shirt large — they combine really well together.
Look 8
Look number eight. Once again, changing the jacket, leaving the foundation the same. Much different look. Same concept — subtle pattern, bold pattern.
Look 9
Look number nine. Simple t-shirt with sport coat look. Love the contrast between the shirt and the pants. Little bit of pattern in the sport coat for some visual interest. And the color of the jacket ties in nicely with the loafers.
Look 10
Look number 10. Casual and relaxed, still looking put together. Again, the safari jacket lending a sporty but elevated feel to the entire look.
Look 11
Look number 11. You guessed it, just changing up the jacket to the slate blue Glen plaid. Cooler colors up top, warmer tones on the bottom. Yet everything works together.
Look 12
Look number 12. We’re moving into black linen trouser territory. Pairing it with the white shirt and houndstooth sport coat, which helps to tie in with the color of the bourbon suede loafers.
Look 13
Look number 13. Swapping the houndstooth jacket for the slate blue linen glen plaid. I might typically wear a pair of black loafers with this but the bourbon suede gives a really nice burst of contrast here.
Look 14
Look number 14. Same foundation — white shirt, black trousers — but throwing on the safari jacket to give it a more relaxed and sporty feel and also you can see the color of the jacket works perfectly with the loafers.
Look 15
Look number 15. Printed shirt tucked in. Casual but elevated. Again the brown up top plays nicely with the color of the shoes. This is where I thought I could squeeze out another look by untucking the shirt but for me that was just a little too casual with the formality of the black trousers.
Look 16
Look number 16. Just going to add the houndstooth sport coat. I really love the interplay of black, brown, and white. It’s minimal, a bit unexpected, and I think it’s incredibly chic.
Look 17
Look number 17. Black t-shirt. Black trousers. Sand-colored linen safari jacket complementing the bourbon color of the loafers. High contrast. Casual, sporty, and I’ll say it again, incredibly chic.
Look 18
Look number 18. Same all-black monochromatic foundation, but we’re classing up the joint a little bit with the houndstooth sport coat. And you can see, even though we’ve got an all-black foundation the color of the sport coat helps pull in the color of the shoes, tying everything together.
Look 19
Look number 19. Same thing. Different jacket with the slate blue Glen plaid linen sport coat. The suede loafers being the standout piece here, providing some contrast.
The Bottom Line
The thing I love most about a travel capsule wardrobe like this is that you do have so many different options. I don’t know about you, but I find it really hard to plan specific outfits for a trip — and when I try to think outfit by outfit like that, well, it feels like a big commitment. I feel locked in to those particular outfits and, you know, what if I get to my destination and suddenly I’m not as inspired by the looks I put together before the trip?
But as you can see, with 10 pieces, I’ve got 19 different combinations, so no matter how I’m feeling — or what I’m doing — there’s going to be a way for me to combine those pieces in a way that makes me feel good.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
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