A spring/summer capsule wardrobe for men

Hello, pals!

Remember my capsule wardrobe challenge from February? Well, today I’m back to talk about my favourite subject. And this time I’m playing my hero, Tan France.

Thanks to everyone who asked for an updated capsule wardrobe for men blog post. I’m so glad you enjoyed the first one, and I’m always happy to help!

And after doing some research for today’s post – wow, I feel for you guys! When I’m gathering inspiration for my own wardrobe, there’s such a variety to draw from: women of all body shapes, styles, personalities. But when I started looking for men, everyone seemed very … same-y.

So, if you want to good and save time getting dressed in the morning – without looking too ‘fashion’ – don’t worry, I got your back.

The capsule wardrobe basics

If this looks a little boring, it’s because I picked a deliberately neutral colour palette. Remember, this is just a template. You can swap in your favourite colours, patterns and styles.

For summer, I reckon you need:

• a few T-shirts – some basic/neutral but a couple where you can play around with patterns and colour
• two pairs of shorts (try just above the knee for length)
• a pair of jeans – a light-mid wash is always good for summer
• some smarter trousers, like these navy chinos.
• a short-sleeved shirt
• a long sleeve shirt (I’d always roll up the sleeves and undo a couple of buttons to avoid looking too put-together and formal)
• a smarter jacket
• a casual jacket (denim, leather or a bomber jacket could work)
• a jumper for when it gets chillier
• two or three pairs of shoes

Now here’s the fun bit.

The combinations

I thought I’d start simple with the T-shirts and trainers. Can you believe this makes 9 different outfits?

I’ve thrown in our short-sleeved shirt, jumper and chinos for a few more options. A little bit smarter. Evening drinks? Weekend date? These would all work.

And using our shirts, chinos and brogues, we have our smart-casual looks.

Looks for versatile pieces, like the dark denim shirt. Since it’s denim, it can be worn casually – but the dark colour makes it look smarter. And you can wear it as a buttoned-up shirt, or loose over a T-shirt. So many options!

There are even more combinations left but since we’ve already reached 32 different looks, I think we’re safe to leave it here.

I hope that’s helped you plan your spring/summer wardrobe. And maybe enticed you to try a capsule wardrobe too! Remember, these are just the basics. Tailor it to your taste. Put your stamp on it. And, most importantly, have fun with it!