As the editors of VICE’s shopping section, we are staunch believers in the quest for personal style sauce. In the words of Carl Jung (maybe), “That’s not just a Rick Owens boot. That’s a symbol of your emerging individuation, fam, and it sure would look fire with that Junya Watanabe coat that you ripped out of someone’s hands found at the Dover Market Sample Sale last summer.” Our style evolution has been a decades-long journey; a procession of tiny Roxy backpacks, side-swept bangs, Doc Martens, and perfectly worn-in Deadhead tees. Now that we’re older and more mature (mattress = off the floor) we have a newfound yearning to fortify our closets with timeless capsule pieces.
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So, what is a capsule wardrobe? Think of it as the apparel version of Avengers: End Game. The perfect capsule wardrobe for men, women, and everyone else should include a cross-seasonal, versatile lineup of jackets, pants, hats, tees, and more wardrobe essentials with timeless appeal that can be mixed and matched year-round. True capsule pieces will be the first things you reach for when you’re feeling lazy but still want to look put together, or when you’re too burnt out to curate a Jeremy Scott-esque ‘fit for the day. Above all, capsule wardrobe essentials should make you feel like a put-together star who understands the power of quality over quantity. Don’t get it twisted: We love a novelty sartorial treat. We will never regret splurging on that Issey Miyake neck gaiter mask in lockdown for a little serotonin, even if it felt extra. But now, we’re outfitting our lives with investment pieces that truly go the distance. We’re looking for some deliverance from the plight of unflattering jeans, lumpy sweaters, and other closet slackers that stopped pulling their weight in our everyday lives. If you have made it this far in our credo, you probably feel the same way. That’s why we have shortlisted a ride-or-die rotation of timeless jean jackets, all-season button-ups, comfortable beanies, and nine more must-have items that will make getting dressed (and looking good) one less thing to worry about. And don’t be fooled by the binary breakdown; these delectable jawns are for men, women, and everyone else. Mix them, match them, and consider them the quintessential packing list for the journey of modern life (even if you’re just traveling to the corner store).
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Now that we have unfurled the shag carpet, let’s unpack the 12 essential items that make up the VICE capsule wardrobe. Jerry Garcia wasn’t kidding when he sang “Truckin,’' even if he wasn’t necessarily singing about Lee’s denim chore coats. A trucker jacket is a must-have year-round, because it can be layered with a normcore turtleneck and a little gold chain, paired with a vintage tee, or styled with a white A-line tee and Adidas tracksuit pants to realize your chav/chavette fantasy. We have comprehensive guides to the best men’s and women’s denim jackets, but if we had to narrow down a handful into our yeehawsexual lineup, we would snag classic light and dark wash ‘fits from beloved brands such as Wrangler, Levi’s, Lee, and Calvin Klein. You never know when you’ll be invited to a casual, non-traditional wedding, and all of their denim staples, from cropped cuts to oversized chore coats, would look excellent with a crisp white dress shirt and a bolo tie.
A trucker jacket
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A cool button-up
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A broken-in vintage band T-shirt
A cozy sweater for layering
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A basic white tank
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The perfect-fitting jeans (for you)
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Comfortable sneakers with a little edge
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A durable pair of boots
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A quality coat
A real leather jacket
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A beanie for fall and winter
A baseball hat for spring and summer
Now go forth, and be a well-dressed person.
The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.