Building a wardrobe from scratch

Short answer: Start with underwear, socks and five tops in two colours. Build from there rather than buying everything at once.

The order that works

Start with what you wear every day and nobody sees: underwear and socks. Then tops, then bottoms, then outer layers. The order follows how often things are worn rather than how visible they are.

The first numbers

Twelve sets of underwear, twelve pairs of socks and five tops in two colours cover a week. That is enough for everyday life to work, and the rest can come gradually. See bamboo underwear for men.

Colours first, garments after

Choose two dark neutrals and one light neutral before you buy. Then everything you buy goes together, whenever you buy it. See bamboo t-shirts for men and bamboo clothing for men.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take

At two garments a month you have a working wardrobe in six months.

What should you invest most in

What you wear daily. Underwear and socks are worn most and wear out fastest.

Should everything come from the same brand

No, but the same colour family means everything can be combined.