7 Types of Wardrobe (And How to Choose the Right One for You)

Appearances matter more than we’d like to admit. Our clothing plays a significant role in making us appear cool and confident. Many different types of wardrobe can achieve this effect.

An integral part of figuring out your wardrobe is adopting a style that fits your personality. Your clothes should have similar colors and textures. You should be able to mix and match everything in your closet.

With that in mind, you should aim to develop a “type” of wardrobe with some continuity. You can realistically find dozens of them, but we’ll focus on the types that combine fashion and functionality the best.

1. Athleisure

Leading sports apparel brands like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour have really stepped up their fashion games lately, giving rise to a new type of wardrobe with these standard types of athletic wear:

• Sweatpants
• Shorts
• Hoodies
• T-shirts
• Tank tops
• Tracksuits
• Sneakers

If you live an active lifestyle, you probably have a lot of these clothes already. Now it’s just a matter of pairing the right colors together. Give it a shot!

2. Business Casual

As the workplace has become looser over the years, our work wardrobes have devolved from suits and ties to more breathable clothing. A business casual look will make you appear professional and feel comfortable. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Collared shirts (Oxford and polo)
• Dress pants
• Dress shoes, boots, or loafers

You don’t need to wear a tie or a blazer, but if you think they would bring the look together, then by all means, proceed. Some guys also wear sneakers and dark jeans, but they’re too informal in most work settings.

3. Casual

Jeans feel more at home in the “casual” category. Here, you can also find standard hoodies, tees, and shorts that work equally well at parties and hangout sessions.

A recent phenomenon with casual wardrobes has been the addition of white shoes. They seem to go with everything, and you can wear them with or without socks. Most men’s clothes fall under the casual umbrella.

4. Minimalist

Minimalism has significantly impacted not just the fashion industry, but modern architecture and art as well. Minimalist clothing uses simple patterns and limited color schemes to make the wearer look organized and classy. Find your desired color palette (the darker the better). Grey and black with muted blues are common combinations.

Keep your accessories limited and make sure your clothes fit as well as possible. Tight or loose-fitting clothing takes away from the desired simplicity. Everything should look uniform and tidy.

5. Classic

What makes an outfit a “classic”? No one has a precise definition, but you can think of a classic wardrobe as the clothing that used to dominate the men’s fashion scene. It has lost its popularity but maintains its prestige and charisma.

If that wasn’t specific enough, think of an outfit you might see in crime dramas “Boardwalk Empire” and “Peaky Blinders.” That’s classic. Not many guys wear those clothes anymore, but they still look fantastic. A black suit with a white shirt is the standard combination, but you can be more creative with the colors and patterns.

A classic wardrobe doesn’t just have suits, though. You can also have rustic jeans, simple button-down shirts, pullover sweaters, and other timeless clothes. Dress to make your grandfathers proud.

6. European

European men tend to dress more formally than Americans. They prefer quality clothing materials and often choose to wear simple button-down shirts and dress pants in simple colors – a stark contrast to the bright clothing that was common throughout Europe in centuries past.

As a general rule, you should avoid graphic tees, American logos, and sports apparel (unless you plan on attending a sports game, of course). For footwear, stick with boots or a comfortable pair of walking shoes. During the colder months, wear a blazer or a trench coat.

7. Rugged

A rugged wardrobe prioritizes function over fashion almost to a fault, but conveniently for us, rugged clothes are currently in style. Think of the thick flannel shirts, denim jeans, wool coats, and heavy boots that blue-collar workers like to wear.

Gear that you would typically wear hunting and fishing also fall under this category. This wardrobe works in the outdoors and in a social setting. But be warned: if you want to look the part, you have to play the part. Go outside and get your hands dirty!

Dress With Confidence

The most important part of all types of wardrobe is the person wearing the clothes. No matter which type you decide to adopt, you must dress with confidence. You must feel comfortable in your own skin. If you feel out of place in a new outfit, others will notice. Own your look, hold your head high, and you’ll be able to pull off any wardrobe you set your mind to wearing.