22. Build a Simple Wardrobe

This suggestion is, for the most part, addressed to women. Men already have simple wardrobes.

After years of trying to come to grips with the elusive concept of “fashion,” I’ve come to one overwhelming conclusion:

When a man and a woman are together and comparably dressed in any style, from dressy to casual to unbelievably casual, almost without exception the man looks better than the woman. There are two reasons for this:

One: When it comes to fashion, men have it easy, and because of this they almost always get it right, and,

Two: Women have it difficult, and they almost always get it wrong.

Let’s face it, men have basically only four options: suit (with shirt and tie); slacks (with shirt and, sometimes, a jacket); casual pants, jeans (with polo shirt), or sweats; formal wear.

Women have unlimited options:

Suits, the jackets of which can be short, medium, long, or very long; fitted, loose, boxy, or peplum; broad-shouldered, narrow-shouldered, drop-shouldered, or puff-shouldered; single-breasted, double-breasted, belted, or open, with collars, of every variety, or without collars; they can be round-necked, square-necked, scoop-necked, or V-necked; and are available in any fabric or combination of fabrics, and in any color or combination of colors imaginable.

Likewise, the options for the women’s equivalent of the other categories—slacks and casual wear and formal wear—are also available in an infinite variety of styles, fabrics, and colors. This is the reason women have three times the amount of clothes in their closets as men do. They’ve got a dozen different fashion statements, and few, if any, of them work together.

My suggestion for creating a simple wardrobe is to take a lesson from the way men dress:

First, pick a simple, classic style that looks good on you, and then stick with it. Forever.

Second, build combinations of outfits that work as a uniform: Two or three jackets of the same or similar style but in different, muted shades, with two or three sets of the same or similarly styled skirts and/or slacks in different muted shades, and a couple of coordinating shirts/blouses/tops. Each item should go with every other item.

Third, remember that men, for the most part, don’t wear jewelry (see #94), don’t carry purses (see #93), and wear only one heel height (see #91).

This is not to say women should dress like men. But it’s certainly possible to create a simple, functional, feminine wardrobe by following the same principles men follow when it comes to fashion.