1-Lean Wardrobe PDF

The Lean Wardrobe
Five Principles to Achieve Closet Mastery

The Lean Wardrobe
Five Principles to Achieve Closet Mastery
Effortless Gent
Published by
Effortless Gent
effortlessgent.com
cover photo credit
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Principle one: Pare Down Aggressively
4 Principle two: Quality Over Quantity (Whenever Possible)
6 Principle three: Versatility is King
8 Principle four: Wear What You Enjoy
10 Principle five: Dress With Intent and Purpose
13 Additional Thoughts
16 Finally
17 Share Your Story
18 About the Author
19 EG Valet
20 Resources
Introduction
Since I was a young dude, Ive always been interested in appearance,
personal style, fads, and trends. Needless to say, I had a lot of clothes.
After many years feeding this interest, I ended up with a closet

multiple closets, actually filled with clothing I, for one reason or
another, no longer wore.
When youre young, impressionable, and genuinely interested, you

become a voracious consumer. I wanted everything, even if I didnt
need it.
If I liked one particular item, I bought it in almost every color. I often

found great deals on clearance racks, which pleased the budget-
conscious side of me, but proved to be a burden as I slowly ran out of
closet space.
When I grew up and moved out on my own, I only took a few things
with me. I survived just fine on the little amount of clothing I had.
As my tastes changed, I learned to refine and curate the selection I

kept with me. It certainly has grown, but Ive learned to do without the
excess.
The Lean Wardrobe philosophy is a pillar of Effortless Gent. I

encourage you to strive for a Lean Wardrobe, and hopefully this book
will get you started on the right track.
The Lean Wardrobe: Five Principles to Achieve Closet Mastery | Effortless Gent effortlessgent.com 1
Principle one
Pare Down Aggressively
Theres nothing sweeter than discarding something at least once
youve acclimated yourself to the idea. Curate constantly. Weed out
what you do not use. Taking an
When I was younger, I had the hardest time getting rid of clothing, active approach will ensure a
even if I didnt wear it. I was like a clothes hoarder instead of a Lean Wardrobe.
clotheshorse.
I soon learned that my closet situation was getting a bit ridiculous,

and if I kept it up, wouldnt be able to sustain itself (since I was running
out of room).
The ironic thing is, I hate clutter. Im a guy who believes everything has
its place, and an overstuffed closet is difficult to keep neat.
As I got older and wiser, I started to realize I only wear a handful of

things I own. I began forming opinions about owning less but better
things, and only keeping what I put to use.
The process of closet curation is an ongoing one. Inevitably, youll find

yourself with a few too many pairs of pants, or shirts that find their
way to the back of the closet, or socks with holes that for one reason
or another you just havent thrown away.
The important thing is to continually curate. You have to be active in

this approach. You have to pare down very aggressively.
By actively weeding out items you no longer need or use, you will
always stay on top of it.
Its easy to keep a neat closet. Simply ask yourself, Whens the last
time I actually wore this?
Havent touched it in a year? Toss it. Two winters passed, and you still
havent worn that coat? Get rid of it; you never will.
And when I say get rid of it, do so in a responsible manner. Sell it (on
eBay, to a vintage store) or donate it (to Goodwill, Salvation Army),
dont just throw it away in the garbage. Just because youve lost
interest in it, doesnt mean a less fortunate person couldnt make use
of it.
The lesson here? Keep your closet neat and clean, and only fill it with
things you will wear regularly. Everything else is wasted space.
Once youve refined your closet and wardrobe (or come as close
as possible to what you imagine perfection to be), switch to a
replacement-only strategy.
Continually ask yourself, Can this incoming item replace something

else I no longer wear?
This is how you maintain closet homeostasis.
Principle two
Quality over Quantity
(Whenever Possible)
Quality over quantity is an important principle to remember when
building a Lean Wardrobe.
First off, realize this phrase is relative.

Buy fewer but better whenever
possible, and be selective with
If youre on a tight budget, Im not suggesting you buy $2000+ Isaia
every purchase you make.
suits. What I am saying is that instead of buying five ill-fitting $10 sport
shirts, buy one that fits well (and that you love) for $50.
Youre going to end up discarding those five cheap sport shirts

anyway. Why not save up and buy the one that fits perfectly?
If youre relatively well off and money isnt as big of a concern for you
as, say, a college grad fresh out of school, this principle still applies.
Why? Because youre more at-risk for unnecessarily losing larger

amounts of money. Instead of buying $10 sport shirts, youll be
purchasing higher-end, luxury goods, and still not putting them to use.
If you want to follow the Lean Wardrobe ideology, do your best to be

selective when making purchases.
Another thing to take into account (especially when you have more
discretionary income) is that its easy to buy a bunch of stuff and end
up with an overstuffed closet.
Remember the principle of paring down aggressively. Only fill your
closet with things you wear and love. Discard everything else.
Lean Wardrobe Essentials

I think every man can benefit from having at least one (potentially a
few) of each of these items in his closet:
oxford-cloth button downs
crisp dress shirt (one white, one blue)
dark, slim denim
dark brown brogue lace-ups
single-breasted navy blazer
one charcoal gray suit
white T-shirts, pairs of underwear, socks, and ties as necessary
Fit > Quality > Brand

All else being equal, fit trumps brand and quality, every time.
You can wear brand name clothing that is ill-fitting, and you can
buy quality garments that are also ill-fitting. But a $150 suit that fits
perfectly will always be way more impressive than an impeccably
constructed, $1500 brand name suit thats ill-fitting.
Basically, top quality and brand name status cant cover up crappy fit.
Principle three
Versatility is King
The leanest of wardrobes (refer to the Essentials list in Principle two)
ensures that every item can be worn with every other item in the closet.
I realize that in reality, its not that easy.
Your closet still has clothing from when you were in high school,
college, or grad school.
Clothes you bought on a whim, accessories you were told to purchase

because they were in style, an unused suit from some event you
attended years ago... all still there.
Clothes you thought looked good but are clearly too big for you.
Clothes that are too tight, because you grew out of them... yep, in
there as well.
Ideally, we can pick up our closets, toss everything out, and start from
scratch.
If only it was that easy.
Start small and pare down aggressively (see Principle one). Start with
one section of your closet, one stack of shirts, or hell, just one item in
general. Do you need it? If not, get rid of it.
After a few repetitions of Principle one, start rebuilding your closet.
Remember, you dont need much to have a completely versatile (and
not to mention good-looking) wardrobe.
Have 10 pairs of denim in various washes and fits, yet you wear none?
Get rid of them, and find yourself that one dark, slim pair you can wear
day in and day out.
Own 22 shirts in different colors and patterns, but only a few fit well?
Keep the ones that work, discard the rest, and pick up a few oxford
cloth button down shirts in white and blue, for good measure.
How to stay versatile

One good way to ensure versatility in your wardrobe is to invest in
clothes that are relatively neutral, earthy, or basic in color. These
clothes will serve as your base.
Think dark denim, chinos in olive, charcoal, brown, and navy. Think
oxford cloth button down shirts in white and blue. Think T-shirts in The key to versatility: a base
white and gray. Think navy blazer, charcoal suit. wardrobe in neutral, earthy,
and basic colors.
Once you have these, you can expand your wardrobe slowly and
Accent with bright colors and
deliberately to include a more colorful selection. A pair of brightly-
interesting patterns.
colored chinos, a few more vibrant sport shirts, sweaters in teal, plum,
and persimmon.
Need a simple, foolproof way to inject color into your ensemble?

Incorporate colorful accessories such as socks, belts, gloves, hats,
bracelets, watch straps, etc. into your wardrobe.
Keep it simple. It all starts with obtaining a few versatile pieces you
can wear for years.
Principle four
Wear What You Enjoy
Its a simple idea, but when you put your money down for an item of
clothing, youre committing to it. Make sure you enjoy everything you
buy and wear.
Its important to feel good when you wear the clothing you own. You
want to feel confident, empowered, put together, dapper, self-assured.
You do not want to feel self-conscious, uncomfortable, unsure.
Theres a gray area here, by the way. When youre first engineering
your personal style and figuring out what looks best on you, there
will be moments of uncertainty. Youll feel self-conscious and unsure
about what youre wearing. Thats normal, and not at all what Im
referring to.
Think of your clothing as a form of self-expression, an unspoken

introduction to those around you. Just as your handshake should
be firm, your appearance should be polished, deliberate, and
unabashedly YOU.
A sloppy presentation is like a limp handshake; youre not impressing

anyone, and that person you just introduced yourself to is not taking
you seriously at all.
Enjoy it, whether a classic or a trend
I encourage you to try anything that strikes your fancy.
I dont care if its a classic piece of clothing (like a standard dress shirt)
or something more trendy or popular at the moment (like suspenders
or multi-patterned sport shirts). Whatever it is, try it!
One piece of advice: If youre trying something new, tread carefully. You have to know the rules
You dont want to overbuy (which leads to closet clutter), and you in order to break them
dont want to overspend (which leads to an empty, sad wallet). effectively.
click to tweet
Think long and hard, and then buy ONE piece to see if you can
incorporate that style into your existing wardrobe.
Know the rules, then break them at will

The best part about forming your own personal style and learning
how to dress well is the liberation you get from knowing the rules and
being able to break them at will.
Breaking the rules is fun, and I encourage you to do so.
But, in order to break the rules effectively and with a hint of panache,
you have to know them inside and out. So learn them first.
Principle five
Dress with Intent and
Purpose
If you buy clothing with intent, stock your closet with intent, and dress
with intent, you will be a much happier and fulfilled man.
Some of this comes with age and experience, but if youre young
and aware of this idea, you can practice it and come to sartorial
enlightenment much earlier (and save money and closet space in the
process).
How does one shop with intent?

If you shop with an intention, youll know
1. what youre looking for, and

2. the reason youre looking for it.
Youre not simply browsing, youre on a mission.
Shopping with intent is good because you dont waste time browsing,
and you dont waste money by buying things that werent part of your
original plan.
Your recently-curated closet will also benefit from a little intent when
shopping, because you wont be refilling it up with useless crap you
picked up on a clearance rack somewhere, just because.
What does it mean to dress with intent and
purpose?
Know your situation and preferences
A corporate office workers closet will be much different than a graphic
designers. Understand your situation (where you spend the majority
of your time, for example) and your preferences.
Knowing your situation will help you understand whats expected and
accepted, as far as dress code is concerned. Knowing your preferences
will help you dress accordingly (the intersection point between whats
expected and what you like.)
Corporate office workers usually have a more formal dress code

than people in the creative field, but that doesnt mean casual office
workplaces dont exist, or that designers dont like to put on suits once
in a while.
Situation and preferences.
Know why you want to dress better

Do you want to command more respect, have people take you more
seriously, or catch the eye of a female youve been eyeing yourself?
Everyone has their reasons. What are yours?
Its important to know your reasons for wanting to improve. This will
help you keep your eyes on the prize, if you will. Its like setting a goal
and taking steps to achieve that goal. You have to know what your
desired end result will be, so you can formulate the steps needed to
get there.
Step it up just a little to set yourself apart

Understand that dressing better simply means stepping it up just a
bit, relative to your surroundings and situation.
Also, dont confuse dressing up with dressing better. If you work in a
casual environment, you can still dress casually, but step it up just a
bit and refine what you wear and how you wear it.
For example, instead of a T-shirt, put on a polo shirt, a sport shirt,

something with a collar. Instead of faded, baggy denim, throw on a
pair of slim chinos.
Youre still casual, just more put-together and refined.
Ultimately...
Understand that how you project yourself is a reflection of your self-
respect and how you expect others to regard you.
Hopefully by dressing better, youll start to feel better and project

more confidence.
Additional Thoughts
Dressing well is about more than just looking
good
Sure, dressing well is mostly physical. However, I think the desire to
dress well gets a bad rap. Most people have this idea that dressing
well or even just caring about ones physical appearance is vain, or
worse, unimportant.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Weve already discussed dressing with a purpose. Also, besides

looking better, dressing well can help you feel better and more
confident.
Ultimately, it will allow you to command more respect from friends

and family, as well as your subordinates, colleagues, and superiors.
Deny it all you want, but its a simple fact: Presenting yourself as
a more refined, put-together man results in people looking at you
differently, and in a more positive way.
Be the best dressed man you know, on your

own terms
In other words, stop comparing yourself to others. You build personal
style during the journey, not at the final destination. Its a marathon,
not a sprint.
Whos to tell you what looks good and what doesnt? As long as youve
learned the rules and deviated from them deliberately and mindfully,
no one can tell you whats best for you.
There is no one correct form of personal style. Thats why its referred
to as personal. It is a reflection of your unique tastes and how you
choose to present yourself to the world.
Yes, there are rules, and right and wrong ways to do things.
Yes, there are purists out there who believe a tie should be a specific
length 100 percent of the time, that cuffs should only exist on pleated Your personal style is a
pants, and that a jacket lapels width should be exactly three inches. reflection of your unique
tastes and how you choose to
And yet, there are others who know all this, and choose to wear their present yourself to the world.
tie slightly shorter, cuff their flat front trousers, and have narrow lapels
on their sport coat.
Dont be afraid to learn the rules, and then twist them to make them
your own.
Pay attention to the details

Details are the extra 10 percent, the finishing touch that pulls
everything together. I cant keep track of how many times Ive seen
a guy in a decent looking suit, but wearing cheap, plastic-looking,
square-toed shoes.
Pay attention to everything. More importantly, learn what to pay

attention to, otherwise you are just wasting your time.
Know a little about a lot

You dont have to understand the complete history of the brogue,
or who first designed the oxford cloth button down, or know by first
name the worlds best tailors.
Thats great if you do know all that stuff, but its more important to
know just enough about a lot of the different rules when it comes to
clothing. A little bit can take you a long way.
For example, even if you dont know the full history of the brogue, at
least understand that, traditionally, the more broguing on your shoe,
the more casual it is.
So if you are wearing a tuxedo or attending a formal event, a plain or

cap toe oxford shoe would be best.
Traditionally, the OCBD is a sportier shirt, because the collar points

button down and the collar itself has little to no lining. Therefore, its
not an actual dress shirt.
Knowing a little about a lot makes a big difference. Understanding the

history of your favorite garments and knowing how things were done
traditionally will help you understand why these rules even exist. From
there, you can determine whether youd like to follow them, or discard
them completely.
Keep in mind, rules exist for a reason. Dont just break them all for the
sake of being a sartorial rebel. Its the quickest way to end up looking
more foolish than dapper.
Lean Home, Lean Office, Lean Spaces

These Lean principles can extend to other parts of your life as well.
Think of all the spaces in your home and office that accumulate
clutter. If you strip each area down to its bare essentials, imagine how
much more clear-headed and focused you will be.
Just like a clean closet, a well-curated space provides clarity and

facilitates focus.
Finally
Thanks for reading. I hope this helps in your quest to curate the
perfect Lean Wardrobe.
These five general principles are a good place to start, though it is

only the beginning.
There is no right or wrong way to build up a Lean Wardrobe. It really

comes down to having the basics and essentials in versatile colors,
getting rid of things you dont use, and owning only the things you
enjoy wearing.
Contemplating, curating, and eventually maintaining a Lean

Wardrobe is not simple. Its definitely not hands-off, either. It takes
time, determination, and perseverance, much like any other goal or
outcome you are trying to achieve in life.
Always remember that once you achieve your version of the perfect
Lean Wardrobe, you have to work to keep it that way. Dont allow stray
items to make their way into your closet.
Even if you do so deliberately, keep mental note of these things. If you

find yourself not making use of them after a specific period of time,
discard!
Share Your Story
Id love to hear the story about your Lean Wardrobe, or the Lean
Wardrobe youre working towards. What are your experiences,
challenges, and victories?
Send me a note and let me know.
About the Author Lets hang out
twitter.com/effortlessgent
facebook.com/effortlessgent
youtube.com/user/effortlessgenttv
Barron Cuadro is Founding Editor of Effortless Gent, a site that takes instagram.com/effortlessgent
an honest approach to personal style, and is dedicated to helping pinterest.com/effortlessgent
guys figure out what looks best on them.
You can find him in New York City.
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The Lean Wardrobe

Five Principles to Achieve Closet Mastery

2 Principle one: Pare Down Aggressively

4 Principle two: Quality Over Quantity (Whenever Possible)

6 Principle three: Versatility is King

8 Principle four: Wear What You Enjoy

10 Principle five: Dress With Intent and Purpose

17 Share Your Story

18 About the Author

After many years feeding this interest, I ended up with a closet

When youre young, impressionable, and genuinely interested, you

If I liked one particular item, I bought it in almost every color. I often

As my tastes changed, I learned to refine and curate the selection I

The Lean Wardrobe philosophy is a pillar of Effortless Gent. I

I soon learned that my closet situation was getting a bit ridiculous,

As I got older and wiser, I started to realize I only wear a handful of

The process of closet curation is an ongoing one. Inevitably, youll find

The important thing is to continually curate. You have to be active in

Continually ask yourself, Can this incoming item replace something

This is how you maintain closet homeostasis.

First off, realize this phrase is relative.

Youre going to end up discarding those five cheap sport shirts

Why? Because youre more at-risk for unnecessarily losing larger

If you want to follow the Lean Wardrobe ideology, do your best to be

Lean Wardrobe Essentials

oxford-cloth button downs

crisp dress shirt (one white, one blue)

dark, slim denim

dark brown brogue lace-ups

single-breasted navy blazer

one charcoal gray suit

white T-shirts, pairs of underwear, socks, and ties as necessary

Fit > Quality > Brand

I realize that in reality, its not that easy.

Clothes you bought on a whim, accessories you were told to purchase

If only it was that easy.

After a few repetitions of Principle one, start rebuilding your closet.

How to stay versatile

Need a simple, foolproof way to inject color into your ensemble?

You do not want to feel self-conscious, uncomfortable, unsure.

Think of your clothing as a form of self-expression, an unspoken

A sloppy presentation is like a limp handshake; youre not impressing

Know the rules, then break them at will

Breaking the rules is fun, and I encourage you to do so.

How does one shop with intent?

1. what youre looking for, and

Youre not simply browsing, youre on a mission.

Corporate office workers usually have a more formal dress code

Situation and preferences.

Know why you want to dress better

Everyone has their reasons. What are yours?

Step it up just a little to set yourself apart

For example, instead of a T-shirt, put on a polo shirt, a sport shirt,

Youre still casual, just more put-together and refined.

Hopefully by dressing better, youll start to feel better and project

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Weve already discussed dressing with a purpose. Also, besides

Ultimately, it will allow you to command more respect from friends

Be the best dressed man you know, on your

Pay attention to the details

Pay attention to everything. More importantly, learn what to pay

Know a little about a lot

So if you are wearing a tuxedo or attending a formal event, a plain or