If you read the Mama Edit a few weeks ago, this is the follow-up — my husband’s version of the same idea.
His work wardrobe was never the project. He’s in a suit most weekdays, and Boggi’s easy, wrinkle-resistant basics already have that covered. Casual is where our move to Europe actually changed things — more walking, more short trips, fewer days where athletic wear makes sense as an everyday choice.
This edit builds around what already works and adds the versatile pieces — outerwear, knitwear, boots, a few well-traveled basics — to fill the real gaps rather than create new ones.
Shop everything in this edit here: The Papa Edit on ShopMy
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What Already Earned Its Place
Five pieces here aren’t new. They didn’t need replacing — they needed to stay exactly where they were, which is its own kind of decision.
Shirt in Stretch Nylon B Tech Slim Fit and Shirt Micro Patterned Stretch Nylon Slim Fit B Tech — both from Boggi Milano’s technical B-Tech line, in white and light blue, and both already in heavy rotation. The stretch nylon travels well and skips the iron entirely, which matters more than almost anything else in a work shirt.
AG “The Graduate” in Crusade Wash Denim — a tailored slim-straight in a medium indigo wash. This is the pair he already reaches for on repeat, so instead of finding a replacement, we’re just pointing you to the real thing.
A.P.C. “Rue Madame” Logo Crew Sweat — his weekend staple, full stop. An organic cotton fleece crewneck that’s done more Saturday-morning duty than anything else in his closet.
Johnnie-O “Raynor” Merino 1/4 Zip Sweater — he’s worn Johnnie-O for years, and this merino quarter-zip is the reason we keep going back. It works for a casual Friday and a weekend trip in exactly the same way.
European Finds Worth Knowing
Moving here put a few brands on our radar that weren’t before, and three of them ended up all over this list.
Autry is the obvious one. The sneakers carry a small American flag detail, which is a funny thing to notice on a brand that feels this European — walk through Luxembourg City, Paris, or nearly any airport here and you’ll spot them constantly. I already own a pair myself; his is overdue.
Bobbies was a genuine discovery. I already lean on their Amel ballet flats in my own capsule, and their menswear does the same thing well — refined enough for a sport coat, sturdy enough for the amount of walking that just comes with living here.
And Octobre Éditions, Sézane’s menswear line, shows up three separate times on this list — the Hugh coat, the Tom chinos, and the Charlie flannel shirt below. That’s not an accident. It’s become one of the first places I look for menswear that feels elevated without trying hard to prove it.
The Coats
Fay Hooded Coat — navy, a wool-cashmere blend with real weight to it, knee-length and practical enough for an ordinary day, polished enough that you never feel underdressed in it. This is the coat for the days that call for something structured.
Sézane “Hugh” Coat — olive green, wool blend. An oversized silhouette in a warm olive, a neutral that pairs with navy, denim, cream and brown without ever reading boring. If you only had room for one new coat this fall, this is the one I’d point to.
The Sport Coat
Culwell Top Shelf Woven Sport Coat — navy, cut from baby alpaca sourced from an Italian mill. He already has two Johnnie-O sport coats in regular rotation for the same job — dressed up for dinner, or worn straight to the office — and this one joins them: unlined, unstructured tailoring that drapes instead of holding a stiff shape, worn with denim and boots for dinner or dressed up with chinos for something more business-casual.
The Sweaters
Asket Cashmere Sweater — Asket builds around doing fewer, better basics, and this one’s 97% recycled cashmere. A quiet crewneck that layers easily under either coat above.
Crew Neck in Extrafine Merino Wool — a fine-gauge merino crewneck that adds just enough range to the rotation without repeating what’s already here. Works equally well under the sport coat or on its own with the chinos below.
The Shirt
“Charlie” Flannel Shirt — a mottled blue, 100% cotton flannel from Octobre Éditions, the third piece on this list from that line, which says something about how much we trust it at this point. Enough texture to feel like fall, worn on its own or layered under the Hugh coat on a genuinely cold day.
The Denim
Tellis Corduroy Jean — AG’s Tellis fit in a rich, deep brown corduroy, a modern slim cut that reads more like a jean than a pair of cords. The one texture piece on this list most capsules skip entirely, and the actual new addition alongside the Graduate above.
The Chinos
Sézane “Tom” Chinos — navy, organic cotton. The trouser version of the merino crewneck above, a classic navy chino quiet enough to layer under almost anything else on this list.
The Boots
Bobbies “Cassian” Boots — a half-brogue lace-up in a rich pull-up leather, handcrafted in Portugal with Blake-stitch construction and waxed cotton laces. This is the boot that anchors half the outfits on this list.
The Sneakers
Autry “Hyperway” Sneakers — a low-top leather-and-mesh sneaker, clean enough for chinos and denim alike, comfortable enough for an actual day of walking, which here, is most days.
The Accessories
Saddle-Stitched Tumbled Leather Belt — also from Boggi, in 100% calfskin with a matte tumbled finish and double saddle-stitching, the kind of detail you only notice up close. Available in dark brown or black.
Osprey London “The Jenson” Leather Holdall — chocolate leather. He travels constantly for work already, and on top of that we’ve got a half-term trip coming up to a new kinderhotel we haven’t stayed at before, so this was an easy yes. Rugged, waxed-finish grain leather that looks better with wear on it, not worse, in a shape that works equally well for a two-night work trip or a proper family week away.
Mido “Commander” Big Date Automatic Watch, 42mm — croc-embossed leather strap. The one investment piece here. A Swiss automatic with an 80-hour power reserve and a skeleton caseback, dressy enough for the sport coat, understated enough not to try too hard.
Building Around What Already Works
The easiest mistake with any wardrobe refresh is starting over instead of building on what’s already working.
His didn’t. Five pieces on this list have already earned their place, and the rest exist because our life here actually changed what “casual” needs to mean — more walking, more travel, fewer days where performance fabric makes sense as an everyday choice.
That’s really the whole approach: keep what’s already working, notice the real gap, and fill it with pieces built to last more than one season. Nothing here needed to be replaced. Most of it just needed to be found.
Shop more of my curated favorites: One Crowded Table on ShopMy
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you build a capsule around pieces someone already owns?
Start by actually looking at what gets worn on repeat before buying anything new — in this case, two shirts, a jean, a sweatshirt, and a sweater he already reached for constantly. Everything new then gets chosen specifically to work with what’s already proven itself, not to replace it.
What do you wear to look elevated when you’re on your feet all day?
Leather sneakers or boots you can actually walk in, a structured coat instead of anything bulky, and fabrics with a little give — corduroy, merino, technical stretch shirting. The goal is pieces that read polished but move like you’re going to be on your feet all day, because you probably will be.
Do you need to rebuild a wardrobe like this every season?
No — that’s the point of starting from what already works. This capsule has five repeat pieces and thirteen new ones; next fall it might be the reverse. You can shop everything in this guide in one place here.