Building a capsule wardrobe after losing 50 lbs?
I'm in the middle of a weight loss journey and have lost about 50 lbs so far. My goal is to lose another 20-25 lbs, which should put me somewhere around 12% body fat.
One thing I've been looking forward to as a reward is finally replacing my wardrobe. Most of what I own is either too big now or was bought because it fit—not because I actually liked it. I'd love to use this as an opportunity to build a quality capsule wardrobe instead of ending up with another closet full of random clothes.
My budget is around $1-2k, although I'd obviously be happy to spend less if I can get similar quality and longevity.
For context, I'm a 6'0" guy and expect to finish somewhere around 210-225 lbs. I work in sales, so I'm in front of prospects/customers a lot. Business casual is the norm, but I don't have to wear a suit every day. Most of my wardrobe would probably consist of chinos or 5-pocket pants, polos, button-downs, quality T-shirts, and a few layers.
I'm not looking for clothes that are skin-tight, but I'd also like them to fit well enough that all the work I've put into getting in shape actually shows. Basically, tailored without looking painted on.
For those of you who have built a capsule wardrobe (especially after a big body transformation), how did you approach it? If you were starting from scratch today, what would you buy first? Are there any brands you've found to be especially good value or worth investing in?
I'd love to hear what worked, what you regret buying, and anything you'd do differently if you had to build your wardrobe all over again.