Where do I start building a wardrobe from scratch?

Start with the pieces you wear most and build outward in neutral colors that combine. A workable core is a few good tees, one or two oxford shirts, a pair of mid-weight chinos and a pair of dark jeans, a versatile jacket, a sweater, and one pair of shoes that dress up and down — then add only to fill real gaps. Buying staples that mix raises how often each gets worn, which is the whole cost-per-wear argument. Our free 12-piece capsule starter checklist (/free/capsule-starter-checklist) lays out a sensible frame; treat it as a starting point, not a shopping mandate.