drag

Meet the Naarm-based menswear label helping you build a capsule wardrobe for the men in your life

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JOSEPH & JAMES
WORDS BY EMILY HOLGATE

“The clothes can be worn multiple times and last more than a season. That’s why we’ve created this collection – I didn’t create anything that was trend-driven.”

You’ve probably heard of a capsule wardrobe by now. The popular concept is based on only buying clothes that will prove to be timeless classics – outfits that you’ll wear time and time again. Maybe you’ve already mastered it and built your own.

But if you’re like me, you might be struggling to get your partner on board with the idea. Mine will buy new clothes each year, only to be sick of them by the next season (and not to mention our outfits are never coordinated). 


Looking for more ways to procrastinate? We’re with you. Come on over to our Fashion section. 


I wanted to help him build his own capsule wardrobe, but didn’t know where to start – I may have a sound understanding of women’s fashion but my knowledge of men’s is abysmal.

So, when I discovered Joseph & James, a Melbourne-based menswear label featuring a range of timeless men’s pieces, I knew it was the perfect place to start building a quality capsule wardrobe for my partner.

About the label

Joseph & James was founded by Australian designer and proud Gooreng Gooreng and South Sea Islander, Juanita Page. “I’ve always wanted to be in fashion,” Juanita tells me. “My mum encouraged me to pursue a career that incorporates doing something I love.”

“What brought me into this world is the glamour and glitz behind fashion labels. I always wanted to have my own label, but thought I would be designing wedding dresses” she says.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by JOSEPH & JAMES (@josephandjames)

“Through studying fashion design, I noticed everyone was focussed on womenswear, which left me wondering who would be the next generation designing for men. This sent me on a new trajectory into menswear.”

A few years later, Joseph & James was born, with the first collection launched in 2021. Juanita named the business after the middle names of two important men in her life – her dad and husband. 

“They’re both men of great honour,” Juanita explains. “They do what they say they’re going to do and have great character – all qualities I also wanted the brand to have.”

Talking about what it is that sets the brand apart, Juanita tells me she aims to “provide a unique perspective on any particular garment, whether that be with the texture or colour of the fabric, the silhouette, or the detailing and trims.”

The style

Juanita’s label is perfect for building a capsule wardrobe for that special man in your life, as it combines aspects of two core styles – streetwear and sartorial.

“I really liked marrying these two disciplines together,” Juanita says. “I love tailored elements that come with the sartorial aspect of men’s clothing, but I also like the wearable aspect of streetwear.”

“Amalgamating these two disciplines is what makes Joseph & James different. I want to put a bit more artistry into functional menswear, but without going avant-garde. I aim to provide a point of difference, a place our customers can get something unique that also lasts the test of time—both in quality and design.”

Building a capsule wardrobe for your partner

Juanita says that as Joseph & James is a small brand with a limited collection, the entire range could be used as a capsule wardrobe. 

“Creating that uniformity around [the clothes] was of high importance to me,” she says. “You could buy a pair of pants or two shirts and put those together, or take them back to the clothes [he] already has.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by JOSEPH & JAMES (@josephandjames)

“I wanted that cohesive aspect of clothes that speak to each other – it’s not stuff he’ll only wear once or that can’t be worn with clothes he has at home.”

The range includes tees, shirts, sweaters, tailored pants and jackets. The wool blend, cropped pleated trousers come in a neutral toffee colour, perfect for layering. Have your partner pair them with the black tee – a heavyweight cotton jersey with back yoke detailing.

Pull the outfit together with the Coach Jacket, designed with yarn-dyed stripes that incorporate the toffee colour of the pants. Any of these pieces can be mixed and matched with other pants, tees, sweaters or jackets in the collection, making Joseph & James the perfect place to start when building your partner a capsule wardrobe. 

“One of the values we have is to go after slow fashion and avoid the area of overproduced fast fashion,” Juanita tells me.

“The clothes can be worn multiple times and last more than a season. That’s why we’ve created this collection – I didn’t create anything that was trend-driven,” she says.

“We have the ideology of holding onto clothes for multiple seasons and encouraging consumers to shop more consciously.” 

To discover more about Joseph & James, head here.

Lazy Loading