How to Revamp + Refresh Your Wardrobe
VP of Men's Merchandising, Jared Tam, shares best practices for optimizing your space.
The Curated Closet is a monthly series where we invite you into the homes of some of Theory’s most stylish personnel—a tour de fashion, if you will. This is how they keep their spaces organized, inspired, and, of course, very chic.
In New York City, closet space—or rather, a lack thereof—creates the ultimate sartorial struggle. To maximize every square inch and curate a cohesive, well-organized closet requires attention to detail and a keen sense of structure. For Jared Tam, Theory’s Global VP of Men’s Merchandising, this is a worthy challenge.
Walk into Jared’s Brooklyn apartment and you’ll feel you know him within seconds. The vibe is simple yet intentional; tasteful, yet youthful. An assortment of black shoes greets you at the door. A stack of Regal Wool sweaters neatly furnishes an elegant USM Haller credenza. Handmade ceramics from his brand, Sarsen, a miniature car collection, and stocked bookshelves convey a sense of style worth investigating further.
First of all—do you only wear black shoes?
Jared Tam: Typically, yes, and by typically, I mean always.
How would you describe your personal style?
JT: Essentials with a different take on proportion. Neutral, minimalist, things that can be interchangeable. Maybe a pant that’s a little rounder, shorter, or longer than the usual silhouette that you see. Interesting pieces that are approachable, but not too contrived.
How does your role at Theory play into that?
My role is to handle product strategy based on hindsight and trend analysis, so forecasting the best product assortment for upcoming seasons to drive sales and brand relevancy. Personally, it’s inspired me to add a little more refinement to my style. For example, I like to get dressed up for flights now. I see our lookbooks with a sweater styled over the shoulders and think, ‘Wait, I can do that.’ I like things that have more style versus trend, which is very Theory, and have relevancy over many years.
Your closet is so organized—how do you manage that living in New York?
JT: An edit. I think a closet edit every six months is critical. I should probably do it even more. I go through my closet and ask myself, ‘Are you wearing all of these things or just keeping them for nostalgia?’ I also believe that less is more. Organization is naturally easy by having less—repurposing and investing in top-quality, style-forward, trend-less pieces.
What’s one smart storage hack that you swear by?
JT: It’s important to have very strong hangers. In terms of hanging space, my closet is particularly small. On each hanger, there’s probably three to four coats layered on top of each other. Nice, wooden outerwear hangers have a more robust shoulder. You can layer your jackets without them losing their shape.
If you could raid anyone’s closet, past or present, who would it be?
JT: Caroline de Maigret. Her closet’s cool. It’s a mix of a bunch of different things, and not necessarily what I would always go for.
What’s an old Theory piece you refuse to get rid of?
JT: I have a leather jacket from around 2021 and I’m still wearing it today. It’s a snug and slim fit, which is cool. With a looser pant, it’s a vibe. The best craftsmanship, the best fit, the best material. It’s so perfectly Theory.
What’s your new favorite Theory piece?
JT: Astor Wool. Everyone’s wearing it. It’s the cool thing to do. I’ve seen people layer it as a popover sweater. It’s a little more trend driven, but if I pull it out two or three years from now, I think I’ll still find it relevant.