Family Ever After Blog

Family Ever After Blog

Archives for December 2025

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The Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe: What Every Man Needs in His Wardrobe for 2026

2026 is set to see much of the UK seek new ways to streamline their everyday routines and reduce ‘decision fatigue’, a term that, according to Google trend data, has received a 9.900% uplift in the past month alone.  Victims of decision fatigue experience feelings of burnout as a result of making several small decisions throughout the day. Simplifying everyday tasks, such as what to wear, not only navigates decision fatigue but also works to deliver style, comfort and longevity.

Building a capsule wardrobe ensures versatility and ensures that daily dressing requires little thought. Ultimately, a capsule wardrobe avoids chasing fleeting trends and focuses on investing in timeless pieces that coordinate seamlessly with each other. The best part? Nothing sits at the back of the wardrobe unworn.

Here, fashion brand Chums reveals how every man can build the perfect capsule wardrobe for 2026, along with adoptable tips on how to wear each piece.

The Everyday Tee (x3)

The backbone of a man’s wardrobe, the 2026 T-shirt should focus on quality. Heavyweight cotton, a structured neckline and a clean silhouette elevate it beyond a basic ‘nice to have’ to a staple piece that evokes quite luxury.

How to Wear: Perhaps the most versatile piece in your wardrobe, style it with a blazer for a smart but casual look, or pair it with relaxed jeans for the weekends.

The Oxford Shirt (x2)

Forever the wardrobe hero, the Oxford shirt is an essential style piece for 2026. Invest in a shirt that is built from breathable, crease-resistant fabrics to ensure that you look and feel ‘put together’, all day.

How to Wear: Wear it buttoned for smarter occasions or leave it open for a relaxed layered look.

The Relaxed Blazer

2026 menswear is built on soft tailoring. A soft blazer that is loose in structure shapes an outfit without the stiffness of traditional suiting. Such a look makes it an easy ‘go to’ for work, evening events or smart casual events.

How to Wear: Team your relaxed blazer with chinos for a polished look or throw it on with drawstring trousers for an effortless airport outfit.

Tailored Trousers

Blending a tailored pair of trousers with either a smart shirt or a quality T-shirt creates the perfect hybrid piece that is a staple for men who want to look put together without feeling restricted. Investing in the likes of  Chums men’s trousers ensures that your wardrobe features a piece that is suitable for day or nighttime dressing.

How to Wear: Dress trousers up with a shirt and loafers, or embrace the relaxed edge with a knit and trainers.

Straight leg Denim

Straight-leg denim has stood the test of time as it flatters all body types and sits comfortably between skinny and wide-leg silhouettes. A mid-wash pair of straight-leg denim will ensure that their colour way transitions seamlessly from season to season.

Styling tip: Layer with knitwear throughout the colder seasons or keep it simple with a T-shirt and trainers in the summer months.

The Knitwear Trio: Merino, Cashmere Blend & Zip-Neck

Three pieces of quality knitwear will ensure that you are ready for all temperatures.

  • Merino wool: Lightweight, breathable and ideal for layering.

  • Cashmere blend: Warm, soft and perfect for winter, cashmere blend is also great to pack on holiday for cooler evenings.

  • Zip-neck knit: Combining practicality with subtle sports inspiration, a zip-neck knit combines style and functionality.

How to Wear: Rotate your knits with Oxford shirts or quality tees, depending on the formality of the day.

A Neutral Overshirt

Sitting somewhere between a shirt and a jacket, the overshirt is one of the most versatile pieces anyone can own. Opting for a neutral shade such as navy, olive, or beige ensures that it is not only versatile but can be worn throughout the year.

How to Wear: Throw it over a tee for transitional weather or layer it under a coat when temperatures dip.

The Staple Coat

Whether you live in a cold climate or simply want a piece that elevates every outfit, a great coat is a must-have piece in any wardrobe. A wool topcoat works for formal days, while a technical parka offers practicality for commutes, travel and weekends outdoors. When choosing a coat, ensure that it fits the overall aesthetic of your wardrobe as well as being functional.

How to Wear: Ensure your coat isn’t solely trend-led and instead mirrors a classic look to ensure that your investment pieces’ longevity.

Footwear Foundations

Three well-chosen pairs will cover almost every occasion in 2026:

  • White leather trainers: Clean, modern and endlessly versatile.

  • Derby shoes: Ideal for smart settings without feeling overly formal or over dressed.

  • Chelsea or combat boots: Bringing depth and edge to winter outfits.
    The Go to Accessories

Capsule wardrobes rely on thoughtful finishing touches that can be worn time and time again.

Essentials include:

  • A quality leather belt

  • A simple, reliable watch

  • A neutral scarf for colder seasons

  • A structured backpack or tote that complements both work and casual outfits

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How to Make Laundry Way Easier When You’ve Got a Big Family

Let’s be honest: laundry is one of those things that never, ever stops when you’re wrangling a large family. You finally see the bottom of the hamper, and bam—soccer practice and spaghetti night team up to start the cycle all over again. I’ve been there, mountain of mismatched socks and all. But with a few tweaks, you really can make laundry feel less like an endless chore and more like—well, something you can get done without losing your mind.

Rethink Your Setup for a Smoother Flow

First up, give your laundry area a quick once-over. Are the hampers overflowing because the kids can’t reach them? Even basic fixes—like labeled baskets for whites, colors, and towels—can be huge. If you’ve got space, a basket (or bin) for each kid means you can hand off laundry piles without running from room to room, arms loaded like a game of Tetris.

Teach the Crew (Even the Littlest Members)

You’d be surprised how much little kids can help if you break it down. Show them how to sort, toss their socks in the right bin, and even push buttons with supervision. My friend’s five-year-old is totally the “Spin Cycle King”—seriously, his pride over pressing Start is hilarious. If you get everyone pitching in, you’ll reclaim some time and sanity, too.

Set a Schedule—and Stick to It (Mostly)

Laundry chaos tends to explode when everyone waits until there’s nothing left to wear. Set up laundry days and let everyone know their turn. Maybe it’s towels on Tuesdays or darks on Fridays. You don’t need to be a drill sergeant, but some kind of routine means you’re not running loads at midnight so someone has the shirt for picture day. Try making it part of the regular family rhythm—like popcorn and movie night, except, you know, with fabric softener.

Let Go of Laundry Perfectionism

Honestly, not everything needs to be folded within an inch of its life. If you can live with socks tossed in a bin or towels stacked a little lopsided, your future self will thank you. Also, skip ironing unless absolutely necessary. Wrinkles happen to the best of us.

Don’t Go It Alone with Special Care Loads

There’s always that one outfit with a special tag that says, “Dry clean only.” If you’ve got uniforms, dress clothes, or anything tricky, do yourself a favor and use dry cleaning services. One quick weekly drop-off, and you don’t have to spend Saturday afternoon fretting over a delicate blouse or blazer. Check out extras like pickup or delivery—more time for you, less stress!

Stay Ahead with a “Grab & Go” System

If you’re short on closet space (who isn’t?), try baskets or shelves for outfits ready to snag on busy mornings. Rolling up clothes Marie Kondo-style in drawers helps, too: kids can see everything at a glance, and you’re not stuck folding another shirt that’s been tossed around in the search for shorts.

So, laundry might never be fun, but with a solid setup and a few shortcuts, it doesn’t have to run your life. (If only someone would invent a sock-matching robot…)

 

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5 Time-Saving Hacks for your Period that Leave Space for Family Time

Managing period pain is challenging under easy circumstances, but when you’re juggling family time, household responsibilities and work, looking after yourself can slip away very easily.

Cramps, mood swings, headaches and general fatigue caused by menstruation cycles can make the smallest of setbacks or tasks seem completely overwhelming, but unfortunately life doesn’t just stop when you have a family and are facing discomfort.

Kids still need feeding, school runs must be made, and family relationships still need tending to.

Working with your body to understand your cycle and put in place routines beforehand can save time, reduce pain flare ups and make space for you to enjoy family moments.

Below are the time saving tips, made to ease the everyday routines, prioritise your wellbeing as a mum all while being present for your family, on the days where you definitely don’t feel your best.

Preplan Your Meals

Prepping meals is a great way to save time ahead of schedule, for when you might not be feeling your best during your period week. When you’re struggling to stand up, cooking is probably on the bottom of the list of what you feel up to. Prepping meals or even just getting ahead of the chopping and portioning is a great way to save time ahead of schedule.

Buying things like frozen fruits and vegetables can allow you to save so much time and even money, giving you two less things to worry about during your period week. Creating period friendly comfort meals for when you’re due on ensures you have something to look forward to but takes the task of thinking of a new rotation of meals each week out of the question.

Intentional Self Care

Self-care doesn’t have to mean spending hours relaxing in a bath, most mums understand that a lot of the time that’s not even an option. But small bursts of intentional self-care during your period week can make a massive difference to your energy levels.

This can come in the form of doing some gentle yoga once the kids have gone to bed or stepping out for fresh air whilst the dinner is cooking or even enjoying a cup of tea whilst the laundry is on its final rinse.

Mini forms of relief can allow you to take a moment for yourself whilst still being present for your family.

Simplify Chores

These self-care hacks can overlap with day-to-day errands around the house. Keeping the house running functionally without giving it hours of attention is doable, it just means working smarter.

Keeping small baskets around the house to pop items in or tidy rooms with, stops clutter being sprawled out around rooms. Laundry always seems never ending, especially when you have children and the sight of an overflowing basket when you have a million and one other things to do can feel daunting and throw you off. By doing smaller loads each day instead of huge amounts piling up can allow for more time for you to focus on yourself and your family.

Create a Relief Kit

Preparing a small, easy to carry kit ahead of your period can make the days where the symptoms seem to take over a lot easier. If everything is in reach for you, you can avoid a mad run to the shops or a frantic rummage through the medicine at home. Stocking it with pain supplies like Ultravana period pain tablets, tampons and pads and easy to grab snacks ensures you will have what you need to try and stay as comfortable as you can.

Reflect on the Little Moments

Handling period symptoms can leave you feeling spent, especially whilst juggling normal family life. Taking the time to reflect on what matters to you and celebrating what you achieved in the day is a gentle way of assessing what helped support you when you felt down so you can implement them next time you feel that way. Intentionally enjoying family time and knowing you accomplished what you could is far more soothing than staying up tossing and turning about a never-ending task list, whilst you’re already in pain.

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HOW TO SAVE MONEY WHEN TRAVELLING WITH YOUNG KIDS

Travelling with young children is very exciting, allowing your children to see the world and have new experiences, but it can also be very expensive, especially if you have to travel during school holidays. However, with careful planning, you can have a perfect holiday without spending too much.

BE FLEXIBLE

One of the easiest ways to save money when travelling is to go off-peak, but if your children are in school and you can’t travel during term time, it can be tricky. But there are other ways to be flexible to save money!

  • Look at different airports, as secondary airports that are a little further out can have much cheaper flights – just make sure you don’t have to end up spending just as much on transport to your hotel when you land.

  • Mix and match airlines, and other modes of transport. Sometimes you can save money by flying with two different airlines, rather than flying there and back with the same one. You could also consider getting there by bus or train; it might take longer, but it could save you a lot of money.

  • Be flexible while you’re there, to take advantage of things like last-minute discounts on tours and attractions. Do some research in advance to get an idea of what time attractions like museums and theme parks reduce their tickets, and loosely plan your itinerary accordingly.

LOOK FOR FREE ACTIVITIES

You don’t need expensive activities and attractions to have fun! Research the area and look for the best free places to visit, such as parks, beaches, and nature trails. Find out the best days to visit markets, and look for free festivals or community events that can provide exciting experiences and memories, without costing a thing.

GET ADVICE FROM LOCALS

Have a look online for advice from locals who can often recommend cheap, or free, activities that might not be suggested in travel guides. For example, a France travel guide might suggest the best tourist traps and restaurants to visit in Paris, but is unlikely to show you the hidden spots and best ideas for families that will be perfect for you and your children.

LEARN HOW TO USE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Instead of renting a car or relying on taxis, familiarise yourself with the public transport system. You can often get family tickets, or multi-use day passes, that can cost less money than buying a single ticket each day, and can make it much easier.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN RENT

You might have mastered the art of rolling your clothes to save suitcase space, but travelling with young children can mean you need to take much bulkier items that can’t fit into a suitcase.

If you need to take a pushchair or car seat, consider renting while you’re there, so you don’t have to pay the baggage fees for travelling with something that large. Many hotels and resorts can provide a cot or crib, and you might also be able to rent things like baby gates if you’re staying in something like an Airbnb.