Starting a minimalist wardrobe can simplify your daily routine, save time and money, and help you focus on quality over quantity. Unless you never leave your house and can work in PJ’s all day, this is an area in all of our lives that can take up a lot of time without us even realizing it.
Do you only wear 20% of what’s in your closet? Do you take too much time in the morning deciding what to wear? Moving from a closet with a lot of clothes that you don’t wear to a minimalist closet is a smart move! The word minimalism may get a bad rap in some circles, but it really is the best way to go regarding your wardrobe.
With a minimalist wardrobe, you will go from wearing 20% of your clothes to 100% of your clothes. Starting a minimalist wardrobe is the first step to creating a capsule wardrobe over time.
This doesn’t have to be done all at once. Moving this direction will take time but it is achievable.
I’m on a journey now to simplify my wardrobe and build a collection of quality clothes I love. I spend way too much time trying to decide what to wear every day and I’m tired of it. I am on a mission over this next year to transform my closet- so I thought I’d share what I learn along the way.
Hey- some of us aren’t fashionistas,- and this is okay. We all have our strengths. So-For those of you who can relate to what I’m saying, let’s begin!
Here are some steps I’ve taken so far on How to Start a Minimalist Wardrobe.
Start with Analyzing What You Wear
What clothes do you love wearing?
This is so simple that it can be overlooked. What are the clothes in your closet that you wear way more than others?
**What I’m doing from this point on is to keep everything I wear separate from my other clothes. Then- 5-6 months from now I will clearly see what type of clothes I gravitate towards in my closet.
There is a fairly common strategy to put your clothes into 3 piles. Love pile, maybe pile, and a No pile. I tried this- and it didn’t work for me because I got analysis paralysis. I was overthinking it! This is why for me- separating my clothes as I wear them works better.
If you can be decisive about your clothes, than perhaps the Pile Technique will work better for you. This is an efficient way to let go of clothes that don’t fit well, aren’t comfortable, or don’t make you feel confident. Keep items that you truly love and wear most often.
What’s the Quality of Your Go-To Clothes?
Are the clothes you wear most often kind of cheap? Do they have to be replaced often? Not always, but typically less expensive clothes need to be replaced more often.
***I have purchased cheap T-Shirts that have lost their shape and the patterns have worn off. Several years ago, I also bought jeans with the holes in them already.
I was trying to be hip at the time- Now, I don’t even like these types of jeans. Moving forward I am only buying dark blue jeans with no holes. My favorite jeans that fit me the best are Levi’s. And- these are quality jeans. The ones I wear most have lasted me for years!
So- if the quality overall of the clothes in your closet are cheap, make it official that you will spend more and buy quality pieces in the future.
Are your clothes versatile?
Do you have a lot of clothes that you can only wear as a single outfits?
***This is one of the areas that I’ve struggled with the most. I really love plaid and this is not a mix and match type of pattern. I am learning solid & neutral colors are the best way to go for being able to build a wardrobe that you can mix and match.
Are your clothes comfortable?
Will the materials in your clothes keep you warm on cold days, cooler on hot days, and how many times can you wear it before it starts smelling?
***Over the years, I’ve gone from mainly blazers and slacks to T-Shirts and Jeans for every day wear. I am a Real Estate photographer so for shoots I mainly wear Khaki pants. They are more dressy than blue jeans- but I can move around in them and they are comfortable.
I live in Arizona, and it gets very hot here. I have 2-3 shirts I wear on a rotating basis for my photo shoots. They are polyester/nylon blend so they don’t get sweaty when I perspire. However, they look like curtains. haha, I need to buy 2-3 work style polos instead.
This way I will have a more official uniform for my photo shoots- and I won’t have to worry at all what I wear on these days. Did you know CEO’s like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs wore the same outfits every day?
Do you often wear layers?
If you live in a colder climate, you may wear certain layers more often. Base layers go against your skin, mid layers go over the base and then the outer layers protects you from wind, rain, extreme cold.
For each layer, you should have a few quality pieces for each. I love to hike in Northern AZ, so for the layering I have this down. I would say over half my wardrobe is athletic apparel. This is the one area that I do have quality layers that have lasted me a long time.
Define Your Style and Needs
As you start to buy new clothes, start being more conscious on how those pieces will fit into your lifestyle. Think about your daily activities, dress code at work, your hobbies and your social life. Minimalist wardrobe needs to be functional for your real life.
Decide and Stick with a Color Palette
As I stated earlier, solid colors are a great place to start. Go for versatile, neutral colors (black, white, gray, navy, beige) that can mix and match easily. You can add a few accent colors if you like – like reds or yellows.
I am still deciding which colors I want to start with…
Start NOW with Building a Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe typically consists of around 20-30 pieces, including tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear that can be mixed and matched. These numbers do vary based on different sources. It might be easier to start with a 10 piece capsule wardrobe- this is what I’m going to do.
Essential items: Start with a few high-quality basics like a couple of white t-shirt, jeans, black pants, a blazer, and a few versatile shoes. It’s recommended to have 5 pairs of shoes in a capsule wardrobe- these include white sneakers, ballet flats, ankle boots, dress shoes and sandals.
Prioritize quality over quantity: Invest in well-made, durable items rather than fast fashion pieces. This might be a bit more expensive initially, but it saves money over time.
Resist temptation to buy impulsively: To maintain a minimalist wardrobe, be mindful with what you buy. Before purchasing, consider whether it complements what you already own and if you’ll wear it frequently.
I am an impulsive shopper so this is an area that I know I need to work on. My daughter loves to go thrifting and so of course I go so I can spend time with her. I inevitably will buy a shirt since I justify it’s cost. I have about 15 shirts from the Goodwill in my closet that I have worn- ONE Time! Half of them have stripes and the other half are flowers. 🙂 Yeah- try mixing and matching w/these patterns.
Summary- How to Start a Minimalist Wardrobe
Starting a minimalist wardrobe will save you a lot of time and money down the road. Take the time to ask the questions that will get you to think differently about how you dress. What do you wear most of the time? Do you have quality pieces? Can you change your outfits with several pieces? Does your wardrobe reflect your sparkling personality? Start now with the mindset of building a capsule wardrobe so you can move from wearing 20% of what you own to 100%.
What is your experience with having a minimalist wardrobe? Are there other techniques that have worked for you? Would love to hear your comments!