The minimalist wardrobe : Support/progress thread

[mellecyn]

I have been trying to do this for years. In many different ways :
-first the challenge 333. 33 pieces in rotation for each season. But the wardrobe was still full of clothes, they just werent part of the 33.
-then rounds of giving away to charity. but it never seems enough
-then I switched to a simple clothes hanger, with the tshirts/underwear/sweaters in drawers or boxes.
-I went traveling for 3 months taking only 2 shirts / 1 cami / 1 dress / 2 shorts / 1 trousers / 1 sweater. Proving that you don´t need much but actually craving to come back to my regular wardrobe!
-I also believe in simplyflying in uniforms, or even the outfits/looks of the season or year.

Right now, I still deal with a great amount of clothes looking at my laundry, but realize I have a signature look that I adjust to each season.
Maybe we can all post about our intentions and "how to" get to a more minimalist wardrobe?? and support.
My motivations are : less stuff, less clutter, better use of each piece, less stress, aesthetics for a cleaner space, happiness isn´t in what I owe, it isn´t in going shopping, guilt in fast fashion, better use of money, looking less but better.
Having fewer but higher quality, having the staples, and adding 1-2 trendy items (long trends, the ones that last a few years).
Your clothes should reflect your personality (who am I expressing?) , make you feel good (I feel comfortable or really hot or whatever), make you look good (they fit my silhouette, they are in a good shape and state). With that in mind it shoun´t be too difficult -she says- to select the pieces to keep.
also, I have a wish list, and I shop with that in mind, that´s it.

 

[ladysarah]

I have been trying to do this for years. In many different ways :
-first the challenge 333. 33 pieces in rotation for each season. But the wardrobe was still full of clothes, they just werent part of the 33.
-then rounds of giving away to charity. but it never seems enough
-then I switched to a simple clothes hanger, with the tshirts/underwear/sweaters in drawers or boxes.
-I went traveling for 3 months taking only 2 shirts / 1 cami / 1 dress / 2 shorts / 1 trousers / 1 sweater. Proving that you don´t need much but actually craving to come back to my regular wardrobe!
-I also believe in simplyflying in uniforms, or even the outfits/looks of the season or year.

Right now, I still deal with a great amount of clothes looking at my laundry, but realize I have a signature look that I adjust to each season.
Maybe we can all post about our intentions and "how to" get to a more minimalist wardrobe?? and support.
My motivations are : less stuff, less clutter, better use of each piece, less stress, aesthetics for a cleaner space, happiness isn´t in what I owe, it isn´t in going shopping, guilt in fast fashion, better use of money, looking less but better.
Having fewer but higher quality, having the staples, and adding 1-2 trendy items (long trends, the ones that last a few years).
Your clothes should reflect your personality (who am I expressing?) , make you feel good (I feel comfortable or really hot or whatever), make you look good (they fit my silhouette, they are in a good shape and state). With that in mind it shoun´t be too difficult -she says- to select the pieces to keep.
also, I have a wish list, and I shop with that in mind, that´s it.

You make some excellent points. Over the last few years I weeded out fast fashion from my wardrobe, and I no longer even go to inside high street brands. one or two fairly expensive pieces every few months and that’s it.
Jeans in particular I always buy from charity shops and have them altered to fit me exactly. Everyday shoes is just about the only thing I buy new

 

[maryg1]

I’ve gone through my closet and put up for sale what I don’t wear or gave it charity
I’ve discovered some local shops that sell good quality clothes for cheap, and when I need a long lasting item (i.e. a new coat) I look for preowned, I got good deals on items that didn’t have a single defect

 

[mellecyn]

You make some excellent points. Over the last few years I weeded out fast fashion from my wardrobe, and I no longer even go to inside high street brands. one or two fairly expensive pieces every few months and that’s it.
Jeans in particular I always buy from charity shops and have them altered to fit me exactly. Everyday shoes is just about the only thing I buy new

I’ve gone through my closet and put up for sale what I don’t wear or gave it charity
I’ve discovered some local shops that sell good quality clothes for cheap, and when I need a long lasting item (i.e. a new coat) I look for preowned, I got good deals on items that didn’t have a single defect

That´s actually super interesting that you shop second hand, that´s the best kind. circular economy - great!
I have also in the past bought either big wool coats in a vintage style I couldn´t find otherwise, and a fur jacket (really warm without the guilt of killing more animals-although thats debatable)...and otherwise now I use my Mom´s camel coat and fake fur jacket from the early 90´s.
I buy so much less....I only bought a white shirt, a belt, a pair of jeans, beige trousers and black roll neck in the past 6 months. With a couple of accessories and new lipstick and new haircut = whole new style/ look!

 

[EmilyM111]

I have been trying to do this for years. In many different ways :
-first the challenge 333. 33 pieces in rotation for each season. But the wardrobe was still full of clothes, they just werent part of the 33.
-then rounds of giving away to charity. but it never seems enough
-then I switched to a simple clothes hanger, with the tshirts/underwear/sweaters in drawers or boxes.
-I went traveling for 3 months taking only 2 shirts / 1 cami / 1 dress / 2 shorts / 1 trousers / 1 sweater. Proving that you don´t need much but actually craving to come back to my regular wardrobe!
-I also believe in simplyflying in uniforms, or even the outfits/looks of the season or year.

Right now, I still deal with a great amount of clothes looking at my laundry, but realize I have a signature look that I adjust to each season.
Maybe we can all post about our intentions and "how to" get to a more minimalist wardrobe?? and support.
My motivations are : less stuff, less clutter, better use of each piece, less stress, aesthetics for a cleaner space, happiness isn´t in what I owe, it isn´t in going shopping, guilt in fast fashion, better use of money, looking less but better.
Having fewer but higher quality, having the staples, and adding 1-2 trendy items (long trends, the ones that last a few years).
Your clothes should reflect your personality (who am I expressing?) , make you feel good (I feel comfortable or really hot or whatever), make you look good (they fit my silhouette, they are in a good shape and state). With that in mind it shoun´t be too difficult -she says- to select the pieces to keep.
also, I have a wish list, and I shop with that in mind, that´s it.

Man, the "then rounds of giving away to charity. but it never seems enough" is the toughest for me. The amount of clothes I donated has been beyond acceptable and I still have a lot. Don't get me wrong, I support charity but sometimes I think how easier for them would be receive the money that I saved by not buying the clothes.

So few points from me:
- main takeaway for me : BUY LESS
- first said goodbye to the dream of being a fashionista. As funny as it sounds, the desire to look cool/trendy/interesting drove me to some sort of weird shopping obsession, constant shopping, buying anything just to feel I have a lot of clothes to choose from
- stopped buying at fast fashion brands. Not only for eco and usual quality reasons but also that at 6ft tall and 12/14 UK size I couldn't find properly tailored clothes and looked oversized and cheap (eg. shirt size L is large but in arms and chest lol, not length making me look like I'm wearing a cheap tent)
- developed an idea of basic look: rather black colour, quality materials, tailored accordingly
- on top the above I'm keen to add some funky items from high-end designers to complement the basic look. Due to the obvious cost of it I shop rarely, rather during sales but snapped a few really nice items (Chloe skirt, Saint Laurent bomber jacket, vintage Burberry's, Stella Mc Cartney blazer etc.). I like "designers" as experience is also great, these shops (apart from likes of Harrods etc.) are typically not crowded, SAs are more friendly and focussed and you can make it more special and relaxed experience
- I also buy preowned but more into designers (eg. new Balenciaga shirt for 1/3 price)
- found some local brands, eg. Scottish cashmere manufacturer or Polish coat designer who lists all the costs they incur but I try not to look for things as I'm weak willed lol
- moved a lot of spend to high-end accessories (mostly Hermes). For example: I saw how blue croc Collier de Chien bracelet complemented plain black dress of the SA and decided to play that game

 

[maryg1]

- found some local brands, eg. Scottish cashmere manufacturer or Polish coat designer who lists all the costs they incur but I try not to look for things as I'm weak willed lol

Would you like to share some of these designer?
I’ve bought a coat from a Polish independent designer, Kamila Gawronska, that I love to death, exactly what I was looking for and surely I’m the only one wearing it!

 

[EmilyM111]

Would you like to share some of these designer?
I’ve bought a coat from a Polish independent designer, Kamila Gawronska, that I love to death, exactly what I was looking for and surely I’m the only one wearing it!

I definitely can recommend the stores located at Mysia 3 (try this website https://mysia3.pl/en/, there's a list of shops and their social media/websites). The one I really like is elementywear.com (one mentioned in the post above), Lebrand and The Odder Side. This is not exhaustive list by no means.
I also like Chylak for bags but they seem to be like Hermes (coveted bags always sold out and long wishlist lol).

 

[Aerdem]

I slowly started to pare down in March 2017. I flirted with the idea of minimalism before that time, but never made any drastic moves. The catalyst this time was breaking up with a boyfriend with hoarder tendencies. Just being in his home made me feel anxious! This breakup was an emancipation from not only him, but from the “stuff” that internally and spatially made me feel weighed down/confined.

So, for about the last two years I’ve gone through countless waves of purging. I completely changed my aesthetic (use to be colors and patterns galore). With so much, and no clear aesthetic- I was afflicted with the “I never have anything to wear” syndrome.

I decided I felt my best and most “me” when I stuck to neutral colors/solids only. Since, I have learned that I further like to narrow this to cool toned neutrals only. Eliminating warm nudes and such..

I also became much more particular about quality. Since my focus narrowed, I honed in on buying only well made pieces of high quality fibers. I built this wardrobe consisting of all cool toned neutrals, and only my favorite staples- high waisted trousers, oversized blazers, etc.. I decided I never enjoyed denim pants, so they were eradicated.

After I built my perfect staple wardrobe/personal uniform, I decided to solely focus on high fashion statement pieces. They needed to have impact! I enjoy the oversized menswear/formalwear suiting instead of dresses when I step out for the evening. So I’ve been building on my Dior Homme pieces. I enjoy a statement statement heel, usually by Prada.

A lot of my wardrobe is multifunctional which I believe aides in a wardrobe leaning more minimal. I really enjoy doing a thick black legging paired with my oversized blazer for night. Think Saint Laurent Le Smoking. (The same legging I use to workout in). It’s not expected, but it works so well for me.

My wardrobe is by no means “extreme minimalism”. I would define it as a minimalist aesthetic, that I am constantly questioning to make sure nothing superfluous clouds the direction of what I want it to be. Sleek, minimal, high fashion.

 

[Swedishstyle]

I slowly started to pare down in March 2017. I flirted with the idea of minimalism before that time, but never made any drastic moves. The catalyst this time was breaking up with a boyfriend with hoarder tendencies. Just being in his home made me feel anxious! This breakup was an emancipation from not only him, but from the “stuff” that internally and spatially made me feel weighed down/confined.

So, for about the last two years I’ve gone through countless waves of purging. I completely changed my aesthetic (use to be colors and patterns galore). With so much, and no clear aesthetic- I was afflicted with the “I never have anything to wear” syndrome.

I decided I felt my best and most “me” when I stuck to neutral colors/solids only. Since, I have learned that I further like to narrow this to cool toned neutrals only. Eliminating warm nudes and such..

I also became much more particular about quality. Since my focus narrowed, I honed in on buying only well made pieces of high quality fibers. I built this wardrobe consisting of all cool toned neutrals, and only my favorite staples- high waisted trousers, oversized blazers, etc.. I decided I never enjoyed denim pants, so they were eradicated.

After I built my perfect staple wardrobe/personal uniform, I decided to solely focus on high fashion statement pieces. They needed to have impact! I enjoy the oversized menswear/formalwear suiting instead of dresses when I step out for the evening. So I’ve been building on my Dior Homme pieces. I enjoy a statement statement heel, usually by Prada.

A lot of my wardrobe is multifunctional which I believe aides in a wardrobe leaning more minimal. I really enjoy doing a thick black legging paired with my oversized blazer for night. Think Saint Laurent Le Smoking. (The same legging I use to workout in). It’s not expected, but it works so well for me.

My wardrobe is by no means “extreme minimalism”. I would define it as a minimalist aesthetic, that I am constantly questioning to make sure nothing superfluous clouds the direction of what I want it to be. Sleek, minimal, high fashion.

You are my hero!! I love your wardrobe and thank you for sharing it with us.
Your black moto jacket is gorgeous! Can you please share a photo and brand? Thank you so much!!

 

[JenJBS]

I'm just starting my journey to minimalism. Probably half my wardrobe is black. I do have some grey, for summer. No brown or tan. My color clothes are mostly solids, with a few prints/patterns. I generally prefer simple and clean designs anyway.

My next planned step is a purge of clothes that no longer fit my desired style. Not yet at the point of being ready to eliminate color, so the purge will be the few items that I now feel are too 'fussy'/overdone, and any prints/patterns I have that are not black/white/grey.

Any suggestions or advice for someone just starting this journey?

 

[mellecyn]

I slowly started to pare down in March 2017. I flirted with the idea of minimalism before that time, but never made any drastic moves. The catalyst this time was breaking up with a boyfriend with hoarder tendencies. Just being in his home made me feel anxious! This breakup was an emancipation from not only him, but from the “stuff” that internally and spatially made me feel weighed down/confined.

So, for about the last two years I’ve gone through countless waves of purging. I completely changed my aesthetic (use to be colors and patterns galore). With so much, and no clear aesthetic- I was afflicted with the “I never have anything to wear” syndrome.

I decided I felt my best and most “me” when I stuck to neutral colors/solids only. Since, I have learned that I further like to narrow this to cool toned neutrals only. Eliminating warm nudes and such..

I also became much more particular about quality. Since my focus narrowed, I honed in on buying only well made pieces of high quality fibers. I built this wardrobe consisting of all cool toned neutrals, and only my favorite staples- high waisted trousers, oversized blazers, etc.. I decided I never enjoyed denim pants, so they were eradicated.

After I built my perfect staple wardrobe/personal uniform, I decided to solely focus on high fashion statement pieces. They needed to have impact! I enjoy the oversized menswear/formalwear suiting instead of dresses when I step out for the evening. So I’ve been building on my Dior Homme pieces. I enjoy a statement statement heel, usually by Prada.

A lot of my wardrobe is multifunctional which I believe aides in a wardrobe leaning more minimal. I really enjoy doing a thick black legging paired with my oversized blazer for night. Think Saint Laurent Le Smoking. (The same legging I use to workout in). It’s not expected, but it works so well for me.

My wardrobe is by no means “extreme minimalism”. I would define it as a minimalist aesthetic, that I am constantly questioning to make sure nothing superfluous clouds the direction of what I want it to be. Sleek, minimal, high fashion.

Omg I love your minimalist designer chic wardrobe! Very impactful, beautiful...thanks for sharing. And inspiring!!

 

[Aerdem]

You are my hero!! I love your wardrobe and thank you for sharing it with us.
Your black moto jacket is gorgeous! Can you please share a photo and brand? Thank you so much!!

You are so kind! I actually have the jacket and the longer coat version- both by Burberry circa 2015ish. They are amazing and look much better on the body.

 

[Aerdem]

Omg I love your minimalist designer chic wardrobe! Very impactful, beautiful...thanks for sharing. And inspiring!!

Thank you so much, very sweet of you to say!

 

[Aerdem]

I'm just starting my journey to minimalism. Probably half my wardrobe is black. I do have some grey, for summer. No brown or tan. My color clothes are mostly solids, with a few prints/patterns. I generally prefer simple and clean designs anyway.

My next planned step is a purge of clothes that no longer fit my desired style. Not yet at the point of being ready to eliminate color, so the purge will be the few items that I now feel are too 'fussy'/overdone, and any prints/patterns I have that are not black/white/grey.

Any suggestions or advice for someone just starting this journey?

I would say, really get to know what you feel your absolute best in. What’s your all time favorite outfit for each situation? Stick with it. Buy similar or identical items. More variation means deviating from your favorites. Know your colors, your preferred silhouette, and so on.

 

[JenJBS]

I would say, really get to know what you feel your absolute best in. What’s your all time favorite outfit for each situation? Stick with it. Buy similar or identical items. More variation means deviating from your favorites. Know your colors, your preferred silhouette, and so on.

Thank you! I do already buy in multiples when I find something I like, but worried that buying multiples wasn't minimalist. (Velour sweatshirt in dark blue, dark green, and dark plum. 8 pairs of my favorite black winter work pants. 3 pairs of my favorite black ballet flats. Etc...) Your comments make me feel much better, and that this journey might be a bit easier than expected.