The minimalist wardrobe : Support/progress thread

[mellecyn]

Good idea! Supporting second-hand fashion and not even entering fast-fashion stores are such good goals for 2021! (And I've also been looking at preowned Chanel handbags for the past few months, too, I have my eye on a few listings, but they are not classic styles)

I thought a bit about my goals for this year, here they are:
- Stick to the 5-Piece-French-Wardrobe concept (max. 5 purchases per season S/S & F/W) + replacements of basics
- Majority of purchases should be sustainable (=preowned or by ethical/sustainable brand), at least 2/3, but I'll try to push it to 80%.
- Sell/donate: I decluttered a bit through last year and 2019, but many items are still in my basement, now I have to responsibly move them along.
- Make alterations: I have quite a few items that I enjoy wearing, but there are small things that annoy me - I want to find time to make these alterations.

Oh yes the 5 pieces French wardrobe!!
5 per season almost seems too much at first but looking at my list it’s tight and right....
F/W (bought) doc martens, winter coat, bodysuit, patent shoes, camel pullover
S/S (on the list) pair of jeans, black cardigan, a red shirt, oversize white T-shirt.

Love the Chanel, which style are you looking into?
I need a list of luxury/Chanel vintage stores in Paris.

 

[bisousx]

My garage has extra space so I put all my unworn clothes onto temporary racks and have been selling them off on Poshmark and Ebay for the last couple years. I rarely buy new clothes now except for staples, well-made items and the ever necessary athleisure wear. It feels great moving towards fashion minimalism, and also nice when someone randomly purchases an item of yours that’s been sitting in the closet for almost a decade.

 

[Mairaculi]

Oh yes the 5 pieces French wardrobe!!
5 per season almost seems too much at first but looking at my list it’s tight and right....
F/W (bought) doc martens, winter coat, bodysuit, patent shoes, camel pullover
S/S (on the list) pair of jeans, black cardigan, a red shirt, oversize white T-shirt.

Love the Chanel, which style are you looking into?
I need a list of luxury/Chanel vintage stores in Paris.

That is so true, 5 pieces sound much at first, but when you think about it 6 months are so long, and counting every small piece of jewelry or accessory, I reach the 5 pieces quickly enough

For Chanel I'm currently looking at/considering:
- a tote bag, preferably in a light pink or pinkish nude (not the one with the big black cc logo, but a bit more understated)
- a small or medium sized 2.55 flap bag, I'm not set on the color combination yet, but probably not black leather and gold hardwear.
- small flap, but with a twist. For example with chocolate bar quilting or chevron, quirky handle, made from tweed or in an unusual color.
Here are some examples:

 

[mellecyn]

That is so true, 5 pieces sound much at first, but when you think about it 6 months are so long, and counting every small piece of jewelry or accessory, I reach the 5 pieces quickly enough

For Chanel I'm currently looking at/considering:
- a tote bag, preferably in a light pink or pinkish nude (not the one with the big black cc logo, but a bit more understated)
- a small or medium sized 2.55 flap bag, I'm not set on the color combination yet, but probably not black leather and gold hardwear.
- small flap, but with a twist. For example with chocolate bar quilting or chevron, quirky handle, made from tweed or in an unusual color.
Here are some examples:
View attachment 4944916View attachment 4944917
View attachment 4944918
View attachment 4944915

Oh I see. Yes I like it not the most classic.

 

[sneedonist]

Good idea! Supporting second-hand fashion and not even entering fast-fashion stores are such good goals for 2021! (And I've also been looking at preowned Chanel handbags for the past few months, too, I have my eye on a few listings, but they are not classic styles)

I thought a bit about my goals for this year, here they are:
- Stick to the 5-Piece-French-Wardrobe concept (max. 5 purchases per season S/S & F/W) + replacements of basics
- Majority of purchases should be sustainable (=preowned or by ethical/sustainable brand), at least 2/3, but I'll try to push it to 80%.
- Sell/donate: I decluttered a bit through last year and 2019, but many items are still in my basement, now I have to responsibly move them along.
- Make alterations: I have quite a few items that I enjoy wearing, but there are small things that annoy me - I want to find time to make these alterations.

I really like this 5 piece wardrobe concept. I think I’ll try it out. For the 5-piece wardrobe concept each 6 months, is there a budget as well? Or other rules? Wondering what counts as a basic and what doesn’t count. For example, a coat seems like a basic because I have to have a coat in order to endure winter. I need a blazer or a blouse to wear to work. Are basics like Pjs, underwear, and socks?

 

[sneedonist]

I moved into a new house and my closet is huge. Does anyone else have this problem of being a minimalist despite having the space to not? Lolz

 

[jade]

Good idea! Supporting second-hand fashion and not even entering fast-fashion stores are such good goals for 2021! (And I've also been looking at preowned Chanel handbags for the past few months, too, I have my eye on a few listings, but they are not classic styles)

I thought a bit about my goals for this year, here they are:
- Stick to the 5-Piece-French-Wardrobe concept (max. 5 purchases per season S/S & F/W) + replacements of basics
- Majority of purchases should be sustainable (=preowned or by ethical/sustainable brand), at least 2/3, but I'll try to push it to 80%.

I think this is a good aspiration for this year for me as well! 5 things for 6 months! I may not neatly get the right things in the right seasons, but where I live there aren't many actual seasons.

I have a sort of wishlist that needs developing. But the items that are on my list for the year so far:
leather jacket
pink top(s)
black croc boots
gold hoops
pink winter coat

 

[Mairaculi]

I really like this 5 piece wardrobe concept. I think I’ll try it out. For the 5-piece wardrobe concept each 6 months, is there a budget as well? Or other rules? Wondering what counts as a basic and what doesn’t count. For example, a coat seems like a basic because I have to have a coat in order to endure winter. I need a blazer or a blouse to wear to work. Are basics like Pjs, underwear, and socks?

I started a separate thread some time ago, it's been quiet, but feel free to reactivate it

5PFW - 5 Piece French Wardrobe

[Sorry, long post] My decluttering / curated wardrobe journey started over 7 years ago, I have tried quite a few concepts, like Project 333, One-In-One-Out Rule, the Konmari method, No Buy/Shop your own closet, but nothing really worked out in the long run, except 5PFW. It was popular a few...

forum.purseblog.com

Concerning your questions: it's really up to you, it's quite a loose concept, of course you should define the rules before starting. I personally do not have a fixed budget, but rather the items have to fit into my overall budget, it's not broken down into categories. My basics are clothes for sports, sleep, loungewear, underwear etc. but also a very basic selection of clothes. One coat in a basic color counts as basic, also if I get a replacement (selling or donating the old one and getting an upgrade). But if I want a second coat even though I don't need it, that counts towards the 5 items.

 

[RueMonge]

I moved into a new house and my closet is huge. Does anyone else have this problem of being a minimalist despite having the space to not? Lolz

Yes, I have a similar thing. not just with my closet, but there are a fewer people in my house so there’s less stuff. And I really love it. Room to spread out in the closets and less junk and furniture in all the rooms. I feel like I can breathe in my own house again.

 

[mellecyn]

I moved into a new house and my closet is huge. Does anyone else have this problem of being a minimalist despite having the space to not? Lolz

I don’t have that issue as I downsized my living space. And will be a nomad again between places soon.
But I would imagine that enjoying empty spaces is also really nice and relaxing and gives a sense of stillness. I always love these empty living rooms they use to showcase a sofa in the middle of it

 

[JenJBS]

I don’t have that issue as I downsized my living space. And will be a nomad again between places soon.
But I would imagine that enjoying empty spaces is also really nice and relaxing and gives a sense of stillness. I always love these empty living rooms they use to showcase a sofa in the middle of it

Interesting how differently we all see things. To me those empty living rooms look barren, generic, and impersonal. Like someone is just starting to move in, with no personal touches unpacked yet; or they are almost moved out, with all the personal touches gone.

 

[mellecyn]

My wardrobe is a clothes rack representing my nomad lifestyle...(as it’s not an esthetic pleasing choice I need to find proper neat boxes and I would ideally have a real closet)

 

[Etriers]

I moved into a new house and my closet is huge. Does anyone else have this problem of being a minimalist despite having the space to not? Lolz

Might be a great opportunity to really personalize your closet space and do built-ins or cabinets, lounge area or center table/island.

I don’t have that issue as I downsized my living space. And will be a nomad again between places soon.
But I would imagine that enjoying empty spaces is also really nice and relaxing and gives a sense of stillness. I always love these empty living rooms they use to showcase a sofa in the middle of it

Interesting how differently we all see things. To me those empty living rooms look barren, generic, and impersonal. Like someone is just starting to move in, with no personal touches unpacked yet; or they are almost moved out, with all the personal touches gone.

If I had to do it all over again....I‘d choose the house/apartment/condo I really wanted in the perfect location and have it be painted white and completely empty, rather than a mediocre place in a mediocre place, filled with mediocre things.

Not that anyone is suggesting that, but you all always get me thinking!

My wardrobe is a clothes rack representing my nomad lifestyle...(as it’s not an esthetic pleasing choice I need to find proper neat boxes and I would ideally have a real closet)

View attachment 4958250

Girlfriend! The problem is not the clothes or the rack. Get thyself online and order some nice hangers that match.

 

[Aerdem]

I don’t have that issue as I downsized my living space. And will be a nomad again between places soon.
But I would imagine that enjoying empty spaces is also really nice and relaxing and gives a sense of stillness. I always love these empty living rooms they use to showcase a sofa in the middle of it

Yes- I so agree this is an opportunity rather than an issue! “Negative space” in interiors/architecture is just as important as the subject (objects) within the composition. Think walking through a museum or gallery- all is barren besides the art in order to showcase its loveliness.

There is power in nothingness that surrounds the object. Your wardrobe will look sharply curated juxtaposed to the nothing around it. (Especially as a minimalist) I always love to play with matter vs void!

 

[sneedonist]

We did design and install drawers and cabinets and baskets and such in my closet. The funny thing is that my new closet is big enough that half of the drawers and cabinets sit empty. Lol. I am such a minimalist that I have a whole shelf for shoes but I own maybe 5. My hanging bar is about half full.

I may buy three or four more blazers/cardigans. And then shift to building my coat collection.