Love them both! Especially the shorter one. I have been looking for several years for just the right one. Yours in beautiful. Thank you again
The minimalist wardrobe : Support/progress thread
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Love them both! Especially the shorter one. I have been looking for several years for just the right one. Yours in beautiful. Thank you again
I never considered myself a minimalist, because for me being a minimalist extends beyond a wardrobe. Your kitchen, work table, mind should be also uncluttered.
But, I don't have many clothes. I have one for each category.
Winter outerwear:
1 bone color wool/cashmere coat for winter
1 long grey down coat for snow
1 dusty pink rain coat
1 black tweed with lame coat for spring/early fall night
Winter accessories:
1 pink checked scarf
1 grey scarf
1 dark purple beanie
1 raisin colored fur trimmed leather gloves
For shoes:
1 black velvet mules for formal event
1 black leather wedges for office wear
1 grey sneakers for everyday errands
1 mauve pink sneakers for casual hangouts
1 black snow boots
I used to own Birkenstock black sandals, but now i would rather wear closed shoes. I see that I have not owned any everyday boots. That's should be my next purchase.
Bags:
I follow 4 bags only rule. For travel, fancy going out, casual going out, formal event.
1 gucci boston black laminated canvas
1 chanel classic flap in white ghw
1 bottega veneta brown lizard duffel
1 judith leiber black satin clutch
Underwear:
3 bras (black, beige, pink)
10 panties (black,white, pink and other colors)
Clothes
1 black maxi skirt
1 black casual pants
1 black cashmere formal pants
1 grey formal pants
1 brown greenish plaid wool pants
No jeans
6 cashmere sweaters (grey,black,purple, light grey with camel accent, lilac, sage)
1 wool knitted sweaters in color that complement my plaid pants
3 full length cotton dresses (black,navy, pink)
1 full length tropical wool dress
7 casual tops in various colors and length that complement the pants and skirt.
These list exclude my sleepwear, my formal dresses, national formal dresses and other accessories. These concept also works for jewelry. Just one piece for each category (ring,bracelet,pin) and for two different occasions. I wear different types of jewelry for events that requires me to wear a national dress. I don't wear earrings or necklace any longer so those categories are excluded on my list.
With minimal clothes and accessories, I could manage to move to different country with only one luggage and one carry on. My husband dislike carrying a lot of clothes and prefer only having the necessities and buy the rest in the new country we settled in. It took me a couple of months to pare down my clothes, but the result is exhilarating. I am glad that husband proposed the idea. It requires discipline and focus on what the most important. True, I wear my things over and over again, but no one really notice I think. I only replace something if it is stained or beyond repair. I don't buy clothes from super expensive brand as long as they are made of great material, comfortable, looks good on me and does not look cheap. I prefer natural materials like wool, cashmere, and cotton.
I used to buy only expensive clothes, but I realized even expensive clothes will ended up deteriorated. Our body shape and taste changes also overtime. I never feel deprived with small wardrobe, the key is just to have all what you need covered. This list cover my need for all seasons.
But, I don't have many clothes. I have one for each category.
Winter outerwear:
1 bone color wool/cashmere coat for winter
1 long grey down coat for snow
1 dusty pink rain coat
1 black tweed with lame coat for spring/early fall night
Winter accessories:
1 pink checked scarf
1 grey scarf
1 dark purple beanie
1 raisin colored fur trimmed leather gloves
For shoes:
1 black velvet mules for formal event
1 black leather wedges for office wear
1 grey sneakers for everyday errands
1 mauve pink sneakers for casual hangouts
1 black snow boots
I used to own Birkenstock black sandals, but now i would rather wear closed shoes. I see that I have not owned any everyday boots. That's should be my next purchase.
Bags:
I follow 4 bags only rule. For travel, fancy going out, casual going out, formal event.
1 gucci boston black laminated canvas
1 chanel classic flap in white ghw
1 bottega veneta brown lizard duffel
1 judith leiber black satin clutch
Underwear:
3 bras (black, beige, pink)
10 panties (black,white, pink and other colors)
Clothes
1 black maxi skirt
1 black casual pants
1 black cashmere formal pants
1 grey formal pants
1 brown greenish plaid wool pants
No jeans
6 cashmere sweaters (grey,black,purple, light grey with camel accent, lilac, sage)
1 wool knitted sweaters in color that complement my plaid pants
3 full length cotton dresses (black,navy, pink)
1 full length tropical wool dress
7 casual tops in various colors and length that complement the pants and skirt.
These list exclude my sleepwear, my formal dresses, national formal dresses and other accessories. These concept also works for jewelry. Just one piece for each category (ring,bracelet,pin) and for two different occasions. I wear different types of jewelry for events that requires me to wear a national dress. I don't wear earrings or necklace any longer so those categories are excluded on my list.
With minimal clothes and accessories, I could manage to move to different country with only one luggage and one carry on. My husband dislike carrying a lot of clothes and prefer only having the necessities and buy the rest in the new country we settled in. It took me a couple of months to pare down my clothes, but the result is exhilarating. I am glad that husband proposed the idea. It requires discipline and focus on what the most important. True, I wear my things over and over again, but no one really notice I think. I only replace something if it is stained or beyond repair. I don't buy clothes from super expensive brand as long as they are made of great material, comfortable, looks good on me and does not look cheap. I prefer natural materials like wool, cashmere, and cotton.
I used to buy only expensive clothes, but I realized even expensive clothes will ended up deteriorated. Our body shape and taste changes also overtime. I never feel deprived with small wardrobe, the key is just to have all what you need covered. This list cover my need for all seasons.
https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/enter-the-void.1012370/
Here’s a link to a more detailed view of my collection. It’s a better breakdown of my special pieces.
Here’s a link to a more detailed view of my collection. It’s a better breakdown of my special pieces.
I saw your collection. Really amazing collection and I like the lay out of and how you arrange your items in your photos.
Thank you, I appreciate the compliment
I like the list! Very curated indeed!
I’m not quite there yet but I have simplified so much. Underwear and tshirts are just black or white.
Then 4 pullovers. 1 cardigan. 5 trousers. 2 skirts. 4 long sleeves collar shirts. 1 suit jacket. 1 suit. 6 pairs of shoes!
Thank you! I secretly wish that my gucci bag would be falling apart soon so I could buy a new bag. Your list is excellent! How do you feel so far with your wardrobe?
It´s a change of habits for sure. Before, I was always buying 1-2 items/ month. My budget was around 300$/ month, but I always felt I didn´t have enough, not much, my things didn´t make sense...
Now, to NOT buy is a radical change. And realizing that in fact it was the 1-2 new outfits that would make my entire look of the season. The rest was neglected, so from that I don´t buy much anymore. And I keep or replace the staples : jeans, cardigan, black rolled up neck, grey angora sweater, camel cashmere...
There is a huge part that´s psychological, with the dressing for everyday and reaching to the low hanging fruit/practical clothes (jeans+sweater+flat derbys), or the glamourous version of myself that often lives in my mind or my best days (pencil skirt/tailor pants, blazer, pumps)
I want to appear stylish, classy, feminine, but with an edge : creative cool
I LOVE this idea! Both from a sustainability perspective and a cost perspective. I basically live in jeans - wear black ones to work and black or blue ones in daily life. However I walk a lot (my commute to work is on foot) and I have thick thighs, with the result that I wear sizable holes on the inner thighs of most jeans within 3-4 months. I'm able to patch some, but then the jeans just start getting other holes around the patch... To get around the cost of having to buy new jeans every 3-4 months, I've been buying cheapo jeans at TJ Maxx, H&M etc. Of course, being low quality, they get holes quickly, and the vicious cycle goes round and round. I love the idea of buying jeans second hand and altering them. Perhaps then I could also find better quality ones that last longer.
In terms of the rest of my wardrobe, I don't think I could ever be a minimalist, but I for the past year I have tried to stop buying new clothes, donate/recycle what I don't wear, stop buying fast/cheap fashion entirely (except those jeans, sigh), stay away from sales (too much temptation) and most importantly, shop my closet. I already have clothes suitable for every situation. My goal is not cost saving or being a minimalist but being more sustainable with clothing. Going forward I'm resolved to wear everything I have til it falls apart, and only buy high quality replacements so that they last a long time. I bought my first ever high end designer sweater this year, a cashmere piece by Hermes. I'm stunned by the quality of the piece and am sure that thing will last a lifetime if I take care of it. And I now wear it at least once a week! Of course I can't afford to have my entire closet made of designer pieces. But I am resolved to invest in a handful of high quality pieces this year (only if needed!) rather than buying bagfuls of things I don't need just because they're cheap.
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Oh yeah, the staples. When I used to be working I owned 2 exact black skirts to alternate between laundry days. But now my staples are my cashmere sweaters and pants.
I love this thread! I'm halfway through the other minimalist wardrobe thread that reached 200 posts, it's so interesting to see other's struggles and accomplishments. Since this thread is more recent, I'll post here.
I've been struggling to cull my wardrobe for a long time. We moved about four months ago to a larger apartment in a big city, and before we did I was on a Konmari kick. I sent trash bags full of clothes to Goodwill (as well as threw away and organized practically the entire apartment) and was happy. But now that we've settled here, I realize that there are still a lot of pieces I don't wear that I kept, either because I love them (but never wear them?) or can't currently fit into them and dream eventually I can make them work. I've also been looking into capsule wardrobes and that idea is intriguing. I don't know what my problem is, as despite all the clothes I have, I stick to basics and feel best in those. Loose, stretchy, solid (usually black or white) or graphic t shirts and long sleeves, athletic bottoms or jeans (only ever bootcut), and plain black shoes. Though I have a lot of jewelry I am in love with, I rarely wear them. Maybe laziness or forgetfulness. I also have a ton of scarves, even though I culled a huge amount months ago before we moved. I used to wear scarves ALL the time, but haven't worn a scarf once in probably three years. Which is a shame, as I have some very beautiful ones.
I am going to cull my wardrobe again--this time mercilessly. I know my style already, and know in the past despite trying to force myself to wear something I think I'd like (like unique cuts, florals, etc.), I never do. I stick with solid basics, plain bottoms, and plain shoes. I accentuate my plain outfits by wearing just earrings, or just a necklace (in the rare instances when I remember to wear my jewelry!), or a colorful bag. I like those types of things to be the focus of my simple ensembles.
So my goal is to have about 50 pieces in my wardrobe, excluding bags, shoes, jewelry and scarves. Basic tops (black, white gray), some solid, differently colored tops, a few graphic tees, one pair of each type of pants. Since I only wear maybe 40% of my wardrobe now, I don't think I'll miss anything once I achieve this.
Another goal of mine is to expand my shoe collection. I can say confidently I am likely in the minority on this site when it comes to shoes--currently I only own THREE pairs (1 black work shoes, 1 black rain boots, and 1 pair of black flats) and have not touched the flats in close to a year as they're cheap and uncomfortable. I'm a one pair type of person (I wear my work shoes for both work and outings) and I want to change that, as they don't go with some outfits I try to put together. I want some designer sneakers, flats, maybe some slides or sandals in different colors. I'm excited about this, as I've never been into shoes my entire life.
As for my scarves and jewelry... we'll see how that goes.
I am excited to begin (again) this journey, and love seeing everybody else's progress and pics.
(Sorry for the super long post!)
I've been struggling to cull my wardrobe for a long time. We moved about four months ago to a larger apartment in a big city, and before we did I was on a Konmari kick. I sent trash bags full of clothes to Goodwill (as well as threw away and organized practically the entire apartment) and was happy. But now that we've settled here, I realize that there are still a lot of pieces I don't wear that I kept, either because I love them (but never wear them?) or can't currently fit into them and dream eventually I can make them work. I've also been looking into capsule wardrobes and that idea is intriguing. I don't know what my problem is, as despite all the clothes I have, I stick to basics and feel best in those. Loose, stretchy, solid (usually black or white) or graphic t shirts and long sleeves, athletic bottoms or jeans (only ever bootcut), and plain black shoes. Though I have a lot of jewelry I am in love with, I rarely wear them. Maybe laziness or forgetfulness. I also have a ton of scarves, even though I culled a huge amount months ago before we moved. I used to wear scarves ALL the time, but haven't worn a scarf once in probably three years. Which is a shame, as I have some very beautiful ones.
I am going to cull my wardrobe again--this time mercilessly. I know my style already, and know in the past despite trying to force myself to wear something I think I'd like (like unique cuts, florals, etc.), I never do. I stick with solid basics, plain bottoms, and plain shoes. I accentuate my plain outfits by wearing just earrings, or just a necklace (in the rare instances when I remember to wear my jewelry!), or a colorful bag. I like those types of things to be the focus of my simple ensembles.
So my goal is to have about 50 pieces in my wardrobe, excluding bags, shoes, jewelry and scarves. Basic tops (black, white gray), some solid, differently colored tops, a few graphic tees, one pair of each type of pants. Since I only wear maybe 40% of my wardrobe now, I don't think I'll miss anything once I achieve this.
Another goal of mine is to expand my shoe collection. I can say confidently I am likely in the minority on this site when it comes to shoes--currently I only own THREE pairs (1 black work shoes, 1 black rain boots, and 1 pair of black flats) and have not touched the flats in close to a year as they're cheap and uncomfortable. I'm a one pair type of person (I wear my work shoes for both work and outings) and I want to change that, as they don't go with some outfits I try to put together. I want some designer sneakers, flats, maybe some slides or sandals in different colors. I'm excited about this, as I've never been into shoes my entire life.
As for my scarves and jewelry... we'll see how that goes.
I am excited to begin (again) this journey, and love seeing everybody else's progress and pics.
(Sorry for the super long post!)
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