The minimalist wardrobe : Support/progress thread

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#466
Vanilla Bean said:
For me, it's never been about a minimal number of items in my wardrobe but it is about finding a look that works (e.g., collared shirt and jeans). Once I do that, I will repeat it in different fabrics (cotton, silk or linen) or colors (denim washes, grey or black). That's how I've avoided making purchasing mistakes. Of course, that look doesn't fit every occasion but my need for something outside the box is fairly low.
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Absolutely. The idea of a signature look that suits your needs, your personality, who you are on the inside with outside appearance.
BTW Ive also always been leaning towards tailored trousers + collar shirt (oversize masculine or with a pussybow + details...)
 
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#467
Atm I have 65 pieces of clothing, including outerwear, tops, base layers, jeans,thermal vests for winter(I don’t own knitwear), leggings, shorts, shirts, etc..

This is the most I’ve ever had in my life as I’m a minimalist, and always have been, even in my teens..

Some are multiples…a few are mistakes, which will go, some won’t get replaced, some are very expensive bespoke pieces which I’ll have for a very long time.

I don’t like having that much, although I don’t covet that much-I need some summer tops/shirts, which I’ll probably have made by Alessandro Siniscalchi , I’m not sure what else I need..I have a girlfriend who is 23, so we go to clothes shops every week, but I’m tiny, so the shops she shops in don’t fit me, and aren’t really my style anyway, although I enjoy any clothes shopping.

I’m hoping to get a new winter Fendi mtm shearling coat next winter, but I have a shearling and a BCBG Max Azria faux fur winter coat, so it’s not the end of the world if that waits a year..

Overall I have too much, but I like what I have…although I don’t have enough outfits..every woman’s plea lol!
 
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#468
Update
I’ve ordered-
A T-shirt, pair of bike shorts and pair of leggings from Skims.(I’m XXS)

Alessandro has agreed to make me some linen summer tops, either Loro Piana or Carlo Riva..I don’t need many, say about 4…this is the U.K. (I don’t live in Paris anymore..)

Hopefully this will get me through the summer..some things will wear out or shrink from constant washing as I live in the same things and some are a few years old..and suddenly just “go”- if they’re Skins I can recycle them for credit through their Reskinned system towards new pieces..

Hopefully before the winter I’ll buy a Fendi mtm winter coat, and I’ll need winter knitwear.(literally 2 or maximum 3)

Also I’ll need more jeans as I only have Samurais from 2021 left.(1 or 2 )

This lot should get me through 2023- it’s literally the most clothing I’ve ever had, as my bespoke biker with Porusus crocodile from Japan is very expensive and a lot of what I buy is, my annual spend is very high for not that much, but that’s me..even at 19 I spent a lot, I bought my first Chanel silk blouse at 16..

I don’t think I’ll ever change..life is too short..my Mum has always loved clothes, now she has dementia and my Dad still buys her nice clothes and I buy her clothes , and my Sister did for Mother's Day…I’ve always loved beautiful fabrics…
 
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#469
cecchetti said:
Update
I’ve ordered-
A T-shirt, pair of bike shorts and pair of leggings from Skims.(I’m XXS)

Alessandro has agreed to make me some linen summer tops, either Loro Piana or Carlo Riva..I don’t need many, say about 4…this is the U.K. (I don’t live in Paris anymore..)

Hopefully this will get me through the summer..some things will wear out or shrink from constant washing as I live in the same things and some are a few years old..and suddenly just “go”- if they’re Skins I can recycle them for credit through their Reskinned system towards new pieces..

Hopefully before the winter I’ll buy a Fendi mtm winter coat, and I’ll need winter knitwear.(literally 2 or maximum 3)

Also I’ll need more jeans as I only have Samurais from 2021 left.(1 or 2 )

This lot should get me through 2023- it’s literally the most clothing I’ve ever had, as my bespoke biker with Porusus crocodile from Japan is very expensive and a lot of what I buy is, my annual spend is very high for not that much, but that’s me..even at 19 I spent a lot, I bought my first Chanel silk blouse at 16..

I don’t think I’ll ever change..life is too short..my Mum has always loved clothes, now she has dementia and my Dad still buys her nice clothes and I buy her clothes , and my Sister did for Mother's Day…I’ve always loved beautiful fabrics…
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I love this. A small, exquisite wardrobe filled with intentionally curated, tailored pieces in beautiful fabrics. One thing I notice as I downsize and up-level is that this kind of wardrobe does involve a considerable amount of maintenance—brushing, polishing, dry cleaning, steaming, starching, pressing— in order to sustain its impeccability. One must have a maid/valet or do them oneself or the lovely natural fabrics lose their dignity fairly quickly. Somewhat like a fine leather bag. I don’t “baby” them per se, as they get used quite heavily, but my B’s have to be rotated, wiped, stuffed, and rested occasionally to maintain their shape and beauty.

How do you handle the maintenance aspect, if you do?
 
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#470
MoreBirkins said:
I love this. A small, exquisite wardrobe filled with intentionally curated, tailored pieces in beautiful fabrics. One thing I notice as I downsize and up-level is that this kind of wardrobe does involve a considerable amount of maintenance—brushing, polishing, dry cleaning, steaming, starching, pressing— in order to sustain its impeccability. One must have a maid/valet or do them oneself or the lovely natural fabrics lose their dignity fairly quickly. Somewhat like a fine leather bag. I don’t “baby” them per se, as they get used quite heavily, but my B’s have to be rotated, wiped, stuffed, and rested occasionally to maintain their shape and beauty.

How do you handle the maintenance aspect, if you do?
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I keep everything on wooden hangers, arranged like a boutique , and iron everything , wash as per laundry instructions, and when things are past their best, retire to recycle or Reskinned in the case of my Skins leggings so that everything looks fresh.
Plus all coats/jackets under coat covers xx
 
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#471
cecchetti said:
I keep everything on wooden hangers, arranged like a boutique , and iron everything , wash as per laundry instructions, and when things are past their best, retire to recycle or Reskinned in the case of my Skins leggings so that everything looks fresh.
Plus all coats/jackets under coat covers xx
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What do you use for coat covers out of curiosity?
 
#474
"Breathing" for clothes is very important, especially for natural fibers like wool, silk, cotton.

If you seal them in airtight or plastic/nylon garment bags they will start to stink. Moisture can build up and attract mold. Some plastics can cause more delicate materials to discolor or yellow like silk.

As long as a closet is regularly cleaned, insects should not be an issue.
Sometimes things get a little too cluttered, especially if one stores other things like books, paper bags, boxes etc. it will attract insects that like to live in dark places or eat the paper and glue. There are things like moth balls to deter moths.

I make it a habit to dry clean before storage and when items come out of storage.
Sometimes I'll just take out a few items and hang them on a rack in the bedroom, turn on the air purifyer, just so they can get a little fresh air.
 
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#475
I keep some of my winter wool coats in a cloth garment bag in my downstairs closet. I think it's good for the fibers to breathe. I keep them there in the summer where it's cooler but I also want to keep dust or any possible moths away.
 
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#479
Vanilla Bean said:
For me, it's never been about a minimal number of items in my wardrobe but it is about finding a look that works (e.g., collared shirt and jeans).
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree. For me, a look that "works" is knitwear + pants, so I collect sweaters like some women collect Birkins.

1690336823866.jpeg

Here's a snippet of my knitwear, perhaps 1/10 of the collection. All Loro Piana baby cashmere in a variety of styles: rollnecks, crewnecks, half zips... I am fortunate to live in a part of the world where there's 9 months of cold weather, so the cashmere gets worn year round.

Love Of My Life said:
lovely lavender sachets
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While I don't know how effective lavender really is against moths, it's what I use for my knitwear drawers. There is a lavender sachet between every jumper, and a couple of Irish Spring soap bars hidden among them. My sweaters always smell like soap and lavender, and since I wear the cashmere year round, the knits get used on a rotational basis, and moths stay away when there is a lot of movement and agitation, so it's best that one actually wears their knits.


9d67f4ea-6419-4eef-bc7c-2cba9ec6ff0f.jpg

Sharing an extra maintenance tip: A while back a local department store was closing and liquidating its assets, so I bought this commercial-grade brushed stainless steel modular clothing rack from the kids' section as a valet for my "clean but not clean" items, which ultimately solved my "massive clothing pile on a chair" problem. I use the rack for clothes that have been worn but can be worn again, items that need airing out, or as a drying rack. This way, dirty clothes go into the laundry hamper, the drawers always have clean clothes only, and the rack for items that are not dirty enough for the wash, but have been worn.
 
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#480
DILF said:
Absolutely agree. For me, a look that "works" is knitwear + pants, so I collect sweaters like some women collect Birkins.

View attachment 5829601

Here's a snippet of my knitwear, perhaps 1/10 of the collection. All Loro Piana baby cashmere in a variety of styles: rollnecks, crewnecks, half zips... I am fortunate to live in a part of the world where there's 9 months of cold weather, so the cashmere gets worn year round.



While I don't know how effective lavender really is against moths, it's what I use for my knitwear drawers. There is a lavender sachet between every jumper, and a couple of Irish Spring soap bars hidden among them. My sweaters always smell like soap and lavender, and since I wear the cashmere year round, the knits get used on a rotational basis, and moths stay away when there is a lot of movement and agitation, so it's best that one actually wears their knits.


View attachment 5829604

Sharing an extra maintenance tip: A while back a local department store was closing and liquidating its assets, so I bought this commercial-grade brushed stainless steel modular clothing rack from the kids' section as a valet for my "clean but not clean" items, which ultimately solved my "massive clothing pile on a chair" problem. I use the rack for clothes that have been worn but can be worn again, items that need airing out, or as a drying rack. This way, dirty clothes go into the laundry hamper, the drawers always have clean clothes only, and the rack for items that are not dirty enough for the wash, but have been worn.
Click to expand...
I’m so glad someone else does this. I use an open closet in my home office/yoga room for things I have worn briefly and will wear again soon, but don’t want to put back in with the clean clothes.
 
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