Visualizing my Minimal Wardrobe
I had a minimalist wardrobe long before the word "minimalist" entered into mainstream society. While growing up, I owned a lot of secondhand clothing and items bought from the clearance rack. Let me first say that I have nothing against being a thrifty shopper. However, a lot of the pieces I owned were difficult to match to other items. I've always had some OCD tendencies, and matching my clothing caused a lot of stress for me in high school. I was always trying to find the perfect outfit. It wasn't that I felt a need to be "cool". I just didn't want to stand out as looking weird or mismatched.
Fast forward a few years to just after I got married. One day, I was trying to pick out an outfit. I had some coral capris in my hand, but I couldn't find a shirt that went well with them. I should add that I don't enjoy wearing solid white or black shirts. Add in my OCD about mismatched clothing, and you can see the issue at hand. As I frustratingly tossed the capris onto the bed, I said, "It shouldn't be this hard to get dressed."
I was right. It really shouldn't be so difficult to do something as simple as getting dressed. All too often we go through the motions of life doing what we're used to, never stopping to think if this action is serving us well or if it is even efficient or necessary. This was the day I decided to create my own "easy wardrobe," which I can now call a "minimalist wardrobe." I didn't want to waste any more valuable time matching pieces of clothing. I only wanted items that could be mixed and matched with ease. I wanted to throw on any top and bottom, knowing that I would feel put together with only a moments notice.
Creating my Minimal Wardrobe
In order to create my minimal wardrobe, I thought about what was frustrating me and what was important to my sense of style. I love shirts with bright colors and patterns. I didn't want to give these up, but I didn't want to waste time trying to match tops and bottoms every day. I also feel black is very slimming, and I need all the slimming down I can get. So I decided to keep my cute tops and only wear jeans or black bottoms.
While I have a few random pieces that don't adhere to this, you can look through my drawers and see that almost all of my shorts, capris, and pants are either black or blue. This has made it so much easier to get dressed quickly! I try to stick to this same principle for skirts as well. I am not super strict with this. I still have a gray skirt and a pair of khaki pants. I just try to keep things as simple as possible.
*Clearly I need to work on my folding skills. Ugghhh.
I have never been one to buy shoes that only go with one outfit. I like everything I have to be multi-functional if at all possible. I usually choose shoes that are black, gray, blue, white, or brown. I do occasionally buy shoes with other colors on them, but I make sure they will look good with most of my outfits.
If you're on the search for some new tops, I love this brand! They're so soft, wash well, and look great! There are multiple colors and prints to choose from. Click the image below to check them out!
Maintaining my Minimal Wardrobe
When starting a new habit, it can be easy to go off course if you're not fully committed to the new habit. I am able to maintain my minimal wardrobe by only buying items that fit into my criteria. I don't buy items just because they are on clearance. For example, I only buy bottoms that will go with multiple tops that I have. I don't buy a new skirt that also requires me to buy a new top to go with it.
I also keep a limited number of items. I don't allow myself to keep more items than will fit into the drawers or onto the hangers I already have. I don't keep track of the specific number of pieces, but everything I own has to fit in its allotted space. I also don't buy new hangers or new furniture to create more storage space. I use the space I have to keep my wardrobe minimal and functional, so I can easily choose my outfit each day.
Have you tried creating a minimal wardrobe? I'm no fashionista, so it wasn't too difficult for me to adopt this practice. If you feel overwhelmed with your clothing choices, I encourage you to try it. It might add some peace to your life. If you're on a budget, it may also save you some money. I would love to hear your ideas on minimal wardrobes. Thanks so much for reading, and have a wonderful day!
Until next time,
Sierra
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