How to create a minimalist wardrobe
Clothing is a fun way to express personality and individual style, as designers pour their creativity into pieces with different patterns, silhouettes, and textures for people to wear. Yet the introduction and growth of the fast fashion industry has changed our relationship with our clothing, as trendy pieces have become all the more disposable and easy to swap out whenever we need.
While clothing is a great way to express our individual personalities, it doesn’t ultimately define us. Of course, you can still have fun with our closets, but a simple, functional wardrobe also opens up time to spend with others or doing hobbies and passion projects.
In the case you’ve found that your closet is a little more full that what you’d like, this video will address commonly asked questions regarding building a minimalist wardrobe, but if you’d like more on sustainable clothing and minimalism in general, be sure to check out the links at the bottom of this guide for more posts on those topics.
Five ways to start minimizing your wardrobe
From style basics to decluttering, below are some tips to help guide you in your minimalist closet journey.
Decide your style and color palette
Looking at previous pictures of yourself can help determine your favorite outfits and pieces that look best on you
It's also a good idea to be realistic about its practicality with your everyday lifestyle, so keep daily activities at top of mind
Build a mood board of outfits that inspire you - choose outfits you think you could pull off based on your preferences and lifestyle, with a few wild cards if you'd like to experiment
Observe what silhouettes you're gravitating towards, what colors and textures, and take note of some keywords to describe those outfits
Most minimalists prefer neutral tones as it’s the most efficient way to mix and match the least number of pieces, but feel free to add colors that you love, or you can always take a color quiz online to see what colors match your skin tone
Determine your staple pieces
3-4 pieces of each clothing type is a good start for anyone new to minimalist living, with at least 2 of those pieces should be neutral colored or easy to match - here’s an example list
Be sure that each piece you have is different in color, texture, or style to maximize your wardrobe
Be sure to shop your closet first and see if you have some pieces you love that will work before jumping into buying new clothing
If you want to stretch out your wardrobe to fit more seasons, invest in pieces that you can layer - quality undershirts, camisoles, long-sleeved turtlenecks, or leggings work wonders for colder weather
Declutter what you don't need
Remove unwanted pieces once a year, or whatever time frame works for you - you can immediately purge items you haven't worn a fair number of times, as well as pieces that don't fit you well or are uncomfortable
Put sentimental or tough to declutter items in a suitcase or a storage bin - usually, a picture of yourself wearing that unique outfit can help, but take your time
It's best to sell unwanted pieces if in good condition, even though it takes more work, then to donate and recycle - get more details on doing so in this decluttering guide
Invest in additional clothing pieces
Control your spending by setting your clothing budget based on what you've been able to sell as you've decluttered
Getting into the process of buying and selling used clothing will help you get a sense of what pieces retain their value over time - try to invest quality pieces that can still be resold
Find quality used articles of clothing on sites such as Thredup, Poshmark, or local thrift stores
Refer to your initial mood board or list to make sure your purchases fit your plan, and don't stray from it
If you still want to buy trendy pieces or items specifically for special events, consider doing a clothing exchange, borrowing from a friend, or renting
Hold off from purchases for at least thirty days, consider how many times you'll wear the clothing piece that you want to buy, and see whether or not it's worth the investment
Ideas to style a minimalist closet
Accessories will bring your outfit together - a statement piece of jewelry can help pull together a look and keep it differentiated, or a pair of shoes can change up a look
Consider layering, tucking in your clothing in different ways, or different color combinations such as a monochromatic look
Keep your minimalist wardrobe fresh by always seeking inspiration and see how others style their basics and play around with different ideas and outfit combinations
