I often have a little debate with myself as to whether I’m a minimalist or not. Not that it matters either way, but I do know that I have a lot of minimalist tendencies.
For example, my home has been described by a friend of the family as ‘looking empty’ I took it as a compliment! I wonder what she would have said if she peeked inside my wardrobe?
Which brings me to the real reason for this post, an update on a post that I wrote last September: A Fairly Minimal Casual Wardrobe.
{please forgive the blurry picture}
At the last count I had 21 basic clothing items, today, after adding a jumper and a pair of black trousers this winter, I have 23.
Sticking to classic items, in mix and match colours, makes things so simple and I find this amount of clothes perfect for my current needs. So perfect that I wish I’d done it sooner as it would have saved me a small fortune in cash and credit card interest!!
I’m still not perfect when it comes to spending money as I still have a major craving for handbags (currently Orla Kiely ones), but to know that I’ve scratched one thing of my want list is enough for me at the moment!
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{Photo credits 1,2}
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I have neither a shoe or handbag obsession. My purse is the black one I use all the time, and my shoes are limited to: Ugg boots, flip flops, and running shoes. (I do own other shoes, but they rarely ever get worn.)
My favorite post on this subject was on the ‘French Five’ or something like that. Unfortunately, the post is no longer there (either is the blog.)
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Do you work outside the home? If yes, I was wondering if you could share how you mix and match these items for the 5 or 6 days you work. Thanks.
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Laura Reply:
March 7th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
@Jan Hi! No I’m not currently working outside of the home…if I did I would probably build a capsule work wardrobe of 15-20 items in similar colourways to the clothes that I already have (black,grey,white).
When I was working (in an office environment) I used scarves a.lot to hide the fact that I was always wearing a plain black jumper under my suit.
Hope this helps
Thank you for your comment/question.
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Oooh, I love Orla handbags too
I found your lovely blog via Expat Blogs. Perhaps you would like to join my Expat Linky Party on March 19th? Hope to see you then, if not sooner.
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Laura Reply:
March 8th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Hi Laura and thank you!
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I found that even if I went through periods of having a lot of clothing, I always tended to gravitate to the same few items day in and day out. I have way more clothes though. I have 3 sets…Professional Office Clothing, Play Clothing and Work around the House Clothing. The last being paint splattered and stained. I need to purge and you might have just inspired me.
I do have a major problem with fleece, down vests and coats. I live in a cold climate so I have loads of them probably more than your wardrobe combined.
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Laura Reply:
March 8th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
@First Gen American I was never very successful at clothes shopping; I’d try to move away from jeans and t-shirts by buying different stuff, which would get worn once and then forever stay in the wardrobe. Realising that I’m happy in a uniform of jeans/black t has made life much easier.
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Laura,
Thanks for the answer to my question and your suggestion. I am going to have to think about that and then maybe devise a plan for a purge. If I ever get it all figured and done I will share my results. Thanks! Jan
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I bow down to honour you and your closet! You have done what I can only dream of doing! My closet is packed yet I wear the same things week after week. Can’t wait to retire and purge out at least 75%!!
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My wardrobe is pretty minimalist these days as well – I have about 20 pieces total that I can mix and match with each other (mostly grays, black and cream with a few color pieces in red and spring green). I love that it’s easy to put something together without having to stand in the closet thinking about it, or wondering what I have to wear.
This works for my day-to-day life, but most of the stuff is old and worn and is a bit too minimalist for our upcoming trip to Japan. I’ve been scouring thrift shops for some “newer” items, but no luck yet and I may actually break down and buy something new.
I used to have a handbag and shoe thing, but these days have two pairs of slip on shoes for the winter and pair of Chaco sandals for the summer. My handbag is a canvas one I found over two years old, but I love it and can see myself using it for years to come.
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Laura Reply:
March 10th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
@Laura It’s a great way round to do it though, have a few items that really get worn and add the occasional new piece than to have tens of items and only wear 20% of them. I plan on adding 2/3 new items this year, as well as some new boots for winter…my current ones are beyond repair!
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Hi Laura! I don’t know how you do it! Your minimalist wardrobe is so lean and mean, I think it might actually contain less clothes than I wear in one weekend. I have a problem it seems. However, inspired by your efforts, I did go through and clean out my closets, removing four large bags of clothes. I might even try out your idea of SELLING them. Unheard of!! Anyway, thank you so much for the inspiration! Having less clothes in the closet has definitely made GETTING dressed a much speedier ordeal. Nice!
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Laura Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 6:54 am
Bea and thanks! I hate to say it but I’ve lost interest in clothes to a certain extent……apart from jeans, which I love!
It’s a gradual process. When I started clearing out, first I removed anything that didn’t fit very well..then stuff that I hadn’t worn for 12 months..and so on, so eventually I was down to what I have now. Let me know how you get on
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I have found over the past three to five years that stores seem to have items that cost less than the thrift shops in my area, as I use to always buy my clothes from thrift shops for over 20 years. I seem to find them the same price or cheaper and when I find the items on clearance at the stores it is even a better deal. So it pays to shop around, even if it includes mainstream stores. I keep checking my thrift shops especially on their sale days for clothing items I need, and still find the clothing stores I shop are lower than the thrift shop. I don’t shop garage sales, as I tend to buy other things that are not on my shopping list. I am not disciplined when it comes to garage sales, but I am when it comes to thrift stores and clothing stores.
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