One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is how to create a minimalist wardrobe; and boy, do I love to answer it! I devoted an entire chapter of my book, The Joy of Less, to the topic; however, some readers have expressed the desire to see my tips in action.
Ask, and you shall receive –- in this post, I’ll illustrate some key strategies using items straight from my own closet.
(Men, don’t stop reading; although the clothes pictured are my own, the tips are gender-inclusive!)
What I’ve done is selected my core, or capsule wardrobe: ten items that can get me through the majority of my daily activities, in every season.
I didn’t include socks and unmentionables (we’ll take those as a given), or exercise/specialty wear (in other words, I don’t go hiking in my little black dress).
Furthermore, these items are particularly tailored to my urban, business-casual lifestyle, and work from office to dinner to weekend. If I were a construction worker or cabaret singer, my choices would be entirely different.
Okay, here we go — pictured below is my 10-Item Wardrobe:
Miss Minimalist's 10-Item Wardrobe
First row: burgundy sleeveless top, plum ¾-sleeve top, slate blue long-sleeve top, black cardigan, black dress.
Second row: black skirt, black pants, black coat, black bag, black ballet shoes.
(Wow, you guys were right –- this is a lot more fun with photos!)
So what can you learn from my minimalist wardrobe? Here’s a brief overview of some of the techniques I elaborate upon in my book:
1. Choose a base color. Pick a neutral like black, brown, navy, or khaki for your “foundation” pieces (like pants, skirts, and suits). As you can see, mine is black –- it works with my skin tone, travels well, and hides stains brilliantly (important if you spend a lot of time on-the-go).
2. Choose accent colors. Select a handful of shades that flatter you, and complement your base. I’ve chosen burgundy, plum, and slate blue, but you have a world of pastels, earth tones, primaries, and jewel tones at your disposal.
3. Limit accessories to one color. My bag and shoes are both black; they go with each other, and everything in my closet. I love not needing footwear and handbags in multiple colors!
4. Dress in layers. I’m accustomed to a four-season climate, hence I’ve included everything from a sleeveless top to a winter coat. A cardigan is perfect for those temperatures in between. I find layers to offer much more versatility than heavy sweaters or season-specific clothes.
5. Mix and match. Needless to say, everything in your capsule wardrobe should go with everything else. You should be able to get dressed with your eyes closed, and still look fabulous!
6. Dress up and dress down. You’ll notice that there isn’t anything overly formal or casual about my ten items –- no sequins or sweatpants here. I can wear any of these tops, for example, to the grocery store or a cocktail party. The same goes for my bag, my shoes, and pretty much everything else.
7. Choose classic styles. Avoid anything that’s too trendy or dated, or that calls attention to the outfit rather than you. I stick to simple, timeless silhouettes: my pants are straight-leg, my skirt is A-line, and my dress is a classic shift.
8. Make sure it fits. When you have a minimalist wardrobe, no item can hang around waiting for you to diet into it -– everything should fit now. A little trick: choose forgiving fabrics with a little bit of stretch, to accommodate minor weight fluctuations.
9. Make sure it flatters. Be honest here –- you know in your heart whether or not you look good in skinny jeans, cropped tops, or muumuus. Stick to the items that complement your figure, and you’ll always feel confident in your clothes.
10. The feel-good test. When considering an outfit, question whether you’d feel comfortable being photographed, or running into your ex, while wearing it. Sure, that may sound a little shallow; but pride in your appearance goes a long way towards minimizing your closet.
Well, I hope you had as much fun reading this post as I had writing it! I’ll be exploring some of the specific items in-depth as part of my 100 Possessions series (I’ve already covered my black dress and black bag).
But for now, I’d love to hear about your capsule wardrobe: if you had to discard everything but ten essentials, what would they be?
Just one question and you may have answered, and I just missed it in all the comments – what about workout clothes? The clothes you showed are great, but not very practical for running or hiking? (Both of which I do a lot).
Love the post! Two questions:
1. When you find something you love (like underwear or socks) do you ever buy it ‘in bulk’ – more than you need right now, but enough to account for it being discontinued in the next few months?
2. I’ve been on the search for a simple black skirt – do you remember where you got yours?
Thanks!
Kelley
(PS – I just started my own blog, which will mainly focus on minimalist ideas. I just wrote a post on my newfound minimalist wardrobe and would love some feedback!)
I bought your book about a month ago. It inspired me to start my blog and I just came across your blog today.
Where is a nice blazer/jacket?
That jacket pictured looks like something one would hike in or walk
the dog in.
Ok, somebody probably asked this already, right? But I really have to know. You must do laundry like, every day–right? How do you escape the fact that by owning fewer clothes you have to launder them more, they wear out faster, and you have to replace often…?
Not meaning to be rude.
This is the downside. Plus boredom and the itch to get more clothes perhaps. Depends on if the minimalist urge can overcome this I suppose. One extreme minimalist hand washes her clothes so doing away with a washing machine (I think) but it would get rather tedious i imagine.. well i used to hand wash pet fleece blankets when i had guinea pigs for a shortish time and got sick of it. Heavier clothing and bed sheets etc would be a burden.
Now that you have Plumblossom, how is a small wardrobe working out for you? I have eight-month-old Sam, and all of the mess sometimes means that I have to change clothes once or twice per day; so laundry is totally a thing. I’m starting to wear an apron way more often to compensate for the ooey-gooeyness of babyhood.
Hi Francine, haven’t visited your site for a while, but always inspired by what I see as a struggling minimalist myself… The clothes and the kitchen are the hardest areas for me….. Love your small wardrobe, but also came across this beautiful mobile wardrobe, which i just had to share.. have no idea how much it costs, but I’m simply in love with it..
http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/12/27/travelling-with-a-closet/
Regards Ana London
bamboo clothing online store called bodypeace it is based in aust have great capsule wardrobe pieces i libve in . i have a pair of black pants that i wear to work …i am a teacher .out to yoga and travel in even hiking in france and morocco. they are made of bamboo viscose and can be dressed up. another site new zealand by nature have other capsule wardrobe pieces…i got my little black dress from there …very coco chanel with a cream cardigan to match. the other good site is silk body and simply silk just google thse four sites …great clothes and no synthetics and environmentally friendly
I’d love to know the brand and style of your jacket and the coat! I’ll be on a month long trip to Europe in April to celebrate my 50th and am using very similar ten items. Ill be substituting skinny black pants and frye boots, but the rest in pretty deadon. Just. Need the skirt and coat! Love your site. I’m a professional organizer and so appreciate the viewpoint!
I had a capsule wardrobe after purging my unworn clothes, however after having a baby and being a sahm plus wanting to dress more modestly, i am now struggling to create a wardrobe that suits my lifestyle. Would love to know if you have changed your wardrobe since Plumblossom??
Can someone please tell me what app was used to create this collage? I would love to do this with my clothes to help me mix and match better when I’m not standing in front of my closet. Thanks!
A tri- season jacket for a more minimal wardrobe. http://m.thenorthface.com/mt/www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/women-39-s-cheakamus-triclimate-jacket.html?un_jtt_v_pdp=226#un_tab_featuresexpanded
i have been living minimally for quit sometime. i am retired so do not need dressy cloths. i buy in threes after i find clothing that fits nicely. for example like lands end clothing. i but three shorts, 3 long pants, three long sleeve tees and 3 short sleeve tees. pants and shorts are neutral colors and tops different colors. i love merrell shoes, which are expensive. i wait till they go on sale and then buy summer sandals and warmer clogs. the cloths are classic and last some time.
this works great for me.
This is awesome! How are you holding up with 10 things? Do you change your wardrobe every season then?
I recently started a challenge with 25 pieces for a year (excluding jackets and shoes). It took me quite some time to figure out which pieces I am taking. I had to do the feel-good-test a few times. I wrote about it here, http://www.youchangeyou.net/minimalism-one-year-challenge/
Would be great to get your opinion on it.
Many years ago I had very few clothes and made a chart of all the different combinations I could make with the clothes I had. Everything I’ve ever bought was a solid color. I’ve usually had 4 pairs of office casual slacks, and 6-8 short sleeved shirts. Some have collars and some don’t. Then I’ve had 3 or 4 cardigan sweaters. Black,grey, and blue were the colors I used most often. Many years ago, I took an old red cardigan of my father’s and put shiny buttons on it and wore it out. Changing buttons is one way I change the look of something old. I recently bought a gray sweater with a gift card my daughter gave me. I think it was my only clothing purchase this year.
If you wear a cardigan, is that an 11-piece wardrobe? ;)
No way could I pare down to this level. :( I do a lot of walking since I live in a large city with horrible traffic (and steep hills), and I’d be doing laundry every day (or at the very least handwashing stuff every day) if I only owned one of each thing. But I keep everything in classic colors. I also need workout wear for Pilates, running, rowing, and swimming. Okay, the swimming is just the suit and cap! Also, California is in a drought right now, I’d feel pretty guilty about using my washer every day for small items or even hand washing every day.
I keep clothing for years and years. Buying solid colors and getting clothes my kids are tired of stretches my wardrobe. Since I am retired, my activities are volunteering, going out with friends, or maybe taking a class. Twice a week, I visit my mom at the nursing home.
This one’s waaay more helpful than all the other flashy attempts to minimalism I’ve read today. Thank you.