the minimal wardrobe

As the weather warms up, I'm excited to talk about simplifying your wardrobe. For me, this process has been quite straightforward, and in this journal page, I'll share details on the why’s and how’s to simplifying your wardrobe.

As I got older and my body changed, especially after having children, I fell into a habit of constantly wearing 'comfies' (gym gear) paired with my husband's baggy T-shirts. Despite having a wardrobe crammed full of clothes, I often felt like I had nothing to wear because I didn't feel comfortable in 90% of them.

Simplifying my wardrobe has brought many benefits, curating a wardrobe filled with clothes that I absolutely love and feel amazing in has been transformative. I now feel excited to get dressed in the morning, my laundry pile isn't as daunting, and I no longer feel overwhelmed when I open my wardrobe.

Having a capsule wardrobe has made my mornings and overall life so much easier. I've never considered myself a fashionable person and often chased the latest trends seen on Pinterest or Instagram, believing the next piece of clothing would 'complete' my wardrobe.

Simplifying my wardrobe has changed my perspective and brought a sense of contentment and ease to my daily routine. I also think the idea of a capsule wardrobe can seem very simple, beige, and boring. However, I believe a wardrobe should be filled with clothes that you love and feel amazing in, ignoring the trends.

As someone who once loved buying clothes in abundance, creating a capsule wardrobe has completely transformed my perspective on clothing and significantly reduced my spending. I now own around 10-15 items, each one I adore and wear repeatedly. I could never return to owning a vast collection of clothes.

I no longer feel pressured to keep up with fashion trends or to impress others with my outfits, nor do I worry about repeating an outfit at events. Here are a few reasons why I LOVE having a simplified wardrobe:

• Less laundry

• Easier to put clothes away

• Simple wardrobe maintenance

• I purchase from sustainable brands and avoid 'fast fashion,' opting instead for high-quality, durable clothes

• No more feeling overwhelmed when getting dressed in the morning

• I find joy in getting dressed and maintaining my clothes

• Genuine happiness when I open my wardrobe each morning

I want to walk you through the steps to streamline your wardrobe and curate a collection that makes you excited to get dressed each morning. Focus on pieces that truly make you feel good.

Start by gathering every single piece of clothing from around the house and bring them to your wardrobe. This will be your starting point for sorting. When decluttering, prepare three boxes or bags for items you no longer want:

• Bin

• Donate

• Maybe

Here are some tips for decluttering your wardrobe:

• Remove any clothes that are ripped or damaged and place them directly into the bin or donate pile.

• If you haven't worn an item in the past month and don't plan to wear it in the next month, put it in the donate pile.

• If an item isn't a favourite but you can't bring yourself to get rid of it, place it in the maybe pile.

• When you hold an item of clothing in-front of you and it isn't an absolute YES straight away - that's usually a sign to throw it in the donate/bin box.

• Go through your entire wardrobe using these steps, making a decision for each piece to either bin, donate, or put it in the maybe pile.

After decluttering, put your absolute YES items back into your wardrobe and place the maybe box out of sight for the next month or so. If you don’t go back for any of the maybe items during that time, it’s safe to donate them.

I also encourage you to shop your own wardrobe without feeling the need to buy more clothes. You once loved the clothes you bought, and by doing this, you may fall in love with them all over again!

Consider these questions as you sort:

• Do I like how it fits, feels, and looks?

• Do I like the length, texture, and fabric?

• Do I like the colour? Have I worn this item in the past month?

• Do i plan to wear it the next month?

For example, my wardrobe consists of around 15-20 pieces per season. I remove my winter clothing from the main section of my wardrobe and display only my favourite seasonal clothes.

I hope this journal entry encourages you to begin curating a minimalist wardrobe. I'm passionate about helping you embrace a slower, more simplified lifestyle and would love for you to join my FREE 'Slowed Community' on Facebook.

Sophie x