Embracing a Minimalistic Wardobe

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“Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.” – Epictetus

Consider for a moment how your life would look different if you owned fewer clothes:

  • You would have more disposable income.
  • You would have more time to live your life.
  • Mornings would feature less stress.
  • Your closets would be well-organized and uncluttered.
  • Packing for trips/vacations would take less time.
  • Laundry days would be easier (not necessarily less, but definitely easier).

Unfortunately, instead of enjoying the benefits of owning fewer clothes, most of us buy into the lie that more is better. And because we do, we accumulate more and more clothing each season. We are convinced that new clothes will make us more joyful, more fashionable, and more popular. Unfortunately, they just end up getting in the way.

Consider going a different route with your life. Try owning fewer clothes. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy the freedom that it brings.

These are some wise words by Joshua Becker. His blog, Becoming Minimalist, has inspired me to embrace minimalism in every area of my life- including fashion. Embracing minimalism doesn’t happen over night. I started down this minimalist journey over a year ago, and I’m still constructing my life to be minimalistic.

This winter, instead of buying new, bright, bold blouses and sweaters that were trendy this season, I chose to go for a more low-key look. I bought a lot of white, black, and grey. However, simply because I have chosen to wear a lot of neutral and basic colors this season- doesn’t mean my outfits had to be tasteless! I love to play up my outfits with a variety of accessories- like hats, scarves, and jackets. I am always much more willing to invest in a new accessory such as hat or scarf, because they last much longer that a shirt that is worn and washed multiple times throughout the month.

As I embrace this new “minimalist” fashion, I have also started shopping at places that are more affordable. I used to leisurely browse around the mall looking for stuff to buy, but now I realize how that is such a needless waste of money! I either go when there is a sale (like how I got this black top I’m wearing in the photos from Banana Republic for less than $20!) or I shop online. My favorite place to shop right now is ThredUP! I’ve talked about them before (here and here), and even though I live in China, I still shop there. Now that summer is coming up, I just got some new dresses that I can’t wait to wear on my upcoming trip to Thailand!

Right now, you can shop the closet of ThredUP’s 30 best-dressed sellers! These are the top ladies who sell their clothes to ThreUP.  These fashion moguls have cleaned out their closets and are selling their name brand clothes for so cheap. You can find the list of all 30 closets here. And you can also read 11 style hacks straight from the women here. I was browsing through and saw more than a few items that would make classic, lasting additions to my closet!

I wrote an entire chapter about minimalism in my book, The Smart Girl’s Guide to Surviving Her Twenties. I talk about WHY you should consider minimalism, how it can change your life for the better, and how you can take steps to embracing it. Minimalism has helped me tremendously, and in just under 3 years Trenton and I have saved more money that I ever thought would be possible considering the job field we are in!

Have you ever thought about embracing a minimalist wardrobe? What are your wardrobe staples? 

Thanks to ThredUP for sponsoring this post!*

 

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Hey ya'll! I'm Courtney, and I'm a Florida-born gal learning to live in East Asia. You can find travel tips, fashion inspo, and my daily adventures right here on my blog. My hope is that this blog will help inspire you to live your best life! Make sure to check out my book, The Smart Girl's Guide to Surviving Her Twenties, for more tips on how to survive, and thrive, throughout the most transformative decade of your life.

40 thoughts on “Embracing a Minimalistic Wardobe”

  2. I’ve really thought about it! Honestly I don’t buy that many clothes so I feel as though I fall somewhat into the minimalistic lifestyle lol. Half my wardrobe is hand me downs and stuff I bought at places like Goodwill. I still have to give ThredUp a try, I’m always about getting cute clothes for a good price!

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  24. Over the last few months, I’ve definitely embraced minimalism as my favoured approach to clothes, focusing on quality over quantity, which has benefited everything from my bank account (it’s incredibly simple to throw away needless money on items you will wear once just because they are on trend!) to how much time it takes me to get ready. I’m glad to hear you’ve managed to reap the benefits of minimalism too 🙂 (&your outfit looks fantastic!)

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    1. Focusing on quality over quantity makes such a huge difference in your wardrobe in the longterm! And yes, it’s saves so much money and time. So glad Im not the only one who’s benefitted from a minimalistic lifestyle!

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  25. YES. I am all about a minimalist wardrobe and thrift shopping. I feel like it’s so difficult to keep up with spending money to buy new, full-priced clothing that is just going to go out of fashion in a few months. I’d rather buy a few things that I really love that I can wear for years, or thrifted clothing that I can get discounted. Great article!

    Sarah
    http://www.thefrenchpress.me

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  30. Great outfits. I love it. Fashion is not just about clothing or wrapping you inside extravagant meters of cloth it is more than what people think. I really like your outfits. Thanks for sharing.

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