Chic conscious closet: How to Build a Minimalist Wardrobe

Is your closet flooded with outfits that will never see the light of the day? It’s about time you part ways with these one-hit wonders and give your closet a conscious, minimalist, and versatile makeover.  

People often misconstrue the philosophy of less is more. Creating a minimalist wardrobe isn’t about getting rid of everything in your closet or wearing neutral colors for the rest of your life. It is rather about defining your style sustainably and getting rid of anything nonessential that doesn’t enrich your life.

Remember: It’s not about the minimalist aesthetic but minimalist lifestyle.

Revamping the entire wardrobe to blend in with the slow fashion lifestyle can look daunting at first – especially to the minimalists who have just given up on the popular fast fashion culture. However, giving this fresh fashion start to your closet will streamline and simplify your life. 

Here are some tips that will help you strip down your wardrobe and own clothes that reflect your sartorial style.

Every minimalist makeover starts with giving the closet some space. 

Be selective and weed out the outfits that don’t flatter you or don’t plan to wear anymore.

When sorting into ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ piles, only keep aside the ‘yes’ pieces that you’re confident will upgrade your wardrobe. All your staple items and must-wears fall in this category. 

On the flip side, any piece of clothing that doesn’t compliment your style needs to be decluttered from your closet. No matter how expensive or glitzy the outfit is, if you don’t feel happy or comfy wearing it, don’t give it a second thought before stashing away in the ‘no’ pile.

Next, sort through the ‘No’ pile and decide if the apparel should be upcycled or recycled. Here’s a helpful guide on what to do with clothes you don’t wear anymore. 

You can transform the upcycle pile of clothes into rags or washcloths, for example.

When it comes to exclusive pieces, we can understand how parting ways with them can make your heart sink even when you know it’s the right thing to do.
On the brighter side, you can exchange that clothing piece for a better one that complements your style.

Host or attend a clothing swap party with your friends. It’s fun and helps you get rid of too-good-to-be-thrown-away items.

Donate the rest to charity or sell them to thrift stores and consignment stores. After all, what’s better than becoming a minimalist and making some money off of it?

If your clothing is too-far-gone to be donated, resold, or repaired, you can always submit it to a recycling program. There are many sustainable organizations and resources out there willing to reuse and repurpose your well-worn apparel. 

Do not simply put back the ‘Yes’ pile in the closet. Catalog your wardrobe. It’s fun and time-saving! 

Categorize your dresses, gowns, t-shirts, pants, outerwear, and the other outfits. Store like items in a dedicated section. 

For instance, you can categorize clothes into work, casual, seasonal, and special occasion items. The core pieces that you wear regularly should be placed at the center stage of your closet.

Start off with these organizing tips:

1. Hang all the clothing items that are delicate (dresses, skirts, etc.) or sturdy (suits, coats, and blazers).
2. Stack thick and bulky pieces, like your denim or winter wear in separate piles. They perfectly occupy the shelf space without getting crumpled. 
3. Roll and tuck your cotton shirts, t-shirts, pajamas, shorts, leggings, and anything that is thin into your drawers. It’s a major space-saver! 
4. Keep your daily-wears in the middle of the closet. This way you can find them easily since they are at your eye level.
5. Color-code your wardrobe to easily pick your outfit of the day. It looks aesthetically pleasing and saves time when you’re running late.

Once you taste the power of organizing and simplicity, there’s no going back. It’s a life hack to save precious time while you’re busy seizing the day!  

Keep tabs on seasonal trends, wardrobe essentials, and style labels by fashion icons but do not push yourself to try something that doesn’t inspire you. Ditch the conventional fashion typologies and define your unique style.

That being said, we’re not asking you to fall in the neutral fashion spectrum. Whether it’s bold, bohemian, hippie, or anything zany, wear what makes your heart flutter and accentuates your personality. 

A truly timeless outfit in your wardrobe is the one that you love to wear. Take some time and self-reflect upon your fashion choices. 

Ask yourself these questions:

What fabrics do I love wearing?

Which outfits make me feel comfy and compliment my personality?

What colors do I often wear?

Style trumps fashion. If wearing an outfit doesn’t make you feel 100% confident and comfortable, it’s not worth it. Likewise, do not feel bad about wearing something that suits your style but is not in line with the current trend. In the end, it’s all about you! 

Besides, some of the popular trendsetters of the century were the ones who styled their way up to fame with their uniqueness and creativity.

Why buy one pair of jeans when I can get 3 more at the same price? 

While this argument might sound reasonable to those following fast fashion culture, it does not hold water in the minimalist world. The approach is terribly wasteful as a handful of the clothes that we buy are not even worn once. Consequently, these brand new pieces eventually find their way to a landfill. 

The truth is, all the ‘feel-good’ shopping doesn’t do any actual good to you or the environment. This pursuit of faux happiness is disheartening and will eventually bring you back to square one with a cluttered closet. 

Ditch the old shopping habits and take a minimalist approach instead. Go thrift shopping! 

If you shop meticulously, you can get a killer wardrobe with timeless pieces that perfectly reflect your style. You’ll have to put in little extra efforts to score good stuff at thrift stores. But it’s worth the hustle!

Here’s a quick rundown on secondhand shopping from our zero waste lifestyle post.

First off, take a closer look into your closet and make a list of stuff you need to buy so you don’t fall into one of those shopping traps. Next, set a budget. Decide how much are you willing to pay for a particular item or for the entire shopping day and spend accordingly. Make sure you dig through all the racks and score the best stuff. Before leaving, take a walk through the store again to ensure you don’t miss out on anything. 

Carry a reusable bag on the shopping day to avoid plastic or paper bags offered by sellers.

There are few rare moments when budding minimalists say: I don’t have anything to wear! 

And these tiny moments make up for some of the most unforgettable memories of our lives. 

Be it a wedding, vacation, or gala – every occasion deserves a unique piece that is hard to find in a minimalist wardrobe. However, a true minimalist at heart does not favor an exception for those infrequent occasions. 

So, how to dress for one? 

Time to hit up your friends! Ask if you can borrow their outfit for a night or two. You can also try renting clothes online. There are some really good websites that rent designer clothes, like Rent the Runway, Le Tote, and Armoire. 

Renting clothes not only saves you money but also gives access to an unlimited wardrobe – the one where you can find the right dress for every occasion without cluttering your closet.

There’s no tried and tested method to becoming a pro-minimalist. You can have 5 or 50 items in your wardrobe, as long as you enjoy wearing them all.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your color palette or design until you find THE ONE that simplifies your wardrobe and enriches your personality.
Although, keep in mind to avoid a wasteful approach, and you’re good to go!

Is your closet clutter-free? Share your ideas for creating a minimalist wardrobe in the comments section below. We would love to add it to our piece!