When you look in your closet, what do you see? Do you see a collection of timeless pieces that you love, or, ‘nothing to wear’? If it’s the latter, building an extreme minimalist wardrobe will help you fall in love with your clothes again.
In this post, I will be sharing some extreme minimalist wardrobe dos and don’ts. You’ll learn exactly what to do (and what to avoid) when building and maintaining your extreme minimalist wardrobe.
But first, let’s start by defining an extreme minimalist wardrobe and go through the benefits of having one!
What Is an Extreme Minimalist Wardrobe?
An extreme minimalist wardrobe is a carefully curated collection of clothing pieces made up of versatile essentials. The goal is to have a wardrobe that is both practical and versatile, where each item can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits.
While there is no set number of items that constitute an extreme minimalist wardrobe, most people aim to have as few as 10-15 items. These items may include basic tops, bottoms, and shoes that are neutral in color and can be worn in various combinations.
What Are the Benefits of an Extreme Minimalist Wardrobe?
✓ Save money
Americans spend so much money on clothes.
According to The Ascent, research shows that Americans spend between $326 and $545 per year on clothing. Footwear costs the average household $314 and clothing for children under two costs about $68 per year. That comes out to a total of $1,434 each year on clothes — or about $120 a month!
By having an extreme minimalist wardrobe, you are choosing not to buy new clothes. Imagine the money you’ll save!
✓ save space
Less clothing will open up so much more space in your home for other things. You may even be able to clear the closet in your guest bedroom (that has turned into an overflow closet) for guests *wink wink.
✓ Less clutter
For many of us, our clothes cause quite a bit of clutter in our home.
Everyone has that one chair in their bedroom that is designated for clothes that they’re too lazy to fold. Most people also have a closet that is bursting at the seams with clothes they haven’t worn since high school. Now imagine if you got rid of 90% of those clothes.
You’d spend way less time folding, doing laundry and picking up after yourself. It would be so much easier to maintain an organized space if you simply had less clothing!
✓ less decisions = Less fatigue
Decision making fatigue is a real thing!
According to Dr. MacLean, a psychiatrist interviewed by AMA, decision fatigue is “the idea that after making many decisions, your ability to make more and more decisions over the course of a day becomes worse. The more decisions you have to make, the more fatigue you develop and the more difficult it can become.”
By having less options to wear, you take decision making out of getting dressed.
In a sense, having an extreme minimalist wardrobe is almost like wearing a uniform. For every situation you may find yourself in, you only have one (or at most a few) options to wear.
✓ more mobility
The less stuff you own, the more mobile you become. Moving and traveling becomes way easier when you own less stuff.
For many of us, we own a lot of clothes. This makes transporting them during a move a complete nightmare!
On the flip side, an extreme minimalist wardrobe allows you to pick up and go with ease.
The Do’s and Don’ts of an Extreme Minimalist Wardrobe
Let’s get into some extreme minimalist wardrobe do’s and don’ts!
1. Do Set Intentions
Before you start decluttering, set some intentions.
Why do you want to have an extreme minimalist wardrobe? How many clothes do you want to own?
Remember that your clothing needs will be different from someone else’s. Even if an extreme minimalist you follow online only owns 10 articles of clothing, that doesn’t mean you should too.
Decide how many items you want to own based solely off your goals and lifestyle. Then, set aside some time to think about why you want to transition your wardrobe into an extreme minimalist wardrobe. Do you want to save money? Maybe you want less clutter in your home?
When you’ve thought through your motivations, write them down in the form of intentions.
An intention is a purpose driven statement spoken or written as if it has already happened.
Below are some examples of intentions you may have for your extreme minimalist wardrobe.
- It only takes me ten minutes to get dressed
- I only own fifty articles of clothing
- I don’t purchase clothes impulsively
- I love every article of clothing I own
Now, set your own intentions! This will help you stay on track.
2. Do Choose a Color Palette
When building your extreme minimalist wardrobe, make sure that every piece is interchangeable. You want all of your clothes to match, that way, it’s super easy to build outfits.
The simplest way to do this is by sticking to a color palette. It’s the reason why some minimalists choose to own exclusively black and white clothing. Don’t feel like you need to though! If you prefer a bit of color, go for it! Just pick colors that go well with one another.
3. Do Hold Onto Maybe Items For a Little Longer
When decluttering your wardrobe, create four piles. A keep, donate, alter and maybe pile. I recommend holding onto those maybe items a little longer if you have the space in your home.
Put the maybe items in a box and store them somewhere where you won’t see them. You know what they say, out of sight out of mind. Most likely, you’ll forget these items even existed after your initial declutter, but if you find yourself reaching for them, you’ll be happy you didn’t donate them right away.
Wait at least 30 days before you take them to a charity shop!
4. Don’t Buy Clothing Multipacks or Bundles
Avoid buying multipacks and bundles. Don’t buy multipacks of underwear, socks, white t-shirts, leggings, etc. You’ll end up with way more than you need and have to sacrifice quality for quantity.
5. Do Take Good Care of Your Clothes
When you don’t own a lot of clothing, you’ll want every piece to look as good as it did when you first bought it. Taking care of your clothes is crucial if you want them to last!
Below are some basic tips to make your clothes last way longer!
- Wash your clothes less frequently
- Wash your clothes on the cold setting
- Hand wash your clothes when you can
- Invest in a nice washer and dryer that won’t mangle your clothes
- Opt for a front load washer over a top load! They are gentler on clothes
- Use non-toxic laundry detergent. Molly’s Suds and Young Living Thieves are my go to’s because they are completely natural yet ultra concentrated so they can effectively fight stains!
- Use as little detergent as possible
- Line dry your delicates
- Wash your clothes inside out (who knew?!)
6. Do Categorize Your Clothes
Have you ever cleaned out your closet and found a bunch of items you completely forgot you owned! Maybe you found a pair of jeans hidden away in the back, or, a top mixed in with your socks and underwear.
To avoid ‘losing’ your clothing, when organizing your clothes after your initial declutter, make sure to categorize them!
Put all of your like items together and do your best to put things back where they belong after they’ve been worn.
7. Don’t Declutter Too Much
As tempting as it may be to get rid of everything during your initial declutter, I suggest you don’t. Instead, take your time! Declutter slowly and intentionally. Otherwise, you’ll end up with tons of gaps in your closet that you’ll have to fill with brand new items. The truth is, you may not know you if you actually need something until you’ve been without it.
8. Don’t Include Trendy Pieces
When building your extreme minimalist wardrobe, avoid keeping trendy pieces.
You may be thinking, how do I know if it’s a trendy piece or just a unique piece that captures my personal style?
Here’s the difference. If the clothing item in question is all over social media and has been recreated by tons of fast fashion brands, it’s a trendy piece. If not, it’s safe to assume that it’s just a fun piece you love!
9. Do Hold Onto a Fun Piece (Or Two!)
In which case, hold onto it! An extreme minimalist wardrobe doesn’t need to be made up of exclusively black and white basics. If your personal style is colorful and eclectic, there’s no need to change it in pursuit of a minimalist wardrobe.
Instead, think about which pieces are your go to’s. We all have a hat, pair of pants or top that we love to wear. We feel good in it, it fits us well or maybe it’s unique and really good quality.
Hold onto that statement piece and get rid of the ones you only wear once a year.
10. Don’t Obsess Over the Number of Items
Don’t obsess over the number of items in your wardrobe. Remember that everyone’s clothing needs and lifestyles are completely different.
What you do for work, how often you go out, your hobbies and the amount of exercise you do, will all effect the amount of clothing you will need. So, don’t compare yourself to anyone! Instead, focus on your goals and what you want to accomplish by having an extreme minimalist wardrobe. Let those goals guide your decisions!
11. Do Invest in High Quality Pieces
After you declutter, if there are any clothing pieces you still need in order to complete your wardrobe, invest in high quality pieces!
You may be thinking, how do I recognize if an item is high quality? Below are some things to look out for!
- Know your fabrics! If sustainability is important to you, opt for clothing made from natural fibers such as hemp, linen or bamboo. Keep in mind that if you regularly put your clothes in the dryer, these materials are not the best. Natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool or linen shrink quicker than synthetic fabrics like viscose and polyester.
- Pay attention to the seams. Make sure that the stitches and seams of the garment are straight and neat. If the clothing has loose threads or uneven seams, it’s a dead giveaway that it is probably not the best quality.
- Notice the buttons and zippers: If a piece of clothing has plastic buttons or zippers, it’s probably not the best quality. Look for garments that have wood or metal buttons and zippers instead.
12. Do Make Decluttering a Habit
It’s important to make decluttering a habit if you want to maintain your extreme minimalist wardrobe. Anytime you add a piece of clothing to your wardrobe, get in the habit of getting rid of a piece in its place.
This habit is also called the ‘one in one out rule’.
13. Do Follow the 30 Day Rule
The 30 day rule is simple. Before you purchase something that is over $30, wait 30 days. That way you know your purchase isn’t impulsive!
It’s inevitable that after you’ve built your extreme minimalist wardrobe, you’ll end up needing something at some point. Giving yourself a 30 day waiting period will ensure that it’s something you really need.
14. Do Build Your Wardrobe Around Scenarios
Build your wardrobe around scenarios that you may find yourself in. That way, you have a go to outfit no matter what situation you find yourself in.
For a moment, picture the cartoon character from your favorite animated TV show. They have an ‘everyday’ outfit they wear for most of the episode, a ‘party’ outfit, a pair of pajamas, etc. They have one go to outfit for every scenario they find themselves in.
As an extreme minimalist, you need to think of yourself as a cartoon character (as silly as that may sound).
Below are some typical scenarios to build outfits around:
- Running errands (This will be your go-to outfit. Make sure and consider all of the seasons when picking your outfits)
- Lounging
- Going to class
- Sleeping
- Going out
- Working
- Exercising
- Swimming
15. Don’t Feel Like You Need to Maintain a Certain Aesthetic
Many minimalists choose to stick to a ‘minimalist’ aesthetic when it comes to their fashion choices (think white t-shirts and black jeans).
Although dressing in this way does make picking out outfits easier, you don’t need to! You can wear colorful, quirky clothes and still be a minimalist.
If a minimalist aesthetic is what you’re going for, don’t get rid of perfectly good items just because they don’t fit this aesthetic. Instead, wear your old items until they wear out. Only then should you swap them out for pieces you love more.
16. Do Consider Your Lifestyle
Consider your hobbies, your past times and your job when building your wardrobe.
If you work remotely, owning a blazer may not be necessary. However, if you have an office job, you’ll definitely want to hold onto one.
If the work you do is messy, make sure to have a few pieces that you don’t mind getting dirty.
If you’re an active person, you’ll want to own more workout clothes than someone who isn’t.
The point is, build your wardrobe around your lifestyle.
17. Do Choose Versatile Pieces
When deciding which pieces to keep in your wardrobe, consider the versatility of the item. Can it be easily transitioned from summer to fall? Can it be worn in several different scenarios?
If the answer to these questions is yes, it’s a piece you should hold onto.
18. Don’t Own ‘What If’ Pieces
Everyone has a few pieces in their wardrobe that they hold onto ‘just incase’.
For some, it’s a pair of stilettos that they haven’t worn in years but hold onto in case they’re invited to a wedding. Or, a ski jacket that’s sitting in the garage collecting dust.
Whatever those ‘what if’ items are for you, let them go! I promise you won’t miss them once they’re gone.
19. Do Consider Your Climate
Consider the climate you live in when building your extreme minimalist wardrobe.
If you live in a sunny, warm place, hold onto a few pairs of shorts. If you live somewhere cold. owning just one pair will get the job done. Only own things that you will regularly use.
20. Do Swap With Friends
If you have a hole in your wardrobe, ask a friend if they have that item for you to borrow before you purchase it.
For instance, if you decide to get rid of those stilettos and then are invited to a wedding (just your luck!), ask a friend if she has a pair that you can borrow before you go out and buy a pair!
21. Do Wear a Work ‘Uniform’
Even if your job doesn’t require you to wear a uniform, create one for yourself! It will be so much easier to get dressed in the morning.
Decide on two or three outfits that you love wearing and commit to wearing them every time you go to work. You’ll save so much time and energy by not having to pick out an outfit every day.
22. Don’t Shop Impulsively
The most important part of having an extreme minimalist wardrobe is maintaining it. That means not letting it grow.
The easiest way to stop accumulating more clothing is to stop impulse shopping. If this is an issue for you, you’re in luck. I wrote an entire blog post about how to stop shopping impulsively! Click here for some tips and tricks.
23. Do Take Inventory of What you Actually Wear
Remember that your wardrobe can always change. If you held onto a piece in your initial declutter that you aren’t wearing as much as you thought you would, get rid of it!
After the first month of having an extreme minimalist wardrobe, take inventory of what you actually wore. By doing so, you can make sure that your wardrobe is actually suited to you. If it’s not, swap out some items for ones you’ll actually use.
24. Do Find Your Personal Style
Finding your personal style is important to having a wardrobe that you love. But finding you personal style can be a challenge. The most common reason why people feel like they don’t have a sense of style is because it changes so often.
If you feel like your style is constantly changing, here are some quick tips for you.
- Know that you can like a style without having to wear it
- Stop following fashion influencers online
- Avoid shopping trends
- Stop shopping for your fantasy self
- Remember that changing your style won’t change your life
- Don’t dress for anyone but yourself
Need more tips? Click here!
25. Do Think About What You Wear Every Day
When putting together outfits for your extreme minimalist wardrobe, think about what you actually wear day to day. Be honest with yourself. It’s possible that your most worn item isn’t even your favorite piece. It might be your rattiest, dingiest sweatshirt.
For most of us, the things we wear everyday are comfortable and casual. Not glamorous and trendy. If this resonates with you, build your wardrobe around wearable pieces, not just ones you wish you wore.
26. Do Stay Inspired
Staying inspired is crucial to having a successful extreme minimalist wardrobe.
Watch, read and listen to things that inspire you to be a better minimalist.
Audit the influencers you follow online. If they’re promoting a materialistic lifestyle, unfollow them. Replace them with influencers who promote a minimalist, slow and simple lifestyle instead.
Here is a list of 27 inspiring minimalist blogs to follow!
27. Do Be Realistic
Most importantly, be realistic.
Over the years, your weight may fluctuate, you might start a new hobby or your clothes might rip. You’ll need new clothes to accommodate these changes.
Don’t be hard on yourself if you end up buying new a piece or two down the road. Just do your best and have fun with it!
What are your extreme minimalist wardrobe do’s and don’ts?! Let me know in the comments below!
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