Do you currently have a minimalist wardrobe and are looking to downsize it even more? If so, consider transitioning it into an extreme minimalist wardrobe!
You may be thinking, what is an extreme minimalist wardrobe? How is it different from a typical minimalist wardrobe?
This may come as a shock *insert sarcastic tone*, but an extreme minimalist wardrobe is simply more extreme than a typical minimalist wardrobe. Having an extreme minimalist wardrobe means owning the bare minimum, whereas, you can own pieces that aren’t essential and still consider your wardrobe to be ‘minimalist’.
How Many Pieces Are in an Extreme Minimalist Wardrobe?
An extreme minimalist wardrobe is smaller than a typical minimalist wardrobe. But, how much smaller? How many pieces of clothing are in an extreme minimalist wardrobe?
I wish there was a simple answer to this commonly asked question, but there’s not. There is no agreed upon number of items that makes a minimalist wardrobe considered ‘extreme‘.
Being an extreme minimalist is ultimately a self proclaimed title and will look different for different people.
Some extreme minimalists are able to fit all of their clothing into a single backpack while others aim to own 10 or 20 items.
Regardless of the amount of items you choose to keep in your wardrobe, every piece of clothing should be an essential. There isn’t space for ‘what if’ items or pieces that aren’t practical.
In this post, I will give you some actionable steps you can take to build an extreme minimalist wardrobe.
Let’s get into it!
How to Create an Extreme Minimalist Wardrobe: 12 Simple Steps!
1. Set Your Intentions
Because an extreme minimalist wardrobe may look different to different people, it’s important to set your intentions before you get started. You need to decide exactly what you want to gain out of having an extreme minimalist wardrobe. This will help you visualize your dream wardrobe.
Here are a few examples of the intentions you may have for your extreme minimalist wardrobe:
- I want to own less than 100 articles of clothing
- I want to own only 10 articles of clothing
- I want to be able to fit all of my clothing into a single suitcase
- I would like it to be easy to pick out an outfit every morning
- I want to stop feeling like I never have anything to wear
- I want to stop feeling like my style is constantly changing
- I want to have a ‘uniform’ (aka own multiples of one outfit)
Did any of these intentions resonate with you? If so, repeat that intention to yourself as you declutter your closet.
2. Embrace Outfit Repeating
If you scoff at the thought of repeating outfits you’ll need to change that mindset ASAP. Outfit repeating is a major component to having an extreme minimalist wardrobe.
The idea behind having an extreme minimalist wardrobe is finding the few things you love wearing and wearing them consistently.
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).
What do you want your everyday, go-to outfit to be? What will your lounging outfit be? Think of all the scenarios you frequently find yourself in and make sure you have something to wear for all of them. Remember that these need to be frequent scenarios. If you don’t go out much, you won’t need a going out outfit.
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
- Sleeping
- Going Out
- Working
- Exercising
- Swimming
3. Stick to a Neutral Color Palette
Most extreme minimalists like to stick to a neutral color palette when building their wardrobes. This isn’t a requirement but it does make putting together outfits a little bit easier.
If you don’t want your wardrobe to consist of exclusively neutral colors, you should still consider incorporating some neutral basics into your wardrobe.
Here are a few examples of neutral basics you should own:
- Black or White T-Shirt
- Black Pants
- Denim Jeans (Black or Blue)
- White Sneakers
- Black Boots
- Black Bag
- Neutral Colored Coat
These colors are super wearable and timeless!
4. Stick to Basics
When building your extreme minimalist wardrobe make sure to incorporate plenty of basic pieces. Think t-shirts, jeans, simple sweaters, etc.
Basic pieces are easy to transition into different seasons by simply layering other basics over top.
For instance, during the summertime your go-to outfit may be a white t-shirt and black mini skirt. You can easily transition this outfit into a fall or spring time look by adding black tights and a simple sweater or jacket overtop.
The more pieces you can wear in different seasons, the less clothing you’ll need to own.
5. Choose Versatile Pieces
Choosing versatile pieces goes hand in hand with sticking to basics. When building your extreme minimalist wardrobe, make sure that the items you include are versatile.
You may be thinking, what makes an article of clothing versatile? Here are some examples!
- They can be worn during different seasons
- They are easy to style
- They are timeless and won’t go out of style
- They can be dressed up or dressed down
6. Avoid Trendy Pieces
Trends come and go. In order to build a wardrobe that you’ll love for years and years, you need to prioritize timeless pieces over trendy pieces.
Avoiding fast fashion brands when you shop is a great way to keep yourself from buying items that will go out of fashion.
7. Consider the Climate You Live In
Climate will play a huge role in building your optimal extreme minimalist wardrobe. Depending on where you live, you may need more or less of a certain item.
If you live in a place that is cold year round, you may be able to get away with not owning any shorts. Whereas if you live in a hot, humid climate, shorts will be a necessity. You may even want to own a couple of pairs.
When building your extreme minimalist wardrobe, consider how often it snows or rains where you live. Think about how warm it gets during the summer and how cold it gets during the winter. You definitely don’t want to get rid of something you’ll need in an effort to be more minimal. You can prevent this from happening by considering the climate you live in.
8. Consider Your Lifestyle
Considering your lifestyle is just as important to building a successful extreme minimalist wardrobe. Think about your hobbies, what you do for fun and where you work 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 options you can wear. That way, you don’t find yourself constantly doing laundry.
If you’re an active person, you will want to own more workout clothes than someone who isn’t very active.
If you enjoy painting, you will want to own a smock or something you don’t mind getting dirty. On the flip side, a smock wouldn’t be considered an essential to someone who doesn’t have a creative hobby.
The point is, consider your lifestyle when building your wardrobe.
9. Prioritize Comfort
I’ve found that my most worn outfits are the ones that are most comfortable.
If you decide to have an extreme minimalist wardrobe, you need to make sure that you love wearing every single piece you own. You can do this by prioritizing comfort over style.
10. Choose High Quality Pieces
Prioritize quality over quantity when building your wardrobe. The more durable your clothing is, the less often you’ll need to replace it.
It’s important to recognize that by having less clothing, the items that you do own will get a lot more use. Find pieces that will hold up regardless of how often you wear them. That way you aren’t replacing your clothes as often!
How to Recognize High-Quality Pieces
Know Your Fabrics. Make sure that the fabric your clothing is made out of is right for you.
If it’s important that your clothing is made from sustainable materials, opt for natural fibers such as hemp, linen or bamboo. However, if you regularly put your clothes in the dryer, these materials are not the best.
Generally speaking, natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool or linen shrink quicker than synthetic fabrics like viscose and polyester. If you regularly throw your clothes in the dryer, opt for synthetic or semi-synthetic fabrics instead. Polyester, nylon, spandex and acrylic are known to retain their size over many dry cycles.
Notice The Seams. Before you bring a new piece of clothing home with you, 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 may not be the best quality. Avoid pieces that have extra top stitching or a raw hem.
Pay Attention to 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.
11. Take Care of Your Clothes
Let’s face it, if you have an extreme minimalist wardrobe, you’ll want every piece of clothing you own 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 longer!
- Wash your clothes less frequently
- Wash your clothes on the cold setting
- Hand wash your clothes when you can
- 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!
- Let your clothes air dry
- Wash your clothes inside out (who knew?!)
12. Follow The One in One Out Rule
Always follow the one in one out rule. This rule is pretty straight forward. Anytime you buy a new article of clothing, you need to get rid of an article of clothing in its place. This will keep you from accumulating more items over time!
In Conclusion
With these 12 tips, you’ll build the extreme minimalist wardrobe of your dreams in no time. How many items are currently in your wardrobe? Let me know in the comments below!
Michelle Chapman says
Hey. Good ideas.
I’ve been a minimalist for about 7 years. Downsizing again from an apartment to a 23 Ft trailer. My husband has a harder time letting go of things. It’s a process, I’m trying not to be a bully. 🤣
I have no hanging space and would like to go extreme in my “at home” clothing. I’m shooting for 29 pieces.
I get a bit of anxiety when I envision this new paradigm. I’m guessing this is normal. I’m diving in. 👍
barefootminimalists says
Hi Michelle! Wow, what a huge downsize!! Good luck with your wardrobe declutter. You’ve got this 💪