The Benefits of a Minimalist Wardrobe

Timeless, textured, fresh and with a touch of elegance. Thoughtful details, versatile colours and fine fabrics replace fast-fashion and impractical items. These are some of the features of a minimalist wardrobe.

Minimalism and simplicity are not new concepts and have been major trends in fashion for some time. In fact, the legendary fashion icon Coco Chanel famously said 'before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.' When it comes to a timeless wardrobe - less is definitely more.

Many people are opting for a low maintenance and minimalist wardrobe, albeit for different reasons. For example, successful people with high-demanding schedules wear the same style of clothes each day in a bid to reduce the number of daily decisions in front of them. This saves brain power and minimises decision fatigue. Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg are two people known for sticking to the same style of clothes everyday, whether in style or colour. Obama sticks to wearing only gray or blue suits while Zuckerberg has made the grey t-shirt iconic.

There are other benefits to a simplified wardrobe. A minimalist wardrobe saves time each morning and is less expensive over time. Also, if you spend time planning out a minimalist wardrobe that is most comfortable for you - then you will always feel good.

The Minimalist wardrobe has also been taken to the next level by some fashionistas. The so called Capsule Wardrobe is not yet widely known, but is gaining traction and interest. A capsule wardrobe places an upper limit on the number of items a person owns - 37 to be exact. This approach eliminates chaos, encourages intentionality and challenges each individual to consider only what is necessary. Like the Buy Nothing for a Year Movement, many people are treating the Capsule Wardrobe as an challenge for the period of one year. Then, once they have experience and a strong foundation cultivating a wardrobe with less items, they may relax their capsule wardrobe a little, but still aim to keep the entire wardrobe under 50 items.

So where to start on this refreshing endeavour? A minimalist wardrobe starts with a wardrobe clean-out. Decide what you need and want. Aim to get rid of excess and keep only the essential. This is a process of discovering your true style and revealing the timeless, authentic expression of yourself. From there, build on your existing baseline and select clothing that can serve multiple purposes across different seasons. Choose colours that you love and that are easy to mix-and match, such as beige, tonal greys, blues and pastels. Pay particular attention to items that are multi-functional and durable in terms of both fabric and style.

A minimalist wardrobe is really a journey and part of a different way of being in relation to your wardrobe and perhaps even other dimensions of your life. However, there are two things that you may notice immediately - your mornings will be less stressful, and your wardrobe full of only items you love.