I tried a minimalist wardrobe and it transformed how I buy clothes.
I’ll tell you what. Using a minimalist wardrobe has absolutely transformed the way I treat and look at clothes. It has really changed the way I BUY clothes. And it isn’t so much about learning to love classics and basics that “go with everything” (which is what I thought when I started). It’s more about learning to use your wardrobe in ways that allow you to always be wearing something you like (or better yet – love).
I hate to admit this, but before I started this journey of simplifying my wardrobe, experimenting with wardrobe capsules, and trying out Project 333, I had a bad habit of buying clothes on impulse. I mean, I was always pretty good about not breaking my monthly budget by splurging on clothes, but I was terrible about just buying things on first sight without a second thought as to whether it was a piece I really would wear and love. And I have to say, in the past year to year-and-a-half, I’ve drastically changed the way I buy clothes.
5 Things a Minimalist Wardrobe Has Taught Me About Buying Clothes
1. Always try things on.
I HATE trying clothes on at the store. So, often what would happen is I would see a cute top or something and I’d just throw it in my cart and tell myself that I’d try it on at home and return it if I didn’t like it. Well, I also hate making random and otherwise unnecessary trips to the store to return clothes.
I would either try it on and decide to return it, but never actually do so, or I would never try it on until an occasion came up to wear it and I’d try it on quickly just to be sure it fit, ignoring comfort, throw it in the wash, and wear it for that one single occasion.
Now I have a rule to never buy something unless I’ve tried it on FIRST. And when I try on clothes in the store, I pay attention to how it feels to move (walk, sit, bend over, reach, sit on the floor – because I’m a mom 😉 ) in that item of clothing. I don’t buy anything that is uncomfortable.
I do make an exception for making online purchases. Because I do like shopping online, but obviously can’t try anything on before buying, I make a commitment to myself to try on the clothes as soon as they arrive and return them immediately if I end up not liking them. I write the ETA date in my calendar and pencil in a time to make a trip to the post office just in case. That way, if I end up not returning the purchase I end up with an unplanned opening in my schedule rather than an unplanned trip to squeeze in somewhere.
This is one of the reasons I really love style boxes for enhancing my wardrobe. I can keep items for 3 days and try them on with clothing I already own before deciding if I want to make the purchase.
2. Only buy clothes that you are comfortable wearing.
I mentioned this already, but it is worth mentioning as a lesson/rule in itself. I can’t begin to count how many things I’ve purged from my wardrobe because I just couldn’t stand wearing them – no matter how cute or stylish they were. Even things that LOOK comfortable, sometimes just aren’t.
As a mom of two (soon to be three) kids 4 and under, I move around a lot. I sit on the floor, I crawl and bend and kneel, I lean over things and reach up for things, I pick people and things up. I can’t be comfortable in anything that restricts movement. So no matter how much I love the look of a nice, structured, button-down shirt, I just won’t ever wear one because they don’t allow me to move the way I need to.
I should clarify that I don’t mean we should all only wear sweats and t-shirts. Back when I worked a corporate job, I WAS comfortable wearing those button-down shirts. They weren’t what I’d call comfortable in the sense that I would wear one to sleep in, but I didn’t feel restricted in them. There isn’t a whole lot of range of motion that comes with sitting at a desk most of the day. And if I still worked a job like that, there would be a place in my wardrobe for different types of clothing that I don’t wear today.
I absolutely LOVE Agnes & Dora clothing because it is super comfortable and very stylish. And as a bonus, there are so many gorgeous styles, prints, and colors that are perfect for mix-and-match wardrobes.
3. Budget for buying one or two new items each season.
Even if your wardrobe is so simplified that you only wear t-shirts and jeans, you will inevitably want or need a new piece of clothing a couple of times throughout the year. Put it in your budget – and STICK TO IT (meaning don’t buy more than you budgeted for – it’s totally ok to buy less).
Clothes get worn out. Even when they don’t, your style changes over time. And if you are coming from a place of always buying the latest fashion, you will probably feel deprived if you don’t allow yourself to buy a new wardrobe piece or two each season.
A minimalist wardrobe isn’t about depriving yourself. It’s about having what you need and will actually wear and no more than that. My advice would be to make a rule that for every new piece of clothing you bring in, you have to let one go. Donate it, sell it, whatever. Just get rid of something. This will help keep your wardrobe under control and prevent an overflowing closet that’s full of clothing you don’t ever wear.
I love ThredUp for getting rid of gently used clothing. You can request a ‘clean out bag’ on their site and send them the items you don’t want. You’ll get a store credit you can use to shop for excellent condition secondhand clothes, or you can redeem for cash.
If you’re working on building your fall wardrobe, check out my 4 tips for building a fall wardrobe from your own closet (using clothing you already own)!
4. Highly trendy items often aren’t worth it.
When you only allow yourself to buy one or two new items each season, you start to think hard before you make that purchase. If something is SO trendy that you will probably only wear it for that one season, you are far less likely to buy it if it is the only thing you’ll buy for the next 3 months. Also, if you force yourself to let go of one clothing item for every one you buy, you’ll think long and hard before letting something in that you’ll only enjoy and use for less than a year.
And guess what? You will not miss it in three months.
If you want to enjoy the latest trend, find a low-cost, low-commitment way to do it. Find this year’s in-color in a scarf or necklace, rather than a pair of pants, for example.
Another great way to indulge in the hottest trends is to rent clothing. I’ve tried Le Tote for renting clothing with the option to buy at 50% off retail, and I had a great experience. This is a good way to keep your closet in check.
5. Higher price does not always equal higher quality.
Yes, there are instances where a higher priced item of clothing is more durable. But often times that is not the case. And when you use a minimalist wardrobe, you really begin to pay attention to quality.
Now, I will say that quality is a subjective term. What ‘quality’ means to me is clothing that is well-made, patterns match up nicely at seams, nice material is used, and the piece is durable enough to be worn frequently. To other people, quality may refer to the fashion design of a piece. In that case, higher price does usually mean better quality. But that’s not the definition I’m using.
My main experience that has taught me this lesson is in buying t-shirts. I bought a higher priced white t-shirt because I figured I would be wearing it a ton and it would be worth the extra cost to buy one that was a higher quality. The t-shirt was very soft and fit nicely. But the material started to become thin after just one season. I could have bought a t-shirt from Target that would have lasted me a couple of years.
(Edited to add: I recently purchased a solid white v-neck t-shirt from Pact and it’s fantastic. Great price, great quality, AND organic cotton! Check out my list of ethical brands for other ethically made and sustainably sourced clothing brands.)
Another experience I’ve had is with boots. I have a pair of boots that I paid $30 for (on sale + coupon) that are real leather, comfortable, and actually fit really well. They’ll last me a long time and I didn’t need to pay $200 for them.
The only caveat to this lesson is that there are hidden costs in inexpensive clothing and accessories. I mean the cost of the conditions in which the people who make them work and live. Also, consider the environmental costs of factories in places that don’t have strict regulations for protecting the environment. This is something I wrestle with personally. I hate the thought of supporting operations that don’t treat the earth and the people on it well. But the first step to making a difference is to reduce how much you consume, and a minimalist wardrobe is the best way to do that!
Have you tried a capsule/minimalist wardrobe yet? What lessons have you learned? Please share in the comments!
Related posts readers enjoy:
- A Primer to Simplify Your Wardrobe
- Should I Sell of Should I Donate?
- 12 Reasons You Can’t Stay Clutter Free
- How to Be Happy: Five Things to Stop Doing TODAY!
Jessica [Havok] says
I bought something that was “trendy” a few times. One shirt that was the right color and had a deer head on it and I loved it. I reasoned with myself that the style was weird, sure, but the shirt itself overall was good (because of how much I liked what was on it). Was one of those shirts that is shorter in the front than in the back, and the front part only was bellybutton length. It fit, sure, but it was a style that just…not for me. I wore it around the house a few times and just couldn’t see myself wearing it outside of the house. It wasn’t right, no matter how much I would try and convince myself otherwise. Same with a dress-thing I bought, that had a weird waist cut. While I did wear that a few times, I never enjoyed wearing it (beyond the color, that is) because of the style. Both of these things were on clearance at Target though, so the rational part of my mind in the end wasn’t too terribly sad, as there wasn’t but ten or so dollars lost between the two items – though that adds up over time if you continue with the same thing! Trends are lame xD
Laura says
Oh, the good ol’ Target clearance rack! Yes, I’ve given in to that temptation MANY times. My regret isn’t just the money spent, necessarily, it’s the clutter it adds to my closet. And then I think, “I could have used that space [and money, actually] for something I really liked!”. I try to only indulge in trends that can last a long time. Like knee-high riding boots. Those have been “in” for a few years now. Usually pattern-type trends, like chevron, are short lived. So as cute or stylish as I think it may be, I skip those.
Red says
Haha, I never liked the Chevron trend, I’m so glad now I didn’t give in. ?
Laura says
You know, I was never truly in love with the chevron trend. It isn’t really my style. But I did get a chevron patterned scarf because it was on clearance and it was an easy buy. That was before I started smaller seasonal wardrobes. Now I don’t think I’d be so quick to make that purchase!
Cathy Hutchison says
Thank you for making that last point! I thought it was just me. I’ve been so disappointed in things that I paid money for because I thought they would last, that just didn’t. (And yes to Target T-shirts!!)
A few things I’ve purchased because of quality and design have paid off big time. The one I’m thinking of at the moment is my Patagonia Maximum Legal Carry On. I was able to ditch all my other luggage type bags for it. (It doesn’t matter if I’m going for three days or two weeks–that is my luggage.)
I also liked it that you pointed out we should choose 1-2 new items each season. The thing about minimalist wardrobing is that sometimes you just get tired of a piece. The difference is that before I would have bought something new and kept the old. Now, I donate it!!
Laura says
That’s so great to know about the Patagonia bag! I’ve considered buying things from them, but I’m always cautious about things I can’t see in person (unless it’s a brand I’m familiar with). I love Patagonia’s values and many of their styles. Thanks so much for stopping by, Cathy! 🙂
Charley says
Still trying to learn to THINK before I buy. So often that great deal doesn’t match what I bought it for – and I am terrible at returning things.
Laura says
Returning things is my biggest challenge. I’ve wasted so much money on not returning clothes that ended up not fitting. No more! 🙂
BJ says
I really want to par down to a minimalist wardrobe. Every time I think about it, I just can’t figure out where to start. Ditching my whole closet except for a few pieces is scary, LOL. Any tips for HOW to start this process?
Laura says
BJ – I did NOT start by getting rid of a huge amount of clothing! I truly and wholeheartedly believe that doing so is BIG mistake for some people (not everyone). I took it slow. Here is the link to the first in a series that may help you. 🙂 http://www.littlebitsofgranola.com/2016/01/24/a-new-way-to-declutter-your-closet-intro/
Mckenna says
My issue is that I don’t know what to buy so I just bit “something”. I’m a stay at home mom. I’m 25. So I don’t wanna look old I don’t wanna live in sweat pants but I don’t want to super 19 yr old trend lol so I end up just buying a cheap screen print t that I end up hating. I think if you find a store and a style it will make it much easier to stick with the minimalist wardrobe
Laura says
Mckenna, I’m so glad you brought that up. I feel that way too, and I’m 34! I don’t want to look old. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard to stay young. I just want to look put together and somewhat “with it”. I do agree with you that if you find a style and a store you love, it helps a ton. I wrote a whole series on using your existing closet to find your own true style. It’s a long process, but doing it the long way is so worth it in my mind because you actually give yourself time to really put thought and practice into it rather than making an on-the-spot decision. Here’s the link: http://www.littlebitsofgranola.com/2016/01/24/a-new-way-to-declutter-your-closet-intro/
Haley says
My main issue is I have no idea what looks good on me so I don’t feel comfortable spending more money on fewer, high-quality clothes. Seriously, I have no sense of style. I’m dealing with a lifetime of low self-esteem when it comes to my appearance and to top it off my hair is falling out…it just makes me want to give up. Any stores off the top of your head that cater to people who need to wear modest clothing who’ve had 3 kids (with the saggy tummy to go along with it)?
Laura Bailey says
Well I’m not a stylist so take my advice for what it’s worth. 😉 But I think it takes experimentation and some honest feedback from people who’s opinion you trust. One thing I think helps a lot is to take photos of yourself in clothing rather than just go by what you see in the mirror. Follow people on Instagram who’s style you like and try to figure out what it is about their style that appeals to you. 4
As far as store/brand suggestions go, I think most mainstream stores can probably accommodate your needs. It’s just a matter of personal preference on price, quality, style, etc.