5 Tips (I Am Trying To Follow) On How To Achieve a Minimalist Wardrobe

I've not always thought less is more, especially when it came to fashion. Fashion blogging is fun and all but after 3 years of being at it, I realised how much stuff I have accumulated and worse, how many pieces I only bought for one blog post and so never wore again. Trends come and go, yet clothes I spent money on are just sitting at the back of my closet, forgotten and unused. This past weekend, as I sat on my bed looking at my wide open wardrobe stuck on what to wear I found myself asking why do I repeatedly think I have nothing to wear when my closet is full to bursting?! Every morning finding something to wear becomes increasingly difficult, I cannot fit in any more hanging pieces and everything just seems to be on top of everything else making it difficult for me to see what I actually have. Not to mention, all the storage bags I have under my bed with my summer clothes (because I would never be able to fit everything I own, both summer and winter clothing, in my wardrobe); heck, I am overflowing into my husband's side of the closet! I realised enough was enough, it was time I knew exactly what I owned, got rid of things I did not need and just made dressing time easier and stress-free. Having never really done a drastic clean out, I did some research on what a minimalist fashion wardrobe consisted of and whilst I am still miles away from being completely on top of my belongings, these are tips I tried to follow and will continue to do (and I must say, it has done all the difference already) and I am excited to see the evolution it will continue to bring.

1.  GET RID OF DUPLICATES

Do I really need 5 white shirts, all in pretty much the same style? What about the 3 pairs of Primark PJs that are exactly identical except for the colour? No, I really do not. I looked through my stash and if I had two pieces that were similar, I forced myself to pick just one to keep and the other to give away. Similar, I recently received two pairs of shoes from a brand, both in the same style but in different colours and I most definitely did not need to keep both (even though I really wanted to at first), so I gave one to a friend because I knew I wasn't going to wear one enough, let alone two. In the end, I was quite surprised at how many duplicates I actually had, as I had originally thought I wouldn't find many.

2. MAXIMISE YOUR WARDROBE

I don't mean buy more stuff, but instead, make more use of what's already in there. For me, the easiest way to achieve this one is to stick to a colour palette, look for capsule wardrobe pieces and shop for things that match what I already own. It is very tempting to buy that heavily embroidered denim jacket but will I wear it enough compared to a normal, more minimalist jacket? Probably not. The idea for me is to buy less and wear more what I already have, only adding pieces that I really love and that I know I will wear often. I've been quite good at this for the past few months if I may say so myself; I have hardly gone shopping and instead of giving into all the trends, I have thought very hard on what exactly to spend my money on. I went to Primark this past weekend and only came out with two items, a black blazer and some facial wipes, and that really says something!

3. THE "ONE IN, ONE OUT" RULE

This is one I need to do more often to avoid any hoarding, but as I said, I bought a new black blazer this weekend, and when I get home tonight (didn't do it yesterday because naps are a priority on Sunday afternoons) I will not only be removing one old black blazer, but two which are very similar in style and I just don't wear them enough. If I get something new, something old will have to go. I am sure this will help keep clutter and excess to a minimum and hopefully encourage me to only shop for things I really need and love.

4. INVEST IN TIMELESS PIECES

Before I run out to buy what's on my wishlist, it will be a good idea to prioritise and budget accordingly. Long are the days when I just buy something for the sake of buying or because it is on sale and it might look good for that occasion (and of course I will forget about it after). Investing in pieces that are well-made, tailored, comfortable and stylish will ensure I wear them again and again. Buying something "fashionable" is fun and I am not saying never do it, but chances are it'll be out of season in a few months and then you're stuck with it. Well-made pieces last a long time and I definitely want them to also be timeless. 

5. GIVE AWAY OR MAKE SOME MONEY

As I removed more and more out of my wardrobe, I had to decide what I was going to do with it all. I prefer giving away most things, especially clothing, to the lovely young girls at my church who are thankfully always more than happy to take things off of my hands. For shoes (because of sizing) and handbags, I've managed to sell quite a bit of stuff on Vinted, which is an app where users can put up pre-owned goods for sale. Making a little extra cash is always a good thing and my unused stuff can be useful to someone else, also a plus!

Trench Coat: New Look (old, similar here) // Jumper: Matalan (here) // Jeans: Matalan (here)

Shoes: H&M (sold out, similar here) // Bag: Gucci (here)

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Thoughts on having a minimalist wardrobe? I'd love to know your opinion below!

Thanks for reading beauties!

xoxo