I added music to one video (in which I cleared out and organized my front closet, or maybe it was the guest bathroom, or maybe both) and it was such a pain! I'm glad you like the lack of music, because I don't plan to bother with it again.
I love music. But not when shopping or watching a video like this. Someone somewhere decided music enhances the shopping experience. It makes me leave in a hurry. I appreciate when the UA-camr doesn't think they need it to make a video.
I don't count my items any more, but it was awesome to watch how you are playing around with the "right" number for you. Minimalism is different for everyone!
Oh no! I had something to say about numbers that I completely forgot to say in that video! Ugh. I was going to say that I don't really care about numbers, I care more the density of my clothing in the space that I have, BUT numbers can still be useful. For me, setting a goal and saying "I want to have X number of clothing items" is kind of like creating a virtual box. It's fun to make it all fit. And I agree completely; it's definitely different for everyone.
Oh no! I didn't mean to say I don't count any more like I used to and I've moved on from that. I meant that I don't have an overall target. But as I'm going through clothes I do have a moving goal post for "enough" of something!
The Not Busy Life I use hangers to keep count. I only keep a certain amount of hangers in my work wardrobe: 40. No keeping count because I can tell by how many hangers are occupied. When all of my laundry is done and I still have two empty hangers, that is two more items I can add. It works really well to keep my wardrobe cohesive and minimal.
Agreed that numbers dont tell the story for everybody. Especially with a varied climate. Numbers are a talking point however. Are you stylish? Classic? Casual? You decide what you need and enjoy.
I love your videos, because of you being you, not any cheezy and long intros that never end... The way you go through your process and how you show this is a huge inspiration to buy less and give away not used clothes, declutter and get more use of what i own.
Excellent video. I really like your no nonsense manner and intelligence. Every time I watch a new video of yours, I’m inspired to downsize my wardrobe even more.
"Trial Separation" -I love it! That's a less stress-inducing way to frame it. I think it tricks your brain into letting it go much easier since you can always reincorporate the item even if you actually never end up doing so
I haven't had the opportunity to try either of the options yet because, well, I haven't had an occasion that's called for it! I still plan to try those one day, but the time so far has validated that I didn't need those items in my wardrobe.
I would like to do more "what I wore this week" type videos in the future. Until then, here is a week of my work "uniform" outfits ua-cam.com/video/175HTRu7aSI/v-deo.html and what I wore most in 2017, which shows me wearing the pieces ua-cam.com/video/tJafxbyee0o/v-deo.html.
Who cares if people don't agree with your choice of wearing shorts? I love your honesty & getting on with it! You are real & I love your cut & dry attitude. I need this in my life. Keep on going, girl! You can do it. I'm proud of you.
Thanks! My wardrobe needs to please me and me alone, but some people don't get that and I wanted to get ahead of any negative or questioning comments. Anyway, I hope it helps you to make progress towards your own goals! It's amazing how much easier making decisions becomes with a little practice.
Very helpful. We were flooded out of our home and most of our clothes molded before we were able to wash. I was, oddly, kind of excited to downsize in clothes. That said, the first thing people donated was clothing. I am now to the point of tears, literally swimming in clothing. People just never stopped donating despite my pleas. I would have boxes at my door. Most I took straight to donation, but some found their way through the laundry cycle. It has been 18 months since the flood and I finally have the brain power to go through this madness. This video is awesome and really encouraging. I’m glad you included numbers. With a family of five, I cannot wait to cut laundry duty stress.
I'm very sorry to hear that your home was flooded, but I'm glad you survived and that life seems to be getting back to normal. I grew up in a place where hurricanes were just a part of life. I feel like we put tape on our windows and evacuated all the time. My house never flooded, but some of my family experienced it and I know it's no fun. Regarding that pile of clothing you're now swimming in: It sounds like you've already learned this, but something I like to keep in mind is that, unlike some other things, clothing is not actually a scarce resource. Realizing that made it a lot easier for me to let things go. If you want to dramatically simplify your clothing and the clothing of your family, really go for it! You know from experience that, if you decide you want more in the future, it's easy enough to get. Disasters also have a way of showing us what is most important in life, and I've found that, as I've minimized my possessions, I have more time for the important things. I'm not trying to make light of your experience at all, but I hope there's a silver lining and that going through this can provide the same clarity for what is important to you. Best of luck!
I'm the opposite to you in terms of shorts. I hate the way they look on me and it has taken years to realize that, so now my wardrobe only includes skirts. Good for you, realizing that you don't need to include an item that you don't like.
Thanks! I may seem unattached on camera, but, in reality, I've just spent a lot of time honing my decision making abilities. Plus I have every day when I open my closet to consider it and the items it contains and how each benefit me. All it takes is practice!
I really enjoyed your video. You will never become bored because you have plenty to mix and match. Your outerwear is minimal and very colorful which I liked. I would love to be down to 40 items. I am working on it. Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks! I could minimize more down the road, but right now I think somewhere in the range of 40-50 items is perfect, and I cannot imagine owning more. Best of luck with your wardrobe!
Thanks! I love those colors, but it seems I'm preaching to the choir here. I'm actually thinking of making a video on color palettes soon. We'll see...
Vested Interests That would be awesome! I think one of my main obstacles to downsizing my wardrobe is my fear that I will lose all my color options. I think you should make a video on how to maximize color in a minimal wardrobe. Most "capsules" I see on the internet are all black, white, and gray and I find that rather dull.
Have you considered including your loungewear, workout wear, shoes, etc into your count? Of course it would raise the number, but I feel your videos give me such a reality check that it would be awesome to see those other items included too!
I have a video on shoes and one on loungewear/workout gear as well. I don't currently count them together or really consider them the same categories, but every now and then I count and add them up just to see what happens. I have 15 pairs of shoes (soon to be 10, hopefully) and I don't even know how many pieces of loungewear, but I should be paring that down again too soon. Maybe after I pare down shoes and loungewear again, I can play around with possibly filming a video with all the categories together. A 1 minute video called "Hey, Rose, you asked for this!" ;)
@@VestedInterests just the answer i was looking for, i have 44 right now, this is including everything, I'm currently trying to hit 40, but i'll need to do a reshuffle of my categories. Also, as i'm typing this i realize this video is from 4 years ago, crazy
Thanks, and good for you! The numbers aren't super important to me, but they can be nice. Saying "I have/want to have x number of items" is like creating a virtual box, and you can only keep what fits! Good luck!
Its great that you have learned to live with less. I just hope that this is not a competition about numbers. I believe in moderation and that means living with what you love. So, as long as you love what you own, the number really doesn't matter. All the best on your journey.
When I was 16 I had nothing in my wardrobe but 2 black long sleeve tops, 2 t-shirts and two skirts, a cardigan and sweatpants for P.E. class. And tights to go with the skirts. I think I got a dress for the school ending festival. And one mid season coat and one winter coat and that's it. It was about 10 items plus underwear and socks. I live in a country where it gets really cold in the winter so I don't know how I did it.
But you did do it, so you know it's possible! When I went off to college, I had a bunch of white tshirts, jeans, a sweater, and a coat that in hindsight wasn't nearly warm enough, but I made it work!
Yay....I felt sure you were going to lose the red coat but glad you kept it :). Great to see your before pictures. What a difference. I’m struck by how important it is to have clear sight of what works and what doesn’t. I’m wading through volume and so a lot of my decisions are driven by the shear amount of it all but starting out with a basic “uniform” in mind and using your cool/warm concept is a big help.
Yay! Glad you found the warm/cool tip useful. The red coat is staying for now, but it will eventually need to be replaced. Now that I've accepted that I should be wearing petite clothing, I feel like I'm swimming in it. I bought two petite coats this season hoping to find a better fit, but I was unsuccessful and returned both of them, so the red coat remains. Best of luck with your decluttering endeavors! I personally think the beginning of the process when you have lots of stuff is the most fun, because you can see dramatic changes more easily. Don't hold back, just let it go.
This video is so satisfying! Thank you for sharing. I understand needing cohesion. For me, a simple color and texture palette is easier to look at than a random assortment of whatever. Right now I have about eighty items counting shoes (half in storage to be picked through later when the seasons change), but I am working from a few items down to hopefully forty or less for year-round use, like you. I like that you don’t count shoes and am going to consider this for myself too! Your system rocks, and I relate. I just established my uniform. It feels so good to simplify. Thanks for the added encouragement and inspiration. It can be done!
That's awesome! It sounds like we have really similar views when it comes to clothing. Re: shoes: shoes are a completely different beast, so I haven't been counting them together with my clothing, and I probably won't in the future either. That said, my next shoe goal is to work from 15 to 10 pairs of shoes, and, if I do that, I could have a "50 item wardrobe INCLUDING shoes." I will likely continue to keep them separate, but that would be a really satisfying goal to reach. Best of luck with your closet! It sounds like you've got it down.
I don’t wear dresses or skirts either. I can’t wear shorts to work, so I own 3 right now. Which I think is enough to wear every weekend during the summer months
Thanks for your response! 😄 Although I'm trying to downsize my wardrobe and purchases, I still feel the "need" to buy clothes, also because I'm changing my fashion and life style and some of my current clothes doesn't fit the style I'm looking for. The second hand clothes are a good option, I'll try that! And it's lovely to hear that big brands are changing some of their aspects and adapting to the market demanding. Hope in the future people will be more conscious about fashion and what's behind the industry!
I have a video on filling wardrobe gaps that might be useful for you. Perhaps use a "1 item in, X number of items out" rule to keep things under control, even if you're still building your wardrobe. Good luck!
I love seeing minimal wardrobes, it's so fun. No idea why, it just is! I know my wardrobe is at 80, but I do count pjs, workout stuff, shoes, and socks and underwear in that (so literally everything I wear except jewelry.) I wonder what it is with just the basics? I'll have to recount one day.
I'd probably have more than 80 pieces if I counted shoes/PJs/workout gear/socks/underwear, but I do need to revisit those categories. Good for you for trimming down all those other aspects so much!
Also you could also borrow from a friend or family member when it comes to formal wear, I always return it dry cleaned. Or you can buy a used dress from the thrift store. They have exspensive designers and usually large selection. When you are finished re donate. Or just keep a black multi purpose cocktail dress. You will definately get use out of it. I add accessories to make it look different. A scarf, shawl, blazer, cardigan, jewelry can really change it.
Great examples on why to keep and why to declutter items. My current wardrobe has some pieces that I am not reaching for, but I realize that is because the bottoms do not go with the shoes I have.
Thanks! And, oh, that's tough. If you haven't seen my "One Easy and Effective Tip to Streamline & Simplify Your Wardrobe" video, check it out when you have a minute. It might be helpful in your situation. Good luck!
Really enjoyed watching this. It was very precise without the waffling that is in a lot of these types of videos. You've also inspired me to relook at a few of things I've kept in my wardrobe and rarely reach for. Also I love the idea of a trial separation box - that is genius. I do that with other items in my home but never thought to do it with my clothes !!
Thank you! Sometimes it's hard to know where the line is between useful information and too-much-opinion-that-no-one-else-cares-about-because-it's-not-their-own-wardrobe. Give the trial separation box for clothing a try! It has always been really effective for me, but, this time, it feels like a challenge... I wear that sweater a ton. We shall see. Also, I think I've proven here that I am fully capable of waffling. :) Good luck with your own closet!
Great video. Although I do have a fair number of clothing items myself, I find I only reach for certain pieces over and over. Definitely due for another clean out soon! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks! If you are already aware that you typically only gravitate towards a few key pieces, you will do really well with a small wardrobe. (That said, everyone would be fine with a small wardrobe.) I don't even reach for all of the pieces I have, and mine closet is smaller than most! Best of luck with your clean out!
I like your suggestion of getting rid of the dress and go hire or buy from second hand stores when you need to wear dress, then you can still recycle it after the event. Thanks for the idea, now I know what I can get rid of 👍
Still haven't needed a dress since this clear out. I have a wedding to attend coming up in November. Will look up the venue and decide what the dress code calls for...
This is interesting to me because I am also living with < 40 clothing items, but they are nearly ALL dresses, when that's what you've completely cleared yourself of, whereas I found I never wore my shorts (I have some of the parachute-like summer pants I find cooler and don't chafe) and I have no shorts at all! Thanks for the video :)
Sometimes I wish I had a "Would a witch wear this?" wardrobe, which I imagine would require a lot of dresses, but I haven't leveled up that much yet. Maybe one day.
I actually have about 12 pairs of shorts, four pairs of sweatpants, and two pairs of jeans. I know it sounds like a lot but I do laundry biweekly, so that is enough for a little over two weeks of wear. I love shorts because they're a lot more comfortable in my climate than pants are. No negativity or judgement here!
We are finally done with triple digit days here, but I'll be in shorts through November at least. When it's over 100 and I'm not freezing in my office, they are the only acceptable bottoms to wear in my book!
You with dresses is me with shorts. I have about four pairs I keep around because I thought it might be weird to not have any shorts. I'm going to get rid of them all because I simply don't wear them and I just don't need them. I decluttered my summer wardrobe today and probably got rid of I reckon 70% of things. It felt amazing to get rid of so many pieces I don't wear and hope I can give them to people who will value them like I value my current items
Ahh, that is such a good feeling! It's nice to hear when people are able to make significant strides with their wardrobe like yours, and I get to cathartically experience that feeling again. Good for you, getting rid of those thing we think we're supposed to have but never actually use.
I would keep the dress and skirt if they fit. You've already paid for them, and it's more cost effective to have them for special events than to rent clothes, which may not fit, and could be a problem if you get a stain on them, not to mention time spent looking for rental clothes. Two items isn't going to overload any closet.
I don't have any events in the foreseeable future when I will need to, but I'd like to give it a go the next time such an event comes up. I'll never know if it works until I try it! Plus, what I've found online is much nicer than what I would typically buy and keep around in my closet, so, if I can find things that fit me, it would be really convenient. Fingers crossed!
I said I was going to rent for special occasions as well but always end up in all black from my closet which passes for most occasions. Guess I'm stuck if it's an all white party lol
I just recently subscribed to your channel, and I just want to let you know how much I'm enjoying your videos. I find your presentation very straightforward yet interesting, your taste is very close to mine, and overall I am inspired (and reassured!) by seeing your pare-downs and listening to your advice. Thank you!
Been binge watching your videos the last few days. So glad I found your channel! You just inspired me to declutter my closet again today.. it’s been a while since the last time and I forgot how good it feels 😌 Your video format and general style remind me so much of LightByCoco (whose videos I loved and miss a lot) and haven’t really found anyone that could come close to her... till now 😊 Can’t wait to see more content from you.. hopefully you’ll consider doing videos on other things related to minimalism like digital decluttering or planning/time management tips (if you’re into that stuff too).
Thanks, and boo! She appears to have taken down all her videos! I wish she had at least left them up, even if she didn't plan to make more, but I suppose I understand. Digital decluttering is on the list. Time management I'm not so sure about, but I'll add it to my list and see if it evolves into a video. Thanks again, and good luck!
I've considered that, but most of my close friends where it wouldn't be awkward to ask to borrow clothing are very different sizes from me. If your close friends are similarly proportioned to you though, definitely go for it!
Man I still rock my "used to be black jeans"😂 it's a look right? Own it 😎 lol I've never counted my clothing items but I'm much more pared down and happier with getting dressed. TFS!
lol, "used to be black jeans" are definitely a thing. You can buy brand new "used to be black jeans" now. Alas, I gravitate towards super saturated colors, so color fading is a deal breaker for me. And yay! I'm glad you're making progress and happy with your wardrobe.
Thanks! It took me a few years of steady, seasonal decluttering, but, once you get the ball rolling (and stop shopping, I have videos on this topic too if you're looking for help), you will approach your wardrobe in a whole new way. Start now, and you'll be amazed how quickly your mindset changes!
where you live do you get proper seasons? I love the idea of a wardrobe this small for the whole year but in the UK it's just not really feasible. I'm anaemic so I really feel the cold so winter for me is all about thermal base layers, fleece lined leggings and the thickest jumpers I can find which take a ton of space up when I store them away. We're coming into spring here (apparently) and while the stores are getting in shorts and floaty tops to be all 'yay! spring!' we're set for snow and -19F next week. Summer here is about 60F and usually raining, and we only get a couple of weeks where it's 95F so we really need Winter, 'summer' and a couple of hot day items.
It's generally on the warmer side where I live, so we have more mild winters than you, but we do get drops in temperature that last for a few days or weeks. It was -11C for a few days this winter, and it was miserable, so I do not envy you your winters! I totally understand that thin sweaters, even wool ones, will not cut it in a true winter (I've lived in cold places before). I don't think there's anything wrong with bulky sweaters, but, if you want to try thinner ones to save space, you could try layering under the sweater with a thin thermal. Wool and cashmere shrink anyway, so having something to stretch them back out a bit wouldn't be bad. IDK if you have Patagonia in the UK or not, but there are plenty of things like this elsewhere: www.patagonia.com/product/womens-capilene-thermal-weight-crew/43650.html?dwvar_43650_color=BLK&cgid=womens-baselayers#tile-1=&start=1&sz=24 . A thermal like that + sweater + down coat could work. I too am a fan of fleece leggings under pants. I'm not anaemic, but I hate being cold, so I care about this topic.
I feel your pain here! I’m from the UK and we have SUCH changeable weather that I find it near impossible to keep or have a wardrobe this small. We have stored stuff away like ski jackets, big boots and thermals but honestly we have had to reach for them more and more at the moment because of the weather and so they are sat in amongst the rest of my wardrobe... which caters for every freaking season. I would love to cut down and perhaps I should reevaluate my ‘sleeping’ or ‘comfy wear’ because that’s one of my problem areas but as the rest goes... Also, I find it so difficult to combined ‘work’ clothes and my normal wardrobe because in a job without a uniform, I need some different pieces. But I would never wear my work stuff outside of work hours because it just doesn’t make me feel that good.
I think it comes down to how many you need of each. I live in Finland and do scouting/leading and horse riding as hobbies. I'm still studying so I don't need a work uniform, but my home clothes and out clothes are basically the same. Because I've been scouting and being an outdoor person for a long time, a lot of my clothes are nowadays layerable and outdoor clothes, such that you would wear hiking. For riding I have one winter jacket that is allowed to smell of horse and sweat, and one such for spring and autumn. I used to also have clothes that were only wearable in town, but I don't really care to have such anymore. Last winter I wore hiking shoes everywhere because my town shoes had broken. I don't think I'm going to replace them. Anyway, after all I don't have so much seasonal clothes. I have winter jacket with that soft filling (what's it called?), one that goes over it that keeps me from rain or wind, a wool shirt fits under, and a flannel under that - and I'm good for - 25ºC. For bottoms I would wear the long under layer, jeans, outdoor pants, socks and wool sock and shoes. If I want to look more stylish I can put my big leather jacket over the winter jacket in stead of the wind and rain layer. When it's spring, I take the winter layer off and just wear the indoor clothes and top layer. It's handy that I don't need a separate item for every single weather. I was kind of forced to this though because you can't take your whole wardrobe hiking with you. But even if you're not a hiking person, you can estimate the amount of fleece shirts and pants you really need. In my experience they don't get very dirty and can be used for a long time before they need to be washed. Wool might stay clean even better though because it breathes better, so you don't get so sweaty. I've worn one wool sweat shirt through the winter without washing it and it only smells of wool. (I've worn some other sweaters too, but this one a lot) I believe for the moist UK and a shivery person, layerable clothes and a water- and windproof top layer would be smart. And good outdoor clothes don't need to be silly-looking, many can totally be worn in town too.
Really enjoyed your video.Tho, I've always wondered why minimalists have black/white/gray wardrobe. I wear bright colors. Have many clothes but never owned more than 5 pr shoes.
I just stumbled across your channel and I love it! I am an amateur minimalist and your channel is quite helpful. I also love your fashion style. I am anxious to create a uniform; I can dress very casually at work and live in Florida so I wear shorts almost everyday. I want to look sharp but I generally end up looking rather bum. Also, could you please a video about your home? How you decorate and what color grey paint you chose? Thank you!
Thanks! I want to make more videos about my house in the future, but we're in the middle of construction right now so it'll have to wait. The grey paint is Benjamin Moore's Amherst Gray (HC-167, flat). The house actually came with two rooms painted grey, which I'm very happy with because I'm the kind of person who would put off painting forever, so I'm glad I had no choice in the matter. Good luck with your uniform!
I love this video and your opinions are pretty straightforward + you don't get sentimental about decluttering your items. I've been trying to live a minimalist life after I graduated college, but my mom keeps hoarding on my stuff instead 😂 I need to show her this video! Cheers love! Ps I'm a new subscriber 💓
I would have kept the dress but put it up on a shelf for just in case. Esp because you said you loved it. But good for you for evaluating realistically what you will wear.
I DID love it, but I started to see it's flaws after owning it for several years (and wearing it a grant total of maybe 5 times). The fabric of the skirt part of the dress was too thin and therefore showed too much, and it wasn't very good quality. If renting or buying second hand doesn't work out, I may end up with another, but we'll see.
Great video! Would you consider doing a video on how to develop a cohesive wardrobe? My clothes are all over the place in style, color, fabric, etc. I have solid shirts, striped ones, plaid, and the same goes for everything else. It just seems hyper!! I have every color of the rainbow. How do you decide? What is the magic number of base colors that you should work with?? Help!!
I'm way ahead of you on this one! I have three videos that may help you: How to Build a Cohesive, Minimal Wardrobe - ua-cam.com/video/2JvswhYHZe8/v-deo.html One Easy and Effective Tip to Streamline & Simplify Your Wardrobe - ua-cam.com/video/hp3SiojNuNw/v-deo.html Color in a Minimalist Wardrobe & How to Create Your Own Color Palette - ua-cam.com/video/dpC_DEt0pc0/v-deo.html I hope they help!
What helps me select a base color for your neutral black grey brown or navy. Then add a color like soft pink for example. Beside the select items that you purchase in your color add these important staples. White basic tshirt, a classic striped tee like 3/4 sleeve, a cardigan, a denim blouse, a dress, a skirt, dark denim jean khaki pants, a simple dress. Jean jacket, bomber jacket, leggings. It seems like a lot. But this helped me start to size down. When you own basic items like these you see they style well together and you can get several looks you wouldn't think of before.like the stripe t Under the dress. I like having a signature color per season and get a few trendy peices to add. The soft pink currently goes so nice with navy...you can do this
That's really interesting! I'm trying to downsize my wardrobe and am currently doing a lot of swaps. What bugs me a bit are shoes. So I'm curious about your shoe collection as I would count them as wardrobe items.
I have an old shoe collection video, but I do need to make an updated one. I think I have 15 pairs of shoes currently. I can think of four pairs I could easily part with now, but I'd prefer to get rid of five to keep it at a nice, round number.
Vested Interests OK, I'm gonna watch the first one. I just stumbled upon this video of yours but didn't have time to look up your channel yet. I can relate to your urge of having an even number of certain things. It's a really good feeling.
I’ve found American Eagle brand jeans to be super comfy but the elastic does that on every pair I’ve ever had. The more stretch the jean has the more elastic they put in it, and it creates almost a ripple on them in areas like the crotch and zipper and knees. So frustrating!
You are so amazing and inspiring. I hope to continue clearing out but it is so hard, I am down to about 175 ish not including lounge wear,workout or outerwear. I don't know how to decide I know the rules but still second guess myself. Grrrrrrrrr!
I think I understand what you mean. I used to have this nagging, "but what if some day I need this thing that I've literally never needed" feeling when I tried to declutter. I've said this elsewhere, but, one of the most effective things for me to keep in mind has been "Do I want to have a nice, simple home right now, or do I want to delay the decision and continue living with stuff that I really don't want?" I've found that, even though it's superficially easy to just keep things and delay getting rid of them, at least for me, I still think about those items and they take up a lot of mental energy, because I know I should just get rid of them. In "Goodbye Things: The New Japanese Minimalism," the author describes what he calls a "silent to-do list" effect. Some things need maintenance and some things we know we should get rid of, but we never do, and we don't really forget about those things, we just let them fester in the back of our minds. I realize I've gone down a bit of a rabbit hole, but, if that's what you're experiencing, it may be good to ask yourself if you want to reach your goals now, or years from now. That said, I have no idea what your goals are, so take it with a grain of salt.
I do have a more updated video on my wardrobe: ua-cam.com/video/fRKGPWxJTYE/v-deo.html I ended up keeping the grey sweater. At least for now, I enjoy having a lighter weight sweater. Glad you like the videos!
I love your videos! You inspired me to seriously clear out my closet. I often hear you say you take better care of your clothes now. What do you mean by that? That would be a great video, I feel like I'm laundering incorrectly and wearing out my stuff.
That's great to hear, thanks! Re: taking better care of my clothing: One of the things I do now is hang my clothes back up in my closet (separated from clean clothes) after I wear them. I work in an office, so my clothing isn't typically gross after one wear. I hang things back up and they air out and stay unwrinkled and I can usually get several uses out of an item before I need to wash it. Fewer washings help clothes to last longer. Another thing I've noticed is that, since I have fewer items of clothing to wash, it's less of a pain to hang things to dry, so I am more inclined to do it rather than toss things into the dryer. I also recommend using cold water for washing clothing. We only use hot water for towels and bedding. I think I'm also a bit more caring in general with my clothing now. I have few pieces, so I notice when things need attention. I like the things in my closet to look nice, so I fold things properly and I steam things that have wrinkles and I have a sweater shaver to remove pilling. Having only a few things to look after has made them easier to maintain.
I have some spare hangers in my guest closet, theoretically there for guests to use, so that's where I store hangers when they're not needed in my own closet. Side note: I've decluttered a ton of these hangers in a few of my 30 day minimalism game videos, but I still have one cluster of spare hangers that match the ones I use in my closet and one cluster that match my husband's hangers because I want all of the hangers in our respective closets to match and I never want to buy more. They're not recyclable in single stream recycling, at least not in my area (they can jam sorting equipment), so I want to use what I have and not acquire more.
I have a problem with just keeping a few things - what if I am going to be in an environment where I don't want to wear my closet favourites? The trains, planes, bonfires, cleaning, forest walk... I feel comfortable with having 'safety' clothes. Do you have any loungewear/sportswear?
I do have loungewear and workout gear that I cover in two videos (they have pretty obvious names, and I don't have that many videos, so you can probably find them easily). I don't really consider them "safety" clothes, but I might wear one of my tshirts if I were... I don't know, volunteering to clean up a part or something. I also like having lounge clothes to change into once I'm home from work so I can hang my daywear back up and wear it again, without it getting all wrinkled from wearing around the house. I hope those other videos help!
This makes me so nervous😱 I really want to declutter my wardrobe and life in general. I wonder if I could actually get to this level of comfort with such few options. #goals
A little over a year ago, I had 118 items, and, before that, I had so much more. It's been a gradual process, but I've enjoyed taking it slowly because it has allowed me to make very intentional decisions and not have regrets. You can totally get here too, if that's what you want!
It does not. I count loungewear and workout gear separately, and I should make an updated video soon, but, for now, there's this: ua-cam.com/video/O7evByq_AAw/v-deo.html
I love the video! Do you have any “other” categories of clothing that you don’t include in your total? For example workout clothes or seasonal/hobby based clothes like gear for skiing or hiking. My normal “everyday”/work wardrobe is only about 40 pieces, but I have interests that require extra clothing, and sometimes they can make my closet feel cluttered. Any tips on this?
Hi! Thanks! I do have separate loungewear and workout gear, and I have two decluttering videos that show what I have lounge/workout wise, in case you want to check them out. I also have ski clothes that I do not include in my normal wardrobe, because I'm not going to wear a bright, magenta ski jacket for anything else. I used to keep my ski clothes in one 12x12 IKEA box in my closet, but I recently moved them to a previously empty drawer in my dresser so I could remove the box. Re: tips: Storing them away is an easy one. Since my ski clothes now live in an opaque piece of furniture, I can't see them, and, since that drawer was previously empty, I kind of forget that they're there. I also only have one ski jacket, one pair of snow pants, one pair of goggles, and one pair of gloves, but I have two sets of base layers and three-ish face/neck gaiters, so I can swap out and wash the things that actually get dirty. I always rent skis and a helmet, because I'm still a noob and I don't live near a mountain. To summarize, try storing them in a clothing-related but low-traffic space so you don't see them all the time, and keep only the essentials. Hope that helps!
I would luv to miniimize my wardrobe. Where do you live? there is no way i could do this in NY and working in a Corporate America its not possible. What do you do for living?
the best thing about your videos is that you don't yell or try to sound super excited like everyone else. it's so calm and nice!
Thanks! My newer videos are a little different, which I credit to sitting closer to the camera, but I hope they're not obnoxious!
Agreed. I get tired of the yelling.
I agree i get sick of the heyy everyone I'm so excited today for ...
I love how clear and calm you articulate yourself, very refreshing.
Love how you do not blab on like so many others.
Its such a random comment but I really like that you dont add in background music in your videos, makes them much sinpler and easier to watch
I added music to one video (in which I cleared out and organized my front closet, or maybe it was the guest bathroom, or maybe both) and it was such a pain! I'm glad you like the lack of music, because I don't plan to bother with it again.
I agree, it's calmer
It helps with my autism believe it or not because I find it hard to process multiple things at the same time so thanks lots
She is minimalist in that too 😂
I love music. But not when shopping or watching a video like this. Someone somewhere decided music enhances the shopping experience. It makes me leave in a hurry. I appreciate when the UA-camr doesn't think they need it to make a video.
I love how you aren't sentimental about getting rid of your clothes.
I don't count my items any more, but it was awesome to watch how you are playing around with the "right" number for you. Minimalism is different for everyone!
Oh no! I had something to say about numbers that I completely forgot to say in that video! Ugh. I was going to say that I don't really care about numbers, I care more the density of my clothing in the space that I have, BUT numbers can still be useful. For me, setting a goal and saying "I want to have X number of clothing items" is kind of like creating a virtual box. It's fun to make it all fit. And I agree completely; it's definitely different for everyone.
Oh no! I didn't mean to say I don't count any more like I used to and I've moved on from that. I meant that I don't have an overall target. But as I'm going through clothes I do have a moving goal post for "enough" of something!
The Not Busy Life
I use hangers to keep count. I only keep a certain amount of hangers in my work wardrobe: 40. No keeping count because I can tell by how many hangers are occupied. When all of my laundry is done and I still have two empty hangers, that is two more items I can add. It works really well to keep my wardrobe cohesive and minimal.
The Not Busy Life 💝well put.
Agreed that numbers dont tell the story for everybody. Especially with a varied climate. Numbers are a talking point however. Are you stylish? Classic? Casual? You decide what you need and enjoy.
I love your videos, because of you being you, not any cheezy and long intros that never end... The way you go through your process and how you show this is a huge inspiration to buy less and give away not used clothes, declutter and get more use of what i own.
Excellent video. I really like your no nonsense manner and intelligence. Every time I watch a new video of yours, I’m inspired to downsize my wardrobe even more.
Aww, that's great! Thank you! I don't even have the smallest closet out there, but it works for me. Best of luck!
Thank you for not being so cheesy as many other youtubers. A pleasure to listen and learn from you
Thank you!
Love how calm and serene this video is
i'm not even a minimalist but i have less than 40 items lmfao
Same
same ... it's called being poor nsjshsjsh
Omg same, I just donated 15 bags of clothes and shoes, lol..
@@povyi9394 lmao...thus makes me feel better.
Absolutely love you and your videos, you're so blunt and honest and no bullshit, get so sick of some of the channels i see out there!
: D Thank you!
"Trial Separation" -I love it! That's a less stress-inducing way to frame it. I think it tricks your brain into letting it go much easier since you can always reincorporate the item even if you actually never end up doing so
Absolutely! It's still there--it just introduces a little bit of friction to see if you really need the item.
Love the idea of renting a dress for special occasions or buying second hand and then re donating. This video was excellent inspiration.
I haven't had the opportunity to try either of the options yet because, well, I haven't had an occasion that's called for it! I still plan to try those one day, but the time so far has validated that I didn't need those items in my wardrobe.
I would be really interested in seeing what clothes you have actually look like as well as/ or seeing what your go to outfits are! Best
I would like to do more "what I wore this week" type videos in the future. Until then, here is a week of my work "uniform" outfits ua-cam.com/video/175HTRu7aSI/v-deo.html and what I wore most in 2017, which shows me wearing the pieces ua-cam.com/video/tJafxbyee0o/v-deo.html.
Who cares if people don't agree with your choice of wearing shorts? I love your honesty & getting on with it! You are real & I love your cut & dry attitude. I need this in my life. Keep on going, girl! You can do it. I'm proud of you.
Thanks! My wardrobe needs to please me and me alone, but some people don't get that and I wanted to get ahead of any negative or questioning comments. Anyway, I hope it helps you to make progress towards your own goals! It's amazing how much easier making decisions becomes with a little practice.
Your straightforward no bullshit attitude is so refreshing and great! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
Very helpful. We were flooded out of our home and most of our clothes molded before we were able to wash. I was, oddly, kind of excited to downsize in clothes. That said, the first thing people donated was clothing. I am now to the point of tears, literally swimming in clothing. People just never stopped donating despite my pleas. I would have boxes at my door. Most I took straight to donation, but some found their way through the laundry cycle. It has been 18 months since the flood and I finally have the brain power to go through this madness. This video is awesome and really encouraging. I’m glad you included numbers. With a family of five, I cannot wait to cut laundry duty stress.
I'm very sorry to hear that your home was flooded, but I'm glad you survived and that life seems to be getting back to normal. I grew up in a place where hurricanes were just a part of life. I feel like we put tape on our windows and evacuated all the time. My house never flooded, but some of my family experienced it and I know it's no fun. Regarding that pile of clothing you're now swimming in: It sounds like you've already learned this, but something I like to keep in mind is that, unlike some other things, clothing is not actually a scarce resource. Realizing that made it a lot easier for me to let things go. If you want to dramatically simplify your clothing and the clothing of your family, really go for it! You know from experience that, if you decide you want more in the future, it's easy enough to get. Disasters also have a way of showing us what is most important in life, and I've found that, as I've minimized my possessions, I have more time for the important things. I'm not trying to make light of your experience at all, but I hope there's a silver lining and that going through this can provide the same clarity for what is important to you. Best of luck!
So neat and satisfying! Gonna declutter today, I am ready for a fresh start
Awesome, go for it! Good luck!
I'm the opposite to you in terms of shorts. I hate the way they look on me and it has taken years to realize that, so now my wardrobe only includes skirts. Good for you, realizing that you don't need to include an item that you don't like.
Those polka dot shorts are cute and go with everything.
I kkknnoowww, I just didn't wear them with anything else but that one top. Hopefully someone else will find them and love them.
Since I have around 150 pieces now, I guessed a used to have around 500 a pair of years ago. It feels awesome to declutter your wardrobe every season!
That's awesome! I wish I had counted how many items I had two years ago, but the pictures will have to do. Best of luck with your continued editing!
Your voice should narrate audiobooks😍 Love watching your journey!
Aww, thank you! I actually wanted to be a radio DJ when I was a kid, among other things.
I love how you present yourself. You have a great personality and it makes your videos fun to watch!
Thanks so much!
hmmm trial separation box is a good idea! ill have to try that. Thanks!
I love that you have very thought of shades and patterns in clothes
I hit the like button,of all the minimalist clothes decluttering you’re the most calm and not noisy
Ha, thanks! I prefer for decluttering to not be a frantic, stressful thing. I like to enjoy those moments. Glad you liked it!
I love your clear cut justifications and an unattached attitude! Very practical. It does look very pretty! You're years ahead of me...Thanks! :)
Thanks! I may seem unattached on camera, but, in reality, I've just spent a lot of time honing my decision making abilities. Plus I have every day when I open my closet to consider it and the items it contains and how each benefit me. All it takes is practice!
I really enjoyed your video. You will never become bored because you have plenty to mix and match. Your outerwear is minimal and very colorful which I liked. I would love to be down to 40 items. I am working on it. Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks! I could minimize more down the road, but right now I think somewhere in the range of 40-50 items is perfect, and I cannot imagine owning more. Best of luck with your wardrobe!
50 amazing dresses is my goal 😂 l want to feel like a Disney princess everyday.
Go for it! I can see the appeal of dresses, as they're a "one and done" clothing option and they make getting dressed relatively simple. Best of luck!
I feel the same way girl !!!
I like jumpsuits and rompers for this reason “one and done” 😅 it’s like a shirt and bottoms in one
I love the color palette of your wardrobe! I also tend to stick to blues, neutrals, army green, and burgundy.
Thanks! I love those colors, but it seems I'm preaching to the choir here. I'm actually thinking of making a video on color palettes soon. We'll see...
Vested Interests That would be awesome! I think one of my main obstacles to downsizing my wardrobe is my fear that I will lose all my color options. I think you should make a video on how to maximize color in a minimal wardrobe. Most "capsules" I see on the internet are all black, white, and gray and I find that rather dull.
I'll take a crack at writing something and see what I come up with.
Have you considered including your loungewear, workout wear, shoes, etc into your count? Of course it would raise the number, but I feel your videos give me such a reality check that it would be awesome to see those other items included too!
I have a video on shoes and one on loungewear/workout gear as well. I don't currently count them together or really consider them the same categories, but every now and then I count and add them up just to see what happens. I have 15 pairs of shoes (soon to be 10, hopefully) and I don't even know how many pieces of loungewear, but I should be paring that down again too soon. Maybe after I pare down shoes and loungewear again, I can play around with possibly filming a video with all the categories together. A 1 minute video called "Hey, Rose, you asked for this!" ;)
Vested Interests I’m here for it! 😂❤️
@@VestedInterests just the answer i was looking for, i have 44 right now, this is including everything, I'm currently trying to hit 40, but i'll need to do a reshuffle of my categories. Also, as i'm typing this i realize this video is from 4 years ago, crazy
LOL I love the "trial separation box" idea!
You have inspired me to get rid of more in my closet. I’ve been getting rid of more and more & I love that you put a number on how many items you have
Thanks, and good for you! The numbers aren't super important to me, but they can be nice. Saying "I have/want to have x number of items" is like creating a virtual box, and you can only keep what fits! Good luck!
I love how right to the point this video is! Now that the seasons are changing, I'm inspired to find my style and declutter my wardrobe
Thanks! And yes, changing seasons are incredibly motivating. Forget just spring cleaning; I like to pare down between every season. Good luck!
Yay! I'm not the only one that never wears skirts. I have two summer dresses, only because they're cool in especially hot days.
Starting my own wardrobe decluttering. Very helpful video.
Yay! Good luck!
Its great that you have learned to live with less. I just hope that this is not a competition about numbers. I believe in moderation and that means living with what you love. So, as long as you love what you own, the number really doesn't matter. All the best on your journey.
Your clothes all look so comfortable. I hope to be able to have a wardrobe like this someday
Thanks! Comfort definitely is a requirement for me.
When I was 16 I had nothing in my wardrobe but 2 black long sleeve tops, 2 t-shirts and two skirts, a cardigan and sweatpants for P.E. class. And tights to go with the skirts. I think I got a dress for the school ending festival. And one mid season coat and one winter coat and that's it. It was about 10 items plus underwear and socks. I live in a country where it gets really cold in the winter so I don't know how I did it.
But you did do it, so you know it's possible! When I went off to college, I had a bunch of white tshirts, jeans, a sweater, and a coat that in hindsight wasn't nearly warm enough, but I made it work!
Hi!! I actually started my journey about 2 yrs ago as well😁 thank you for being a realistic minimalist!
Yay....I felt sure you were going to lose the red coat but glad you kept it :). Great to see your before pictures. What a difference. I’m struck by how important it is to have clear sight of what works and what doesn’t. I’m wading through volume and so a lot of my decisions are driven by the shear amount of it all but starting out with a basic “uniform” in mind and using your cool/warm concept is a big help.
Yay! Glad you found the warm/cool tip useful. The red coat is staying for now, but it will eventually need to be replaced. Now that I've accepted that I should be wearing petite clothing, I feel like I'm swimming in it. I bought two petite coats this season hoping to find a better fit, but I was unsuccessful and returned both of them, so the red coat remains. Best of luck with your decluttering endeavors! I personally think the beginning of the process when you have lots of stuff is the most fun, because you can see dramatic changes more easily. Don't hold back, just let it go.
This video is so satisfying! Thank you for sharing. I understand needing cohesion. For me, a simple color and texture palette is easier to look at than a random assortment of whatever. Right now I have about eighty items counting shoes (half in storage to be picked through later when the seasons change), but I am working from a few items down to hopefully forty or less for year-round use, like you. I like that you don’t count shoes and am going to consider this for myself too! Your system rocks, and I relate. I just established my uniform. It feels so good to simplify. Thanks for the added encouragement and inspiration. It can be done!
That's awesome! It sounds like we have really similar views when it comes to clothing. Re: shoes: shoes are a completely different beast, so I haven't been counting them together with my clothing, and I probably won't in the future either. That said, my next shoe goal is to work from 15 to 10 pairs of shoes, and, if I do that, I could have a "50 item wardrobe INCLUDING shoes." I will likely continue to keep them separate, but that would be a really satisfying goal to reach. Best of luck with your closet! It sounds like you've got it down.
Thank you for getting to the point right away! Loved the way you presented the information.
I don’t wear dresses or skirts either. I can’t wear shorts to work, so I own 3 right now. Which I think is enough to wear every weekend during the summer months
Fantastic clear out, good for you!!
Thanks for your response! 😄 Although I'm trying to downsize my wardrobe and purchases, I still feel the "need" to buy clothes, also because I'm changing my fashion and life style and some of my current clothes doesn't fit the style I'm looking for. The second hand clothes are a good option, I'll try that! And it's lovely to hear that big brands are changing some of their aspects and adapting to the market demanding. Hope in the future people will be more conscious about fashion and what's behind the industry!
I have a video on filling wardrobe gaps that might be useful for you. Perhaps use a "1 item in, X number of items out" rule to keep things under control, even if you're still building your wardrobe. Good luck!
Thanks a lot, I'll check it out! 😊
Great job!! I love the idea of buying second hand and redonating immediately afterward. Hope you and your hubby are having a great weekend!
Thank you, and I hope you're enjoying the weekend too!
Thanks for the helpful video! Your voice is so soothing 💜
Thanks, Hollie Forrest! Wow, that's a great name!
I love seeing minimal wardrobes, it's so fun. No idea why, it just is! I know my wardrobe is at 80, but I do count pjs, workout stuff, shoes, and socks and underwear in that (so literally everything I wear except jewelry.) I wonder what it is with just the basics? I'll have to recount one day.
I'd probably have more than 80 pieces if I counted shoes/PJs/workout gear/socks/underwear, but I do need to revisit those categories. Good for you for trimming down all those other aspects so much!
Miss you & your videos. Hope you’re well & happy.Have a Blessed New Year ☃️❄️☃️
Renting dresses is great! You are inspirational. My dream is to pair down my life, starting with clothes, shoes and bags.
That's a great place to start! It will eventually take over your life, no problem at all.
Also you could also borrow from a friend or family member when it comes to formal wear, I always return it dry cleaned. Or you can buy a used dress from the thrift store. They have exspensive designers and usually large selection. When you are finished re donate. Or just keep a black multi purpose cocktail dress. You will definately get use out of it. I add accessories to make it look different. A scarf, shawl, blazer, cardigan, jewelry can really change it.
Great examples on why to keep and why to declutter items. My current wardrobe has some pieces that I am not reaching for, but I realize that is because the bottoms do not go with the shoes I have.
Thanks! And, oh, that's tough. If you haven't seen my "One Easy and Effective Tip to Streamline & Simplify Your Wardrobe" video, check it out when you have a minute. It might be helpful in your situation. Good luck!
Really enjoyed watching this. It was very precise without the waffling that is in a lot of these types of videos. You've also inspired me to relook at a few of things I've kept in my wardrobe and rarely reach for. Also I love the idea of a trial separation box - that is genius. I do that with other items in my home but never thought to do it with my clothes !!
Thank you! Sometimes it's hard to know where the line is between useful information and too-much-opinion-that-no-one-else-cares-about-because-it's-not-their-own-wardrobe. Give the trial separation box for clothing a try! It has always been really effective for me, but, this time, it feels like a challenge... I wear that sweater a ton. We shall see. Also, I think I've proven here that I am fully capable of waffling. :) Good luck with your own closet!
Great video. Although I do have a fair number of clothing items myself, I find I only reach for certain pieces over and over. Definitely due for another clean out soon! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks! If you are already aware that you typically only gravitate towards a few key pieces, you will do really well with a small wardrobe. (That said, everyone would be fine with a small wardrobe.) I don't even reach for all of the pieces I have, and mine closet is smaller than most! Best of luck with your clean out!
I like your suggestion of getting rid of the dress and go hire or buy from second hand stores when you need to wear dress, then you can still recycle it after the event. Thanks for the idea, now I know what I can get rid of 👍
Still haven't needed a dress since this clear out. I have a wedding to attend coming up in November. Will look up the venue and decide what the dress code calls for...
This is interesting to me because I am also living with < 40 clothing items, but they are nearly ALL dresses, when that's what you've completely cleared yourself of, whereas I found I never wore my shorts (I have some of the parachute-like summer pants I find cooler and don't chafe) and I have no shorts at all! Thanks for the video :)
Sometimes I wish I had a "Would a witch wear this?" wardrobe, which I imagine would require a lot of dresses, but I haven't leveled up that much yet. Maybe one day.
I actually have about 12 pairs of shorts, four pairs of sweatpants, and two pairs of jeans. I know it sounds like a lot but I do laundry biweekly, so that is enough for a little over two weeks of wear. I love shorts because they're a lot more comfortable in my climate than pants are. No negativity or judgement here!
We are finally done with triple digit days here, but I'll be in shorts through November at least. When it's over 100 and I'm not freezing in my office, they are the only acceptable bottoms to wear in my book!
You with dresses is me with shorts. I have about four pairs I keep around because I thought it might be weird to not have any shorts. I'm going to get rid of them all because I simply don't wear them and I just don't need them. I decluttered my summer wardrobe today and probably got rid of I reckon 70% of things. It felt amazing to get rid of so many pieces I don't wear and hope I can give them to people who will value them like I value my current items
Ahh, that is such a good feeling! It's nice to hear when people are able to make significant strides with their wardrobe like yours, and I get to cathartically experience that feeling again. Good for you, getting rid of those thing we think we're supposed to have but never actually use.
I don't wear shorts, but like capri pants for hot weather. A black pair, white pair, navy, and a black/white print.
I would keep the dress and skirt if they fit. You've already paid for them, and it's more cost effective to have them for special events than to rent clothes, which may not fit, and could be a problem if you get a stain on them, not to mention time spent looking for rental clothes. Two items isn't going to overload any closet.
I love the color palette you have.
Thank you! I am very happy with it.
Think I'll have to declutter my UA-cam "declutter videos" folder soon, getting addicted haha 😄 This one stays though, loved the "serenity" of it. 💕
Aww, thanks! If you do decide to "declutter" it, it'll still be there if you ever want to watch it again.
Thank you for making this. I like the idea of renting special occasion clothing!
I don't have any events in the foreseeable future when I will need to, but I'd like to give it a go the next time such an event comes up. I'll never know if it works until I try it! Plus, what I've found online is much nicer than what I would typically buy and keep around in my closet, so, if I can find things that fit me, it would be really convenient. Fingers crossed!
I said I was going to rent for special occasions as well but always end up in all black from my closet which passes for most occasions. Guess I'm stuck if it's an all white party lol
I just recently subscribed to your channel, and I just want to let you know how much I'm enjoying your videos. I find your presentation very straightforward yet interesting, your taste is very close to mine, and overall I am inspired (and reassured!) by seeing your pare-downs and listening to your advice. Thank you!
Thank you so much! Best of luck to you with your closet!
Been binge watching your videos the last few days. So glad I found your channel! You just inspired me to declutter my closet again today.. it’s been a while since the last time and I forgot how good it feels 😌 Your video format and general style remind me so much of LightByCoco (whose videos I loved and miss a lot) and haven’t really found anyone that could come close to her... till now 😊 Can’t wait to see more content from you.. hopefully you’ll consider doing videos on other things related to minimalism like digital decluttering or planning/time management tips (if you’re into that stuff too).
Thanks, and boo! She appears to have taken down all her videos! I wish she had at least left them up, even if she didn't plan to make more, but I suppose I understand. Digital decluttering is on the list. Time management I'm not so sure about, but I'll add it to my list and see if it evolves into a video. Thanks again, and good luck!
I know the video is old but this is what I desire because I hate looking at allot of clothes and barely use them! Thanks so much
You can do it too! All it takes is a little time and a good sense for your own preferences.
i love following your journey, if that's the correct word. your intro's are also great!
You could also borrow a dress from a friend if you need one for a wedding or special event
I've considered that, but most of my close friends where it wouldn't be awkward to ask to borrow clothing are very different sizes from me. If your close friends are similarly proportioned to you though, definitely go for it!
Man I still rock my "used to be black jeans"😂 it's a look right? Own it 😎 lol I've never counted my clothing items but I'm much more pared down and happier with getting dressed. TFS!
lol, "used to be black jeans" are definitely a thing. You can buy brand new "used to be black jeans" now. Alas, I gravitate towards super saturated colors, so color fading is a deal breaker for me. And yay! I'm glad you're making progress and happy with your wardrobe.
I absolutely love your voice. I personally hope I’m gonna get my crap together and declutter my closet as well.
Thanks! It took me a few years of steady, seasonal decluttering, but, once you get the ball rolling (and stop shopping, I have videos on this topic too if you're looking for help), you will approach your wardrobe in a whole new way. Start now, and you'll be amazed how quickly your mindset changes!
where you live do you get proper seasons? I love the idea of a wardrobe this small for the whole year but in the UK it's just not really feasible. I'm anaemic so I really feel the cold so winter for me is all about thermal base layers, fleece lined leggings and the thickest jumpers I can find which take a ton of space up when I store them away. We're coming into spring here (apparently) and while the stores are getting in shorts and floaty tops to be all 'yay! spring!' we're set for snow and -19F next week. Summer here is about 60F and usually raining, and we only get a couple of weeks where it's 95F so we really need Winter, 'summer' and a couple of hot day items.
It's generally on the warmer side where I live, so we have more mild winters than you, but we do get drops in temperature that last for a few days or weeks. It was -11C for a few days this winter, and it was miserable, so I do not envy you your winters! I totally understand that thin sweaters, even wool ones, will not cut it in a true winter (I've lived in cold places before). I don't think there's anything wrong with bulky sweaters, but, if you want to try thinner ones to save space, you could try layering under the sweater with a thin thermal. Wool and cashmere shrink anyway, so having something to stretch them back out a bit wouldn't be bad. IDK if you have Patagonia in the UK or not, but there are plenty of things like this elsewhere: www.patagonia.com/product/womens-capilene-thermal-weight-crew/43650.html?dwvar_43650_color=BLK&cgid=womens-baselayers#tile-1=&start=1&sz=24 . A thermal like that + sweater + down coat could work. I too am a fan of fleece leggings under pants. I'm not anaemic, but I hate being cold, so I care about this topic.
I feel your pain here! I’m from the UK and we have SUCH changeable weather that I find it near impossible to keep or have a wardrobe this small. We have stored stuff away like ski jackets, big boots and thermals but honestly we have had to reach for them more and more at the moment because of the weather and so they are sat in amongst the rest of my wardrobe... which caters for every freaking season.
I would love to cut down and perhaps I should reevaluate my ‘sleeping’ or ‘comfy wear’ because that’s one of my problem areas but as the rest goes...
Also, I find it so difficult to combined ‘work’ clothes and my normal wardrobe because in a job without a uniform, I need some different pieces. But I would never wear my work stuff outside of work hours because it just doesn’t make me feel that good.
I think it comes down to how many you need of each. I live in Finland and do scouting/leading and horse riding as hobbies. I'm still studying so I don't need a work uniform, but my home clothes and out clothes are basically the same. Because I've been scouting and being an outdoor person for a long time, a lot of my clothes are nowadays layerable and outdoor clothes, such that you would wear hiking. For riding I have one winter jacket that is allowed to smell of horse and sweat, and one such for spring and autumn. I used to also have clothes that were only wearable in town, but I don't really care to have such anymore. Last winter I wore hiking shoes everywhere because my town shoes had broken. I don't think I'm going to replace them.
Anyway, after all I don't have so much seasonal clothes. I have winter jacket with that soft filling (what's it called?), one that goes over it that keeps me from rain or wind, a wool shirt fits under, and a flannel under that - and I'm good for - 25ºC. For bottoms I would wear the long under layer, jeans, outdoor pants, socks and wool sock and shoes. If I want to look more stylish I can put my big leather jacket over the winter jacket in stead of the wind and rain layer. When it's spring, I take the winter layer off and just wear the indoor clothes and top layer. It's handy that I don't need a separate item for every single weather. I was kind of forced to this though because you can't take your whole wardrobe hiking with you. But even if you're not a hiking person, you can estimate the amount of fleece shirts and pants you really need. In my experience they don't get very dirty and can be used for a long time before they need to be washed. Wool might stay clean even better though because it breathes better, so you don't get so sweaty. I've worn one wool sweat shirt through the winter without washing it and it only smells of wool. (I've worn some other sweaters too, but this one a lot) I believe for the moist UK and a shivery person, layerable clothes and a water- and windproof top layer would be smart. And good outdoor clothes don't need to be silly-looking, many can totally be worn in town too.
Love your systematic approach to decluttering! Was a great video!
Really enjoyed your video.Tho, I've always wondered why minimalists have black/white/gray wardrobe. I wear bright colors. Have many clothes but never owned more than 5 pr shoes.
I actually have a video all about color and minimalist wardrobes, if you feel like checking it out: ua-cam.com/video/dpC_DEt0pc0/v-deo.html
And thanks!
Trial Separation....lol
Life goals!!
Your videos + your voice = peace
Thank you!
I just stumbled across your channel and I love it! I am an amateur minimalist and your channel is quite helpful. I also love your fashion style. I am anxious to create a uniform; I can dress very casually at work and live in Florida so I wear shorts almost everyday. I want to look sharp but I generally end up looking rather bum. Also, could you please a video about your home? How you decorate and what color grey paint you chose? Thank you!
Thanks! I want to make more videos about my house in the future, but we're in the middle of construction right now so it'll have to wait. The grey paint is Benjamin Moore's Amherst Gray (HC-167, flat). The house actually came with two rooms painted grey, which I'm very happy with because I'm the kind of person who would put off painting forever, so I'm glad I had no choice in the matter. Good luck with your uniform!
Love the minimalistic form of filming this, btw. Thanks for filming and sharing your thoughts. And not bragging about a book you haven't written. ;p
Thanks! If I ever do write a book, you can bet it'll be in every video I ever make.
I love this video and your opinions are pretty straightforward + you don't get sentimental about decluttering your items. I've been trying to live a minimalist life after I graduated college, but my mom keeps hoarding on my stuff instead 😂 I need to show her this video! Cheers love! Ps I'm a new subscriber 💓
Thanks! And ha! My mother is also a bit of a hoarder, so I can relate. Good luck!
I would have kept the dress but put it up on a shelf for just in case. Esp because you said you loved it. But good for you for evaluating realistically what you will wear.
I DID love it, but I started to see it's flaws after owning it for several years (and wearing it a grant total of maybe 5 times). The fabric of the skirt part of the dress was too thin and therefore showed too much, and it wasn't very good quality. If renting or buying second hand doesn't work out, I may end up with another, but we'll see.
This is so satisfying to watch
Lol i have 2 items that make outfits and 4 dresses for events for fall/winter. Should include sleepwear? My sleepwear is my summer capsule lol.
That's awesome! I'm glad you've found an ultra minimalist wardrobe that works for your lifestyle!
Great video! Would you consider doing a video on how to develop a cohesive wardrobe? My clothes are all over the place in style, color, fabric, etc. I have solid shirts, striped ones, plaid, and the same goes for everything else. It just seems hyper!! I have every color of the rainbow. How do you decide? What is the magic number of base colors that you should work with?? Help!!
I'm way ahead of you on this one! I have three videos that may help you:
How to Build a Cohesive, Minimal Wardrobe - ua-cam.com/video/2JvswhYHZe8/v-deo.html
One Easy and Effective Tip to Streamline & Simplify Your Wardrobe - ua-cam.com/video/hp3SiojNuNw/v-deo.html
Color in a Minimalist Wardrobe & How to Create Your Own Color Palette - ua-cam.com/video/dpC_DEt0pc0/v-deo.html
I hope they help!
Thank you! I should have known!!
What helps me select a base color for your neutral black grey brown or navy. Then add a color like soft pink for example. Beside the select items that you purchase in your color add these important staples. White basic tshirt, a classic striped tee like 3/4 sleeve, a cardigan, a denim blouse, a dress, a skirt, dark denim jean khaki pants, a simple dress. Jean jacket, bomber jacket, leggings. It seems like a lot. But this helped me start to size down. When you own basic items like these you see they style well together and you can get several looks you wouldn't think of before.like the stripe t
Under the dress. I like having a signature color per season and get a few trendy peices to add. The soft pink currently goes so nice with navy...you can do this
That's really interesting! I'm trying to downsize my wardrobe and am currently doing a lot of swaps. What bugs me a bit are shoes. So I'm curious about your shoe collection as I would count them as wardrobe items.
I have an old shoe collection video, but I do need to make an updated one. I think I have 15 pairs of shoes currently. I can think of four pairs I could easily part with now, but I'd prefer to get rid of five to keep it at a nice, round number.
Vested Interests OK, I'm gonna watch the first one. I just stumbled upon this video of yours but didn't have time to look up your channel yet. I can relate to your urge of having an even number of certain things. It's a really good feeling.
What about loungewear, intimates, workout gear, cold weather items???
The most recent time I've showed those things was in my ask me anything video. Check it out!
I’ve found American Eagle brand jeans to be super comfy but the elastic does that on every pair I’ve ever had. The more stretch the jean has the more elastic they put in it, and it creates almost a ripple on them in areas like the crotch and zipper and knees. So frustrating!
You are so amazing and inspiring. I hope to continue clearing out but it is so hard, I am down to about 175 ish not including lounge wear,workout or outerwear. I don't know how to decide I know the rules but still second guess myself. Grrrrrrrrr!
I think I understand what you mean. I used to have this nagging, "but what if some day I need this thing that I've literally never needed" feeling when I tried to declutter. I've said this elsewhere, but, one of the most effective things for me to keep in mind has been "Do I want to have a nice, simple home right now, or do I want to delay the decision and continue living with stuff that I really don't want?" I've found that, even though it's superficially easy to just keep things and delay getting rid of them, at least for me, I still think about those items and they take up a lot of mental energy, because I know I should just get rid of them. In "Goodbye Things: The New Japanese Minimalism," the author describes what he calls a "silent to-do list" effect. Some things need maintenance and some things we know we should get rid of, but we never do, and we don't really forget about those things, we just let them fester in the back of our minds. I realize I've gone down a bit of a rabbit hole, but, if that's what you're experiencing, it may be good to ask yourself if you want to reach your goals now, or years from now. That said, I have no idea what your goals are, so take it with a grain of salt.
This is so refreshing and inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
It was really a big surprise! Thanks for such a motivational video! :)
What happened to the grey sweater, did it go int he end? Could you update your wardrobe? I love your videos
I do have a more updated video on my wardrobe: ua-cam.com/video/fRKGPWxJTYE/v-deo.html I ended up keeping the grey sweater. At least for now, I enjoy having a lighter weight sweater. Glad you like the videos!
your closet looks amazing!! Great job!
Thanks! I'm pretty pleased with it.
I love your videos! You inspired me to seriously clear out my closet. I often hear you say you take better care of your clothes now. What do you mean by that? That would be a great video, I feel like I'm laundering incorrectly and wearing out my stuff.
That's great to hear, thanks! Re: taking better care of my clothing: One of the things I do now is hang my clothes back up in my closet (separated from clean clothes) after I wear them. I work in an office, so my clothing isn't typically gross after one wear. I hang things back up and they air out and stay unwrinkled and I can usually get several uses out of an item before I need to wash it. Fewer washings help clothes to last longer. Another thing I've noticed is that, since I have fewer items of clothing to wash, it's less of a pain to hang things to dry, so I am more inclined to do it rather than toss things into the dryer. I also recommend using cold water for washing clothing. We only use hot water for towels and bedding.
I think I'm also a bit more caring in general with my clothing now. I have few pieces, so I notice when things need attention. I like the things in my closet to look nice, so I fold things properly and I steam things that have wrinkles and I have a sweater shaver to remove pilling. Having only a few things to look after has made them easier to maintain.
Question: when you delete a piece that you don’t replace, what do you do with the hangar?
I have some spare hangers in my guest closet, theoretically there for guests to use, so that's where I store hangers when they're not needed in my own closet. Side note: I've decluttered a ton of these hangers in a few of my 30 day minimalism game videos, but I still have one cluster of spare hangers that match the ones I use in my closet and one cluster that match my husband's hangers because I want all of the hangers in our respective closets to match and I never want to buy more. They're not recyclable in single stream recycling, at least not in my area (they can jam sorting equipment), so I want to use what I have and not acquire more.
immediately after this video, i know i like you. Keep the videos coming at your pace. Peace!
Thanks! I upload once a week. I'd love to one day upload twice a week, but it may take me a while still to get to that point.
I have a problem with just keeping a few things - what if I am going to be in an environment where I don't want to wear my closet favourites? The trains, planes, bonfires, cleaning, forest walk... I feel comfortable with having 'safety' clothes. Do you have any loungewear/sportswear?
I do have loungewear and workout gear that I cover in two videos (they have pretty obvious names, and I don't have that many videos, so you can probably find them easily). I don't really consider them "safety" clothes, but I might wear one of my tshirts if I were... I don't know, volunteering to clean up a part or something. I also like having lounge clothes to change into once I'm home from work so I can hang my daywear back up and wear it again, without it getting all wrinkled from wearing around the house. I hope those other videos help!
This makes me so nervous😱 I really want to declutter my wardrobe and life in general. I wonder if I could actually get to this level of comfort with such few options. #goals
A little over a year ago, I had 118 items, and, before that, I had so much more. It's been a gradual process, but I've enjoyed taking it slowly because it has allowed me to make very intentional decisions and not have regrets. You can totally get here too, if that's what you want!
does the 50 include your sleeping clothes?
It does not. I count loungewear and workout gear separately, and I should make an updated video soon, but, for now, there's this: ua-cam.com/video/O7evByq_AAw/v-deo.html
Good job! Well done.
I love the video! Do you have any “other” categories of clothing that you don’t include in your total? For example workout clothes or seasonal/hobby based clothes like gear for skiing or hiking. My normal “everyday”/work wardrobe is only about 40 pieces, but I have interests that require extra clothing, and sometimes they can make my closet feel cluttered. Any tips on this?
Hi! Thanks! I do have separate loungewear and workout gear, and I have two decluttering videos that show what I have lounge/workout wise, in case you want to check them out.
I also have ski clothes that I do not include in my normal wardrobe, because I'm not going to wear a bright, magenta ski jacket for anything else. I used to keep my ski clothes in one 12x12 IKEA box in my closet, but I recently moved them to a previously empty drawer in my dresser so I could remove the box. Re: tips: Storing them away is an easy one. Since my ski clothes now live in an opaque piece of furniture, I can't see them, and, since that drawer was previously empty, I kind of forget that they're there. I also only have one ski jacket, one pair of snow pants, one pair of goggles, and one pair of gloves, but I have two sets of base layers and three-ish face/neck gaiters, so I can swap out and wash the things that actually get dirty. I always rent skis and a helmet, because I'm still a noob and I don't live near a mountain.
To summarize, try storing them in a clothing-related but low-traffic space so you don't see them all the time, and keep only the essentials. Hope that helps!
Just stumbled across your channel and I love it ! Great inspiration.
I would luv to miniimize my wardrobe. Where do you live? there is no way i could do this in NY and working in a Corporate America its not possible. What do you do for living?