Apparently, 2014 is the year of closet minimalism. Since I posted about my minimal wardrobe quest, I've heard from / seen / read / pinned / discovered countless others who are also looking to reduce their closets to a high-quality, functional and trés cute wardrobe. I believe owning less stuff is a good thing, so I am totally jazzed about this trend ( and hope it sticks around ).
After getting rid of more than half my clothes, I've been slowly rebuilding my wardrobe this year with the help of a few key sources: Wide Eyed Legless, Into Mind + Unfancy. While I've been far from perfect, these blogs, along with a hefty dose of self-analyzation, have been helping me create a wardrobe that feels like ME. It began with defining what I wear ( besides yoga pants + my "chos before hoes" t-shirt ), what my clothing needs are + what my personal style is.
Doing this, however, is much harder than just talking about it. That's why I started the process by breaking it down into the three steps that my minimalist fashion gurus all agreed upon :
01. CULL
This is the hardest part. Don't think too hard about it or overthink it. Just get rid of anything that doesn't fit, is damaged / stained or you haven't worn in six months. Trust me, you won't miss it.
02. DEFINE YOUR STYLE
Take a look at what's left in your closet. Chances are, patterns have emerged that will give you insight into your personal style. For me, I found myself with a collection of denim, stripes, dresses and tees in mostly neutral colors along with pops of mustard yellow + red. It helped me realize that my style is casual, slightly graphic and simple....with a bit of quirk.
03. GET THE BASICS
The beginning of any wardrobe requires a basic set of essentials that will pair with most other pieces in your wardrobe. This part takes a little research. After scouring Pinterest and one-too-many "Dress Like A French Woman" guides, I channeled my inner Tim Gunn and began with the basics. Luckily, I already had a few LBDs, a good spring / winter coat, pants + shoes. What I lacked were sweaters, tops + dresses—both casual and dressy. In addition, I needed statement accessories that would bring my wardrobe together, including a signature lip color ( because the French women say so ) + gold jewelry.
So that's what I've been working on lately, my friends. And so far...so good. I've nailed down that sig lip color—a cheap yet long-lasting matte orangey-red from Tarjay—as well as a few new sweaters, a striped dress + a credit card that desperately needs to be paid.
[ skinnies / tee / scarf / top / flats / dress / chambray / jeans / lip / sweater / boots ]
Gahhh, this is great. I’ve definitely got too many clothes for my own good, and am probably lacking some of the quality basics. I smell a weekend organization project . . .
THIS. I’ve been trying to this, although somewhat unsuccessfully. Which means I probably just need to try a bit harder. This post is the perfect place for me to start trying more consciously, so thank you!