It’s hard to believe now, but back in my early twenties, I was something of a fashionista. I had two closets full of clothes, and regularly browsed a number of fashion magazines (each fall, I eagerly awaited Vogue’s phonebook-size September issue). I spent far too much time, money, and effort dressing for some imaginary spotlight—embarrassing to admit, but true.
Fortunately, somewhere along the line I tired of the excess—the stuffed closets, the barely-worn clothes, the pieces that were “out” just months after I bought them. The whole endeavor seemed an exercise in futility and waste. So I called it quits on my fashion habit, and unloaded the vast majority of my wardrobe in a no-holds-barred eBay extravaganza.
It wasn’t easy emptying my closet of the designer pieces and vintage “finds” I’d so delighted in acquiring. I sold pieces I’d worn just once or twice for a fraction of what I’d paid for them. As I shipped out each item, I felt an incredible amount of guilt and anguish over the money I’d wasted; yet at the same time, I felt a flood of relief over ridding myself of the evidence.
Around the same time, I also became aware of the environmental impacts and human rights violations of the fashion industry—which effectively put the brakes on new purchases, particularly those of the trendy variety. To be honest, it was a relief to step off the fashion treadmill: I no longer knew, or cared, whether chunky knits were “in” for fall or peasant skirts were de rigeur for spring. Instead, I became interested in building a small wardrobe of quality, classic pieces that would stay in style and last as long as possible.
Want to join me in eliminating fashion trends from your minimalist life? Here’s what works for me:
1. Develop your personal style. Despite my lack of interest in fashion trends, I’m still too girly for jeans and a sweatshirt. My wardrobe consists mainly of dresses—I love the idea of a one-piece outfit, and can dress them up with hose and heels, or down with tights or leggings. In the summer, I live in simple shift dresses and ballet flats; in the winter, sweater dresses and boots. Season to season, I have no idea what’s in or out; I simply wear what flatters me and fits my lifestyle.
2. Don’t chase trends. Chasing trends does little more than part you from your money. In just a few months, that of-the-moment item will be yesterday’s news (and clutter in your closet). Even when such “fast fashion” is low-priced, it often comes with a high cost—namely, environmental degradation and sweatshop labor.
3. Don’t read fashion magazines. In this case, ignorance is bliss. Ads and fashion spreads are meant to make us feel deprived of the latest and greatest, and instill in us a fear we’ll be “left behind.” But when you have no clue what the “it” bag or shoe is this season, you feel no compulsion to acquire it. And guess what? The world doesn’t stop turning, and hardly anyone blinks an eye.
4. Realize you’re not in the spotlight. Unless you’re a celebrity or media figure, it’s doubtful anyone cares whether you’re wearing the latest designer outfit. And for those who have nothing better to do than judge you on your apparel—well, they’re probably not worth impressing.
5. Be aware of the impact. For me, guilt is an incredibly effective way to curb consumption. If buying a new outfit (that I don’t need) causes environmental harm, or involves someone suffering workplace abuse or dangerous conditions, I’d much rather go without. To the best of your ability, educate yourself on which brands use sweatshop labor or questionable ecological practices.
6. Think timeless. Stick to simple, classic pieces that always stay in style: a shift dress, black skirt, khaki trouser, white shirt, or wool coat can serve as a wardrobe staple for years (I’ve had some in my closet for a decade!). You’ll save cash, streamline your wardrobe, and never look dated.
7. Shop your closet. Despite your decluttering, your closet probably still holds some relics from years past. The bright side? When long skirts or animal prints come back into fashion, you may very well have an old favorite to pull out and wear.
I’m not against looking nice, and I certainly understand the desire to express one’s personality and creativity with clothing. However, I think that building a small collection of well-edited apparel is far more stylish than running out each season to purchase the pieces du jour.
What do you think? Do you have a passion for fashion, or are you blissfully unaware of the latest trends?
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
I’m so on the same page! Even as a jewelry designer, I was not interested in fashion or trends. It’s about timeless class and quality.
My wardrobe has basic neutral foundation pieces with the addition of colorful shells and scarves. My article of choice is a classy cardigan or jacket that can be worn with pants or skirts. I add the shell and scarf for an instant change-up! Plus both items are pretty inexpensive, so having a nice selection gives me many choices.
I say follow your own “brand” of fashion and create your own unique style. That wears more beautifully than any passing trend!
I really struggle with this, although I have definitely improved in the past few years. I have done the 6 Items or Less challenge a couple of times (and am planning another one for October) which helps alot. I realized that no one notices if you wear the same thing twice in a row, or that you can wear the same pieces more than one way, or that people really notice your scarf or earrings more than your jeans anyway.
But I still struggle because I get clothing gifted to me quite often. I would rather pay off debts and travel than shop for myself, so I end up wearing a lot of things that don’t necessarily suit me to a T, but that are just ok.
But I will push on regardless! I feel another purge coming on as I am about to move house again.
Excellent post. Hmm, I am not interested in fashion per say but I do really like clothing. Like you, I like dresses and skirts far more than jeans. All my life I have always donated clothing regularly and not ever really had tons and tons. But in the past few years I started buying so much and not even realizing it until I looked in my closet last year and counted fifty sweaters and large amounts of other items as well. And honestly, I can not tell you how ashamed I felt and how truly selfish. Even if each sweater had only cost twenty dollars (which isn’t likely), that’s a massive amount of money that could have been used to help others, pay off bills, etc. It really opened my eyes and made me realize that lately, without even realizing it I was beginning to value myself based on how much clothing I had and I didn’t like it at all. So my sister helped me (she’s ruthless:) and SO much of it is gone now and what I have I wear and I am determined not to fall into that pattern of mad buying and accumulating again. And now it is so much easier to get rid of clothing because the hold that owning it had on me has been broken.
:)
Your post is excellent – I feel like you climbed into my brain and dictated an orderly version of the chaos you saw there! The whole reason I started blogging was to encourage people to carefully curate and deliberately distill; the effect that fashion has on the planet, and on women’s financial security, in incalculable. Thanks for putting this into words, and making it public.
Vivienne
Thank you for this post. I have never been into fashion as such and only recently realised how liberating this was. I wear things that I like, that are comfortable and that are fashionable, and not buying fashion magazines means that I am comfortable with my own style!
Now that I’ve pared down my wardrobe to just what flatters me AND what’s comfortable, getting dressed has never been easier! What a relief and how much more relaxed my life is. :)
I work in a doctor’s office + if a fashion mag winds up in the waiting room I flip through the pages + generally see nothing of interest. I am aware of trends, but don’t follow them. Neutrals, classic, no patterns, basics- these are my staples. I have pretty much had the same uniform for years- a skirt + top, cardigan in the fall + spring, wool sweater in the winter, leggings + boots in colder weather, bare legs + ballet flats in summer. Very versatile. All my clothes are second hand, from thrift stores, yard sales, cast-offs from friends + every once in awhile literally from the street. I found my favorite dress (a basic black knit) in a parking lot.
I thought it was hilarious when I realized that I had so many skirts and dresses and still *envied* (that’s the ugly truth behind the fashion world, isn’t it? Having complete and utter desire/lust for a material object?) what was on the shelf at the store when I wear required scrubs to work, jeans and t-shirts to school and spend the rest of my time in clothes that are comfortable enough to make a quick dash to the park for a 4 mile brisk walk.
I also realized my husband compliments my figure 100% more when I’m wearing workout clothes than when I’m wearing anything else. I kept my 2 favorite skirts (one I can wear over biker shorts for city riding) and 2 comfy, flattering dresses, 3 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of stretch pants and 1 pair of biker shorts, and a handful of t-shirts with flattering colors.
Fashion keeps people from realizing their own inherent beauty. If you are truly confident, strong, compassionate (enter in whatever qualifiers you want to be), you don’t need a special wardrobe to prove that. You just need to be yourself. :)
Great post! I’ve gotten much better about not buying clothes just to follow fashion trends but I still struggle from time to time. I think #3 is a big one when trying to move away from buying more clothes…fashion magazines as well as clothing retailer websites are big enablers!
And it turns out that most of the time, my simplest clothing is the most comfortable and confidence-enhancing for me. Also, people that truly care about you don’t care if you’re not wearing the latest styles. The idea that you have to dress up to impress “people” and that you’re in this imaginary spotlight goes along with the idea of a fantasy self: a person who is always with the times and with the latest trends. These ideas are the creation of a fashion industry that tries to get people to buy more and more clothing. This post serves as a great reminder, thanks!
I recommend the documentary “Last Train Home” for an eye-opening look at the lives of Chinese factory workers that produce so much (if not most) of the clothing sold in the US.
Great post! I completely endorse J’s comments too “no one notices if you wear the same thing twice”. Years ago I bought a beautiful simple but elegant black dress for my husband’s fancy-pants Work Christmas Ball. The following year I searched high and low for something as nice but no luck, so the dress got its second outing. It has since had about eight further outings at the same event, and I swear no-one has noticed. Everyone is so caught up with how they look themselves, they really don’t remember what anyone else is wearing, unless it’s noticeably garish (and probably ‘fashionable’).
I, too, used to love buying clothes and had masses of them and would wear a different outfit to work and for going out every day. Although, even then I used to buy a lot of ‘vintage’, ie, second-hand!
Now I work from home and have a very small wardrobe of clothes. I like unfussy, fairly masculine-looking clothes, so the simple, classic styles don’t tend to date much. It makes dressing every day fast and simple – also packing for holidays.
I gave up fashion magazines many years ago and noticed right away I began to feel better about myself and what I looked like. My favorite was Harper’s Bazaar! :) The fashion industry makes a lot of money making us feel inadequate so we’ll spend money on their latest creations. It’s a vicious cycle because every season a new “must have” item is pushed.
I also am tired of media pushing what I consider some pretty mediocre celebrities at us as fashion icons and beauty ideals we should all aspire to. Not to sound catty but most of these people aren’t even that attractive to me. Maybe they would be if we saw them in their natural state without all the accoutrements.
My wardrobe is pretty much the basics as well. As I get older I’m more interested in keeping my body in as best shape as possible by eating well and exercising. I figure this will be a better investment in keeping me looking and feeling better than anything I could buy from the latest hottest designer.
One of the best pieces of fashion advice I’ve ever heard came from Finola Hughes. She said forget separates and forget basics. Instead buy complete outfits that you love and look well in.
IIRC she said it’s surprisingly hard to get it right — putting together a great-looking outfit from separates bought separately. And it often leads to the purchase of single items with the idea of “getting something to go with it later on” which of course never happens. And that leads to lots of items in closets that never get worn.
Personally I think an outfit made of separates bought separately also tends to look inherently more “cluttered” or even sloppy.
I’m with Francine on this. For me, the simplest and best way to buy “complete outfits” is to buy dresses.
Oh, and Finola Hughes also says don’t buy sheer clothing with the idea of “getting something to go under it later on.” You never will.
I just wrote a post on my blog about fashion vs. style actually, in connection with my new Chanel nail polish. I’m still struggling with getting a simple yet quality wardrobe, as I have to move over from teenager–>woman in my clothes. All done on a budget! But I’m glad I learned about the wisdom of being careful with your (clothes) purchases already now, as teenagers are some of the biggest mindless consumers.
Awwww. This is something I struggle with. I’m in my upper 20’s and I still feel the need to be “stylish” at my corporate office. Francine, I’d love to know the age you called it quits on your fashion habit? I think I’m getting there. I’ve built up some nice classic pieces and I’ve been using accessories more often to express my style instead of buying the latest trend. I’m moving in a few months and I’m going to use that as motivation to declutter and simplify my wardrobe.
I’ve been struggling with this lately. I’m trying to keep the basics that I love and get rid of the rest. Cancelling my subscription to InStyle and unsubscribing to emails has help stop the trends from entering my life.
So admire your fashion philosophy, Francine. I’ve tried to pare down my wardrobe, but seem to have a tough time deciding on classic pieces. And I’m certainly no trendsetter, but just have too much crap! Great advice…I’m doing a closet purge this weekend.
I, personally, hate wearing pantyhose, so I prefer pants. I only own one knee-length black skirt and one ankle-length black skirt for dressy occassions. Comfort is more important to me than style. That is why I own no high heeled shoes. I have one pair of boots that barely go above the ankle and have a bit of a heel. I mostly wear comfortable sandals during the summer and New Balance walking shoes during the winter.
“Comfort is more important to me than style.”
This is why I don’t keep up with fashion. All the latest styles look uncomfortable and unpractical. I choose sneakers over high heels any day.
I’m lucky that I’ve been gifted with a strong imagination. I can browse malls and admire the goods, taking in the design and beading and feeling the fabric against my skin, and still leave the store emptyhanded. I get the emotional satisfaction without having to take it home. In fact, buying clothes is always a downer, because then I have to contend with fitting it in my closet, realizing it doesn’t match with my existing wardrobe, wondering if it’s dry clean only, fret over accessories, etc. Because of this, I haven’t bought clothes in over a year, and the clothes I did buy were from Goodwill.
I used to have a problem trying to change the way I dressed based on trends or something I’d seen on TV or in a magazine. I realized that I wouldn’t really wear the clothes ’cause I didn’t actually like them which was a huge waste of money. Finally just within the last few months I’ve decided to really develop my own sense of style, and now I love my clothes! I don’t even need as many because I want to wear any of my 5 shirts everyday.
have always had a uniform of sorts, from school to working as a nurse. now i live in black only pants, ll bean long sleeve tees in black or grey so i can slide up sleeves in the warmer weather. clogs and ballet flats for dressier times, a cheap black quilted bag for parties etc. and a basic coach bag (you know-the original rectangle one with the zip on top). my coats are always a parka type with a hood and zip in lining for the 3 seasons. since i saw a well known fashion house using them with evening gowns i knew i was a woman ahead of my time with my parkas! my few pieces of jewelry and a watch are the items i treasure that my husband got for me over the years.
i do not buy fashion mags, but will look at the fashions of the ny times and merely enjoy them for what they are. my one silly indulgence is long lace wight scarves which i knit in the same stockinette stitch for the past few years. it’s my therapy and i do a pretty good version of morticia addams!
I do believe you could be my twin! LOL Your wardrobe is my dream wardrobe. I still have the bright colored tops, but mostly wear black capris or pants. My family gives me a lot of grief over wanting to wear only black.
I can say I’m totally unaware of the latest fashion trends, and I agree with you about keeping your wardrobe simple and classic, the problem with my wardrobe is that is not simple and honestly I don’t like it, I have a few pieces that I love but I do not find the right occasion to wear them, hence I end up wearing t-shirts, jeans and sneakers almost everyday because I do not want to wear the pretty clothes, I know it sounds pathetic but when I wear them I feel over-dressed. Besides, every time I need to buy clothes I end up buying t-shirts and jeans!!! I’m 27 and I feel I dress like a teenager.
Oh this resonates with me! I was also rather hooked on fashion in my early twenties. I would buy the magazines religiously, and dutifully buy all the ‘key’ pieces of the season. For a few years after university I moved back home and got a job working very near one of the largest shopping streets in the world – I was poor, but had few financial commitments, so frittered vast amounts on daily (yes, daily!) shopping trips. Thinking back, I’m not sure where this person came from – sure, my mum is VERY consumerist and clothes conscious, but as a teenager I was one of the least fashionable kids and amongst my friends it wasn’t a priority. As a student I now realise I actually had a tiny wardrobe, and almost developed a uniform for myself. After nearly 10 years, I’m now back there. I turned off ‘fashion’ several years ago, partly because it became less relevant to me. I moved from a media job to a corporate one, so during the week I had to wear business attire, not trendy stuff, and at the weekend I wanted to be more comfy and casual than anything. I also found the fashion magazines got more shallow and body-fascist to the point where it felt damaging to read them. I also settled down with my now-husband and spent more time with him and less time shopping. I look back now and think it must have been something to do with trying to find my identity as an adult. Even after becoming less fashion conscious I still had a real clothes habit, mainly buying for various fantasy selves and fantasy lives, always trying to be anything other than ‘me’, changing my ‘image’ several times and buying a load of new stuff. The last year, and discovering the idea of minimalism has absolutely revolutionised things for me. Suddenly I am able to look first at who I am, what I like and how I live, follow some simple rules (all neutrals, no patterns, nothing uncomfy or impractical, only a certain quanity of any ‘type’ of clothing), and suddenly everything else falls into place. Suddenly I define my stuff, rather than my stuff defining me. So simple, so obvious, but yet it’s taken so long.
I believe in really investing in a few good non-trendy things, and wearing them forever. Today I am wearing: Ralph Lauren penny loafers my mom bought me in 1983 and a blazer I got for Christmas during my junior year of high school (1975). Both were beyond expensive at the time. The blazer was almost $100, the shoes were over $200. Both great investments.
You can dress well without a uniform and without resorting to all black. Just think about it, invest in well made timeless pieces, and take care of them. Then fill in with thrift store stuff. (I am also wearing a hot pink scarf with sparkly skulls on it, lol)
Hasn’t somebody once said that trends and fashion are for people who don’t have their own personal style, or a sense of style, or something along those lines..?
I’m in total agreement with 1-5, but 6 is, for me personally, somewhat opposed with 1. Number 7 is close to becoming obsolete in my case, since I’ve successfully worn out and/or decluttered most of my oldest – and the ‘falsely’ chosen – clothes. For years now I’ve been mostly seen in a black skirt(I’ve got four black, simple(and nearly identical :D) skirts :)) I pare them with simple black shirts, which aren’t your regular t-shirts or blouses, because I don’t like either of them, but a bit more feminine in style and yet not too formal. Apart from some earrings I’m mostly otherwise unadorned and have always preferred it that way.
I don’t have a large collection of clothes, and yes, I mostly wear black with splashes of color to throw in – in fuchsia, purple and gray – in the form of a couple of shirts, some shoes(I’ve got 7 pairs of shoes, two of which are purple) and a couple of scarves.
I usually feel well-dressed and comfortable, even though my ‘look’ doesn’t change much from day to day.
“I think that building a small collection of well-edited apparel is far more stylish than running out each season to purchase the pieces du jour.”
This reminds me of my recent trips to London and Paris. Although I saw very little of each city (and felt somewhat underdressed in both), I distinctly remember feeling that in London folks seemed so much more concerned with being fashionable, while the Parisians consistently appeared stylish and well-dressed in clothes that, while nice, were not brand new. An over-generalization, perhaps. But regardless, the philosophy of having style in a few great pieces seems so much less stressful.
I have spent too much time in life worrying about clothes, but my basic clothing needs have always been met without having to break the bank. Some of the favorite pieces in my wardrobe have come from garage sales, including brand new Levi’s and designer sweaters that cost me less than a dollar each. I’d rather enjoy these lucky finds than waste time worrying about not being able to afford the latest trend.
I guess I am rather blissfully unaware of what is trending right now. I used to work in London in the Sales and Media industries which meant a new wardrobe each season, which while I was affluent was great. Now I am a stay-at-home-mom with no direct income so things are quite different… I don’t buy fashion mags (on the grounds that they are 75% adverts and not really about ‘fashion’), and don’t have live tv. My only media source is the internet which I use to access information on personal hobbies and philanthropy. I do like fashion. In fact I love ‘high’ couture. But for humble little me, the fashion I would like to buy is hardly practical for the every day and as such my wardobe is limited to a few loose, casual pieces that have been there a long old time. As a creative, I look to high-couture for the inspiration and day-dreaming. In reality what’s in my wardobe get’s worn, sometimes literally, to death. What I would like to do is focus what I do have into a proper capsule wardrobe for a more casual lifestyle (no suits or little black dresses for partying for me). That’s my current and ongoing challenge.
I live in four season climate and I probably have less than fifty pieces of clothing and shoes. I don’t have skirts, I don’t feel comfortable in them and I rather wear a dress (a complete outfit) with leggings. I have a pair of jeans and some lounge pants plus long sleeve tees and tank tops for summer. I prefer black, grey and shades of blue and red. Solid colors, natural materials. 3-in-1 parka. Only one shoulder bag. Rubber wellies, winter boots, running/hiking/casual shoes plus sandals for summer. I don’t have many accessories either, I just don’t wear them. A couple of scarves and a hat plus gloves are a must here. And wool socks, I love my wool socks.
I stopped reading fashion magazines completely (and decoration mags too) when I got pregnant. It’s just not really aligned with my values but it was a habit. And it wasn’t making me any happier, on the contrary. Not something I want my daughter to grow up with.
Now I buy something I really like, and is good quality and ethical and ecological. I sew most of my daughter’s clothes lately or buy ethical brands.
It’s a good point about not shopping like you are in the spotlight, and not shopping for a fantasy self. I reach for the same favorites day after day anyway.
Don’t read fashion magazines.
I would say the same for some style blogs. While fashion magazines are overtly fantastic, style blogs are deceptive in their “realism.”
Fashion magazines have the added bonus of making people feel bad about their bodies! ;)
Seriously though, I don’t read them. Although I do enjoy reading style blogs. At least you can pick and choose which blogs you read to get a wider variety of styles and types of people. I don’t know if I’m interested in “fashion” per se, but I’m very interested in how people express their personal styles.
I can relate to #5 a lot. I always knew that most clothes came from sweatshops, in the abstract sense. But then around a year and a half ago, I read the sweatshops chapter of “No Logo”, which is this very detailed account of what goes on. It was worse than I could have imagined. It completely killed my desire to buy not just clothes, but ANYTHING that I did not absolutely need. In that time, I also learned to sew, so I’ve been able to take some older clothes that I didn’t like anymore and refashion them into new things.
I have never been much into clothes. I wear mostly black because it is efficient for my lifestyle and easy to find. I wear mostly merino wool because it lasts a very long time and is comfortable all year round.
One of the things I like most about dressing this way is it doesn’t put me into a class system. For the same reason I drive classic cars/scooters. No one knows where I “belong”. I can wear black slacks and shirt in a classic mga car (neither of which costed all that much, by the way) and could feel comfortable going to a ball game or pulling into the ritz. I guess it’s my way of rebelling against a class system I dont agree with.
I also like black because I feel like it makes people look at ME instead of my clothes. That is important to me. I don’t feel like I’m not expressing myself. I feel like I’m letting me shine, instead of hiding behind clothing.
I remember feeling disillusioned the day I (finally!) realized that fashion magazines are 100% advertising, even the thinly veiled articles. I resent the relentless selling of useless stuff. I no longer read the magazines, shop for sport but I still somewhat dress for an external, anonymous critic. Only since moving to LA, where it seems everyone is dressing on trend. one step at a time….
I did away with all my perfume after reading this blog. And after reading The Joy of Less I was inspired to come up with my own One Less Thing: nail polish. I properly disposed of the hazardous waste, including the polish remover and the toxic drying spray and cleared up space in my bathroom at the same time. I no longer fret about the drying time, the dings, the chipping, the reapplying, the time wasted sitting in a stinky and toxic nail salon. I now love the look of my clean, trimmed and natural nails and feel good about the reduced impact on the environment.
Now I am on the hunt for the next One Less Thing, a great concept. Thank you Francine!
I can sew and knit, and this helps me a lot. When a white top after a while gets boring, I change the buttons, add or remove some details, and then I have a totally new garment. Otherwise, my wardrobe is pretty basic. I used to have lots of clothes (yes, it could have been when I was in my 20ties), and then I started to notice that I wear only so much of them. A lot of things in my wardrobe was bought on impulse and sometimes I even did not wore them at all. Then I knew it was time to do something about it. Fashion mags are mostly about ads, not about fashion, and the airbrushed photos showing women with unnaturally smooth skin and slender bodies very often make us forget that those women actually are used as expensive hangers.
wow!!!!..great article!!…when I was younger and working outside of the home I got a “high” when someone complimented an outfit I was wearing. Because it felt so wonderful i had to shop and shop and shop and yes, I received more and more compliments but had closets full of things that were so not necessary. I could never have worn the item again as it was already complimented. I am so glad Im not that young girl anymore. At 52 Im not looking for compliments at all but should I receive one its not about my outfit but perhaps more about kindness and being a caring person. I still like to look nice and take pride in my appearance…and occasionally I will treat myself to perhaps something new OCCASIONALLY….but Im definately using and loving all the things in there already…shopping in my closet….giving some things away….and taking pride in slowly paying off the debt all those clothes shopping moments put me in!!!!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/donna-marie-ryan/2011/09/01/use-it-sell-it-give-it-away-throw-it-away#.Tl-ch9rIus0.email
I try to avoid the fashion magazines, and I pay no attention to advertisements in other magazines. As a more, ahem, mature women, in my mid-forties, I want to dress in what is comfortable and flattering to me, despite what the trends or Paris or celebs or anyone else tries to tell me. I am more comfortable in pants, and most days at home you will actually find me in workout wear! For days I go out, it is jeans and a colored tee. Once it cools down, it will be jeans and a turtleneck. I dress these up with a scarf or a necklace. I have a few pair of basic shoes, and it all makes it easy to get dressed! I do have a few dressier things, some jackets and sweaters, if I need to dress up. I even have a little black dress, although it is not very little, if you know what I mean!
Bernice
When depression comes knocking at your door
I had an aunt who was frugal, but quite the fashionista; she advised me early on to buy only classics and skip the trends. Therefore, I only buy to replace items I already own. My staple is good quality t-shirts in various neutral colors, (not always easy to find either). My current goal is to stick with black, grey and navy and get rid of the browns and tans. You can cut your wardrobe in half, including shoes, by sticking to one neutral pallet. My biggest purchase in the last three years has been to replace my 25 year old trench coat. I splurged with a Burberry, with great angst, but I wanted another coat that would function and last as long as the first. The quality is so good, that I seldom have regrets.
Unfortuately, I go through running shoes quickly, but staying healthy (and injury-free)is also a huge goal of mine, so what can you do?
I know some people who truly enjoy fashion and expressing themselves through their clothing. The artistry brings joy to their lives.
There are very few people like that, though. Chasing after the image of fashion, though alluring, just leaves me with an empty wallet and a headache. I still wish I had a reason to own a closet full of fancy dresses sometimes, but Pinterest scratches that itch nicely.
I usually find dark grey to be much less harsh than black, so most of my basics are that color. Anyone else?
I have dark hair and eyes, but pale skin. Black washes me out. Charcoal gray is much more flattering. It still looks good with my black accessories.
Oh, by the way – here’s the best fashion related advice I’ve heard in a long time: http://inkdot.tumblr.com/post/7243925631/no-shit Everything you will see in magazines, on TV, on celebrities, even on What Not To Wear makeovers has been professionally tailored to fit. *That’s* how they make it look effortless and perfect. I know from experience that the $30 sale dress with $20 of tailoring to take in the waist looks and fits better than the $300 dress off the rack. And at least in my experience, if my clothing truly fits well I’ll keep it longer and be much more satisfied with it. It’s a great way to own less, but keep it super high quality.
Feel free to filter this if it’s going too far off topic. :-)
For my company’s holiday party, I always spend lots of money on a dress that I’ll wear once. I recently discovered a website where you can rent designer dresses for cheaper than you can buy a dress at a department store. That’s what I plan on doing this year.
It reminds me of the site where brides and sell their wedding dresses. Ooooh, good topic: The Minimalist Wedding. Anyway, I digress. I was watching a blip on this concept of selling one’s wedding dress and one of the brides actually had two dresses, because she fell in love with the first, but then fell more in love with the second. Huh? I always thought you should be able to rent your wedding dress just like tuxedoes are rented. After all, who really passes their dress down to their daughter and in this day and age would it be good enough?
This article hits so close to home right now! I have those two closets full of clothes that I’m in the process of slowly purging because I realized that I only wear about one-fourth of what’s in them. I also have not looked at a fashion magazine or shopped for clothing in six months, which is HUGE for me. Part of the reason for this endeavor is practical – I’m going through a divorce and don’t have the same income as I did to support a fashionista habit. More importantly, I just feel weighed down in household clutter and the clothes are a big part of that. Thank you for this good article and inspiring website!
Last winter, when I first started getting interested in minimalism, I decided to clear out my closet. I ended up with about half of my clothing in two huge piles in my living room ready to be re-sold or donated. I took it all to a local thrift store, got a tiny bit of cash, and dumped the rest at the Goodwill.
Six months later, I still feel like I have more clothes than I need or wear, but I’m getting better. I would add not browsing fashion websites or sites likes modcloth.com as another tactic to avoid temptation.
While I never really followed ‘high’ fashion, I did try to be artistically dressed, and wasted far too much time and money on vain arty outfits and hairstyles. I’m so very glad those days are behind me. I think I was trying so hard to be ‘individual’ or something that I looked just like all the other ‘individuals’ in art school! ;o)
I cleared out about half my wardrobe when I discovered minimalism at the start of this summer, and I still have a way to go, but I love it. I totally agree about classics and developing your own sense of style. My ‘arty individuality’ (I say that in a self-mocking tone these days!) is now expressed through a few simple accessories, and the actual art I create.
I’ve always hated shopping but like to look good. I go for “chic, simple, classy” so my winter wardrobe is black/grey separate classics and brown/gold/cream separates. I push up the sleeves, wear a chunky bracelet or two, a gold classy watch and a pair of earrings. I don’t like necklaces and think they are too busy looking. I have a pair of brown and a pair of black high heel boots and that’s it. That’s my style and I wear it as a uniform everywhere…work, kids’s school activities and church. This year I’m daring myself to wear the same gold post diamond (cz) earrings (dropping the big earring look) and trying to get a cleaner look and going without the bracelets. I’m not sure if I like it. I feel kinda naked but am tweaking. The hair goes back in a simple sleek ponytail or down. I keep the same clothes for 3 years before tossing. It’s fun to find your style. On weekends I have only 2 pair of jeans and 2 winter tops for around the house. It would save a lot of money and room if I could get rid of the bracelets and chunky earrings. Thanks for this post Francine. Clothes are so expensive and time consuming to most of us.
thanks so much for this post.
i write about fashion trends but am always careful to link it to a bigger picture, and like to define fashion in
a broader, more physical sense – i.e., bonding it to issues like health, food, social equality, women’s needs. many designers
try to use their work to help and aid people and change the world – and i do think they deserve credit for that. Katherine Hamnet for example, alerted the world to the way cotton is grown and was one of the first to use organic cotton and endorse Fair Trade. Yohji Yamamoto is against discomfort in all forms and his philosophy is to liberate women from societal standards of beauty while at the same time urging them to stop, think and reassess. on the other hand, the clothing they make are outrageously expensive — and the idea is to buy one piece every couple of years, as wearable art objects that look beautiful hanging in a closet or draped on a chair. they will age gracefully and reflect on the intelligence and care of that particular designer, thus reflect on the thoughtscape of the wearer. i agree with everything Francine says but at the same time, clothes are very eloquent and however way you choose to buy/use them (or not), they will say something about the person you are. much like the food we choose to eat and how we spend our time.
I love this post. I ‘ thought ‘ I had a passion for fashion, but despite acquiring more that 200 pairs of jeans..( along with everything else ) I never often felt any good in anything I wore. I am still constantly downsizing the considerable closet but, am getting there. I am starting to like what I wear, but need consistent streamlining.
For me it’s not so much fashion but home decorating magazines. Even though I’ve cut down on subscriptions and mainly get my interior fix by looking online it’s so tempting to want the latest cushion cover or fruit bowl. I’m working on it but I think your idea of just painting everything white is my next goal.
Tracey :)
Loved this post! 5 years ago I would go out and spend hundreds of dollars on an outfit for each night of the weekend in NYC. Travel cured me of that habit. Living out of one suitcase changes your fashion habits quite drastically. I no longer have any idea what is ‘in’ until I go back to NYC and see it on the streets. I still find it a bit of a struggle at times to not fall back into old habits – but if you had to actually carry everything in your closet right now…I bet you would cut back too!
#5 does it for me: GUILT! This completely curbs about 99% of my consumerism habits. Such a great post!
I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl and have never been one for skirts, blouses, fancy clothing or jewelry. Realizing this over a year ago has made all the difference in my wardrobe choices – why stock myself full of cute blouses and sweaters when I know im just going to reach for the plain white tshirts that flatter my complexion and shape and jeans?!
I am envious you’ve learned this at such a young age – I was close to 40 before I realized how absurd the fashion industry is. When I reflect back on all the time, money and mental energy wasted thinking about and accumulating clothes I inwardly cringe from embarrassment and regret. But still, better late than never. If only there were some kind of method to inoculate oneself from the many societal and marketing messages we are constantly bombarded with.