For many years now, I’ve preferred to maintain a pretty small wardrobe. I’m not strict about the number of pieces I own, and I don’t adhere to any specific capsule wardrobe framework. My goal is to wear and love everything I have, and for me, that’s best accomplished with fewer pieces.
While my mom is always shocked when she sees how little clothing I have, it works for me, and here’s why:
I wear everything I have. Did you read my article about why you should get rid of your clothes? I wear all of my clothing on a very regular basis, with the exception of some formalwear and seasonal items. I always know what I have, and I always know how everything fits. This greatly reduces decision fatigue, because my options are ultimately limited.
I’m choosy about what I buy. I already know what I like and what works for me, so I don’t get sucked in by trends. Instead, I stick with the shapes, styles, patterns, and colors that I enjoy and find flattering on myself. This gives me a lot of wardrobe confidence that chasing trends never did. And when something trendy comes along that I do like, I can indulge without worry.
I’m more creative with mixing and matching. With a small wardrobe, boredom is the biggest risk and creativity is a necessity. I love to pair items in new ways, even a tweak as small as wearing a sweater on top of a dress to give the illusion of a sweater and skirt. I love jazzing up my outfits with different shoe and jewelry pairings, and combining colors in fun ways. With fewer pieces, I’m more likely to experiment with what I have instead of reaching for the same outfits on autopilot.
I’m unfazed by weight fluctuations. If I gain or lose weight and need to purchase new items, I have far less to replace than if I maintained a larger wardrobe. I also don’t feel any guilt when I have to replace things - whether due to weight fluctuations, damage, or just not liking them anymore - because I know that I got plenty of wear out of them, and thus my money’s worth.
I spend less time managing my clothing. Laundry is way faster and easier with fewer pieces. I have a designated weekly laundry day, and it takes me hardly any time at all. I spend very little time organizing my closet or dresser, and even less time rummaging around to find things, because it’s all right in view. I also spend less time shopping, less time listing items on resale sites, and less time bagging up donations.
Whether you have a large or small wardrobe, I’d love to hear what makes it work for you!