On being a minimalist...a cautionary tale. - YouLookFab Forum

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On being a minimalist...a cautionary tale.

Runcarla

Veteran

I've been following the purging posts with interest, but have been unable to contribute meaningfully. You see, I have a small collection that all told amounts to +\- 100 items. If you subtract 6 coats (2 winter, 2 trench coats, 2 leather jackets) 14 shoes/boots/sandals, 7 bags, 2 bikini's, leather gloves, a few hats, and a half dozen scarves that leaves me with about 60 items. (I'm not counting gear, which for me is very sports specific). Last week I counted 58 items of clothing for work and play.

Since following YLF, I have culled a little, and replaced imperfect 'likes' with better quality 'loves'. I really like (love?) what I have, and am not bored with my clothes. I wear everything. There is the rub! My clothes get worn A LOT! They show wear and get worn out. I've got 5 year old jeans and older dresses, but some tops and shoes are literally worn out after 1-2 years 25-100+ uses.

I guess it gives me an opportunity to get new things, and change things up, but it is hard when you really love something and can't find a replacement or when you don't feel like shopping, but your clothes are looking shabby.

In conclusion, I would counsel all the well intentioned folks who want to simplify their wardrobes by reducing quantity, that there are other problems just as challenging as the embarrassment of riches that is a generous sized closet! Don't be in too much of a hurry to jettison stuff that is still working for you, just to have a smaller closet!

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35 replies

Latest reply was from Elly

LACeleste

Veteran

Amen sister! Very smart advice!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Good point, Carla. There have definitely been times in my life when my wardrobe was quite minimal, and I wore it to death. Usually I either didn't have the time (pre-Internet) or the money, sometimes both, to go shopping and replace my really quite worn items. It is a luxury to have extras of things and sometimes it is really nice to be able to 'work from your closet' for a while without buying.

Weren't we talking about how long items last recently? I wouldn't be surprised if those of you with 50-100 piece 'everyday wardrobes' have items wear out a lot faster than those of us in the 100-200 or 200+ range, because you wear them more often and wash them more often. I know in high school I had 2-3 pair of jeans which were pretty much all I wore, and I was lucky to get a school year's worth out of them before they sprang giant holes (which was fine because I was still growing, but...).

rabbit

Veteran

Very good point! I've been there (I think I mentioned in Anna's thread about wearing out jeans that I've had pants bottoms rip open while I was wearing them out and about....not the point you want to get to).

Also looking at some of the things I've now purged from previous years because they never quite worked, I realized that a lot of the mistakes I was making was because I was doing a famine/feast thing.

I didn't have any pants that weren't worn out, so I'd go to buy pants, but I only went to one or two stores, had only a vague idea what was in style at the moment, and just bought the best of the options they had, and bought a couple in one go because I really needed pants. So I ended up not only not buying the best thing possible, but duplicating it :P.

I realize YLF readers are likely to have a better handle on what they are looking for, and be more judicious about choices of course, but it's kind of like that 'beware grocery shopping when you are hungry' thing, sometimes I've found it works best for me not to be shopping under immediate pressure to deliver results.

Kristin L

Veteran

Thanks for the advice!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

rabbit, I so identify with what you just said. I used to make exactly that mistake. I had so few clothes and shopped so infrequently that I really didn't end up buying what I wanted. I just filled my needs -- barely.

Carla, you raise an excellent point! Even now, with my closet that contains almost twice as many clothing items as yours, I do still wear some things out and other things definitely wear out their welcome after a season or two, even in the unlikely event that they are not getting shabby.

I'd like to keep my wardrobe approximately where it is -- somewhere between 100 and 120 items not counting bags, footwear, gear. sleepwear. It's a good size for our 4 season climate and everything gets worn (and worn...and worn). Meanwhile, there's enough there that if I have to buy new things I can do so in a gradual way, updating and refreshing a few at a time, rather than trying to replace all at once as I might have to do with a smaller wardrobe.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Very good point. And partly why I want a Goldilocks 'just right' size closet. I expect most my tops to last 2 - 3 years at least (barring the cheap fast fashion ones) and most of the rest of my wardrobe around 5 years. Some more durable things - leather boots, jeans - up to 7 years. I may tire of things before that and cull them, but I want to be able to settle in to a style for a few years and not be forced to change it up due to wear and tear. This was part of the impetus behind the crunching the numbers post.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*applause*

GREAT post.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Yes! I am noticing this as my favorites start to show wear. Especially shoes. I can easily tell which ones are workhorses nowadays. O_0

Peri

Veteran

I so agree with you! I've not been able to understand the purging posts about letting go of things you like just to have a smaller closet...unless like Gayllene, you really do have a smaller closet.

My reason for not getting it is that I often do find fashion a feast or famine thing. Some years I just don't like what is in the stores. I really disliked this past spring, for one. I bought nothing until summer forced me to., and I have liked but not loved what I've found for summer. So when I do hit a season where I find things I love...like last winter...I think it is a smart thing to buy more and "stock up". Because who knows when that will happen again.

Gaylene

Veteran

Ah, it's that balance thing, isn't it. Thanks for the heads up, Carla, because I'm in the midst of downsizing my closet; you've made me realize that purging too enthusiastically has its pitfalls.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

If I take my accessories & shoes out but leave my gear & coats I have around 80 items - so very similar. I really like it when my things wear out - by then I'm usually wanting something new anyway

I agree with rabbit too - I always take my list when clothes (or grocery) shopping; otherwise I tend to just home home with stuff rather than what I need. .

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Carla, this is a wonderful post Thank you for the reminder!

My goal, with downsizing, is not to become a minimalist - it is to become less of a maximalist

Runcarla

Veteran

Rabbit, excellent point. I recognize myself in your comment about getting something substandard, just to fill a need. A habit I've been more or less successful at breaking these past 18 months.

Caro, I agree with you about lists. I bring pictures from magazines, or a print of my Pinterest shopping list. When an SA volunteers assistance, I show them the pic and say..."do you have this?" Though I keep myself open to opportunities, I rarely stray from my list.

Mo, Suz, I wish I knew what 'just right' was. My work wardrobe has shrunk, and my casual wardrobe has grown (and the quality is better). Many items cross over. This bodes well for a nice retirement wardrobe...but I'm still in the workforce.

Thank you, Angie. I'm chuffed at the recognition!

karymk

Veteran

Carla when you find you are falling for something and you wish it would hold up forever, just buy TWO. Or THREE. Don't let too much time go by because even if you find something similar two or three years down the line it may not fit or feel like your original love.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the warning!

amiable

Veteran

Yes - great point. My favorites from this summer are definitely showing wear, and I'm cautious about getting rid of anything I *would* but *don't* currently wear for fear that I'll need it when something I currently like better gets too pilly to wear, etc. I don't mind the idea of something being a one-season wonder, as long as I got to wear it lots and love it lots. I have some things that I love wearing out now, and I'm trying to be grateful for their service to me rather than mourn their loss.

Jen W

Yes! I have a minimal wardrobe since I am rebuilding after losing weight following pregnancies. It is very difficult to build up as my pieces run out faster than I can add them. Summer has been particularly difficult. I added seven tops this summer, and three have already worn out from being in heavy rotation. Granted I have about 50 items year round while I am in building mode, but I would echo that this is one of the drawbacks of a minimalist wardrobe.

qfbrenda

Veteran

It's a real trade off, for sure. I have to say that your reasoning is part of why I haven't been getting rid of many clothing items lately. All of our extra money is being poured into our master bathroom addition and I have almost zero money for clothes. The clothes in my closet are all things I like, and even better, are paid for! LOL If I cull my closet, everything will wear out faster and I'll have to shop sooner. So even though I probably have more than I need, I'm keeping everything for now.

I might be singing a different tune when I move all my clothes into my soon-to-be-built 5ft x 5ft "walk in" closet... we'll see how much fits!

Gigi

Veteran

Good points! It is bittersweet when something wears out. It's good because it shows that you loved the item and really had some good outfits with it. But it's sad because you have to replace it, and sometimes you just can't find anything as great as the old one! I get so attached that I will scour the Internet trying to find the exact item that wore out on eBay or some other site. Pathetic, I know.

Before YLF, I had an extremely small closet, and if something started to wear out, replacing it became a HUGE priority, and I would often end up buying something that wasn't great but that was good enough. Now that I have a decent-sized wardrobe (about 150 items, including shoes), I can relax and not worry about that. I can actually have some fun mixing and matching things now too!

fern

Veteran

I have a similar size wardrobe (to Carla's) and a small closet. I do rotate some
things seasonally to our hall closet. Like Caro says, I really
appreciate that I am wearing out my clothes and shoes (and making room
for new).
One of the reasons I began to track what I buy was to see which pieces wore out and where the quality really was. I too want my wardrobe to be "just enough" and I don't want to do the desperate filling-the-hole shopping ever again.
I don't know the answer to the quality question yet, but I think the
smaller, more organized closet has made me better at anticipating my needs.

jennifer

Veteran

I tend to err on the side of hoarder squirrels. Sometimes it makes sense to have a backup or multi ( white jeans + pets or kids?) and have a instant refresh so you don't have to rethink a whole outfit when you are pressed for time. Not so great when you bought 5 tops and then realize next year that you don't really love them after all. And worse if it's still smoking on the credit card ..ooooch!
Ebay here I come!

crutcher

Veteran

Runcarta, you are one after my own heart...I applaud your wardrobe and the good sense you use to maintain it..I have performed similar in and out but no cull to a certain place...I just like having my things that I enjoy wearing and that so work for me, there..Three cheers for a tad over minimalist...

Meredith

Veteran

Well said, Carla. For a variety of reasons (budget, job changes, etc,) I've had a small wardrobe the last few years and it can be exhausting keeping up with replacements. I'd add to your words of wisdom that a minimal wardrobe is a lifestyle and not a destination. You can't just count and purge and do all your reflection up front and then expect an easy and effortless closet. You may get a year of ease, but you'll soon be on the hamster wheel of replacing things regularly. I'm fully behind anyone who wants to live with less, buy better and smarter, have pieces that all work together, etc, but I do think the points raised in this thread are worth considering.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Excellent point Carla. I have found in the last few years that even with my larger wardrobe, I have the same issue in that I only wear a small number of items regularly and they get worn but the majority of pieces languish.

Thistle

Veteran

Terrific points! So glad you pointed this out, and definitely something to consider.

viva

Veteran

Thank you, Carla -- such a great perspective. I see enough change and turnover in my wardrobe that I rarely wear things out ... but occasionally it does happen and that is always a sad day. It's a good reminder that it is a downside of a very small wardrobe.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Very good point(s) Carla, and followed up as usual by more very good points by other fabbers.

I really resonated with what Rabbit said about feast or famine shopping. That was me. I didn't care enough, nor enjoy shopping enough, to REALLY look for perfect pieces, whatever they were. I always got things that fit, but didn't know/care about style, and often purchased orphans. And I didn't stop doing that when the online world opened up... just did it more frequently :). So now my attitude is catching up to my reality, but I still have the "feast" in my closet.

Lisa

Veteran

A great post, it's all about balance. Too little and one is constantly 'settling' because the wardrobe need just cannot wait. Too much and things may go to waste and never or rarely get used before a purge. I don't think my wardrobe will ever be 100% all used or 100% error free (after all I do like to shop and try out new trends which means errors and boredom will happen). But if I can prevent an overflow of mindless mistakes and nip poor purchasing decisions before they happen, I'll have a more thoughtful wardrobe that I am genuinely happy with.

lari

runcarla, while I agree with you that minimizing number of clothes just for the sake of "the number" is pointless, I am not sure I agree with your sentiment of mourning the worn clothes. isn't it a natural cycle? would you even wanted to wear now the same EXACT items for the whole of eternity? when I look back at the clothes I loved what I want is ease, comfort, and happiness they brought me but not the things themselves. I had a pair a levi's in high school I loved and used to wear non stop. 20 years later I have another pair of perfect jeans but they are not levi's. I would never wear the original pair now - you change, fashion change, things move on. I have a slightly smaller wardrobe than yours and I would rather wear my clothes often and with enthusiasm now as angie advises than have a closet full of pristine items that rarely see the light. as fern pointed out, you appreciate your clothes more and tend to have a better grasp of what you needs/wants are when your closet is smaller. also, great fabric/leather becomes better with age. cheap materials not so much.

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