https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:30:29 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1410449 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 17:35:19 +0000 Anonymous 1410449@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Those posts were really great--in particular, on 'perfection'. I don't shop very often, but when I do decide I need something in particular, I OBSESS over finding exactly the right thing. I'm trying to wed 'comfortable' (wide) with 'dressy' for work shoes, and have completely bogged down. Somewhere in my head, I think I will know the perfect shoe, and therefore I must FIND IT.</p> <p>Anne, the comment about the 'tea and toast' is also very thought provoking. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1410320 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 12:38:22 +0000 Astrid 1410320@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anne, I definitely purged more than 10 pieces that I hadn't worn out. Especially stuff I bought at the start of my YLF journey. I've gotten better at recognizing the things that will truly be workhorses though, so hopefully that will keep the count low from now on.</p> <p>Sterling, great story! How do you feel about your decision now?</p> <p>Lyn D, thanks. I'm glad you found this an interesting read.</p> <p>Kiwigal, High Five back! </p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1410035 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 21:29:12 +0000 Sal 1410035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Me too, High Five Astrid!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1410010 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 20:50:10 +0000 Lyn D. 1410010@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Astrid, just wanted to thank-you for this thread!<br />I Faved. it and have been reading it over the last few days with much pleasure. I enjoyed the links too </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409828 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:16:19 +0000 Anonymous 1409828@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OK!!! &nbsp;So I read these posts earlier this week and adsorbed the wisdom in the room. &nbsp;</p> <p>THEN this very morning, I saw a woman wearing a pair of shoes that I just HAD TO HAVE. &nbsp;I found them at Nordstroms and was beyond excited about&nbsp;my newest acquisition. &nbsp;Yay!! &nbsp;</p> <p>THEN I remembered the collective wisdom of this thread and I remembered that I realized I&nbsp;didn't need those new shoes, I just desired them because they were new and sparkly. &nbsp;I opted against them. &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409536 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 22:50:30 +0000 anne 1409536@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid you are right. In addition to not enjoying shopping that much * am also very picky (over picky really, YLF has helped me a little in getting over my perfectionistic tendencies - my example above spoke to *me* because I am very like that picky person ) and also not naturally inclined to spending at all!<br />But having made the plunge to buy something I very rarely purge quickly. It would take a really mistake for me to purge it any time soon. Handed down items might move quicker but if not immediately passed on I'll give them a good try&nbsp; to fit in my wardrobe first.<br />Since joining YLF 6 years ago my estimate is that only about 10 items of clothing bought since then have left my wardrobe for reasons other than wearing out.</p> <p>* with qualifications. When I worked in the city I didn't mind browsing&nbsp; in the shops in my lunch hour every week or two. Now I don't, it means using precious weekend time to do it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409371 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 18:21:50 +0000 Alassë 1409371@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Count me as another who'd love to read Suz's musings. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409341 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:40:42 +0000 Astrid 1409341@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anne, thanks for chiming in. That's an interesting quote! Also fascinating to hear about people who are truly living minimal for real. As for not enjoying shopping much and keeping the wardrobe down that way - I think that only works if you are fairly discerning about clothes at the same time and don't buy anything just to get it over with. I know some people who don't enjoy&nbsp;shopping and they often don't even try things on before buying just to be finished. This leads to huge wardrobes where they can't even wear a lot of things.</p> <p>Angie, thanks. I'm looking forward to the blog post(s).</p> <p>Suz and approprio - yes please! We need that thread. I think this would become a very interesting one for sure. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409325 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:00:42 +0000 approprio 1409325@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><span><b>Suz, </b>Yes! Let's have that discussion!&nbsp;</span>I'd&nbsp;<i>love</i> to&nbsp;find a few signatures to&nbsp;anchor my style. It's pretty much why I'm here. :)<br /><span><i><br />Lately there is lots of talk to the effect that the "truly" stylish people have a signature look. But I think we could probably find as many counterexamples to that idea as examples, with a little consideration.&nbsp;<br /></i><i><br /></i></span>There's a comment in&nbsp;Scott Schumann's first book politely disagreeing with this assertion. Here are a few counterexamples of eclectic style icons&nbsp;from the top of my&nbsp;fashion-obsessed head...<br /><span><i><br /></i><i></i>David Bowie<br />Kate Moss<br />Chloe Sevigny<br />Debbie Harry<br />Rihanna<br />Solange Knowles<br /></span>...</p> <p><b>on preview&nbsp;</b>looking forward to that thread when it appears...</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409323 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:53:15 +0000 texstyle 1409323@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, please start that thread Suz! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409316 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:41:05 +0000 Angie 1409316@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>More thanks from me, Astrid. It was very stylish that you responded to everyone's comments&nbsp;so fully and with hyper engagement.&nbsp;I hope to cover some of these important points next year in a blog post or two.</p> <p>Anne, I'm high fiving you.</p> <p>Suz, start that thread. I have lots to say about the topic.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409302 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 14:44:07 +0000 Suz 1409302@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the subject of "signature style" deserves a thread of its own. And I might start one in a few days. I don't really have any clear thoughts on the subject except that someone like aproprio, who seems to have an eclectic personal style, will find the whole idea of a single 'signature" look very constraining. Whereas a uniform dresser will not. Lately there is lots of talk to the effect that the "truly" stylish people have a signature look. But I think we could probably find as many counterexamples to that idea as examples, with a little consideration. I say that even though my own tendencies are probably towards a modified uniform, i.e. some kind of uniform but with more variety than it typically suggested for a signature look.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409292 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 13:50:44 +0000 anne 1409292@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, thanks for starting and everyone else for contributing to this absolutely fascinating thread. I resonate with some of the uneasiness expressed about minimalism. I don't like churn, and some minimal wardrobes really seem to support that.<br />I am often reminded of a point made my C S Lewis, talking about gluttony. He describes someone&nbsp; who says they are happy with just tea and toast but they must be made just "exactly so". I think he was saying this fussiness was just as gluttonous as an overeater. (I may be misquoting, I don't know what book this was and it is probably 20 years since I read it)<br />A similar parallel can be drawn with clothing (I could have put this in Suz's thread!)</p> <p>My insight is also coloured by having a close family member live a minimal kind of tiny house existence with her large family. I love her and think she is brave - and NOTHING like a chic minimalist!&nbsp; They are often shabby, not that clean, - the "one item" that Claire mentions can STILL go missing!</p> <p>For myself I find myself identifying a bit with Angie. For me what limits my wardrobe is budget and size. I like my wardrobe&nbsp; to look uncrowded, and my drawers not to be stuffed. And my budget is small by YLF standards and dominated by needing to buy a pair of expensive orthotic shoes every year which doesn't leave space for heaps of extras.&nbsp; Unlike Angie, I don't particularly enjoy shopping and this helps keep the wardrobe down too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409021 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 22:19:28 +0000 Astrid 1409021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Staysfit, Suz and Alasse - thanks. :)</p> <p>Texstyle, that's good to hear!</p> <p>Approprio, thanks for coming back and clarifying. And your comments about Into Mind make a lot of sense! Although I do think all these exercises of creating moodboards etc. to develop a signature style can be helpful to figure out a rough direction, if you're completely clueless about your preferences that is. I've created enough <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ridrin/" rel="nofollow">Pinterest</a> boards myself in my time here on YLF. I never did anything with the pictures and deleted most of them after a while, but I found it helpful to pinpoint what kind of aesthetic appeals to me deep down. Not the actual pieces of clothing, but the vibe which slowly emerged recycling all those pictures. It's not something I knew about myself, it wasn't instinctual. That said, I'm now only spending time there sporadically. Because I've learned to trust my gut feeling way more. And I do think that these preferences about the <i>feel</i> of your clothes are rather constant. Even though fashion or the implementation due to life circumstances might change. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409009 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 21:18:15 +0000 approprio 1409009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, what a great thread this turned out to be! I love this, because my sympathies are so very much with buying less and keeping it for as long as possible, but I'm nobody's minimalist. Seems many others&nbsp;feel the same&nbsp;way.</p> <p>Astrid, I just wanted to clarify a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>First off, with regards to "new minimalism" I was referring to the&nbsp;rise of&nbsp;normcore, another minimalist trend&nbsp;about which there's an awful lot to say, but not in this thread. I should have mentioned that, sorry.</p> <p>Secondly, I didn't want to imply that a tiny closet can't be done, because it can by some people, and you're doing an amazing&nbsp;job of proving this to the rest of us :)</p> <p>That said, what bothers me most about Into Mind, which is a fantastic blog in almost every other respect, is the philosophy of a&nbsp;universal signature style and the way she suggests you develop it. My immediate thought was that here was&nbsp;&nbsp;someone who'd never lived through several careers or&nbsp;life roles, let alone&nbsp;fashion cycles. I felt much the same way when I read (then 25 y.o)&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg's claim&nbsp;that nobody needs more than one internet alias: there speaks&nbsp;a man who's only ever had&nbsp;one job. </p> <p>And I have to say, I much prefer the YLF approach. The art of getting dressed is about so much more than putting clothes on your back.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1409006 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 21:09:13 +0000 texstyle 1409006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid - yes, in a good way, definitely. :-)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1408982 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:49:55 +0000 Alassë 1408982@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Seconding Staysfit &amp; Suz's thanks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1408975 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:27:01 +0000 Suz 1408975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a wonderful thread you started, Astrid. Thank you for your own thoughtful and balanced approach and your sensitive and perceptive replies to us all.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1408953 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:55:46 +0000 Staysfit 1408953@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am fascinated by what everyone is saying. Astrid, thank you so much for this lively topic, and an extra thanks to Angie for providing this wonderful forum where people feel safe enough to express themselves openly. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1408929 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:06:21 +0000 Astrid 1408929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Suz! The tea candle is new (little birthday present from a friend), the plants are there year round. And the santa will be swapped out with my ceramic bird in the new year.</p> <p>Lisap, thank you for being so honest and trusting us with this self-knowledge. I've also had major confidence issues in the past and getting a grip on dressing myself reasonably well helped a lot with that. I think there is something to the saying "fake it till you make it". Great clothes can be the kickstarter for your self esteem when you're not comfortable in your own skin. But it's a slippery slope. I think the only thing that kept me from a full blown shopping addiction back then was my small student budget and my parents' bringing me up to be sensible about money. </p> <p>Gaylene, I agree that it's a difficult topic. And I know very well what you're talking about. I have practiced <i>out of sight, out of mind</i> myself. I really want to get a grip on that. And really, I'm the queen of rationalization. Don't even try to argue with me, I'm able to find a justification for everything if I want to.</p> <p>Angie, I posted it in the link love thread after Laurinda mentioned it. Just went back and added the link to this thread, too. And thanks for the shout out for balance! :)</p> <p>Texstyle, but hopefully in a good way? I don't want you to feel pressured to do <i>anything</i> just because of my musings... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/3#post-1408917 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 17:29:00 +0000 texstyle 1408917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Geesh - reading all of this makes me want to go and clean my closet. Again. Seriously, I am considering moving the things I truly love to wear to the front of the racks to create a little "love capsule" and see how long it takes me to start rambling through the more distant items further back. I can't say I have much in there that doesn't fit or that is even out of style, but I do have things that I just don't reach for - and some of those are newer things so I'm kind of on a clothing shopping hiatus until I figure it out a bit more. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408910 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 16:59:10 +0000 Angie 1408910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hah, Suz. I think we wrote balance at the same time. High five. xo</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408909 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 16:57:42 +0000 Suz 1408909@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really do think that <b>thimbelina</b>'s analogy to nutrition is spot on.&nbsp;</p> <p>It's about finding balance, for me. Not self-indulgence -- but not deprivation.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408908 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 16:57:27 +0000 Angie 1408908@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, this is a GREAT thread and everyone's comments are meaningful. Do send the links to Inge for link love tomorrow - and link to this forum thread too. (If you haven't already done so).</p> <p>Gaylene, I am amused by your own rabbit hole of thoughts. You really&nbsp;enjoy citical thought.</p> <p>Everyone needs to make peace with what they have, pass on, and purchase. How you make peace with those three things is personal and there is no one solution.<b>&nbsp;YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR OWN BALANCE.&nbsp;</b></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408906 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 16:50:12 +0000 Gaylene 1408906@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, thank you so much for articulating so eloquently the thoughts that have been in my head the past few years. Your responses to the commenters are so well put because this topic can become quite divisive when people feel their own habits and choices are being challenged. Consumerism is so tightly woven into the fabric of our society it's almost impossible for most of us not to have been affected. </p> <p>What I find most disturbing in my own behavior is my almost endless capacity to rationalize my own urges to purge and buy. "Keep only what pleases you"--and its variations--can so easily be my cue to get rid of perfectly good items that reflected poor decision-making on my part; if they are not around, I am no longer troubled by my poor choices. This would be fine-- if I didn't repeat the behavior again and again. Same goes for "needs vs. wants"; if I am adequately covered and protected from the elements, do I truly have "needs"? The term "passing on items for another person to enjoy/use" conjures up a much more pleasing image that "filling up the local landfill with my discards". "Experimenting with a trend", "finding my personal style", "HEWI (which makes it sound like a call to action), "filling a wardrobe hole"--the list of reasons I can give myself is almost endless. The simple definition of a rationalization as "a statement which COULD be true, but whose true purpose is to act as an acceptable explanation for an action or behavior to avoid censure or responsibility" seems all too apt, all too often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408866 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 15:13:46 +0000 Anonymous 1408866@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow. This has been very interesting and helpful reading. &nbsp;I love a good discussion and there is a lot here that resonates with me right now. As it's become apparent with my recent hijacking of the forum (lol) , I am in a state of flux right now with where I want to go style wise. This has been precipitated by a few things: &nbsp;stage of life where downsizing and tightening up of the pursestrings is prudent; and a huge desire to simplify and organize. &nbsp;Not minimize, as others have said, but SIMPLIFY. &nbsp; I am one of those people who gets overwhelmed in crowds, in crowded areas (like my closet) , and with too much stuff on my desk, in my makeup bag and in my jewellery box. &nbsp;Claire nailed it: &nbsp;if you only have one pair of scissors.......etc. &nbsp;I am constantly losing and misplacing and forgetting I have things - which is silly and wasteful. I HATE the way I am, and am desperate to get a handle on it. &nbsp;As Staysfit said - shopping and accumulating is a behaviour fraught with so much emotional input - and mine too came from loss and zero self-esteem. &nbsp;What i find happening too is that I've succumbed to the blogs touting minimal/perfect eating/dressing/decorating/living out of a fear of not doing the "right" thing and of a huge sense of competitiveness. &nbsp;I jump on every bandwagon nutritionally and fitness-wise and only now am I calming down and figuring out what works for me. &nbsp;My biggest worry with simplifying my style is looking too "ordinary". &nbsp;Wow - how is that for a huge confession?</p> <p>Anyways - forgive my rambling. &nbsp;Thanks for opening up this discussion. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408864 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 15:10:43 +0000 Suz 1408864@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, that is such a cute table landscape!! :)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408846 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:42:03 +0000 Astrid 1408846@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Staysfit and Style Fan, thank you for your input. I definitely agree that there are many reasons for consumerism and the shopping habits we have and we sometimes might go overboard and use it as a stress release, to deal with anxiety or to compensate after a loss. Shopping shouldn't become an escape mechanism. It's definitely worth a deeper look, privately.&nbsp; </p> <p>Sterling, it's my pleasure! So much inspiration in this thread... I will have to go back and read it again from time to time.</p> <p>Jenny, I agree that being part of a fashion forum definitely feeds the impulse to buy. That said, I love that YLF has all kinds of people on it and it doesn't promote buying just for the sake of buying. There are all kinds of people here with different needs and different budgets and we can all come together and talk about fashion and style no matter if we're buying or not. And yes, I will also have to do a lot more online shopping from now on, although I did find some B&amp;M stores I might be visiting too. Living in a big city helps with that. As for the merino cami (it is Icebreaker) - it arrived half an hour ago and it is perfect! The fit works great on me and it's not itchy at all. I can already tell that I will love wearing it. And it will be perfect travel underwear. I think it will be worth the investment!</p> <p>Thanks Laurinda! That's a good idea.</p> <p>DEB, I definitely agree with you. I'm starting to implement this in other areas of my life too, or have already done this for a while. This makes my rather tiny one bedroom appartment seem way more spacious than it is. People are always surprised when I'm telling them how many square metres my flat has.</p> <p>Janet, I agree with everything you said. I can't take the attitude and arrogance that comes with some of these blogs/statements/posts either. And a lot of the fashion blogs doing the minimalist angle are quite far removed from reality IMO. As if I only needed to get dressed to hang out in fancy cafés and do the occasional city trip to the latest hip haunt. Yeah, no. And I love your Christmas decoration example. My only Christmas decoration is a santa I bought on holiday in Denmark a few years ago (in summer!). But I get the nativity set and Christmas tree at my parents' home, so I might do more if I would actually spend Christmas here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408838 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:13:58 +0000 Janet 1408838@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't read the links yet, but I'm enjoying the thread. I also have a problem with the cultish nature of some of the "new minimalism" in the blogosphere -- in some ways it seems like just another plug for consumerism (buy these ten pieces for this fall and you won't need anything else! Uh, yeah, until winter, and then next spring...).</p> <p>I realize I am absolutely no model for minimalism -- my wardrobe is likely one of the larger ones around here, although it's smaller than it used to be. I can very nearly fit my four-season wardrobe in my closet now, and I'm thinking of getting rid of one of my hanging storage bags in the basement closet, to eliminate the temptation to fill it again. But I have the resources for it, I don't spend much on other things, and I enjoy the variety, so cutting things down to an arbitrary number just to feel more virtuous makes little sense to me. However, I do sometimes feel a little overwhelmed, or things in my closet suddenly stop appealing to me, and I take that as a sign that it's time to let some things go. What I need to be careful of is the tendency to also take that as an opportunity to hit the stores. ;-)</p> <p>The pursuit of the perfect item is another interesting myth. I've fallen victim to it as well. I could look at a perfectly good item in my closet and compare it to some mythical perfect version of it, which would make me look ten pounds thinner, ten years younger and ten times cooler. Yeah, not gonna happen. Better to practice contentment with what I have until a true flaw shows up -- the fit is wrong, it starts getting worn out, etc. I'm working on this, which is a special challenge when you hang out here, and constantly see fab new items featured. </p> <p>Approprio is right: "a minimal closet doesn't mean less turnover, and it might even mean more in the long run." In a way, I feel like my more generous wardrobe will allow me to take a longer breather from shopping without feeling like I'm scrambling for something to wear, even if some unusual circumstance occurs. I'll never be a minimalist, but I do like the idea of my own personal version of simplicity. I think that's why my outfits are getting simpler lately. </p> <p>Everyone need to find their own personal balance of minimalism/simplicity/variety. I've been thinking about this after spending some time in other people's homes lately and seeing how they decorate, especially leading up to the holidays. Some people are minimalist to the point of starkness (which is striking, but not my style), and some people are expressive and maximalist (again, it can be a fun statement, but not my style). It's driven it home to me to be intentional in these decisions -- my default is to hang onto everything because that's how my mom was. But do I need seven boxes of holiday decorations to store when Christmas is over? No, so now there are only six (and next year there will be only five). But I'll never be the kind of person who can put up one little lighted twig tree on a table and call it a day, as much as I kind of admire that. </p> <p>I'm rambling, but one last thought. I do see a lot of "minimalism" celebration that gives off a holier-than-thou vibe. It is very much like the "I only eat ___" attitude that some "lifestyle" bloggers have. Having minimalist preferences doesn't make a person inherently more virtuous than someone else. And having maximalist tendencies does not necessarily mean a person is wasteful and a glutton. As Angie would say, horses for courses. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/minimalism-about-the-importance-of-objects-and-on-perfection/page/2#post-1408833 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 13:58:09 +0000 Deb 1408833@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You have written that so well Staysfit and I couldn't agree more with you and also Style fan....loss and trauma can compel many to shop to find someway to compensate for sadness, and the subsequent release of endorphins momentarily eases some of the pain. Paradoxically it can also cause some people to expel many objects from their lives, to perhaps subconsciously avoid reminders of what has been lost. Moving Fashion Forward's recent post on 'What inspired your wardrobe reduction' after the death of her FIL is possibly such an example. I can understand both sides.<br /> And Astrid it is true that we can get a lot of mileage out of good quality clothes which means less need to constantly consume, which is the way I have long ago chosen to live. I prefer a quality over quantity philosophy in all areas of my life, but not necessarily fully minimalist, but certainly not excessive. Like Angie, my closet has a certain number of matching hangers which equates my wardrobe capacity...full stop. I like the way this blogger encourages us to enjoy what we already have....but I guess that happens more readily once we feel well set up. </p>