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An aha re minimalism

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

After commenting on Astrid's post about getting rid of books, I realized why all these recent conversations about minimalism in clothes make me cranky. Being able to say "you should only have what you'll use right now" is a privileged position to be in. What happens if you lose your job and can't buy anything new for a while, the items that fit you aren't manufactured anymore, the styles move to something that doesn't fit you or suit your requirements for practicality or modesty, you retire or stay home with your kids and don't have money to invest in your wardrobe, you have health issues and you can't leave the house to shop for a year...you name it.

So for me, getting rid of everything I arguably don't need right now wouldn't make me feel calm and tidy, it would make me feel anxious and wasteful. Why would I get rid of perfectly good and still wearable clothes that I might really love having around in the future, assuming I have a bit of storage space for them? Why wouldn't I buy clothes on sale out of season even though I won't wear them for six months, as long as they're something I'd buy anyway and they fit in my budget? It's like saying that buying the megapack of paper towels when it's on sale is wasteful, just because it'll take you a year to go through them.

Obviously, the line between planning ahead and hoarding can be a thin and moving one, and our society, focused on consumption as it is, can encourage dysfunctional behaviors. But then again, something that looks dysfunctional at first glance may be a reasonable approach if thought about over a long time (i.e. decades). It's similar to what so many of us have found: if we want to have workable, flattering wardrobes that make us happy and work for our lives, we have to spend time and money. If we don't have a lot of time we might have to spend more money (personal shoppers, buying whole outfits), and if we're tight on money we can spend more time (thrifting, bargain shopping, etc.) But we can't be tight on both money and time and expect to get everything we want.

Same with "minimalist" wardrobes. You can either buy things as you go, or ahead of when you may need them. Neither is more morally upright than the other, in my opinion.

OK, rant over.

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Anonymous

I did minimal for the years when I lived in a house that was in a very humid climate and had no A/C or heat. I could only keep what was used regularly, and that included bedsheets, etc. in addition to clothing. You know what? It didn't kill me, but it didn't make me happy, either. So no, I'm not a minimalist in that sense of the word. Still, I don't like having things stored in boxes that I never think about, much less touch. There's something wasteful in that, I think, so I prefer to donate anything that doesn't get rather regular use. One of these days, when I'm too old and sick to get out of the house, I'll probably feel differently; but right now I just don't want so much stuff.

catseye

Veteran

I try to be minimalist in buying and not so much in getting rid of stuff if I haven't wear it in a year. I do find stuff I forgot for an year and start to wear it again.
Another thing I do is to limit the type of clothing items. For example, I don't buy much skirt and dresses. I am also limited on footwear because very few shoes are comfortable for me anyway. I repeat a lot because I am always happy to wear a favorite item week after week. I don't need as much variety if I feel like I have a good one or two weeks worth of outfits per season.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Laura, you have some great insights there. I would add that minimalism can lead for the search for the perfect piece, with editing along the way which can also be wasteful.

I agree with you on the keeping rather than passing on things that you are not using now.....not always, but at times it is prudent to hang onto things as life can change suddenly. But think the key with minimalism is to slow down the buying, and be mindful of letting things into your life from an environmental, spending and simple perspective.

I am not fabulous at this, I am trying, but have a way to go.

Helena

Veteran

As a chronic purger/minimizer, I think you have a great post. For me, the trap is what kiwigirl said - the search for the perfect piece, along with the editing to get rid of the not-perfect pieces. I definitely agree there is no moral highgroup with minimalist - it's a choice and, as you say, a privilege ... a bit like eating organic or similar things, in a way - easy to step on the moral high ground about it, but it needs to be acknowledged that money is a precursor to doing it.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I agree, Laura. I struggle with my overlarge wardrobe, thinking I should donate things I don't gravitate towards these days, but if I love something and it fits and isn't outdated and I have space for it I'm keeping it even if I don't wear it for a year or more. Someday I may work in a place that isn't freezing all year round and can wear those short sleeved blouses and thin cardigans again. I may come back to loving traditional trousers, and as I don't find it easy to find perfect fitting trousers, I'm not getting rid of the ones I have. If maybe 3 or 4 years go by and I still don't wear them, I'll rethink it. But I don't think the "if you haven't worn it in a year you need to get rid of it" rule is necessarily going to make sense for everybody. And as catseye said, if I can recognize those things that are not getting worn and not buy more of them, that may be the best minimalization tactic for me.

Dee

Veteran

At risk of being a spanner, I wanted to add that sometimes not being minimalist can be seen as a privilege as well. It assumes that you have or had the money, time and space to bring in to your house more than you need and then store it long term.

I am not a minimalist, but I don't have a lot of storage space in my apartment, so I can't keep an out of season/style/size wardrobe in the hope that someday I will want/need it again. I would rather keep my wardrobe to the size i currently need and use that limited storage space for other necessities (such as bulk paper towels or my summer quilt).

I am in no way saying that being minimalist has a moral high ground, just agreeing that there are trade-offs for why people make the decisions they do. Kiwigal's comment about being mindful is a great way to look at it.

descoladin

Dee, this is me -- my house has no space, and I tend to hoard, so I'm always trying to make myself get rid of stuff. I totally am with you about the trade-offs.

Though by the same token, I definitely can't classify as a minimalist, as I tend to want to hang on to things... If I can let it go after five years, then I feel like I'm doing pretty well!

Anonymous

Too much clutter or stuff really gets on my nerves, so I know I could never be a hoarder. On the other hand, I have things I keep to remember my mother, who passed away a few years ago after a lengthy illness, so that stuff stays until I'm too old to care. Fortunately, it's not clothing. It's fine crystal and such.

Dimity

I like the idea of minimalism, but it doesn't seem to work for me in practice. I love having choice and I'm more or less the same size I've always been, so I keep things that I love for a long time but I might shorten a skirt hem or dye a blouse or something. It means I have a fair bit of stuff.

I think minimalism came to the fore as an antidote to rampant consumerism and the recession. It just didn't seem right to have the same attitudes to acquisition when people were losing their jobs and finding life harsh. I don't think the superiority inherent in some minimalist books and whatnot is particularly helpful though, for all of the reasons you've pointed out. It can be very comforting to know that you've got stores in place for whatever reason, not just in clothes but in food supplies too. I lived in a place once where the roads could get cut off for days with seasonal flooding, and it really was responsible and reasonable to keep supplies on hand. Otherwise, you'd be looking to other people to help you out and you become a burden to others.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

IMO it's the same as fashion choices - we need to find what works for us as individuals.

shedev

Veteran

Before I joined YLF, I used to buy a lot of clothes. I duplicated a lot so I didn't always really get anything new for the money I spent. I needed to do the big purges to get down to things I want to wear. I needed to do this.

After awhile I began to track wears and found the things I wore "all the time" were really only getting a few wears in the season. I got rid of a little more. I hit a point where the big purges began to feel wasteful.

At the same time, I've found that my buying becomes much more focused when I buy less.

in 2013- 106

in 2014- 48

in 2015- planning 18

As for purging, at this point I'm just not replacing things that just wear out or are damaged and just doing 1 in 1 out. I don't think it is better or worse than anyone else's strategies. It's just my shopping plan for the year. Next year's may be something different.

unfrumped

Veteran

What caro said.
I don't think it's supposed to be about "keeping only what you need right now". It's keeping what you think you need and want but figuring out those things that don't do any of that.

I had a similar question about being too quick to toss things and then maybe changing jobs/income or lifestyle and finding I'd just tossed out something for hiking or grandkids or maybe more special occasion opportunities and while I don't think I figured a perfect answer, I think the answer is focused on do I really like it and not just am I wearing it now. Space can an issue but as you say, that's not my fundamental issue yet --meaning, absolute space--I DO hav limits on what I can keep in my main closet and that does affect organization, but absolute space or numbers is not my top priority.
If I continue to use that yardstick, I can keep some items around but still figure out those that don't belong.

celia

Veteran

I have mixed feelings about this issue.
I agree that throwing things out and just having what you are going to need this season is a form of privilege. In fact, it scares me to think that my winter clothes, for example, will get worn out this year and will have to repeat the process ( and money) of buying next year if I want to have something to wear.
On the other hand, storing items with 6/7 months in advance can be a slippery slope because you start with good intentions but end up just using that as an excuse to buy more.
But you made a very good point.

Laurinda

Veteran

High five Laura.

The advice I find most amusing is the advice to discard anything not used within the last six months... said no one who lives in a 4-season climate ever.

And forget that one-year rule too: if we happen to have a mild winter with no snow I'm not about to give up my carefully curated ski gear or my sweater collection.

K.M.

Veteran

Laura, I find your thought very interesting. I'm reading the Marie Kondo book on organizing, and she is ruthless about discarding things. And then she always adds: if you find yourself missing something in the future, just buy it again. Or, for example, she advises you to throw away handouts from any seminars or courses you might have taken. And says: if you forget the contents and want to refresh your memory, enroll and take the course again.
And my thought was: with what money? And even if you do have money, do you want to keep putting it into the same things repeatedly? (Perhaps some do--things are newer?)

I have similar thoughts as yours about discarding things and wondering if things might change enough that I would regret it. And while I long for a more edited wardrobe, which would take less space and be easier to navigate, I also long for many pieces I've discarded over the years. The thing is: I don't long for them one, two, even three years after discarding. Those first few years are easy! I long for them much later, perhaps because of the fashion cycles that bring some trends back (for instance, right now I'm missing my once-large turtleneck collection and one tweed blazer I had deemed too dorky and old-fashioned many years ago).

Oh well. The search for perfection...

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Laura, I get what you're saying, but it's precisely that sentiment that I wanted to shed in trying to embrace a more minimalist approach. I felt that by being so worried about the material future, I was chaining myself to it, and forgetting the gratitude, trust and faith that I would be financially ok in the future.
It's not a license to spend and give away recklessly, but an acknowledgement that these items are not a buffer for dire financial circumstances. I gave away unworn items that I had repeatedly passed over in favour of unflattering worn-out jeans that I had darned. Tough times won't force you to wear unloved garments.

Gaylene

Veteran

I think psychological comfort plays a big part in our "keep or toss" feelings. I used to tease my mother about keeping balls of string and little tubs of leftovers in the fridge because, after living through the depression as a young girl, my grandmother drilled into her that EVERYTHING could potentially be useful at some future date--even a 1/4 cup of two-day old mashed potatoes. At the same time, I was dumbfounded at my grandmother's insistence that owning more than 3(!) dresses was wasteful (one for good, one for everyday, and one for a spare while #2 was being washed and dried-- how's that for minimalism). Psychological comfort in hoarding and uber minimalism within a single body-- and a strong conviction that everyone would be better off with minimal closets and a fridge filled with little tubs of questionable food.

I think we all have our own views on what is enough, what is too much, what we need to feel prepared for future events, and what is excess baggage. When I feel smug about my downsized closet, the feeling gets muted when I think of what my grandmother might say about a woman who has "pared down" to only 20 pairs of shoes. Same goes when I realize how dependent I am on 24-hour access to groceries and realize it might be prudent to stock a few extra supplies in case I'm unlucky enough to experience that massive earthquake predicted for Pacific Northwest. Psychological comfort being a hoarder and minimalist (at least by my definition) in the same body.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I'm really enjoying reading everyone's thoughts, and appreciate that you all took my post in the interrogatory spirit it was meant, rather than an attack on those of you that find a more minimalist wardrobe works for you. I agree that ultimately we all have to find what works best for our personalities, living space, budget and lifestyle.

I've had myself queued for the Marie Kondo book at my library and just today got notification that I'm next in line. From the way everyone talks about it, I may have to restrain myself from throwing it across the room. seriously, I look forward to reading it; it'll be interesting at least!

anne

Veteran

I'm like catseye
"I try to be minimalist in buying and not so much in getting rid of stuff if I haven't wear it in a year."

Laura's initial point really resonates with me too. I know I was glad I had a suit I'd hardly worn in 5 years when I started work again in 2013

Astrid

Veteran

For me it isn't a question of getting rid of things you don't need right now. It's getting rid of the things you might maybe need some day in the unlikely event of xzy. To take up the ski gear analogy - if you get rid of a curated ski gear collection because you didn't use it for some time (but you know you probably will use it again) just because someone on the Internet or in a book or whatever told you so, I can't help you either. But sorting through the kitchen and getting rid of those impractical coffe mugs you can't grip decently when you have another set that is perfectly serviceable? Hell yeah. I don't want to get rid of things with the option of "buying them again at a later date" either. That definitely feels wasteful to me and minimalism also means less buying in future, not just getting rid of things now. But there are a lot of things that I definitely know I won't need or want in the future either and why should I store them?

And I agree with others who said that keeping all those things just in case is also a privilege because you need space. I think that even when I'm finished sorting through it all my current flat will probably feel too cluttered for my tastes. But give me some decent kitchen cabinets, a bathroom big enough for some shelving and a seperate living and sleeping space and I suspect it will be just fine. And buying stuff in bulk or in advance when it's on markdown can be wasteful too. You need to have a very good grip on what you have if you practice that or you end up with so many multiples you won't ever be able to use them all (or eat them before they're spoiled in case of food). A while ago I was sorting with my mum through their storage cupboard in the kitchen and when we had everything pulled out of the last corners whe had around 10 glasses of Uncle Ben's Sweet & Sour Sauce - when my mum thought we had maybe two at the most.

Lisa

Veteran

This is a great thread. Minimalism is going to mean something different to everyone. For me it means the majority of what I own, I use often. But not everything, as long as the but everything portion is not a larger number than the use often portion, that's minimal enough to me.

Day Vies

Veteran

Laura - I completely agree with you. Having a neat tidy current minimalist wardrobe from my perspective is a privilege for the reasons you named. You need time and money to invest in a perfectly culled wardrobe. I feel the same tension you outlined when discussions turn toward having a minimalist wardrobe. It's simply not a privilege I can enjoy at the stage of my life (new mom, single income household).
I love the fact that you point out having a wardrobe with any sort of style requires an investment of time AND money and if you don't have a lot of one you will spend more of the other. You don't get to have a great wardrobe without spending either.
There also does seem to be an aspirational and moralistic quality to having a minimalist wardrobe -- that everyone should strive for such perfection (sort of how the beauty industry wants all of us to be young, blonde, and thin or at least TRY to hit as many of those points as possible). This unspoken "should" feels rather oppressive. While it would be nice to have a perfectly culled wardrobe where all the pieces fit together nicely and selecting what to wear requires less that 5 minutes of mind space, I truly enjoy a larger selection of colors and styles. Minimalism doesn't seem to make room for experimentation or a change in mood. What if I want to play around with a paired down androgynous look today and do something retro and feminine tomorrow? What if I like trying to tie both of those elements together in one look?
Minimalism probably isn't for me but I the party line makes me feel like a quitter for not having tried. Now I'll read the others' comments. Great thread!

Astrid

Veteran

Day Vies, I started a thread on the subject of minimalism, the search for perfection and the importance of objects a while ago, if you're interested and haven't seen it yet: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....perfection

Because to me minimalism has nothing to do with the "perfect wardrobe". All those fashion blogs using the term minimalism as a buzzword don't operate out of a minimalist mindset IMO.

Anonymous

I like Lisa's definition.

rachylou

Veteran

I am a person who's always found it very disturbing to go into empty, but occupied homes. At the very least, where do folks put their tax papers, ok?

I've also tried working with less clothes, but I found myself running out a lot to buy stuff I had to have. Things wear out so fast when you wear them so much, and then you kind of hang while you don't have what you need. And you end up just grabbing whatever you can as soon as you can.

Still, I have too much junk. I was looking in my mother's basement at all these clever handbags I have. I don't even carry handbags. It's silly.