While I value embracing minimalism, I don’t think I have to sacrifice my personal style. I’ve been working on developing a personal style for quite some time now, and have finally settled on a look that I’m happy with. It includes a lot of black and some colorful accessories. I’m working on investing in quality items of clothing that I can keep around for a while. My motivation for creating a personal style has come out of years of frustration with fast fashion and some hoarding on the side.
I don’t foresee any major changes to my style so I’ve been developing my ideal closet. I’m going to try to keep the principle of enough in mind. To hell with excess!! My goal is to wake up and have a simplified getting dressed routine. No more rustling through drawers trying to find something acceptable. I want to open my closet and know that I have several possible combinations. I don’t want to spend 15-20 minutes trying to find something that fits, matches and looks presentable.
An anecdote + fast fashion
A few years ago I bought a pair of combat boots that I absolutely adored. I wore them for a season, but before long they were destroyed - they had holes and the heel had started peeling off. I sent them straight into the trash. I threw out $60 and found myself with a huge gap in my closet (shoes complete the outfit!). I’ve had similar experiences with a bunch of other items I’ve bought and it’s left me dissatisfied. That’s what happens when you try to follow trends and try to save by buying into fast fashion.
Several things about that shoe experience stuck with me. I found that I had a lot of fast fashion in my possession - items that are cheap but not well made and fragile. I don’t know about you, but once I decide on a look I stick to it. To make this happen, I’m choosing to invest in pieces that fit the aesthetic i’m trying to create. Because i’m an overachiever, I want them to last more than just a season. Since i’m trying to purge (you can read all about that here), I’ve decided that investing in quality items will help me stick to my values.
My Style Guide: Deal/bargain = lowish price + quality
Developing a personal style is important to me. In my experience, I find that when I look good, I feel good and radiate confidence. I care a lot about my self-image and how I present myself to the world. I like to put my best foot forward at all times. I don’t feel my best when I’m dressed down. So I’ve been working on curating a closet that reflects the aesthetic i’m trying to present.
Buying clothes every season is expensive and does nothing to counter the vicious cycle that is fast fashion. I’m all about breaking my fast fashion addiction and have decided to invest in quality. I love a good bargain! But at some point, my habit of shopping became somewhat unhealthy. I over indulged and got too hung up on having things. This complicated my style: I didn’t have one. I owned clothes for the sake of owning them and not because I really every single item. To complicate matters even worse, my body’s changed over the last two years and I found myself with a pile of clothes that did not fit.
To fix this problem, I took up purging and started embracing minimalism. I donated or got rid of anything that was too small, not the right style or too old. My updated aesthetic involves a lot of black with a pop of color around my neck (yay scarves) or my head (I love wearing headwraps). I’ve whittled down most of my closet and can now proudly say I only have items I love. There are some gaps, but I’ll work on filling them over time.
Building My Ideal Closet
I’ve given you a glimpse into my closet and my motivations for minimalism. I’m still learning, and this whole process will be a journey. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was my closet.One day, it’ll resemble the vision I've created. But for now, i’m going to continue working on my desired aesthetic.