Does anyone have a nice but minimal wardrobe? Thinking of starting again with clothes

[Littlemiss74]

I am overwhelmed with clothes but can never find anything to wear. I have a habit of buying only sale items. I think oh that’s nice, I’ll buy it and then get it home and don’t know what to wear with it. I am terrible at putting outfits together. I will go to Primark, H&M, sainsburys etc and think I’m getting some bargains but often they look awful after a few washes.

I’m 47, size 12 and have put on a few lockdown pounds esp around my middle so everything I own is a little tight & uncomfy. There are clothes everywhere I look in the house in various statez and I don’t feel good in many of them.

So... I’m thinking of starting again, try to sell stuff that’s too tight, too fussy or nothing to wear with. I’d love the simplicity of having far fewer clothes but of better quality that will mix and match.

Has anyone done this please & if so how did you go about it and do you miss not having loads of clothes? I could easily get rid of almost everything but of course then I don’t have the money to buy a whole new wardrobe in one go! Any tips appreciated

Go through all your clothes.

First look at fit - if it is the wrong shape it goes. If it nearly fits, it's a maybe, but be realistic.

If it fits, do you like the style/shape it gives you? If not, off it goes.

Finally is it in good condition, stains, holes, hems? If not, rag bag time, unless you love it and know how to mend it.

Now you probably have a more manageable collection of clothes - time to make outfits! Think about what you need outfits for, how often, if you actually like the outfit (or it serves a necessary purpose).

Now you should have an idea what you need to complete your outfits - say you need some wide leg black trousers to go with 4 or 5 tops that's a good target for your investment piece. Maybe you need blazer/jacket to pull it together

Look up project333. It's on the www.bemorewithless.com site. I found it a very useful challenge and it has helped me a lot financially and in re decision fatigue.

Plus I only own clothes that I like and wear regularly now.
Life is so much simpler!

First you need clothes for your actual lifestyle not your aspirational lifestyle if you spend 50% of your time in a smart office you need a different balance to someone you needs a smart outfit maybe once a month.
Minimal doesn't need to be black grey and white but it probably does need a theme, mine is blue with dark red and white or cream so all items go with each other which increases the outfit options without needing a 100 items. other colours only in complete outfits so I have a lovely wrap green skirt but I always wear it with same top or a white top. Try a you tuber called a small wardrobe hers clothes are based on creams and browns not that you need same theme but it gives ideas

Try cos, arket, etc. Neutrals are easier to recycle and pair in different combos.

I don't have a minimal wardrobe but have worked on a different premise to you for the last few decades - I buy what I love, what suits me and the best quality I can afford. Sometimes I make mistakes - usually with cheaper, ill-thought out purchases - so I sell or pass those on when I realise I'm not choosing to wear them.

I would start with the basics. Find (hopefully you have already but if not go a hunt for) a pair of jeans, jumper, top and pair of trainers / boots that you LOVE. Add to that but slowly and sustainably not with one / two massive bargain buy shops as then you'll just end up in exactly the same place but worse off!

If you don't love it don't keep it and certainly don't buy anything new that doesn't, as Marie Kondo would say, 'spark joy'

I am trying to buy less but better, today was going through my wardrobe doing a small declutter, I found five strappy tops the silky kind three with tags on, I tried them on and they were all to tight around the back and bust, I think my bust has got a little bigger now I am on HRT, its only been 2 months hope they don't get any bigger, anyway I can't wear them like that so will sell on ebay, slowly going through the rest of my clothes to see what else I will part with.

Following for same advice!

Just to add do you think camisoles top's should be worn louse rather then tight.

Have you ever had your colours done OP? I found it was really helpful in helping me focus on what colours suited me and by doing that I found that my wardrobe blends quite nicely together and it's easy to mix and match different combinations etc. I've been gradually getting rid of things that don't work for me and then adding new pieces gradually.