Can I get by on hardly any clothes?

[Toastedtoacrisp]

For years now I don't like what's on the market, not even much vintage or used. Most styles don't appeal to me and I don't even have a fixed view of what my 'style' even is.

During the pandemic I wore just a few things, shorts and a tee when hot, jeans or cords with a jumper when cold. I don't care for trends but my wardrobe is relatively current. I am slim, average height, so ought to be able to find stuff, but as much as I love clothes, I am also somewhat tired of them.

Is it possible, do you believe, to only own a small scattering of clothes and remain appropriate? I wfh, like to walk outdoors, and do creative stuff, so don't need to dress up much, or only on rare occasions. I am not trying to get minimal, this is just who I am, and would love to go forward not buying much apart from, say, circling 4 outfits through a year.
Anyone else like this?

I love accessories and that's fine, I am passionate about them and try to buy quality over quantity (not hard really, for me, lol) but it seems most people have a good amount of stuff, and I would love to just rely on a few trusted things and get by. Right now, for the coming summer, I have two pairs of shorts, one pair of jeans and one dress. I have a few tees and vests and that's it. I could afford to buy more but nothing interests me. Maybe I just don't like contemporary styles? I am neither in the skinny nor baggy jeans camp, but do prefer pared down outfits. I don't much like skirts or dresses either (too many flounces and tiers).

Does anyone else have a really small bunch of clothes, decent quality, but stupidly minimal? Or does anyone else dislike current styles so feels out of place?

But it sounds as if you still have an extensive wardrobe - well thought out but you still have a lot of clothes.

What do you do if you do wear out that one pair of jeans? I’m currently searching fruitlessly for a pair to replace two very worn pairs and can’t find anything that gives me a happy feeling. So I’m holding out. And can do so because I’m wearing other clothing that’s been lingering a while in my wardrobe!

I like having a minimal wardrobe. I choose about 15 each season and thats that. 4 work outfits that I rotate. Very freeing.

@Sunnydays0101, ah, yes - it has built up over the last 10 - 15 years but it is still quite limited and comfortably fits into one single wardrobe and a medium sized chest of drawers just to give you an idea of quantity.

I’m not sure what to make of your post really.

Nor do I - but it’s excellent procrastination- fodder. Much prefer abstract clothes to concrete deadlines …

Yes you can do it but I would hate it. Dressing brings me joy, it’s an expression of my personality. I get a mood boost from looking good and having a range of clothes. Which goes to show we’re all different!

Your final sentence should be a banner headline on S&B @BHRK 😀

@ItsRainingTacos79 if I had a wardrobe full of Joseph clothes, I wouldn't need to shop anywhere else either.

There is minimal, and there is negligible.
I think your summer wardrobe is just too scarce.
And I say that as the owner of 2 pairs of shorts and no skirts/dresses. A few teeshirts wouldn't get me to the next wash being dry before I ran out but then in high summer I can go through 2 tops a day.
So, another bottom - can be a repeat but personally I'd go for a lightweight pair trousers - a shirt or longer sleeved top, a couple more teeshirts, and a lightweight jumper/cardigan.
Maybe 6-8 outfits?

SAME

Horses for course, I think, but I would say that probably the majority of people pare back their selection and get rid of a lot of stuff without really even noticing it's gone.

I think it depends what kind of stuff you've buying, too - some clothes just last and last and some really don't (despite price!).

Exactly - not necessarily trendy or fancy clothes, but I definitely think getting up and putting on clean, well fitting, suitable day clothing makes a difference to your mindset.

I did this for several years around 15 years ago as I was living in a tiny apartment with very limited wardrobe space.
Just be aware that your clothes will wear out much faster as you'll be wearing them more often!

It's very possible. Like pp, I spent almost 2 years travelling with a 45-litre backpack. I had two pairs of shorts, one technical, one denim, one pair of long hiking trousers, leggings, skirt and a dress plus a selection of vest tops, a hoody and a rainproof coat with a detachable fleece lining. Lots of layers and versatile items.

But I wouldn't want to do it again. Not out of choice.

It would be a hell for me. It's not freeing- quite the opposite. I can't imagine the tedium of wearing the same tiny number of utilitarian clothes day in day out.

I also couldn't imagine spending my whole working day wearing pyjamas. I'd seriously worry about my mental health if I couldn't be bothered to get dressed.

Well the 'wear the same clothes every day' ideology has worked well for some of the world's most successful people.

Look at Mark Zuckerberg. Albert Einstein also famously wore the same clothes every day. Most men who work in an office environment probably do it in 2 suits, 5 shirts and 5 ties and no-one ever notices, cares or comments.

It's only when a woman wants to try it do people think its controversial.

It's not about 'CBA to get dressed' it's about freeing yourself from having to make decisions that don't matter.

Some people like choosing and buying clothes but to many it's a chore. Most people also have far more clothes than they need and rarely or never wear a large part of their wardrobe.

There's also the environmental and social aspect, it takes a lot of resources to produce clothes that are often not worn as often as they should be and the clothes are usually made by exploited workers working long hours in dangerous conditions for a pittance so the clothes can be produced for a price low enough that they've become disposable to many. Anyone trying to buck that trend should be congratulated.

OP as well as Project 333 have a look at this

https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/how-many-clothes-do-we-need/amp

Maybe not as basic as you're suggesting but along the same lines.

I lived abroad for a year as a student and could only get there by plane. I took one small case and that had to last the year, so I did this but not out of choice. It was fine. I had to share laundry facilities as well and pay for them with coins so you'd have thought that would have been awful, but it was ok. It helped not being in either a super warm or super cold place though. I think big variations in temperature would make me need more. I also sweat a lot in summer (gorgeous) so would have to change outfit every day if it's hot

This was in a major city btw, so stinky hiking gear would have made me look nuts 😂. It was proper clothing

Not saying anyone else's hiking gear on backpacking trips is stinky - just remembering my own from gap year 🤢

It's not about 'CBA to get dressed' it's about freeing yourself from having to make decisions that don't matter.

It is about CBA to get dressed if you’re literally not getting dressed and wearing pyjamas. I think Albert Einstein got dressed in the mornings! Mark Zuckerberg maybe didn’t, but if we’re plain and blunt about it, Mark Zuckerberg can get away with lots of things that Jane or Tom from the accounting department can’t.

Do you literally just own the clothes you described? I'm trying to picture your bedroom. Do you have a wardrobe and a chest of drawers? What is in them?

What happens if that's literally all you own, it's cold outside, and your washer breaks and you can't replace it for 2 weeks? Psychologically, would you be able to cope if you had to go to a local shop and buy a pair of trousers and a couple of t-shirts to get you through?

Do you own more pyjamas than actual clothes? Do you have sensory issues by any chance?

Definitely yes to the wearing out. I've gone fairly minimalist in the last 2 years and have done 6 cycles of Project 333. It's been very useful in figuring out what I reach for and so I now know what I should buy. But most of my t-shirts are on the verge of falling apart, so going forward I'll be buying a bit more.

The most liberating thing for me is no longer buying clothes for specific occassions. I've got weddings and birthday parties coming up, and I'll just wear the most suitable thing I already own. This stops me from having lots of things I'll only wear a couple of times and that aren't really me.

If you can get by then good for you. I’m the opposite and buy lots of clothes. I don’t work from home though and do have to be very presentable for work. If I rocked up to work in say a tracksuit I would get a serious bollocking!
I agree about laundry being an issue as I would not wash my clothes with towels or bedding. These should be washed at a high temperature. I also wear a different top every day if it’s hot but again if you are at home it’s very different from working with others.

My sister in law is like this. She has a pair of trousers and a top that she has worn to every wedding and fancy event she's been invited to for about fifteen years.