How to Be Minimalist with Clothes

Co-authored by Catherine Joubert and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: January 5, 2023 References

Minimalist fashion can be a popular lifestyle choice, especially if you’re aiming to save time and money. Unlike traditional wardrobes, a minimalist closet is known as a “capsule,” and typically holds less than 50 total pieces of clothing.^{[1]
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Research source} While this might seem like an intimidating transition, you can start your minimalist journey by getting rid of clothes that you don’t need or wear often. If you find this type of life fulfilling, you might enjoy making more dramatic changes to your wardrobe!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Minimalistic Clothing and Accessories

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Select neutral-toned shirts and bottoms. Look for clothing that has dark, white, tan, or cream-colored tones. While there’s no exact rulebook for the minimalist lifestyle, try to stand out as little as possible. Instead, choose garments with colors that match and blend easily, and won’t be at risk of clashing.
- Dark blues and greens are also great colors to consider in a minimalist wardrobe.
Tip: If you enjoy bright colors and patterns, don’t feel like you have to sacrifice your sense of style for a minimalist closet. Choose garments that make you happy!^{[2]
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Prioritize garments that can serve multiple purposes. Search for pieces of clothing that you can wear during both professional and casual occasions, like dark jeans or a nice blouse.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Alice Wu
Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 12 June 2020} Try to choose multiple garments that can carry over to different types of outfits so you don’t spend any time stressing over future ensembles.

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3
Opt for jewelry with simple designs or patterns. Avoid accessories with bright colors and shapes, as these clash with the simple aesthetic of a minimalist wardrobe. Instead, choose earrings, necklaces, and other accessories that come in a single color, like silver, and have a plain pattern or design.^{[4]
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- For instance, silver chain earrings would be a great addition to a minimalist professional outfit.
4
Invest in a pair of sturdy, comfortable jeans. Find a pair of jeans in the style of your choice. Select a color and style that best suits your personal sense of fashion. Overall, try to choose a pair that you wouldn’t mind wearing over and over again.^{[5]
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- A pair of black jeans could be a great addition to a minimalist wardrobe.
- While ripped jeans have a fun, rugged look to them, they won’t be very versatile in a formal outfit.
- Straight leg or boot-cut jeans are very versatile, and can work in a variety of outfits.
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Pick out small, neutral-toned handbags for when you go out. Select a small, clutch-sized handbag that can fit all of your essential belongings, like your keys and wallet. Try to pick a color that could blend with a variety of possible outfits, like black or dark brown.^{[6]
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- Avoid accessories with a lot of bling and flashy colors.
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Avoid purchasing trendy or flashy articles of clothing. Since a minimalist wardrobe is a long-term decision, don’t invest your money in short-term trends. Instead, shop for articles of clothing that serve a practical purpose in your wardrobe, and can last several years.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating Simple Outfits

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Pair a white shirt with jeans or neutral-toned pants for an everyday look. Slip on a white tee shirt or dress shirt to provide a neutral base for your outfit. To create a relaxed look, add a pair of dark jeans to your outfit. Try experimenting with different accessories to create a look that’s unique to you!
- For instance, you could make your outfit more rugged by slipping on a black leather jacket.
- Play around with layers by wearing sheer shirts beneath neutral-toned tops.^{[8]
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Wear a dress shirt with dark jeans to give off a professional vibe. Select a pair of dark, boot-cut or straight-leg jeans to give your outfit a more formal aesthetic. As a simple touch, slip on a neutral-toned, button-down dress that matches well with your jeans. To complete your outfit, pick out a sleek pair of sneakers.
- Sunglasses could be a nice finishing touch to this outfit.
3
Pair a dark blazer with jeans for a formal look.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Alice Wu
Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 12 June 2020} Wear a neutral-toned button-down shirt or blouse to give off a sleek, professional vibe. To add to the outfit, slip on a pair of dark jeans. As a finishing touch, wear a dark-toned blazer that complements the shades of both your shirt and pants.
- For instance, you could pair a white dress shirt with a pair of black jeans, then slip on a navy blue blazer overtop.
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Choose neutral-toned boots as a simple addition to any outfit. Dress up your look by switching out your sneakers for boots. If you’re preparing for a formal occasion, select a pair of sleek, upscale boots to complete your outfit.^{[10]
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Research source} If you’re preparing for more rugged weather, pick out a pair of hiking or combat boots instead.
- For a very polished look, you could pair a navy blue tee with a pair of forest green slacks, then finish off the look with a pair of black boots.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Balancing Your Capsule Wardrobe

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Go through your closet and pick 30-50 of your favorite clothing items.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Alice Wu
Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 12 June 2020} Remove the clothes from your closet and lay them on a flat, clean surface. Examine each garment to check if it still fits you well, and see if you still enjoy wearing it.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Catherine Joubert
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 16 April 2019.} If you really like the clothing, set it aside.^{[13]
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- If you choose to get rid of a lot of clothing, consider donating them! Places like Goodwill are great donation areas to visit. You can also check in with friends or family members to see if they’d like your old garments.^{[14]
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  Expert Source
  
  Catherine Joubert
  Professional Stylist
  Expert Interview. 16 April 2019.}
- Discard the clothes that show signs of wear and tear.^{[15]
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  Expert Source
  
  Catherine Joubert
  Professional Stylist
  Expert Interview. 16 April 2019.}
2
Keep several different shirts that can be used for different occasions. Choose multiple tees, dress shirts, and other garments that could work for both casual and formal events. To add some variation to your looks, try picking shirts in different neutral colors.^{[16]
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- If you want to embrace an especially minimalist lifestyle, consider weaning your closet down to 8 shirts.
3
Select a few fancy items to keep in your closet. Choose a blazer, tuxedo jacket, or pair of nice pants or chinos to keep on hand in your closet. If you don’t want to wittle down your wardrobe that much, try limiting yourself to 10 dressy or professional garments.^{[17]
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- For example, a woman could have 5 blouses, 5 nice dresses, and 3 skirts or nice pants in her minimalist closet, while a man could have 5 dress shirts and 3 pairs of nice pants or chinos.
4
Hold onto several pairs of formal and casual pants. Choose a variety of pants, shorts, skirts, and other bottoms that mesh well with the climate of your home. Try to choose garments that are made with different materials and styles so you can dress for a variety of occasions.^{[18]
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- Slacks are a great option if you want a formal pair of pants.
5
Alternate between different types of footwear. Choose a pair of comfortable shoes that you can wear on a casual, everyday basis, like sneakers. For more professional outfits, keep a pair of dressy shoes on hand so you can look polished and classy.
- For instance, if you live in a temperate area, you might have a pair of sneakers, sandals, boots, and fancy shoes.
6
Choose clothing items that fit your lifestyle. Examine the garments in your closet to make sure they fit the dress code and overall aesthetic of your daily schedule.^{[19]
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Expert Source

Alice Wu
Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 12 June 2020} While many minimalist clothing items are neutral-toned, your personality and lifestyle might be better-suited to bright colors and fun patterns. On a similar note, casual, funky-looking clothing wouldn’t be very fitting for an individual with a professional lifestyle.^{[20]
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- For example, if you work in an office, you wouldn’t want your capsule wardrobe to be filled with Hawaiian shirts and blue jeans. Similarly, if you work at a restaurant or movie theater, you wouldn’t want to be wearing a blazer and chinos.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I decide which clothes to give away?

Catherine Joubert
Professional Stylist
Catherine Joubert is a personal stylist who works with a wide range of clients on refining their style. She launched Joubert Styling in 2012 and has since been featured on Buzzfeed and styled celebrities such as Perez Hilton, Angie Everhart, Tony Cavalero, Roy Choi and Kellan Lutz.

Catherine Joubert

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

See if you have something that you do not wear very often because of the nature of the garment. It may be a piece of clothing you wear only for an occasion or event, like a black tie. Or something casual that you could wear at work, but you never wear it. If it is there in your closet, you can think of giving it to your friends, donating, or selling them. Disregard things like you spent money to buy it, the piece of clothing is new or a brand name.
Question

Which clothes should I discard?

Catherine Joubert
Professional Stylist
Catherine Joubert is a personal stylist who works with a wide range of clients on refining their style. She launched Joubert Styling in 2012 and has since been featured on Buzzfeed and styled celebrities such as Perez Hilton, Angie Everhart, Tony Cavalero, Roy Choi and Kellan Lutz.

Catherine Joubert

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Check the clothes for wear and tear. If something looks worn out, discard it, even if it is your favorite sweater. You will not make the best impression when you wear it.