What is minimalism? People typically consider a minimalistic lifestyle as one without luxury; it's seen as a lifestyle with very few things in general.
However, minimalism isn't simply defined as one set way of living as it instead becomes a way of life that encourages people to analyze their habits and sources of inspiration in life.
With these same principals in mind, people may choose to adopt a minimalist wardrobe as the first step towards a simpler and freer life. There is no set definition of what consists in a minimalist closet, but some options people have chosen to adopt include the 10 piece capsule wardrobe and the five piece french wardrobe. In addition, many people choose to select quality pieces of clothing that tend to be fair trade and ethically made.
Here are some reasons why you may want to create your own minimalist closet.
1. You can make some money.
Part of the process of a minimalist closet is to get rid of clothes that you don't wear. You can make a little extra money by selling your clothes back to resale shops.
2. You have much more space.
Being able to enjoy your space is important and having less clothing allows you to fully enjoy it.
3. You'll be more organized.
Continuing with the idea of having more space, a smaller wardrobe also allows you to be more organized. With less to keep track of, knowing where things are is much easier.
4. You learn to get creative.
A minimalist's wardrobe is not boring. Really, it's quite the opposite. You can get creative by seeing different ways to wear an article of clothing. That dress that you own can be tucked into a long skirt for another look. Different outer wear and accessories change the appropriateness of an outfit for any sort of occasion.
5. You'll enjoy your outfits more.
With fewer decisions, people often are less stressed out and more satisfied. Ultimately, with more decisions, people compare and contrast different options to the extent of becoming less satisfied with their overall closet.
6. Your clothes last longer.
Well made clothes are often easy to spot and they often last much longer. Rather than cycling through the latest trends, minimalists pick timeless pieces that remain classic. So pieces in smaller wardrobes tend to handle wear and tear better and remain classic.
7. You're helping the environment.
Although many clothes get recycled, often, clothing gets dumped rather than reused. For example, in one second-hand center in NYC, the store receives 5 tons of clothes daily, but only 11,200 articles actually get sold.
8. In the long run, you pay less.
Since clothes last longer, it's kind of inevitable that you'll be paying less in the long run. Cheap clothes can look colorless and beaten up after one wash.
9. However, a minimalist's closet doesn't have to be expensive.
There are many alternatives that allow people to still get quality clothes at reasonable prices. For instance, some places to go are higher-end resale shops and clothing swaps.
10. You're supporting businesses who don't use inhumane labor.
"Landfill fashion" or "fast fashion" promotes unethical labor conditions just to make a quick profit. Stores like H&M and Forever 21 have been known to have "sweatshop-like conditions." With fewer clothes, it is more feasible to invest more money on longer lasting clothes that are made ethically rather than buying clothes that were made by working people down to the bone.
There is no "correct" type of closet. An owner of a minimalist closet has a lot of room to make his or her own rules. And ultimately, it will be his or her own source of motivation and reason that will establish those rules.