Have you ever found yourself staring at your closet filled with tons of clothes but feeling like you’ve got nothing to wear? Unfortunately, that is a pretty normal feeling, and that feeling often tends to make us go out and purchase another item, which for a short period of time makes us feel happy.
The problem is, that happiness doesn’t stick. It disappears as quickly as it came and a few weeks later you’ll end up standing in front of your closet with that same exact feeling.
I know this sounds like a cruel, unbreakable circle. But what if I told you there is a way to break this consumerism curse? It is called minimalism.
FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
We already know that fast fashion is causing huge environmental and humanitarian problems. But is the problem getting bigger and bigger? The increasing fast fashion problem is simply a reflection of the consumer’s thirst for more stuff at cheaper prices.
Advertisements have made us believe the more we own the happier we’ll be. The same goes for clothes. Many hunt the newest fashion trends, cause we simply believe owing the newest clothes will make us happy since that is what the fashion industry and society have told us.
But I have news for you, it won’t make you happy. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by trying to keep up with all the trends, I’ve got great news for you. You don’t have to do that. Actually, it will make you much happier if you stop doing that right now.
Instead, you should choose a new approach to fashion and consumerism in general: minimalist fashion.
But what is minimalist fashion? Well, that is what you are here to find out right? So why don’t get right to it shall we?

What is minimalist fashion?
Minimalism is a term that describes a lifestyle, where you only own and use things that serve a purpose in your daily life. Minimalism is broadly explained about simple living, where you only own things you truly cherish and need to get by each day.
So what does that mean in relation to clothing? What is minimalist fashion?
Minimalist fashion basically means only having clothes in your wardrobe that feel right for you and makes you happy.
If you’ve ever heard about Marie Kondo, you’re already getting the concept. Minimalist fashion is about getting rid of all the items that no longer bring you joy and the stuff you don’t wear.
A minimalist wardrobe is small since it only contains pieces you actually need. That might sound scary, but I promise it will make your life easier on so many levels. But more on that later.
Less is more when it comes to minimalism style. If you want something easy to remember minimalist fashion by just remember that simplicity is key when it comes to this style.
How to start your minimalist wardrobe?
If you want to create a minimalist wardrobe you need to get rid of all the clothes you no longer need. And don’t add any new items you don’t love. It is pretty simple actually, you should only own items you truly love and actually wear.
I know, that is easy to say, but to prove how simple it is to create a minimalist wardrobe, I’ve listed some practical tips to get you started.
#1. Tale a good look at what you have
The first step if you want to create a minimalist wardrobe is to take all your clothes out of your closet and take a closer look at each item. I mean everything. Including your shoes, underwear, pajamas, and coats.
Now go through the items – which ones are you keeping but never wear? Is there a particular reason why you are holding on to this item? Be honest with yourself when cleaning out your closet, and only keep the items you truly love and wear.
#2 stop being sentimental
I know there are certain items that have a special place in our hearts, cause they symbolize something or someone. When we clean our closet we often tend to get too sentimental, cause each piece either reminds us of all the great times we wore it or reminds us of the person we would like to be when we bought the item.
But if you’re being honest ti yourself how many times have you actually worn that “special” t-shirt or dress in the last couple of years? If it is just hanging in your closet collecting dust, it is time to get rid of it.
If you don’t want to get rid of it completely, store it away. Just get it out of your closet and bedroom. Your closet should only be filled with pieces you love and wear.
#3 Get it out of your room
When you’ve cleaned out your closet and have put all the clothes you no longer need into boxes or bags it’s time to get them out of the bedroom.
Don’t just place the bags in the corner and deal with them when you’ve got time for it. decide what you want to do with the clothes; do you want to sell them or give them to charity?
Whatever you decide just get them out of your way, and don’t store them in your bedroom until you figure out what that is.
#4 invest in timeless quality pieces
Now that you’ve prepped your wardrobe it’s time to find out whether you are missing some basic building rocks – I’m talking about basic clothing items here if anyone should be confused.
Take a look at what you have and make a list of what you are missing. This will help keep you from impulse shopping since it will make you only invest in stuff you actually need.
These items should be investments for the long term, so don’t see this as an option to go out and buy a new cute floral summer dress.
You should only buy new items if you actually need them, and these items should be timeless basic items you can use to style the items you already have.
These items could be:
- A turtleneck
- A pair of well-fitted of jeans
- Classic long sleved shirt
- A basic sweater
- A balzer
How many items do you need in your minimalist wardrobe?
The basis of minimalism is about getting by with as little as possible. So is you want to create a minimalist wardrobe less is more.
There is no golden number of items you need in a minimalist wardrobe, but you should definitely take a look at all your clothes and only keep the items you truly love and actually wear more than once a year.
But that said, there is actually an exact number of items you could have in your wardrobe if you like some clear guidelines. But in that case, we are moving a bit farther away from what minimalist fashion is.
If you are looking for that magic number, we have to throw a new term into the pond – “capsule wardrobe”.
The word capsule wardrobe describes a wardrobe containing a few items of clothing that don’t go out of style and that you really love.
If you want to build a “true” capsule wardrobe, the strict limit of items is 37. So there you have it. If you want to create a minimalist or capsule wardrobe you shouldn’t have no more than 37 items.
If that sounds like too small a wardrobe just try it out with 50 items. As long as you remember less is more.

How do you dress like a minimalist?
When it comes to minimalism the simpler the better. If you want to dress like a minimalist less is more. Keep things clean, simple, and timeless, and I guarantee you’ll end up dressing like a minimalist before you know it.
If you still think dressing like a minimalist seems like kind of a confusing and difficult task, here are some tips that might help you get started.
#1 Choose clean and simple silhouettes.
If you want to dress like a minimalist cut out all things puffy and ruffled. Instead, choose timeless shapes with a clean cut.
#2 Layer up.
If you want to look fashionable with a minimalist wardrobe you have to rethink your wardrobe. And what better way than to layer up? Choose to wear a turtleneck underneath your dress, or add a vest on top of your shirt and you will have a whole new look.
#3 Don’t overthink it.
With the chance of sounding like a broken record, I’ll say it again – less is more when it comes to minimalism. So make a statement with what you’ve got and don’t try to overcompensate with big flashy jewelry or overt-the-top accessories.
#4 Think about contrasts.
If you are afraid of looking boring, just remember to think in contrast when picking out your outfit. This goes for both colors and fabrics. Remember to mix and match different textures and mix natural tone colors. If you do that I guarantee you won’t look boring.
How to be stylish while dressing like a minimalist
Even though it might sound difficult for some to dress stylish and fashionable with fewer items in your wardrobe, it isn’t. It is all about what items you have in your wardrobe, and how you style them.
Take a beige trenchcoat for an example. This is a wardrobe classic and matched with a pair of jeans, a turtleneck, and a pair of boots you’ll look straight out of the runway.
Just keep remembering less is more. Invest in a few timeless pieces of good quality and mix and match them. It will make you look effortlessly chic in no time. If you don’t believe me just look at the Scandinavian fashion scene.
The Scandinavians are experts at making minimalistic dressing look fashionable. Just remember to choose flattering silhouettes and play around with different textures.
If you invest in a flattering white shirt, a turtleneck, a well-fitted blazer, and an oversized sweater you’ve already got a great base for dressing stylishly as a minimalist.
Just remember it’s all about investing in long-livity items of good quality, that never go out of style. And if you think it gets too boring just add a pair of statement earrings or a pair of eye-catching shoes.
How dressing like a minimalist will make your life easier?
Have you ever been standing in front of your wardrobe looking at a filled closet and piles of clothes but feeling like you have nothing to wear? That every single item that catches your attention only seems to get more hideous every time you look at it and nothing seems to be matching?
If you have had one or maybe even multiple of those clothing crises (I mean who hasn’t?) then yes, dressing like a minimalist will make your life easier.
It will make it easier for you to get dressed in the morning, it will make it easier for you to find pieces in your wardrobe you actually truly love, and it will definitely make it easier for you to walk out the door every single day feeling comfortable and chic in what you’re wearing.
If that isn’t happiness, I don’t know what is.
With fewer items in your wardrobe, you’ll save a bunch of time, and you get to be more creative with how you style and mix your items.
If that can’t convince you to create a minimalist wardrobe maybe all the money that it will save you can. Just think about how many times you’ve impulsed shopped something on sale or just because it was cheap.
Well, in the long run, that all adds up, and I bet you’ll be surprised about how much you actually spend on shopping. If you dress like a minimalist you can spend those mornings on something you’ve always dreamed about.
Minimalistic fashion brands to check out
Know that we have gotten to the bottom of what minimalist fashion is you’re probably wondering how you can create a minimalistic wardrobe yourself.
But don’t worry, I’ve saved you some time. Down below are some of the best sustainable and minimalistic fashion brands out there. If you need more, check out our complete guide to the best 14 affordable and minimalistic clothing brands out there.
Frank and Oak
Location | Canada
Price Range | 29,50$ – 199$
Why we love them |
Frank and Oak design minimalistic clothes inspired by Canada’s raw and breathtaking nature.
The brand creates timeless silhouettes made from recycled materials.
Functionality is key in all of their minimalistic designs and each piece of clothes is designed to last.
See all the minimalistic styles here

Vetta
Location | The USA
Price Range | 49$ – 149$
Why we love them |
Vetta can almost be seen as the answer to your question “what is minimalist fashion”.
Vetta’s goal is to create versatile items you can use again and again in many different ways.
Vetta only produces a small range of different designs. The items are then put into capsule wardrobes, which you can purchase. But you can also choose to only purchase one specific item.
See the minimalistic styles here

Honest Basics
Made In | Germany
Price Range | 10$ – 35$
Why we love them |
Honest Basics is pretty much what it sounds like – basic items made in an honest and transparent way.
The brand is an expert at making basic wear that lasts, both in shape, color, and design.
If you are looking for a minimalist wardrobe classic like the eco-friendly turtleneck this brand is definitely worth checking out.
See all the minimalistic items here

Kowtow
Location | New Zealand
Price starting point | $65
Why we love them |
Kowtow is the queen of minimalist fashion. The styles are timeless and easy to dress up and down.
This brand manages to design classic, yet fashionable items you want to wear season after season. This is truly the brand for the fashionable minimalist.
See all the minimalistic styles here

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