So let me preface this by saying I’m not a minimalist and I don’t (at least at this moment) have a desire to be one. But I do have a desire to have a streamlined wardrobe that reflects my current style and to let go of things that aren’t of use or to use the words from Marie Kondo of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, “bring me joy.” I’ve just bought a new sliding mirror wardrobe and I’d like to fill it with the perfect clothes. I typically have a running list of items I want, but I want to be more intentional about my clothing/accessories purchases in 2017 by focusing more on replacing things when they get worn or filling missing gaps than shopping just to consume. Stay tuned for items on my current wish list that need upgrading or replacing in a separate post!

I recently participated in the recent Unfancy and Style Bee’s 10 x 10 challenge where you wear 10 items in various configurations for 10 days (I just didn’t have the time to actually photograph my outfits…). It was surprisingly difficult for me though my 10 items are all pieces I love, I missed the rest of my wardrobe by the time it ended. But I will say that the challenge made me realize that:

1. No one around me really cares (or likely notices) how often I repeat regularly worn items or outfits.
2. I don’t work in fashion or beauty, so why should I care if I repeat items often if I feel good in them! Three cheers for repeating beloved outfits!
3. I’m fine with sticking to somewhat of ‘style uniform’ on a regular basis: fit + flare skirts or dresses, boots or wedges, skinny jeans, neutral or striped tops, pops of colors in accessories like headwraps, etc.

There was a time particularly when I was doing more frequent OOTD (outfit of the day) posts where I’d want to wear new and different things frequently. But wearing new and different things all of the time is just not realistic or necessary for my current lifestyle and more importantly given the fact that I don’t currently monetize this blog. I also don’t work in fashion or a field where image is particularly important beyond generally looking professional. When I really think about it, I’m also happier when I use my money for financial goals, decorating my home, and for enriching experiences like travel rather than buying more stuff. I could honestly get away with wearing jeans to work on most days quite frankly but I actually like dressing up. I dress up because it’s a part of my preferred personal style. Style is fun and a great way to exercise creativity, but it shouldn’t’ be limited to a price point or only for folks with vast closets (no shade if you do). I look forward to doing more content on this blog around being creative with what you have in your closet or making strategic purchases to refresh your look rather than buying a bunch of stuff just for the sake of buying it. Perhaps I’ll even do some sort of capsule wardrobing in the future which I’ve considered in the past…we’ll see how that goes.

Have your clothing buying habits have evolved over time?

What are your thoughts on streamlining your wardrobe this year?

Images: A Pare and a Spare | Design Love Fest