You don’t actually need three wardrobes full of clothes to look great every day. Don’t be scared, having a minimalist closet doesn’t mean all the color and flair of your style will be sucked away and replaced with plain, neutral pieces. It just means choosing pieces that function well in terms of style, quality, and comfort.

The Decluttering Phase

The first step in growing a minimalist wardrobe is trimming your clothes down to the pieces you’ve worn at least once the past three months. Remember when you pulled those jeans from a tower of clothes and everything avalanched on you? A minimalist wardrobe will get rid of that problem soon enough. As a rule, if any item of clothing hasn’t seen the light of day for at least three months, let it go. You can give it to your siblings, to your neighbors, or better yet sell it online and save the money!

Pick comfort, quality, and style

It’s important to know your style when building a simple wardrobe. If your office doesn’t have a strictly formal attire policy, why buy office clothes or vice versa? Your outfits must also be according to your style so you’d be more comfortable wearing them but most of all see to it that all have great quality. Ideally, an outfit should be appropriate for different seasons so you can wear it year-round. Keep everything simple but classy and stylish!

Mix and match clothes and footwear

Learn to combine different pieces of clothing and footwear to create different styles. A single shirt or a sweater can go with jeans, a skirt, or with trousers, just like how a dress could further evolve with the right outerwear. You can transform a simple white-shirt-and-jeans combo into semi-formal attire by putting on the right blazer; a long knitted outerwear over the same outfit can provide comfort while at the same time make you look stylish.

If you’re wearing a dress, white sneakers can make a casual statement but if you swap it for heels, it could be an outfit for a formal event. Don’t be afraid to mix and match, or even to wear clothes over and over again.

The must-have pieces

Jumpstart your minimalist wardrobe with must-have pieces – the clothes that you most definitely need. Ideally, women should own:

• A dress
• 2 great jackets
• 2 pairs of jeans and 2 pairs of trousers
• 2 button-down white shirts
• 2 skirts
• Basic shirts of varying color
• Blouses of varying design and color
• At least a pair of the following footwear: heels, boots, running shoes, sneakers, flats, and sandals

While a man should ideally have:

• 3 dress shirts
• 2 great jackets
• 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of chinos
• 2 slacks
• 2 sweaters
• A blazer that can go well with anything
• Basic shirts of solid colors
• At least a pair of the following footwear: dress shoes, boots, sneakers, loafers, and running shoes.

Add a touch of jewelry or a bit of accessory

Even a single piece of jewelry or accessory such as caps and sunglasses can re-create an entire outfit. If you’re a woman, make it a point to own at least one necklace, one bracelet, and different pairs of earrings that go well with any occasion. Watches can also add to a look so invest in a watch that will go with both formal and casual outfits. These little accessories add a lot more impact in your style than you realize.

Make sure anything you buy goes with at least three other pieces already in your closet

Even a single piece of jewelry or accessory such as caps and sunglasses can re-create an entire outfit. If you’re a woman, make it a point to own at least one necklace, one bracelet, and different pairs of earrings that go well with any occasion. Watches can also add to a look so invest in a watch that will go with both formal and casual outfits. These little accessories add a lot more impact in your style than you realize.

Minimal doesn’t mean a drab lifestyle

Growing a minimalist wardrobe doesn’t mean you’re confined to the grays, blacks, and whites, or a life in monochrome. You can still be creative in the colors and style of clothing you choose – after all, it’s your style! If you want pastels, or bright shades, just go for it. Just keep in mind that everything should go well together.

It also doesn’t mean that you’ll be stuck in one style forever. Again, it’s your style so you get to decide how to present yourself. If you suddenly grow tired of slacks and trousers, you can experiment with dresses and then declutter your closet again after a while. In fact, you can even change your wardrobe every year! Just make sure to give or sell your decluttered clothes.

Reap the benefits of a minimalist wardrobe

Important people don’t have time to contemplate their wardrobe every morning! Take the late Steve Jobs for example, and even Hilary Clinton and Mark Zuckerberg’s recurring fashion. They didn’t worry about what to wear because they recognized early on the importance of a minimalist wardrobe. Notice how stress-free you’ll become when it’s easy to decide which outfit to wear. It’ll give you more energy to focus on important matters in your life. Aside from this, few pieces of clothing also mean few clothes to wash!

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Is a minimalist wardrobe a yay or a nay for you? Share your thoughts with us below!