This type of video, specifically discussing the philosophy of aesthetic, then self-experimenting with its practical applications, is by far why you are my favorite beauty influencer.
I agree. Because, every typical fashion influencer mostly advise us on what pieces to wear / buy this season - none of those influencers get to the psychology of what minimalism is - how to achieve it successfully / how to use it daily / how it impacts our feelings or lifestyle positively. But this vlog DOES!! One could write a whole paper on aesthetic/ lifestyle minimalism. Love this video and it’s just the tip of the ice berg. ❤
I like how you acknowledged the difference between aesthetic and lifestyle minimalism. For the past few years I have been slowly purging my home for the goal of lifestyle minimalism. I love the aesthetics too but my day to day comfort zone is colour and pattern.
@@smurfette1681 I looked up the term and then feel into a rabbit hole of design terms. The result being that I believe my style is closer to refined maximalism.
Daria Andronesku explains this very well! Minimalist doesn't equal to boring, lack of color wardrobe, but to versatile wardrobe tailored to each person. Bright colours, big patterns and statement pieces can look amazing in a minimalist wardrobe, the goal is to use them all and avoid excessive consumption and fast fashion whilst feeling comfortable and stylish!
This reminds me of how a poetry form can bring out depth of expression. Sometimes the rules actually enable creativity in a way that lack of structure actually impedes.
I'd love to see you try a conceptually minimalist stylisticly maximal closet edit. I do seasonal capsule wardrobes and now almost exclusively wear patterns and brights... minimalist headspace with a maximalist vibe ✨️
After watching the video I have come to the conclusion that I am a seasonal minimalist. In fall and winter I am drawn to texture and shape rather than color and print. In the warmer months, when I’m wearing maybe one or two things, it’s nice to have print and/or color options. I love the way your content inspires my introspection.
That was something that popped into my mind. Spring and summer bring on the longing for more color. The clothing that was left after the edit was perfect for fall/ winter, not sure about summer. Thus, experiment must go on for a full year 🤪
I’m kind of the opposite. In summer I’m all about solid colours in linen or cotton. In colder seasons, I’m all about fair isles. I mean I also wear a lot of plainer knits and things too, but I love a classic Danish sweater on a chilly day.
Me too. When the weather here in Louisiana gets hot and humid, it’s all Lilly Pulitzer prints for me. In fall and winter, I love solids, neutrals, and black. Monochromatic outfits of all camel or black become so appealing when the weather cools.
I agree! Prints and color look and feel good in the spring as do texture and shape in the fall and winter. This video has me seriously thinking about curating a minimalist wardrobe by season and rotating and removing items from my main closet to simplify my daily routine based on that!
@@joleengreenaway9012I do this and recommend it!! It keeps things fresh and easy and curated, and aligned with nature, and you get to fully explore different aspects of your style one at a time in a non chaotic way (I love pastels but also all black style- in spring im pastel in winter I’m all black, instead of flip flopping day by day). But with the comfort of knowing you still own those other pieces in storage, it’s not a lifelong commitment to getting rid of them simply cuz they don’t fit the vibe of the moment (Of course I still curate and keep the number of pieces down to only what I love). The biggest downside is it’s extra work to switch over your closet 4 times a year, esp if the weather doesn’t demand it. And you also need to have sufficient storage. It can also be a bit of a crutch for me, like an excuse to not be as ruthless when purging (“oh it’s not my style now but it will be in summer!” Etc can be an excuse to own too much sometimes. Just something to watch out for). As well as “uh oh I don’t have enough Fall pieces, gotta buy more” lol watch out for that one. Overall this approach brings me much joy :)
I purged 85% of my wardrobe when my husband and I sold our big house and lived on a boat for 2 years. I have never gone back! I think carefully about every single piece I bring into my life, and generally donate 1 piece I currently own if I bring in 1 new piece. I am a much calmer and happier person having so few choices to make every day.
@@heatherframpton9693 Definitely think about it! I have never regretted it, but we had to come back on land due to family illnesses. You just have to be prepared for the unexpected, which is really an analogy for life. But it's surprising how lovely the boating community is, you will make so many friends and they all help each other.
I edited my wardrobe like this about 10 years ago - neutrals and cool tones only, barely any patterns, etc. No warm tones or browns. It was incredibly freeing for sure. But now I am feeling restless and starting to experiment with pattern and color again. Magenta/hot Barbie pink has been allowed into the color palette and it is A BIG DEAL. New! Exciting! Haha. It looks fantastic with my heavily navy and emerald based wardrobe and I couldn't be happier.
Hot pink (or as I affectionately call it, Putrid Pink) has been one of my favorite colors to look at recently and I'm also considering adding it to my closet! Pink and navy sounds like an incredible combo as well, I've never thought about that one before
Check out wonder wardrobe on TH-cam she's all about dialing in your style so you can have a small wardrobe and still feel satisfied with color and style.
This reminds me of a woman who, about 15 or so years ago wrote a blog about her experience. It was called Little Brown Dress. She wore a simple brown dress every single day for 365 days. She would accessorize as needed . Like a sweater and/or leggings during cold weather etc. But always the brown dress.
I used to be a maximalist too. I loved colorful things and self-expression was very important to me. However, when I switched to a minimalist closet, I discovered many benefits. For one, it is easier to mix and match. I save a lot of energy. In short, I have decided not to go back to my maximalist fashion style. Even my bags and shoes are minimalist now. I think what was life-changing was when I watched a documentary about consumerism. and one striking point there was there will come a time there will be more waste than fish. From then on, I have decided not to buy fast fashion anymore. Printed ones usually go out of style faster.
Those are all good points and I find myself not really enjoying shopping like I used to. I have even more of a conscience about it and I see people mindlessly buying things they will never use or getting things they use a few times and throw away. We live in a throw away society and it's catching up with us. I also find myself thrifting far more than I used to so I feel I'm saving the planet from landfills and plastic and synthetic fiber waste from the production of new mass produced consumer goods going to waste. I love this video showing us how to use what we have in different ways like it's new again and being satisfied with what we already have, and just filling in the gaps as we find necessary. I think it's cool she talks about thrifting. A person can find many designer and mid-range treasures that are made to last that way.
Yes. I buy nothing. My clothes were almost all free, swapped,and rarely thrifted. I do buy new undergarments, shoes, and coats periodically. This does force creativity and also selection bc it gets tempting to just keep whatever comes my way that fits simply bc it's free. So i am constantly cutting things out and passing them on. Essentially i only swap.
While I don't really care about the aesthetic part of minimalism (for clothing), I do like the reduced amount of clothes. For two years now, I have done the "work uniform" idea where I have the same style of dress with a sweater for five days (but the patterns and colors are different). It has been wonderful to not have to make any decisions about what to wear to work.
She also has a great series on how to beat the pressure of the sale. Those have helped me so much! I rewatch them about every Sephora sale& Black Friday. Just if y’all didn’t know she had it.
Wow…you really overthink things! Minimalistic means boring and following the most zombie trend! Are you for the French chic look that is been polluting TH-cam? Please be yourself and screw all this BS!
I always feel guilty for buying a limited color palette. This helped me see that I do it for a reason and that's okay because it works for me and keeps my mind less cluttered.
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO START: If you use a solid non-pattern palette with no more than 3 colors you are able to see what styles and cuts of clothing flatter your body. Then once you know what flatters your body you can use it to make your unique style. 1 color should be black since it is looks good for business, dates and usual funeral attire color with the only difference between the three are accessories. For business use elegant but not overly flashy. For dates or celebrations use some flashy accessories in your favorite color that us also in your color palette that is flattering to your complexion. For funerals minimum of accessories with only earrings, engagement and/or wedding ring, and a black scarf is ample. You not only have easier time in deciding what to wear you will save more money in the long run.
I tried minimalism for 2 years with maybe 40 pieces moust of the neutrals, but got ansious because I needed it more colors plus prints, now I have yellows, pinks reds and 20 prints, and feel much better😂❤never under estimate the power of colors and prints, they give energy rightaway
I'm a tried & true maximalist with clothing & cosmetics. However, I definitely feel that my taste is cyclical & ever evolving. I've found myself much more drawn to neutrals (something I swore would NEVER happen) & simpler looks overall. The ebb & flow of creativity is a truly interesting animal!
I have been a minimalist a long time ago (when the concept of minimalism didn’t hit the internet yet), mainly because I moved around a lot, I had only 10 items of clothing for 1.5 years. It felt incredibly limiting but also nice in a way to not have to think about “what to put on” (bc honestly you don’t really have a choice lol). Though this time just taught me I didn’t know what I was doing clothing-wise, and years later I am doing so much better. Not a minimalist anymore, though I also don’t really own a lot of clothes - but I am finally able to express myself through clothes the way I always wanted to. Curious to watch this video because generally speaking all the videos of this kind I have seen featured really boring wardrobes with just a lot of “basics”. Indeed I feel minimalism is perfect for people who tend to buy 10 pairs of black jeans.
I looove the distinct increase in your appreciation not just for singular garments, but for the new outfits/options discovered! It’s really like a NEW wardrobe.
Thank you for articulating this so beautifully. Minimalism is not buying 20 new beige dresses a season! If a print resonates deeply, buy the best one you can. I love paisley and have fabulous pieces from 15 or 20 years ago. They still bring me joy to wear - and if I see a new one, I can say to myself, you already have the best paisley scarf or whatever (Etro) and why are you looking at an inferior one. Sometimes I may not wear them for a couple of seasons, but when I bring them out again I might wear in a new way. Must admit I do feel a little smug when I do.
Ohhhhh excellent choices for minimalist aesthetic style. Bethany and Emma both have wardrobes I shamelessly place on the throne of “aspirational” in my heart. What I also appreciate is that Emma in particular stresses to us, her loyal audience, that she has built up her wardrobe intentionally and with great consideration over the course of YEARS much like you shared about your own wardrobe. I’m a little later to the game having been wandering lost in the style desert for quite some time, but I’m excited to be on board now with the slow, considered, intentional curation.
Once the pandemic hit us, I actually decluttered my closet multiple times and ended up years later with a much smaller amount of clothing. Some of the best benefits are the reluctance to shop as often, being more picky when buying new clothes, but the best thing was, I kept pieces that were high quality, simple, neutral, and was so easy to mix around... it helped me fall in love with my body again.
I'm 73 & I've dressed well, but Conservatively pretty much my whole life! I use Navy as my basic color & add white or Ivory, red & some pink & light blue, especially in the spring & summer! I do have black trousers which I pair with Black & White Horizontal Stripes! If I use prints, I usually do so in Various Silk Scarves! So if I wore all black, I would break that up with a Beautiful & Colorful Scarf! It makes a difference which kinds of Garments you choose, especially with a Calm Wardrobe, such as Knit Jackets that can be buttoned up & worn over a skirt like a sweater or open with a blouse underneath like a jacket, over trousers or skirt, with a scarf, giving you a more professional look! Alot of Women I know, select a hand bag that doesn't need changing often, bc they find it easier than constantly changing it! I find that the kind of material your clothes are made of also brings Calm or Chaos! Material that russels when you move =Chaos! Silk brings Calm! Silk pajamas that are plain with a contrast color logo on the pocket & contrast piping will give you the feeling of variety without IMPOSING on your Nighttime Peace!(I can't sleep in Loud Prints) The same for Bedding! I use soft fibers, preferring soft microfiber, which lasts longer than silk! I see that the covering on my pillows & duvet do Not make any noise when we move in bed! (I buy from Amazon or Pottery Barn) Too many ruffles or Layers in dresses or separates is too fussy & not Calming! Faded, heavily worn & clothes needing repairs breaks your Peace! As does ill-fitting clothes! So you get the idea! The Calm that you felt is partly due to you becoming your own woman, being in charge of your own Wardrobe & not trying to Comply with others' rules or expectations, which often causes you to purchase things that are Trendy instead of CLASSIC! Classic will always stand the Test of Time, where Trendy will come & go often by the time you obtain a piece or at the end of a Season! Once you have a Capsule Wardrobe, you will be able to rotate pieces, per season with no problem! It's easier to replace pieces, too! Shoes & Handbags should be Well Made, Well Fitting & Classic! Even the Heel height of your everyday shoes matters & the weight does too! (watch those boots that are too heavy to walk or hike in! Remember: Be PRACTICAL! You're on the right Track, stick with it, you'll do Great! May your rewards be many!😊💐
I think the distinction you make between minimalism as an aesthetic and minimalism as a lifestyle is key. That’s something a lot of people conflate. It was really helpful to hear you explain that you are in your 30s and have carefully collected the items in your wardrobe over time. I’ve been struggling against the urge to buy a lot of things lately. I was in school until recently, on an extremely limited budget, so I don’t have many nice things. Finally having disposable income is so tempting. But it’s comforting to remember that there’s no rush. I have plenty of time to curate what I bring into my life.
It’s so refreshing to see empty spaces and clear surfaces in my house, and yet I cannot stop myself from wanting to look for things and buy things and collect things and order things. The acquisition is intoxicating and even more satisfying than actually having these things. So knowing that I should be able to stop my self - but I can’t!
It’s like Bento boxes- each piece of food shines like a work of art because of the blank space around each section. Capsule wardrobes are like a bento box- the star pieces really shine on the neutral base. And everything even clashing colours look great. I do project 333 - every season for 2 years according to the “rules” which started as a challenge for me. I love it. I pick several neutrals and 3-4 accent colours each season. Pack away the rest. Allow swaps if something isn’t working. Others who do this - some are very neutral, but I’ve seen others with an explosion of colour.
I’ve only seen minimalist content showing big houses with no artwork and black and grey clothes. I love color and pattern so much that it made me sad to watch those. But Scandinavians do minimalism with lots of color and pattern. So thank you for explaining the distinction between the lifestyle and the aesthetic of minimalism. I’ve lived mostly as a low income disabled person so every clothing and shoe purchase is a big deal requiring lots of thought. I still manage to look good mostly wearing blues/greys/pink. But being a ‘forced’ minimalist is as tiring as having too much stuff in your closet. Also, having to go to the laundromat instead of having a washer/dryer means you have to have a bigger volume of clothing, as you discovered! I look forward to watching your journey. Cheers!
I love the way you think and speak, the words you use, and that you're unapologetically feminine. I notice that most people dress down, but you give me courage to show up as my best self and not hold back and that it's okay to stand out a bit. I found you through TFD, and I love your channel. Thank you for your time and efforts:)
Oh sigh…. so many thoughts. First: I love your video, your explanations, the way you have chosen colors and designs, amazing. And instantly I want to replicate this. Yes, i am one of these people… and thats the moment I stumble over biases and concepts in my mind. Like how can I be a minimalist, when I am not naturally beautiful (in a way society constructs beauty aka thin, young, symmetrical etc)? How can I be a minimalist when I cannot afford well made, tailored clothes? I would love to hear your (and everyone’s) thoughts about this.
I feel for you, and definitely relate. Many of my ways are entrenched in dysmorphia. Without writing a dissertation, I had a lot of issues growing up that required orthodontics, jaw surgery, and dentistry. I realize now that I wasn’t ugly, but back then, medical trauma and bullying made me sincerely loathe myself. It also didn’t help that my family was frugal, so we had minimal clothes growing up. Many of my items were from thrift stores. I love thrift stores now, but when I was younger, got teased a lot for that. As I got older and started earning money, I began developing a personal style and gaining compliments. I became more attractive and less dorky. (I was even voted “most likely to be a model” in high school, and have been told that more than once.) Yet, all the bullying I’d endured as a child stuck with me to where I never felt attractive or good enough. So I started overcompensating with my style. I’d get compliments on my outfits, which would fuel my desire to shop and accumulate, and so on and so forth. I even went to school for fashion, which fueled me even more. Fast-forward to today. I’m almost 37 and look good for my age, and have an overall decent life. I go to therapy and am more confident than in the past. BUT, although I’m not a hoarder in any other areas and cycle stuff regularly, I have a definite shopping problem and a massive wardrobe. My closet is packed, with no breathing room between clothes. I’ve got an array of colors and prints. These days, it’s become less about the compliments, and more about the holes shopping fills. For example, it’s a boredom killer, an escape if I’m depressed, an anxiety soother, a means to celebrate or reward myself. So you see, I shop in all kinds of moods. I’m working on shopping far less and curtailing this habit, but I have no idea on how to quit. I experience guilt after I shop, but anxiety when I think about stopping altogether. I almost don’t know an identity outside of being a fashionable person. That’s not to say I’m not good at my job or other roles in life, but style weaves through everything.
I won’t try to address the issues of not feeling beautiful but i encourage you to buy at thrift or resale and look for high end well made pieces. Find out what clothes look best on you are flattering and that make you feel comfortable-like yourself. Good luck. ✌🏼.
Yes on thrift treasure hunting. Less money, more quality. Let somebody else buy the new off of it. Thrifting = selecting from a really vast creation of others’ choosing. Some flawless, some not as much a personal match. Great conversation! ❤
I combine my love for minimalist aesthetics with the occasional colour and print by doing this: Display all neutrals in my wardrobe, choose 1-2 complementary accent colours that I want to wear for the next few months, keep the rest in a box. I'm now going thru a green mood, so I kept the pink and blues. My wardrobe looks cohesive, I feel like I have a seasonal wardrobe (despite living in tropical place) and I know I can switch to a new look later on without spending much money. My ta-da moment was learning I don't have to display all the clothes I own.
How did you feel about your makeup (and accessories) during this experiment? Did you find yourself reflecting the wardrobe change in those departments or go more extreme in spite of it?
Earlier today my dentist said he appreciated that I had matched my glasses to my dress. I said I like burgundy, it looks good on me. I own a lot of it. Black, denim, burgundy and olive with an occasional pop of royal blue. That's me. Very rare prints that include one of these colors. I also completely change over my closet once or twice a year depending on the season. I love it. I usually have only about 50 pieces in my closet at a time including shoes and bags.
47 yo minimalist here, in both regards. I love your perspective in this video. When I started my journey I loved color. A tip for anyone that does...MONOCHROME is your friend. It's not limited to neutrals, pick one color and run with it! Accessorize in various shades. You still get the mins effect with a pop of your personality. Great vid!
I love a minimalist aesthetic. As someone with anxiety, it really helps my brain find order. I also love color and texture so finding balance between the two has been a process. Love that you created this video. I hope you continue to share this journey with us.
I'd lovE to see a REVERSE experiment where you put away all that is simple, throw caution to the wind and take after fancy free maximal style icons like Baddie Winkle & Iris Apfel
Daria Andronescu on TH-cam, has developed Wonder Wardrobe program. It's a new take on minimalist wardrobe. It's less about wearing a whole heap of black and white clothes and more about looking at your lifestyle, what clothes you need, and curating a closet which coordinates so you can mix and match everything you own. The result is less clothing, more outfits.
Would this edited closet have been as appealing to you if your closet was inside a room (closet) rather than out in the living space? Do you always design your room with your closet as a design element? Do you prefer to keep your clothes out so that you can look at them and ponder them? Wondering whether the aesthetic appeal is as strong when "out of sight, out of mind".
I love this experiment! If you’ve never heard of it, you might be interested in looking into the Wonder Wardrobe concept (coined by Daria Andronescu). She has a TH-cam channel about it, but the way you described the process of pulling out a few selected pieces and making changes for the season change reminded me a lot of her capsule system. I can’t wait to hear about any future updates to this experience as it develops!
LOVE the continued experimentation and curiosity with your life and the things in your life. For someone who can struggle with change and stagnation, watching someone intelligent & creative like you gently and enthusiastically try something new, then revel in the experience, sit in any discomfort and evaluate those changes is the best. So thoughtful 💕 Thanks so much!
I really think that you are adding so much value in this platform called ‘You tube’. Everything is so well explained and you put things into prospective. You inspire me to look at things differently in the most enjoyable way! Thanks for your creativity and sharing your lifestyle with us ❤
I love how you're able articulate feelings I wouldn't have known how to put into words. I also feel pressure to engage with my clothes in a dynamic way, especially since I'm new to working from home. I put too much pressure on myself to choose an exciting outfit for the few occasions each week when I actually get properly dressed. I might try this experiment myself to see how it works for me.
I'm in my 40's and have been doing this minimalist thing for 5 years to get to a great stage where I'm at now. It changed my life too. I haven't bought a single thing in 2 years.
I simply cannot be an aesthetic minimalist. The idea of it is repulsive, even offensive, to me. I love color too much. However, I do acknowledge that because of my love of color I am more drawn to buying more clothing. Your experiments are interesting to me even if I cannot do them.
I think hanging on to my favorite bright color (cherry red) is THE thing that made this version of a minimalist closet work for me. I love that red so much, and I actually felt like it was more intense and celebrated this month because it was surrounded by neutrals.
Love, love, LOVE the new edit! You’ll find your perfect groove in time. After many minimalist experiments, I have created my perfect wardrobe: very few clothes, but they are all riotous colors and shapes! So I never get bored and it forces me to be creative with less. But I also don’t get overwhelmed and no item gets overlooked. My litmus test for a wardrobe is: does everything get worn? Do you love every item? If yes to both, then I know that I’ve reached the balance I’m looking for. Tip: to mitigate frequency of laundry, invest in a couple silk/cotton under shirts to wear with blouses so you can wear the blouses a few more times before they get soiled.
Yes!!!!! I arrived at this same wardrobe philosophy a few years ago through a sequence of smaller realizations, and one of my favorite benefits is simply how it allows me to consider any new wardrobe additions against a fairly exacting list of qualities. It must be black, neutral-tan, or off-white; it must have a material property-texture, drape, silhouette-that justifies its presence; I must love how it fits. There are plenty of pieces I see out in the wild that I appreciate but don't feel compelled to purchase because they don't fit that list of qualities. And every outfit I DO build out of my current closet is made of pieces I would almost universally consider to be a "favorite piece." My wardrobe is on display in my bedroom in a way very similar to yours, and I completely agree about the sense of harmony and calm I feel in the space. Not to mention it provides a strong counterpoint to my drag/stage wardrobe, which almost by necessity is extremely bright and loud and colorful (and lives tucked away in a closet, out of sight). Thanks for documenting your experience so thoroughly, this would have been an invaluable resource if I were still at the outset of my journey.
I love textures, patterns and colours too much to go minimal with my wardrobe. Although I could see why people might find a minimalist wardrobe appealing, if anything to limit any decisions as what to wear and how to coordinate the outfit...LOVED the vid, Hannah. Will you try a maximalist wardrobe for a month? Now minimalist interiors might be a different thing altogether...love looking at them...but, again, I live in a pretty colourful, eclectic home with lots of books, paintings/prints, oriental carpets and plants about.
69 days traveling 3 bottoms, seven tops, 3 pairs of footwear, 1 dress and 2 cardigans pale blue and pink so everything had to go with either or both cardigans. Best way to teach you to be minimalist.
I was so excited for this video! I love thinking about my closet in a sort of a holistic sense, as this big organism made up of a bunch of ever changing and interacting parts. Thank you for this. :)
This is my kind of topic. I was born loving fashion (my family background is ANTIQUES) So I have life wisdom and experience. I've been through many changes in my life and my collection of very unique fashion pieces and accessories have come and gone. I have given away, lost, sold, purged.. etc. Life changes so don't be afraid to let go.. There is an endless supply of "things" in the world... Don't be fooled.
This is so very necessary for us as people to be reminded. I think I need to use this as a motto. Having a small child that needs so many tools to help their sensory processing disorder, I have found that I often forget about the tools, and just use verbal cues and physical touch, or more simple things than all of the tools. The tools are necessary for his therapy but it is much harder for me to manage I suppose.
The proces you describe, is the same I have been through. And I like very much where you have come to Quality, color in a specific range that gives me the best results, form and stile, grand and well chosen are the directions for me. I have peace’s of clothes that are almost 30 years, but still going strong. And stille have a place in my wardrobe and never have put them away Bye Mirjam
@@mirjamlimburg9040 Totally! It is interesting knowing I have had an item of clothing for 10+years. Lol. I think clothing used to be made with durable fabrics, made to last longer. Those items are harder to find, but I think they're still out there. ✌️
Thank you for not purchasing a whole new closet of clothes to experience and try this for a month! I feel like a lot of people are trying new styles for a month but not shopping their closet first. Loved that whole beginning closet scene!
I recently lost a lot of weight so almost nothing in my closet fits anymore. Definitely looking at fewer, higher quality garments and shrinking down the sheer amount of clothing I have. There's way too much.
Ooooh yes, just looking at your minimal, color blocked, closet is giving me so many visual comforts... I am the same with my closet, I create and organize like it's a boutique. Not minimalistic per se, but color curated, etc and I just looooooove looking at it, makes such a diff! Edit to add, may I ask where your beautiful camel colored sweaters are from? :)
I think minimalism is about being intentional and true to your needs and interests, not to be framed within monotoned, boring aesthetics. At the end, you do what makes you happy, not what a certain label (minimalism), trend, or society tell you to do.
Thank you for this in-depth dissection of the minimalist wardrobe. Alleviating chaos from ones life is more that having everything in its place. It is looking behind the scene into the closets and drawers, where the clutter and chaos really exists. My take away goal is Self Expression, bringing and seeing oneself beyond the stuff. We are brought up to be consumers, now it's time to break the mold.
I’ve watched this video three times now, once with a friend, and I can’t get that outfit you did with the burgundy dress and oversized red sweater out of my mind! I just love love love how it looks. Thanks for always being so inspiring 🖤
Oh wow, I love this idea. This summer I spent three weeks in the UK and I had a minimalist capsule wardrobe with me in my 3 aesthetics: toddler, flapper and sailor. I allowed myself some bright scarves and socks and a pair of yellow cordoroy sneakers but otherrwise I was very aesthetically minimal as well and YES, the confidence. I went to a fashion exhibit in a black and white ensemble that had a really cute sillouette and to a play in a vintage silk gown that is 100 years old. But it all was very simple aesthetically. The gown was like a big black rectangle...I felt very dramatic in it, even though it was very simple. Love the idea of extending this for a month. I do need to re-edit my wardrobe!
I'm definitely someone who is a "minimalist" though I reject that term because of the weight it carries in the community. I prefer to say that I am "mindful" about what I bring into my life. Your channel's content and attitude toward spending really turned me on to that train of thought, actually. I find that I express my underlying draw to maximalist anesthetics through my journaling and artwork. She lives inside me like a loud gremlin screaming for attention, The Manager can't keep control in every aspect lol
Love this! As a very busy 46 year old wife, mother of four, and professional, I have long felt the draw towards minimalism. I have seen how the amount of things that a large family inevitably accumulates takes a mental and emotional toll on people, and on me personally for sure. In my desire to reshape this impact and as a lifelong lover of fashion who is keenly aware of how my outward look reflects what I’m seeking internally, I started my minimalist journey by working towards a more minimal wardrobe for the last two years. Ironically, I have recently realized that what I felt was “off” or missing for me in this two years, was that my love of vintage, beautiful prints, and aesthetic Maximalism got lost in the way of me trying to find simplicity for my family. I kept trying to figure out my own “personal style” again, when I had already had my own personal style for two decades, it was just taken away for the sake of a desire for a minimalism. I’m now working to strike a better balance for my outward expressions of myself and for my home.
I’m 42 and for most of my adult life I bought clothes that I thought were cute - lots of pattern, colour, sequins etc. Getting dressed was a struggle and I never felt cool or put together. A couple of years ago I massively edited my wardrobe and what I buy and it has changed my life. However I think it is important to take inspiration from influencers. Go with your own personal colour palette and shapes that suit you . I’m definitely more suited to cool tones and don’t always suit really oversized pieces that Emma and Brittany wear.
This is so interesting! I really liked your - "Getting Dressed You're Doing It Wrong" video which talks about choosing an item of clothing for the day based on how you want to feel. It seems like a lot of those "feelings" would be missed without some of the patterned clothing. I will be very interested to hear an update on the next few months.
I'm catching up on all the videos I've missed the last two weeks and it's a lovely way to spend my friday evening. It feels like catching up with a friend! 😊 I have a love-hate relationship with minimalism. I love (and crave) the calm minimalism brings to my life, but sometimes I get so bored with my own wardrobe. 😅
Very inspiring! I've been enjoying "packing" for each month. From my wardrobe, I choose enough pieces to make it through a month and leave the rest in a dresser and another closet. Sometimes I choose a theme (this month is black, gray, olive green, and grey), other times I build around a few pieces I'm excited about. I think the next month may be minimalist.
@@Michelle-bk5uq : I did pick a number of each item type when I started out, but now I do it more by feel. I am very influenced by capsule wardrobes that other folks have mentioned in the comments, but I keep things loose right now.
Why would you not include something in your minimal wardrobe that you wear all the time? Like the Disney sweatshirt. I’m going to try a minimal wardrobe for awhile, but it’s going to be my absolute favorites. Things I reach for all the time. Then see if I miss anything
Loved this video. Not sure if I’d enjoy this because engaging with my clothes in a dynamic way is such a favourite ritual for me, I’m not sure I could let that go. I love the complexity of dressing and pairing outfits. I quite like the idea of splitting my classic neutral pieces and statement pieces though.
I don’t know how you do it. I always think back on a dress or a top that I gave away the year before or more and really regret it. Does that ever happen to you? You give away a unique item then regret it?
I put away some items once in awhile and then look at them again, it is easier to see if I really will miss them. I dont like a large wardrobe but being in a Canada, I need 4 seasons choices. And I love warm and safe winter boots, I always have two pairs of those.
This video was so damn helpful for me, I'm about to go refine my wardrobe because I never realised how much the stress of getting dressed was impacting my life and self esteem
I will become minimalist when I"m dead. This isn't the middle ages or the hunger games; we don't live on the moon. I understand the versatility of neutral colors, and have neutrals in my closet. But we live in the 21st century where we have all these tech innovations, but color is out? The natural world has the most amazing colors combo, just spend some time watching the evening sky. Color carrys so much personality and energy.
I did a little opposite this past week: I bought some light prints for the season. I’m usually wearing neutrals and solids. All from thrifting. Hate spending full price for clothes
I like your minimalist closet a lot more than others. Your curation and closet feels "grown" and not shopped in the eg last two years. I am 45 years old and "collect" interesting items for several decades. I focuss on high quality materials and textures and I found a lot second hand over the years. Therefore a video on shopping on Arket blazers or Juniqulo (?) collections and building outfits from these is not inspiring at all. Your items are so much more unique. Thank you for this quality content!
I think where you live also has an impact. When I lived in a city and worked in an art museum, I wore black all the time, also out of work. When I moved to the countryside, it looked wrong and too urban and heavy. Also, big problem, black can drain you as you age, I got to a point when this happened, although with dark hair and eyes, I had worn it all the time before about 45 years of age, along with a bit of olive green and dark red sometimes. Now I have to wear black with a warm coloured fur collar and do charcoal grey sometimes instead. Also, it depends on your body shape, as an hourglass, I could wear those little black dresses and wrap coats, but not the flappy, loose architectural styles that just hung on me and made me shapeless. If you look at Scandinavian women, they tend to be tall like me, but more straight with defined shoulders and those striking cuts look great on their shape.
i am so excited you and others in the comments enjoyed completing similar endeavors. i just want to voice to those of you who see this video and might feel badly about not being aesthetically minimalist, like me: in my experience, i have tried making a capsule closet and while i did enjoy that pursuit, i do hate aesthetic minimalism in my personal clothing style. to each their own, as long as their own is kind.
That minimalist wardrobe was so soothing it just calmed my whole nervous system down haha. If you go back to engaging with your more maximalist pieces, I'd love to see another take on this - Leena Norms did a video where she created a capsule wardrobe out of only maximalist pieces (for the most part) and it was really interesting to see how that worked, so I'd love to see how that goes for you.
I want to suggest getting a color analysis. I recently got one and was very surprised how when you stay in your color palette it keeps your closet small and interactive. Black is not in my color palette and I realized I would buy black but not really look good in it and it was the first thing to go in the donate pile every time. So chocolate brown, raisin purple are my black. But staying in your season will narrow your “not me” items even more. It’s refreshing.
I never thought about patterned clothes or lots of options adding to anxiety. As a person with anxiety I have almost 0 garments with busy patterns and still find choosing clothes in the morning overwhelming. Perhaps minimalism is the way to go.
The editing in this video is so good! I think you may miss your colorful clothes once spring and summer roll around, though. Fall fashion definitely encourages more muted tones and pieces. You should hang on to your most-loved colorful items until you know for sure! Also 1) Brittany Bathgate’s videos and style are fantastic 2) Love the sweater you’re wearing
Decision fatigue is a topic to do a deep dive on for sure. It applies to all facets of life.
This type of video, specifically discussing the philosophy of aesthetic, then self-experimenting with its practical applications, is by far why you are my favorite beauty influencer.
I agree. Because, every typical fashion influencer mostly advise us on what pieces to wear / buy this season - none of those influencers get to the psychology of what minimalism is - how to achieve it successfully / how to use it daily / how it impacts our feelings or lifestyle positively. But this vlog DOES!!
One could write a whole paper on aesthetic/ lifestyle minimalism. Love this video and it’s just the tip of the ice berg. ❤
I like how you acknowledged the difference between aesthetic and lifestyle minimalism. For the past few years I have been slowly purging my home for the goal of lifestyle minimalism. I love the aesthetics too but my day to day comfort zone is colour and pattern.
There's an approach called Cozy Minimalism. Which is the best of both worlds 🥰
@@smurfette1681 I looked up the term and then feel into a rabbit hole of design terms. The result being that I believe my style is closer to refined maximalism.
@@kathrynbythelake9638 very chic!
@@smurfette1681 like that theme to hold in my head. Along with FITS/JOY, COZY COMFORT, NEONS, that will be my initial culled themes.
I was going to say the same on those distinctions. That added a whole other layer of education to the video. This is really great content fr💯
Daria Andronesku explains this very well! Minimalist doesn't equal to boring, lack of color wardrobe, but to versatile wardrobe tailored to each person. Bright colours, big patterns and statement pieces can look amazing in a minimalist wardrobe, the goal is to use them all and avoid excessive consumption and fast fashion whilst feeling comfortable and stylish!
I also watch her videos! she is great~
This reminds me of how a poetry form can bring out depth of expression. Sometimes the rules actually enable creativity in a way that lack of structure actually impedes.
yesssssss
I'd love to see you try a conceptually minimalist stylisticly maximal closet edit. I do seasonal capsule wardrobes and now almost exclusively wear patterns and brights... minimalist headspace with a maximalist vibe ✨️
You're an oxymoron and thriving 💖✨️
Same! Neutrals are too boring for me.
After watching the video I have come to the conclusion that I am a seasonal minimalist. In fall and winter I am drawn to texture and shape rather than color and print. In the warmer months, when I’m wearing maybe one or two things, it’s nice to have print and/or color options. I love the way your content inspires my introspection.
That was something that popped into my mind. Spring and summer bring on the longing for more color. The clothing that was left after the edit was perfect for fall/ winter, not sure about summer. Thus, experiment must go on for a full year 🤪
I’m kind of the opposite. In summer I’m all about solid colours in linen or cotton. In colder seasons, I’m all about fair isles. I mean I also wear a lot of plainer knits and things too, but I love a classic Danish sweater on a chilly day.
Me too. When the weather here in Louisiana gets hot and humid, it’s all Lilly Pulitzer prints for me. In fall and winter, I love solids, neutrals, and black. Monochromatic outfits of all camel or black become so appealing when the weather cools.
I agree! Prints and color look and feel good in the spring as do texture and shape in the fall and winter. This video has me seriously thinking about curating a minimalist wardrobe by season and rotating and removing items from my main closet to simplify my daily routine based on that!
@@joleengreenaway9012I do this and recommend it!! It keeps things fresh and easy and curated, and aligned with nature, and you get to fully explore different aspects of your style one at a time in a non chaotic way (I love pastels but also all black style- in spring im pastel in winter I’m all black, instead of flip flopping day by day). But with the comfort of knowing you still own those other pieces in storage, it’s not a lifelong commitment to getting rid of them simply cuz they don’t fit the vibe of the moment (Of course I still curate and keep the number of pieces down to only what I love). The biggest downside is it’s extra work to switch over your closet 4 times a year, esp if the weather doesn’t demand it. And you also need to have sufficient storage. It can also be a bit of a crutch for me, like an excuse to not be as ruthless when purging (“oh it’s not my style now but it will be in summer!” Etc can be an excuse to own too much sometimes. Just something to watch out for). As well as “uh oh I don’t have enough Fall pieces, gotta buy more” lol watch out for that one. Overall this approach brings me much joy :)
I purged 85% of my wardrobe when my husband and I sold our big house and lived on a boat for 2 years. I have never gone back! I think carefully about every single piece I bring into my life, and generally donate 1 piece I currently own if I bring in 1 new piece. I am a much calmer and happier person having so few choices to make every day.
a boat! Cool!
My husband's retirement desire is to live on a boat! ❤😊
@@heatherframpton9693 Definitely think about it! I have never regretted it, but we had to come back on land due to family illnesses. You just have to be prepared for the unexpected, which is really an analogy for life. But it's surprising how lovely the boating community is, you will make so many friends and they all help each other.
I edited my wardrobe like this about 10 years ago - neutrals and cool tones only, barely any patterns, etc. No warm tones or browns. It was incredibly freeing for sure. But now I am feeling restless and starting to experiment with pattern and color again. Magenta/hot Barbie pink has been allowed into the color palette and it is A BIG DEAL. New! Exciting! Haha. It looks fantastic with my heavily navy and emerald based wardrobe and I couldn't be happier.
Hot pink (or as I affectionately call it, Putrid Pink) has been one of my favorite colors to look at recently and I'm also considering adding it to my closet! Pink and navy sounds like an incredible combo as well, I've never thought about that one before
Very jewel toned wardrobe. Sounds fabulous!
I‘m exactly the same. Maximalism is everything I love but Minimalism is the calm that my mind craves.
Check out wonder wardrobe on TH-cam she's all about dialing in your style so you can have a small wardrobe and still feel satisfied with color and style.
This reminds me of a woman who, about 15 or so years ago wrote a blog about her experience. It was called Little Brown Dress. She wore a simple brown dress every single day for 365 days. She would accessorize as needed . Like a sweater and/or leggings during cold weather etc. But always the brown dress.
I just read the articles! that was very interesting
I'm doing the 100 day challenge from wool& right now, it's completely changed my perspective on what clothing I actually need.
I LOVE that idea! 👗 I’ve already cut down to just 5 dresses and a few sweaters. Would like even less!
I hope she washed it.
@@CronesBonesOut of curiosity, why would you like it to be less?
I used to be a maximalist too. I loved colorful things and self-expression was very important to me. However, when I switched to a minimalist closet, I discovered many benefits. For one, it is easier to mix and match. I save a lot of energy. In short, I have decided not to go back to my maximalist fashion style. Even my bags and shoes are minimalist now. I think what was life-changing was when I watched a documentary about consumerism. and one striking point there was there will come a time there will be more waste than fish. From then on, I have decided not to buy fast fashion anymore. Printed ones usually go out of style faster.
Those are all good points and I find myself not really enjoying shopping like I used to. I have even more of a conscience about it and I see people mindlessly buying things they will never use or getting things they use a few times and throw away. We live in a throw away society and it's catching up with us. I also find myself thrifting far more than I used to so I feel I'm saving the planet from landfills and plastic and synthetic fiber waste from the production of new mass produced consumer goods going to waste. I love this video showing us how to use what we have in different ways like it's new again and being satisfied with what we already have, and just filling in the gaps as we find necessary. I think it's cool she talks about thrifting. A person can find many designer and mid-range treasures that are made to last that way.
Yes. I buy nothing. My clothes were almost all free, swapped,and rarely thrifted. I do buy new undergarments, shoes, and coats periodically. This does force creativity and also selection bc it gets tempting to just keep whatever comes my way that fits simply bc it's free. So i am constantly cutting things out and passing them on. Essentially i only swap.
While I don't really care about the aesthetic part of minimalism (for clothing), I do like the reduced amount of clothes. For two years now, I have done the "work uniform" idea where I have the same style of dress with a sweater for five days (but the patterns and colors are different). It has been wonderful to not have to make any decisions about what to wear to work.
Thank you for not putting up a Sephora video today! You don't know how much I appreciate it! 💜
Gosh yes!
Omg for real. They are excessive this year.
She also has a great series on how to beat the pressure of the sale. Those have helped me so much! I rewatch them about every Sephora sale& Black Friday. Just if y’all didn’t know she had it.
@@shearsparkle haha, yeah, I've had to watch them a couple times in the past. 😆
Wow…you really overthink things! Minimalistic means boring and following the most zombie trend!
Are you for the French chic look that is been polluting TH-cam? Please be yourself and screw all this BS!
I always feel guilty for buying a limited color palette. This helped me see that I do it for a reason and that's okay because it works for me and keeps my mind less cluttered.
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO START: If you use a solid non-pattern palette with no more than 3 colors you are able to see what styles and cuts of clothing flatter your body. Then once you know what flatters your body you can use it to make your unique style. 1 color should be black since it is looks good for business, dates and usual funeral attire color with the only difference between the three are accessories. For business use elegant but not overly flashy. For dates or celebrations use some flashy accessories in your favorite color that us also in your color palette that is flattering to your complexion. For funerals minimum of accessories with only earrings, engagement and/or wedding ring, and a black scarf is ample. You not only have easier time in deciding what to wear you will save more money in the long run.
I tried minimalism for 2 years with maybe 40 pieces moust of the neutrals, but got ansious because I needed it more colors plus prints, now I have yellows, pinks reds and 20 prints, and feel much better😂❤never under estimate the power of colors and prints, they give energy rightaway
I'm a tried & true maximalist with clothing & cosmetics. However, I definitely feel that my taste is cyclical & ever evolving. I've found myself much more drawn to neutrals (something I swore would NEVER happen) & simpler looks overall. The ebb & flow of creativity is a truly interesting animal!
I love seeing that so many of us are going through this simultaneously. ❤️
Never underestimate the power of influence!
I'm trying to move away from black entirely. I want more neutral tones and bright solid colors. I think a TV show I watch has inspired this.
This. I went shopping for neutrals recently
I have been a minimalist a long time ago (when the concept of minimalism didn’t hit the internet yet), mainly because I moved around a lot, I had only 10 items of clothing for 1.5 years. It felt incredibly limiting but also nice in a way to not have to think about “what to put on” (bc honestly you don’t really have a choice lol). Though this time just taught me I didn’t know what I was doing clothing-wise, and years later I am doing so much better. Not a minimalist anymore, though I also don’t really own a lot of clothes - but I am finally able to express myself through clothes the way I always wanted to. Curious to watch this video because generally speaking all the videos of this kind I have seen featured really boring wardrobes with just a lot of “basics”. Indeed I feel minimalism is perfect for people who tend to buy 10 pairs of black jeans.
I looove the distinct increase in your appreciation not just for singular garments, but for the new outfits/options discovered! It’s really like a NEW wardrobe.
Thank you for articulating this so beautifully. Minimalism is not buying 20 new beige dresses a season! If a print resonates deeply, buy the best one you can. I love paisley and have fabulous pieces from 15 or 20 years ago. They still bring me joy to wear - and if I see a new one, I can say to myself, you already have the best paisley scarf or whatever (Etro) and why are you looking at an inferior one. Sometimes I may not wear them for a couple of seasons, but when I bring them out again I might wear in a new way. Must admit I do feel a little smug when I do.
Ohhhhh excellent choices for minimalist aesthetic style. Bethany and Emma both have wardrobes I shamelessly place on the throne of “aspirational” in my heart. What I also appreciate is that Emma in particular stresses to us, her loyal audience, that she has built up her wardrobe intentionally and with great consideration over the course of YEARS much like you shared about your own wardrobe. I’m a little later to the game having been wandering lost in the style desert for quite some time, but I’m excited to be on board now with the slow, considered, intentional curation.
Once the pandemic hit us, I actually decluttered my closet multiple times and ended up years later with a much smaller amount of clothing. Some of the best benefits are the reluctance to shop as often, being more picky when buying new clothes, but the best thing was, I kept pieces that were high quality, simple, neutral, and was so easy to mix around... it helped me fall in love with my body again.
I'm 73 & I've dressed well, but Conservatively pretty much my whole life! I use Navy as my basic color & add white or Ivory, red & some pink & light blue, especially in the spring & summer! I do have black trousers which I pair with Black & White Horizontal Stripes! If I use prints, I usually do so in Various Silk Scarves! So if I wore all black, I would break that up with a Beautiful & Colorful Scarf! It makes a difference which kinds of Garments you choose, especially with a Calm Wardrobe, such as Knit Jackets that can be buttoned up & worn over a skirt like a sweater or open with a blouse underneath like a jacket, over trousers or skirt, with a scarf, giving you a more professional look! Alot of Women I know, select a hand bag that doesn't need changing often, bc they find it easier than constantly changing it! I find that the kind of material your clothes are made of also brings Calm or Chaos! Material that russels when you move =Chaos! Silk brings Calm! Silk pajamas that are plain with a contrast color logo on the pocket & contrast piping will give you the feeling of variety without IMPOSING on your Nighttime Peace!(I can't sleep in Loud Prints) The same for Bedding! I use soft fibers, preferring soft microfiber, which lasts longer than silk! I see that the covering on my pillows & duvet do Not make any noise when we move in bed! (I buy from Amazon or Pottery Barn) Too many ruffles or Layers in dresses or separates is too fussy & not Calming! Faded, heavily worn & clothes needing repairs breaks your Peace! As does ill-fitting clothes! So you get the idea! The Calm that you felt is partly due to you becoming your own woman, being in charge of your own Wardrobe & not trying to Comply with others' rules or expectations, which often causes you to purchase things that are Trendy instead of CLASSIC! Classic will always stand the Test of Time, where Trendy will come & go often by the time you obtain a piece or at the end of a Season! Once you have a Capsule Wardrobe, you will be able to rotate pieces, per season with no problem! It's easier to replace pieces, too! Shoes & Handbags should be Well Made, Well Fitting & Classic! Even the Heel height of your everyday shoes matters & the weight does too! (watch those boots that are too heavy to walk or hike in!
Remember: Be PRACTICAL!
You're on the right Track, stick with it, you'll do Great! May your rewards be many!😊💐
I think the distinction you make between minimalism as an aesthetic and minimalism as a lifestyle is key. That’s something a lot of people conflate.
It was really helpful to hear you explain that you are in your 30s and have carefully collected the items in your wardrobe over time. I’ve been struggling against the urge to buy a lot of things lately. I was in school until recently, on an extremely limited budget, so I don’t have many nice things. Finally having disposable income is so tempting. But it’s comforting to remember that there’s no rush. I have plenty of time to curate what I bring into my life.
SAME!
I love that you mentioned that you've been acquiring things for YEARS. I feel like that is sooo overlooked.
It’s so refreshing to see empty spaces and clear surfaces in my house, and yet I cannot stop myself from wanting to look for things and buy things and collect things and order things. The acquisition is intoxicating and even more satisfying than actually having these things. So knowing that I should be able to stop my self - but I can’t!
I think I can safely say, we will all be following your wardrobe experiment’s future career with great interest!!!
It’s like Bento boxes- each piece of food shines like a work of art because of the blank space around each section. Capsule wardrobes are like a bento box- the star pieces really shine on the neutral base. And everything even clashing colours look great.
I do project 333 - every season for 2 years according to the “rules” which started as a challenge for me. I love it. I pick several neutrals and 3-4 accent colours each season. Pack away the rest. Allow swaps if something isn’t working. Others who do this - some are very neutral, but I’ve seen others with an explosion of colour.
I’ve only seen minimalist content showing big houses with no artwork and black and grey clothes. I love color and pattern so much that it made me sad to watch those. But Scandinavians do minimalism with lots of color and pattern. So thank you for explaining the distinction between the lifestyle and the aesthetic of minimalism. I’ve lived mostly as a low income disabled person so every clothing and shoe purchase is a big deal requiring lots of thought. I still manage to look good mostly wearing blues/greys/pink. But being a ‘forced’ minimalist is as tiring as having too much stuff in your closet. Also, having to go to the laundromat instead of having a washer/dryer means you have to have a bigger volume of clothing, as you discovered! I look forward to watching your journey. Cheers!
I love the way you think and speak, the words you use, and that you're unapologetically feminine. I notice that most people dress down, but you give me courage to show up as my best self and not hold back and that it's okay to stand out a bit. I found you through TFD, and I love your channel. Thank you for your time and efforts:)
Oh sigh…. so many thoughts. First: I love your video, your explanations, the way you have chosen colors and designs, amazing. And instantly I want to replicate this. Yes, i am one of these people… and thats the moment I stumble over biases and concepts in my mind. Like how can I be a minimalist, when I am not naturally beautiful (in a way society constructs beauty aka thin, young, symmetrical etc)? How can I be a minimalist when I cannot afford well made, tailored clothes? I would love to hear your (and everyone’s) thoughts about this.
I feel for you, and definitely relate. Many of my ways are entrenched in dysmorphia. Without writing a dissertation, I had a lot of issues growing up that required orthodontics, jaw surgery, and dentistry. I realize now that I wasn’t ugly, but back then, medical trauma and bullying made me sincerely loathe myself.
It also didn’t help that my family was frugal, so we had minimal clothes growing up. Many of my items were from thrift stores. I love thrift stores now, but when I was younger, got teased a lot for that.
As I got older and started earning money, I began developing a personal style and gaining compliments. I became more attractive and less dorky. (I was even voted “most likely to be a model” in high school, and have been told that more than once.) Yet, all the bullying I’d endured as a child stuck with me to where I never felt attractive or good enough. So I started overcompensating with my style. I’d get compliments on my outfits, which would fuel my desire to shop and accumulate, and so on and so forth. I even went to school for fashion, which fueled me even more.
Fast-forward to today. I’m almost 37 and look good for my age, and have an overall decent life. I go to therapy and am more confident than in the past. BUT, although I’m not a hoarder in any other areas and cycle stuff regularly, I have a definite shopping problem and a massive wardrobe. My closet is packed, with no breathing room between clothes. I’ve got an array of colors and prints.
These days, it’s become less about the compliments, and more about the holes shopping fills. For example, it’s a boredom killer, an escape if I’m depressed, an anxiety soother, a means to celebrate or reward myself. So you see, I shop in all kinds of moods.
I’m working on shopping far less and curtailing this habit, but I have no idea on how to quit. I experience guilt after I shop, but anxiety when I think about stopping altogether. I almost don’t know an identity outside of being a fashionable person. That’s not to say I’m not good at my job or other roles in life, but style weaves through everything.
I won’t try to address the issues of not feeling beautiful but i encourage you to buy at thrift or resale and look for high end well made pieces. Find out what clothes look best on you are flattering and that make you feel comfortable-like yourself. Good luck. ✌🏼.
Yes on thrift treasure hunting. Less money, more quality.
Let somebody else buy the new off of it.
Thrifting = selecting from a really vast creation of others’ choosing. Some flawless, some not as much a personal match.
Great conversation! ❤
I combine my love for minimalist aesthetics with the occasional colour and print by doing this:
Display all neutrals in my wardrobe, choose 1-2 complementary accent colours that I want to wear for the next few months, keep the rest in a box. I'm now going thru a green mood, so I kept the pink and blues. My wardrobe looks cohesive, I feel like I have a seasonal wardrobe (despite living in tropical place) and I know I can switch to a new look later on without spending much money. My ta-da moment was learning I don't have to display all the clothes I own.
How did you feel about your makeup (and accessories) during this experiment? Did you find yourself reflecting the wardrobe change in those departments or go more extreme in spite of it?
I felt like I wore more chic/simple makeup and less dramatic makeup. But I also wore the "pop of red" lip more often this month.
Earlier today my dentist said he appreciated that I had matched my glasses to my dress. I said I like burgundy, it looks good on me. I own a lot of it. Black, denim, burgundy and olive with an occasional pop of royal blue. That's me. Very rare prints that include one of these colors. I also completely change over my closet once or twice a year depending on the season. I love it. I usually have only about 50 pieces in my closet at a time including shoes and bags.
47 yo minimalist here, in both regards. I love your perspective in this video. When I started my journey I loved color. A tip for anyone that does...MONOCHROME is your friend. It's not limited to neutrals, pick one color and run with it! Accessorize in various shades. You still get the mins effect with a pop of your personality. Great vid!
I don't know why I never realized I don't have to like prints. This vid made me think I want to lean into texture and color.
I love a minimalist aesthetic. As someone with anxiety, it really helps my brain find order. I also love color and texture so finding balance between the two has been a process. Love that you created this video. I hope you continue to share this journey with us.
I'd lovE to see a REVERSE experiment where you put away all that is simple, throw caution to the wind and take after fancy free maximal style icons like Baddie Winkle & Iris Apfel
yes! maybe i will try this myself...
Daria Andronescu on TH-cam, has developed Wonder Wardrobe program. It's a new take on minimalist wardrobe. It's less about wearing a whole heap of black and white clothes and more about looking at your lifestyle, what clothes you need, and curating a closet which coordinates so you can mix and match everything you own. The result is less clothing, more outfits.
Would this edited closet have been as appealing to you if your closet was inside a room (closet) rather than out in the living space? Do you always design your room with your closet as a design element? Do you prefer to keep your clothes out so that you can look at them and ponder them? Wondering whether the aesthetic appeal is as strong when "out of sight, out of mind".
I love this experiment! If you’ve never heard of it, you might be interested in looking into the Wonder Wardrobe concept (coined by Daria Andronescu). She has a TH-cam channel about it, but the way you described the process of pulling out a few selected pieces and making changes for the season change reminded me a lot of her capsule system. I can’t wait to hear about any future updates to this experience as it develops!
+! for Daria and Wonder Wardrobe. I've taken her course, and it's really helped me pare down to more easily interchangeable items.
Love Daria! Her art inspired capsules are some of my favorite destressing content.
LOVE the continued experimentation and curiosity with your life and the things in your life.
For someone who can struggle with change and stagnation, watching someone intelligent & creative like you gently and enthusiastically try something new, then revel in the experience, sit in any discomfort and evaluate those changes is the best.
So thoughtful 💕 Thanks so much!
I agree!
I really think that you are adding so much value in this platform called ‘You tube’. Everything is so well explained and you put things into prospective. You inspire me to look at things differently in the most enjoyable way! Thanks for your creativity and sharing your lifestyle with us ❤
thank you!
Minimialism isn't solid colors. You can have a minimalist life with color, pattern and texture.
I love how you're able articulate feelings I wouldn't have known how to put into words. I also feel pressure to engage with my clothes in a dynamic way, especially since I'm new to working from home. I put too much pressure on myself to choose an exciting outfit for the few occasions each week when I actually get properly dressed. I might try this experiment myself to see how it works for me.
Try the opposite. Maximize the maximum for one month 🌻
I'm in my 40's and have been doing this minimalist thing for 5 years to get to a great stage where I'm at now.
It changed my life too. I haven't bought a single thing in 2 years.
I simply cannot be an aesthetic minimalist. The idea of it is repulsive, even offensive, to me. I love color too much. However, I do acknowledge that because of my love of color I am more drawn to buying more clothing. Your experiments are interesting to me even if I cannot do them.
I think hanging on to my favorite bright color (cherry red) is THE thing that made this version of a minimalist closet work for me. I love that red so much, and I actually felt like it was more intense and celebrated this month because it was surrounded by neutrals.
Love, love, LOVE the new edit! You’ll find your perfect groove in time. After many minimalist experiments, I have created my perfect wardrobe: very few clothes, but they are all riotous colors and shapes! So I never get bored and it forces me to be creative with less. But I also don’t get overwhelmed and no item gets overlooked. My litmus test for a wardrobe is: does everything get worn? Do you love every item? If yes to both, then I know that I’ve reached the balance I’m looking for.
Tip: to mitigate frequency of laundry, invest in a couple silk/cotton under shirts to wear with blouses so you can wear the blouses a few more times before they get soiled.
Yes!!!!! I arrived at this same wardrobe philosophy a few years ago through a sequence of smaller realizations, and one of my favorite benefits is simply how it allows me to consider any new wardrobe additions against a fairly exacting list of qualities. It must be black, neutral-tan, or off-white; it must have a material property-texture, drape, silhouette-that justifies its presence; I must love how it fits. There are plenty of pieces I see out in the wild that I appreciate but don't feel compelled to purchase because they don't fit that list of qualities. And every outfit I DO build out of my current closet is made of pieces I would almost universally consider to be a "favorite piece."
My wardrobe is on display in my bedroom in a way very similar to yours, and I completely agree about the sense of harmony and calm I feel in the space. Not to mention it provides a strong counterpoint to my drag/stage wardrobe, which almost by necessity is extremely bright and loud and colorful (and lives tucked away in a closet, out of sight).
Thanks for documenting your experience so thoroughly, this would have been an invaluable resource if I were still at the outset of my journey.
Very impressed by the quality of this video, congratulations!
I love textures, patterns and colours too much to go minimal with my wardrobe. Although I could see why people might find a minimalist wardrobe appealing, if anything to limit any decisions as what to wear and how to coordinate the outfit...LOVED the vid, Hannah. Will you try a maximalist wardrobe for a month?
Now minimalist interiors might be a different thing altogether...love looking at them...but, again, I live in a pretty colourful, eclectic home with lots of books, paintings/prints, oriental carpets and plants about.
69 days traveling 3 bottoms, seven tops, 3 pairs of footwear, 1 dress and 2 cardigans pale blue and pink so everything had to go with either or both cardigans. Best way to teach you to be minimalist.
I was so excited for this video! I love thinking about my closet in a sort of a holistic sense, as this big organism made up of a bunch of ever changing and interacting parts. Thank you for this. :)
This is my kind of topic.
I was born loving fashion (my family background is ANTIQUES) So I have life wisdom and experience.
I've been through many changes in my life and my collection of very unique fashion pieces and accessories have come and gone.
I have given away, lost, sold, purged.. etc.
Life changes so don't be afraid to let go.. There is an endless supply of "things" in the world... Don't be fooled.
"There is an endless supply of "things" in the world... Don't be fooled"
I love this piece of advice! Thank you~
hell yeah
This is so very necessary for us as people to be reminded. I think I need to use this as a motto. Having a small child that needs so many tools to help their sensory processing disorder, I have found that I often forget about the tools, and just use verbal cues and physical touch, or more simple things than all of the tools. The tools are necessary for his therapy but it is much harder for me to manage I suppose.
The proces you describe, is the same I have been through.
And I like very much where you have come to
Quality, color in a specific range that gives me the best results,
form and stile, grand and well chosen are the directions for me.
I have peace’s of clothes that are almost 30 years, but still going strong. And stille have a place in my wardrobe and never have put them away
Bye Mirjam
@@mirjamlimburg9040 Totally! It is interesting knowing I have had an item of clothing for 10+years. Lol. I think clothing used to be made with durable fabrics, made to last longer.
Those items are harder to find, but I think they're still out there. ✌️
Thank you for not purchasing a whole new closet of clothes to experience and try this for a month! I feel like a lot of people are trying new styles for a month but not shopping their closet first. Loved that whole beginning closet scene!
I recently lost a lot of weight so almost nothing in my closet fits anymore. Definitely looking at fewer, higher quality garments and shrinking down the sheer amount of clothing I have. There's way too much.
Ooooh yes, just looking at your minimal, color blocked, closet is giving me so many visual comforts... I am the same with my closet, I create and organize like it's a boutique. Not minimalistic per se, but color curated, etc and I just looooooove looking at it, makes such a diff! Edit to add, may I ask where your beautiful camel colored sweaters are from? :)
I think minimalism is about being intentional and true to your needs and interests, not to be framed within monotoned, boring aesthetics. At the end, you do what makes you happy, not what a certain label (minimalism), trend, or society tell you to do.
Thank you for this in-depth dissection of the minimalist wardrobe. Alleviating chaos from ones life is more that having everything in its place. It is looking behind the scene into the closets and drawers, where the clutter and chaos really exists. My take away goal is Self Expression, bringing and seeing oneself beyond the stuff. We are brought up to be consumers, now it's time to break the mold.
I’ve watched this video three times now, once with a friend, and I can’t get that outfit you did with the burgundy dress and oversized red sweater out of my mind! I just love love love how it looks. Thanks for always being so inspiring 🖤
Oh wow, I love this idea. This summer I spent three weeks in the UK and I had a minimalist capsule wardrobe with me in my 3 aesthetics: toddler, flapper and sailor. I allowed myself some bright scarves and socks and a pair of yellow cordoroy sneakers but otherrwise I was very aesthetically minimal as well and YES, the confidence. I went to a fashion exhibit in a black and white ensemble that had a really cute sillouette and to a play in a vintage silk gown that is 100 years old. But it all was very simple aesthetically. The gown was like a big black rectangle...I felt very dramatic in it, even though it was very simple. Love the idea of extending this for a month. I do need to re-edit my wardrobe!
I'm definitely someone who is a "minimalist" though I reject that term because of the weight it carries in the community. I prefer to say that I am "mindful" about what I bring into my life. Your channel's content and attitude toward spending really turned me on to that train of thought, actually.
I find that I express my underlying draw to maximalist anesthetics through my journaling and artwork. She lives inside me like a loud gremlin screaming for attention, The Manager can't keep control in every aspect lol
Love this! As a very busy 46 year old wife, mother of four, and professional, I have long felt the draw towards minimalism. I have seen how the amount of things that a large family inevitably accumulates takes a mental and emotional toll on people, and on me personally for sure. In my desire to reshape this impact and as a lifelong lover of fashion who is keenly aware of how my outward look reflects what I’m seeking internally, I started my minimalist journey by working towards a more minimal wardrobe for the last two years. Ironically, I have recently realized that what I felt was “off” or missing for me in this two years, was that my love of vintage, beautiful prints, and aesthetic Maximalism got lost in the way of me trying to find simplicity for my family. I kept trying to figure out my own “personal style” again, when I had already had my own personal style for two decades, it was just taken away for the sake of a desire for a minimalism. I’m now working to strike a better balance for my outward expressions of myself and for my home.
I’m 42 and for most of my adult life I bought clothes that I thought were cute - lots of pattern, colour, sequins etc. Getting dressed was a struggle and I never felt cool or put together. A couple of years ago I massively edited my wardrobe and what I buy and it has changed my life. However I think it is important to take inspiration from influencers. Go with your own personal colour palette and shapes that suit you . I’m definitely more suited to cool tones and don’t always suit really oversized pieces that Emma and Brittany wear.
I'm all about the aesthetic maximalism! Give me all the colors and prints and textures and frills!
This has been (after years watching minimalist content) the most useful and insightful take on minimal wardrobes 🙌 bravissima
This is so interesting! I really liked your - "Getting Dressed You're Doing It Wrong" video which talks about choosing an item of clothing for the day based on how you want to feel. It seems like a lot of those "feelings" would be missed without some of the patterned clothing. I will be very interested to hear an update on the next few months.
Black and red are so classic and chic. You look so great in it!😊
Yay! Something other than Sephora and even better, fashion
I'm catching up on all the videos I've missed the last two weeks and it's a lovely way to spend my friday evening. It feels like catching up with a friend! 😊
I have a love-hate relationship with minimalism. I love (and crave) the calm minimalism brings to my life, but sometimes I get so bored with my own wardrobe. 😅
Very inspiring! I've been enjoying "packing" for each month. From my wardrobe, I choose enough pieces to make it through a month and leave the rest in a dresser and another closet. Sometimes I choose a theme (this month is black, gray, olive green, and grey), other times I build around a few pieces I'm excited about. I think the next month may be minimalist.
This is a cool concept. Do you limit the number of pieces that you pick for the month?
@@Michelle-bk5uq : I did pick a number of each item type when I started out, but now I do it more by feel. I am very influenced by capsule wardrobes that other folks have mentioned in the comments, but I keep things loose right now.
Why would you not include something in your minimal wardrobe that you wear all the time? Like the Disney sweatshirt. I’m going to try a minimal wardrobe for awhile, but it’s going to be my absolute favorites. Things I reach for all the time. Then see if I miss anything
Made me laugh this is what you think is minimalist 😁 you ultra lady!
Loved this video. Not sure if I’d enjoy this because engaging with my clothes in a dynamic way is such a favourite ritual for me, I’m not sure I could let that go. I love the complexity of dressing and pairing outfits. I quite like the idea of splitting my classic neutral pieces and statement pieces though.
I don’t know how you do it. I always think back on a dress or a top that I gave away the year before or more and really regret it. Does that ever happen to you? You give away a unique item then regret it?
Hmm, I don’t think the final wardrobe is still a minimalist aesthetic based on what you reintroduced, but more of just an edited wardrobe
I put away some items once in awhile and then look at them again, it is easier to see if I really will miss them. I dont like a large wardrobe but being in a Canada, I need 4 seasons choices. And I love warm and safe winter boots, I always have two pairs of those.
I love love love this video. I didn’t realize I had a minimalist v maximalist battle raging in my brain. So glad you enjoyed your experimental month!
This video was so damn helpful for me, I'm about to go refine my wardrobe because I never realised how much the stress of getting dressed was impacting my life and self esteem
I will become minimalist when I"m dead. This isn't the middle ages or the hunger games; we don't live on the moon. I understand the versatility of neutral colors, and have neutrals in my closet. But we live in the 21st century where we have all these tech innovations, but color is out? The natural world has the most amazing colors combo, just spend some time watching the evening sky. Color carrys so much personality and energy.
I did a little opposite this past week: I bought some light prints for the season. I’m usually wearing neutrals and solids. All from thrifting. Hate spending full price for clothes
I like your minimalist closet a lot more than others. Your curation and closet feels "grown" and not shopped in the eg last two years. I am 45 years old and "collect" interesting items for several decades. I focuss on high quality materials and textures and I found a lot second hand over the years. Therefore a video on shopping on Arket blazers or Juniqulo (?) collections and building outfits from these is not inspiring at all. Your items are so much more unique. Thank you for this quality content!
I think where you live also has an impact. When I lived in a city and worked in an art museum, I wore black all the time, also out of work. When I moved to the countryside, it looked wrong and too urban and heavy. Also, big problem, black can drain you as you age, I got to a point when this happened, although with dark hair and eyes, I had worn it all the time before about 45 years of age, along with a bit of olive green and dark red sometimes. Now I have to wear black with a warm coloured fur collar and do charcoal grey sometimes instead. Also, it depends on your body shape, as an hourglass, I could wear those little black dresses and wrap coats, but not the flappy, loose architectural styles that just hung on me and made me shapeless. If you look at Scandinavian women, they tend to be tall like me, but more straight with defined shoulders and those striking cuts look great on their shape.
I love the idea of doing seasonal wardrobes in the way you do singles palettes to play creatively with a limited palette from your full wardrobe!
Thank you for this. Just sounding off how hard it is to do this when you have a changing body or body issues. Speaking from post partum hell.
i am so excited you and others in the comments enjoyed completing similar endeavors. i just want to voice to those of you who see this video and might feel badly about not being aesthetically minimalist, like me: in my experience, i have tried making a capsule closet and while i did enjoy that pursuit, i do hate aesthetic minimalism in my personal clothing style. to each their own, as long as their own is kind.
I can’t believe how much I love you and your work. Sending a thousand kisses. 😘😘
Very nice video, thank you very much! You have a really nice wardrobe, especially the shoes and bags!
That minimalist wardrobe was so soothing it just calmed my whole nervous system down haha.
If you go back to engaging with your more maximalist pieces, I'd love to see another take on this - Leena Norms did a video where she created a capsule wardrobe out of only maximalist pieces (for the most part) and it was really interesting to see how that worked, so I'd love to see how that goes for you.
Yes! I've seen Leena's video and I'm so hungry for more minimalist maximalist wardrobe videos.
Oh I loved that video too & was superhappy 💕
What about accesoires?i like to keep it simple with a twist of sjaal,brachelet,necklace,cap,ring etc...
I want to suggest getting a color analysis. I recently got one and was very surprised how when you stay in your color palette it keeps your closet small and interactive. Black is not in my color palette and I realized I would buy black but not really look good in it and it was the first thing to go in the donate pile every time. So chocolate brown, raisin purple are my black. But staying in your season will narrow your “not me” items even more. It’s refreshing.
This makeup, hair, outfit, and jewelry…is perfect.
I’ve never seen any of your videos before and I can say I’m immediately drawn in. Your presentation is flawless and the way you speak is mesmerizing.
Emma Hills color palette and style is minimal, but the number of items in her closet is not. Great video!
Your minimalism wardrobe is at least 5 times bugger thatn mine. Probably I am already a minimalist :D
I never thought about patterned clothes or lots of options adding to anxiety. As a person with anxiety I have almost 0 garments with busy patterns and still find choosing clothes in the morning overwhelming. Perhaps minimalism is the way to go.
Yes, these are all the reasons I love my minimalist wardrobe. This feels validating.
The editing in this video is so good! I think you may miss your colorful clothes once spring and summer roll around, though. Fall fashion definitely encourages more muted tones and pieces. You should hang on to your most-loved colorful items until you know for sure! Also 1) Brittany Bathgate’s videos and style are fantastic 2) Love the sweater you’re wearing