The capsule wardrobe movement continues to gain momentum.
Fast fashion deserves criticism. And our culture’s obsession with ever-changing fashion trends is an artificial pursuit manufactured by those who benefit from it.
The capsule wardrobe movement is far from mainstream. But, elevated in the social consciousness by some high-profile personalities, more and more people are applying minimalist principles to their fashion.
Many people outside the movement remain skeptical. They wonder why anybody would intentionally choose to wear the same outfit every day—especially when financial resources are not in question.
Evaluating my personal experience with a minimal wardrobe and studying recent profiles in various publications, I have created this list of reasons.
If you have ever wondered why some successful people choose to wear the same outfit everyday, or better yet, if you are considering adopting a more streamlined wardrobe yourself, here are 8 convincing reasons:
1. Fewer decisions. Decision fatigue refers to the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision making. For people who make significant decisions every day, the removal of even one—choosing clothes in the morning—leaves them with more mental space and better productivity throughout the day.
This forms the basis for President Barack Obama’s limited fashion options, “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.” Mark Zuckerberg cites similar rationale. One less frivolous decision in the morning leads to better decisions on things that really matter.
2. Less time wasted. We have no idea how much of a burden our possessions have become until we begin to remove them. But when we do, we immediately discover a new life of freedom and opportunity. It was almost five years ago that I first experimented with Project 333—a personal challenge of wearing only 33 articles of clothing for a period of 3 months. The project is simple, life-changing, and wildly beneficial. I quickly discovered one of the greatest benefits of limiting my wardrobe: the gift of time. Getting ready in the morning became easier, quicker, and more efficient.
3. Less stress. Matilda Kahl, an art director in New York cites both decision fatigue and less time getting ready as her reason for wearing the same outfit everyday. But she adds another: less stress—specifically, less stress during the day over the decision she originally made in the morning. “Is this too formal? Is that too out there? Is this dress too short? Almost always, I’d choose something to wear I regretted as soon as I hit the subway platform.” But now, in her trademark silk white shirt and black trousers, she has one less source of anxiety during the day.
4. Less wasted energy. Christopher Nolan has created several of the most critically and commercially successful films of the early 21st century. But, according to New York Times Magazine, he decided long ago it was “a waste of energy to choose anew what to wear each day.” Now, he settles instead for a dark, narrow-lapeled jacket over a blue dress shirt with black trousers over sensible shoes to wear each day.
Christopher offers an important distinction when he refers to “wasted energy.” Not only do large wardrobes require more decision-making, they also require more maintenance, more organization, and more shuffling around. Additionally, while a capsule wardrobe may not result in less laundry, it does result in both easier laundry and storage.
5. Feeling put together. Denaye Barahona is a young mother in Dallas, TX. This spring, she exchanged her full, disorganized closet for a minimal wardrobe of versatile pieces she loves to wear. She summarizes the difference like this, “Pre-capsule, my wardrobe was like the Cheesecake Factory menu. It went on for days and was overwhelming. Most of my options didn’t fit right, didn’t look right, or I just plain didn’t like. On the other hand, my capsule wardrobe is like a fine-dining restaurant. I have fewer choices but I can be sure all of the choices will be amazing. Not only do I look better, I feel better.”
Easy, versatile, and always put together. This is the promise and opportunity of a capsule wardrobe—and just one more reason the movement continues to grow.
6. Iconic. Alice Gregory is a writer living in New York City. Last year, her piece for J. Crew magazine brought a new word into my reasoning for wearing a uniform. She called it “Iconic. A cheap and easy way to feel famous.” She continues, “A uniform can be a way of performing maturity or, less charitably, impersonating it. A uniform insinuates the sort of sober priorities that ossify with age, as well as a deliberate past of editing and improving.”
Alice points out that wearing the same outfit everyday is a way of asserting your status as a protagonist. “This is the reason why characters in picture books never change their clothes: Children—like adults, if they’d only admit it—crave continuity. Adopting the habit of wearing a uniform is not unstylish—this is a classification that no longer applies.”
7. Less expense. Our closets are full of clothes and shoes purchased, but rarely worn. The average American family spends $1,700 on clothes annually. Which may not seem like a lot—until you consider that most clothing purchases are not based on need at all. In 1930, the average American woman owned nine outfits. Today, that figure is 30—one for every day of the month.
Living with a capsule wardrobe or adopting an iconic uniform removes most of the waste and expense from trial-and-error clothing purchases—not to mention all the time wasted shopping for items only to return later.
8. More peace. Last month, Drew Barrymore wrote an article for Refinery 29 highlighting her new stage of life and relationship with clothes. “For starters, I’m almost 40, and the 20s clothes don’t make sense anymore. And, after two babies, the 30s clothes don’t fit anymore. I am at a clothing crossroads, and it’s a painful one at times.” To counter these feelings, Drew put herself on a closet diet limiting her wardrobe and only buying items thoughtfully. Months later, her closet is “sane and happy.” Getting dressed is no longer a battle. And her fashion sense is “now calmer and more peaceful.”
We are a society drowning in our possessions. People are looking for freedom and rescue. They are searching for new solutions. No wonder the capsule wardrobe movement continues to grow.
Those who adopt minimalist principles in their wardrobe choices are discovering more productivity, less stress, less distraction, less expense, and more peace.
pasha says
In my opinion, about 80 percent of the perceived problems in this article can be solved by simply choosing your clothing for the next day the night before. I’ve been doing that since high school, and twenty years later, it’s still effective.
Robin says
One thing that does not get mentioned in this article, that is also a huge reason for paring down one’s wardrobe is the impact that it has on the environment and the world. When you choose to own fewer pieces of clothing, you choose to buy less, which means that you are more likely to choose quality over quantity and that has a HUGE far-reaching impact – especially for women, as we are most likely to not only have more clothes, but also additional accessories for all those clothes.
When a purse is only $30 at Wal-Mart, the temptation is high to have a different purse for every outfit, and the more outfits you have, the more accessories you “need.” However, the $30 purse is not just inexpensive, it’s cheap, which means you may only use it for a few months, before it is worn out and begins to LOOK cheap – and possibly even breaks. And if it is in fact cheap, it’s not worth the money it would cost to repair it. At that point, you want to get rid of it, but at that time, no one else wants it either. Which means it either ends up in a landfill or getting shipped overseas.
Our clothing surplus in America is so extreme, that even the poorest among us can afford to be picky. I have personally watched homeless people pick through enormous masses of clothing to find something that “suited” them. And sadly, what we don’t use, (what even our homeless don’t want) either gets shipped overseas or ends up in a landfill.
In developing economies, people won’t spend money on what they don’t absolutely need, so this means developing businesses have to meet a legitimate need, which means the predominant business opportunities are those that provide either food, clothing, or shelter. When we ship entire shipping containers of surplus clothing to developing nations, we are undercutting one of very few business opportunities available to developing communities.
For a woman, “paring down” means you maybe own 3-4 high quality, durable purses that you keep and use for several years. This has a 360 degree impact, as that high quality purse is less likely to be made in a sweat shop where workers are paid pennies, AND, it is also unlikely to either end up in a landfill or shipped overseas. The same is true for other clothing items, shoes, and even other accessories like watches or jewelry.
All in all, owning fewer items of clothing creates a demand for higher quality goods, which has a 360 degree impact on the world and the environment.
Shawna says
Robin, well said. You noted things most people never think about. Excellent!
Carroll Muir says
Totally true. Quality over quantity. I’ve come to realise how amazing silk is, so much better than cotton. It’s strong, , breathes, is incredibly light and you feel fabulous wearing it. I’m soon to go on a 5 week holiday and only taking a school size backpack, no cabin luggage. At least half of the items are silk.
Debbie says
Just last week, I said that I wanted a wardrobe like this. I was complaining to my brother yesterday, that I have too many clothes. I see some streamlining in my future.
Alison Held says
When I work with weight loss clients, I always advise them to get rid of clothes that no longer fit. Make room for the new you! My clients that go through a cleanse program often report that they do massive clean-out in rooms and closets (in addition to the clean out they are doing with their kitchen & bodies). I love the minimalist approach and the author brings up so many good points about why less is more! Thank you!
Alison
Kristy says
You don’t have to publish this comment, just wanted to tell you that you have a typo: “verstatile”. Reason #5, second paragraph.
Shannon says
Thank you so much for this. I plan to go through my closet and get rid of many articles I no longer wear. I also love the idea of less decisions to have to make and keeping life simple.
Linn schwiethale says
i love love love getting up in the morning and picking out my wardrobe for the day and I spend about 5 minutes deciding ..I have a lot of clothes and wear everything I own… I guess it’s a very personal thing.. But to wear the thing every day would be the most boring thing on the planet.. Just my own opinion
Andrea Hartman says
Here, here! As a minimalist style blogger, it makes me pumped to see non-style bloggers blogging about this topic! Having less in your closet truly is so much more. You’re reaching a whole new audience with this message. Great content and links!
-Andrea
http://www.just-dressed.com
Bethany @ Online Therapy and Coaching says
I secretly always loved jobs with uniforms, and now that I’m working at a school with spirit shirts, I just wear one over dress pants everyday! A t-shirt and shorts and a sundress for the weekends, and I’m set. It definitely takes some decision-making out of my day, which cuts down on that stress and mental clutter.
I recently wrote a post along a similar vein, about how simplicity leads to sanity: http://www.onlinetherapyandcoaching.org/blog/2015/4/29/how-simplicity-can-add-sanity-to-your-life
DL Perchinh says
Goes with the tiny / small house minimalist movement, too. No need for so much closet space.
Ann Voskamp says
Thank you — this was five star, Mr. Becker, five star.
joshua becker says
Thanks Ann. You’re the best.