Most people are guilty of owning more clothes than they need. You probably wear your five favorite shirts about fifteen times more often than some of your least favorite shirts. In my closet, I currently have 6 short sleeve shirts (including an oversized one for sick or laundry days) and six long sleeve shirts. I also have one belt, five pairs of jeans, one jacket and about a five day supply of undergarments. I also have three pairs of shoes.
My spartan closet is due to our lifestyle of frequent traveling. In the past three months, we've been to Pensacola, Atlanta, Amsterdam, San Francisco, and Santiago. My son is young enough to be "in arms," so we have two free checked bags for the three of us. All of our clothes, reading books, baby toys, cloth diapers, and toiletries divided among two checked bags, with computers and our dSLR in our carryons.
The high school me would have been shocked by my limited wardrobe. I loved shopping for clothes and had to keep up with all the trends. Now as a mom, trends are an unnecessary use of energy. I have come to appreciate style more than fashion. My style is a solid colored shirt with a flattering fit and no graphics, words, or logos; jeans; my large belt that is a neutral color; Keens; glasses, and my hair worn naturally curly. Simplicity is much easier. I don't spend thirty minutes each morning debating what to wear.
To minimize money wasted on clothes, become more critical of the clothes you do buy. Determine how much money you are willing to spend on an item. Don't bother trying something on if it exceeds your price expectation. Consider the color. Do you already own enough of that color? Would you need to buy new shoes or a belt to match? What material is it? Avoid buying things that need ironing if you are not in the habit of ironing. Is it in good condition? Jeans with holes often are destroyed in the laundry. Clothing from clearance racks especially may have make up stains or ripped seams. When you try it on, does it fit you PERFECTLY? If you think, I'll just lose a couple pounds, or I can make sure this strap doesn't fall down, or I'll just keep pulling it down over my tummy during the day, then it does not fit. It should be comfortable to wear and flattering to your figure. Don't buy anything that you aren't excited about wearing tomorrow.
To decide clothes that are worth keeping, consider the quality and versatility. My small shoe collection covers everything I need. Silver heels, black boots, and green Keens. These shoes are so amazing. I have worn them hiking, sailing, at the beach, at the grocery store, and on walks with the stroller. I have had them for two years and worn them almost every day since I bought them. I've never had such a comfortable and useful shoe. Sneakers usually last me six months before they need replacing. Hiking boots last about a year and cost more than my H2 Keens. They are definitely worth the investment. Keep items that are going to last and you can use often.
Even if you don't travel as much as we do, living out of a suitcase can be a fun experiment to learn which of your posessions you truly need. You may surprise yourself when you discover what you personally value. You may also enjoy being able to trade the what to wear routine for a half hour of extra sleep each morning.
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