Meet My Entire Minimalist Wardrobe (Yes, This Is Literally Everything I Own)
It turns out I have a minimalist wardrobe filled with the basics and exactly nothing else.
This wasn’t a planned endeavour. Honestly, Hello, Taee originally started as a fashion blog because I truly loved clothes, so it’s a little strange we ended up here.
However, over the past year I’ve lost close to 100 lbs, which forced me to dump all of my wardrobe (seriously, my leggings wouldn’t even stay up), and my body continues to change shape so I’m a little shy on building a big collection right now.
But having a minimalist wardrobe has given me a new appreciation for multi-use pieces, and I’ve loved the lack of space it takes up. As someone who’s entire life fits into two bags and a single box, filling one side of a carry-on with ALL of your clothes can be really freeing.
My newly acquired minimalistic taste has given me a seriously drive to choose pieces carefully and with intention. So I thought I’d take you through a quick rendezvous through my actual wardrobe:
Meet: the Entire Wardrobe
Pants (Yes, just the four)
I only noticed I had started legitimately losing weight when one day my favourite pair of Old Navy PowerSoft bike shorts fell off when I sat down. Not rolled down or bunched up but legitimately FELL OFF.
Thankfully I was at home, but holy crap. That was an experience.
Which means my minimalist wardrobe essentials curation started with pants. I KNEW I’d be frequenting Canadian rodeos for the latter half of the summer, so jeans were a must-have. But I didn’t want to overcommit because my waistline is STILL changing.
I landed on two pairs of jeans:
- These adorable Mom Jeans by American Eagle which I basically wear everday
- A pair of sleek black high-waist jeans by Gloria Vanderbilt
Both are size 16. And both are inching towards the “too big” category, despite only being in my posession for 2.5 months.
When I’m not out-and-about, I default to “office casual” which, for me, means leggings. Honestly, my four-legged office buddies don’t judge. And I have just two pairs of them:
- Black High-waist Active Sculpt Leggings by Amazon Essentials
- Navy High-waist PowerSoft 7/8 Leggings by Old Navy
I LOVE both, I wear them equally. And, so far, they aren’t yet too big.
Casual Tops (basically all I own)
For everyday wear, I have a total of 5 tops, and two of them are the same in different colours. Yes, it’s a particular choice.
I most often wear my PowerSoft Crop Top (which, admittedly, is about 5 years old and a couple hairs too big) and my Snug Crop Tee. I could use 1 or 2 more of each in slightly different colors for some variety, but as of now black is the name-of-the-game.
For legitimate workout scenarios, or just lounging around the house, I have two short cropped PowerSoft bras. These are also old and also a tad bit too large. But they’re strictly worn around the house.
To round out the group, I have a single snug crop tank in the colour dill caper. It’s cute as hell BUT gets worn nowhere because my two full wireless bras can be seen underneath it. Typically, I use this as a bedtime tank, which feels a bit of a waste.
Mock Neck Bodysuits (Somehow my new personal identity)
Somewhere along the way my wardrobe identity became overrun with mock neck bodysuits. I have no idea where or when this happened, but I looked up and I suddenly had four of the same suits in various colours and sleeve lengths.
All four of these are essentially the same thing, but I have two different sleeve lengths. The half sleeves end just above my elbow and the tee sleeves are like your basic t-shirt. I like both, but I find the basic tee sleeves have a lighter stretchier fabric and the camel tends to be my go-to option.
I love these because they have a way of looking both professional and casual. They’re great if I’m worried about bending over and showing off more than I intended, or simply want a tucked look that you can’t get with the modern-day crop top that seems to reign supreme these days.
However, I do find them to be hot if I’m busy moving around on set. And, because they’re bodysuits, naturally, they’re a pain to go to the bathroom in.
Loungewear, pjs & extras
My “extras” category is for everything that doesn’t really fit anywhere else.
Some of the things, like my old (read: 6+ years) pink hoodie and oversized (it fit 4 sizes ago!) disney hoodie are around simply to be cozy. Other things like the two pairs of random cotton shorts I wear to bed that don’t fit are waiting to be replaced.
Then we have the stack of cotton underwear that I simply can’t live without (go figure!) and the two wireless bras I use to even out my lopsided breasts (seriously, it’s a big problem).
And, for my film wardrobe, I’ve got a cute black-and-white checkered flannel for chilly nights and a button-up collared shirt by American Eagle (the men’s section, girl there was nothing at Value Village when I was shopping) specifically for behind-the-chutes so I blend it.
Honestly, this entire section is essentially “to replace” on my list because most of it is simply to big for me. But still kickin’ around due to pure necessity.
Shoes (yes, really just 4 pairs)
The shoes tends to be the thing that really gets people.
Right now, I’ve got four pairs — a pair of neutral combat boots by Amazon Essentials (that beat up my heels if I’m not careful) for film days, cute-and-comfy Mary Jane flats by DreamParis that work for wide feet and go with everything, and two hella basic flip flops that I pretty much wear daily.
This is an area where I openly admit I probably need to switch a few things out.
… and one cowboy hat
To clarify: I am NOT a cowgirl.
I don’t moonlight or cosplay at one. I’ve never even ridden a horse.
But I am a filmmaker currently working on a rodeo documentary, and when I’m behind the chutes during the performance, the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association says I need to wear a good ol’ fashioned cowboy hat.
This particular one is the Oklahoma Hats Chihuahua Gamuza in Moka. I got it at the Alberta Boot Company booth during Lethbridge’s Whoop Up Days this summer.
I was on-site scouting for the doc shoot the next day, poking around the buck chutes, and chatting the horse draw with cowboys. I wasn’t technically on-site working so beyond a few joking comments from athletes I got away sans hat.
But on my way out I stopped at the booth and asked for, and I quote, “the cheapest cowboy hat around because I’m only going to wear the damn thing for 90 minutes total.” She was $80 CAD and actually fit (mostly, she’s a bit big if I hold my head upside down and shake it like a polaroid picture).
So I walked away the proud(ish) owner of one grey cowboy hat.
And despite me scoffing at having to add item number 30 to my comfortably tiny list, it’s actually looks pretty cute (though no photo evidence of that claim exists to date).
Curating a Minimalist Wardrobe
My minimalist wardrobe creation came along accidently, but I’ve come to appreciate the ability to be selective about what I have in my closet… considering that closet is a carry-on suitcase.
I used to have WAY too many clothes (think: walk in closet levels). And having less means making sure that I’m wearing everything I own because laundry day comes WAY more frequently.
When I’m getting a new piece of clothing, I’m looking at a couple important things:
- Where can I realistically wear this? Chances are if a single place comes to mind, it gets left on the shelf.
- Will I honestly wear it? I have one top that I’ve NEVER worn once that recently left the wardrobe because while it was cute, I didn’t love it enough to wear it.
- Does it work for multiple outfits? I get A LOT of flack for the amount of black I have, but it works for ANY occasion, and that’s important to me.
If the answer for one of these doesn’t fit in with the rest, the piece is out. No matter how cute it looks on the hanger.
My To-Get List
Having a minimalist wardrobe is great for travel, but mine’s still a work-in-progress.
I tend to be a buy something simple, actually test out out. Then, if I love it, get an upgraded version. Not all clothes are made equal, so when I find something I like, I tend to get a higher-quality version.
Some of the upgrades (or just additions) I’m eyeing up right now include:
- A second color of American Eagle’s mom jeans. They’re cute, comfy and I wear them EVERY chance I get.
- A more solid pair of flats. I LOVE my DreamPairs (they make GREAT shoes for wide feet), but I wear my shoes into the ground. I’m eyeing up some Audrey Flats by Vivaia, however they’re a little on the high-end price wise and I’m unsure of quality.
- A couple (read: probably two) more casual shirts. Honestly, I should replace my PowerSoft crop top with a new one and add another colour of the snug cropped tee.
I’m slow to purchase when it comes to clothes, I don’t want to end up carting around a bunch of pieces I don’t wear. And, more importantly, I don’t want to have to replace everything in four months when I lose another 20 lbs.
Fashion Minimalism: Yes or No?
Once upon a time I daydreamed about a massive closet full of clothes and I was well on my way. But my life has changed a lot since my days in the sub-penthouse apartment in Calgary with all it’s modern finishes and the massive tub.
A minimalist wardrobe full of just the essentials (maybe a little less?) is definitely the pick for me these days. That may change in the future, but for now, keeping things minimal makes travel easier.
Even if you don’t subscribe to the idea of minimalism, chances are you have an outfit (or six) that that could use a new home. We, as humans, have a tendency to accumulate things for a dream wardrobe, rainy day, or the next juice cleanse, and by the time we’re ready for them, they’re out of fashion.
Now don’t go tossin’ out everything in your closet. But if you’ve got a couple minutes today, see if you can find a few pieces that are ready for a new home.
