How to Be a Fashion-Loving Minimalist

Style and sustainable living aren’t as incompatible as you might think .

Accumulation isn’t a prerequisite for being a smart dresser. In fact, many successful brands and designers have staked their claim squarely in the uniform-esque consistency of a single aesthetic. Rick Owens comes to mind as a remarkably repetitive brand—one that enjoys immense success and popularity and doesn’t lack for copycats or imitators. We’re also, as imperfect humans, prey to various cognitive biases and pleasure functions that result in extra consumption. Ever buy something new after a long period of no purchases, then immediately feel drawn to keep going?

It’s becoming clear that frequent consumption of anything—especially overly trendy, seasonal, or fleeting fashion—is environmentally damaging, unnecessary, and irresponsible. How does one reconcile the seemingly opposed motivations of being stylish and excited by fashion while also living a small-footprint lifestyle? There are a number of strategies and practices that can help. Slim Down Your Closet While it might seem scary to pare down too much, studies have shown that most of us only wear about 20 percent of the clothes in our closet on a regular basis. That means 80 percent is made up of things you bought for a specific occasion and never wore again, things you think you might need for a future specific occasion, or things you keep for some sentimental reason. Or perhaps things you thought you’d love, but never ended up wearing.Of course, that journey wasn’t easy. It required a willingness to transfer the love and enjoyment of many items to new owners. To pass along, to give up and let go. And to resist the temptation to click “complete purchase” or take home every item I see in-store that I like. Find Your Uniform The benefit of buying within a comfortable, complementary color palette is it’s easy to mix and match. The downside is that it can be monotonous. Many successful people (Steve Jobs, Barack Obama) have cut down on unnecessary daily decisions by adopting a uniform. Such strictness may not be practical or fun for people who like fashion, but the principle still applies in terms of editing a wardrobe. Resist Impulse Buys Many people end up with wild, untamed closets because they buy things that are aspirational, based on an imagined future or self.You’ll end up loving everything you have and feel less daunted trying to get dressed each morning. The idea of repeating something in the same week becomes less of an issue, since most people aren’t paying much attention to anyone but themselves.