To Minimalize

Things like this:

This

and

This

really inspire me. I when I read things about 100 things, I crave being able to live a minimalist lifestyle. A lot of people have told us that our house is really minimal. I think that is because of two things: a. I hate gadgets that do something that another gadget I already have does. For example, a jar opener. God gave me hands and a Husband -no thanks. b. we moved from a 1 bedroom apartment to a 4 bedroom house. We do not have things to fill up a house.

Plus we kind of hate clutter. God bless my Husband. It would be so hard to live with a pack rat.

One thing that haunts me is my wardrobe. Granted I only have a dozen pairs of shoes, and while that sounds like a lot, I know that many of you have WAY more shoes than that. But I have so much clothing. I try, every six months or so, to filter out the things I don't wear, but I never replace them with 1 or 2 good quality things. I never have a plan. I want to have a purposeful wardrobe. Now that I'm no longer growing (except around the middle these days) I should be able to keep clothes forever.


Why is it so hard? Why does it feel impossible to me to limit myself to 10 total shirts. Honestly, if they were all good quality they would last longer. And if I had fewer, I would have the energy to actually read the care labels and follow them. And yet, H&M calls my name with $10 shirts. Why H&M?!

I wish I could own two wardrobes: summer and winter.

In my summer wardrobe I would own

2 pairs of shorts (I really don't need more. I hate shorts)
3 casual skirts
2 nice skirts
3 dresses

5 casual shirts
5 nice shirts

30 pieces.

In my winter wardrobe I would own

3 pairs of pants (nice pants!  pants that look good with everything!)
3 nice skirts
2 casual dresses
2 nice dresses

4 casual shirts
3 nice shirts
1 sweaters
2 cardigans

30 pieces.

Shoes:

1 pair of flats
1 pair of casual shoes
1 pair of sandals
1 pair casual heels
1 pair nice heels
1 pair wintery shoes

6 pairs of shoes.


I dream of this wardrobe. Can you even imagine having such a wardrobe? Obviously I would also need things like pajamas and workout clothes, and this doesn't include unders or socks or belts (and maternity things...). But honestly. I think it would feel so refreshing and calming to have such a small wardrobe. Then I would only buy something when one thing needed replacing. I wouldn't feel bad spending more money on it because I would only have a few.

It would be calming in the sense that my choices would be limited and lovely. It also seems a bit liberating, do you think? I would love to not see my closet bar sag a little in the middle. (It doesn't anymore because we have a nice bar, but figuratively)

I wish I could do this. I wish I were brave enough to get rid of things I've had forever that are still in "good condition" or have sentimental value for me (wedding shoes! cardigan from London!). I have always wanted to start over, but I doubt I'll ever have the courage.

Oh to minimalize!