8.2.13

Filling the Gaps in my Minimalist Wardrobe


I adore clothes. However, clothes buying, like any spending habit, can get out of control and I realised that my fashion infatuation had reached this point several years ago. 

Moving to a smaller house was a great motivator in significantly reducing my clothes collection and I managed to half my clothes collection before moving house in June 2012. But even after a good clothes BLITZ the wardrobe in my new house still felt too full (I dreamed of that feeling you get on holiday -opening your wardrobe door to a small, ordered collection of co-ordinating garments... blue skies, empty beaches, warm sea...) 

Project 333 was a life saver in fine tuning my clothes collection. For a month I wore 33 favourite items of clothing that were comfortable, co-ordinated and suitable for my lifestyle and the weather. I learnt that I could live with less clothes than I imagined. I realised that some of the clothes I had been hanging on to were vile not actually very nice and didn't co-ordinate with anything else. Since finishing this project I have re-introduced some items back into my wardrobe that I missed (aka my biker boots) and removed those items that didn't cut the mustard.

During Project 333 I discovered I had too many of some types of clothing and some gaps in my wardrobe. Top of my fill the gaps list were a smart day/evening jacket and a smart pair of black trousers/jeans. For Christmas I was very fortunate to receive a gorgeous black jacket (M&S Limited Collection) from my fashion savvy Mum (warm detachable collar and fits beautifully). I have also bought a pair of smart black skinny jeans with a Boden voucher that was a gift from my lovely Mum-in-law (out of stock for several weeks they finally arrived this week, yay!)

Now skinny jeans are my jeans choice du jour and these Boden skinnies perform well. There are not as stretchy as others but are well fitted and thankfully quite roomy from the knee to the ankle (have you tried peeling skinny jeans off last thing at night?) I've worn them all day and they still feel snug yet comfortable. 

Decluttering your wardrobe is hard work but keeping only the best items and filling the gaps with new versatile and quality items as you can afford them is very satisfying. 




Are you planning a wardrobe declutter? Have you got a 'fill the gap' wardrobe list? Please share.





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19 comments

  1. It must feel wonderful to have gained control over your wardrobe and being in a position to pick key pieces that add rather than detract and leaving you wanting more. Although both your jacket and jeans look very tempting!

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  2. Claire your outfit is so fabulous and you look great in it, too:)
    Interesting to read your wardrobe update and I can report that my turned hangar system is working well. It's made the things I'm not wearing very obvious and now I'll have to decide to give them a turn or turn them out!
    Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Thanks Megan. Deciding which clothes to lose is difficult but if you're not wearing something very often it's worth considering why. Donating clothes makes it feel less wasteful. Happy weekend too xo

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  3. You look great in your new outfit, what lovely presents. I like your idea of putting some items away for a while rather than getting rid of them so you can always reintroduce them. My wardrobe is pretty small and I seem to live in just a handful of items but I do have quite a few 'in case I go to a wedding or something' outfits. Think I need to try them all on decide which ones can go! xx

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  4. Claire, you have a figure made for skinny jeans! I love Boden (in the sale) and find their clothes do last well. I have a 'holding area' for clothes I don't think I need (my loft) where they stay for...quite a while...as I have a tendency to give things away and then wish I hadn't a few months later! Claire x

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  5. This is something that I definitely need to do. I keep weeding things out but still have too much. But when I wear something that just doesn't feel right on me, then it is gone. I don't like shopping for clothes anymore. Would rather just have a small wardrobe that suits me. Best wishes, Tammy

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    1. Hi Tammy thanks for your comment and for following. I used to be able to shop all day but I wouldn't want to do that now xo

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  6. I've been doing project 333 since January 1st. On checking my wardrobe this morning I found that there were still 10 items I haven't worn at all!!!
    It's a bit easier though when you wear a uniform 5 days a week.....

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    1. There were one or two items I didn't wear for the entire project too which surprised me xo

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  7. Following your example I sorted out my wardrobe and removed many items I didn't go down as far as 33! I have only had to bring back in one item. Some of the clothes I haven't worn because it has been too cold. I have also bought new work trousers and shoes and I have spent more money on these than I usually would. I think quality and co-ordination are essential to down size my wardrobe. Thank you for your continued inspiration.
    Sarah x

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  8. Doing Project 333 has been the best thing I have ever done. I have a couple of items that have not been worn yet during this my first 3 months, but I can honestly say that I have missed nothing out of the clothes that I have stashed in the spare room, they will all be leaving home very soon :-)

    Sue xx

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  9. I ticked a couple of things off my "gap" list this morning. My spring-summer section is very scant so I picked up a could of pairs of trousers, both half price so I'm very happy. Only a pair of sandals to find then I'm done!

    I don't do Project 333 as I only own about 50 items of clothing anyway but I love the idea and use plenty of the tips and get a lot from reading about other folk who are doing it.

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  10. your hair looks lovely ,do you have to have it done often to keep it so nice?

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    1. No special maintenance. Home coloured and a careful diy blow dry when I have the time/patience. Desperate for a cut right now xo

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    2. Amazing for a home colour ,what do you use ,is it tricky to do?

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  11. Even tough I have decluttered my wardrobe I still find myself using the same old things and ignoring the rest! I'm not sure that these things are even very nice! It really needs a re-think. I need to work out why I'm not wearing the rest....and make some good choices! have a good sunday, Heather x

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  12. It's great when you can fill the gaps with good quality items, which replaces the previous "bulk-buying" of previous days. Well done on down-sizing. I have nothing I want to buy at the moment, I still have too many things boxed up!!

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