Have you ever been overwhelmed by thinking about the sheer amount of clothes you have in your wardrobe? If so, welcome to the club! It’s so easy to keep buying cute pieces of clothing that accumulate in your wardrobe. If you want to reduce clutter and save money, a minimalist closet will help you do both of these things.
Let’s go over what a minimalist closet is, why it’s a good idea, and how to stock your wardrobe so you can save money, reduce mental and physical clutter and feel at peace with what you own.
Read on to learn about how to create a minimalist closet.
Before I define a minimalist closet and why it matters, let’s review what minimalism is. It might sound complicated, but it’s really not. Minimalism is when someone only buys and owns items that serve a purpose and brings them happiness. This means that a minimalist won’t keep items that they never use. Rather, minimalists go through every single item in their home and ask themselves “Is this necessary to survive?” If not, a minimalist will also ask “Do I enjoy looking at or using this item?”
For example, if you own a large shoe collection but you wear most of the shoes, a minimalist doesn’t mean you have to get rid of the shoes. Why? The shoes bring this person happiness! If an item brings you joy and you use it, it can still be part of a minimalist lifestyle.
What is a Minimalist Closet?
Simply put, a minimalist closet is a collection of basic pieces that are of high quality, can be mixed and matched with different outfits and are a neutra color. Also known as a capsule minimalist wardrobe, a minimalist closet contains pieces that are generally higher quality pieces that last longer.
A minimalist closet typically contains pieces that can be used in all seasons. For example, you can pair a white t-shirt with a sweater and winter jacket, or you can match it with denim shorts. The t-shirt is not only great for a summer minimalist wardrobe, but is also ideal for a minsimalist winter wardrobe – all you have to do is layer your outfit with sweaters and a coat to keep warm. A minimalist closet contains core neutral pieces and focuses less on personal touches – for example, colored chunky heels.
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Steps to Create a Minimalist Closet
To get started in creating a minimalist closet, you’ll need to have a plan. Take note of what you already own, then make a list of what you need to buy. Make a note of how many items you have of each piece of clothing – t-shirts, pants, shoes and more.
Minimalist Closet Checklist
What should be included on your minimalist closet list? Here is an example of a capsule minimalist closet for you to compare with what you currently own. The great thing about these items? They go with tons of other pieces, so you can mix and match to make new outfit combinations! For example, you can wear a black dress with a jean jacket – or if you want, you can go a bit edgier and dressier and wear it with a leather jacket. Additionally, you can wear many of these pieces in professional environments, so they’re a great addition to anyone’s minimalist work wardrobe. I’ve chosen gender-neutral pieces and some items suited for each gender as well.
Here are the top pieces you should include on your minimalist closet checklist:
- White t-shirt
- Black t-shirt
- Black blazer
- Trench coat
- Leather jacket
- Denim or jean jacket
- Dark jeans
- Black dress pants
- Black shoes – heels for women or dress shoes for men
- White, tan or black minimalist sandals
- White tennis shoes
- Neutral-colored (silver or gold) analog watch – or digital watch
- Black or tan handbag
Once you’ve figured out how many items you already own from the list above, evaluate the quality of each item and declutter your closet. If a piece of clothing or accessory is worn out, replace it with a high quality item – if you can afford it. Once you’ve reviewed the current state of your closet, make a separate list of the pieces you need to purchase.
Variations on the Capsule Wardrobe
Once you’ve acquired your minimalist closet essentials, it’s time for the next step: adding in other pieces to mix it up! Since you have your minimalist closet all set, you can now focus on different aspects of your closet including:
- A basic minimalist wardrobe for travel
- Seasonal minimalist closets
- A minimalist shoe collection
- Extreme minimalist wardrobe – if you want to be really frugal
1. Minimalist Closet for Travel
Do you travel at least a few times a year? You might want to consider building a minimalist closet for travel. You’ll be able to cut down on how much you carry during your travels and you may even avoid excess baggage fees! Personally, if I’m going someplace that has a specific climate (for example, Germany in the late fall has a cooler climate that requires jackets and long pants), I have a core collection of pieces I always take.
Your minimalist capsule wardrobe should include 10-15 core pieces you’ll use multiple times during your vacation.
For example, for Germany in the fall, my minimalist wardrobe checklist includes:
- 1-2 hoodies
- 1-2 pullover sweaters
- 1 thick fall jacket
- 1 pair of leggings
- 1-2 pairs of long pants
- 2 pairs of cozy socks
- 1 pair of running shoes
- 1 pair of fall boots
If I’m traveling to a warmer climate, my list includes:
- 2 t-shirts
- 2 tank tops
- 2 casual dresses in a neutral color
- 2 nicer dresses for dinners and nights out
- 2 swimsuits
- 1 pair of flip-flops
- 1 pair of dressier sandals
- A beach bag
- A purse
If I’m going on vacation longer than 5 days, I bring one or more two each of the basic items, such as t-shirts. You can always do laundry while away as well!
Can I Bring Extra Pieces of Clothing on my Trip?
One thing to note: this list isn’t a full picture of what you should bring on vacation, it’s just the essentials for traveling by the minimalist capsule wardrobe method. You can also bring a couple special pieces like a patterned dress or bright shoes to spice up your outfits a bit. Again, only bring what brings you joy and will add to your vacation – without incurring excess baggage fees!
2. Seasonal Wardrobe
Once you’ve covered the basics for a regular minimalist closet, you can focus on buying pieces for each season. For example, you could stock a minimalist summer wardrobe with a couple fashionable pairs of neutral-colored sandals that are high quality and match multiple outfits.
When shopping for a seasonal wardrobe, be wary of any trendy pieces. Often, stores display the trends of the season on the outer racks. If you’re shopping online, they’re often featured on the first page of the website or in a pop-up ad. There’s nothing wrong with buying bright yellow wide-leg pants, but be sure to buy extra pieces only if you believe you’ll wear them. Don’t just buy an item if it was on sale!
Tip: if you’re not sure which season to start with, begin with the season that is the longest in your country or requires the most clothing. For example, if you live in a colder US state, you’ll want to focus on building a winter or fall minimalist wardrobe. Typically, you’ll need quality jackets, coats and jeans.
3. Capsule Shoe Wardrobe
You’ve focused on clothing and even travel, but what about shoes? Take a look at how many shoes you own and what types you own. Next, compare them to a list of core shoes you should own. Everyone should own at least one pair of the following in a neutral color (black, white or tan):
- Running shoes
- Tennis shoes
- Flip-flops
- Nicer sandals
- Winter boots
- Fall boots
Of course, if you don’t live in or travel to a region where you need fall or winter boots – or even flip-flops, you can leave those off your minimalist wardrobe list. Once you have your list of what you need to buy, go out and invest in quality pieces. While it may be tempting to spend $30 on those cheap tennis shoes from the strip mall, it’s better to invest in higher quality pieces. Why?
Here’s an example: if you buy a cheap pair of shoes that cost $30 and wear out once a year, over the course of 5 years, you’ll spend $150.
On the other hand, if you invest in a pair of $100 shoes that last 5 years, over the course of the shoes’ lifetime you’ll have saved $50. While this isn’t a lot of money, investing in a quality pair of shoes also saves you:
- Time required to look for and buy a new pair of shoes
- The environment – every time you throw out shoes, they end up in the landfill!
Additionally, if you invest in quality pieces throughout your entire wardrobe, the savings will add up in the long run.
4. Extreme Minimalist Wardrobe
You’ve covered the basics for a minimalist closet, seasons, travel and have even created a minimalist closet for shoes. If you really want to live cheap and save money in the short term, an extreme minimalist wardrobe is something you may want to consider. This means you’ll completely forgo buying any non-essential items.
An extreme minimalist closet a great way to save money in the short-term and build good habits of avoiding spending money on unnecessary things. However, it isn’t recommended long-term. Why not? If you only focus on decluttering items you don’t wear and only buying essential items, you’ll feel deprived in the long run and may find fashion a drag. Having the very basics is good for saving money, but don’t miss out on buying and wearing pieces you like! There is a difference between being frugal and cheap, and if you completely cut out fun clothing and accessories, you’ll miss out on an enjoyable part of life: wearing what makes you feel great.
Getting Free Clothes
If yout want to create a minimalist closet but are tight on cash, why not look into getting free clothes? There are many ways to find free items of clothing, shoes and accessories in your area and online. Check out Facebook to find clothing swap events in your area. Additionally, you can take up a side hustle to make some spare cash. Opportunities like paid market research platforms including User Interviews, UserTesting and Respondent let you participate in surveys and get paid. Redeem PayPal cash or gift cards at clothing stores. While technically not free since you need to spend time completing studies, it’s a great way to save money on clothes!
Shopping for a Capsule Wardrobe
After you’ve figured out which items you need to buy, it’s time to shop! If you want to practice minimalism, take being frugal and thrifty to the next step by shopping at thrift stores instead of buying brand new. When you buy items used, you’re not only saving money, but you’re also saving the environment. Producing clothing requires energy. By creating a minimalist closet and committing to buying mostly quality, essential pieces, you’ll help cut down on emissions produced as a result of manufacturing clothing.
When you purchase used, you’ll have joined the eco-minimalism trend, a way of living that focuses on repurposing and reusing clothing and other items as much as possible to minimize environmental impact.
If you need to buy retail – for example, you can’t find that perfect jean jacket in your size at the local Goodwill – try going for stores that carry quality staple items. Some of the best minimalist clothing brands include Uniqlo, Old Navy and The Gap as they always stock basics that go with a variety of outfits. Check which stores are in your local mall!
Conclusion – Capsule Minimalist Wardrobe
Creating a minimalist closet and joining the capsule minimalist wardrobe movement is a great way to practice intentional living, save money and be happy with what you have. You don’t need to go extreme with minimalism to enjoy life. Invest in core pieces that will last a long time and remember to add in your own pieces to keep your wardrobe interesting and fresh. By creating a capsule minimalist wardrobe and committing to stocking a minimalist closet, you’ll help the environment, save money and will be happier with a simpler life.
If you aren’t ready to fully commit to a minimalist closet, start with a few core pieces, such as jeans, t-shirts and jackets. You can also consider a no spend challenge or committing to creating a family budget. After you’ve mastered one or two aspects of minimalism and saving money, you can try out new challenges. Be sure to enjoy the process and remember why you’re doing it: not only to save money, but to live a simpler, more peaceful lifestyle.
Remember, the best minimalist wardrobes contain pieces that are durable, comfortable and those that you enjoy wearing. Have fun building your unique wardrobe!
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Janita is a frugal living expert and owner of Frugal Fun Finance. With over five years of personal experience finding and trying out the best ways to make and save more money, she's eager to share her knowledge. Janita's strategies have helped her save thousands of dollars for funding investments and traveling to over 20 countries.
Janita completed training in personal finance at The University of Western Ontario and McGill University, two prestigious Canadian universities. Her expertise has been shared on GoBankingRates, Yahoo Finance, and NASDAQ.com.
