I visited a thrift store the other day which held multiple matching tops hanging in tandem with their matching skirts, pants or dresses. My grandmother used to purchase her clothing this way, + it seemed like such a luxurious way to shop. Whereas in my closet, I might have struggled to pair a particular skirt with just the right top, she would always know exactly what to wear with her skirt. She always looked so put together + polished.

Today (then too), I appreciate being able to put most of my tops together with most of my bottoms. One-pieces like dresses + jumpsuits...when chosen with an eye toward layer-ablilty...can offer even more creative options. Since choosing to have less in my closet, I've particularly come to appreciate this ability to make multiple outfits with just a few pieces. It's just my personal preference.

As the summer wears on, I've been trying not to lose sight of the fact that my limited number of pieces are enough. I spent the past month attempting to "fast" from clothing lust...trying to sit + marinate in "enough"...making space to be grateful for what I have. I'm not sure how well I did with all of that...but my awareness was keen + I tried to maintain focus. 

Part of this practice is to keep my eyes on my own paper (wardrobe)...maybe diving in to my appreciation for individual pieces that I already own...rather than obsessing about a piece that I'd like to make mine. Trying a couple of different ways to wear a piece can renew my appreciation for it. This jumpsuit from Lacausa has been a surprisingly versatile piece for me during these (very) hot months. It is extremely lightweight + just about the breeziest thing I can imagine wearing. It doesn't bind at the stomach (glorious during certain times of the month). The straps were shortened slightly in order to raise the neckline + minimize the need to adjust. A few of my favorite ways to wear it...along with a few ways I can imagine wearing it...follow ::

-My favorite way to wear this piece is under a top...like a tee, muscle tank or long sleeved button down...and I'd love for the weather to be cool enough to wear it under a sweatshirt. Worn this way, it looks like a swingy pair of shorts...not too long + not too short.
-I wear it on its own..but only at home, because it feels just a little too bare for me otherwise.
-It would be cute with a longer cardigan or kimono.
-It would be great as a swimsuit coverup too.
-I think of using it as a slip under under a sheer dress.
-It works as a top...tucked into pants, shorts or a skirt. The lightweight fabric makes it ideal for tucking + stuffing without bulging.
-The choice of shoes can change it up as well...casual or dressy sandals, cute trainers, or flats.

Sometimes an exercise like this is all I need to truly treasure + appreciate the pieces already in my (small) wardrobe. Try it?  :)

Love,
​Jane

My personal basics comprise the bulk of my simple wardrobe. It would not be an overstatement to say that I could function well with only a small selection of my personal basics. Chosen with care, these pieces could take me into most of the everyday, indoor situations + temperatures in which I find myself. 

And yet...I've been wrestling these past few months with that just a little.

Over the past number of years, I've worked toward a more minimalist wardrobe. I haven't really subscribed to any rules. I've just been trying to feel my way to my sweet spot with the amount of clothing I have...a very personal sweet spot that lies at just the right point between too much + too little.* For years, I've been able to slowly reduce...reduce...reduce...as I've found "enough" in less + less.

And now...I've gotten to a point where I can function with a very few pieces (this is relative, obviously). In the past few months, however, I was feeling the loss of some of the joy of getting dressed. I'd reduced my pieces to a very few items in a very narrow color palette. Almost every piece was either black or white...and that was never intentional. I found myself feeling like I didn't look good in colors...shying away from patterns that I might get tired of quickly...choosing safe shapes for their versatility. 

Yes, I could get dressed + feel good + appropriate...but I wasn't having a whole lot of fun doing it. I started to wonder if I'd pushed minimalism just a touch too far...and concluded that this just depends on my ultimate goal.

Is my goal to fit my entire wardrobe into a backpack so that I can travel the world? Is my goal to see how few pieces I can function with? Is my goal to curate the perfect capsule collection? Is my goal to find a sort of system I can use to keep my wardrobe manageable, functional, fair to farmers, garment, workers + the environment, and a joy to wear? There are many worthy goals that could involve using minimalism as a tool in the wardrobe, but for me, that last one is most in line with what I'd like to achieve.

I've decided that the recognition of my personal basics...combined with my knowledge of how few pieces I can dress with...has given me the freedom to add in a few wild card pieces to my functional wardrobe...like sprinkles on my unicorn toast. These pieces may not be strictly necessary for "enough"...but they do provide joy!

*It's always a good idea to remind myself here that this is a very privileged thing to be able to spend my time thinking through. The vast majority of people on this planet do not have the opportunity for any such luxury. They will never experience the tipping point toward "too much" or perhaps even reach "enough". It is with this knowledge that I am partly fueled to assess the amount of things that I hold away from others...the amount of resources that I take...the levels of harm + waste that my consumption produces...the quality of wages that my possessions provided.

Compassion, "enough" + a few sprinkles for all of us...that's what I'm after.

Love,
Jane

Summer is definitely in full swing around here. It's in the 90s F every day. The fireflies + bats are flying. The tomatoes + cicadas are growing. We have to rise early to catch a little coolness on a morning walk. 

I've searched for a few additions/switches to my simple warm weather wardrobe, but have had some difficulty (fit + flatter issues). So...rather than waiting until I've assembled the "perfect" collection (which likely will never happen)...I'm just going to go ahead + share the pieces I've been wearing for the past 9 weeks of hot weather here. They have been working well enough...and I'm always amazed by how little I really need.

As I assemble my pieces + assess the holes in my wardrobe each season, I list the activities that I need to do...the silhouettes I'm drawn to...and a color palette. I would love for all of my pieces to have the ability to interact with all of the others (more outfit options). I need to work with what I already own + consider modifying a piece or two. When it comes to my (very short) shopping list, I'll thrift locally + online before considering making my own or shopping for fair options.

As I said, this is not my perfect collection of pieces...some get more wear than others...but these are all of the pieces that I have worn since the beginning of May (along with a very occasional layering piece). Some of the pieces are more appropriate as loungewear at home + don't really get worn in public. Ideally I'd like to find a pair of more comfy sandals for walking longer distances (right now I just wear trainers) + to find/sew a comfy, but lovely dress or jumpsuit. There is time to add those, if I come across just the right one(s).

My summer simple wardrobe (for now) ::
4 tanks
tee 
short jumpsuit
shorts  
2 sarouelles
clog sandals
+ black pact tank

also:
1 pj's 
2 workout tanks 
2 workout shorts
socks + trainers

Photos via links. Unlinked photos, mine.
​
Love,
Jane

Tees :: 
Short-sleeved: A short-sleeved tee feels a bit more covered up than a tank.
Preferred shapes: The Everlane cotton crew + the Lacausa Frank tee are both fitted, but not tight. I also like handmade box tops made from my own pattern.
Long-sleeved: Great for layering over + under.
Preferred shapes: Boxy with slimmer sleeves or lightweight + slim for wearing under sweaters.

One-piece ::
A dress or a jumpsuit that works for various occasions + seasons.
Preferred shapes :
Dress: not too restricting...not too much fabric.
Jumpsuit: slouchy but fitted, not too tight + not too loose.

Making this list has allowed me to see that some overall recurring themes have emerged :: Not too loose...not too tight. Body skimming. Works for multiple occasions. Not too flashy...not too boring. Flattering proportions. 

I would find it so interesting to see other people's lists of personal basics! I love that we all get to choose for ourselves. Even some of my recurring themes would be interpreted entirely differently by different individuals. Celebrate individuality even in the basics!  :)

Love,
Jane

Fashion is a strange beast. My mom can recall a time when hemlines were dictated, and needles + thread came out in homes around the globe each season. Two interesting points jump out at me in that statement. #1: There was a particular style + if it was not followed, the wearer could be deemed out of fashion. #2: A new hemline did not equal a new skirt. There was a commitment to the pieces in one's closet.

Today one can wear skinny jeans or flares...a pencil skirt or a swingy one...style is quite individual + objective. (I guess I'm not talking about middle school here.)  :) It's fun to express ourselves with our clothing + to leave those ideas of what is "in style" + what is "out" behind. One can feel earthy one day + tough the next...and portray each with his or her clothing. There is so much to love about this liberation. I do think that fast fashion has something to do with it, however. This week the collection may be all black + white + shiny + mod. Next week it could be pastel florals + sheer + flowy. They have to keep their customers buying week upon week. Attachment to a look or a piece is never formed. It's all disposable...because it's cheap + it doesn't need to last...because there is always something new (+ cheap) to buy.

What I've been experiencing lately is that I've apparently lived long enough in this fast paced style changing world to have worn most of what is coming out before. I've worn non-stretch denim + I know that it is not comfortable after a big meal...or during a certain time of the month. I've worn joggers + know that I don't like the bubble knees that form after a bit of sitting. Strapless dresses involve constant attention + adjusting. It's hard to layer a sweater or coat over dolman sleeves. Synthetic sweaters make me sweaty + my hair full of static electricity.

I've been thinking about my twin (incompatible) desires: a simple wardrobe consisting of basic seasonal uniforms...and a wardrobe full of pieces that allow for a variety of looks + keeps me from getting bored. I'm questioning my entire relationship with fashion. Have I come to a point where I'm moving toward seeing clothing as more functional than fun? Does variety + personality come only from my clothing? Obviously not...but is there a little room for finding some variety + personality in my small wardrobe?

I have worn quite a variety of styles over the years. A new silhouette invigorates me...but I'm not sure how many more options fashion has to offer.

​I've narrowed down the styles that I truly love to quite a small list of pieces. It's sort of weird for me to realize that one of the most ubiquitous pieces of clothing...the t-shirt...does not serve me well where I live. Probably 95% of the time it is either cold enough to wear a cashmere sweater or hot enough to prefer a tank top. When I put a t-shirt on, I most often find myself wearing a sweater over it or sweating. Desiring a small wardrobe makes me look at each of my pieces with that sort of intensely critical eye. If I only have x number of tops, I need each one to serve me more than a few days per year.

I've been making a list of my personal basics. Looking at this list, I realize that these pieces are my style. The combination of these pieces are what feel somewhat unique to me. I am happy to wear them again + again. I always feel good in them. I feel comfortable. I don't feel like I'm wearing a costume. I feel like me. 

I'm not ready to disengage from the world of fashion, because I do think of it as a creative outlet...but that's the thing...it's my creative outlet + I won't be dictated to.  :)

Love,
​Jane

Above is one iteration of what I thought my simple summer wardrobe could look like. My thoughts were: comfy shapes...comfy shoes. Layer the tanks over the short jumpsuits + wear those same tanks with the sarouelles. That or one + done dressing with a jumpsuit. Enough.

I've been searching thrift stores + resale sites + using sales to assemble the pieces...but it hasn't all worked out quite like I planned. There were some fit issues...some is-that-really-what-I-want-to-wear reconsiderations...and now I'm back to trying to figure it out.

I was all set for this post to be about having my magical simple summer wardrobe all set, but decided that this space is as much about the figuring it out...the process...as anything. I don't have tons of money...and I don't have sponsors throwing stuff at me. (I've never wanted this space to be an advertisement...rather a resource. If I couldn't/wouldn't buy it with my own money, it's not real.) I'm trying to wear what I have, but I can (responsibly) switch out a piece or three a couple of times per year. I don't have tons of stellar, well-curated, local thrift stores to shop. I'm not a size 0, who fits into anything + everything. I'm not complaining...just saying that I'm pretty regular (?).  :) 

A few things that I have learned/am trying to deepen my understanding of:
-I'm happy wearing a few pieces that I love over + over. For me, this is desirable because it means I am using less resources + will get closer to using pieces up before moving on to something new. 
-I can keep shopping to about twice per year (spring + autumn). I want to have rest periods where I am just content with what I have + not searching for more.
-I want my clothing to be proportioned + colored to flatter me. I'm not personally interested in less simply for the sake of less.
-There is nothing simpler than one-piece dressing.
-I value comfort and want to look put together in public.
-Keeping the numbers of my clothes few can present the challenge of needing everything to mix with everything else...on my body...and for all situations. 
-Uniform dressing is appealing, but I'm afraid I would get tired of a true uniform quickly. My sort of uniform dressing seems to be choosing a silhouette or two or three + wearing them on repeat. Explore further.
-A benefit of buying name brand clothing is that it can be sold (responsibly passed on) + usually retains much of its value (but it is usually expensive)...vs. the benefit of buying thrifted pieces is that I am reusing (but it may be hard to resell)...vs. the benefit of making my own clothing is that I know someone in a sweat-shop didn't make it (but it may not turn out to fit/flatter). The best is being lucky enough to find a used, brand name piece of clothing in my size (unicorn!).

Under the utmost of consideration at the moment:
-Could I simply wear a couple/few pieces that I love on repeat? A couple to wear out of the house + a couple of older ones to wear more as loungewear? Could this be a clothing "system" to implement?

All photos via links (unlinked photo: mine).

Love,
​Jane

I love simplicity, + I'm often on the lookout for the simplest way to do something. This is a step in that direction...one warm weather piece of sleepwear. I've found that Liberty of London fabric is lightweight, cool, durable, + quick drying. This dark fabric is also opaque. The Bantam pattern produces a loose fitting garment with a higher neckline that I like for sleeping. I wash the darks most often, so I have ample opportunity to wash this piece. All of our clothing is hung to dry + this piece...hung on a hanger in my bathroom, dries by bedtime, no problem.

One is enough!

Pattern :: Bantam (lengthened to dress length) from Merchant & Mills Workbook
Fabric :: Liberty of London made into a dress once before, picked apart + sewn again  :)

Love,
Jane

Spring! It's still a bit cold here...but the days are longer. I haven't put away my sweater coat yet...but I'm ready. A few weeks ago, I put together a small work wardrobe on a whim...to figure out how it might look for me. I learned that not only could this wardrobe be useful for work...it could work for my life as it is! The one key lesson I took away was this: A small wardrobe benefits from choosing pieces that are not too dressy + not too casual. By choosing pieces that could be worn to make yogurt and to make a presentation...outfits that could be just as comfy while reading a book at home as they would be going to the ballet...less can do it all!

I didn't set out to make a shopping list, but I did keep coming back to that little collection as I was thinking about what I'd be wearing this spring. Too casual might be the current issue in my closet...so the linen jacket stood out as a comfy piece that could dress up an outfit in a way that would still feel like me. I was able to locate the exact jacket on ebay for $30 (second hand). The jeans felt like a silhouette missing from my wardrobe, in a color that I don't think I've tried before, and again they would elevate my pieces just a bit. (Hopefully, I can keep them clean!)

So here are the pieces that I'm wearing this spring:

tops ::
cream sweatshirt
black sweatshirt
olive button down shirt
navy tee
human tank*

bottoms ::
tan sarouelles 
cream jeans* 

one-piece ::
jumpsuit 

layer ::
linen jacket* 

footwear:
flats
trainers
clogs

possibly/probably also:
pact tanks
indigo long-sleeved tee 
striped 3/4 sleeved tee
denim jacket
olive pants
​leggings

*new pieces in 2018 
​
Notes ::
-Temperatures vary during these months, so fabric weights + styles vary as well.
​ (sweatshirt + jeans + trainers = warmer. tank + sarouelles + clogs = cooler.)
-Layers. In the transition months, I'll often start the day with a layer on + want bare arms as   the day goes on. My long sleeved tops can work as layers with a tank underneath.
-I only have one short sleeved top, because it goes from being cold enough for a sweatshirt   to warm enough for a tank quickly. Tanks layer well + are useful all summer long. (This   might be different if I spent my days in a more temperature controlled space.) 
-Long sleeved tees are on trial. If they don't layer well under and over...they probably don't   earn their spots in my simple wardrobe. 
-Shoes are important in the small wardrobe. They switch the vibe of an outfit effectively.   (jumpsuit + tank + trainers = casual. jumpsuit + linen jacket + flats = a bit more dressy)

Love,
Jane

Photos via links (if no link- mine).

Courtney Carver recently wrote about being a proud member of the outfit repeaters club. I am one too. My first full time job out of college involved being the school nurse to four different Head Start schools. I would work out of a different school each day. We didn't have a lot of money, but I had one pair of jeans that felt great. Since the same people didn't often see me two days in a row, I just let myself wear that pair of jeans every day. After a while, it didn't really occur to me that I should wear something different each day.

On the other hand, I know the moment when my consciousness of there being some "rules" around repeating outfits started. Some time around third grade, a classmate asked me why I was wearing the same thing I wore the day before. Well, at my house that was the system. I had three outfits + I would wear them for two days each on repeat. At that moment I became aware of a new norm.

As time went on, I surmised that what may have happened was that this classmate had wanted to wear her favorite shirt two days in a row...her had mom objected + told her that that would be inappropriate. She noticed that I had broken this "rule" + wanted to know why.

I'm guessing that this mama was operating in accordance with the perceived "rules" + was trying to avoid judgement of both herself + her child. In this way, adults pass these "rules" and judgements onto their children. If we desire to break this cycle (even if only to promote compassion for other children), it's important to communicate to our children that different people have different preferences (not rules) about these things. Maybe at our house we cheer for the Broncos + at someone else's house they prefer the Packers. Everyone has different preferences, + that is ok. An exploration of why we hold a preference might be useful, and that explanation may be offered if helpful.

When I started my small monthly wardrobes, I decided to only include one Sunday outfit for the colder months. It felt a bit weird, because I mostly only see those people on Sundays. I went ahead anyway, because when I looked at the big picture it made sense. If I had even just two Sunday outfits, I'd only wear them twice a month for a few months...maybe only ten times per year. Silly + wasteful (to me).  :)

Some tools proud members of the wardrobe repeaters club use: 
-We find a few pairs of great shoes. A change of shoes can change the vibe of an outfit.
-We decide what we like, what fits + flatters us.
-We might try a uniform of sorts...a few varied white shirts + a few varied dark bottoms...or always a dress...or always a fitted top + wide bottom...
-We take comfort (not shlumpiness) seriously.
-We wear our favorite clothes every day.
-We recognize that we get to set our own norms + that there are no rules.
-We don't take ourselves very seriously. The goal is not necessarily to have no one notice...it's to not really care (totally possible).  :)

Today I would welcome a conversation about why I wear the same things over + over. My compassion for farmers, garment workers + the environment...along with my confidence in it being ok to cover my body in the same pieces that I love day after day...just might offer someone else another option! I see this way of thinking as freedom + why wouldn't I welcome the opportunity to share it!?

Any + all are welcome in the outfit repeaters club!

Love,
Jane

Photos via link (+ the article shows lots more repeat/uniform dressing).

A well-thought out collection of clothes makes it possible to live with less. The same can be said for workout clothing. Of course the way to really do with less is to wear the same clothes for everyday + working out. In my case, however, I like to have a few things that I can get really sweaty in + wash frequently. With a little variety, I have just what I need for anything from sweltering, summer morning walks to frigid, winter evening yoga classes. My collection consists of a tank, a tee, leggings, shorts, + a layer. I thought I'd share a few dreamy options for small, fair, natural fiber workout collections. (A little background on why I'm avoiding plastic fibers.)

Semi-local mini workout collection (above) : these pieces have origins closer to home ::
tank :: Richer Poorer : organic cotton : made in Los Angeles, California
tee :: Pansy : Texas grown + North Carolina milled organic cotton : rubber/cotton elastic made in South Carolina : sewn in San Leandro, California 15 minutes from the designer's home : completely compostable
leggings :: LVR : organic cotton : made in Los Angeles, California
shorts :: Conscious Clothing : hemp + organic cotton : made in Rockford, Michigan
​sweatshirt :: Jungmaven : hemp + organic cotton : made in USA

In the UK try :: Know the Origins :: From
In Canada try :: Free Label
In Europe try :: Base Range
In Australia try :: Shift to Nature

I'm not a super athletic person, so bear with my attempts to clothe one.  :) If specialty clothing is necessary, substitute accordingly. I imagine that these pieces could provide useful for lots of activities...from snowboarding (base layer), to beach volleyball...hiking...yoga... 

Outdoor sports mini workout collection::
tank :: United by Blue : organic cotton : made in USA
tee :: Patagonia : organic cotton : fair-trade certified : (there are some organic + fair-trade tanks as well)
​leggings :: Tasc Performance : organic cotton + bamboo : made in a Tasc-devoted factory in India with 90% renewable energy : closed loop fabric manufacturing + dying : responsibly sourced fibers
shorts :: Prana : organic cotton : fair-trade certified
long-sleeved top :: Tasc Performance : merino wool + bamboo : made in a Tasc-devoted factory in India with 90% renewable energy : closed loop fabric manufacturing + dying : responsibly sourced fibers