I like to do this exercise where I try to figure out the smallest number of clothing pieces that would offer something to wear in all the foreseeable situations + weather in which I might find myself.
My current list :
This covers situations + weather as follows:
work (colder) :: tee + jeans + trainers + sweatshirt
work (warmer) :: tee + jeans + trainers
home (colder) :: tee + leggings + pullover or sweatshirt
home (warmer) :: tee + soft pants
out (colder) :: pullover + jeans + boots
out (warmer) :: tee + soft pants + sandals
athletic wear :: tee + leggings + trainers + sweatshirt
pajamas :: tee + soft pants
formal-ish (colder) :: pullover + soft pants + boots
formal-ish (warmer) :: woven tee + soft pants + sandals
This exercise feels liberating. It feels like possibility. It lets me feel like a vacation with just a backpack is possible. It feels like security. It lets me feel like starting over (if we had to) might not be completely impossible. It feels like adventure. It lets me feel like living in a tiny house or van could work.
Less is the best way, in my opinion, to set ourselves up to be able to value farmers, garment workers + the planet by using less resources, using up our clothing, and making less waste. I like to do this exercise at different points in time with my current preferences in mind. It's not an excuse to change everything in my wardrobe, but it is fun to apply some of my current favorites to the list. If I'm getting by without something on this list, I can probably wait to buy an item until the predicted situation arises. (I haven't gone anywhere that requires more formal attire in the past couple of years, for example.)
With this list in front of me, I can easily see that the pieces I already have are indeed enough. What a gift!
All lovely photos via links.
Love,
Jane
My current list :
- a few tees
- a sweatshirt
- an oversized pullover
- a pair of jeans
- a pair of soft pants
- a pair of leggings
- a pair of sandals
- a pair of trainers
- a pair of boots
This covers situations + weather as follows:
work (colder) :: tee + jeans + trainers + sweatshirt
work (warmer) :: tee + jeans + trainers
home (colder) :: tee + leggings + pullover or sweatshirt
home (warmer) :: tee + soft pants
out (colder) :: pullover + jeans + boots
out (warmer) :: tee + soft pants + sandals
athletic wear :: tee + leggings + trainers + sweatshirt
pajamas :: tee + soft pants
formal-ish (colder) :: pullover + soft pants + boots
formal-ish (warmer) :: woven tee + soft pants + sandals
This exercise feels liberating. It feels like possibility. It lets me feel like a vacation with just a backpack is possible. It feels like security. It lets me feel like starting over (if we had to) might not be completely impossible. It feels like adventure. It lets me feel like living in a tiny house or van could work.
Less is the best way, in my opinion, to set ourselves up to be able to value farmers, garment workers + the planet by using less resources, using up our clothing, and making less waste. I like to do this exercise at different points in time with my current preferences in mind. It's not an excuse to change everything in my wardrobe, but it is fun to apply some of my current favorites to the list. If I'm getting by without something on this list, I can probably wait to buy an item until the predicted situation arises. (I haven't gone anywhere that requires more formal attire in the past couple of years, for example.)
With this list in front of me, I can easily see that the pieces I already have are indeed enough. What a gift!
All lovely photos via links.
Love,
Jane
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