Lifestyle Experiment • Living With Less Clothes

While catching up on one of my favorite blogs, I came across this article: What Would Your Life Be Like With Less Stuff? (A Lifestyle Experiment), and it peaked my interest.

The premise is that happiness is increased by experience and not by material things.

I agree, and like the author, I am more prone to save $400 and travel to visit a friend than I am to spend that same $400 on a pair of shoes. 
She goes on to explain that she conducted her own lifestyle experiment concerning the amount of clothing she owned.

“As of right now, I’ve gotten rid of 50% of my clothes and already my tiny apartment feels so much lighter. And I’ll be ditching some more stuff once I finally do my fall wardrobe changover. It has to go if:

• I haven’t worn it all summer.
• I haven’t worn it in six months.
• I have never worn it.
• I don’t really like it.
• I shoulda never bought it.”

source: happyblackwoman.com

I am so inspired and so gonna do this!   I must confess just reading this post made me feel freer, almost like it gave me permission to try something that’s been in the back of my head for a really long time.  I often look at my closet with angst. I like my clothes but they also annoy me. I have too many pieces. The rack in my closet is coming out the wall, and the rack on the other side has busted off the wall once before. Even though I own lots of items I am never 100% content with my ability to “put together” the outfits that I want. Don’t get me wrong, I can be cute quickly, but I always want something else I can’t have … typically ’cause I’m cheap. Case in point, as I type this, I’m sitting here in brown slacks I’ve owned for a decade … but I’ve always wanted darker brown slacks because I feel they would go better with my tops … but I won’t buy a pair so I settle for these milk chocolate colored ones and sulk.

Yes, I know #firstworldproblems.

I believe I will be doing my own version of this through 2012. Here is the criteria I’ll stick to (subject to change):

My actual piles of clothes from the 1st clothing purge

It has to go* if:

• I don’t really like it.
• I have never worn it.
• It is falling apart, on its last leg or of poor quality (’cause I’ll hold on to a piece until it begs for mercy)
• The only reason I’m holding onto it is because someone gave it to me and I don’t want to hurt their feelings (#guiltfail)
• It doesn’t fit

*By “go” I mean one of three things: Go to the Goodwill as a donation, go in the trash -or- go into a large plastic bag in storage in my basement. Baby steps.

Once that initial “purge” is completed, I will aim for monthly evaluations of how it’s going.  While I’m at it I’m gonna add on this life hack I read about on Uncommonchick.com where you put all your clothes into your closet with the hangers reversed. As wear the item put it back on the hanger the right direction.  Ever so often, check, and you’ll be able to easily tell which clothes you haven’t worn and deal with the ones you have not.

Once a month I will either:

1. purge unnecessary items from my closet or
2. re-introduce items from my basement storage purgatory that were truly missed.

I’m doing this “interim” step because … well … I’m not 100% gonna commit to tossing items that FIT me (I’m 6’1″, many items purchased from specialty stores and altered for me) unless I’m sure they can go. I’m experimenting, not crazy. 

I will also be limiting this experiment to clothing only, and not shoes, accessories, makeup etc.  I don’t have any plans on increasing items in those areas but I figure I’ll focus on one part and give myself the accessories to still doll my trimmed down wardrobe up the way I want to.

Could you live with less clothing  … like 50% less?

2016 UPDATE: This is in full swing beyond clothes! To catch up on my minimalist journey click HERE or search the words “glamazini living with less” 🙂