Minimalism as A Modern School of Thought for Your Wardrobe

In the Greek philosopher and writer Plutarch’s work Life of Alexander the Great, the unrelenting conqueror is described as “desiring not for pleasure or wealth, but only excellence and glory." This differs substantially from many other notable leaders throughout history whose predominant drive was also the expansion of their empire, but in hand with the acquisition of wealth. Now, this is not to say that Alexander did not live in luxury, but aims to highlight not simply a disregard, but contempt towards materiality as a motivation. Perhaps this is what drew Alexander to Diogenes, a Greek philosopher integral to the history of Cynicism. Cynicism at the time was a rejection of excess and aimed to have people live with what was only necessary, bringing them closer to Nature. Diogenes took this to the extreme and had almost no worldly possessions. He lived with only what was necessary for survival, and would often be seen completely naked eating with his hands, because he felt clothing and tools were unnecessary for a virtuous life. The story of the two men meeting has varied in detail throughout the countless writings of the event, but one of the famous remarks that appears across many of the versions is Alexander saying “If I were not Alexander the Great, I would like to be Diogenes”. The fascination with a lifestyle free from materiality is shared by many other successful leaders and philosophers throughout history. This idea appears alone, outside of the context of a more dense philosophy, in minimalism.

Alexander and Diogenes, Sebastiano Ricci c. 1700

Minimalism in the modern sense differs from Diogenes’ total rejection of materiality. The word is also used to define a wide lifestyle, from the buildings you live in to the art on your walls to the music you listen to, but for this article I will focus solely on minimalism in clothing. With the recognition that one needs material items such as clothing to be a part of society, minimalism no longer tries to eliminate all possessions, instead only eliminate wastefulness. It’s now about streamlining your life, instead of stripping it bare. Minimalism in clothing greatly reduces the stress caused by decision making and leaves you only wearing the clothing you feel your best in. It promotes repetition and cohesion, with every part of your wardrobe comme il faut, turning only a few pieces into hundreds of possible outfits. A true minimalist could recount every article of clothing they had without pause, because they truly love each piece. Minimalism allows you to still enjoy Fashion while consuming very little, and it results in a substantially reduced environmental impact caused by a wardrobe full of unappreciated garments. Quite opposite to Cynicism, minimalism teaches you to value possessions.

Minimalism’s most important quality is its relative financial accessibility. When one feels an affinity to the Fashion world, their participation is usually contingent on them spending large amounts of money seasonally to follow trends. Minimalism offers freedom from this financial burden, with fewer pieces comprising the wardrobe of those who practice it. You are able to spend more on quality pieces you love, but ultimately less total by having far fewer clothes overall. Of course someone who cares about clothing in the first place will be spending money on their wardrobe, but minimalist wardrobes cost less than more random, insecure closets that jump from idea to idea and trend to trend. Minimalism forces you to focus and make binary decisions: you either love the piece and keep it, or you don’t and it is discarded. The hesitation and uncertainty caused by having to sift through a closet full of clothing you only vaguely enjoy is eliminated.

When you greatly reduce the amount of clothing you own, you realize that for a minimalist wardrobe to be successful long term you have to cut out anything that fits into a trend and instead focus on timeless pieces. With the cycle of Fashion being as embarrassingly fast as it is lately, clothes that fall into trends will quickly become obsolete if you continue to possess them. That's why minimalist wardrobes are usually full of silhouettes and garments that have been popular for years, like t-shirts and jeans. There are likely no graphics or logos, cementing the garment in a time period, removing the timeless nature that gives minimalist wardrobes their versatility. However, this doesn't mean you buy a handful of pieces and stick with them forever. You are still able to buy clothing, you just won't allow it to immass into an overflowing, excessive wardrobe. Instead, you will cycle out clothing you are finished with to keep your closet light while updating your options periodically to experiment with new ideas. When you cycle out, you do not have to waste the clothing. Whereas cheap clothing would have no long term value, you can sell your quality clothing easily on the secondary market. Looking at websites like Grailed’s exponential growth in the past five years, it's clear that interest in quality garments is only becoming more widespread. Going through this buying and selling cycle will ensure you are not wasting the clothing, your money, or your time.

Over consuming and wasting clothing doesn't just effect you, but also effects those around you. The US sends around twenty billion pounds of textiles to landfills each year. Then there’s the pollution caused by the transport and production of clothing, and of course the immense amount of water needed (2,700 liters per cotton t-shirt). Fast Fashion companies such as H&M and Zara that capitalize on trends put out slews of new items a season, items that will be obsolete and discarded the season after. These Fast Fashion companies are some of the most financially successful in the world because of their clothing’s short life span, and their customers' constant consumption. Buying minimally and at a high quality, and then ensuring that the clothing will have a new home after you is the best way you can combat this pollution.

It’s ironic that you can trace the minimalist wardrobe’s school of thought back to Cynicism. A philosophy of consuming and valuing clothing originated in part from a man who lived in a barrel and scorned anyone who thought quality of life came from the quality of objects. Minimalism teaches us that appreciating material items isn't immoral, but that the immorality comes when you covet without true intention, thoughtlessly buying clothing that will spend time buried in the back of your drawer and then buried at the bottom of a landfill.