30+ Things You Need To Build A Female Minimalist Wardrobe In 2024
Everyone is into quiet luxury and sustainable fashion this season. Both these concepts of fashion are closely related to minimalism.
As the name says, this trend is about celebrating the “less is more” way of fashion. A female minimalist wardrobe today has timeless pieces, clean colors, and durable clothes.
Being a fashion minimalist helps you to keep your wardrobe clutter-free. Also, it makes it easy for you to get ready every morning.
Do you want to know about the things you need to add to your capsule wardrobe? Here is a complete guide for you.
What Is A Female Minimalist Wardrobe?
Today, it is important to be mindful of the things we do. Fashion, an important extension of our lifestyle, cannot be an exception.
A female minimalist wardrobe preaches the art of being mindful of fashion. It helps us lead a clutter-free daily life, and with this philosophy, we can build a capsule wardrobe that has essentials for all seasons.
Further, in a minimalist wardrobe, there are many clothes that we can wear interchangeably for all seasons.
A female minimalist wardrobe is also cost-effective as you always prioritize quality over quantity. To build the wardrobe right, you need to pick only essentials that are functional and stylish.
Being a minimalist in fashion helps you to be creative with your fashion choices. Over time, you learn the art of mix and match as you want to make the optimum utilization of limited resources.
A minimalist wardrobe is a must if you want to practice sustainable fashion in everyday life. You need to keep your wardrobe clutter-free, and you need clothes that are durable. So, there will be less disposal of unused items, causing less impact on the environment.
Different Types Of Female Minimalist Wardrobes You Can Come Across
Do you think minimalist fashion is boring? Well, I conducted a survey among one hundred people aged between 23 to 35. According to that survey report, 70% of the respondents do not find minimalistic fashion boring.
So, what is the reason minimalistic fashion is not boring despite limited choices of essentials? For me, the versatility and the variations in minimalist wardrobes are the reasons why people find this philosophy of fashion interesting.
Let’s explore the different types of minimalist wardrobes you can build.
Realistic Minimalistic Wardrobe
If you have just become familiar with the concept of minimalistic fashion, realistic minimalism is something that you must opt for.
By following realistic minimalism, you can build a truly eclectic wardrobe that has clothes inspired by various fashion aesthetics and traditions. Having said that, this minimalist wardrobe style works for the followers of boho fashion.
Also, a female minimalist wardrobe is ideal for you if you believe in individuality and you want your clothes to be an extension of that. So, it is about breaking stereotypes in fashion and making a distinct fashion statement despite limited resources.
Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe has all the essential items that you need to ace fashion in every season. It does not matter if you have less number of clothes.
You can always mix and match the clothes with accessories to create something unique while stepping out in style.
If you have a capsule wardrobe, it can have around ten to forty items. You can swap these items at the end of every season.
Minimalistic Aesthetic Wardrobe
The minimalistic aesthetic wardrobe is well-balanced. You will mostly find budget-friendly clothes in these wardrobes.
However, these wardrobes also have high-end or luxury items that are cherished as possessions and that you can save for your posterity.
It goes without saying that these wardrobes have a limited number of high-quality clothes. The focus is more on getting clothes with clean cuts and designs that match versatile occasions and seasons.
Further, clothes in a minimalistic aesthetic wardrobe come in a neutral shade and with a defined silhouette.
Sustainable Minimalist Fashion
Sustainable minimalistic fashion is about making eco-friendly fashion choices. To make a sustainable, minimalist wardrobe, you will need clothes that are of high quality and made using ethical practices.
Further, in a sustainable, minimalist wardrobe, clothes have to be eco-friendly. So, you will find a lot of organic cotton clothes in these wardrobes.
As a follower of sustainable fashion, you can find all your essential clothes at thrift stores. Further, the best thing about this fashion philosophy is how it supports local artisans and boutiques.
Extreme Minimalist Fashion Wardrobe
Being an extreme minimalist in fashion has multiple aspects. First of all, a follower of this fashion philosophy will have a handful of clothes and accessories in their closet. The number of items will be something between 5 to 15.
To many, extreme minimalism is a radical idea, considering for many people today, having more stuff to their possessions is the only way of living. So, for any average person, the idea may seem utopic.
Though there is no ideal way of determining right and wrong in our daily lives, we can always have more clarity by creating something less cluttered and clean. With time, many items we possess end up finding their space in the garbage.
So, making an attempt to create an extreme minimalist fashion wardrobe will not be such a bad thing, either.
Moreover, the art of letting things go is embedded in many of our cultures.
How To Make A Classy Female Minimalist Wardrobe?
You will need to build your wardrobe with certain staples if you want to look like a classy female minimalist. A statement coat or jacket is the first piece you need for layering.
Further, you will need well-tailored trousers, suits, and dresses with decent flare and detailing to make a classy minimalist wardrobe. You can even choose knitwear and t-shirts with simple patterns to rev up your wardrobe.
Also, you will need the regular tanks and tube tops to mix and match your different looks. Talking about fabrics, cotton, linen, cashmere, and wool will be the right choice for you.
You will mostly find the use of neutral shades if you want to dress up like a female minimalist. For some serious inspiration in styling, you can always check out how Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, does it right every time.
What Are The Benefits Of Building A Female Minimalist Wardrobe?
This concept or the philosophy of minimalistic fashion has a lot of benefits. If you can follow it in your everyday life, things will be much easier and seamless for you.
Makes Dressing Up Easier For You
You must have heard of the phrase “problem of plenty.” So, if you have many clothes in your closet, you will end up losing a lot of time in finding the right clothes for you.
However, if you have a limited number of clothes that fit your style preferences, you will waste less time getting ready in the morning or before stepping out.
A Female Minimalist Wardrobe Helps You Create A Personal Style
Have you ever felt that everyone around you is dressing up similarly without a touch of individuality? Now, breaking stereotypes in terms of fashion and gender and fashion and body types is essential.
Even many brands and fashion shows today are promoting fashion norms that celebrate individuality.
When you are a fashion minimalist and you have limited options available in your closet, you can find a world of possibilities waiting for you.
Helps You To Keep Your Wardrobe Clutter-Free
Being a follower of minimalistic fashion always helps to keep your wardrobe organized. Further, keeping your wardrobe is one of the first things on your to-do list if you want to build a clutter-free space.
The idea is quite simple. Keeping a space clutter-free is easier when you have less number of clothes to manage.
For some serious inspiration about keeping your wardrobe clutter-free, you can always refer to “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organising,” written by Marie Kondo. You can even watch “How To Organize Your Closets | Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Netflix.
In this book, she explains that decluttering is not just about keeping things organized. It is about improving productivity and inviting joy into your life.
Even if you have not read the book, you can see the change in vibe and energy between places that are organized and ones that are cluttered.
Promotes Less Expenditure On Clothes
These days, we are more inclined to buy clothes at regular intervals as we cannot avoid the lure of adding more to our collections. However, minimalism is a choice that needs practice.
If you are inclined toward marking a female minimalist wardrobe, you will pick clothes in lesser quantities and ones that will last a lifetime.
Thus, you will end up saving a lot of money when purchasing clothes.
Makes You A Mindful Shopper
If you are a follower of minimalist fashion, you will have clarity about the things you need in your wardrobe.
With a well-etched shopping list prepared beforehand, you will not waste your money and time exploring things that you don’t need.
Further, as a mindful shopper, you invest much of your energy in buying clothes of the best quality instead of a large number of clothes.
Again, you consider the fabric and decide whether that is suitable for the season you are in or not. So, your shopping decisions will be guided by mindful approaches and not impulses.
Reduces Environmental Impact
By making a minimalistic wardrobe and buying less number of clothes, you can make a huge difference in the environmental impact.
Manufacturing and disposal of clothes cause massive CO2 pollution, and they are even responsible for the increase in the amount of chemical components in the air and water.
Further, as we throw away unused items and don’t dispose of them properly, we end up causing landfill pollution. So, you can change the entire fashion scenario and raise a voice against the perils of fast fashion with this simple yet effective choice.
In addition, building a minimalistic wardrobe tells you to focus more on the use of fabrics like organic cotton. These fabrics get disposed of easily and cause minimal environmental impact.
It’s great that most of us are aware today of how building a minimalist wardrobe can yield positive impacts on the environment.
As I did a small survey of 100 people, I found that 80% of the respondents think that minimalistic fashion can impact the environment, and 10% even think “minimalist fashion is a subsection of sustainable fashion.”
Promotes Sustainable Fashion
The fashion world today is divided over the questions of fast fashion and sustainable fashion. It’s a great thing that the sustainable fashion market is likely to reach around ten billion dollars by 2025.
Sustainable fashion advises fair practices in the production and dissemination of clothes. It considers environmental practices, fair wage systems, and avoidance of animal cruelty.
However, the fashion ecosystem has a long way to go to make sustainable fashion profitable.
Fast fashion, on the other hand, involves producing multiple collections of clothes at regular intervals. So, in most cases, you will find cheap clothes that compromise quality and production procedures that promote unfair practices.
When, as buyers, we consciously choose minimalism, we can avoid the practice of buying new clothes in every season and thus can send a message about the perils of fast fashion.
H&M and Shein are two biggies in the fast fashion market, launching multiple collections in short intervals.
Brands like Adidas and Levi’s, on the other hand, promote sustainable practices. So, they have a limited number of collections in a year that helps to maintain environmentally feasible and fair manufacturing practices.
I reached out to one hundred people to seek their opinions on the relationship between minimalism and sustainable fashion. 70% of the respondents feel that minimalistic fashion choices can promote sustainable fashion.
Things You Need To Keep In Mind To Build The Ultimate Minimalist Wardrobe
The idea of building a female minimalist wardrobe can strike you one fine morning. Initially, the task may seem overwhelming. If you are planning to create a perfect wardrobe, here are the things you need to keep in mind.
Choose Some Timeless Pieces For Your Female Minimalist Wardrobe
You have to focus more on picking pieces that have been in vogue for the longest time. For example, an A-line skirt or button-down shirt is a timeless piece, and you can be as creative as you want with its styling.
Similarly, a pair of well-tailored trousers or a classy blazer will never be out of style.
Always Choose Clothes That Are Made Of High-Quality Fabrics
You need to choose simpler cuts and silhouettes if you have a minimalist wardrobe. To make the simple look of your outfit appear more stylish, you need to invest in high-quality fabrics. Further, you need to choose fabrics that will last long and offer you comfort across seasons.
Some of the most common fabrics used in these clothes are organic cotton, linen, cashmere, wool, tweed, and suede. You will also see the abundance of use of leather.
Go For Clothes That Are Perfectly Tailored
While choosing classy clothes, you have to be very particular about the tailoring or structuring of the clothes. This is important to complement your silhouette and flatter your body type.
Also, it is always the best idea to get well-tailored clothes in neutral shades. Among the well-tailored clothes, you can pick a pair of structured trousers or blazers in monochrome.
Be Creative With Accessories
You have a limited number of clothes in your closet. So, you need to have some classy accessories that allow you to be creative with your fashion choices.
A classy belt with minimal designs or a simple wide-brimmed hat can be ideal accessories to experiment with your style.
Similarly, you have to be particular about the shoes you choose. Keep it classy by choosing a pair of black heels, Mary Jane shoes, or ballerina flats for you.
Don’t Choose Clothes That Have Visible Logos And Graphics
You cannot choose clothes with flashy patterns or visible logos if you are planning to build a minimalist wardrobe. Avoiding logos or branding on the clothes is also a prominent element in quiet luxury or old money.
Similarly, when a T-shirt or top has loud prints, it becomes trendy or casual. However, choosing classy pieces is at the core of building a female minimalist wardrobe.
Understand The Core Of Minimalist Fashion
To conceptualize and build a minimalist wardrobe, you have to get the core or basics of your wardrobe right. High-quality fabrics, classic cuts, and silhouettes are important in the clothes that you choose.
So, it is important that you don’t get carried away by the latest fashion trends or social media types. At the same time, you have to believe that fashion is not about making bold style statements. However, that does not mean that you have to compromise on the style quotient.
Overall, you need to focus on creating a wardrobe full of aesthetic, functional, and durable clothes.
Declutter Your Wardrobe
Decluttering your wardrobe is the first thing you need to do if you want to build a female minimalist wardrobe.
You have to organize the clothes and accessories you already have. At the same time, you need to dedicate separate sections in your closet for different types of clothes.
For example, for long coats and jackets, you will need hangers. Similarly, for accessories, you will need a drawer where you can keep your things organized.
Know Your Favorites
At the beginning of your maximalist to minimalist journey, you will need to work on finding your favorites.
Once you know the colors and silhouettes you need, you can definitely keep the things that don’t match your ideas aside.
Work On Creating Your Personal Style
As a grown-up individual, you know your favorite color and style. So, work on creating your personal style and have clothes that only conform to your personal taste. You don’t have to be influenced by the choices of others.
Also, consider the comfort factor while picking the right clothes for you. Once you find your personal style and have your favorite pieces in the closet, you also learn the art of mixing and matching very well.
As a minimalist, you must focus more on creating a wardrobe that has clothes and accessories in neutral shades. Thus, you will have more options in layering.
Take Care Of Your Clothes
Viviene Westwood says, “Buy less, choose well, make it last.”
You have to take care of the clothes you already have to make them last longer. Also, you will need to buy a lesser number of clothes when you take care of the clothes you have.
To be specific about the care and maintenance of your clothes, you can follow the wash instructions on the labels. Further, you can use some essential accessories to increase the shelf-life of your clothes.
The things you are going to need are:
- Fabric shavers
- Lingerie bags for proper laundry work
- Sewing kit
- Velvet hangers for minimum friction
- Drying racks to make your clothes dry
Follow The One-In One-Out Rule
This is a golden rule of building a minimalist wardrobe. This one-in and one-out rule can work in two ways.
First, you may have a worn-out piece of cloth that you cannot wear anymore. You can buy a new piece of cloth in this scenario.
Further, if you have bought something new, you will have to chuck one item from your closet. Otherwise, you will indulge in overstuffing.
Be Particular About Your Boundaries
It is not possible to turn from a minimalist to a maximalist in one day. You have to be mindful of the slow and steady progress.
In other words, setting routines or committing to building a wardrobe with a limited number of clothes can be intimidating in the very beginning.
However, you can set a clear boundary by setting up goals and deciding the specific number of items you are going to have in your closet. Once you have decided the number of clothes you need to add to your closet, you can add hangers of similar numbers.
Most importantly, create a budget for building your closet. Having a fixed budget in mind always helps to plan things better.
- Only go shopping for new clothes when you need to replace one or truly need one.
- Have a clear idea about the clothes you need to feel confident and look smart. Minimalism is not under-stuffing your closet. You have to pick the essentials you need.
Be “Intentional” While Shopping
The minimalist philosophy asks you to only add the clothes that you need and the ones that you can wear for many years. These clothes also need to have repeat values so that you can wear them for many seasons.
So, even if you are choosing a simple top or a pair of denim jeans, you need to be particular and intentional.
Do you want to know how to be an intentional shopper? Ask yourself the following questions.
- Why do you need a certain clothing item?
- Who will be wearing it?
- Is the product worth money, and does it suit your purpose?
- Does your wardrobe have the space to accommodate it?
- When do you need this cloth?
- What is the cost of the product, and does it suit my budget?
Building A Minimalist Wardrobe Is A Conscious Choice
Turning into a fashion minimalist is a conscious choice. If you go through the Miami University report, “Analysis of the Minimalist Wardrobe among High-Tech CEOs,” you will notice how these biggies are going for minimalism despite the opulence of resources.
Steve Jobs, this iconic tech visionary, will always remain one of the most prominent examples of minimalism being a choice. In fact, I will not be exaggerating if I say that the styling of Steve Jobs has given birth to a completely new style of dressing.
According to industry experts, Job’s sublime dressing sense has come from his adaptation of Zen Buddhism.
Mark Zuckerberg is another name that fuses minimalism in fashion with avant-garde technological innovations. His style is way more relaxed than Jobs’s, and his way of dressing stands for the accessibility of minimalist fashion.
Among the female tech CEOs, Elizabeth Holmes is the poster girl of minimalistic fashion choices.
Through their minimalist choice of clothes, “minimalism becomes the language through which innovation speaks.”
The ripples of transformation, however, have streamed through different sectors of society. Keeping the functionality and durability of a minimalist wardrobe in mind, you can make a conscious decision to own a limited number of clothes and accessories.
30+ Essential Pieces You Need To Make A Female Minimalist Wardrobe
1. Button-Down Shirt In Monochrome
A white or black button-down shirt is the piece you must be looking for when building a female minimalist wardrobe. It can be a standalone piece, and it is perfect for layering your tank top or tee.
2. Cardigan
Thanks to the versatility of designs, cardigans will always find their place in a minimalist wardrobe. Wear it over a simple top or dress to indulge in sheer comfort.
3. Long Coat
You cannot make a classy minimalist wardrobe without a long coat or a vintage trench coat. It’s time to adopt some Holly Golightly vibe, for sure.
4. A Well-Structured Blazer
Are you heading to a business meet or a special occasion? A well-structured blazer is all that you need.
Team the blazer with a classy button-down shirt and formal trousers to complete your look.
5. Well-Tailored Formal Trousers
You will need well-tailored formal trousers if you want to build the best female minimalist wardrobe. The perfect structure of these trousers flatters your silhouette and makes styling easy for you.
6. Mid-Rise A-Line Skirt
It’s time to keep your style statement easy without compromising the classy vibe. Choose an A-line, midrise skirt and wear it with a shirt to keep it fashionable and fun.
7. A Pencil Skirt
From Hilary Clinton to Michelle Obama, many prominent figures made a pencil skirt a part of power dressing. It looks good with shirts and blazers.
8. Boyfriend Jeans
Do you want an outfit that scores high in comfort? Feel comfortable without compromising your style quotient by wearing boyfriend jeans with a tee and loafers.
9. A Little Black Dress
The world is still smitten by Givenchy’s little black dress magic spilled by Audrey Hepburn. Even at parties today, these little dresses are one of the most sought-after items in your closet.
Wear the black dress with classy heels and statement earrings to be the center of attention.
10. A Regular Tee In A Solid Or Slub Pattern
Comfort and style go hand in hand in tees that you can wear for all occasions. Choose a tee in a solid or slub pattern to show your love for classy fashion.
11. A Denim Jacket
If you love layering, you can wear a simple denim jacket over a basic tee or tank top.
12. High-Waisted Pants
Exude some vintage charm through your way of dressing by wearing high-waisted pants with a simple button-down shirt. Keep the shirt tucked in to keep the overall ensemble definite.
13. Sweaters In Neutral Shades
Do you want to spruce up your autumn and winter fashion? Choose a sweater in a neutral shade. Wear it with any bottomwear of your choice to flaunt a simple yet elegant look.
14. A White Or Beige Midi Dress
Keep it simple and chic in a white or beige midi dress. Team it up with a wide-brimmed Sunhat and leather boots for the perfect old-money vibe.
You can also choose high heels to complement your midi dress.
15. Wide-Leg Trousers
Wide-leg trousers are the perfect fusion of style and comfort. Team them up with a simple button-down shirt and loafers.
16. A Midi Skirt
A midi skirt is going to be one of the most versatile bottom-wear you can add to your closet. These skirts are ideal for different formal and casual occasions when you pick monochromes or neutral shades.
You can wear the skirt with regular tees and tops and tunics.
17. A Statement Scarf
Keep your head covered in a scarf or just keep it wrapped around your neck to add a distinct character to your outfit.
18. Classy Pumps
Classy pumps are timeless, and the outfit you choose for yourself does not matter. They look equally good with denim jeans and trousers.
19. A Wide-Brimmed Sun Hat
A wide-brimmed Sun hat will be a statement accessory in your closet. It will protect your face and eyes and, at the same time, will add a regal touch to your appearance.
20. Ankle-Length Boots
Ankle-length boots are great on colder days and when you are attending any formal occasion. These are the perfect match for pantsuits or wide-legged denim jeans.
21. Denim Shorts
You can be innovative with your style statement without compromising on the classy charm by choosing denim shorts for you.
Wear this pair with a simple tee in white and black and classy sneakers to put your best foot forward.
22. A Cross-Body Bag
If you are stepping out in a classy skirt suit or pantsuit and you need to carry your essentials in style, you can choose a spacious cross-body bag made of leather or velvet to flaunt your love for classy fashion.
23. A Moderately-Sized Purse With Perfect Structuring
A well-structured medium-sized purse can be the accessory to add the perfect quiet luxury charm to your outfit without making it very opulent. These purses look great with all types of dresses.
24. Suede Pumps
Do you want to exude some classy charm through your styling? If you are attending a party in your little black dress, you can match it with suede pumps.
25. Oversized Sweater
Minimalist fashion is about serious layering. So, in autumn and winter, you can wear an oversized sweater over your favorite tank top. Further, team it up with denim jeans in your closet.
That’s it! You are perfectly ready for a stroll or coffee date.
26. A Classy Pantsuit In White Or Black
Are you a fan of Meghan Markle? She has impressed us in elegant white pantsuits on many occasions. Take some inspiration from her and wear a classy pantsuit with heels or loafers.
27. A Black Tank Top
A black tank top will allow you to be creative with your fashion choices. You can wear the tank top beneath your button-down shirt or denim jacket to flaunt some serious art of layering.
28. A White Tunic Top
A white tunic top is one of the most versatile items that you can add to your closet. You can wear it with simple denim jeans or wide-legged trousers to fetch compliments from everyone around.
29. A Black Waistcoat
Suppose you have a black-tie evening to attend and you have chosen a three-piece suit for the same. You will need a black waistcoat to complete your look.
You can even wear the waistcoat over a white button-down shirt and well-tailored trousers for a smart casual look.
30. A Classy Watch
You will hardly need any other accessory to adorn your wrist if you have a classy watch in your closet. Choose a wristwatch with classy leather or metallic bands to make a style statement.
31. Some Sleek Jewelry Pieces
You can always add a touch of glam and bling to your outfit by choosing some oxidized or golden sleek accessories. Do not go for very opulent designs, as you will need pieces that will go well with different outfits.
Statement stone-embellished, pearl studs, or sleek chains with colorful pendants are ideal choices as accessories for your dress. So, choose your jewelry pieces right while making a female minimalist wardrobe.
Final Words
For many people, gathering more stuff is the ultimate aim in life. However, today, people are choosing minimalism to enjoy a more mindful approach toward fashion and every other sphere of life.
If you are someone who wants to lead a clutter-free life and make choices that can infuse joy in your life, you can consider building a female minimalist wardrobe.
Check out the tips if you want to make the process of building a minimalist wardrobe easier. It’s time to cherish the less is more mantra of life with your fashion choices.
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