My Minimalist Wardrobe: Winter 2019-2020

As a busy mom, the last thing I want to do is make more decisions. My minimalist “uniform” allows me to get dressed fairly quickly without all the fuss that goes into deciding what to wear every morning.

I first saw the idea of a work uniform when I read an article about a woman who wore the same thing every day to work. And no one even noticed. Before she instituted her uniform she’d spend too much time deciding what to wear and would often be late because of it.

This article sparked an idea in my mind. I didn’t think I would wear the same outfit everyday, but I realized that I can make a uniform out of the clothing I liked to wear to work. If I would just focus on having a few simple pieces each season that were easy to mix and match, I would have my version of a uniform.

At around the same time I had read about capsule wardrobes, minimalism, and only having items that sparked joy. I cleaned out my closet (ie got rid of my high school clothes that according to my sister were in style… 10 year earlier) and put my out-of-season clothing on the less accessible shelves in my wardrobe.

Having a wardrobe that only included clothing I would wear was amazing. My mornings were smoother and I all of a sudden had so many clothes to choose from. I didn’t have that “I have nothing to wear” feeling anymore because when I looked in my closet I was focused on the clothes that fit and looked good on me.

So how did I prepare my wardrobe for Winter 2019-2020?

Believe it or not, it didn’t take a long time at all. Since I put my winter clothes into bins during the summer to clear out drawer space, I had to first pack up my summer tops and take out the winter ones. I took stock of what I had- what I will re-wear, what could be given away, and the items I wasn’t sure about.

My work environment is fairly casual, so I can wear the same clothes to work that I wear on the weekend or the days I work from home. I want to look comfortable, yet presentable and I think I’ve achieved it!

Here’s what my winter wardrobe consists of:

Staples

  • 4 pencil skirts (black, grey, hunter green)
  • 8 tops (5 sweaters, 3 lighter-weight tops)
  • 1 sweatshirt

New purchases this season include 2 sweaters from Macy’s – one in grey and the other in purple. These were similar to a sweater I wore all the time last year and felt they would be a practical addition to my wardrobe.

Karen Scott Sweater – Macy’s

Macy’s has great sales – these came out to less than $17 each.

Clothing Basics

  • 2 sweaters to wear over tops on cold days
  • 3 long-sleeve undershirts to wear on cold days

Accessories

I decided that I’m wearing scarves this winter! I feel like they add a little pizzaz to the sweaters I have and can dress up any outfit. I bought this one from Amazon:

Scarf – Amazon

Scarves are also a really great way to keep warm during the winter and I’ve noticed that my office isn’t heated that well. This scarf I bought is large, so I can also wear it as a shawl. I’m not really an accessories kinda gal, so we’ll see how it goes.

I never had such a large scarf before, so as soon as I go it I watched this video with a 8 different ways to tie it.

The other accessory I’m adding to my wardrobe is this faux fur beret from Amazon:

Faux Fur Beret – Amazon

Something new to keep my warm on those super cold winter days. The hats I had been wearing are not that warm, so I decided to treat myself to this one.

Shoes

Since I wear black tights every day in the winter, I decided to stick to black shoes. I already have a pair of Calvin Klein loafers I bought in Burlington during the summer. I have two pairs of black booties (one casual and one more dressy and waterproof). I also have a pair of pointed flats that I bought last year. For now, that’s enough shoes!

Dressy/Special Occasions

I have two dressy dresses for fancy occasions. They’re working for now, so I don’t plan on buying anything new this season.

Winter just started and it hasn’t really been that cold yet, but being prepared frees up time for me to do the things I want to do. In general I’m not that into fashion, so keeping it simple ensures I always feel put together and have something to wear for any occassion.

Want to read more about my minimalist wardrobe?

Check out these posts:

Do you plan your wardrobe? How do you simplify your mornings?

Until next time,
Shaindy

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