By Nayeli Ignacio
With quarantine, everyone now has the chance to finally start their passion project. If yours is to finally switch to a minimalist / maximalist wardrobe, then congrats! You are now ready to have less, but bring in more elevated pieces. There is no better time than NOW to start the process. As our DNLX founder Drew Ginsburg once said in her IGTV, make sure that the item you have is still valuable enough for you for you to want to wear it again in the future.
Achieving a minimalist/maximalist wardrobe has so many perks. Not only is it keeping your closet neat and tidy, but it's also reducing your carbon footprint. It is important to keep clothes out of landfills, because clothing is NOT biodegradable: sports clothing takes 20-200 years to decompose, nylon tights take 30-40 years, and a denim jacket takes 10-12 months. Remember: while they are decomposing, they are also taking up space in our landfills.
The first step is to go through your current wardrobe. One way we suggest to go about this is through the (obvious) Mari Kondo way: “First, put your hands on everything you own, ask yourself if it sparks joy, and if it doesn’t, thank it for its service and get rid of it.” Once you’ve picked out the clothes that spark joy, organize your items in an easily accessible place. If you can’t choose what to throw out then send your friend a picture to decide or think about possible outfits if you don’t come up with any that you absolutely love then it has to go. You can also easily sell your clothes online through places such as Depop, Offer-Up, The RealReal, and Facebook marketplace.
When you’re done and are left with a pile of clothes you’re not keeping or selling DONATE them to your local thrift store or Salvation Army! Can’t find a donation center near you? Check out this link from Salvation Army that lets you find a drop off location or schedule a free pickup.
Since you are only keeping a limited amount of clothing it is important to decide which are your most worn pieces and if they fit within a certain aesthetic in order to establish your style. A popular method is creating a Pinterest fashion board full of your outfit and style inspo and from there narrow down your ideal style. If you don’t know how to start and need help finding items that match your style check out our Dylanlex Pinterest. Another app you can use for style inspo is Instagram, with their “save photo” feature you can create a mood board of styles you like while scrolling through your feed. Even if the pieces look completely different than one another, ask yourself: Are they more vintage, modern, or bohemian? Get experimental! Try on all the clothes you already have in your closet and style them differently than you normally would.
In order to figure out what clothing will fit your body type based on your silhouette you have to measure your shoulder, bust, waist, and hips. This article HERE is a really great reference on how to understand the shape of your body. This is why DLEX lives by the motto: ELEVATE YOUR BASICS! By doing this, you upgrade any basic outfit through jewelry and other accessories that add a pop of color or big chain that lets you wear your flattering favs over and over again. Making multiple outfits and getting creative is part of the process! An example of an important staple piece is our Tank that is made from rib knit corduroy poly spandex which will make it tight and fitted to the shape of your body.
Staying practical doesn’t mean you can’t go over the top with a minimalist/maximalist wardrobe. Make sure that the items you are choosing are wearable for your everyday lifestyle. Accessories ALWAYS help to complete a look and make it unique. A tip for elevating your basics which DLEX lives by is layering your jewels or using bright-colored jewels to elevate your basics. Jewelry helps complete an outfit, especially for those moments when you feel like your outfit is missing something. If you’re looking for a good way to store your jewelry while avoiding taking up more floor space you can always use a wall organizer. Here are some links to cute jewelry organizers: handmade maple wall organizer, Trigem Tabletop Jewelry Stand, and a Selma White Jewelry Box.
Make sure your closet stays organized whenever you buy a new product. Stick with the golden rule: whenever something new comes in, take another item out! Other ways to keep your closet organized is by creating a wishlist of things you want to purchase before your next closet clean out. (p.s. Check out our wishlist feature when you create an account to find your next set of must-haves.)
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By starting this journey of creating a minimalist / maximalist wardrobe you are investing in a better version of yourself by taking a step into organizing your life by starting off with something small and part of your daily life.
Let us know in the comments what has helped you in creating your closet!