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I just woke up and shuffled my way to the bathroom, took care of some paperwork, and washed my face.

Then a pause in mid-morning grogginess. Should I do yoga, do I have time for a round of meditation? Then, more questions like what to eat for breakfast. Eggs, bagel, and fruit are the norm but scrambled or whole eggs? What kind of fruit? With or without yogurt?

So. Many. CHOICES!

I prefer to conserve energy and make fewer decisions about clothes, which is why I have been rocking a capsule wardrobe for years. Fewer decisions now mean less fatigue later.

A capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of interchangeable clothing pieces that complement each other. These are often classic pieces that do not go out of style and are primarily composed of neutral colors. A capsule wardrobe allows you to create a variety of different outfits with a small selection of clothes. 

Sustainably Chic

Less is More

Humans are overwhelmed after 7 options which is why phone numbers have seven digits. Smaller batches are better which is why phone numbers are corralled by dashes into 3 groups. The more options, the more energy needed to choose. Mental energy is expended when looking and searching.

When a choice needs to happen, I default to easy. That’s why 20% of my wardrobe is worn 80% of the time. Or at least, that is what I told myself when I pitched 80% of my wardrobe.  

If the fit was baggy, off-color, or frumpy, it went from my trash to someone’s treasure.

Getting rid of unnecessary, outgrown, or just plain uggo clothing items will not only free up space in your wardrobe but reduce the overwhelm when it comes to picking what to wear. 

People Love Projects

I have a small closet, but I wear everything in it. Well, except for the black party dress because a ranger in Montana doesn’t have a social life that includes black tie specials.

But, having less gives space for more, like deciding whether my sanity can handle a silent 7-day meditation retreat.

I stick to darker colors (blue, grey, black, maroon) for shirts and pants. Neutral colors are less fussy since they are interchangeable. As a laundry bonus, I can wash all the clothes together and don’t need to separate lights, darks, and neon whites.

I have a some pieces of jewelry including earrings, rings, and half a dozen necklaces. Just enough options to create endless opportunities.

Automate, Don’t Hate

As a 5-day workweek warrior, statistically speaking, I will be in a government-issued uniform 70% of the time. I work for the federal government as a frontliner, so I wear the designated boxy attire with a dash of 1940s professionalism. I go above and beyond by ironing it too.

A uniform is an ideal compromise because the gov is expecting a specific look and, they pay for it. Everybody is winning including, the fancy government-issued belt buckle.

My finances are celebrating too. Less money on clothes is more for early retirement, life list excursions, and a giant cat mask that acts as a face shield and will scare the pants off trick or treaters.

The other 2 days, when I’m not wearing gov gear, I pick the next item in my capsule wardrobe.  

Since I love everything I have, I grab the shirt from the front of the line. When I do laundry, clean shirts get put to the back of the line. Similar to standing in line for the ice cream truck but with less jostling. 

Zero thought and a 100% success.

Timeless, Not Classless

I have dabbled in a few different styles, from punk to princess and each phase came with matching outfits. Eventually, they all were discarded. The genres never stuck because they changed depending on the emotional season.

After collecting some wisdom and wrinkles, I began to save timeless outfits. Simple lines, styles, and colors that avoid specific reasons.

As life began to collect adulting demands, I became less concerned with fashion and more interested in the life I wanted to lead. I started cultivating a life where clothes lasted for years, not seasons.

I want people to remember what I did, not what I wore. I want more time spent on things that fill my heart, not drain it.

Trickle Down

I thought that what happens in the closet stays in the closet.

But Las Vegas it is not.

Simplicity is contagious. Once you discover the benefits of less in the closet, you’ll be curious about owning less in the rest of your home and create even more space.

Be More With Less

Benefits crept into other areas, from food to fuel and a capsule wardrobe is more than a simple dressing routine. It’s a way to start the day with confidence and clarity.

In the end, it’s only clothes. I’m more interested in what I’m doing in them.

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