Buy less, choose well. – Vivenne Westwood

Everyday when I woke up, I used to feel the pressure of deciding what to wear for work. It was stressful for me as I have to keep up with my image as a fashion designer. When I thought about it I realized I was only using around 25% of my wardrobe while the rest was just there to distract me. I was wearing the some items just for the sake of it, I did not love them. This had to change.

HOW I STARTED BUILDING A MINIMALIST WARDROBE

I prefer not exhaust my decision making powers. Its just not productive to waste time and energy over daily outfit decisions. Now I only buy a few selective top quality items and I don’t mind repeating them often. Although these items are much more expensive but my wardrobe budget is the same as I am buying much less now.

Here are some benefits of having a minimalist wardrobe with quality items.

• A Prestige Wardrobe. When you are mostly purchasing high quality items from reputable brands you end up valuing them more. You wear your outfits with pride and that extra layer of confidence will make you even more attractive.
• Less Waste. These items are top quality and durable so they will last you a lifetime. When you are finally willing to part from your item, you give it away to someone who needs it and will also wear it for years to come. Your items don’t end up in landfills thus reducing  your carbon footprint.
• Avoid decision fatigue. For people who make significant decisions every day, the removal of even one—choosing clothes in the morning—leaves them with more mental space and better productivity throughout the day.
• Iconic. Repeating the few items that you own everyday will give you a strong identity and you will become Iconic. Successful individuals like Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch , Sir Paul Smith are found wearing their few items every day and are well known for their style.

So you see having a minimalist wardrobe doesn’t mean you won’t look fabulous in fact your style will be more grand than before. It’s easy to build your own minimal wardrobe. The key is to keep it simple. Opt for high quality basics over trendy fashionable items. There is a very thin line between tacky and trendy. Never compromise on quality always buy the best available option.

If you use shopping as means of therapy then I must tell you, this will end up in suffering.

It’s a downward spiral, a bottomless pit which will never make you feel fulfilled. I have been on that road and I feel its my duty to inform you. From 10 pair of jeans I am now down to three pairs and even in those three I end up wearing my dark raw jeans 80% of the time. This mean there is still room for less. Check out this lessGuide which I wish someone had given me earlier.

This post originally appeared on The Overman where Emmad writes about motorcycles, life and style.