When people ask about my wardrobe, I like to joke that I wear the same thing every day. After years of that joke—and sharing on the blog that I once owned only one bra—my mostly black, pared-down closet surprised a lot of people. My Instagram closet highlight sparked a flood of messages asking how I could own so little and still manage. The truth is simple: I don’t literally wear the exact same item every day. I have a smaller collection of pieces I love, mostly similar in color and silhouette, that I think of as my “uniform.” Think simplified dressing—consistent, comfortable, and easy to maintain.
I don’t do laundry more often than most people—we wash once a week—so the goal is to own enough outfits that you like to get from one laundry day to the next without lots of extras taking up space. If you’re fed up with overflowing drawers or want to spend less on clothing while keeping pieces you genuinely enjoy, this post explains the approach I use and how it can work for you.
My plan here is to walk through my closet and drawers, explain my process for keeping a minimal wardrobe, and show how a limited set of tops and bottoms can produce many outfits across seasons and occasions. If you prefer a maximal wardrobe and love variety, that’s great—this method is simply one approach, not a rule for everyone.
How a “Uniform” Works
A personal uniform isn’t about owning identical items; it’s about recognizing the cuts, colors, and styles you feel best in and building around them. When you know why certain pieces work, you stop buying items that end up unworn. That reduces clutter, saves money, and makes getting dressed easy. Think of it as a dress code you choose for yourself—one that helps you quickly filter clothing choices when shopping or decluttering.
There’s no single magic number of items that works for everyone—your lifestyle dictates that. I use multiple small “uniforms” for different activities: casual weekend, work, exercise, and seasonal variations. The key is to have enough of each category to cover your routine without excessive backups.
What’s in My Uniform
My standard pieces are simple: black v-necks and scoop tanks, jeans, denim shorts, blazers, leather or suede jackets, and one or two black dresses. Over six years in New York I gravitated toward black because it consistently makes me feel put together, and I actually wear those items. I prefer slightly fitted tops because at 5’2” they flatter my shape, and I stick with short shorts because longer styles don’t suit me. These small, clear preferences make shopping and editing much easier.
Layering is also a major strategy. A handful of tops layered under several jackets multiplies outfit options dramatically. For example, five tops and seven jackets could yield dozens of combinations. Adding different shoes and accessories further expands looks without adding many pieces.
How to Pare Down Your Closet
A practical exercise: pull your favorite outfits—the items you reach for most—onto the bed and count them. If that collection covers your week, you’ve found your basic uniform. Store excess items away in a box for a trial period. If you don’t miss them, donate or consign them. If you need more than the handful you pulled out, look for patterns among the favorites—color families, cuts, or silhouettes—and add similar pieces rather than random variety. Be specific about what you like; “boho” or “anything from a particular retailer” is too vague.
Calculating Your Closet Needs
Think in numbers: how many outfits do you need between laundry days? We wash weekly, so my ten bottoms (four jeans, four shorts, one skirt, one pair of yoga pants) cover seven days. Many people own far more than they actually rotate through. Count what you truly wear and pare back duplicates that don’t serve you. If you love a particular tank or tee, keeping a few identical or similar pieces in rotation can help them stay fresh without overbuying other items.
Why We Buy Things We Don’t Wear
Many purchases are aspirational or impulse buys because of a sale or a perceived need to be more stylish. Recognizing those patterns helps you resist low-value additions. Ask whether a new piece raises your closet’s overall average quality—your “closet GPA.” If it lowers that average, it’s probably not worth keeping.
One Colorful Exception
I do keep one colorful piece—a bold dress for photoshoots and occasional events—because it fills a specific need. Most of my wardrobe stays neutral, but having one outlier for special occasions is perfectly reasonable. You don’t need ten of those pieces; one is often enough.
Protect Your Closet GPA
Imagine grading each item by how much you wear and love it. Keep mostly A’s in your closet. That mindset curbs impulse purchases and helps maintain a streamlined wardrobe filled with items you actually reach for.
Be Minimal Where It Helps You
Minimalism for me is selective. I keep a larger collection of statement earrings because they bring me joy and are easy to store. Your minimal areas can differ—keep what makes life easier and more enjoyable for you.
Does Owning Less Wear Clothes Out Faster?
Not really. I wash weekly like most people and take care of the pieces I have by following proper laundry practices—cold water, inside-out washing for denim and darks, gentle cycles, and low tumble drying. Fewer items means less cramming and more attention to repairs and proper care, which actually extends their life.
Combining Outfits
My typical combinations—skinny pants or jeans with a fitted tank and a jacket—are versatile. Swapping shoes, jewelry, and bags shifts the look from casual to dressy without adding more core pieces. Layering and small accessories create many permutations from a modest number of items.
Minimizing Kids’ Clothing
To find what your children actually wear, check their drawers and hanging bar on laundry day. Favorites will be in the hamper; what remains untouched reveals excess. Repeat this for a few weeks and move unused items to storage. If you don’t miss them, donate them. This method prevents repeating purchases for items they never wear.
In short: identify what you truly wear, keep more of those pieces, and let the rest go. A smaller, well-loved wardrobe makes daily decisions easier, cuts the clutter, and usually saves money—all while still allowing room for a few joyful exceptions.
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