Grey marl graphic sweatshirt / Skinny Jeans / White sneakers

 

This is the kind of versatile OOTD that looks like it’s been created in seconds. The simplicity of a minimalist wardrobe means this is pretty much true, because I wear this combination often. What is aesthetically appealing about an outfit like this is that it’s minimal but with plenty of visual interest. So while this look may appear effort-free, it took me a long time to appreciate what goes into executing this kind of modern, yet classic, casual outfit. My capsule wardrobe, and the belief that I could be genuinely stylish without “fancy” clothes, definitely started to come together when I began putting the effort into my casual outfits more than smart/smart-casual. Now I tend to shun the #menswear blazer: a perfect sweatshirt is my best mate.

You’ll find me in an outfit like this almost any chance I can get. Finding the perfect jeans, the perfect sweatshirt, the perfect shoes is a harder task than it sounds. Here I’ve got items from French, Swedish and Italian brands, all of which pride themselves in quality but without shouty logos. The texture/depth of the grey marl and indigo dyes; the supple white leather of the sneakers; the embroidered ‘Yes Paris’ print.

Throw on whatever jacket required and this can be worn most of the year, especially if the footwear needs to be swapped for whatever reason; remove the sweatshirt and it’s a stereotypical white-tee and blue-jeans ensemble.

 

From my capsule wardrobe:

Past-season ‘Yes Paris’ Sweatshirt by A.P.C.

Plain white tee by ASOS.

Indigo organic cotton skinny jeans, ‘Tube Tom’ fit by Nudie Jeans (now discontinued)

White sneakers – Common Projects ‘Original Achilles Low’

 

Photo shot and processed by VSCO on iPhone 5C

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Moving forward. I’ve bought a tripod, and a Podcast?

Don’t worry Minimaldrobers. I’ve not forgotten about this place. February was a busy month for me, and March is too.

I’ve invested in a tripod so that I can take OOTD pics on my own and not have to rely on amateurish mirror photos. Better that than buying a t-shirt, or something I already own.

Moving forward I have some ideas for projects, including a possible Podcast about capsule wardrobes / minimalist fashion and style. If anyone would be interested, don’t hesitate to contact me.

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My favourite things- January 2017

This post is all about possessions and experiences that made the first month of 2017 memorable. Living minimally, intentionally, etc., is definitely not about deprivation so this is going to be a monthly way for me to chronicle the everyday things that I have found super useful and fulfilling.

My #5lookschallenge on Instagram – and why layering is so important

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Capsule wardrobes are all about versatile items, but they are also a way of living sustainably and refusing the “real cost” of fast fashion.

This week on Instagram I have been uploading outfits using 5 different items from my wardrobe, in response to People Tree’s #5lookschallenge on social media. This challenge was clearly designed with women in mind, so I’ve had to adapt the rules a bit (which were 3 pieces, worn over 5 days, with 1 piece of jewellery and 1 accessory to create 5 distinct outfits). Firstly, I didn’t count my shoes, but I did use the same pair in each outfit. Secondly, other than a watch – which I personally don’t count – I don’t wear jewellery. Finally, I took all the pictures at once – I wouldn’t wear a t-shirt 5 days in a row, I’d have swapped that layer each day for a grey, black, or slate-grey t-shirt. I’m afraid men are at a distinct disadvantage in a “5×5” challenge like this, because unless you don’t count certain items you can easily use 5-6 in one outfit (i.e. a t-shirt, a layer like a sweatshirt, a jacket, jeans, an accessory and/or shoes). For this reason I’m strongly considering the un-fancy 10×10 challenge (10 items, 10 days) for another post here on WordPress and series on Instagram. Give some thoughts and experiences below vis-a-vis 10×10.

My ‘Just for when’ rule for my capsule wardrobe

On a recent episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Ryan and Josh were discussing the value of gathering “just for when” items. Josh had watched a documentary which had made him think about how unprepared he was for inevitabilities – e.g. a week-long loss of electricity at home in the Pacific North-West. This made me wonder: the idea of just in case items is such a pervasive one, it leads to such clutter, that we spend most of our time buying too much, and buying too much of what we will never really need to stockpile. Most people today, I’m sure, aren’t guilty of buying too much preserved or tinned food – they buy too much fresh food and then a lot of the time, they throw it away.