Minimalism Archives - Whitney Nic James

Personal Style | All Black Outfit + Keeping a Minimal Wardrobe Budget Friendly

May 7, 2017 by Whitney 14 Comments

When it comes to personal style, all black outfits are my go to choice. The chicness of an all black outfit will never go out of style; it’s timeless. Chic and timeless are 2 words I keep in mind while shopping for my growing minimal wardrobe. While I love to add funky accessories and style trendy pieces every once in a while, I prefer to keep the majority of my clothing simple.

Related: 3 Ways to Make Having a Minimal Wardrobe Easier

Blouse: Edista, Nordstrom Rack // Necklace: Nordstrom Rack // Leggings: Philosophy, TJMaxx // Glasses: Local Beauty Supply Store

Building a minimal wardrobe is a process and it’s one that, in my opinion, will never stop. For a while, I was good with the amount items I had in my closet. I rotated and restyled several pieces, and still do, but as seasons change and as my style evolves so does my wardrobe.

Building a wardrobe never stops, but that doesn’t mean it has to be an expensive process. #wnjstyle

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So how do I keep my minimal wardrobe budget friendly? Here are 5 tips:

Create your own definition of a minimal wardrobe and do what works for you.
Purchase certain items, like accessories and outerwear, at the thrift store.
Keep a running list of what you already have and what you need.
Purchase items offseason to avoid paying full price.
Only purchase what you’re going to wear right now.
- not what you’ll wear when you get to a certain size or when you lose a certain amount of weight

5 Ways to Keep a Minimal Wardrobe Budget Friendly #wnjstyle

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Purse: Arcadia, Gifted // Flats: Vince Camuto, Nordstrom Rack (similar style)

So tell me, what do you think about my chic and timeless all black outfit? How do you keep your wardrobe budget friendly? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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Personal Style | 5 Reasons Why Having a Minimal Wardrobe Makes Life Easier

November 15, 2016 by Whitney 20 Comments

Before I started my minimal wardrobe journey, I did a lot of research. I said that I would take things slow and I promised myself that I would do things my way. Months into this new personal style change, I can say that I’m very pleased with my progress. I’m starting to see how this small change has made my life a lot less stressful.

It’s safe to say that creating a minimal wardrobe has made my life a lot less stressful. I don’t know many people who wouldn’t want to make their lives less stressful, so here are 5 reasons why having a minimal wardrobe will make your life easier.

Related: The Start of My Minimal Wardrobe Journey

1. Less Stress | How many times do you wake up in the morning and stress about what you’re going to wear? Most of that stress probably comes from having too many options. Creating a minimal wardrobe can easily cut your wardrobe in half, which will make getting dressed in the mornings a lot less stressful.

2. Less Expensive | Over the past 8 months I’ve spent less on my wardrobe than I have in years. In the beginning, I got rid of a lot of unworn items and refilled my closet with certain key pieces, but once that process was over the spending dwindled. I no longer have the urge to make compulsive purchases because I know exactly what I have in my wardrobe, and I know exactly how to style (and re-style) each piece.

3. Less Stuff | Having less stuff makes #’s 1 and 2 possible. Need I say more?

Having a minimal wardrobe makes life a lot less stressful. Here’s why! #wnjstyle

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Denim: Torrid (Another Option) // Sweater: Bobeau, Nordstrom Rack (Another Option) // Purse: Nine West, Gifted // Flats: Same Edelman, Nordstrom Rack

4. More Freedom | Having a minimal wardrobe gives you the freedom to be creative. With just a few key pieces you’d be surprised at how many different outfits you can create using accessories, shoes and more. I find that I actually have more creative freedom with less clothing options. Sounds strange, I know, but it’s true! Just take a look at how many ways I’ve restyled the same pieces this year.

5. More Time | Having fewer clothing options frees up your time in the mornings, and in the evenings, to get more things done. Think about it… You probably spend about 20-30 minutes going back and forth with yourself about what to wear to work. Imagine having fewer choices to choose from. You can literally cut your morning “getting ready” time in half if you already know what’s in your closet, and how to style those items.

5 Reasons Why Having a Minimal Wardrobe Makes Life Easier #wnjstyle

If you take a look at the outfits above, you’ll see how I styled 2 of the same sweaters, in different colors, 4 different ways. Thanks to accessories, shoe choices, different pants/bottoms and hairstyles, each outfit is perfect for a separate occasion. If this isn’t an example of a how building a minimal wardrobe can help create an easier and more simple lifestyle, I don’t know what is!

So tell me, do you think having a minimal wardrobe could help make your life a little easier? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to let me know your thoughts on creating a minimal wardrobe. I’d love to know your thoughts! Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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Personal Style | Minimal Wardrobe Update + (More) Minimal Wardrobe Options

May 11, 2016 by Whitney 25 Comments

As I continue building my minimal wardrobe, I’m very pleased with my progress. I’ve donated and sold several items that no longer serve a purpose and will continue to do so throughout this process. I’ve created a list of specific items to add to my wardrobe and I’ve started buying only those items. Talk about self-control! I’ve also started wearing what’s left in my closet more often, which helps create even more minimal wardrobe options. Styling the pieces differently has allowed me to become more creative with accessories, shoes, and jewelry.

Tunic: Bobeau, Nordstrom Rack (Different Color) // Pants: Sejour, Nordstrom (Similar & Similar) // Flats: Steve Madden (Similar)

Earrings & Necklace: Macy’s (Similar & Similar)

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of wearing black, gray and other neutrals. Bright colors and prints also have a place in my wardrobe; however, I stick with a neutral color palette for most of my work outfits. The gray tunic and black pants, worn in the outfit above, are two of my favorite items to style. Each piece can easily serve as a base for several outfits.

Remember the ‘quality over quantity’ rule when purchasing items for your wardrobe. #wnjstyle

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As I search the web for wardrobe additions, of course, I’ve found several options from Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack. Both stores carry multiple brands that fit several plus size body types. They also sell quality clothing. The price doesn’t always dictate the quality of an item, but when shopping at these stores that’s sometimes the case. While rebuilding and adding to my minimal wardrobe, I’m all about quality over quantity. Therefore, I’m willing to spend a little extra to make sure I stick to that rule.

Pants: Carlson, Nordstrom (same) // Top: Sejour, Nordstrom (same) // Sneakers: Converse, Nordstrom (same)

So tell me, what do you think about my latest minimal outfit? Are you a fan of the 3 minimal wardrobe options from Nordstrom? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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Personal Style | The Start of my Minimal Wardrobe

March 10, 2016 by Whitney 8 Comments

For the longest time, I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a minimal wardrobe. About 2 1/2 years ago I started going through my closet more frequently and figuring out what I really wore often. After doing this I realized that I only wore about 50% of what was in my wardrobe. At this time I was big on thrifting, so the number of thrifted items packed in my closet was astronomical. Well, probably not that bad, but you get the picture.

It was then I realized it was time to cut back on my random thrifting trips and possibly give the whole minimal wardrobe thing a try. Before you read on, here’s my definition of minimalism, which is a combination of two definitions I stumble upon recently from Joshua Becker, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus:

Minimalism – A lifestyle designed to inspire others to live their best lives while owning fewer possessions, as well as a tool that can help you achieve freedom. (i.e. financial freedom, freedom from fear, worry, overwhelm, etc.)

When hubs and I downsized to our new apartment, I already had the idea of a minimalist lifestyle in my mind. I knew I had to research a little more first; I don’t like to jump into things and change my routine without researching. Even after the research phase, I’m all about subtle changes here and there. So the whole downsizing decision kick-started my minimalism quest and I decided to start with my wardrobe. Below are 3 things I’ve realized during the process.

Minimizing your wardrobe should be a gradual and well thought-out process. #wnjstyle

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1. Minimizing your wardrobe doesn’t have to be drastic. | You don’t have to throw out or give away everything you own; it’s not that serious. This decision should work for your lifestyle, period. If your lifestyle calls for more than 9 pieces in your wardrobe, so be it. If you need 21 pieces to create a minimal wardrobe, great! It’s all up to you and no one should dictate how many items you should or should not have in your closet.

2. A minimalist wardrobe saves time AND money. | Deciding to create a minimal wardrobe saves time in the morning when getting dressed, as well as MONEY. Just think about the money you’ll save on clothing, shoes, and accessories when shopping. Deciding to “go minimal” takes time and careful planning, but in doing so you’re sure to have a couple coins left over in your bank account. Can’t beat that!

3. Minimalism doesn’t have to stop with your wardrobe. | If you decided to go this route as far as your wardrobe, why not try a full on minimalist lifestyle? Get rid of the clutter and unnecessary items in your closet, kitchen cabinets, bookshelf, bathroom, etc. Freeing up space in other areas of your home will help you feel more at ease. Once you have that down pat, you can even try the minimalism approach in other areas of your life too!

Creating a minimal wardrobe saves time AND money. #wnjstyle

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Minimal Wardrobe & Lifestyle Reference Links

So tell me, do you have a minimal wardrobe? Have you thought about living a minimalist lifestyle? Let me know!

All in all, I’m on a quest to continue living a God-centered, happy and simple life, while living with less. I’ll be sharing more of my thoughts and changes as I go through this process. If you have any tips, links or suggestions that may help, feel free to send them to me. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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