Dealing with clothes practically

Chicas, fashion gurus will not like this post.

What is the point, why do we wear clothes? To protect our body from the environment. High/low temperature, dirt, water, snow, chemicals, physical objects, blah-blah.

People had too much time, couldn't find any other hobby, wanted to sell worthless piece of fabric for mucho dinero, they made a F fashion out of it.

If you are not a 16 year old Tik Tok chica, your priorities should be:

1. function
2. comfort
3. looks & appearance

Let's break it down, the clothes process for an average person:

• buy (or make)
• store
• decide & access
• wear
• wash & dry

The aim with the process is to blow the least amount of time, energy & money, so we can invest it somewhere more exciting: adventure, business, friends & family.

Some practical info and strategies to try out, stick with, if it turns out great.

• 3 categories: clean, used, dirty
• hang, fold, roll or toss
• regular clothes in a closet, inactive in a box
• multi function wear
• natural vs synthetic fibers
• 4 clothing sets: work, home, active, sleep
• wear same or similar colours, preferably dark
• plan & automate wash cycle
• take and wear only one set when travelling
• avoid ironing, dry cleaning & laundry services
• dryer vs drying stand vs hangers
• 30 day waiting list to avoid impulsive shopping
• one in, two out
• quit online shopping apps
• explore retails, stick with whatever works
• buying cheap vs expensive
• avoid buying "one time" stuff
• edit your wardrobe once per year
• set max clothes limit
• check other resources

3 categories: clean, used, dirty

Does it sound familiar: throwing clothes on a chair, from chair onto bed, you wear some of it again, back on a chair, and the process keeps rotating? It is because you have only 2 categories, but you need 3.

• clean: fresh, unused clothes
• used: clothes already in action, but still OK to wear (pick another spot than your chair)
• dirty: clothes to wash

hang, fold, roll or toss

At home: hang t-shirts, long sleeves, jackets. Faster than fold, easy access, drying if wet. Use hangers + chain to maximize vertical space in the closet. Fold pantalones, just toss socks and underwear.

Suitcase/backpack: rolling shirts might save you some space, plus is more visible. Fold bulky items and pants, fill empty spots with socks and underwear.

• packing cube: for better organization, clothing compress
• plastic bags: water protection

Don't overload your drawer, suitcase, backpack. Cannot find shit. When opening, stuff flying out like from volcano. Make it easy, non-annoying access.

regular clothes in a closet, inactive in a box

Season mode: summer time, take your winter clothes out of the closet, place into a box, out of your sight. Do the opposite in winter time.

Active VS inactive, maybe, or reserve: keep clothes in a closet, if you actually wear it, put everything else in a box.

1. if you need it: take the clothes out of the box
2. if you forget about it, even after all 4 seasons have passed: consider selling, donating, throwing it away

multi function wear

A thin long sleeve cotton, regular fit, dark/one colour: can sleep in it, wear it at home, go to work, to funeral, wedding, do exercise. Ready for anything, without planning. On top of, it comes with non-specific maintenance.

On the other hand: Luka Dončić 77 basketball jersey? Not that much all around piece of clothing.

Don't listen to salesmen, they will scream, you need a different piece of fabric for every occassion. Guess what, they are just trying to sell you shit, make profit.

Dress in layers, avoid bulky design. Easier to regulate the body temperature. Easier to fold, carry around. Whole body applicable: head, trunk, hands, feet.

Shout out to a great multi-functional product: a buff. Temperature regulator, wind shield, sun protection. Use it as a headband, beanie, neckwear or face mask. Keep it on your hand as a stand by mode.

Jewelry has no practical function, it is a decoration like a Christmas tree. Absolutely go for it, if you are a rock star on a stage, or a fashion guru. Those big circle earrings looks delicioso on some chicas — support!

natural vs synthetic fibers

Cotton: affordable, comfortable, laundry temperature 40-60°C, wash and dry in the machine. Doesn't dry quick, if you get caught in the rain.

Synthetic: cheap, quick drying, doesn't breath well (not best for your skin), one sweat and it stinks.

Merino wool: expensive as fuck, moisture and temperature regulating, odor neutralizing, hand-wash or 30°C in the washing machine, no dryer, sustainable.

4 clothing sets: work, home, active, sleep

Work uniform: wear whatever fits your function. Hopefully not something tight, uncomfortable. When I was working on a ship, our dishwasher always arrived at his shift with an elegant, white, ironed shirt. Completely unnecessary, but it made him feel rich.

Home outfit: something comfortable and convenient.

• if pajama offers max comfort to sleep in, why not wear it at home during the day?
• changing clothes for home setup, don't forget about underwear, is it comfortable?

Active clothes: good fit, so you don't lose it or have to make constant correction during movement.

Sleep: something loose, elastic free, or just nothing (for good blood flow).

About underwear:

• boxer briefs for all-around wear: workout, outdoors
• boxer shorts/trunks for comfy, loose fit: home, long days at a desk, light activity

wear same or similar colours, preferably dark

No decision making what to wear, if there are 14 gray t-shirts in your closet. No dress preparation the evening before, a decision has already been made: neutral look, killer performance.

If that is too extreme or boring, at least go for similar colours. Take whatever from your wardrobe, it matches the other piece.

Why all dark? Neutral every occasion colour, no separate washing, no colour bleeding. Toss it all together into washing machine.

plan & automate wash cycle

• have a quantity of your style
• setup a frequency
• setup a laundry day

Have 7/14 pair of socks, underwear, t-shirts, wash once per 7/14 days. Go t-shirt a day, towel or two per week. Consume, wear smart.

Wash second layer clothing aka long sleeve/pants once in a while. No need to wash it every week.

Setup another reminder for the bed sheets: once per month (summer time); once per two months (winter time). The bed is for sleeping. Fucking like an animal, spreading body fluids, that brings extra maintenance.

One load, one washing temperature: if you picked material and colours smart.

• general "fabric friendly" washing temperature: 40°C
• to be safer with killing bacteria, viruses: 60°C

Do the 60°C for fabric, that goes directly on your skin: sheets, towels, socks, underwear, undershirt. If not every time, at least every other time. Do the 7/14 days wash on 40°C, the once per month (or two months) on 60°C.

take and wear only one set when travelling

One dress for casual, one for party, one for special occasion, extra "what if" clothes, 3 pairs of shoes, accessories, suitcase 20 kg, queuing for luggage check-in. Forget it!

Pick a set of clothing, 1 reserve, 1 shoes: functional design, smart material.

• move light
• hand-wash daily (or when a chance using shower or the sink)
• dry overnight

Try, practice at home. Could this also be a home, permanent setup?

avoid ironing, dry cleaning & laundry services

Huge blow of money and time. Unnecessary.

Simplify your look, get rid of complicated, special treatment clothes. If it is not:

1. wash
2. dry
3. ready to wear — should it be in your closet then?

Good clothes: functional, comfortable to wear, easy and nonspecific maintenance.

dryer vs drying stand vs hangers

People love drying machines, because you just throw clothes inside.

Working with the stand, it is double work: (1) hang to dry; (2) fold or hang into a closet.

Dry your shirts, long sleeves directly on hangers, just move it to the closet then.

• avoid folding
• avoid hanging it twice: first on a drying stand, and then on hangers

30 day waiting list to avoid impulsive shopping

When you want to buy a new piece of fabric, put it on a waiting list. After 30 days:

• buy it, if the wish is still strong
• skip it otherwise

one in, two out

For every item you buy, two needs to go away: sell, donate, or trash. It is a good declutter technique. Makes you think twice, before getting a new product.

If your wardrobe is already optimized, go with one in, one out.

quit online shopping apps

Stop luring yourself into reckless shopping. Out of your screen, out of your mind.

explore retails, stick with whatever works

The clothing industry is getting out of control: new brands, shops, apps every week. Explore options, find whatever suits you and stick with it. Although, nothing is forever: rediscover.

Huge retails: everything at one place, but might be overwhelming, too many options.
Smaller shops: less products which often leads to an easier decision of what to get.

Quick Frlan's study case

When I need a regular, one colour cotton, I will stop by at Hennes & Mauritz aka H&M, even though I am not a fan of a fast-fashion, polluting clothing industry. The shop is on my way, it is affordable, it works.

When feeling bored or willing to experiment, I will check a 2nd hand store. It is a great concept, clothes being reused, not thrown away.

Non-expensive all around sports gear? Decathlon.

If I expect quality or specific function, I will go to specialized outdoor/work wear shops. In Ljubljana, this means something like Kibuba, Iglu Šport, Zavas. I never remember, but might be worth a visit: army shop. Who needs better equipment than soldiers?

What also works:

• inherited clothes from your siblings, friends, flatmates
• gifted, commercial stuff: I work on a project once a year, receive 5 regular cotton t-shirts; what's wrong with them, except for the annoying commercial sign?
• lost & found: university, hostels; when cycle travelling, I changed my whole wardrobe at hostel's lost & found; people get drunk, have to catch a plane, they forget half of their stuff, even F shoes

buying cheap vs expensive

Buying cheap is a lottery: might be good, might tear out fast with regular use. The saying goes: "buy cheap, buy twice".

When doing groceries in Aldi or Lidl, do you go for an opportunistic cheap clothing buy? I bought two shorts. I have been wearing the first pair almost every day for the last 2 years, material still going strong. The second pair: got torn after a couple of hikes. Buy, but don't expect much.

Buying expensive:

• to show off a brand logo, top left corner: nonsense
• for quality, function, duration: reasonable investment

Don't go cheap on functional shoes: hike, run, working with your feet all day long. (1) Might fall apart, when you need it the least (somewhere on the mountain); (2) No material support. I went running 10 km with 30 EUR running shoes. My ankles were on the ground, in pain, after cooling down. Also true: I have got specific feet, extremely flat.

avoid buying "one time" stuff

Do you really need it, can't you replace it with something already in the wardrobe?

Other options: borrow, rent, make. Wedding dresses, Halloween costumes, particular sports gear, etc.

edit your wardrobe once per year

Even with all the rules, even if we try not to, we all accumulate stuff over time.

Go through your wardrobe, get rid of unused, out of date clothing. Clear physical and mental space. Not ready to let it go yet? Hold on with the trash, put it in a maybe box.

Make it a routine yearly activity. Do it more often, if the closet is getting buffed up and you can't find shit anymore.

set max clothes limit

Can you limit yourself, let's say to 30 pieces of clothing?

The marketers make us think, for every occasion, you need a different piece of fabric. It is their job to create up nice stories, to feel connected, to push customers into buying stuff, nobody really needs. No sell = no F profit.

Cut the clutter, set the limit, don't go above.

Free yourself of the unnecessary, create space for stuff, you have always wanted to do, but never had time, remember?

check other resources

Why would you believe me, maybe I am full of garbage!?

Go to zenhabits.net, search archive for "clothes", you will find many interesting, useful articles with similar ideas. What caught my attention:

• Fear Is Why We Have Too Much Stuff
• Rules for Getting Organized & Decluttered
• Edit Your Life, Part 5: Your Wardrobe
• Getting Started With Traveling Ultralight
• Living Lightly With The One-Bag Lifestyle

You can always search something like "simplify clothes" via Google or DuckDuckGo (friendlier, more private search engine), I am sure you will find great results.

Grab a book Simplify Your Life by Elaine James. Interesting to hear it from a female perspective, assuming fashion and clothing is more girly stuff. Tips to read, regarding the clothes:

• 8. Cut Your Laundering Chore In Half
• 9. Stop Buying Clothes That Need To Be Dry-Cleaned
• 22. Build A Simple Wardrobe
• 100. Build A Very Simple Wardrobe