Lessons from a wannabe Steve Jobs minimalist.
I have never been fashionable. From wearing the iconic “RAWR means I love you in dinosaur shirt” to dressing like a wealthy suburban mother as a teenager, I have struggled to define my personal style.
Luckily, this all changed when I lived out of a backpack for the majority of one year. I have found my style.
Meet the three-piece combo aka wannabe Steve Jobs wardrobe: turtleneck + jeans + sneakers.
It really can’t get more basic than this. Most days of the week you can find me wearing some variation of this outfit. That being said, I have different sleeve/jean length for different seasons, shoes/coats based on the weather, formal outfits (like blazers and black skirts), and workout clothing. The premise is that I wear variations of the same outfit (almost) every day regardless of the season or place.
Long story short, if you are someone like me who can’t figure out how to dress, you should adopt the Steve Jobs wardrobe formula and here’s why:
1. You can roll out of bed and look put together.
Maybe this is what Steve was thinking or Einstein or Obama. Either way, everyone can agree upon one thing, it saves your brain from having one more decision to make.
You may be thinking, no thanks I hate jeans, and turtlenecks are boring — no worries. The whole point of having an outfit formula is that you can always have something that you absolutely love to wear. Something that makes you feel confident. Find the wardrobe combo that works for you (shirt, pant, shoes). Modify it to fit with your personal and professional life.
If you can find the outfit that works for you then all of a sudden mornings become more peaceful. Instead of choosing an outfit, you can take that extra time for you like sleeping in or making yourself a beautiful breakfast!
2. You stop going shopping frequently.
When you love what you wear then you won’t constantly be on the lookout for new clothing. Shopping less frequently has two benefits: less money spent on clothing + less waste produced.
To make the transformation, it is key to purchase high-quality pieces that fit you well. This could be from a sustainable brand (more expensive) or a used clothing store. Either way, you want to make sure that the limited wardrobe you have is built to last (good materials) and is flatting on you (good fit).
If you adopt this wardrobe then shopping becomes less of a need and more of something you do when you have an occasion. My favourite part? You don’t feel tempted to follow new trends, therefore, you are helping to reduce the demand for fast fashion.
3. You can STILL get funky with it.
Now, you can keep this simple and buy the exact same shirt for each day (which I think is a bit extreme). Or you can spice things up (if space isn’t an issue). This formula does not have to be boring.
Go to a local market and find some handmade colourful jewelry, raid your grandma's closet for a scarf, or (my personal favourite) get funky socks.
If you have a more formal event that your three-piece outfit won’t work for then add some accessories, splurge on a high-quality formal outfit, or hop over to a local used shop and go on a treasure hunt. Whatever your situation or whatever your budget, you can make this work because remember, the goal is to create a simple wardrobe that makes you feel good and doesn’t stress you out.
4. You can celebrate it with friends.
I’ve consistently worn variations of black turtlenecks for years and it has been a running joke with my friends. So when I moved back to Paris with my backpack of limited clothing I decided to turn it into an event.
Inspired by the French tradition of having crémaillère (housewarming parties), I had my friends over to celebrate my new apartment + have some fun. Complete with an apple-themed cocktail and a mandatory Steve Jobs dress code, we had a blast.
What’s worked for me may not work with you. Maybe you like to have fun with your clothing and take pride/joy in picking out your outfits every day. You go do that! However for those of you that do not like the extra decision in the morning, I highly recommend trying this out!
Cheers,
Tara
