Pareto's wardrobe

The Pareto principle, the idea that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes, can be a useful lens for everyday life. When I switched to a nomadic lifestyle with only a backpack, I realized it applied to my wardrobe too.

You need less stuff than you think. Living out of a backpack made me more selective about what I really needed.

When I reduced my belongings to fit into one backpack, I found out that I realized I wore about 20% of my clothes 80% of the time. I gave away most of the rest and now wear that small selection all the time.

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A minimalist wardrobe starts with thinking ahead before you buy. I'm following WellBuiltStyle for style advice on Twitter. His advice for men helped shape the wardrobe below. The available Instagram posts illustrate a few of the pieces.

His advice helped me settle on five basic rules:

1. Simple style works. You do not need busy prints or prominent brand logos. Use neutral clothes with no prints and make sure they fit well.
2. The amount of muscle you have will make a big difference in fit and style. Clothes will look better when you are in good shape.
3. There is no need to buy seasonal clothes, except for coats. All buildings have air conditioning and heating nowadays.
4. I now possess 4 t-shirts, 4 long sleeves, 2 pairs of trousers and 2 pairs of shorts. That gives me 8 × 4 = 32 combinations, enough to wear something different every day for an entire month. The key is making sure the pieces work together.
5. Washing machines are everywhere. If you wash your clothes once a week, there is no difference between traveling one week or three months or four years. For me, eight pairs of underwear are enough.

Wardrobe items

Here is an example of how you could build a minimalist wardrobe:

• 4 t-shirts
  • 1 polo shirt
  • 1 v-neck
  • 1 button up
  • 1 fitted sub



• 4 long sleeves
  • 1 henley
  • 1 button up
  • 1 hoodie
  • 1 pullover



• 2 pairs of trousers
  • 1 pair of jeans
  • 1 pair of chinos



• 2 pairs of shorts


• 8 pairs of underwear


• 3 pairs of socks


• 3 pairs of low socks


• 1 pair of sneakers


• 1 spring coat


• 1 winter coat


• Gear
  • 1 cap
  • 1 pair of sunglasses
  • 1 watch
  • 1 belt

T-shirts

Polo

A plain polo with a collar works with both trousers and shorts.

V-neck

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Button up

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Fitted sub

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Long sleeves

Henley

A henley is a collarless shirt with a short row of buttons at the neck.

Button up

I choose a plain long-sleeved shirt that combines with the rest of my wardrobe.

Hoodie

A simple hoodie adds a comfortable layer for cooler days.

Pullover

A plain pullover fits over a T-shirt or shirt without adding a busy print.

Trousers

Jeans

A pair of well-fitting jeans gives me a casual option that works with several tops.

Chinos

Plain chinos are an alternative to jeans when I want a slightly smarter outfit.

Shorts

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