The Year My Wardrobe Went Minimalist
Going from Chaotic Maximalist to Ultra Minimalist, 2024 secondhand buys, wardrobe lessons for 2025
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If you’ve been reading my Substack for the last three months, you might remember that my fashion ethos has always been maximalist. Before this year I’d never met a print, pattern, or dramatic silhouette that I didn’t like and was not averse to wearing all three at the same time.
Then the pandemic came and I started to feel a shift in how I related to my wardrobe once I didn’t have to go into the office…my “wear it all at once” aesthetic began to lose its charm when I didn’t have anything to get dressed up for. Next, 2020’s fashion morphed into oversized, comfort-driven, and structured outfits - matching workout set + white scrunched socks + oversized blazers anyone? It also fueled a hard reset from the form-fitting silhouettes that dominated the last decade and moved normcore into something slightly more sophisticated.
As the pandemic started to wind down, I was doing in-depth research on fashion and cultural trends for work which meant spending vast amounts of time on social media when minimalism was gaining traction, but quiet luxury hadn’t arrived into the cultural zeitgeist yet. Think back to about a year before the double whammy of Gwyneth’s skiing trial and Succession’s ludicrously capacious bag that launched quiet luxury into the mainstream lexicon. For me, this whole ethos felt fresh compared to the stacks of prints in my closet. The continual exposure to minimalist influencers on social media and timeless dressing’s ties to environmental consciousness created a slow drip that eventually led me to overhaul my defining fashion aesthetic.
My 2024 Secondhand Buys
April marked my shift from what I like to think of as a Chaotic Maximalist wardrobe to Ultra Minimalist and I haven’t looked back. Everything in my minimalist pile has been worn multiple times and I’ll probably find a new home for almost everything in my maximalist pile in the new year.
My Best Secondhand Outfit Combos
I keep coming back to these two outfit combos - they’ve given me the confidence to network, have fun evenings out, and give class presentations.
Jeans and a Chic Going Out Top Every Agolde piece is a win since the cpw will be pennies by the end of 2025.
White Lunas: My best 2024 purchase since white denim is a standout color year-round. Even better: they were only $56 on TRR last month. Seasonal colors ftw!
Barrel Legs: The more dramatic leg shape creates a maximalist and minimalist look at the same time, elevating everything that I pair them back to.
Dark Wash Dames: They work equally well with thick-soled sneakers and heeled boots - although not so great with flats since dragging the hem on the ground has created a tear in the cuff that needs mending.
Bodysuit (aka chic going out top): This goes back to all three pairs of jeans and the dark brown makes it feel more special. On
’s Fashion People episode, she talked about how clients are looking for slinkier shapes inspired by Sylvie from Emily in Paris. This bodysuit definitely falls into that category with its draped one shoulder design.Sustainability: Agolde has responsible initiatives that reduce their water, energy, and chemical usage.
Blazers + Structured Jeans I bought two Ganni blazers for a conference this fall and was surprised by how much wear I’ve gotten out of them since. The shaped waist is the perfect antidote to my oversized blazers that are beginning to feel the tiniest bit stale after four years.
Ruched Blazer: Super versatile and a little low cut, I’ve worn this for a night out without a base layer and added a v-neck tank for demure networking. I’ve also worn it with a belt for visual interest.
Buttoned Wrap Blazer: Black with subtle pinstripes, this is the more polished of the two blazers with a faux wrap that gives built-in waist definition.
Responsibility: Ganni is known for their sustainable fashion and next-gen fabrics. Want to learn more about their initiatives? Check out my post below.
Working Out, But Make It Minimalist
Even my secondhand activewear purchases didn’t escape my new minimalism: I bought tonal matching sets (or the closest thing that I could find online) to replace my 10+ year old workout gear with fabric that was deteriorating in the most embarrassing way. A low-key win for my health since my new activewear makes me so much more motivated to go to the gym than my ratty old workout apparel.
Quick PSA for secondhand activewear: if you’re trying to get ahead of a New Year’s resolution to move your body more (same, always) and need workout gear, I highly recommend shopping ThredUp’s activewear section before buying new. There’s so much out there that still has tags or is in top notch preloved condition for a fraction of the price. ThredUp also launched new search technology this year that makes it easier to find items using image search. I have some tips for shopping ThredUp’s activewear section in the post linked below if you’re new to preloved workout gear and aren’t sure how to get started.
Lessons For My 2025 Wardrobe
Some inspiration courtesy of my favorite fashion writers to help me stop buying things I don’t need in 2025.
Avoid the Nostalgic Panic Buy:
brilliant post about panic buying made me take a closer look at the maximalist pieces I bought this year. I realized that they fed into an intense sense of nostalgia, but no longer reflected my style. My Proenza Schouler pleated animal print skirt is the ultimate example of this - I wore it for about three months straight in 2019 thanks to Rent The Runway, but have barely touched this after buying it this year. Harriet’s advice has given me the push to unheart everything on my secondhand wishlist that I loved in the 2010s, but honestly wouldn’t wear today. If you’re feeling the same way, first read the post below and then slowly back away from your nostalgic hearts and look at your wardrobe (and Indyx/Pinterest/mood boards) to see what you’re actually excited about wearing.
More of a Good Thing Does Not Equal Better: Being more selective with what you buy in multiples can maximize your wardrobe. I first saw this on
’s Instagram stories and the below post made it even clearer - in some cases duplicates bring versatility to my closet (my Agolde Lunas), but in others they lead to closet boredom and reduce choice (a preloved blue and yellow Proenza Schouler tie dye top that’s strikingly similar to the one I bought this year, a total one or the other situation for me).
Trust Your Instincts: As
writes, “If I put something on and think, ‘Oh, I can probably make this work,’ it often ends up unworn.” When I bought most of my 2024 maximalist purchases, it was partly because of the nostalgia and partly because everything was highly discounted at secondhand. I was feeling kind of unsure as I added these to cart in one fell swoop and totally unsure when I got my order. Most of these pieces have barely been worn and I plan to find new homes for them in 2025.
That’s it for this week, thanks for reading! If you had any amazing 2024 secondhand buys or if you did a style overhaul this year, please share in the comments below. I’d love to hear more!
This is so good! I loved the view into how you think. My biggest secondhand aha also came from Allison Bornstein -- requiring a full body yes. On every single piece. No "I think I can make it work" or even "I can make it work" -- I don't want to have to "make it" work. I want it working for me like it's on payroll! XX
I appreciate the tip about ThredUps Active Wear because it's probably time for me to reinvest in some new stuff after wearing holes in my current stash.
PS- I loved AB's take on buying multiples.