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Wardrobe Update…

I have had another ruthless declutter of my wardrobe, as I was finding that I have been doing a bit of shopping with the intention of replacing items, but I haven’t actually been getting rid of the original items. I had so many clothes still ‘hiding’ within my draws. I have spent time over the last couple of weeks analysing my clothes, yet again, and I am already feeling less overwhelmed now that I have parted with those items I didn’t truly love. This process made me realise that I have not quite enforced the quality above quantity mantra that I so desperately want to incorporate into my life.

I think I can say that I have finally nailed my colour palette (black, grey, tan, blue, red, khaki, blush pink, a touch of white/ cream, denim and stripes) and will be extremely particular with everything I purchase going forward. I want to love and feel comfortable and confident in everything I own. I have also identified that I love shopping and fashion, so completely banning myself from buying clothes is a very unrealistic goal. When I am making a purchase though, I really have to ask myself whether I absolutely love the item and can identify multiple ways that I can wear it, otherwise I know that I will regret the purchase and it will end up in the donation bag.

Over the past few weeks I have been investigating sustainable fashion through the documentary ‘The True Cost’ and a through some blogs/ YouTube channels (my Favourites are Useless and Mademoiselle- see links below). The information in these resources have opened up my eyes to the damaging effects of the fashion industry and how being a consumer of (cheap) clothing really has an impact on others and on the environment. Although I’ve gotten rid of so many things over the last year and a half, I have also overhauled and purchased lots of new items. Some of these items have been relatively cheap, hence I admittedly have still been buying into the ‘fast fashion’ industry and over consuming…

After being inspired by these sustainable influences, I spent time attempting to fix and refresh some of the pieces in my wardrobe that fit my style, are good quality and worth holding onto. I mended a few holes, washed out small stains, soaked my white garments and played around with a few items that I don’t wear much and figured out how to style them in different ways. I also invested in a small device by Philips, which works to get rid of pilling on knitwear and it has had an amazing effect on my clothes, particularly my merino wool knits as they look almost brand new (see link below). It felt good to make some more sustainable choices and fall in love with some of these older pieces again!

The more I analyse, the more I realise that less really is more. Since in Melbourne, Australia it is somewhat unnecessary to have seasonal capsule wardrobes, as the seasons overlap so much, I have come up with a system that I am really excited to try; this involves me only allowing myself to purchase five new items for every season. This will ensure that I am seriously considering my purchases and only choosing the absolute best of what is on my wishlist, even if it means making some slightly more expensive purchases. I think this will mean that in the long run I will be able to save more money, because all those small additions into my wardrobe will be eliminated and spontaneous shopping trips won’t happen as much.

I love the idea of giving myself a challenge and an opportunity to research which pieces I want to add to my wardrobe for the upcoming season. This strategy gives me a bit more structure to shopping (even more than my current wish list). I cannot wait to start the process with narrowing down the Spring wardrobe additions I have on my list so far!

Links:

- The True Cost Documentary- watched via Netflix

- Use less (Signe)- http://www.uselesswardrobe.dk/

- Mademoiselle (Jamie Lee Burns)- https://www.mademois-elle.com/

- Philips Pill Remover/ Fabric Shaver- https://www.philips.com.au/c-p/GC026_00/fabric-shaver

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If you’re looking for great financial tips and tricks, check out Canna Campbell’s book ‘The $1000 Project’. Canna was a great inspiration to me and was one of the big motivations in my life that made me determined to change my lifestyle and make better financial decisions. I now spend money a lot more consciously and have become a very savvy saver! A great achievement of mine was writing a small piece that was published in the book. I feel very honoured that my words feature with Canna’s, and I hope that my small contribution will be motivational to someone else out there…

[rhian-leah-blog]

The truth behind my quest to living a more simple life...

Welcome to my blog! This is a space where I can share all my loves in life, the things that make me really excited and motivated to live my best life and be my best self.

At about this time last year (February 2017), I discovered minimalism and the idea of living a simple yet more fulfilled life. Up until this time I always felt so confused and overwhelmed with the vast amount of choices available to me and found myself constantly shopping. I had no idea what my own personal style was but continued to buy clothes, shoes, accessories, home decor, skincare and beauty products in excess. I began to feel guilty every time I purchased something new, but my constant dissatisfaction of my belongings caused me to continue spending my money and accumulating ‘stuff’ that was very quickly forgotten about.

As I began to research minimalism in more depth, something clicked in my mind and I realised that I had to get rid of everything that I didn’t absolutely love. Purging the cupboards and wardrobes in my house was so therapeutic. I removed anything that didn’t bring me happiness or add value to my life. I continued this decluttering process over the course of the year and donated approximately half of my belongings to charity; I even stumbled across items that I was able to sell, which was a huge bonus!. Admittedly, I also spent the year figuring out what my own personal style was and in turn overhauled my entire wardrobe so that it reflected ‘me’.

One whole year of analysing everything I owned has left me with a very carefully selected collection of belongings which complement each other and make me feel happy. I also have a clutter free home which is carefully organised so that everything has its own place. This journey to a more minimalistic life has not only helped me to save so much more money for my future, but it has also enabled me to feel so much more peaceful, centered and grounded everyday.

Below is a list of my favourite YouTube channels, blogs, books and documentaries that were invaluable resources for me on my journey…  

YouTube Channels

Sugar Mamma TV- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4Apd1uiOZ368g9YEN4A1RQ?disable_polymer=true

The Anna Edit-

https://www.youtube.com/user/ViviannaDoesMakeup?disable_polymer=true

Kitty Cotten-

https://www.youtube.com/user/kittycotten

Blogs

The Anna Edit

https://www.theannaedit.com/

Books

The Curated Closet- Anuschka Rees

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up- Marie Kondo

Documentary

Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things