With the decluttering and Marie Kondo-izing zeitgeist everywhere these days, you’ve probably disposed of your obscure culinary spice collection, pitched that box of notes from high school and started a Minimalist Goals board on Pinterest (OK, maybe that’s just me). But have you thought about paring back your wardrobe, too?

Earlier this year, art director Matilda Kahl’s story about why she wears the same thing to work every day went viral, and people everywhere briefly considered trying this themselves, before deciding against it. Wearing the same thing every day isn’t for most of us. But a tiny, well-planned work wardrobe has tons of advantages, both in the office and outside of it. Here are three big ones.

1. It’s easy on the wallet. – StatsCan reports that in 2013, the average Canadian household spent 4.5% of its
total expenditures on clothing; for many of us, that can add up to thousands of dollars per year. Avoid the trap of impulse buys and “but it’s on sale!” moments by making a list of each item you need to build a simple but effective working wardrobe. Then – yes – stick to it. If you focus on accumulating versatile, high quality items and buy only what you truly need, you can save yourself a huge amount of money.

2. Less stress getting dressed. In 1930, the average woman owned a total of 9 outfits; today, that number has jumped to 30, one for every day of the month. It’s no wonder that selecting a decent outfit in the bleary-eyed morning hours can be so stressful. Keep your clothing options down to a few great outfits that you can mix and match, and you’ll never start the day with a bout of decision fatigue again.

3. Always look fantastic. It might sound obvious, but sticking to a limited palette of pieces that fit great, work well together and suit your personal style pretty much guarantees that you’ll never head to work looking
unkempt, clashy or dressed in a random assortment of things out of the laundry bin. And aspiring minimalists take note: if you’re not a white shirt + black pants type (like Kahl), remember that a small wardrobe doesn’t have to be boring. Seek out the colours, fabrics and patterns that you’re naturally drawn to, and consider how any new purchases will fit together with pieces you already have.

Need some inspiration to get started creating the perfect small wardrobe of your dreams? The Project 333 and Into-Mind blogs have lots of great tips.

Happy downsizing!