SO GOOD QUOTES

I found solace in simplicity. As I sold those few remaining pieces and began replacing them, I decided I would wear only four colors: black, white, gray, and blue. From now on, my clothes would feature no logos. No bullshit. Everything would be elemental. Streamlined. Stripped.

Adopting a set of rules like this saved time and energy, and idiot-proofed packing. It also made my grotesque levels of accumulation almost impossible. If something didn’t work with the rest of my closet, it’d never slip past the front gates.

Because I still loved fashion, and knew (to a fault) all the subtle distinctions of all the different labels, I thought carefully about the clothes that best represented my own true self. I decided I wanted two new pairs of plain jeans—black and blue. Two pairs of understated sneakers, some black boots, a cashmere crewneck sweater, a parka, a handful of white cotton tees, and a perfectly faded denim jacket. Plus one lone suit—black cotton, garment-washed—from the SoHo outpost of Aussie tailor Patrick Johnson.

This assortment of 20 or so pieces could get me through eight months of the year. Since I’d have only a small pile of clothes, everything could be great quality. And I’d get to wear my favorite things all the time. No more standing in front of my closet guessing; I’d just get up, put something on, and go.

There’d be no more costuming. No more pretending. Ostentatious clothes couldn’t protect me anymore, a fact that actually gave me strength. Maybe I didn’t need them to.

I Surrendered My Wardrobe
Sean Hotchkiss