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I've never really understood this argument: "I'll own very few clothes because..." This saves me from worrying about 'outfits' Are there really people who are

I've never really understood this argument: "I'll own very few clothes because..." This saves me from worrying about 'outfits' Are there really people who are so wracked with indecision about their sartorial choices that they'd rather just... not make any? (The whole Steve Jobs single outfit thing was obviously just an affectation.)

mattnewton 10y ago
Obama also has commented on his choice to have only one kind of suit. I have a few friends who do the same. Not saying that it makes you Obama or Steve but it isn't uncommon to optimize that part of life away once you have a suitable outfit that looks good.
- chris_7 10y ago
  http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/media/images/77245000/jpg/_77245786_aptopixobama_logi.jpg http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/media/images/77245000/jpg... Unless he just means "two button, notch lapel", but that's not really one kind of suit.
  - mattnewton 10y ago
    That is funny actually because people made a big deal about it, so when you are the president and have people paying attention to what you wear that gives you another reason to just stick to one good choice. My source was this article, maybe Obama doesn't always follow his own advice: https://www.fastcompany.com/3026265/work-smart/always-wear-the-same-suit-obamas-presidential-productivity-secrets https://www.fastcompany.com/3026265/work-smart/always-wear-t...
emidln 10y ago
I started doing this with socks. I bought a package of black crew socks and packed away all of my other socks. It simplified a little bit of my life, and I never unpacked the other socks. I eventually bought in for the rest of my wardrobe. It's nice not needing to stop and think "does this go together?" (or the equivalent of my wife saying "you can't go out looking like that!")
ftrflyr 10y ago
I've aways done this. I don't do it to be minimalistic but rather as a way to just not have a ton crap around. I also don't wash my hair with soap. Again, no real reason other than I don't feel the need to.
aaachilless 10y ago
I'm not sure this is how the author is thinking about it. It's probably more like "I'll only have a few pieces of clothing, so I need to make sure they all match."
oxplot 10y ago
It depends on how much making decisions annoy you. For me, it's a great annoyance, not just in regards to what to wear, but what to eat, what brand to buy, etc. So I devise methods to limit my choices or eliminate it altogether. With clothes it's easy — have multiple copies of the same shirt. Similarly with food, I just order daily specials.
- dougmwne 10y ago
  I like making decisions, generally speaking. I also recognize that each comes with a cognitive cost and if I streamline some of the minor ones, I'll have more energy each day.
Disruptive_Dave 10y ago
I don't think it's about an extreme difficulty with choosing clothing. I think daily life's improvements happen in between the lines; series of small decisions we can make that have a larger effect on us when taken together. It's about freeing up space little by little as opposed to monumental changes (which are much more challenging to implement and maintain).
yodsanklai 10y ago
Personally, I don't have problems to choose clothes to wear in the morning, but I don't like deciding what clothes to buy (there's always someone to criticize). It's tempting to buy several versions of the same item, but people around you may think you're dirty because you wear the same thing everyday.
johnchristopher 10y ago
> Are there really people who are so wracked with indecision about their sartorial choices that they'd rather just... not make any? Hi, I am one of them. Feel free to ask me anything :).

mattnewton 10y ago

Obama also has commented on his choice to have only one kind of suit. I have a few friends who do the same. Not saying that it makes you Obama or Steve but it isn't uncommon to optimize that part of life away once you have a suitable outfit that looks good.

chris_7 10y ago
http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/media/images/77245000/jpg/_77245786_aptopixobama_logi.jpg http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/media/images/77245000/jpg... Unless he just means "two button, notch lapel", but that's not really one kind of suit.
- mattnewton 10y ago
  That is funny actually because people made a big deal about it, so when you are the president and have people paying attention to what you wear that gives you another reason to just stick to one good choice. My source was this article, maybe Obama doesn't always follow his own advice: https://www.fastcompany.com/3026265/work-smart/always-wear-the-same-suit-obamas-presidential-productivity-secrets https://www.fastcompany.com/3026265/work-smart/always-wear-t...

emidln 10y ago

I started doing this with socks. I bought a package of black crew socks and packed away all of my other socks. It simplified a little bit of my life, and I never unpacked the other socks. I eventually bought in for the rest of my wardrobe. It's nice not needing to stop and think "does this go together?" (or the equivalent of my wife saying "you can't go out looking like that!")

ftrflyr 10y ago

I've aways done this. I don't do it to be minimalistic but rather as a way to just not have a ton crap around. I also don't wash my hair with soap. Again, no real reason other than I don't feel the need to.

aaachilless 10y ago

I'm not sure this is how the author is thinking about it. It's probably more like "I'll only have a few pieces of clothing, so I need to make sure they all match."

oxplot 10y ago

It depends on how much making decisions annoy you. For me, it's a great annoyance, not just in regards to what to wear, but what to eat, what brand to buy, etc. So I devise methods to limit my choices or eliminate it altogether. With clothes it's easy — have multiple copies of the same shirt. Similarly with food, I just order daily specials.

dougmwne 10y ago
I like making decisions, generally speaking. I also recognize that each comes with a cognitive cost and if I streamline some of the minor ones, I'll have more energy each day.

Disruptive_Dave 10y ago

I don't think it's about an extreme difficulty with choosing clothing. I think daily life's improvements happen in between the lines; series of small decisions we can make that have a larger effect on us when taken together. It's about freeing up space little by little as opposed to monumental changes (which are much more challenging to implement and maintain).

yodsanklai 10y ago

Personally, I don't have problems to choose clothes to wear in the morning, but I don't like deciding what clothes to buy (there's always someone to criticize). It's tempting to buy several versions of the same item, but people around you may think you're dirty because you wear the same thing everyday.

johnchristopher 10y ago

> Are there really people who are so wracked with indecision about their sartorial choices that they'd rather just... not make any? Hi, I am one of them. Feel free to ask me anything :).