Tidying according to Marie Kondo begins with the very first category: clothing. I used to believe I had lovely, high-quality pieces and that I knew how to shop smartly. Today, I embrace minimalism in my wardrobe and aspire to a functional capsule wardrobe.
I used to work in a corporate office, and my daily commute led straight through a shopping mall. Far too often, during a lunch break or right after work, I would slip inside and hunt for sale bargains. I convinced myself I was making sensible investments and saving money. In reality, I almost never bought anything that wasn’t heavily discounted.
After my son was born and my maternity leave began, my lifestyle shifted dramatically. We moved outside the city to a house by the forest, and for almost two years, I relished not having to think about clothes, makeup, or shopping at all. For the first time since my teenage years, I gave myself permission to step back completely. There had been a time when I put on makeup just to take out the trash! I immersed myself fully in the present moment with my son: walking through the forest, spending quiet days outside the city, and wearing little more than a handful of nursing tops and babywearing essentials.
After nearly two years of maternity leave, a sudden urge arose to redefine my wardrobe, and I decided to radically declutter my clothes. I worked in stages, peeling back layers like an onion. I started with roughly 900 pieces. It sounds staggering, but if you pause to count every item you own, you will realize it is a surprisingly common number.
During those initial sorting stages, I had not yet discovered the KonMari Method™. Adopting it was what finally allowed me to complete the process once and for all and start with a truly clean slate. Because KonMari emphasizes working with a clear vision, I was able to identify what no longer belonged in my ideal wardrobe or lifestyle, releasing those items with a calm heart. Every single time I sorted through my clothes, new realizations surfaced.
Treasures in the Closet?
I realized I wasn’t parting with genuine treasures. Most were worn-out garments or pieces made from poor-quality fabrics. It surprised me: before decluttering so deeply, my closet was packed to the brim, and I had felt rich in possessions simply because I had bought them on sale. To cut a long story short: after several more rounds, I pared my wardrobe down to roughly 90 pieces, most of which were comfortable home loungewear or athletic clothes. I was ready to begin anew, and I felt genuinely excited.
A Capsule Wardrobe: Minimalism in Everyday Practice
On my journey toward an intentional wardrobe, I attended a lecture and was introduced to the concept of a capsule wardrobe. Stylist Marcela Křížová explained that a capsule wardrobe prioritizes quality over quantity. It represents minimalism in its purest form: owning a curated collection of versatile pieces (around 30) that mix and match effortlessly. I was captivated and eager to build one for myself.
Yet, obstacles soon appeared. I realized I no longer enjoyed traditional shopping. The high-street chains I once frequented offered little inspiration, and their quality no longer resonated with me. Sustainability had become a priority. Time constraints added another layer of friction—I am certainly not the kind of mother who enjoys browsing shopping malls with children in tow.
After much deliberation, I reached out to Marcela to co-create a clear vision for a minimalist wardrobe and discover which styles genuinely suited me. I was ready for change. Looking at older photographs, I noticed my default uniform was almost always a plain t-shirt and jeans. I was tired of continually buying newer iterations of clothes I had already worn out.
Working with a Stylist
It was an eye-opening experience. Marcela and I spent a full day shopping together. I had considered myself open-minded about fashion, only to discover how deeply conservative my personal style actually was. Whenever she pulled a piece for me, I hesitated, wondering if she was joking. A burgundy turtleneck? A polka-dot sweater? A tailored plaid coat? Corduroy trousers?! But I tried on everything.
Not every piece worked—the corduroys were a definite pass—yet I absorbed the essence of a style distinct from what I had worn for years. We bought only a few thoughtful pieces; curating an entire wardrobe in a single afternoon is neither realistic nor aligned with minimalism, which thrives on gradual, intentional curation.
Supporting Mindful & Local Craftsmanship
Reflecting my new vision, I invested in timeless, tailored pieces. At first, I wondered whether I would ever wear them beyond special occasions. Marcela was surprised by my hesitation: “You can easily wear these every day in the city.” To my delight, I felt so comfortable and confident in the new clothes that I have reached for them ever since. (Perhaps not for walks deep in the woods, but everywhere else.) I felt refreshed and feminine.
It became clear to me that investing in quality matters. Mindful purchasing—pausing to evaluate what we bring into our lives, where it originates, and how it is made—is not an indulgence. It directly supports dedicated, local designers while ultimately saving money. Adding up all the cheap sale items that once crammed my closet without being worn revealed a total cost far higher than investing in a single, well-crafted piece. It means trading 20 mediocre sweaters for three exceptional ones that endure for years.
Along with this refined style came a deeper realization: I love being a woman who embraces her femininity without hesitation. There is nothing frivolous or superficial about it. It brings to mind the archetype of the queen: honoring yourself, allowing yourself to invest in what serves you, and wearing pieces that make you feel grounded and authentic. That style can shift across different occasions. The heart of the matter is dressing not for external expectations, but for yourself and your own sense of ease.
I wish you every success as you declutter and cultivate a personal style that truly honors who you are. I wholeheartedly recommend collaborating with a stylist—it offered immense clarity and inspiration, and I value that investment deeply. If you are craving support to clear and realign your own closet, reach out to book an Online consultation Healing Tidying™. Within my Healing Tidying™ philosophy, we treat the foundational stage—envisioning your ideal wardrobe and clarifying your deeper intention—as essential. Our clothing is intimately tied to our identity, and approaching decluttering as a mindful ritual opens the door to meaningful new beginnings. Mindful sorting is always the first step toward a simpler, more grounding wardrobe.
The Healing Tidying™ Book
Drawing on my background as a certified consultant and years of direct client work, I brought together practical decluttering systems tailored for real, imperfect lives. This philosophy rejects rigid dogma and perfectionism in favor of a gentle, sustainable rhythm that anyone can maintain. Families and mothers with young children operate within unique energy constraints; simplifying your space must adapt to your life, not the other way around.
Explore this grounded framework in the book Healing Tidying™—you can get a sample to discover how to simplify your space, let go of emotional baggage, and restore well-being in your home.
