Simple Living

2026 Wardrobe Upgrade Plan: Investing in Timeless Staples As I look ahead to 2026, my goal is to refine and elevate my wardrobe with quality pieces from trusted brands. I’m building a versatile lineup of essentials that combine classic style, function, and long-term value. Total Planned Investment Ralph Lauren Essentials – $430   Footwear – $50 Uniqlo Basics – $135 Other - $40 Grand Total – $655 1. Ralph Lauren Essentials – $430 Leveling up my casual rotation with timeless pieces from Ralph Lauren: Polo Shirt – Navy: $65 Polo Shirt – White: $65 Polo Sweater – Quarter Zip (Navy): $100 Polo Sweater – Crew Neck (Navy): $100 Polo Sweater – Cable Knit (Tan): $100 2. Footwear Refresh – $50 Replacing everyday sneakers with iconic styles: Adidas Stan Smith : $50 3. Everyday Basics – $135 Building a strong base with versatile t-shirts from Uniqlo: 6 tees in Blue, Gray, Navy, Black (x2), and White Estimated average price: $22.50 each 6 x $22.50 = $135 ...

My Backpack Rotation: A Bag for Every Purpose Over time, I’ve built a small but functional backpack collection tailored to different aspects of my routine—from travel to work, and even document storage. Here’s how each one plays its part: Adidas Foundation V (33L) – Travel companion : lightweight, spacious, thin material that compresses easily Dakine Duel (26L) – Work bag : ergonomic, durable, a balanced blend of structure and flexibility Nike Utility Speed (27L) – Utility/EDC pack : rugged, boxy silhouette with stiff fabric Nautica 18" (28L) – Home storage : discreet and firm, maintains shape well (1) Travel: Adidas Foundation V 33L Product Code: EX6630 For travel, I rely on the Adidas Foundation V —the largest in my lineup at 33 liters, yet also the lightest. It’s made from a thin, malleable material that’s easy to pack and compresses down when not fully loaded, giving it a sleek, low-profile silhouette. It’s accompanied me on multiple international trips a...

My 2025 Wardrobe Refresh: A Balanced, Minimalist Approach For 2025, I’ve given my wardrobe a major refresh, replacing almost all my shirts. Some of them had been in rotation for four years and no longer looked their best. Since shirts are relatively inexpensive to replace, I’ve decided on a simple rule: each shirt gets 30 daily wears before being retired. With 12 shirts in my rotation, that means they’ll last me a full year (360 days). I’ve also replaced both my jeans and shorts.  As they are also inexpensive I’ll replace them annually as well and budget them for 180 daily wears as a benchmark for replacement. Total is about $300 per year to achieve this.  Not that bad at all. Streamlining to a 50-Item Wardrobe I’ve also standardized my entire wardrobe to 50 items, which strikes a perfect balance between redundancy and choice—enough variety to cover all occasions without feeling overwhelming. This setup keeps my style consistent and effortless while ensuring I always have fres...

Annual Wardrobe Review: Streamlining My Collection I'm currently going through my annual wardrobe review and making a conscious effort to streamline my collection. My goal is to reduce my inventory to 47 pieces, with plans to further downsize to 45. As part of this process, I’ve let go of 9 items, specifically focusing on Adidas track jackets and all my hoodies. Capsules: Winter & Professional Attire I’ve organized my winter wear into a separate mini-capsule to focus on my main seasonal outfits. Since my work doesn’t require formal dress clothes, I’ve also created a professional dress capsule and culled items I no longer need. Current Inventory *** Planned replacement in 2025 Shirts 👕 - 14 Polo (4) Uniqlo - Polo (Black x3) Burberry - Polo (Green)   T-Shirt (9) Uniqlo - U-Crew (Green, Black) Uniqlo - Airism (Black x2)  Uniqlo - Supima (White x2, Black x3) ***   Gym Shirt: Adidas Black Pants 👖 - 7 Track Pants: Adidas Black Jeans (2): Zara - Dark Denim x2 *** Shorts (1...

Jacket Collection Overview I currently have 9 jackets that cover a range of temperatures: Track Jackets (65 degrees) Adidas - Red - DUO454 - 2019 Adidas - Navy - DUO461 - 2019 Adidas - Black - 2020 Light Jackets (55 degrees) North Face - Venture 2 Raincoat - Navy - 2021 Generic - Bomber - Green - 2023 Polo Varsity Jacket - Navy - 2024 Levi Denim Jacket - Blue - 2024 Middleweight Jackets (45 degrees) Uniqlo - Puffer - Navy - 2021 Winter Jackets (25 degrees) North Face - Ski Jacket - Brown/Green - 2023 Temperature Considerations Temperature ratings also depend on factors such as rain, wind, and sun exposure. For example, I can comfortably wear a track jacket on a sunny day even if it's 50 degrees and there's no wind. I typically layer my jackets with a hoodie or sweater, which adds about 10 degrees of warmth. Winter Layering Winters here don’t typically get colder than 0-10 degrees, so I find the puffer over a hoodie is sufficient. The North Face ski jacket is particular...

Uniqlo Shopping Haul and Wardrobe Updates I recently took advantage of my trip to Korea, where I discovered that Uniqlo prices are about 40% cheaper than in the States and likely even more affordable in Japan. I stocked up on some wardrobe staples and left with a solid haul. Shopping Details: Total Spent : 197,700 Won (approximately $150 USD ) Estimated Cost in the U.S. : About $250 USD , so I saved around $100 . Total Haul: 11 Items Supima T-Shirts (XL) : 6 total (4 Black, 2 White) Airism T-Shirts (XL) : 2 (Red, Green) U Crew T-Shirt (XL) : 1 (Green) Sweaters (XL) : 2 (Gray, Green) I opted for a mix of colors, adding more green and burgundy to my collection, alongside my black, white, and gray staples. The sweaters were a steal at 12,900 Won (around $9.62 USD ), making it hard to resist. Wardrobe Update: I currently have over 54 items in my core wardrobe, and I plan to review and upgrade some of my staples, such as: A quality MA-1 Bomber jacket A pair of Selvedge Jeans I’ve identi...

Time for a Refresh in 2022 I currently have 44 items in my wardrobe with plans to add 7 items (1 jacket, 1 pair of shoes, and 5 shirts). I’ll retire a logo T-shirt to keep my wardrobe to 50 pieces . My Planned 7 Items: Green Bomber Jacket - $30 - DONE Air Jordan 1 Low - $110 - DONE Uniqlo T-Shirts (3 Black, 2 White) - $50-100 - Hold for 2023 My Wardrobe Would Then Rest At: Shirts - 18 Outerwear - 14 Pants - 12 Shoes - 6 2022 Acquisitions and Replacements: Adidas Superstar Shoes (replaced in 8 months…) Nike Court Vision Shoes 9.5 H&M Green Chore Jacket M Green Varsity Jacket L (retired to car kit) Air Jordan 1 Low Update - 12/10/22 I picked up a pair of Air Jordan 1 Low and a Red BR Crew Sweater . I’m done for 2022!

Going Green with Jackets in 2022 This year, I decided to embrace green for my jackets. I splurged on a dark green varsity jacket and an olive green chore overshirt jacket . I'm still waiting for Adidas to restock a collegiate green track jacket that I have my eye on. Finding My Style I’ve found that green suits my wardrobe now that I have all the basics in place and am ready to add a bit of color. My go-to look has become somewhat of a uniform: blue jeans , white shoes , a black or white t-shirt , and a green jacket . This combo really helps break the monotony of sticking to only white, navy, or black jackets. Planned Purchases: Varsity Jacket - $28 - Donated Chore Overshirt Jacket - $40 - Donated Adidas Track Jacket - $40 - Never Bought I opted for entry-level versions of these classic jackets to experiment with styles, colors, and textures, with plans to upgrade to better-quality versions later. The exception is the Adidas track jacket—I already own three and am satisfied wit...

Refreshing My Wardrobe: GAP Sweaters I haven’t worn GAP sweaters regularly since college, but I’ve developed a habit and now have three GAP hoodies and one crew sweater to complement my Uniqlo crew sweaters. Keeping it simple, I opted for mostly white or beige GAP sweaters that pair well with my blue jeans. My navy jackets and tops were clashing, so to break up the monotone blue, I’m going with white tops and white shoes. It’s a very simple, classic, and easy look. I can now sport at least four different white sweaters to mix up my week, along with a black crew neck. My navy GAP hoodie is being reserved for those days when I wear black or khaki pants. I’m so glad my new job allows me to wear hoodies again! I spent three years stuck in slacks and button-down shirts.

General Purpose Backpack Review: Adidas Foundation V I needed a general-purpose backpack that could fit between my casual Jansport and my Dakine hiking bag. After considering my requirements, I settled on the Adidas Foundation V . Here’s my breakdown of the experience. Requirements I had five basic requirements for my new backpack: Black color Polyester material Larger than 26 liters Utility pouches for water bottles Internal compartments for a laptop Options Considered I looked at several choices and was initially drawn to the Adidas Striker II , which was priced at $20. However, since I couldn't find it in black, I opted for the Adidas Foundation V , which costs $27. Here are the options I considered: Jansport Superbreak 501 - $17 Adidas Striker II - $20 Adidas Foundation V - $27 Size and Compartments The Adidas Foundation V offers a spacious 33 liters , which is a significant increase from the 26 liters of my Jansport 501. It features four compartments : A laptop sleeve i...

A Guide to Adidas Track Jackets Adidas track jackets come in various styles and variations, each with unique characteristics. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown based on your observations, highlighting the key features to look for when exploring different models. Key Characteristics Logo Variations in logos are common based on specific models, including the Trefoil and the triple stripe triangle logos. Material Most track jackets are made from either pure polyester or a cotton-poly blend (generally 50/50). Collar Track jackets typically zip up to a pop-up collar . Styles like the Superstar lack a collar. Sleeve Stripes Most models feature the three stripes running along the length of each sleeve, a signature of Adidas branding. Full Zip These jackets open in the front with a full zipper , excluding quarter-zip varieties. Front Zip Pockets Most track jackets have two front pockets that zip up for secure storage. Non-Trefoil Varieties These jackets typically lack a traditional logo ...

My Journey with Baseball Caps I've owned quite a few baseball caps over the years, ranging from fitted and snapbacks to mesh truckers. Generally, I wear a hat either to protect myself from the elements or when I'm feeling lazy and didn’t fix my hair. Minimal Design and Colors In keeping with a minimalist theme, I prefer either single-color black or white hats, with as few designs or logos as possible. It's easy to find a decent baseball cap for about $10 at various discount retailers and even less online from Amazon. Mesh Caps for the Breeze For hot weather or when I anticipate sweating, mesh trucker hats offer the most utility. Otherwise, I favor the classic snapback style and often look for slightly oversized options. Logo Caps In the past, I favored logo caps from my favorite sports teams or name brands. My favorites included a New York Yankees cap and a simple white Adidas logo snapback. Simple is Best By no means do I consider myself an expert; I continue to learn and ...

My Adidas Track Jacket Experience Having tried a variety of jackets and brands, I’ve come to enjoy the simple Adidas Track Jacket - Essentials 3-Stripe with Tricot Weave. Understanding Tricot Weave It was quite interesting to look up what "Tricot" means. It's a type of weave pattern that gives the Adidas jacket its wavy look and texture on one side, while providing a smooth and soft feel on the other. The Tricot weave also enhances the fabric's breathability, making it comfortable for various activities. Color Patterns I’ve settled on the basic colors for my collection: Active Yellow / White Stripe Scarlet Red / Black Stripe Black / White Stripe In addition to these three track jackets, I also have a fourth navy color windbreaker. That should be sufficient in terms of my track jacket collection.

Ideal Wardrobe Update for 2020 I'm getting closer to achieving my ideal wardrobe with a few adjustments planned for 2020. I'm finding that Earth Tones (dark green, light brown/tan), burgundy red , and dark purple complement my style well. I'm planning to reduce my reliance on dark blue in favor of these colors to create a better balance with my black and white basics. Brand Preferences Uniqlo and Adidas I'm increasingly pleased with Uniqlo, which is becoming a larger part of my wardrobe. Adidas is also a favorite for sneakers and sporty jackets. I envision that in a few years, 50-60% of my 51 main clothing items will be from Uniqlo and Adidas. Focus Areas Shoes and Jackets I'll keep my shirts and pants basic, dedicating most of my budget to shoes and jackets. Shoe Choices I'm starting simply to find the ideal shoes and plan to stick with: Converse All Star Adidas Superstar Adidas Samba Nike or Air Jordan Possibly a Puma or Onitsuka 66 . Outerwear I'm con...

Polo Shirt Journey After years of experimenting with various brands, I finally found the perfect Polo shirts . I initially relied on Ralph Lauren exclusively, but their quality has declined, prompting me to explore other options. Brands I've Tried: American Eagle Abercrombie & Fitch Old Navy GAP Banana Republic Foot Locker Armani Exchange Ralph Lauren Tommy Hilfiger Nautica LZOD Moncler Burberry While the higher-priced shirts often boasted better quality, I wasn't keen on spending $50 to $200 per shirt, especially since I needed about 5 to 7 polos. That's when I discovered Uniqlo , which offers excellent options at just $20 each. Initially, I was hesitant about the Uniqlo polos because they have two buttons on the collar, whereas I'm used to three. However, I decided to give them a try, and they fit perfectly. Quality Concerns The big question is whether the collars will hold up over time. This has been a common issue I've faced with most polo shirts. I’ll check...

Uniqlo Supima Cotton T-Shirt Experience I recently had a bit of an adventure with Uniqlo's Supima Cotton T-shirts . After struggling to find a Large size at my local store in the U.S., I asked a friend in Japan to pick some up for me. I was excited to order five shirts, confident that I’d finally have the perfect fit. The Disappointment However, when the shirts arrived, I was shocked to find that the Japan size Large fits more like an American size Medium . This discrepancy was frustrating, especially since I had done some research, but it turns out that vanity sizing often leads to differences in sizes between countries. After realizing that the shirts wouldn’t work for me, I gave them away to another friend. Just by luck, I decided to check my local Uniqlo store, and they had finally restocked Large sizes . I purchased five of the Supima Cotton T-shirts I originally wanted, so the experience ended on a high note. Lessons Learned This whole situation was bittersweet. While I’m ...

Simplifying My Wardrobe with Uniqlo In my quest to simplify my wardrobe, I decided to give Uniqlo a try, despite my skepticism about the quality of fast fashion retailers. I've had mixed results with brands like Zara, H&M, and Old Navy , particularly in finding basic essentials. Here's a summary of my experience so far: T-Shirts: Impressive Quality Purchase : I bought both the Supima Cotton and Dry Packaged lines of t-shirts. Quality : I'm quite impressed with the quality, especially for the price. Size Challenge : I had some difficulty finding them in size large, as I’m in that tricky size range between medium and large. I generally opt for large, hoping it shrinks slightly for a better fit. Oxford Shirts: Satisfied Short Sleeve Oxford : I found a nice light blue oxford short sleeve shirt, which I’m very happy with. Linen Shirt : I also picked up a blue/white plaid linen shirt for just $3.90 . While I would have bought more, the other patterns didn’t suit me as we...

Adidas Clothing Haul I recently took advantage of a 50% off sale at my local Adidas store and picked up two items: a track jacket in red/black stripes and a navy/white stripe windbreaker . I'm quite pleased with both of them! Product Reviews Track Jacket Style : Red/black stripes Use : Great for indoor wear, but not very warm outdoors. The material tends to let the breeze through, making it less effective for cooler weather. Windbreaker Style : Navy/white stripes Use : Phenomenal! It's very lightweight, keeps me warm outdoors, and is water-resistant. This piece has quickly become a favorite for its practicality. Purchase Details Total Spent : About $45 Track Jacket : $20 Windbreaker : $25 While I would have preferred the track jacket in a classic red/white stripe and the windbreaker in royal blue, I'm still satisfied with the current choices and expect to enjoy them for many years. 2019 Clothing Goals This purchase fulfills about half of my clothing needs for 2019. I plan...

Minimalist Wardrobe Journey Several years ago, I adopted a minimalist wardrobe approach, reducing my clothing collection from 175 articles to under 38 pieces . Since then, I have been fine-tuning that number and currently own 45 items as of 2018, with a plan to increase to 48 items in 2019. Transitioning to Minimalism My initial focus was on reducing the total count of clothing items. Now, I am in the process of fine-tuning my wardrobe by identifying specific colors and types of clothing. This ensures a balanced and versatile wardrobe ensemble. Core Colors I have settled on three core colors : Black, Blue, and White . These colors constitute roughly 70% of my total wardrobe. In 2019, I plan to gradually introduce more color choices, notably incorporating a Red Adidas Track Jacket into my collection. Brand Quality In my journey, I have been experimenting with various types of clothing and color choices. Once I am satisfied with a particular type or color, I seek out the best bra...

Minimalist Wardrobe Overview I’ve embraced a minimalist wardrobe for about two years and currently maintain 41 articles of clothing . Here’s a breakdown of my collection: Clothing Inventory Pants (11 Total) Slacks: 5 Jeans: 2 Shorts/Gym: 4 Shirts (20 Total) T-Shirts/Gym: 7 Short Sleeve Shirts: 8 Long Sleeve Shirts: 5 Outerwear (5 Total) Blazer: 1 Jackets: 2 Hoodies: 2 Shoes (5 Total) Dress Shoes: 2 Sneakers: 3 Future Purchases I have a few items in mind for 2018-2019 : White GAP Hoodie Denim Levi Jacket (still considering) Update (12/16/18) I successfully purchased the White GAP Hoodie but decided against the denim jacket for now. I plan to reconsider adding a jacket in 2019, but I’m still uncertain about the brand, style, or type. Closing Thoughts Maintaining a minimalist wardrobe has been rewarding, allowing me to focus on quality over quantity. I look forward to refining my collection further in the coming year.