We recently went to Singapore and I did something totally and completely not minimalist. I bought four pairs of shoes. I know from the beginning of my journey I’ve always said that I’m a minimalist except for shoes but of all the shoes I bought reallyyyyy I only needed one pair.
My sneakers have holes in them so I did manage to find a pair to replace them which all in all I think was a fair purchase that I feel no guilt over whatsoever (especially because they were on sale!!!), but the other three pairs I didn’t exactly need. The other three pairs are work shoes. Two heels and one pair of flats, and when I say work shoes I mean they actually live at my office and I don’t ever bring them home.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I find it much easier to justify purchasing items of clothing or shoes if they are for work. I don’t even mean ‘for work’ in inverted commas and then never actually wearing them to work, I mean I’m genuinely buying items of clothing to wear to work. I’m not sure if it’s that feeling of well…I have to go to work so I have to have something to wear? Whereas if I’m buying casual weekend clothing I feel a touch more guilty…
What is it about something being for work that makes me feel less guilty over it? Makes things more…justifiable? I do work in a fairly formal work environment which is why making the effort and dressing up is actually quiet important.
Whilst we were there I also bought three items of clothing, and two of those were tops for, you guessed it, work! I often feel conflicted, as though I have minimalism pulling me in one direction and the desire for a fresh and updated look in the other.
At the end of the day, Singapore have amazing shoes on offer and we haven’t been able to travel internationally for two years. So? Why shouldn’t I be able to enjoy one of my favourite things? Shoe shopping!
My big question is, does anyone else feel this way? Do you feel less guilty for buying clothes and shoes that are for work as opposed to weekend wear?
This is Minimalism 
If you buy clothes or shoes and you actually wear them then you shouldn’t feel guilty at all. It’s only when perhaps you have a track record of buying items and not actually wearing/using them that you should stop first before you buy and think about it.
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A well balanced perspective!! Thanks for your feedback 😊
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