Week Of Outfits Series: A Week Of Minimalist Uniform-Inspired Outfits With Jasmine Hwang From The Pleb Life
A Week Of Outfits With Jasmine Hwang From The Pleb Life
The Good Trade’s Week of Outfits Series highlights women that have personally inspired us to shop and live with intention! Each woman takes her own unique approach to slow fashion and demonstrates how beautifully sustainable fashion can come to life. Today we’re excited to share a week of outfits from Jasmine Hwang, the minimalist style blogger behind The Pleb Life!
// ABOUT JASMINE //
Age | 28
Location | Los Angeles, CA
Occupation | Fourth Grade Teacher at an Arts Integrated School
Where to Find Her | Instagram and The Pleb Life blog
Favorite Sustainable/Ethical Brand | There’s just so many to choose from, but I think my heart will always go back to Everlane because it was my entry point into ethical fashion, and it’s also the one I default to as it matches my style the best. Other favorites are Free Label, Suunday, Nisolo, and Sotela.
———
My relationship with fashion has had its ups and downs. What first started as an introvert’s blank canvas for self-expression without saying a word, grew into a prison for my body-shaming beliefs and insecurities. I started my first fashion blog at 19 years old, before I knew the idea of “body positivity” and “self love,” but even still, I wanted to show that you didn’t have to be a size zero to be stylish.
I lost sight of this in the years that followed: as my body changed and grew bigger, my love for fashion shrank with every meltdown in dressing rooms and with every pair of jeans that wouldn’t go past my knees. It took me almost a decade later to find that body positivity again.
“The vicious cycle of buying and purging needed to stop once and for all, and so I went down the rabbit hole of the Capsule Wardrobe—finding minimalism, slow living, and ethical fashion along the way.”
Let’s fast forward to about a year ago. I was having yet another closet-full-of-clothes-but-nothing-to-wear moments. My side of the closet was bursting (I currently share a small closet in a 400 sq. ft. apartment with my boyfriend). Enough was enough. The vicious cycle of buying and purging needed to stop once and for all, and so I went down the rabbit hole of the Capsule Wardrobe—finding minimalism, slow living, and ethical fashion along the way.
Starting with over 200 items of clothing to now owning a little less than 70 (with a goal of getting to about 50), I’ve let go of so much in the past year—and not just ill-fitting clothes! I’ve let go of shame for gaining weight; insecurities that limited me to wearing only certain things that supposedly flattered my shape best; and any FOMO for passing trends. And I gained so much more: an unapologetic confidence in my body, my style, and my values.
“I’ve let go of shame for gaining weight; insecurities that limited me to wearing only certain things that supposedly flattered my shape best; and any FOMO for passing trends.”
In this last year, I’ve also transitioned my wardrobe to being mostly monochromatic. I’ve learned to embrace simplicity and my penchant for black clothes (but seriously, if it’s not black, I most likely will not wear it) and for repeating outfits and silhouettes.
My approach to fashion is all about being a more mindful consumer—mindful in how much and what I buy, and also mindful in who made my clothes and what materials are they made of. My clothes have to make sense for my lifestyle. In letting go of 70% of my wardrobe, I had to come to terms with the fact that this lifestyle is not like everyone else’s, and that’s more than okay. I had to figure out what I actually will wear, rather than what I might need or what I should have.
I realized that I don’t go out very often, so I could let go of all of those sequined, embroidered tops (along with the idea that I had to have clothes to go out in). I realized that if it’s not comfortable, I will not wear it—no matter how cute it is or how good it looks on me. I realized that if it’s not simple, I will not wear it. I realized that I’m not a skirt kind of gal, and that’s okay! Most importantly, my clothes have to make me feel good. I will never let clothes bully me again into thinking that I am less than or that I’m not someone worthy of love.
Recently, I’ve gone down the path of minimalism of uniform dressing. I realized that having a uniform (or two or three) is the ultimate demonstration of confidence. As Manrepeller said, you’ve reached a fashion state of nirvana. You’ve finally figured out what works for you, your body, and your lifestyle, and you’re not letting clothes speak for you; rather, you are wearing your clothes and not the other way around. So as you will see in my week of outfits, I strive for uniform dressing—to have outfits or silhouettes that are failsafe so that I can focus on more important things in my life.
“Most importantly, my clothes have to make me feel good. I will never let clothes bully me again into thinking that I am less than or that I’m not someone worthy of love.”
// Find Jasmine Online //
Instagram // Website // YouTube // Pinterest
Sunday
On the first Sunday of every month, we head to the Pasadena City College Flea Market—mostly just to walk around and get some fresh air in. But every once in a while, we’ll stumble upon a gem like this basket bag! A comfortable outfit is a must for Flea Market mornings!
Today’s Pieces:
Free People T-Shirt & Jumpsuit
Thrifted Basket Bag
Nisolo Slides
Monday
Mondays are hard enough without worrying about what to wear, so I usually go with a version of jeans and a tee. This easy and breezy gauze dolman top from Suunday is an easy pick. Some fun earrings are always a great way to distract from tired eyes!
Today’s Pieces:
Suunday Gauze Dolman Top in Parchment
Muji Cotton Wide Leg Pants
Secondhand Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag
Etsy Earrings
Nisolo Isla Slides
Tuesday
Another uniform I have is: wide-legged pants with a graphic tee. This look always makes me feel a little more creative and never fails to add a bit of pep into my step. I practically lived in these Muji wide leg cotton pants all summer long. They’re made from organic cotton and are definitely one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe.
Today’s Pieces:
Madewell Graphic Tee
Muji Cotton Wide Leg Pants
Secondhand Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag
Nisolo Slides
Wednesday
I’m usually crawlin’ by Wednesday to get to the weekend, so I always fall back on my uniforms. This is one of them: high-waisted pants, a crop tank, a cardigan, and some slides. These Sunday pants from Free Label are one of my favorite pieces that I own. Everyone needs a pair of pants like these!
Today’s Pieces:
Free Label Rachelle Cardi Robe
Free Label Sunday Pants
Sotela Lyla Crop 2.0
Secondhand Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag
Nisolo Slides
Thursday
With a mostly black wardrobe, an all black look is pretty normal for me. I love swapping out a basic tee for a linen one to make me feel a little more put together just in case I decide to go out for happy hour with my coworkers after work.
Today’s Pieces:
Muji Linen Tee
Muji Cotton Wide Leg Pants
Secondhand Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag
Dolce Vita Espadrille Mules
Friday
After purging one too many polka-dotted and loud floral clothes, I’ve learned that stripes and small florals are the only patterns that I’ll ever really wear. This is a variation of Monday’s uniform and has been my go-to lately as Fall hasn’t quite hit LA just yet.
Today’s Pieces:
Everlane Tee
Free Label Sunday Pants
Secondhand Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag
Nisolo Slides
Saturday
Living in LA, you wouldn’t think going to the beach would be so infrequent but it is! My boyfriend and I have been trying to make more of an effort to go though because it is such a great place to unplug and let the stress from the week wash away. Whenever I go to the beach, I take my fedora from Equal Uprise.
