For the majority of my life, I’ve had drawers stuffed full of socks and underwear — not because I necessarily NEEDED that many pairs, but simply because I had them.
Growing up, we almost always got socks and underwear as stocking stuffers, and in college, I got those “free underwear” coupons from Victoria’s Secret almost every month (you know I’m a sucker for freebies!)
My dresser drawers were always neat and organized, but I had significantly more pairs of socks and underwear than I ever needed, especially since I always did laundry at least once or twice a week.
You can’t see it in the picture above, but those clear plastic organizers are stacked 2-high — I had roughly 40+ pairs of socks and underwear! Yikes!
About 4 years ago, right before Simon was born, I decided I was DONE having so much extra. I purged EVERYTHING, because it was either very old and somewhat worn out, or it still had the tags attached if it wasn’t a style I liked (I donated the brand new items).
Then, I went out and purchased 10 of my most favorite pairs of underwear (I love these from Aries — they are often on sale 10 for $30), 7 pairs of white no-show ankle socks, 2 pairs of black dress socks, and 1 pair of Smartwool socks.
Since then, I’ve been wearing the SAME 10 pairs of underwear and the SAME 10 pairs of socks day after day after day!
And you know what… I survived just fine!
The items are still in good condition, even after hundreds of wears and washes these past 4 years.
Also, I’ve never ever “run out” of clean socks or underwear because I now do laundry 2-3 times per week. Even when we go on vacation, we always have access to a washing machine if we’ll be gone for more than 4 or 5 days.
NOTE: I do also have 2 pairs of tights to wear with skirts or dresses and fuzzy slipper socks for sleeping.
Now obviously, not everyone could get by with only 10 pairs of socks and underwear; nor do I think it should be a goal for everyone to have the bare minimum when it comes to clothing (or anything in life).
However, I DO think it’s worth sharing today’s post because it shows how few things we actually NEED.
In all honesty, I could probably get by with only 4 pairs of socks and underwear since I do laundry every 3 days — 10 pairs is more than enough for me.
My children also have a minimal number of socks and underwear for the same reasons — they just don’t need more. Of course, I replace theirs every year as they get bigger, but they get 1 new pack of underwear and 1 new pack of socks every year (usually around 6-10 pairs each) and that’s more than enough.
Even with bathroom accidents and getting dirty outside, we’ve never once run out of clean socks or underwear for any of our children.
The one exception is Miss Clara who had GOBS of socks, tights, and slipper socks as they are apparently a favorite baby gift amongst our friends and relatives 🙂
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m definitely NOT a minimalist when it comes to clothing (or really anything in life). However, I do think it can be valuable to regularly evaluate how much of something we actually NEED.
Did I need 40 pairs of socks or underwear? Not a chance!
Yes, I had room to store them.
Yes, I kept them neat and organized.
Yes, most of them were completely free.
BUT I DIDN’T NEED OR USE THEM!
I’ve been perfectly happy and content to wear and re-wear the same 10 pairs of socks and underwear for the past 4 years… and when they start to wear out, I’ll order 10 more pairs and start all over again. Who knows, maybe I’ll go with only 7 pairs the next time!
Of course, if I get to the point where I feel it would be beneficial for me to have more than 10 pairs, I’ll certainly just buy more — but right now, I’m loving my mostly empty drawer and the fact that I no longer have so much more than I need!
I’d love to know, have you purposefully limited your socks, underwear, or anything else in your life – simply because you know you don’t NEED more..
Oh, and if you’re worried about losing your socks (or your children’s socks) in the wash, here’s my super simple tip to essentially eliminate lone socks!
Gab says
Hi there! Love this. Do you have any other posts about your closet as a whole? Like going through basics for more categories (workout, loungewear, sweaters, winter gear) and best storage solutions? Thank you! 🙂
Andrea says
Here are all my posts about “clothes clutter” (link here)
Happy decluttering!
Jenifer L Panagakos says
I do this I also use a small plastic trash bin so I don’t have to fish the socs out of the dirty laundry. Anyway before before heading out I pin them all together if I didn’t as I was putting them in there. Walla match drop match socks straight from the washer and dryer
Natalie says
Years ago I read somewhere about a good way to purge your underwear (although it would work for all clothing): people are supposed to have lots of underwear in their closets they never wear – because it is not beautiful, not confortable or they simply do not feel good wearing. The trick is to NOT PUT YOUR UNDERWEAR BACK INTO THE CLOSET AFTER WASHING. Instead, put it into a designated basket or box in your laundry room UNTIL YOU RUN OUT OF UNDIES or socks or whatever you want to purge. Why? Because first you will wear the socks you like the most. Once they don‘t come back to the drawer, you will start taking the ones you usually leave in the drawer without wearing. Once you take them and put them on, you will realize that you don‘t wear them for a reason (too smal, unconfortable to wear, ugly color, doesn‘t fit any of your clothing, etc.). The important thing is to throw/put them away in this exact moment. This way you‘ll purge them while using.
I found this very helpful and do it twice a year or so.
Andrea says
thanks for sharing — I’ve honestly never heard this method before!
Kay says
Thank you!!!
Kay says
Andrea,
I hate to ask something so personal but with the underware, does it come up far in the back? I am so tired of buying all different brands and it goes over my pants when I bend the slightest.
Thanks!
Andrea says
hahahahah! No, not for me at least!
I do probably wear my pants a little higher after having kids, but I don’t remember having any problems with this when I wore low-rise jeans either 🙂
Debbie says
Andrea, I didn’t see pictures of bras in your minimalist drawer. How many of them do you keep? I read that women are supposed to replace their bras every 6 months. What’s your opinion on that?
Andrea says
yes, I have a different dresser now so they are in a different draw. That said, I only have 4 bras and I’ve had them all for YEARS!! I can’t imagine why they’d need to be replaced every 6 months!
I usually just wear my nursing tank tops with built in bras, so I’ve honestly hardly wore a bra in the last 6 years! 🙂
Gloria P says
You’ve successfully motivated me to purge the socks & undies in my closet. Thanks!
A few years ago, after going almost bonkers sorting my husband’s black and navy dress socks, I provided him with a dozen large safety pins to pin his socks together (at the ankle) before he drops them in the laundry basket. They stay pinned through the wash and go back to his closet folded yet still pinned. No more mismatched socks or stretched out elastic. We both love this solution!
Andrea says
this is awesome — great idea!
Jody says
There is just me. But I buy all black socks, all the same brand and style. If I lose one or get a hole in one then I can still wear the other one with any of the socks in my drawer. I have 8 pair of underwear. One for each day and a spare.
Andrea says
Yeah, I probably should have gone with black instead of white. I always wore white socks all the time, but now that skinny jeans and leggings are the style, I wear my 2 pairs of black socks constantly. As I was writing this post, I was actually thinking that I could purge a few pairs of white socks and get black instead!
Becky says
What socks do you wear to keep warm around the house in Michigan? I like wearing black athletic socks with my slippers in winter!
Andrea says
you might think I’m crazy but I often go barefoot at home (Nora always does too!) I love wearing slippers in the morning and after my shower, but the rest of the day, I often don’t even wear socks. I do almost always put on socks if I’m going somewhere, but I’ve been known to wear winter boots without socks on many occasions 🙂
Rhonda says
Yes. I either have problems with, or a low tolerance for, sweaty feet. I pretty much wear smart wool socks every day (unless I wear knee high nylons or tights or nylons at work). I have several different types, including 3 pairs of thinner ones that are the “no-show” type (low ankle). I might have 10 or 12 total. And I never run out, because I’m always doing laundry often enough. Even though they are expensive, they feel better to me and I have found that they last several years per pair.
Jules says
Aren’t smart wool socks the best?!
Andrea says
haha — Simon is always complaining about his sweaty feet. I might have to get him some wool socks — too bad they are so expensive and his feet grow so quickly!
Rhonda says
They don’t make that many kids socks. But if you did try it, he might get by wearing them 2 or 3 days before they need washing.
calliope says
I constantly purge and re-evaluate the kitchen STUFF. I really haven’t bought anything for at least 4-5 years, maybe more! yet I always purge! I have a bin in the pantry with all the stuff I “might” need someday. well, guess what, that day never came.
What I must do though, is go over that dreaded towel cabinet and be ruthless.
And, like you, I do have the space. most of my storage space is half empty. Yet there is something really calming and reassuring with getting by with as little as possible and with empty space!
Thanks for reminding me!
Andrea says
yeah, I’m always purging and re-evaluating too! I’m actually blogging about a big kitchen purge next week!!
Kate says
I am super hard on socks- I think mine last about 4 months before getting a hole in them, definitely not 4 years! But this post inspired me to do a quick purge of my socks and underwear drawer today. 🙂 I discovered I have WAY too many pairs of tights! I guess I’m worried they’ll get holes in them too. 🙂
Andrea says
you and Dave both — he literally can put holes in the toes of his socks after 2 weeks of wearing them. I buy him SOOOOOOOO many socks every year!
Alison says
This is a great example of the 80/20 rule! Keep 20% of what you have and you’ll be just fine.
Andrea says
exactly! It’s so true though — even now, after purging regularly for my entire life, I still resort to wearing my same favorite clothing items day after day!
Tina says
I have done this in reverse. After 3 years of having to wear the same four pairs of underwear and the same socks-you can imagine they were very worn, When I was able I went out and bought so many socks and underwear my drawer can barely close! I love it!
Andrea says
haha — this makes me laugh! Do you just like having a lot to say you have a lot, or do you actually need so many pairs for different outfits?
Marsha says
Greetings from Central Texas.
Love the clear plastic bin in the drawer for holding shirts. Where can I purchase something like
this. Love your blog, read it every single day. Even though I don’t have little ones, I love keeping
up with the Dekker Family.
Andrea says
Thanks Marsh!
This post didn’t contain any pictures of shirts in a drawer… but these are the clear plastic organizers we use for our socks and underwear drawers (http://amzn.to/2FOpE4K)
KR says
Much admiration. I could never do that.
Reena says
I was wondering if you link the website to the aerie underwear again. I clicked on it but it says product not found. Thank you and I am immensely inspired by your post and lifestyle.
Andrea says
Hey Reena, here’s the link to the boybrief undies I wear (Yes, I’m still loving them!)
Reena says
Thank you!! I am looking at it now. Have a nice day Andrea 🙂
Andrea says
you’re welcome!