INTERVIEW #176 KRISTIN GREEN

Name: Kristin Green aka The Joyful Minimalist

Occupation: Professional Organizer/ Capsule Closet Coach

Based in: Seattle WA

Website: Thejoyfulminimalist.com (makeover coming August 2024)

Instagram: instagram.com/thejoyfulminimalist

Hi Kristin, can you tell us more about your background and how come you got into closet organising?

My love for organizing started in my childhood. As a little girl I would spend hours reconfiguring, organizing, and declutterring my room. Bringing order and beauty to a space has been something that has brought me joy and has always come easy to me. Fast forward to adulthood and multiple moves (living in every size home from 500 sq ft to 2800 sq ft), plus three kids later I developed a passion for minimalism, applying the principles to every season and space. As a mom of three I know the benefits firsthand of living with less, but also more specifically in our closets, getting dressed with joy and ease in every season of motherhood. From pregnancy to postpartum, I’ve learned how to dress and appreciate my body in each stage. That’s where my passion for capsule closets transpired. How do we maximize our closets by owning less but better? How do we as moms or ambitious women want to show up for ourselves and others? I believe it starts with our closets. How we get dressed, and how we start our day, matters, it’s how we start our lives.

Why should one embrace a capsule closet?

Addition through subtraction. More time, enjoyment in getting dressed, confidence, quality pieces that last and that fits your body and lifestyle. Less decision fatigue, fast fashion, chasing trends, boredom, cluttered closets or nothing to wear. The benefits are endless.

What are some of the common challenges your customers are facing?

Where to start? Depending on the amount of items one owns, it can be daunting. If you’re on the maximalist side and own 200+ items I encourage clients to start with one category. Start small, start somewhere. Declutterring your sock and underwear drawer, don’t stop until you complete it. Little wins help provide the momentum to keep going. Another thing I find is the buying cycle. We’re inundated with information; from our IG feeds to our emails, there are reasons to shop at every turn. Even as a minimalist I find myself scrolling or shopping out of boredom if I’m not careful. If you want to shop less I tell my clients to take notice and tune in — how do you feel when you shop? What time of day does it tend to be? Why are you shopping, is it a need or want? Take time to ask questions and notice repetition. Bringing awareness is the first step. Next, hit unsubscribe. Limit screen time and set boundaries. For instance, I tend to shop late at night when I’m tired and should be going to bed, but it’s a sort of relaxing release. What activities can you replace with it that evokes the same feeling? Similarly, with starting small, press pause on shopping for a week. If this is easy for you try a month and continue building on the habit.

Is a capsule closet the same for everyone and if someone likes to experiment or doesn't know their style, how can they still embrace a more minimalistic closet?

There’s no one size fits all or magic number. The principles are the same: favoring quality (think natural fibers, sustainable brands or secondhand) over quantity, timeless style (knowing what looks good on your body, the colors and prints you gravitate towards) vs. trends (chasing fast fashion or what’s current for every season), removing the 80% of your closet you don’t use, wear, or love. For someone that wants to know their style, create a Pinterest board and start pinning the looks that you like, notice the themes and repetition that arises. Go to the mall and try on different styles, silhouettes, color, patterns; experimenting is key! You can do this exercise in your own closet too, get creative and play win your closet to help understand what you feel good in. Instinctively we know when we feel good, like putting on your favorite pair of jeans that fit like a glove. We want to replicate that feeling in our whole closet. 

What does your personal closet look like?

Neutral (black, white, cream, denim), minimal, timeless. I’m a jeans and tee girl through and through. As a mom of three I’m always striving for comfy chic, even if I’m in sweats I want it to look elevated. I’m a huge believer that in whatever I’m wearing, no matter how casual you can still look effortlessly elevated and polished. My go-to outfit is a great pair of denim, oversized tee, and white platform sneakers, topped with a draped sweater and my signature jewellery (diamond studs that my hubbs gifted for our anniversary, ‘joy’ signet ring gifted from a dear friend and mentor, mixed metals permanent jewellery, and rose gold chain.

How would you describe your style?

Neutral, minimal and timeless.

Name three items that almost go into everyone's capsule closet:

Quality pair of jeans, white and black crew neck or v-neck tees, white sneakers, neutral colored blazer.

Anything else you want to share?

If you think getting dressed is just about aesthetics, I’d challenge you to reframe your perspective. The clothes we put on our body is a reflection of how we want others to portray us, it’s the message we’re sending to others. If you’re putting on those same tired sweats day in and day out how do you think we’re showing up for ourselves and our families? By embracing a minimalist, elevated closet not only are we improving our lives by removing the clutter, but we’re showing up as our best selves. The benefits are truly endless!