Building My Zero Choice Wardrobe: Why I Only Wear Black and Uniqlo
From 86,400 outfit combinations down to 1. More minimal than a capsule wardrobe - the zero choice wardrobe!
This is my submission for the August 2025 IndieWeb Carnival, themed “Colors”, hosted by Marisabel. You should consider submitting something for an upcoming Carnival too! It’s fun!
Before moving to Malaysia, I did an inventory of my closet.
15 t-shirts × 10 pairs of pants × 6 jackets × 8 pairs of socks × 3 hats × 4 watches = 86,400 outfit combinations.
To put it dramatically, every morning, I had to choose from 86,400 possibilities.
No wonder I was always tired. No wonder I always procrastinated (lol).
Wait, this is too serious to laugh about.
The Decision
When moving, I took the opportunity to ruthlessly declutter and donated all clothes that weren’t black.
Including trendy brand t-shirts recommended by fashion experts, expensive skinny jeans, high-end down jackets.
My wardrobe now:
- Black Uniqlo t-shirts × 10
- Black Uniqlo sweatpants × 5
- Black Uniqlo underwear × 8
- Black Uniqlo UV caps × 2
- Sandals without socks
- Same black Garmin watch
All exactly the same.
From 86,400 choices down to 1 choice.
One choice is actually no choice.
More minimal than a so-called capsule wardrobe. I’ve decided to call it the Zero Choice Wardrobe.
Why?
Steve Jobs wore the same black turtleneck and jeans every day. Zuck (used to) wear the same gray t-shirt and jeans daily. My favorite band, No Party for Cao Dong, only wears black - cool as hell.
They don’t lack money for clothes. They just chose not to choose.
Black — Goes with everything, hides dirt, never goes out of style, and honestly looks kinda cool.
Uniqlo — Cheap, durable, available everywhere, no logos (I don’t want to be a walking billboard)
Jonathan Anderson, current Dior men’s creative director, says he only wears Uniqlo t-shirts.
So, expensive haute couture is for selling to others; wearing practical stuff yourself is fine.
Plus, the same outfit helps build personal branding. Winnie the Pooh, Hello Kitty, Doraemon, Ash Ketchum, Detective Conan, Naruto, Luffy, Sailor Moon. Just thinking of these names, can’t you immediately picture their iconic looks? Other outfits would only dilute their personal image.
Creating a uniform saves energy for yourself and brain space for others.
Alex Hsu — Black buzz cut. Done.
The Price
No more shopping. No more thinking about what to wear. No more being influenced by clothing and watch ads. No more ability (or need) to care what others think.
CAN’T HURT ME. (lol)
Clothes worn out? Go to Uniqlo’s website, follow my uniform spreadsheet with recorded styles and sizes, five clicks, done.
Friends ask: “Don’t you get bored?”
No. You know what’s boring?
Wasting energy every morning choosing from 86,400 combinations, then doubting yourself all day about whether you wore the wrong thing.
We can’t control others’ opinions. No matter how good the outfit, it can’t hide my essence.
Chopstick Theory
This led to my random chopstick theory.
10 pairs of different patterned chopsticks in a box are annoying to match. 10 identical pairs — grab any two and they work.
Now everything in my home follows this principle. Same bowls, same cups, same towels.
Even simplified my haircut to a buzz cut. DIY every two weeks, no dependency on others, 5 minutes done.
Freedom
Some say this is limiting myself.
I think it’s liberation.
When you don’t worry about trivial matters, you have more energy for what truly matters.
Self-discipline gives me freedom.
$1000 budget, ended up spending only $400. Bought at least five years of not worrying about outfits.
This might be the most cost-effective investment of my life.
P.S. Future problem: If my son grows up as excellent as his dad and also chooses all-black Uniqlo, how do we tell our clothes apart? After thinking about it, seems like we’ll just have to share a closet.