#DECLUTTER MINIMALISM PROFESSIONAL#

Is it a surprise that Paltrow's website, Goop, extols the virtues of Marie Kondo? She knows the right foods to eat, (organic, grain-fed, which are the most expensive) and she eats them in the correct amounts. Look at actress-turned-lifestyle-guru Gwyneth Paltrow, the human nexus of fashion, righteous eating, aggressive exercise and ludicrously expensive homewares.

#DECLUTTER MINIMALISM PROFESSIONAL#

This de-cluttering craze began with Japanese professional organiser Marie Kondo.

In 2017 we understand that, for most of the developed world, leanness, particularly for women, is symbolic of not just wealth, but self-worth. In 13th century Europe, when food was scarce, and starvation common, obesity was synonymous with wealth and power. In this sense, minimalism is the new thin. 'There are a million variations – fitting all your belongings into a single box, small-house or van living, radical de-cluttering, extreme purges of technology or social activity, etc – but they all hold the same vague, usually unspoken level of superiority.' This is why Chelsea Fagan, writing for The Guardian, calls the minimalist trend 'just another form of conspicuous consumption, a way of saying to the world: 'Look at me! Look at all of the things I have refused to buy, and the incredibly-expensive, sparse items I have deemed worthy instead!''įagan likens it to all the other self-righteous trends currently over-taking the zeitgeist, describing it as a household manifestation of clean eating and yoga. Thankfully, you make enough money that owning things feels like a burden!'

Lower-middle class families, where two parents work outside the home just to get by, likely don't have the time or energy to devote to the perfect folding of jumpers and socks until your wardrobe resembles a work of artistic brilliance, a la Marie Kondo.Īnd while we're talking about Marie Kondo, if you follow her motto, throwing out anything that doesn't 'spark joy', it means you have the privilege of disposing of excess stuff, safe in the knowledge that there's plenty more where that came from.Īs Reductress, the parody women's website, pointed out last month, the advantages of decluttering your life include, 'no longer bogged down with all that stuff you don't need … that you can immediately order again on Amazon. StocksyĮither way, that's a rather luxurious lifestyle you have going for yourself. In the early 1980s, a sparse loft with only a futon for furniture was the peak of aspirational living. You either have the time to keep your home exceptionally clean, or the money to have someone clean for you. Now, as anyone who has children will attest, keeping a home moderately tidy is an ongoing challenge.

We know this because the de-cluttering craze, which began in earnest on Oprah and has reached its zenith with Japanese professional organiser Marie Kondo, has enjoyed so much popularity. In this age of rabid consumerism, most middle class families would admit they have too much clutter in their home. In the early 1980s, a sparse loft with only a futon for furniture was the peak of aspirational living, now it likely means you're loaded – and flaunting it. It might be difficult to believe, because we all love white walls, but the minimalism backlash has already begun.

Declutter minimalism