There is beauty in subtraction. While I own an embarrassing amount of shoes, a recent round of exams forced me to confront an inconvenient truth: I really only wear a few pairs. In fact, when the going really got rough (library til 2am, 8am project, repeat), my rotation slipped to a mere 3 pairs.

As a perpetually-overscheduled college student, this newfound embrace of the straight and efficient spelled one thing: a better, simpler life. Knowing that I would throw on one of a mere handful meant certainty, versatility, and more time to focus on what really matters. In other words: it made me feel just a little bit happier.

Not like this is a new thesis. Marie Kondo’s seminal book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” preached the benefits of paring down to remove clutter from one’s life, both physically and mentally. The book, published in October 2014, has since become so popular that it even inspired a TV pilot. It was impossible to miss. For a text about scaling down, “Tidying Up” punched well above its weight.

While I first read about the powers of a “de-clutter” over two years ago today, Kondo’s lessons only became meaningful for me once I experienced them. Realizing these benefits, especially within a context I care about, has motivated me to pass them along to you.

In an era of fast fashion and “always-on” shopping, a return to minimalism – not just in style, but in the way we consume – may just be the path to a happier life. Here’s the simple 3-shoe rotation that made it happen for me.

1. The Minimal Low-Top