My wardrobe numbers- no I am not a minimalist

Pree

Over the past year, through this website and forum, I have been able to cull and hone my style, or at least figure out what I feel good in wearing.

My numbers are 199 items of clothing (not including gear, workout clothes, pjs, etc.) and 38 pairs of shoes (not including sneakers for working out and snow boots). My thoughts:

I am not a minimalist. I like variety. I need clothes for work and generally wear different clothes for more casual evenings and weekends (maybe that is why the number is high). I find I can sometimes get away with my more casual clothes for work if worn with the right items, but I usually don't wear my work clothes casually.
I had many more items before joining YLF. I basically purged all dated, ill fitting or worn out clothing. I also purged things that I never felt good in, were orphans, or were too fussy. Recently I have purged my tighter fitting tops also. I basically had 2-3 out with one in this year. It made it easier to purge on eBay and twice (online consignment) and to friends.
This year I had a budget and kept track of my spending. I also have the closet plus app on my phone (similar I think to the stylebook app) where I entered my clothing to get totals and then entered my clothing on a calendar to see WIW and CPW. This helped me rotate my clothing, but also see what I love wearing. It also helped me realize what I really needed and if I will wear it enough to justify the cost. Cost is not the only end point for me, I also take pictures and try to comment on how I felt in the clothes- So I can still buy something within budget if it made me feel great regardless of cost per wear.
I am currently at peace with my numbers. I find I wear and enjoy my clothes more and am able to hone my style which fluctuates. For next year, my goal would be to continue with my budget, strict one in and one out rule, continue tracking my wears and enjoy fashion!

9 years ago

General

22 replies

Latest reply was from VioletMyra

Saretta

(website)

Active Member

Sounds like you are learning a lot and getting organized. I would be interested to know what app you are using. I have an Android phone, so I can't use Stylebook.

9 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Good for you!

I could have written your first paragraph. I also dress quite differently for casual life and for work, and rarely do the pieces cross over. When they do/can, I'm thrilled! I'm not sure I'm at peace with my numbers... I have no aspirations to be a minimalist, but right now I do think, no, I KNOW, I have too much. But I've finally got to a place where I'm pretty happy, am learning what works, have comfortable clothes that look good too (this was key, and took me a while, believe it or not) and have updated a ton of "essentials", so I think now I can purge intelligently. And slow down the spending.

9 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like you're in a great place with your items and your budget. I too am in the ~200 item range with my wardrobe. My goal numbers right now are 219 items including shoes and outerwear, which I'm probably close to.

Is this the app you use? http://closetapp.com/ The features look great, and the bulk-import might be worth the price of admission for me, because I got really bogged down when I tried to use Stylebook because taking pictures of all my items and importing them correctly took so freakin' long.

9 years ago

Pree

Active Member

Laura, that is indeed that app that I use- there was a fee once you get past a certain number of items. I am not familiar with stylebook, but with this app, I just took pictures of my items with my phone. I did not do it all at once, but piece meal. It was great to have everything entered and now I just enter what I buy. It gives me a great idea how many times I wear an item during the season so I can make good decisions about what I need to add to my wardrobe and helps prioritize with my budget.

Saretta-not sure if they have it for android, but I am pleased with it.

Thanks Elizabeth- I agree about finding the right things to look good and be comfortable.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It sounds as if you are in a very comfortable place! My closet is a bit smaller than yours but is by no means minimalist, either. And it seems I like it that way.
I think if you are getting pleasure from your clothing and enjoying it all, then that's what matters!

9 years ago

deb

Veteran

It sounds like you have been doing your homework. I do not think I could ever be a minimalist either.

9 years ago

Ellen

Active Member

I am glad I'm not the only one with too much in my closet! I might have to try one of these apps to help me get things in order.

9 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

I haven't counted but I'm sure my numbers would be way up there! I like variety and I duplicate items I like in lots of colors. I also have my work clothes and my "dressy" casual clothes as well as my more casual, casual things. I recently took two work related trips that lasted several weeks and I missed having all of my wardrobe to choose from each day! I got bored with one handbag and only two or three pair of shoes.

9 years ago

Kristin SF

Veteran

Pree, how did you find the whole eBay selling experience? I would like to do that, but am dreading the overhead. Did you look into Poshmark too?

9 years ago

carter

Veteran

199??? I would so have to add one more before I could breathe! Except for that one minor OCD issue, your numbers sound about right where I think I should be. I hovered in the low 200s for quite awhile, but I seem to have expanded quite a bit recently. Time for me to do some serious culling.

9 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Pree, it sound like your numbers are fairly similar to mine. I think mine may slightly lower than yours, maybe more in the 170-180 range now if I don't count gear, and if I don't count coats,etc. I haven't yet done the purge on my spring/summer clothes so I may end up with even fewer. I purchased a set number of hangers for my closet and will not exceed them. I also have limited shelf space, although my closet is very large, I really like it uncluttered and so I can find everything easily.

Its good to hear about your success in sorting out your closet!

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Like how you are learning and getting organized. Well done.

I'm not a minimalist either, but I do restrict the space in my wardrobe with X amount of hangers, and stick to my budget.

9 years ago

Pree

Active Member

Retail girl - I have the same categories for dressing and I like color too. I also live in a 4 weather climate which adds to my numbers

9 years ago

Pree

Active Member

Carter- my goal was under 200 so I will likely add something to be at 200

9 years ago

Pree

Active Member

Stays fit and Angie- I agree about setting boundaries with numbers ( hangers/ shelf space) and budget. I am much more disciplined about what I buy now.

Kristen SF- ebay is the best way to get the most for your resale item. The do take some hefty commissions, but there is a lot of exposure. I find it easy to do. Ebay has allowed me to part with many bags, shoes, and nicer brand clothing that I was otherwise not able to and that way I have money for new items. I have also found some good deals to buy on eBay as well. I have not gotten into postmark - too much social media involved there.

ETA- sorry about multiple posts- I think my iPad was overworked.

9 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

Pree: I live in a four season climate, too. Lots of my things are good for 3 seasons...shirts, some pants, some shoes, bags, etc. I love dressing to meet the needs of each season. For example: March, April, May: springy colors, medium weights. June, July, August, summery colors, lighter weights. September, October, falli colors, medium weights. November, December, January, February, fall/winter colors, some days are warmer, some colder. I probably won't wear a cashmere tneck until after thanksgiving. I live in New England and our weather can be all over the place!

9 years ago

Pree

Active Member

Retailgirl- I am in total agreement with you about color and weight of clothing as it relates to the seasons. I live outside of DC and I run cold so I could possibly wear my wool/ cashmere turtlenecks in November maybe with only a cami underneath rather than long johns. All these factors ( colors, fabrics, occasions) definitely will increase item count, but in the end I am fine with it because I am pleased with my wardrobe- I feel like I always have something to wear that I feel good in (in most situations).

9 years ago

carter

Veteran

Oh, thank heavens!

9 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like you have landed in the perfect place for you - minus one more piece of course!

9 years ago

PalmFronds

Active Member

I'll be doing this for 2015 but I might spreadsheet it instead. I find it so hard to remember to take the picture of the item, why is that so hard for me?!? But thanks for sharing your experience abd what you've learned. I too am not minimalist but hoping I can hone my wardrobe and target my spending in a wiser more effective way

9 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

It sounds like you have found the right number for you. As long as you are happy with how often you do or do not use what you own then you have found your ideal wardrobe size. Bravo!

9 years ago

VioletMyra

Active Member

I need to put my closet onto a spreadsheet (great suggestion). I have a lot of short sleeved white button up shirts that hardly get worn due to my climate. I need to stop acquiring them and start searching for long sleeved ones (other than denim/chambray) as these are more suited to my climate.

9 years ago

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