The 216-item wardrobe - YouLookFab Forum

I've been working on this for a while, as we talked about how much is enough, how much is too much, and how much is too little in our wardrobes. When I first joined YLF (4 years ago) I was really drawn to those fantasies of getting rid of almost everything and living with a capsule wardrobe. Yet I failed utterly at most of the capsule challenges I tried, and I didn't enjoy them either! Then I lost weight and got rid of most of my stuff, and in the last year have overbought a bit in reaction. Now I'm trying to find some sort of moderation and to continue to enjoy fashion as a hobby without it taking over my life or my budget.

Anyway, here's the list as it currently stands. This is everything that's everyday wear throughout the year, and counts shoes but not accessories or undergarments. I am at these numbers in a lot of categories, over in a few, and under in a couple. I'd love to know what you think, and whether you think I've missed something. I rather summarized with the out of season items so they may need adjusting when I get to that sort of weather.

Tops [48]:
6 knit sleeveless
6 woven sleeveless/short-sleeve
9 - short-sleeve knit
12 - three-quarter & long-sleeve knit
12 - 3-season woven shirts
3 - graphic tees

Pants [28]:
6 - warm weather jeans/crops
6 - summer shorts/bermudas
12 - cool weather jeans / cords
6 - trousers

Skirts [18]:
3 - summer skirts
3 - winter skirts
12 - all-season skirts

Dresses [18]:
6 summer dresses
9 3-season dresses
3 winter dresses

Jackets/Toppers [30]:
12 - outerwear/jackets
3 - summer toppers
12 - 3-season toppers
3 - winter toppers

Sweaters [24]:
6 - summer cardigans
3 - lightweight sweaters (summer/warm weather)
9 - 3-season cardigans
3 - 3-season sweaters
3 - winter heavy sweaters

Shoes [36]:
9 - ballet flats
3 - other flats / oxfords
6 - heels
6 - sneakers; 3 gear, 3 casual
6 - sandals
6 - boots; 3 ankle, 3 tall

Formal capsule - 6 items
Business travel / conference capsule - 6 items

Total = 216 items

9 years ago

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

These are your ideal numbers?
Where did they come from?

carter

Fascinating! I'm with Alana...please tell us how you got to these numbers. I've been playing with numbers as well. I was going to say we arrived at the exact same number...until I realized that your numbers include shoes and outerwear...mine don't...oops! I also have a capsule of things I only wear at the beach when we visit my FIL every few weeks.

Suz

The first thing I notice is that you're actually buying for your weather. A lot of stuff is cross-seasonal with only a reasonable proportion being for colder or warmer weather -- in keeping with the number of days you get that kind of weather, I think?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

The numbers came from observation, pretty much. I've been watching what I wear and how much I need, trying to figure out how much variety is needed to keep me engaged without getting to the 'ahh, have too many clothes' panic point. I don't know if I'd call them 'ideal' numbers, per se, just numbers that are reasonable but not crazy given my dressing requirements, climate, and storage space.

Carter, that's interesting that we've come to a very similar number. I vacillated on counting outerwear but with our climate I've got several things that I sometimes wear as outerwear and sometimes as all-day toppers, just depending on the weather. You might be the same in your neck of the woods, at least some of the year.

Suz, yes - I've got some things that are summer-only or winter-only but most are at least two-season. I thought of categorizing things as warm-weather or cool-weather but I do need at least a few things for high summer and the depths of winter - although neither are at your extremes! Actually, that reminds me, I should probably add a capsule for "visiting relatives in the Midwest at Christmastime"...So much for my neat and tidy 216 number!

My goal with all this, since I realize I didn't really say, is to more quickly realize where my wardrobe holes are, and where they are definitely not - i.e. "OK, self, you've got 14 pairs of jeans, don't buy any more" and "hmm, you only have 3 summer tops, that's a bit scanty". That way I can use my budget more wisely and buy more with a plan rather than haphazardly with lots of returns. (I'm still thinking about that 'shop 1-2x / quarter' idea that we were discussing, Suz.)

shiny

I cannot even imagine finding that many different jeans & pants & skirts & tops & coats that would actually fit me! Call me jealous!

Anonymous

That looks like a good number, and well distributed. I envy you that dress collection and there is always a week or so in the winter where I could use some heavy sweaters, but I always just make do, since the time is so short (polar fleece, anyone?). I'm glad you gave up on a forced capsule wardrobe. If it's not fun, then you're breading Angie's number one cardinal rule: Have fun with fashion. There are plenty of YLF challenges that I've sat out because they felt like they'd be torturous to me.

rabbit

I thought that this was the size of my wardrobe, but then it dawned on me that I was counting accessories as they were key lynch-pins to outfits, and a big part of the total number.

So my current total wardrobe (followed what I've worn so far this year in parenthesis, some of the unworn stuff is on probation to be culled)

141 (113 worn this year so far) of cardigans, dresses, jackets, sweaters, pants, shirts, shoes, skirts

57 (50 worn this year so far) of bags, belts, tights, camisoles, leggings, and scarfs.

so 198 total (163 worn so far this year)

not counted is a small gear capsule, and a small lounge souvenir tee shirt capsule.

I live in a temperate climate and I think that makes 80-90% of the wardrobe work year round.

Eerie yet again! That was my same reason for figuring what should be a roughly *right* number for me. The first two things that got my attention...I don't need any more summer work bottoms, but I'm seriously short on summer work tops. You've delved far deeper into subcategories than I have, so that's probably the next step for me. I'm still flushing out my thought process here, but it's great to know I haven't run off the tracks!

deb

Wow, I did a count last week when all the counting posts started popping up. My number including gardening gear and excluding accessories and undies is 206. I wonder if this is a common number since several of us are around the same?

I notice you did not count bags. Do you consider them an accessory? I counted them because I consider them a necessity.
I also counted hats although they are really an accessory.

Shiny, I hear what you're saying - my wardrobe exploded when I went from a 16/18 to a 12/14 and I had a lot more choices to choose from. Claire, my dresses are probably my worst are far as number of wears - I do wear them, especially when it's warm, but I don't really need as many of them as I have. Even the number on my list is lower than the number that are actually sitting in my closet right now. *sigh*

Rabbit, your count sounds really reasonable to me - I kept on trying to get numbers down in the 100-150 range (garments only) and I finally had to admit that it wasn't going to happen. I don't know why that is - I'm just bad at restraint?

Carter, I'm hoping the list will help with planning long-term - assuming, of course, that I've gotten the subcategories right. If the numbers actually reflect how much I need and how much I wear it, then I can then start thinking about replacement rates and seasonal budgets and all that jazz.

Deb, I haven't been counting purses, although I do have several of them. I can imagine setting a number and some subcategories (small crossbody, medium handbag, totes, etc.) and doing the same thing for scarves, jewelry, and that sort of thing.

Thank you for clarifying that! I'm glad you have a wardrobe that does what it's supposed to do for you!

Lisa

A great wardrobe. The most important feature isn't the numbers per se, but the use of the items and your own personal desire for how much use the items should have. Some like to wear an item only once a month or season, while others, such as myself, desire a smaller wardrobe with items worn more often. I find counting and tracking my wardrobe very helpful to maintain some order on it.

lyn67

Wow, thanx for posting this. It seems your numbers are the most likely to match mines(for ideal). For not hijacking your thread will post them in a separate one:-)

jackiec

All this number talk is making me itchy...it always sends me back up to my closet to start counting things. Can't resist. This is super interesting and I'll come back to compare.

Alassë

Thanks for sharing; now I want to re-count my categories.

Category