https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:16:24 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1214636 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 03:18:17 +0000 tinapete 1214636@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Ingun, great post! &nbsp;I've followed your outfit posts for awhile now and remember your trip to Paris &amp; purchasing a breton at a specific shop. &nbsp;A friend is in Paris now &amp; I'd like to recommend the shop to her but don't know the shop's name. &nbsp;And do you have sizing advice if I ask her to pick out something out for me? Thank you &amp; my apologies for off-topic question (except I noticed that a breton is on your top-30 list!) &nbsp;&nbsp;noharm2004 at&nbsp;gmail dot&nbsp;com &nbsp;Tina </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1214392 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 23:03:09 +0000 Caro in Oz 1214392@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Missed this - thanks for bumping Susie :)</p> <p>Ingunn, great post thanks, lots of food for thought. I have fewer clothes, around 90 pieces,&nbsp;but still feel I have too many in some categories. Questions that come to my mind did you consciously choose to wear any pieces just because you were recording the number of wears? Did you purge any pieces during this time? One last question, of your 150 items how many are spring/summer only? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1214381 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 22:39:30 +0000 Susie 1214381@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ingunn, I am bumping this post because, first, I love wardrobe number crunching! I've been keeping similar track of wearings (I will start a separate post) and I think the insight you've gotten from your data is so interesting. I can see how it could be really helpful in planning for next year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210686 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:24:12 +0000 Ingunn 1210686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I feel that way about it, too. I think I have learned quite a lot about my taste and preferences and not the least about how to achieve the looks I want/like. I have a quite different Spring/Summer wardrobe, and it will be interesting to see what numbers I come up with after a full year. (Interesting to me, at least ) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210681 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:18:07 +0000 Lyn D. 1210681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Inspiring!<br />I am surprised that you have 150 pieces and yet so many have been worn so many times. This shows that you have really honed-in on your personal style, and wear lots of interesting combinations of outfits too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210650 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:54:01 +0000 Ingunn 1210650@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachy, I didn't know either! It was quite clarifying.&nbsp;</p> <p>Alassë, you're cracking me up </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210642 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:48:45 +0000 Alassë 1210642@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Of course we like to read to the end of an Ingunn analysis post! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210508 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 18:07:10 +0000 rachylou 1210508@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very very interesting analysis! Who knew number of wears could give such a clear insight/picture of one's style. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210482 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 17:38:19 +0000 Ingunn 1210482@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Carter, I intend to use this as a starting point for what to purge and what to add next year. It is hard to make real good use of all this information, I agree with you.</p> <p>Thank you, Gabrielle. I try to wear pieces I haven't worn as much, too, but generally I just put on whatever I feel like. If it's not worn, I agree that it would be interersting to figure out why, just like you.</p> <p>Pam, I haven't counted everything, but I guess my working wardrobe is around 150 pieces. I have only one sweater that didn't get any wear, and I have purged it now.</p> <p>Ceit, you know me too well :)</p> <p>Suz, I completely agree about buying knitwear and updating it regularly. Most of mine look a bit tired by now, and I think I need to replace a couple of essential pieces next season. Maybe while in Paris during fall break?? I can relate to what you write about our natural inclination to dress up a bit more than what is custom in our environment. Your assessment of my MK pumps debating back and forth is spot on! I really liked the pumps, but wearing them would most likely have made me feel a bit off. The metallic kitten heel is very much more "me". </p> <p>Amy, let's work together towards "just enough" :)</p> <p>Golden, there must be a middle ground somewhere. Minimalism is certainly not for me either. </p> <p>Lisa, what you write is very true. For all I know, dresses might become my primary choice next season, and then the climate dictates my choices, too. Looking back is fine, but it never tells the whole story. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210303 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:26:01 +0000 Lisa 1210303@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A great analysis.&nbsp; I always enjoy crunching wardrobe numbers.&nbsp; For myself, I found that our weather greatly influenced my fall/winter wardrobe this past season.&nbsp; We had an unusually cold and snowy winter this season, which meant I bypassed my beloved go to formula of a blazer, knit and scarf for really thick weight chunky, turtlenecks.&nbsp; If we have another extremely cold winter next year, I anticipate the same use, but if it is more mild, I'll be reaching for, and wanting to add, more blazers and scarves.&nbsp; I think evaluating is helpful, but I've learned that what worked for me one season, may not work as well the next season, because the weather, or my style tastes may change by then. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210268 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:37:11 +0000 Golden 1210268@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How very insightful! I may need to do something like this myself, I need to make some notes and be more careful in my choices. I would like to be more of a minimalist but I don't want to be bored. Great analysis! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210246 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:59:00 +0000 amiable 1210246@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Brilliant Ingunn - And I love your statement about wanting enough to have the variety you crave without waste. &nbsp;I want that for myself too - not true minimalism, but not so much that I wear my less-than-favorite items just because I feel a bit guilty about not wearing them and want to give them a chance to thrill me. &nbsp;Time for a seasonal purge over here! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210236 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:43:16 +0000 Suz 1210236@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Terrific analysis, Ingunn. It sounds as if you learned an enormous amount, and as a northern sister, I&nbsp;am nodding my head along with you. The type of winter we have can govern our clothing choices pretty substantially.&nbsp;</p> <p>I made a similar discovery about woven shirts vs. woollen sweaters last winter season and it definitely influenced my shopping this year at the NAS and later. I knew that knits would be worn and it made sense to buy them (especially in a season of good knits, and especially on sale, because most knits show their age more quickly and need replacement.)&nbsp;</p> <p>I also made the denim discovery. I think you and I are similar in that our native style personae prefer slightly more "dressy" looks -- yet our lifestyle and living conditions somewhat mitigate against that. Also, we&nbsp;work in creative/ academic settings where smart casual is the norm. So that means that for our real lives, we might skew a bit less dressy than our preferred default. It reminds me of your debate about the MK nude pumps. I could immediately understand the issue and what you were concerned about. If you are walking all over on cobblestones or rough sidewalks, even a quarter inch too much in height or a slightly too narrow heel can make all the difference. And also, a shoe like that will instantly say "dressed up" to the people around you -- whereas the shoes you actually bought might say "dressy" or "looks good" or "knows fashion"&nbsp;but won't say "doesn't fit in here."&nbsp;</p> <p>Your 30 item list looks like an excellent closet essentials list for you! I should do this kind of analysis, too. I was taking daily photos for a while but then stopped the past few months, simply because I was wearing repeats all the time. But I do have a fairly clear idea of what I wore and how often.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210226 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:23:02 +0000 Anonymous 1210226@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love reading wardrobe analysis posts -- and I love that I know which pieces and what you wore based on your descriptions </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210225 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:22:24 +0000 Anonymous 1210225@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love number crunching! Ingunn- how may items do you track and how many got no wears (and of those, how many should have been worn: i.e. sleeveless shirts&nbsp;not worn in winter = OK,&nbsp;sweaters with no wears in winter = not OK)? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210220 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:11:56 +0000 Anonymous 1210220@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am not a big fan of forcing myself to wear items that have not to be worn that often in normal rotations. &nbsp;Instead I try to figure out why that particular item has not been worn all that frequently (fit, color, fussiness) and I make a point of not buying that type of item in the future. &nbsp;I also try to purge those items that don't get worn. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210217 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:07:25 +0000 carter 1210217@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, Ingunn! Fantastic analysis. I love that this brought you to your top 30 workhorses. What do you do with the information you now have about the lesser worn (but still seasonally appropriate) items? Does it guide your purging, your shopping, your efforts to wear them more next year? This is the part where I get stuck. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210211 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 11:52:20 +0000 Anonymous 1210211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a <i>fabulous</i> assessment. &nbsp;I loved reading it. &nbsp;I break out the number of times worn&nbsp;based on activity (e.g., work, casual, lounging, gym). &nbsp;However, your method of assessment&nbsp;interests me greatly. &nbsp;I am going to do a similar breakout this evening to see what my results are and what I can learn from it. Thank you so much for sharing. &nbsp;It was a fun and very interesting read. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fallwinter-201314-wardrobe-evaluation-number-chrunching#post-1210190 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 10:45:05 +0000 Ingunn 1210190@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>March 31 2014 is finally here, and it’s time for an evaluation of my Fall/winter wardrobe. Since September 1, I’ve counted the wears of all my wardrobe items. It’s been interesting to realize that what I’m wearing the most isn’t necessarily what I think I do. Here’s a breakdown of the numbers.<div><br /></div><div><b>New Additions:</b></div><div>From the beginning of August until December 31 I added 37 various items to my wardrobe, spreading across thrifted clothes and accessories (22), hand knitted sweaters, mittens and beanie (3), sale bargains - belt and shoes (3), full priced items (4) and gifts (4). I stayed on budget, more or less. Everything I added has been worn except the «Chanel» skirt suit.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Frequency of Wear by Category:</b></div><div>This season, the main shift probably was from less shirts and blouses to more sweaters, and from less skirts and dresses to more trousers and jeans. In the following resume, I’ve only listed pieces that have been worn around 10 times or more. Obviously I have a longer list of pieces that has been worn less frequently, but what I have listed here are probably the most essential pieces I had in my wardrobe last season.&nbsp;<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Shirts and Blouses:</b></div><div>I hardly wore any pieces in this category at all. Only three pieces had more than 5 wears:</div><div>White button down (9)</div><div>Black watch plaid popover shirt (9)</div><div>Anne Fontaine collarless white blouse NEW Sept (6)</div><div><br /></div><div>The new cream silk blouse I added in August has got very few wears until now, but I hope that changes now that we are entering warmer weather.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Cotton Tops &amp; Sweaters:</b></div><div>This category did also receive little wear. I suppose that underlines that I’m off layering for now, and that I clearly prefer wool to cotton during the colder months. Only two striped pieces made it onto the list.</div><div>White/black striped long-sleeved tee (12)</div><div>Navy/cream Breton (12)</div><div><br /></div><div>I expect very different numbers in this category when the next season is over by August 31.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wool knitwear:</b></div><div>This is a much larger category. Wearing fewer layers and simpler pieces appeals more and more to me, and it clearly shows in the statistics.</div><div>Grey cashmere hoodie CRISTMAS GIFT (22)</div><div>Black fluid v-neck sweater NEW Nov (17)</div><div>Deep purple cropped handknit sweater w/ boatneck NEW Nov (17)<br /></div><div>Grey v-neck sweater NEW Aug (14)<br /></div><div>Graphic leopard sweater NEW Oct (13)<br /></div><div>Navy Eric Bompard v-neck sweater (12)<br /></div><div>Grey boyfriend cardigan (12)<br /></div><div>Black v-neck cardigan (10)<br /></div><div>Cobalt classic cardigan NEW Jan (9)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have a few more pieces that have seen quite lot of wear, and I suspect that I will be continuing wearing fine knitwear throughout the warmer season, too. After all, I live in Norway.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Skirts:</b></div><div>Besides the black midi pencil skirt, very few of my skirts saw any wear at all.</div><div>Black midi pencil skirt NEW Sept (14)<br /></div><div>Dark purple full midi skirt NEW Sept (7)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Dresses:</b></div><div>Only a couple of dresses have been in rotation at all this Winter.&nbsp;</div><div>Mustard/black houndstooth sheath NEW Sept (9)</div><div>Navy short sleeved sheath NEW Jan (6)</div><div><br />I expect to be wearing a lot more skirts and dresses in the upcoming Spring/Summer season.</p> <p></div><div><b>Trousers and Jeans:</b></div><div>I was really surprised to see which one that got the most wear in this category. The COS jeggings I thrifted for a very small amount of money has got 30 wears. That must have been my most frugal purchase in a very long time. I was also a bit surprised to see that I wear jeans a lot more than I think I do. Clearly, I don’t need that many dressy trousers.</div><div>Black skinnies/jeggings COS NEW Oct (30)<br /></div><div>Blue Levi’s 510 slim leg jeans (16)<br /></div><div>White Levi’s slim leg jeans (14)<br /></div><div>Blue Levi’s Straight leg jeans (13)<br /></div><div>Tiger of Sweden Straight leg jeans&nbsp;NEW January (14)<br /></div><div>Navy wide/bootcut trousers NEW Sept (10)<br /></div><div>Navy slim suit trousers NEW Jan (9)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Navy has clearly become my new neutral. I wear navy pants and jackets a LOT more than black right now. &nbsp;I also love pairing navy with black and white. The navy slim trousers and blazer suit has been in heavy rotation since January.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Jackets and Coats:</b></div><div>Hardly any surprises here. The parka I got for my birthday is clearly the most worn outerwear I have. The two wool coats have about the same number of wears between them, and the navy puffer has got a lot of wear, too, but it has been worn more to and from the gym than anywhere else. My trenchcoat has been in heavy rotation at the beginning and end of the season. The most interesting find is that my navy blazer has got more wears than any other indoor wear jackets even though I only got it in January. I think a new coat will be a nice investment next season.&nbsp;</div><div>Olive parka NEW sept (44)</div><div>Nawy puffer (30)</div><div>Blue plaid coat (26)</div><div>Red coat (15)</div><div>Navy blazer (13)</div><div>Trenchcoat (12)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Shoes and Booties/boots:</b></div><div>Due to a relatively mild winter, I’ve worn my warmest and least stylish (!) boots less this season. The winner is the brouged Chelsea boots, closely followed by the cognac boots.&nbsp;</div><div>Black brogue Chelseaboots NEW Sept (35)<br /></div><div>Cognac boots NEW Sept (30)</div><div>Black Chelseaboots, nubuk (replaced January) (23)<br /></div><div>Brown booties (21)<br /></div><div>Sorel snow boots (16)<br /></div><div>Black pumps NEW Jan (10)<br /></div><div>Stone suede booties NEW Aug (10)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Belts, Scarves, Bags:</b></div><div>I tend to wear very few accessories these days. Hats, scarves and gloves are a necessity, and I have worn a number of those. I don’t have very many great belts, but the few I have are in heavy rotation. I plan to add more belts. My two favorite scarves are for outdoor wear, and I rarely wear scarves indoors right now. I’ve worn my black Longchamp tote most of the season.</div><div>Cream/grey snakeskin belt NEW August (24)<br /></div><div>Black basic belt (13)</div><div>Light blue cashmere scarf (45)<br /></div><div>Heather grey wool/silk scarf (30)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Conclusion:</b> If I had to cut back to only the most necessary, these are the 30 pieces I would add to my core Fall/Winter capsule next season:</div><div><br /></div><div>1 White button down</div><div>2 Plaid shirt</div><div>3 Breton</div><div>4 Grey cashmere hoodie</div><div>5 Navy v-neck sweater</div><div>6 Black fluid v-neck sweater</div><div>7 Graphic sweater</div><div>8 Cobalt cardigan</div><div>9 Dark purple cropped sweater</div><div>10 Black pencil skirt</div><div>11 Dark purple full midi skirt</div><div>12 Mustard/black houndstooth sheath</div><div>13 Black skinny pants</div><div>14 Blue slim/straight leg jeans</div><div>15 White jeans</div><div>16 Navy slim suit trousers</div><div>17 Wide leg navy trousers</div><div>18 Olive parka</div><div>19 Plaid coat</div><div>20 Red coat</div><div>21 navy blazer</div><div>22 Black brogues Chelseaboots</div><div>23 Cognac boots</div><div>24 Brown booties</div><div>25 Black pumps</div><div>26 Cream/grey snakeskin belt</div><div>27 Black belt</div><div>28 grey wool scarf</div><div>29 Black bag</div><div>30 Wild card:)</div><div><br /></div><div>This would probably get me through most situations. In addition, I would need snow boots and winter necessities like gloves and hats. I would probably also miss having a very dressy outfit for the party season, so a cocktail dress or at least dressy top, dressy shoes and a clutch would be great.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This exercise has been very useful and thought provoking for me. I realize that I have a lot, and that I tend to split my wears in some categories. I would like to have just enough so I can get the variety I crave without waste. I will probably never become a true minimalist, but I still want to have value for my purchases, and I think this will be a handy tool when I approach next the next cold season in September. What I’m most happy with is that my sales purchases turns out to be workhorses. What I think I should cut back on is the thrifting - there’s not much money involved, but I have a few too many pieces that I end up not loving that much after all. I also like that my «investments» (suit, shoes, silk blouse) for the most part have been good additions to my wardrobe.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>If you’re still reading, you are indulging me. Thank you! Any and all comments are most welcome as usual.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div> </p>