https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:49:07 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1080276 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 00:19:26 +0000 FlorenceFearne 1080276@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>To build a bit on what unfrumped said above about her leopard skirt, I think a lot of the 20/80 stuff depends on how many statement pieces you own, and how comfortable you are repeating them. For example, I will wear the same few black jeggings/black dresses/black tanks/black tees sometimes every day in a week, but then I have a big selection of scarves, unusual toppers, funky skirts, etc that I just don't wear very often. They're very memorable and&nbsp;often work only with one or two other&nbsp;items I own. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does require a bigger closet.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1080227 Sat, 09 Nov 2013 23:00:00 +0000 margaretz 1080227@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No need for equal wears! </p> <p>I go for what makes me feel happiest that day and week.&nbsp;</p> <p>Favorites all the way here! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1079422 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 21:25:27 +0000 rachylou 1079422@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My thoughts are: I've got sooo many pieces. Logging wears would be a pain. I wish they'd log themselves, because I think it would be good info and help me get the closet under control. </p> <p>But I don't have that kind of time... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1079323 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 20:20:29 +0000 shedev 1079323@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I wear about 60 % so I could definitely do better. I'm working on increasing my percentage. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1079099 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 16:30:18 +0000 Lisa 1079099@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wardrobe sizes, one of my favorite topics.&nbsp; I've been slowly purging my 4 season wardrobe for the past few years and went from over 300 items to around 150 now.&nbsp; And I still have lots of clothing I am not wearing.&nbsp; I've also had a little bit of wardrobe creep (items coming in with no items going out).&nbsp; DH just gave me a challenge the other day to help me further purge my clothes.&nbsp; Or at least to help me stop shopping for a little while.&nbsp; I'll write a separate post on that soon.&nbsp; My end goal is to wear most of my clothing most of the time.&nbsp; But living in a changing climate makes this a challenge.&nbsp; And I do think there will always be items that sit unworn most of the year, particularly special occasion wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1079006 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 15:10:53 +0000 Anonymous 1079006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting thoughts! I may do some heavy numbers wardrobe analysis for fun (I design databases for a living so this appeals to the rational side of my brain). I have been actively purging and I am now down to a wardrobe size where I need to do laundry every 3-4 days to have enough variety. This week has been a real test: we are redoing our floors and I had about 15 minutes to do a "grab and run" before the guys shut me off from my bedroom. I am huddled over the garage trying to be creative with hastily grabbed mismatched outfits! Definitely no WIWs from me for now, LOL! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078928 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 13:51:54 +0000 Suz 1078928@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I definitely wear 80% of my wardrobe 80% of the time -- within seasons. In other words, I live in a climate of extreme seasons so I can't possibly be wearing my summer things in winter.&nbsp;</p> <p>But of my "within season" wardrobe, even playing favourites to a degree, I still wear 80% of what I own on a regular basis. I have what I would consider to be a medium sized wardrobe.&nbsp; </p> <p>By "regular" I mean at least several times per month on average.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078895 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 13:20:17 +0000 Alassë 1078895@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me, if your wardrobe is small-medium size, you can certainly achieve a backwards Pareto principle - wearing 80% of your clothing 80% of the time. The other 20% that is rarely worn is formal/resort wear, which gets worn 20% (or less) of the time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078526 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 02:17:59 +0000 viva 1078526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is hard for me to answer because I keep winnowing my wardrobe while replenishing. (I'm a consignment addict in both directions - giving and receiving). I just don't like having a lot of stuff; I much prefer having a smaller set of clothing to choose from. Also, to Caro's point, I have only a couple of dressy items because I dress up so rarely. So because of that, I probably don't follow the Pareto principle strictly clothing-wise, but even still, I'm not wearing things evenly; for me, it's probably more like 50/80 or 60/80. Very thought-provoking question! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078497 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 02:02:46 +0000 Gigi 1078497@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think what K says is true, that if you have a larger wardrobe, you're going to naturally gravitate toward a smaller group of items that you wear over and over. I think that that is because those items are what are fresh in your memory. I find that if I start getting too many clothes, I get anxious because I don't remember what I have and therefore don't wear it. So I think it helps to keep the wardrobe to a smaller size and also to buy pieces only every now and then&nbsp;so that you have time to "assimilate" your current clothing before adding something to the bunch. In between buying clothes, you can still be trying stuff on and thinking about what your next purchase will be. I have found that slowing down on my purchases (where possible--if something is on a deep discount, you might need to pounce) helps me to have a "cool-down" period before I buy something, so that I know whether I truly love the item before I spend the bucks.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078399 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:45:21 +0000 unfrumped 1078399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>K is right--if I really want to be committed to wearing things more often and over longer time (sometimes the same thing, or not) then I have realized that too much incoming will upset the apple cart.</p> <p>&nbsp;One goal &nbsp;that I'm getting better&nbsp;at&nbsp;is that I want &nbsp;incoming items "refreshing" other items rather than just pushing them aside--so the new helps improve the mileage and currentness of the pre-existing-- or that they intentionally replace something for a comfort or style reason, not that I just toss something out to make room for something I didn't need. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078393 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:31:36 +0000 K. Period. 1078393@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wonder too if our analysis of it isn't skewed at various times by how recently we've acquired something. &nbsp;When I'm in the honeymoon phase with a new item, I wear it often and it may seem to be getting disproportionate wear. But then it gets supplanted by a newer love and suddenly it seems like I'm not wearing it at all. &nbsp;Winnowing down my wardrobe has really helped to equalize my wear, but there is always some fluctuation for me.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078392 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:31:22 +0000 minimalist 1078392@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fascinating angle on wardrobe size!</p> <p>I'll do some numbers and get back to you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078389 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:29:41 +0000 unfrumped 1078389@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also popping back to say, sort of echoing caro, that I do have some items that are not necessarily special occasion but are not weekly repeaters. I got my leopard-flower skirt knowing that it's a bit "special" looking and though it's neutral colors, I won't wear it every week, not even every 2 weeks--but it's a very happy-outfit-maker &nbsp;and was priced so&nbsp;I'd be okay with wearing it fewer&nbsp;times per year and really enjoying when I do. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078382 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:24:21 +0000 unfrumped 1078382@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I guess if the total numbers began to equal the days of the week, it might start to work out...</p> <p>I'm sure there's something to what you say. Perhaps it is honing your style even further so you know what you like, and don't? Or a climate that doesn't require a lot of different clothing.<br />For me it is becoming a combination of things I've realized are not as much 10"s and of having too many of the same "season" or&nbsp;weather temp-appropriate&nbsp;items and possibly dupes in different colors. So if I don't need that many and I don't like some of them as much, there you go. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078381 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:24:15 +0000 Caro in Oz 1078381@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Some things just can't be worn as often. &nbsp;Like evening clothes or dressy clothes if you have a casual life.&nbsp;If we are just talking everyday clothes though, I really want to get to the point where I don't have favourites or defaults - I want to be really happy with everything in my wardrobe. I believe it is achievable but it is also a lot of work. There are so many variables at play - the weather, changing bodies, quality of clothing etc. but I do feel I'm much closer to this goal than I was last summer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/that-28-80-rule#post-1078370 Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:10:51 +0000 Anonymous 1078370@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>x</p>