https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:44:33 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338818 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:42:58 +0000 Sisi 2338818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am rather satisfied with my ratio. It took many years and definitely joining YLF helped a lot.<br />I live in a 4-season climate where Fall, Winter and Spring have similar temperatures: cool - cold - very cold - cool - warmish. Then comes Summer, that is <b>hot. </b>Thanks to my tracking habit I can say that I wear 80% of my clothes for 9 monts and the remaining 20% for 3 months. <br />Having a moderate/smallish wardrobe, mostly made of essentials, also helps. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338809 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 06:53:43 +0000 Jenni NZ 2338809@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Me too Suz! Trip to Israel?!<br /> Thanks Jaime for answering where you keep it all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338801 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 02:58:55 +0000 Suz 2338801@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp; I want to shop at Jaime's store.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338799 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 02:17:01 +0000 Barbara Diane 2338799@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m guessing that I wear most of my clothing, excluding dressy clothes, every year, a majority of it weekly during most of the year, some weekly during only the appropriate season/weather (as weather and season do not naturally coincide). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338798 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:53:34 +0000 Dee 2338798@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>SarahD8</b> - True without tracking this stuff you can’t accurately tell how often you really wear your clothing  but the 80/20 theory sure makes for an interesting tag line and does give pause for thought about how much clothing we really need to own in our lives.</p> <p><b>Jaime</b> - Wow so you plan to eventually open a store with your inventory, very exciting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338796 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:40:22 +0000 Jaime 2338796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dee I think you are right - I create unintentional capsules, without the strict rules and with the ability to change them at will.<br />Jenny - Although our house and property is very small by American standards, it came with a separate building in the yard - kind of a permanent storage shed that the previous owner used as an office. We use it for storage - including my out of use clothing and the inventory for an eventual store . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338790 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 23:54:01 +0000 SarahD8 2338790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm thinking about how to actually go about calculating what percentage of one's wardrobe is worn 80% of the time. Do it by category perhaps and add up the wears of one's most frequently worn tops until you get to 80% of days? One would need really good tracking data. I'm curious though! Perhaps this is the thing that might actually get me to track my wears consistently again, hmmm....<br /> I suspect that in the same way that we overestimate how often we wear an item, we also overestimate how evenly we wear our clothes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338788 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 22:34:39 +0000 Dee 2338788@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sal</b> - Good to hear that most of your wardrobe is getting worn and I too feel perfectly okay with the fact that my dressier pieces will not be used frequently, its understandable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338785 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 21:55:16 +0000 Sal 2338785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aside from gear I have about 100 pieces at a time in my closet and there are about 5 that have not been worn in the last 21 months.&nbsp; This is mostly because they are dressy but there are a couple that I am just not into for one reason or another, but that I keep.</p> <p>I have another 20 or so pieces that are really lightly worn - 1-3 wears in a year, and at the top end, about 50 that have been worn 15 or more times in a year.&nbsp; To me, that's once a month or more and those are my true core pieces.</p> <p>I don't edit out the least worn ones though unless I don't like them or there is a fit issue - I have a few beloved pieces that might get 1-3 wears a year and be just the thing for a few occasions.&nbsp; Some of these are new pieces too that just haven't had a chance to be worn.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I do have a few pairs of heels that I might put up for evaluation.&nbsp; I like them all - don't want to buy more - and think they are all worth keeping.&nbsp; But interested in others views. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338781 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 18:45:23 +0000 Dee 2338781@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Jaime</b> and <b>bj1111</b>- I would think this approach of using different 10%’s of your wardrobe for each season or activity might be similar to capsules. It should help to get more of the wardrobe in use and &nbsp;you don’t tire of your clothes quite so quickly.<br /><b>Suntiger</b> - Seems you’re making good use of your wardrobe, and yes, the sentimental items are some of the toughest pieces to deal with.<br />Aww..<b>Angie</b> thanks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338777 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 14:45:17 +0000 Angie 2338777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Dee</b>, chiming back in to say that the kind, engaged, and positive way you reply back to Fabbers is awesome :)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338770 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 11:27:03 +0000 Anonymous 2338770@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wear about 80% or more, though some things get used much more than others. The things I haven't worn this year have been dressy pieces, things in the holding zone that don't fit, and sentimental. For the most part though, if it's not used often, it's out. </p> <p>My wardrobe is totally seasonal though. There's almost no crossover between my summer and winter wardrobes, except during transitional weather. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio/page/2#post-2338769 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 11:10:19 +0000 bj1111 2338769@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My approach is like @Jaime’s. I wear a different 10% depending on the season and the activity. For better or worse, there is little crossover of clothes across activities. </p> <p>Some get so little wear, but when I wear it, I feel fabulous and situationally appropriate and nothing else in my closet will do. </p> <p>I do need to wear my jackets more and treat them less preciously. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338765 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 02:55:33 +0000 Jenni NZ 2338765@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jaime I realise that your wardrobe curation is a huge hobby for you, I just wonder how you store it all? Do you have a dedicated room or something?<br /> My best friend moved house 18 months or so ago and had to take over a whole spare bedroom for her wardrobe! She would have conservatively 3 times as much as me so probably 400 pieces- some is a heap of scarves, tights etc etc.<br /> The walk-in-wardrobe off her own bedroom is for her husband’s clothes only. I think she doesn’t edit a great deal and in her late 50s is not much different in weight than in her 30s ( I think- she is tall and looks quite slim.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338764 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 02:33:40 +0000 Jaime 2338764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well I am not a tracker and I do store rather than get rid of favorites when I am tired of them, so I will guess that at any given time period I am not wearing more than 10% of my wardrobe. Then the season, or my mood, shifts and I start wearing a different 10%. (This is fun for me, but I realize most people do not have the storage capacity or interest in this sort of thing.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338759 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:38:44 +0000 Dee 2338759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Jenni NZ</b>- You only had 20% of your wardrobe going unworn that’s impressive. I definitely want to improve my ratio and I agree that deciding what to do with old favourites is always a conundrum but honestly I found it quite easy to fill my donate bags. I had already replaced most of my older slim fit jeans/pants with some wider/looser ones, so out they went. Most of my other stuff was generally fit issues often due to my post menopausal belly or items that just never really felt right in the first place but I thought I could make them work.<br /><b>Janet</b> - Yep a closet that allows you to organize everything so you see it easily would certainly be helpful. I often forget half of what I own.<br /><b>Rachylou</b>- Haha, it also took me years to finally get rid of my office style clothing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338758 Sat, 16 Sep 2023 23:54:44 +0000 Jenni NZ 2338758@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also, I have worn the same things on repeat all winter ( skivvies and knitwear and ponte pants) for both work days and looking after granddaughter days and weekend days. So as far as utilisation goes, it probably is only about 20% which is worn 80% of the time. And I do try to increase wears of less worn things deliberately if the weather feels conducive. This past winter was a particularly rainy one even if not way cold, so every morning I just felt like having a warm neck and a warm upper body! Boring as anything, but it felt comfortable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338757 Sat, 16 Sep 2023 23:45:26 +0000 Jenni NZ 2338757@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just checked my “Autumn/Winter/Spring” list for you Dee. I have not worn 14 out of 71 clothing items on that list this calendar year. We are still in Spring. Not worn: a dressy bright red top, 3 vests (one is faux fur), one fancy cardigan, a black tuxedo jacket and another black jacket, 2 duster coats, 3 dresses and 2 skirts. I think what they have in common is they are mostly dressy :(<br /> But on the bright side it is just under 20% of this part of my wardrobe unworn, so 80% has been worn, and some of it a great deal.<br /> Some of the issue is my current preferences. For some reason I am “off” the faux fur vest which is a decade old but I previously adored and have worn 66 times. I still officially like it and have seen similar being sold this year, so may suddenly like it again? Reluctant to edit it out therefore. This is a conundrum. Did you have any trouble choosing what to put in the donate bags? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338756 Sat, 16 Sep 2023 21:35:56 +0000 rachylou 2338756@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It’s 50/50. I wear the front half of my closet. The back is office and dress wear I can’t bear to part with. I have at least stopped buying those things… it took awhile for me to realise those days are gone for good… </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338751 Sat, 16 Sep 2023 18:32:57 +0000 Janet 2338751@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jenni, your walk-in closet is so fab! I love ours too, although I think it’s a little smaller than yours (but I had it designed to maximize the storage, since it’s a funky space with a slanted ceiling and a beam running through it). I think that any closet style and system that allows you to see most of your (current season) wardrobe at any time really helps improve wear of all your stuff. I used to have so much trouble with things getting lost, shoved in the back of a closet or shoes on the floor hidden under the hanging racks. I know that many spaces have challenging storage to contend with, but sometimes some planning and creativity with storage can go a long way to help us *see* what we have! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338749 Sat, 16 Sep 2023 15:22:47 +0000 Dee 2338749@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sloper</b>- I too really need to pare back on some categories and just focus on what I truly need. My current retirement lifestyle really makes a big difference in what I wear now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338736 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 23:12:03 +0000 Sloper 2338736@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>During my working days, I had tracked daily and it was interesting to see how often I wore the same items - I.e. what I was intuitively reaching for at 6am that I knew would work and give me a confidence boost. &nbsp;Maybe I was wearing 60% on the regular, even higher during the summer as that season’s work wardrobe was smaller (not a fan of summer).</p> <p>I don’t track anymore but pretty sure I don’t have a great utilization ratio, just because of my lifestyle right now. &nbsp;Trying to rethink what I truly need and where I can downsize. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338733 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 22:49:50 +0000 Dee 2338733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Jenni NZ</b> - a walk-in closet sounds fab but I'm worried it would allow me to keep even more clothing that I don't wear enough lol. It will be interesting to see what your tracking reveals about your wear ratio. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338717 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 21:07:40 +0000 Jenni NZ 2338717@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m just so happy to have my beautiful new walk-in-wardrobe ( 5 years old this year!) and realise I am so lucky to not have to shift anything out seasonally. I just move things around within the spaces, like sandals/closed toe shoes up and down on the shoe racks. I will be doing that soon as it is Spring here.<br /> I think I wear far more than 20%, as I have been tracking wears for 7 years now. Might try to check the lists for you later to see if my perception is correct! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338712 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:48:37 +0000 Dee 2338712@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Many different approaches to wearing our wardrobes.<br /><b>Angie</b> - I’d expect as a fashion stylist you’d have nothing less than a very effective and wearable wardrobe.&nbsp;<br /><b>Irina</b> - &nbsp;I think I might have been a little too optimistic myself about my future fashion wearing opportunities.<br /><b>Judy</b> - Looks like you have a great handle on your wardrobe<br /><b>Cardiff girl</b> - I agree that 4 season buying makes wearing everything &nbsp;just that bit harder to manage.<br /><b>Runcarla</b> - You do a really good job of mixing and matching your wardrobe, very impressive. I’m not disciplined enough to bother tracking my wears.<br /><b>Janet</b> - Yes I too switch my wardrobe for the seasons, but it still bothers me when I’m moving items that I never even bothered to wear that season.<br /><b>Lesley</b> - Yep a smaller wardrobe would definitely help my ratio and probably bring more clarity about my true needs. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338709 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:11:33 +0000 Lesley 2338709@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I am in the minority on this page because I just don't buy that much stuff. As a result, I wear most of my wardrobe all of the time, with exceptions for very dressy clothing. Only buying a few things per year gives me a ton of clarity about what needs to be purchased. I keep running lists on a note on my phone about what I want and what I need for each season. My budget is small. It really helps prioritize and by the time a new thing enters my closet I'm primed to wear it all the time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338708 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 19:56:42 +0000 Janet 2338708@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Seasonal wear is definitely a factor for me. There is very little overlap between my summer and winter wardrobes. I relate to a lot of what Suz says about seasonal shifts. I’m about to put away the high summer stuff that is in the color palette and style that doesn’t appeal to me for fall layering. Flip flops and bare sandals are going to be shuffled down in my closet in favor of more closed-toe shoes. Shorts are going away, in favor of lightweight sweaters and long sleeve tees. Later in the fall, I’ll switch a little more. So some things won’t be worn again until next June, but that’s good with me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338694 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 19:11:13 +0000 Carla 2338694@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p> <div>I’ll be crunching numbers at the end of October when I do my annual closet sort. &nbsp;Since retirement (5 years ago!) my goal has been to curate my closet to be a modest collection of mix-and-match items that work for my mostly casual lifestyle. &nbsp;I&nbsp;<i>did&nbsp;</i>weed out career/work clothes within 3 years, and I did edit some additional garments due to fit issues when I lost some weight. &nbsp;This brought total numbers down and increased wear ratios of what I actually had.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There are still some specialty items that don’t get worn a lot in any given year, but are valuable for the purpose they serve and still ‘spark joy’ when they come out.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Jenn&nbsp;</b>posted an exercise about 3-4 years ago that I found valuable, and demonstrates the usefulness of some of those lesser worn pieces. &nbsp;I go through this exercise twice a year - working up a cool weather version, and a warm weather set.<br /></div><div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/style-your-wardrobe-challenge">https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-challenge</a> </p> <p>Because I count wears, I consider something worn 10 times or less per year as ‘not worn a lot’. &nbsp;As you can see from the Finds below, those items are for the most part dressier garments.</p> </div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338692 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 19:04:35 +0000 Angie 2338692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't worry about the wear stats, <b>Dee!</b>&nbsp;</p> <p>I live in four seasons, and most of my wardrobe items are worn frequently across the year in the correct season. I have dressy stuff and wear it daily! As long as I can move fast, am dressed for the weather, and the feet are happy - I WEAR MY WARDROBE. </p> <p>&nbsp;Like<b> Suz,</b> I tend to favour my newer items because that's me </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-clothing-wear-ratio#post-2338689 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:36:22 +0000 Cardiff girl 2338689@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I totally empathise with you on this.l have much loved things that l wear to death but a lot of stuff that doesn’t get so much wear.l am trying to rectify the situation but l still feel that living in a four season unpredictable climate means more clothing options are required therefore it’s a balance but like you l feel l could do better! </p>