84 Items for a perfect wardrobe

A while ago I found this comprehensive list of pieces of clothing for a woman. It's not like the typical "must have" list at all since it's pretty vague. What do you guys think of it?

Below the original list, I also have my version of the list (for someone who works in an informal environment in northern California) that omits a few things like underwear and bras (who's counting?). I use my list to keep myself from filling my closet with redundant pieces, and it's working great. I'm very minimalist though I suppose.

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If you build a wardrobe foundation then you can save time and money because you will always have something to wear for any occasion. All parts of the country may not need certain things so this list is adjustable to your climate as you see fit.

Having these items in your closet will upgrade you from having a closet full of clothes to having a nice wardrobe.

14 pairs of underwear (assorted styles)
7 Bras (2 black, 3 nude, 1 pretty, 1 convertible)
1 warm coat
1 casual jacket
1 good suit
2 work blazers
8 knit tops (a mix of cardigans, pullovers and heavy sweaters)
5 shirts and blouses
10 good tees/tanks
3 sexy tops
4 pair of pants (1 black, 1 khaki, 2 other)
2 pair of jeans
1 pair of other casual pant
3 dresses (one of them should be formal)
3 work type shirts
2 pair of shorts/casual skirts
2 swimsuits
4 pair of flat shoes or sneakers (1 work, 3 others)
5 pair of heels (2 work, 2 fun, 1 dressy)
1 pair of knee high boots
4 bags (1 work, 2 casual, 1 night or after 5)
1 set hat/scarf/gloves

This list is a compilation of things that my wife has compiled from her own closet as well as suggestions from her friends. The idea behind this came from not wanting to buy specific items every time she did something different.

84 items may seem like a lot but if you think about it you probably have most of these things already. When you get items that go together then you will be ready to go anywhere at anytime without having to go and buy something special.

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[My version - work in progress]
OUTERWEAR
1 warm coat
1 fall/trench coat
3 casual jackets (including 1 lightweight and 1 athletic)
1 work blazer

TOPS (ratios looser here - I find it difficult to categorize my tops)
10 tops
8 sweaters/cardigans
10 good tees/tanks

BOTTOMS
4 pairs of pants/skirts
4 pairs of jeans
2 pairs of shorts/casual skirts

DRESSES
3 dresses (one should be formal)

SHOES
3 pair of flat shoes or sneakers (1 flats, 1 sneaker, 1 sandals)
5 pairs of heels (2 work, 2 fun, 1 sexy)
0/2 pair of boots (1 knee-high, 1 ankle)

OTHER
4 bags (1 work, 2 casual, 1 night or after 5)

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

So very dependent on the climate you live in and the job you do. This list does not work for me living in the snow and working in a bar/restaurant, nor would it work for me when I lived in FL and, again, did not work in an office. Over all, I find it strange that most of these lists assume one works behind a desk in a business environment.
That said, the over all amount of clothing seems reasonable to get you dressed for most of life's needs.

Lisa

Interesting list. I always find lists helpful but then one has to factor in their own lifestyle and personal preferences.

Caro in Oz

Great as a starting point but like you I would need to recreate my own version.

Ingunn

Oh, I love lists! They are great starters. I think I can do with a lot lesser than this per season, but it sounds reasonable for an entire year. I would have to add more outerwear, probably.

Carole

I love lists, but I prefer the visuals with the list. I sort of get lost in all the descriptions, would much rather see photos. But sounds like you have a good start to building a very functional wardrobe.

Suz

LIke Carole, I get a little lost in the list. I prefer visuals. And so far, I haven't been able to narrow it down by numbers for myself. I don't know what that is so difficult.

I think in the end I prefer Angie's "capsule" method. Creating capsules for the different activities I do (or might do) and coming up with outfits for those, ensuring all needs are filled.

Rinoa

Active Member

Yeah, I envisioned this list would be the complete wardrobe, not just for one season. Angie's capsule method seems good, but for me, it's harder to really use than this more quantified list. I think it may partially be because I live in Northern California and have a very casual job, so for the most part I don't need to worry about work vs weekend wear, and the weather is not as variable either.

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