I agree, Gaylene. This is why I said on Deb's thread that I think there are two kinds of favorites - those we favor in terms of wearing often, and those we adore. I need that Venn diagram to have a lot more overlap!

I have to agree with Ingunn: my favorites change quite a bit, depending on different circumstances, so I'd be afraid to try to whittle my closet down too much based on my current whims.

In fact, just a few weeks ago, I was going through my wardrobe spreadsheet and came across a crop top that I'd worn only once since buying. I had originally really loved it, but then after one wear, I was like, meh. So I berated myself for buying it too rashly and determined to take it to consignment the next year (it was too late to sell in the current season). Well, would you believe that the next morning, as I was getting dressed, I thought about what I wanted to wear, and I wanted to wear that top? And since then I've worn it a few more times. So I can't even trust myself to determine what a favorite is. There's just too much danger that the item will fall back into favor if it's currently on Fashion Death Row.

And sometimes a particular item is not a favorite simply because the supporting act isn't good. But when you find the right supporting pieces, the item becomes very important to an outfit and thus joins the ranks of "favorites."

@avettestingray: I've been reading a lot of miminalist blogs and I got the opposite impression. that you should have only clothes that you love. i know if my very small wardrobe were just "meh" i'd be very sad every morning. I read this on Into Mind a week or so ago:
Using the minimalist approach to build your wardrobe will simplify most wardrobe-related tasks (creating outfits,
packing for trips, organising your closet), except for one – shopping
for new stuff will suddenly become a lot more complicated. The trouble
is that once you take the time to really define what you want your
wardrobe to express and make more conscious decisions about what you
want to spend your money on, the range of clothes that fit your criteria
will shrink.

I actually felt better when I read this, because shopping for me is very difficult. I go home empty-handed more often. And, when I do buy, I wind up returning most items. But the few I keep are winners.

As for a closet of favorites, I do love to wear almost all of what I have and some items are true favorites. But I answer to in the true spirit of the question, I would say "yes - I have a closet of favorites". I am feeling very fortunate to be able to say that.

I have closet full of favorites but it seems that this is not the answer for me. I really like all individual items but somehow they don't play nicely with each other and I am still strugling with creating outfits every day. And I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. Does anyone else have similar problem?

Lots of great points:

• Favourites change over time
• Favourites are faves for different reasons
• Favourites can be faves for sentimental reasons
• Favourites can be passed on because of a change in style persona
• Favourites can fall out of favour in favour of a new favourite (try saying that 10 times fast).

"They are all workhorses that get worn regularly, but are more like a steady, reliable backdrop for my favorites or serve a specific function that my lifestyle requires. Purging them would leave a hole in my closet, but I'd have no trouble finding a replacement that would work just as well."

I wish I had such confidence in finding workhorse replacements! As a petite with fussy feet, this can be quite a struggle. Most of what I consider "favorites" are the workhorses. To others they may appear boring and functional, but I know just how long it took me to find exactly the right item that fits, flatters, and is comfortable and natural and easy to wear, in a quality fabrication that will stand the test of time and result in great cost/wear. I don't like futzing with my clothes. I don't like scratchy fabrics, tight waistbands, and stiff fabrics. I want structure -- but structure that is comfortable to wear.

These ARE the exact pieces I'd grab if there was a fire! Frankly, I'd leave the starring role, dramatic pieces behind. I love these pieces too, but they are on trend today and may not be next year. Emotionally, these play a critical role in my closet (mood dresser) but emotionally, I know my whims change with the trends, so I could part with these. But not the favorite, supporting-act workhorses, the clothes I could not get dressed without.

Archie, that was an issue for me too - I wanted a closet full of statement pieces. I finally realized that it wasn't possible to have them all play well together, and that some supporting items were needed. But I still had to find supporting acts that fit MY style and needs. For instance, where some people use leggings, I needed warmer heavier ponte skinnies.

Also I realized that there are many times it seems like one item will suit all needs, but it's not true for me. For example, I no longer crave the One Pair of All Purpose Tall Black Leather Boots. I know many people are good with that one perfect pair, but that's not going to work for me and my endless winters - I'd be bored stiff. Instead, I collected a variety of black boots in different styles.

I'm on my phone, so I'll second what Henley said. With a very small wardrobe, dessing (and packing) is so easy; shopping is so hard! All of my my items are favorites, the basics and the statement pieces.

alaskagirl, so true about "all purpose items", I struggle with that too. I am currently on a black shoe quest but it seems that I am looking for a shoes that does not exist. They suppose to fill all my needs - they should go with skirts and pants, should be comfortable, at least 8 hours shoes, and should also work for different weather, be waterproof, but stylish, suitable for work and weekends, and definitely not boring basic. Variety of shoes is probably the answer for me too, but for some reson it is difficult for me to accept that. I dismissed so many beautiful shoes just because they did not tick all the boxes.

Yep, I had to get out of that 'do it all' mentality too. Mine was more expecting items to both dress up and down equally, when in fact they often were neither dressy enough or casual enough for the specific occasion at hand!