As part of putting away my summer clothes, I did a complete fall/winter wardrobe audit yesterday. I don't have much that I want to cull this season -- we've moved twice in the past year, and I jettisoned a fair amount each time. I have about six items in a holding zone that aren't shown here. This also doesn't show my chore clothes (muck boots, painting clothes, etc) which are gross and live on the covered porch.

#1 - gear drawer -- nice tight color palette of black, turquoise, white and pink/purple.

#2 - shoes -- the lack of winter boots is glaring. I've tried a bunch on but haven't found the right ones yet. I'm working on adding more neutral shoes too. Colors are fun, but limiting!

#3 - coats, dresses, and button-front shirts. this feels very eclectic to me, partly because a lot of what's in here is very old -- a range of style eras, so to speak.

#4 - everything else: accessories, underpinnings, socks, loungewear, pants, sweaters, tees and pullovers. I was kind of amazed by how compact it looks, all laid out. There are a couple categories that could use bulking-up, and I won't be adding anymore cotton jersey tops anytime soon -- I have more than enough.

This was a fun activity for me, and more useful than doing a precise count. In the abstract, I sometimes feel like I have too much, but seeing it all out in the open like this, and how little space it actually takes up, makes me feel better, and also helps me see exactly what I'm missing: winter boots, winter socks, a long down puffer, lightweight layering sweaters, non-denim pants -- all of which I already suspected, but now it's confirmed. These wardrobe holes also make sense, coming from several years in a very hot, winter-free climate back to a four-season locale. I definitely need more clothes and more variety in New Hampshire than I did in Nevada. I've noticed that a lot of minimalist bloggers/advocates live on the West Coast or in the Southwest, and I do think it is much easier in those climates to get by with less.