Closet Inventories and cpw - YouLookFab Forum

Do any of you inventory your wardrobes? I've found it can really help me understand what I have and what I need. I keep a running tab of what I own and cost, then how many times I've worn the item to get a cost-per-wear.

I also recently came across a post number crunching the # of opportunities to wear things (by MO I believe?) to figure out wardrobe size and was also insipired to see where I lie (i don't normally count by catagories). I just went through a very stern, large purge as well. My totals look like this ( and i live in upstate ny):

4 cocktail dresses
6 work dresses
3 blazers
2 leather jackets
1 casual hoodie
1 light coat
1 casual coat
2 winter coats
4 skirts
14 work tops
2 cocktail tops
12 casual tops
6 work sweaters
12 cardigans
8 camis/tanks
11 trousers
11 jeans/casual pants
4 closed toe heels
6 open toed sandles
4 pairs flats
2 pairs boots
3 pairs winter boots
Accessories+pjs uncounted

I Also want to mention that recently I discovered that realistically, i have too many casual pieces and not enough dressy ones (prior to my recent dressy additions included in the count) which was a revelation. No wonder I was so unhappy- I had 'plenty' of clothes but little to wear! Even now I see the numbers are nowhere near balanced when I am formal dressy 4x a week, dressy caual 2x a week and 1x a week casual (or pjs). The worst part is my cost per wear is extremely skewed- some items get a lot of love and quite a few none. In reality i could do another purge and still not 'feel' the consequences.

Anyone with their own experiences to share? Or suggestions?!

12 years ago

Jewell

Veteran

A closet inventory is indeed a great exercise, isn't it?

I've been working on mine off and on all day now that I'm done with my year-end closet purge. I haven't counted up my tops yet. So far I've done trousers, jeans, dresses, skirts, shoes, and accessories. One helpful thing I've been doing is making notes about what I wear/don't wear and why. For example, I have eight skirts that I love but rarely wear. I seem to be lacking the right footwear for styling many of them. I've added dressy flats to my shopping list for 2014. I generally use the Stylebook app to maintain my closet inventory and track cost per wear. I need to update it with my newest purchases and delete the items I recently culled.

Meli

(website)

Active Member

Jewell: funny we're on the same track! I also have been finishing up purging/org. today. I agree, noting what you need or why things haven't got much wear is key to getting a good functioning wardrobe (which i am in process of). I'm also tempted to purge a bit harder but I think I am best waiting and doing it again in 3 months time.

Suz

I'm just about to start using Stylebook. After Mo's terrific post, I did an actual count of my closet and I found it very illuminating. I seem to have approximately the right number of items (with a few holes still to fill) and I'm focusing pretty well on actual life vs. fantasy life (something I rarely did pre-YLF).

I live not too far from you if you are in upstate NY. Based on your climate, I'd say another winter coat would not be amiss! Coats give great value and joy in our climate, and allow you to make real outfits with a simple dress or pants and a sweater -- and now is the time they are on sale. (She said, enabling...).

Anonymous

Glad to see I am not the only geek counting/cataloging their wardrobe items!

Suz- excellent point about the coat lol, I wear one daily and the other is a bit worn and tight in the bust post-baby. Coats are one of those 'things I need' not 'things I like to buy' lol!

Parkmommychic- me too honestly. I mentioned to normal people in my life once about having a spreadsheet of all the clothes I own/cost once and was looked at like I was an alien...

Glory

This is a great post and a wonderful suggestion. A closet inventory is a super way to start the new year. I have my spring summer items packed away but will join you on the items I have out. It will be scary with coats since I have way too many, and I tend to hang on to them. I also have to confess to having 2 in a shopping basket right now. I haven't pressed because I don't think them....but I like them! I can see my families eye's rolling right now

Laurinda

Inventory taking is very helpful. It can be very eye-opening to see where the real holes and surpluses are. I also rank items within each category, and if I have too many of one item I let the lower rated ones go, secure knowing that I have enough and can keep only the best.

cheryl

I'm also on team inventory. I love tracking my items and have recently been trying to do a cpw as well.

Alassë

Oh, yes, I inventory with Excel to track CPW and Word for total items.

shedev

I just finished mine. It's pen and paper, mostly because my old computer crashed 3 times before I decided to buy a new one. One of my goals this year is to do better at tracking wears.

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