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Denim/pants inventory

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Today I had a little time to start messing in my closet, really taking stock for the coming seasons. I tried on every single pair of pants, jeans, and shorts — I put the shorts away for the season.

A lot of these I have had for years. One benefit of having a fairly large number of options is that they don’t wear out quickly. I put two pairs of jeans in the bag to take to the ranch next month, another two pairs in the holding zone in case I lose a little weight, and passed a pair along.

Here’s my breakdown:

Pic 1) 6 pairs of bootcut/flares (varying washes and widths, one pair is black)
Pic 2) 8 pairs of colored or patterned jeans/pants
Pic 3) 8 pairs of black or grey pants/jeans, including a pair of faux leather/ponte pants and 2 pairs of stretch Athleta/Lululemon pants that are travel/multipurpose pants (2 grey, the rest black)
Pic 4) (bottom of the stack in photo) 4 pairs blue denim skinnies (varying ages - I rotate out the oldest when they get worn out)
Pic 5) 5 pairs blue denim straight legs - varying washes, 2 with released hems, and
Pic 5) 1 pair of boyfriends

And for summer bottoms:
- 6 pairs of cropped/cargo pants (top of the stack in pic 4)
Pic 6) 12 pairs of shorts (4 are getting old and worn and are super casual to only wear around the house)

In addition, I have three pairs of trousers hanging in the closet: a linen blend that I never wore this summer (a little snug so in the holding zone), a pair of nice black trousers with red side stripes, and a pair of black velvet pants that I may wear for the holidays.

I think this is a pretty well-rounded selection for someone who doesn’t do super trendy bottoms. I kinda think I could use another pair of boyfriends but I’m going to hold off in case I lose a little weight and one of those roomier straight leg styles starts feeling looser! But one thing I wanted to evaluate was whether I had a good proportion of each style that corresponds to how much I actually wear that silhouette — I think I’m in pretty good shape in that regard.

Do you ever do an inventory and break things down like this? Does my collection look crazy big or about right to you? LOL

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42 replies

Latest reply was from Gretchen

Sal

Veteran

You have a fab collection. It is good to have a variety of silhouettes and washes. I envy your bootleg and flare collection as they tricky to find here.

I can see some trousers/ wide leg pants being a good addition- like the cinnamon ones or similar.

karen13

Veteran

Nice work. Your jeans collection covers all the bases - it is extensive, but you look so good in them and they fit your life. The red side stripes sound fab - I hope you post a WIW.

I should inventory. I tend to find a new style and keep buying variations, without assessing whether I have enough already. Trying to limit my purchases this year is helping, but I still have issues. I'm talking to the 4 pairs of Old Navy slim wide legs (actually 5, but I'm assessing sizes in one duplicate) currently in my closet.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Umm...crazy big?

Katerina

Veteran

Not crazy big Jeans is the basis of your wardrobe and you need the different styles and colors to create your looks.
I haven’t done an inventory for ages, but would need one re my dark dressy trousers. I generally buy “good black trousers that fit great” wherever I find them and worry about the silhouettes later. Thanks for the idea of how it should be done.

Style Fan

Veteran

I think the size of someone's wardrobe is personal. Jeans are part of your look. You also do lots of different activities and need different types of clothes.
I just did a wardrobe inventory. I am always in need of jeans. Finding good jeans that fit well is like a HEWI for me.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I tend to snap up good jeans and pants when I find them, since they are not my easiest fit, and then I tend to hang onto them forever. There are some in here that are easily 6 years old. (Even older ones at the ranch)

Good point that different people have different needs. Some would think that it’s ridiculous to barely have a single pair of trousers that could be worn as workwear, but for my life, that’s fine. But we’re entering a season in which I will wear these almost every day, since I hardly ever wear skirts or dresses in F/W.

Runcarla

Veteran

What Katerina said. You are a creative dresser and need a large ‘palette’ to work from. I’m curious, though. With 50+/- pairs of pants, equal wear would be about 7 times over 1 year. I know you wear dresses and skirts as well. Have you worn all your pants at least once in the past year?

I have 7 pair of pants (2 blue jean, 2 white jean, 2 black athletic style (drawstring waist, tapered leg), and 1 pair olive chino. Also 2 pair shorts (navy, olive). There actually isn’t much difference in the silhouette of my repeats! I get a lot of wear out of my pants, but need to replace more often. My bottoms wear out completely within 3-5 years. I’m a uniform dresser, and do not get bored with repeating outfits.

I like your description of your pants, and your neat stacks look pretty!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I m not going to judge you on the number of pants you have having just checked how many I ve got (whoops!)but I was impressed with the number of shorts you have but then you probably have a very different climate to me ,l just wouldn’t get the wear out of them.

nemosmom

Veteran

Another vote that your collection size is not too big. I did a similar inventory of jeans a few months ago (so, yes, I like to take inventory by category like this. It helps me spot orphans! It's the putting together of outfits with said pieces that trips me up... but that's another topic...)

If you worked in an office, you would likely have fewer jeans and more dressy bottoms, but probably an equal number of pieces, no? But, given your lifestyle and seasonal weather, it sounds like you have a perfect number. You have a nice (enviable) amount of variety of washes within the silhouettes you like. If they fit you and you like them, it's all good!

Jeans are the backbone of my own wardrobe. I've cut myself some slack when it comes to quantity; I prefer to split wears between favorite pairs so they last longer.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

I want the jeans! I want it to be cool enough to wear jeans!
Great collection - you know what you like and what you need for your lifestyle. I would have a hard time remembering exactly what I have with that number, so doing regular inventory makes sense to me.

The only items in my wardrobe that I have in big numbers are button-down shirts - I should definitely do an assessment like this before I buy, oh, I don’t know, another blue button-down with dots, because I have three? Four? Five? Sigh.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOL — I can really blow minds and post the numbers of my tops, but I tend to hang onto unworn ones for ages to see if they come back into favor.

Another factor in variety of jeans — lengths. I have some that work only with flats, some that get rolled/cuffed, and some that only work with heels. Part of my try-on session yesterday was to evaluate my hem lengths to see what I can wear with certain shoes and boots.

My shorts collection is mostly ancient, and super casual. I got three new pairs this summer, but didn’t get rid of the ones I “replaced.” I kept them for gardening, cleaning, etc. I’ll probably end up taking some to the ranch. I keep more than it seems necessary because if I get into certain messy summer projects, it means lots of laundry, and I only do laundry once a week.

Bijou

Veteran

Your jeans collection is probably similar to my dresses and how often you wear them, is probably also similar - so to me, this is totally reasonable.

The other thing is, why edit items if you have the space to store them and you are happy to wear them? I don't think editing simply for the sake of it is a good idea when it encourages people to churn and simply buy more items. You seem to be very mindful and deliberate in your purchasing.

Murph11

Veteran

LOL! I would need more clothing in every category if I only did laundry once a week! I throw in at least one load MWF (for 2 of us).

I wear shorts, and mostly got thru this summer with one ancient pair, as all the rest felt so low rise. Funny how preferences change!

ophelia

Veteran

Crazy big. Then again, people would say that about my skirts...which are my most commonly worn item like pants and shorts are for you.

Kyle

Veteran

Sounds like your collection is just right for YOU. And that’s fab.

Ginger

Veteran

Janet, these numbers are crazy big to me for jeans - but they make total sense to me in comparison to my own dress inventory. I completely understand the differences that length, cut, shade of color, age, fit, etc. can make. When a particular type of garment is absolutely foundational to your style, of course a significant inventory is both logical and necessary!

Anonymous

To me it seems a lot, since it's too hot for pants half the year, but if you wear them regularly it's right for you. For me, 10 pairs max is plenty (dresses are another story...), but I replace about every two years.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*APPLAUSE*

LOVE THAT YOU TOOK INVENTORY. My toes are tickled.

Janet, you have a stellar set of pants and jeans. You can only successfully add when you know what you have. WELL DONE. Dressier pants are a great idea.

I take inventory a little obsessively - of many aspects of my life. I need to know exactly what I have all the time. (I'm a control freak).

deb

Veteran

Thank you Janet. Now I do not feel bad about my large collection of jeans.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I knew I had some company here (I think Staysfit might have also had a big collection too?)!

Absolutely, I rely on jeans the way other women rely on dresses. I would look at the dress collections of Bijou and Ginger and be not be able to relate at all. I can count my “winter” dresses on, um, two fingers, if that. And I wear a skirt maybe twice each winter (ie to a funeral). The long hanging space in my closet is narrow, and I switch out summer dresses for long jackets when the seasons change.

Ugh, I don’t mind doing laundry, but I would go nuts having to do it multiple times a week! Good thing I never had kids.

nemosmom

Veteran

If it makes you feel any better, I have 24 pairs of jeans in various lengths and cuts. Plus, 9 “specialty jeans” which i usually only wear in the colder months - those include 2 cords, 1 black coated denim, 3 colored, 1 white, 1 moto, 1 camo print.

I have only 2 pairs of dress pants (one plaid, one black).

Susie

Veteran

This isn't a crazy number to me because I probably have about the same number if I count all the pants and jeans I have for all seasons. My pants count is higher as I have just 6 or 7 pairs of jeans but since I don't wear them to work anymore, that's probably plenty. I have literally 0 skirts right now and while I like dresses in the summer for both casual and work wear, I rarely wear them in the winter. So I need a lot of pants!

I like how much variety you have in jeans. And having different lengths makes sense too.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Nemosmom, sounds like our collections are very similar!

anchie

Veteran

I like your collection - look how colors in #2 all go nicely together.
I think your collection is right for you and your lifestyle. I have less jeans but more pants because I wear jeans only on weekends. Only thing that would concern me is having duplicates and splitting wears. But if everything has it’s role and creates different outfits and vibes - than it is perfect.

kellygirl

Veteran

Totally reasonable. My collection is similar. I wear jeans almost every day year round--field jeans, office jeans, going out jeans and then jeans for bloated days and normal days. It's kind of ridiculous but I figure I have the space... LOL.

SarahD8

Veteran

I am pretty sure I have as many cardigans as you have pants, so to each her own!

Runcarla's question about wears per year is interesting. I aspire to wear my clothes evenly (I'm not sure why; honestly that might be one of those arbitrary hangups/shoulds), but it never, ever seems to work. My cardigans seem to fall into three categories: the ones I wear all the time (a lot of the longer ones), the ones I wear for specific purposes/outfits (e.g., neutral jacket-y ones that are more dressy), and the ones that I rarely wear but absolutely love (e.g., cropped patterned ones -- bc they just require more specific styling). I'm curious if your pants collection is similar?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

For sure, there are certain pairs that are just easier to style — no brainers I can pull on almost any day and put on a top and footwear and go. But there are some that are “occasion” jeans — dramatic flares call for more dressed up occasions or heels; darker washes read a little dressier or more conservative; patterned jeans need to be styled thoughtfully. And then there are some I need to be feeling skinnier to wear. So no, they don’t get even wear, and that’s ok. I would hate only having four pairs of jeans.

But I only have one cardigan and I didn’t wear it at all last winter (it’s long and cozy and mostly doesn’t leave the house). We all have our thing!

Susie

Veteran

Ok, Janet, I challenge you to do a jacket count! Probably because I am looking for validation of my number

Kate

Veteran

I rely on jeans & shorts like you—and just added four more in a new silhouette this season!—so my numbers are very similar (maybe bigger?!). Jeans and pants in general make me very happy, so I’m unfazed by big numbers. I also hang onto jeans & shorts until they are a shadow of themselves—it’s hard to dismiss a well-loved item!

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