do I have too many clothes? - YouLookFab Forum

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do I have too many clothes?

Queen Mum

Veteran

Of course, if I asked my husband this question he would answer yes without a thought. But Dawn's post on a one item per month shopping ban has had me mulling this over. Obviously this would be 12 items per year, and if you could count on 3 years wear out of an item that would be a grand total of 36 items of clothing. I started counting my clothes and stopped at 50-- it wasn't counting cami's or tanks and I didn't get to shoes either.

Here is my rundown--
sleeveless shirts- 11
long sleeve shirts- 9
sweaters- 6
vest- 1
cardis- 5
jackets- 6
jeans- 4
skirt- 1
dresses- 5 (this doesn't include 2 dressy dresses)
coats- 2
shorts- 3

For a grand total of 53 items of clothing, not counting gear, 'junk' clothes that I would only wear to work in the yard or clean house, accessories, undergarments, or shoes (I probably have roughly 30 pair of shoes not counting gear shoes.)

So, I can't see maintaining a wardrobe by purchasing only 1 item of clothing per month. Obviously I wear some of my clothing more often than others, but those little worn items are what give my workhorses a break and extend their life as well.

Just wondering what other's thoughts are on this. How many items are in your closet?

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from chewyspaghetti

medusa

Veteran

Kim, thanks for posting this! I was thinking of posting something similar, to get a sense of the size of others' wardrobes.

I'll do some counting when I go home tonight.

Also, I think Dawn is focusing on shifting to higher-quality items while also dealing with serious financial constraints...as far as I know I don't think she is looking to end up with only 36 items of clothing.

Tanya

Veteran

You do not have too many clothes at all. I have many, many more than you, and I do not even dare count them all.

An example: I own 23 pairs of jeans. In my defense, I wear jeans about 90% of the time; and my collection spans many different colors: in addition to classic blue shades, I have jeans in white, cream, grey, black, and even pinstripe. They also come in many different cuts: skinny, straight, boot cut, flare, trouser and high-waisted wide-legged. And then I have bootcuts hemmed for a couple of different heel heights. You must all by now think that I am at last somewhat crazy, that's OK, I admit that I am a jeans addict

And Medusa's comment about Dawn is very accurate, I think she only intends to do this temporarily, and most of her wardrobe is already in place.

Kristine

Veteran

It's an interesting question. I'll have to count tomorrow. I don't think you have too many. 1 skirt and 4 pairs of jeans is pretty reasonable.

I have 3 pairs of jeans (2 ok for work and 1 trendier for weekends). For skirts I have 7 total (1 formal, 3 for work and 3 for weekends). I have 2 dresses (1 work worthy, 1 sundress). In some of the tops you have more than I do. So I think it's close.

I think someone could get by with 36 pieces if they planned carefully and used a lot of accessories. With high quality pieces you'd probably get even more wear than three years. It'd be interesting to make a list of 36 pieces that would work. There's something really appealing to me about a small, super functional wardrobe.

MNsara

Veteran

queenie - I don't think you have too many at all. If you live where seasons aren't an issue, then it seems like you are still very reasonable in your count. If you do need to account for seasons, that alone can almost double a wardrobe as all summer pants are NOT winter pants, summer sweaters are NOT winter sweaters, etc.

I think getting by with a limited number of pieces, like 36, is a great plan, but would require strategizing that I just can't do alone. I'd need outside Angie-like help.

I really do like the idea of a small, super functional wardrode like Kristine mentioned, but I really LOVE shopping :-\

P.S. In my closet I was trying to convert over to those skinny velvety hangers and had 3 dozen so far. Then I counted how many more I needed to complete the closet and it was about 70!! Most of my clothes do hang (sweaters included). I only put yoga clothes, underwear, etc. in drawers. I do not put away out-of-season clothes either.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I'm like Tanya, I have way way more clothes than you, and I wouldn't dare count mine. I think I have at least 5 cardis in *black*! (All hand-me-downs from Shopping Friend, but still.)

I think there was a blog last year where the woman had a strict number of clothes and wore them in different variations for a year. But I think her total count was 100?

I may be completely misremembering this...

Louise

Veteran

I think you only have too many clothes if you don't wear a lot of them, as long as they are all getting regular wear i think you're fine x

Queen Mum

Veteran

I knew we'd be all over the map in terms of how large or small our personal wardrobes are- that's to be expected. It was good for me though to count my clothes and I spent the evening mulling over breaking it down to how many clothes to buy each year/month/how much to spend...(I tend to build spreadsheets in my head- I'm a tad left brained ;-0 I get a kick out of that sort of thing)

I do think this is a good size wardrobe for me. I'm in the bay area, so we don't have huge season extremes, but I don't wear jeans or long sleeves in the summer, nor do I wear sleeveless during the winter. Plus, I do like to rediscover "new" stuff at the beginning of each season that I had forgotten about...

Most of my wardrobe gets fairly regular wear. The only areas I'm not ruthless about purging are in basic tanks and layering t's. I'll look at a top and know that I haven't worn it all season, but it's just a basic little t so I hate to dump it when I might wish I had it next week.

So, out of this little exercise, my plan of action is to keep my wardrobe at roughly this size, aiming to only purchase clothes that pass all criteria (fit, color, quality, wearable-3-ways) and by this time next year I will have replaced the 7's with all 10's. Atleast, that's the plan..... I do want to expand my skirt/dress collection by 3 or 4 this summer and expand my jean collection by 2. And I think I'll try to alternate my monthly shopping by shopping statement pieces/shoes one month and basics/accessories the next. This should keep my closet well rounded.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I think that I have a fairly similar amount to you. Ironically, it's the largest that my wardrobe has been in a long time. I'm trying to get started on warm weather wear- little by little, but in a few month I will probably be able to cull a lot of my winter clothing out. (I'm hoping, anyway). I need to do something, though. Everything is getting really disorganized and smashed. I want to buy another dresser, but I don't think that is going to happen.

Queen Mum

Veteran

Chewy, all my clothes fit in roughly 6 feet of closet space (even my necklaces and scarves) what is your situation?

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Oh boy,
I have many more clothes than you do, although I am always editing and in the process of upgrading. Since YLF, I have gotten rid of many items. Due to my thrifting hobby, things get added all the time. I do love variety and I wear all that is in my closet. Because of my casual lifestyle, my dressier clothes are not used as much. I do not have much of a business casual wardrobe. I think that we all have different needs as far as size of wardrobes. My closet is very organized, I can find everything and mostly everything is out all seasons with the exception of coats and wool sweaters- I swap summer and wool.

I hope to continue the editing process. I do not know if I could ever stick to the one in one out rule. I do not know that it is necessary in my case. We have a large walk in closet that is basically in the back of our loft- heaven. We uses hanging metal racks and bookshelves. So much easier to see!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I only have 3 feet of hanging space, plus a dresser.

Queen Mum

Veteran

ahh, then you are a tad cramped... hmmm.... that is tricky. I"ll have to put my thinking cap on and see if I can offer any suggestions. Have you thought about trying those infomercial multi hanger things?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I've had those before, but didn't like them. There is a lot that can be folded, but I need to get the accessories out of my dresser to make room for that. I have some shelf space in the closet, but that is where my shoes are. I hung belts up in the closet last night, but I think that I really need some sort of hook system behind my door for belts/scarves.

Queen Mum

Veteran

do you have room under your bed? I used to keep sweaters in those shallow plastic bins under my bed. That might be a good place for sweater, jeans, t's, whatver could work for you.....

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I go through this question with my clients all the time, Kim. The answer is very personal. Some people prefer variety whereas others do not. If you prefer variety like Tanya and Jean, you’ll need more clothes. But Khris does well with fewer items. I’m somewhere in the middle. I like variety, AND I adore trends, but I want a small wardrobe – so my “one in, one out” policy is strict.

The question is more: do you wear all the clothes you have?

Another important point: do not be seduced by sales.Things go on sale all the time in America (this is not the case in other parts of the world), and people feel compelled to take advantage of a deal like “but is only cost $14!” . If you keep on shopping like this, you will end up with piles of things you only sort of like instead of LOVE. That’s how you get loads and loads of clothes and still feel like you have nothing to wear. I often suggest to clients ”please hold back at sale time”. Invariably what happens is that at least half the stuff goes back by the time I’ve seen it because the items aren’t perfect or they’re unnecessary duplications.

I hope that makes sense.

Louise

Veteran

During the school easter holidays i turned all of my coat hangers the wrong way round, every time i wore something i moved the coathanger the right way round. Then during May school half term roughly six weeks later i reviewed it and am able to say i'd worn every item at least ocne during the intervening period save for a couple of formal dresses.
I think i might start doing this a couple of times a year to give a rough idea of things i'm not wearing then in the following months make an effort to wear them if they're still not used i'd then be happy to pass them on x

elpgal

Veteran

Louise, That is a great idea! I am going to copy you.

Louise

Veteran

I think i'm going to give it a go with accessories but perhaps give it a longer timescale i seem to be overflowing with necklaces, scarves, handbags and belts and i always go to the same ones but don't want to chuck anything away because i'm really not sure when i last used it but if i can say 'i haven't used it in the last year' then i think it can definately go x

Queen Mum

Veteran

I went through my closet and I actually only found about 3 things that I really don't wear. I'd love to have more clothes and more variety but that would seem extravagant for my sahm lifestyle and our budget-- so I'm going to choose to be content with the size of my wardrobe. I will concentrate on purchasing the best I can afford, and only stuff that works with my current wardrobe and I should be able to evolve a great wardrobe within the year.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I love your analytical approach to dressing, Kim. It sounds like you have a fantastic base for building your dream wardrobe. I try not to think of the size of task in rebuilding my wardrobe, it's sort of daunting because it will never be complete, however I love the thought of having the basics in place soon then I can start with the fun pieces.

marianna

Veteran

Kim, I probably have way more clothes than you, but I don't wear half of them. I might have 15 pairs of jeans, but I only wear 4 of them because the others are all too small or too short or I just don't like anymore. I know I need to get rid of all the clutter in my closet, but I hold on to it "just in case." I'm also very much seduced by sales and buy random stuff because it's inexpensive. Generally, none of these random sale purchases ever get worn and I end up just wasting money. Thus, I have a lot of clothes, but not a lot of options if that makes sense.

I think your amount of clothes sounds really reasonable and manageable. My goal is to have a wardrobe where everything fits and everything looks good. Once I reach this point I think I'll have a lot less items, but I'll be able to create more outfits.

rute

Veteran

You do not have too many clothes.. I never counted mine but my wardrobe is always changing, I buy to replace older clothes (cardigans and sweaters don't last long) and I give a lot, when I loose weight, I don't keep the clothes I give everything.

Maya

Veteran

I don't think there is a specific number that defines "too many." If you wear all of your clothes, and there is nothing in there that is lurking in the background collecting dust, you're fine.

Dawn

(website)

I don't think there are any specific numbers about how many clothes you need. As long as you wear them, there is no limit on the number. In my case, I do have enough to survive not having a fresh hit of new stylish items and in fact, what I need most to make my wardrobe work are good quality basics as well as a couple of fun items to reflect my style.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Under my bed is already stuffed full.