I like what you said: "...so there is enough but not too much". That's my goal too. I don't have a lot of insights on this topic, but I'm reading the thread with interest.

I do know that I'm at the one-in-one-out point in my wardrobe. I have more than enough. Not a gross amount of excess, but a little too much. But I'm in no rush to purge at the moment because my closet is well-organized and I can see everything, and it's full of things I really, really like. I'll just let things get weeded out slowly over the next few years as it becomes clear which items I'm not wearing much. I won't be shopping all that much for a few years, since I'm back at school so our budget is tighter.

I do try to wear things out, but realistically that doesn't happen for every item because I'm not always great at predicting what is going to get a lot of use. Also I have certain items that don't get worn very often because they're too fancy for everyday life (red high heels, I'm looking at you), but I love them so much they have a firmly entrenched place in my wardrobe.

Great topic! It's giving me a lot to think about. I am rebuilding my wardrobe in my new size and asking myself what is enough. I've never really given much thought to CPW because I am generally a frugal shopper. (I enjoy the thrill of the hunt! LOL) We have four seasons here but I do try to buy things that are wearable for more than one season such as choosing sleeveless tops that I can wear now but that will layer nicely under a cardigan when fall arrives. I also don't mind repeating items even wearing a basic bottom twice in one week. I still need a few more tops to feel like I have enough variety. I guess it boils down to finding our happy place wardrobe wise and that's going to be different for each of us.

I don't like things hanging in my closet that don't get worn. I just think that's wasteful. That said, I donate things I'm tired of that still have some life in them. My favs get worn until they wear out.

I think about CPW only in the broadest sense. Even though I have some OCD tendencies and some part of me would love to inventory my closet, I have NO desire whatsoever to do a spreadsheet for any reason.

I have a full closet, yes, it's true. I do frequently cull things because I've either moved on from them, changed size, changed style, or simply acknowledged a mistake. And I have favorites as well -- things I wear frequently even though I could probably make a little more effort to wear one of my lesser-worn items. But I enjoy having options, and I admit I like the variety my closet offers. I am just trying to be mindful of the state of my closet, my internal wish list, and what I'm spending.

I have some things I don't wear often, but I enjoy greatly when I do, so I don't care about CPW. I don't really abide by the "if you haven't worn it in six months" rule -- some things fall in and out of favor but warrant keeping. I got on a purging kick some time back and got rid of a couple of shirts I later kicked myself about. But by and large, by the time I get rid of something, I'm pretty sure I'm over it.

I made the mistake last year of snagging a beautiful silk shirt I'd found on sale, only to get home and realize I had a very nearly identical shirt I'd bought at the end of the previous season. So I have two lookalikes in my closet and I'm reluctant to give up either one because they're both nice shirts! I want to have a better grasp on my closet so I don't make mistakes like that.

I have a lot of admiration for you minimalists out there, or even those who are happy with a wardrobe of 100 or so pieces. I don't want to be wasteful, but variety and an ever-evolving wardrobe is a big part of how I have fun with fashion.

WOW, this is an interesting conversation, and I keep checking back in to see what others are posting.

I never thought in terms of CPW - when your new item is competing with an established item - but I recently came to an understanding that I tend to collect multiples of items (black skirts, black pumps, leather skirts, little novelty jackets), and to address that urge.

And two days ago, I put myself on a strict SYC, after I went through three closets on a streamlining mission, and realized just how much stuff I really do have. It's kind of ridiculous. I should clarify that one closet is my own, in my condo. The second closet is the back wall of the BF's closet, because I divide my living time between my place, and the BF's place downtown, 30 minutes away. The third closet has stuff to ebay, give to my sisters and niece, and costumes.

Where I get stuck is the 'just in case' mentality. "I had better keep this just in case (that never happens) comes up, and I need something to wear!" I come by that honestly - I am a third-generation hoarder. Oh, not to the point of things collapsing, or filth, or anything. I just have a lot of clothing, shoes, and books. I feel this stems from the Depression-era belief, handed down from my grandparents to my mother, then to me - that you should hang onto your unused things, just in case you might need them later. But I am working through that, one piece of clothing and one book at a time.

Having made a pinterest board to refer to, as well as referencing the site Into Mind, is really helping me identify very specific likes, create my own signature looks, and helping me pare things down in my everyday closet.

Suz, I get the ethical angst vs desire to wear a look that won't be around forever or I suspect I'll tire of. I went much of last year either buying nothing or buying ethical fashion only (setting my own rules about what that meant because its impossible to nail down absolutely). More recently I've had a change in size, color, and to some extent style, and I loosened up my rules to fill holes that didn't seem full able in a reasonable period within those rules either because of availability or cost. And I wanted current looks, which as you say are harder to find in the second-hand or affordable made-here markets.

Recently I've bought new (not second hand) things from major chains - j crew, AT, BR-and cringed on seeing they were made-as everything is that you don't seek out like a hawk-in countries with poor standards for garment workers. I tried to console myself "at least" it's not H&M, Forever 21, etc. But you know, I doubt it makes a lot of difference. An $80 imported sweater is probably made in the same conditions as a $28 one, or so I've read. Depressing. Then there's the argument that if we don't buy new items from these countries we are just taking away the livelihoods of mothers and their children. How to parse the logic?

Now I ask myself, are you going back to your stricter sourcing standards now that the biggest holes are filled, or are you going to keep looking at catalogs and stores that you know have questionable sourcing? With conflicting arguments about how to shop with a conscience, I really don't know what I should do, for my own values.

That re-opened barn door to the broader, standard market was fun. It may stay open with new self-rules like making a good effort first to source second-hand or in countries with reasonable standards before looking in the easier market, and especially doing this work of figuring out what I really need and will use and only buying that, at the very best quality I can, wherever it comes from.

And trying to do this while keeping a reasonably current feel to my wardrobe and having some fun with variety and new things in a restrained way. When I find this balance I will really have done something!

I so resent the state of the garment industry and how hard it is to navigate consciously. But I can't resent it and not do my little part to change it, right--whatever the heck that means?

La Belle, thanks to the link to Into Mind. I also am finding Pinterest useful for honing and trying out ideas without creating as much closet churn.

And I share your feeling that really looking at our closets and doing any kind of what-I'll-wear reflection puts the old shame kabosh on the shopping reflex.

It even pulls me back from my thinking on stuff-I-still-really-need. A lot of that thinking comes from perspectives like what-if-I-need, or the urge to somehow compete something (a tee in every wardrobe color, a pair of cords because how could it be winter without cords, a dress in a color because won't I get tired of grey--these are maybe wardrobe holes as we call them, but that wardrobe hole idea can range farther and wider than what I actually need to be appropriately and domewhat stylishly dressed -- really wearing the closet and not just hanging it -- the next few months).

Cindy, so true, and I like your term, we all have our own wardrobe happy place.

Aziraphale, that urge to wardrobe edit comes over us at different times and intensities doesn't it? When we're pretty happy as we are, I think we should stay happy for as long as that lasts!

Ruth, yeah, where you are is where I seem to be arriving.

Janet, I also hate when I do that-buy a duplicate because I forgot I already had one. I don't blame you for hating to part with one because both are beautiful. And your reminder is wise, not to push the fun out of fashion and getting dressed c

Since you've posted this, Pawprints, I can't help but start thinking in terms of "what will I NOT be able to wear that I love if I do this"

So, thank you. That's a really interesting, new perspective to put the brakes on myself

I have a twinge when I shop fast fashion or anything not handmade/ small business produced (internal hippie strikes again!), but I rationalise to myself that I buy SO MUCH of my wardrobe via recycling, is it truly so bad to occasionally buy something new? Pawprints, you made a really good point that I often wonder about: is there a true difference in working conditions between the BR piece and the H&M knock-off? I'm not sure there is. Once just has a better markup name. (And I think I remember reading that Calvin Klein, GAP, and a number of other mid-range labels were using that facility, in addition to the F21/ H&M/ Wet Seal suspects that we think of).

It's a really tricky line to walk: staying current, supporting workers' rights, and not breaking the bank, while also keeping yourself interested in your wardrobe without a) burning out or b) wearing out. It's kinda the epitome of a first world problem, which is further galling, in its way.

... wow, that got heavy. FASHION!

I think sometimes it's a matter of looking at what you already have with a fresh eye, as well. Even though I'm really not a trends-follower, that's why I love this site. Angie has been an invaluable wealth of information and understanding about proportion, why things work, how to tweak them if they're almost-but-not-quite-there. To say nothing of the creativity of everyone here on the forums! You've all given me some wonderful new insights that will allow me to really wear some beautiful pieces that I have had for years and rarely, if ever, actually worn. And to understand why some things should be let go and passed along to the next person.

what an interesting thread. I am in the same boat as many here...along the way to finding a balanced wardrobe, a year or so in, down from probably 200+ clothes items to about 130 that make up my 4 seasons. I count CPW a bit but I have come to a rather value to be able to allow myself to buy higher quality. I find I am more interested in the wear rate over the cost of the wears and am getting closer and closer to Lise's method of about 20 outfits a season.

I just planned fall/winter with 24 priority outfits- the ones I really want to wear- and another 10 of backups to be reused from last year. (hey, some of the new outfits may not work when I try them for a day)

The process of thinking through what outfits I wanted to make for these seasons, and plotting how to make them with a little from what I have and a little from purchases, made it possible for me to give up a few things on my want list, thus saving the budget. Buying anything more will make it really hard for me to get through wearing these 24 outfits twice before the snow comes. It is a great eye opener to see that planning actually keeps the spending under control. I think the thought process itself is also surprisingly fun.

I'm interested in the priciples behind this discussion. I do think what the OP is talking about factoring in what YOU will REALLY WEAR IN 1 SEASON and what you already have in your closet important to consider. Unlike many of the ladies on the thread, I'm coming from the perspective of someone who regularly wears wardrobe items out and is looking to expand my wardrobe in the future because my current wardrobe is TOO SMALL for my current needs.

Instead of trying to figure out all kinds of math and find magic numbers for CPW or numbers of items in my wardrobe I tend to take a different approach (and this could be because while I have an analytical side, I am not math-minded). I like to wear my stuff out and use it before it dates, but I also have a widely varied lifestyle and need lots of seperate occasional clothing, which would kill a cost-per-wear, and never get figured into a hanger-turning or "x" number of items system properly.

I recently bought 2 pair of dress slacks . . . one a seasonless black, another a dark wool. I also have a black pencil. With my lifestyle I will probably only wear each pair of slacks a handful of times a year, but I also know that I will need them (have already worn each several times) and if they last as well as my last pair I will wear the black pair for 5-7 years. The wool are worth having in my climate so I don't freeze at winter funerals and work events. The pencil is more dressy, better for hot weather, and can be paired with other things to wear going out or to party events. Same with my button downs. On the other hand I am going to wear through my jeans and tees like lightening. In a third category I still need dressier tops, accessories, bottoms for my non-dominant seasons, and toppers which will all get worn less than my tees and jeans but more than the buisness clothes, but are essential to making my wardrobe work for me and my crazy life.

Instead, I think the key for me is mindfulness. When I am looking at a piece of clothing online or in the store it goes something like this:

Do I really need this? What do I already have like this? Would it replace that because this one is better in X way? Do I wear the other enough that I could see myself wearing this frequently as well to break up the wear? Does it fill a hole in an outfit or for a situation I've found myself with nothing to wear for? Could or will I wear it to work? How am I doing on the amount of work clothes? Could or will I wear it with the SO on weekends? How am I doing on amount of clothes for that? Are they getting used? Do I enjoy them? How is this the same or different? What kind of weather will it work for? Will I want to wear it next year?

And also . . .

Do I really love this? Do I love it enough to wear it regardless? Do I love it enough to get rid of something else in my closet? Is it a trend I wanted to try out? Does it speak to my style persona or where it is heading? Is it a good color for me? Do I want this more than I want something else I've been saving for or had my eye on or like to do?

For me most often there are two questions that impact my shopping---

Do I really need this?
Do I want this more than I want something else I've been saving for/like to do?

Of course, I do apply those questions liberally. I determine need based on replacing frequently worn items, on making sure I don't have to do laundry more than works for me, for having enough outfits for all the roles and events in my life for multiple seasons, and even for things like being able to rotate out shoes during seasons where I wear the same type of shoe everyday. I also am not super strict on the second question and will spend money on an item that I may not want as much as I want the vacation I'm saving for and I try to earmark fashion funds-- mostly just because although I love clothes . . . vacations, education, and certain other hobbies will win out and I would run around naked! Still, that question really stops impulse purchasing.

Elly, as usual this is such a thoughtful post. And these are great reminders. As I rebuilt my wardrobe from scratch I tried (and sometimes failed) to ask myself similar questions, and I continue to do that. And in some ways, if your life includes as many varied activities as ours does, it is quite possibly the only way to proceed.

Thanks, Suz! I take that as a high complement coming from someone who often writes such well thought-out and eloquent posts.

I'm beggining to think that math and numbers are mostly a stumbling block on which to get hung up on for those who live a creative lifestyle and seek relative wardrobe minimalism. I do recognize they work for others though.

I really started thinking more about this when I was doing careful spreadsheet-tracking of my clothes (I did it for about 6 months or more, and got lazy over the summer). I think Lisa said the same - tracking CPW and outfits makes me think of how the opportunities to wear certain items are limited by seasons and occasions. I try hard not to overexpand the wardrobe categories but I am not that great at exercising restraint so sometimes things do sneak in. I am also a bit of a pack rat so I don't always purge things until they are completely worn out.

I hate spreadsheets. Just sayin'

Without reading all of the other comments (I wish I had the time!) I'll just chime in and say that I've had some of the same thoughts. I think each person has to find their sweet spot. I can feel it when I'm shopping too much and actually bringing in too many things. I start to get overwhelmed and sometimes feel like I need to keep buying things to go with all my new clothes! I enjoy getting a new jacket and wearing it all the time during our short winter. I don't want to have five other jackets and are just so-so staring me in the face. I donate them! I enjoy the brief love affair guilt free, knowing that I will get some miles out of the piece and move on when the love cools. I have few occasions to really dress up that I only want to have as many clothes as I can keep busy in rotation. If my selection starts to feel a little thin, yay, I get to go shopping! But all in all I keep to a very small wardrobe, around 33 if you count footwear and accessories. The reason I started aiming for this is that I really wanted to be able to afford nicer things. I still thrift, but now I can have premium denim, made in the good ol' USA.