Motivated by Helena, my impromptu count of 2021 purchases

Staysfit

As many of you know, I do not have a minimal wardrobe. Over the past 7 years, I have refined my personal style and honed my wardrobe size as well, I remain happy with my style, and do not seem to get tired of my clothes or color palette. However, I do make new purchases yearly to keep my wardrobe and style fresh. In 2021, I knew I made many fewer purchases than in past years. I have not had the discipline (to date) to track my purchases or wears, however, I can easily see everything in my wardrobe and know what was purchased in this calendar year. The results of my retrospective count: 42 new items (44 if you count the two pantsuits I purchased as separates). Many of these items were replacements of worn items, some were to refresh my style, and a few were true impulse purchases. By my count….and I am not a diligent accountant so math errors may be present, I have 26 replacement items, 10 items to refresh my wardrobe, 5 impulse purchases and 1 item purchased solely for its functional value.

It is interesting to note that to date, the newly purchased items I make the least use of are the workwear refresh items (pantsuits) and workwear impulse buy items. It may be because they are more formal than my current clothing requirements given my covid
era hybrid work schedule. It may also be that they are best for certain seasons and were purchased near the end of the season most logical for their use. I predict that they will be long lasting wardrobe items given their strong alignment with my personal style.

I’m not sure what else to make of these numbers? I have nothing to use for comparison in previous years….

Below is a detailed accounting of my numbers. R=replacement F=freshen style I=impulse Fn=practical use

Gear: 11 total (10 replacements, 1 impulse)
2 exercise bras R
2 yoga pants R
3 zip jackets (fleece, hoodie, UPF) R
2 prs running sneakers R
2 lightweight down jackets R/I

Accessories: 5 total (3 replacements, 1 freshener, 1 functional use item)
1 Tumi bag Fn
1 Neurotransmitter necklace R
1 turquoise earrings F
1 silver sneakers R
1 taupe bootie R

Loungewear: 4 total (all replacements)
2 PJ’s
1 robe
1 slippers

Knitwear/tops: 10 total (6 replacements, 3 fresheners, 1 impulse)
2 cashmere pullovers R
1 turtleneck I
3 cardigans F
4 lightweight cotton under layers for sweaters R

Bottoms: 5 total (2 replacements, 3 fresheners)
2 shorts R
1 chino F
2 jeans F

Workwear: 7 total (or 9) 1 replacement, 3 refresh, 3 impulse
2 pantsuits F/I (one each)
2 Dresses I
2 blouses F
1 trousers R

3 years ago

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’m looking forward to replies.

Like you, I often buy towards the end of the season, because that’s when I’ve seen what’s missing, and I expect to keep and wear my things for a long time, so don’t mind if I can only wear them a couple times right when I get them. They’ll be there next year.

I have a question about your counting: what’s the difference between impulse buys and refreshing items?

3 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I’m thinking you maybe have the most variety in your tops… which suggests maybe your outfit-making strategy…

3 years ago

Helena

Veteran

What I am taking from this is that you have a very well-considered shopping strategy! The bulk were replacements, which means that you must be wearing those pieces a lot, and (I'm guessing, to SFs point) that your refresh items were bought with intention (vs. the impulse, which again I am guessing were items that just caught your eye but were unplanned - of course correct me if I'm wrong!). So that says to me that you are mindful, intentional and clear about what you are purchasing, and why.

Tell me more about the impulse items - have they worked well? Any wild cards in there, or just things that you hadn't planned but that are quite in line with your usual purchasing?

3 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Good question Helena! The impulse purchases were as you said, “unexpected items that caught my eye”, mostly because of their color. It’s rare for me to find one item that has both a color and style I love so when I find one, I usually buy it even if I already have something similar. A good example is my impulse purchase of a mid tone turquoise lightweight waterproof down jacket with a sleek cut, long enough sleeves, and no hood. I had already purchased a dark teal hooded puffer jacket from NAS. That particular Turquoise hue is my favorite…. Dark teal is fine, but not my favorite. I have been wearing both although I favor the Turquoise.

I would say the green Boss pantsuit I purchased is both a wildcard and statement. The cut of the jacket is long. The trousers are very high waisted and they have a straight leg although is it slightly wide. The color is bright for me….somewhere between a spring green and a cooler grass green.

3 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Interesting exercise Staysfit- and sometimes impulse buys can be the best of all. You know your colours very well and sometimes you do have to take advantage.

I don’t track wears but I track my additions in a spreadsheet and on finds. It helps me see if things are balanced- and I don’t want my wardrobe to grow.

3 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I sort of wonder how you get the opportunity to wear all your different things? For me perhaps once I have outfits that make me really happy I wear them very frequently? Like my new cream knitted jumper ( sweater) that I only bought in May got 26 wears through our late autumn/winter/early spring before it was too hot to wear it.
Thus I have to limit what I purchase somewhat or something will be languishing without getting worn? And hence why my current 160-ish piece wardrobe seems still a bit large. I prefer to wear the new things a lot the first couple of years if possible otherwise they feel like mistakes?

3 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Jenni NZ, Good question regarding how I wear everything in my wardrobe. I cannot be certain if I wear everything since I do not keep track, although I believe I may. My wardrobe encompasses four seasons, each with different clothing needed to maintain comfort. (Average high temps range from 32F/15C-84F/63C our average low temps range from 0F/-9C - 29F/17C with lots of wind, rain and snow as well. I enjoy variety in what I wear, and while I do repeat certain favorite items weekly, I am less likely to repeat as often as you. I have some sense that a two week interval without repeat would satisfy my need for variety and create a more moderate wardrobe size. I’m getting there, especially since more items have been removed from my closet than I have purchased each year over the past 7 years. If I were to do a calculation my best guess is I am closer to being able to go 17 days each season without repeating my clothing. (I am not counting accessories like jewelry, scarves or shoes). I haven’t done a complete wardrobe count recently but my numbers are maybe half or less than what I started with when I joined this forum, most of this from wear and tear, although I have no problem passing on something purchased that turns out to be a “mistake” for me. I usually find someone who will use and enjoy it so I do not dwell on the loss, cost, or environmental impact.

In the past my wardrobe relied on statement items which are memorable and often not classic. It’s hard for me to have a small or moderately sized wardrobe of statements since I enjoy variety and with my style preferences, they need some sort of backdrop upon which to shine. Angie and members of this forum have taught me the value of thinking about wardrobe in terms of basics, essentials, statements and wild cards. I have shifted to this way of thinking and my shopping habits have changed significantly. I mostly focus on my basic and essential pieces which I wear on repeat. Statement items are mostly accessories…my eyeglass frames, my jewelry, my shoes, and maybe my jackets or cardigans. Of course there are the occasional impulse purchases, which for me can fall into the statement item category.

Most of my clothing is simple, classic, made of natural fibers, and of solid color or neutral hue. My clothing lasts a long time unless it gets damaged somehow….which is possible on occasion given my work environment. I also change out of my work clothing and into everyday clothes (not lounge wear) at the end of my workday. I do not like to wear my nice pantsuits or cashmere sweaters when I cook or clean, or am hanging out with friends or family. I usually wear jeans and one of my gently worn sweaters or tops…not pristine enough for work but fine for home. I wear the same on weekends. My exercise gear sees particularly heavy use. I workout 6 days per week and some days I work do two short workouts in one day. I walk or run, plus I lift weights or do Pilates, yoga, and am always up for outdoor athletic activities like hiking, snow shoes, riding bicycles, etc. I have enough gear to carry me through my weekly laundry cycles and enough for each of my seasons, so I usually replace more gear than any other item. Last year I replaced a large number of gear tops and bras, and since they last, I will not need to replace them again for a while….I have some tees that are 11 years old and still going strong (Athleta organic cotton tops). This year, my zip up jackets which were purchased in 2005 needed replacement. Zip jackets last a long time, but these were too worn to keep. I am still looking for a replacement lightweight polar fleece zip vest….one of my all time favorite pieces of gear since it is so useful in our climate. I replaced a short down puffer since the TNF light weight synthetic down puffer I had purchased 2-3 years ago had fallen flat and no longer provided enough warmth. Another item replaced this year, my robe, was 23 years old! It was hard to replace since I loved it so much but it was frayed and torn beyond repair, I replaced it with the exact same robe in a different color and it is not the same although I hope it will break in and feel better over time. My point, with this long navel gazing paragraph is I suspect I get many wears from my clothing even though I do not specifically track them….

SF, the main difference between something I buy to freshen my style vs, something I purchase impulsively is the intention and thought that goes into the process. For example, for the summer and fall months I decided I wanted to add one pair of colored denim for variety. In the summer, I purchased some minty green barrel cut jeans, and for fall/winter I purchased some taupe/brown “mom” jeans. Both were intentionally in a slightly different cut than my typical medium high rise slim/skinny straight leg style so as to add some variety and a modern twist to my wardrobe, I added some grey Chino’s in a modern cut to add more variety as well. These were not impulse purchases. I did not stumble upon them and fall in love with them….(although I do like them very much), I planned them.

3 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

This was a fun and very interesting read, Staysfit! I always enjoy these 'process analysis' posts.

Things I unpacked to look more closely at: It looks as though, out of 42 or 44 items, you've only qualified 5 as impulse. I think that's a really impressive percentage! Particularly as it all seems like these impulses are all pieces that you will get a lot of use out of (with the possible exception of the workwear, at least for now).

It occurs to me a remixing challenge might be useful, where we take specific pieces that we've sort of shelved for the pandemic, and remix them into casual everyday looks.

2 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Yes Marybeth, a remixing challenge could be fun and help make better use of some stagnant pieces….

2 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you Staysfit, yes you definitely have a more active life than me ( hence all your exercise gear) and yes I think need more variety. I would be pushing it to go 17 days without wearing some of the same things, that would take a big effort although it probably could be done.

2 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

@Rachy, I have been thinking a bit about your comment since it raises the question of whether my shopping pattern this year is aligned with the way I might put together an outfit from individual pieces….

For exercise gear…..open drawer, pick up closest bra, top and bottom regardless of color or style and use it since workouts are at home in the basement…….mindless!

For workday:
1. Check the weather
2. Pick suitable footwear for whatever weather is expected and for the days activity, plus decide on type of clothing needed…ie. Will I be in overheated office or the office that is always freezing cold, and will I be in and out of the building or sitting at home in my office, etc. Is it snowing or is there a heat wave.

3/4/5Choose a bottom.
3/4/5Choose a top/topper.
3/4/5 Add any additional accessories.

LOL! Very random!

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering about the place of those items in the wardrobe, once you have them. Do you reach for impulse or planned items more frequently? Which do you tire of more quickly? (I can see this going both ways—a mood passes, so you’re not as into an impulse buy, or that an impulse buy “spoke” to you in a way you hadn’t analyzed and turns out to be just what you needed). Which integrates with the rest of your wardrobe better (my green crossbody works with nearly everything I own; it was a complete impulse buy). Which has a higher happiness factor longer?

2 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

This was really interesting to read, especially from someone without a tiny wardrobe - thanks for sharing! Hmm maybe I need to start tracking my purchases in terms of their function (impulse Vs replacement etc) too... Do you think you would repeat this process (since you said you don't have any previous data to compare it to)?

As for decluttering, feel free to pass any 'fine but not fave' dark teal items my way haha!

2 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Zaeobi, Yes, I would like to continue with this process. It would be helpful to have prospective rather than retrospective data….(chance for recall error with my 2021 tally). I have closely followed YLF members who track purchases, wears and what they edit. I find it intriguing and have even attempted to do it myself and found I did not persist. One of my mistakes was thinking I needed to start with a catalogue (visual and or written) of what I already own. MISTAKE since that was an overwhelming task with such a large wardrobe, It may be easier now with a more moderately sized wardrobe although I am still unlikely to start with a full accounting of my wardrobe.

I am not spread sheet savvy. Every time I open Excel I have to relearn everything! I have tried Excel spread sheets and failed. I tried using Angie’s finds, and then when I purchased a chrome book instead of a lap top, could no longer get them to work. I had the most success with a calendar in my closet, although it was too large and I was trying to document too much. I think a small memo pad sized calendar devoted to the task would work better. My question is what exactly should I track? Purchases? Cost of purchases? What I wear? Happiness factor of what I wear? I think some people keep track of all these things…..I am less inclined to do all that, although it might help me to do it for a three month cycle to see what I learn……..

My categories of replacement, refresh (update), impulse and functional/practical use popped out as most relevant when I looked at the list of purchases and considered the question, WHY? Perhaps different categories would be more apparent if I did this and included tracking of wears over several years ….maybe durability of certain fabrics, or sustainability factor, etc.

2 years ago

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