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My inventory system (long and naval gazing)

Sal

Veteran

A couple of months ago I had a spare hour in a cafe with no pressing jobs to do and a laptop. I decided to play around with my wardrobe.

I created an inventory of my closet, including a list of what I have brought in and what I have exited. It is pretty basic - and I don't track wears. It includes.

Item name
Brand
Where purchased (name of boutique or store)
Online or instore
Year of purchase
Comments if needed

Yellow means it needs replacing due to wear, stains etc
Blue means I don't love it or wear it much. But it fills a need, is expensive to replace or sentimentally I am not ready to move it on.

I have pages for the following:

Dresses and tunics (19 in total)
Coats and Jackets (13 in total)
Tops Tees Blouses and Sweaters (31)
Pants skirts and shorts (15)
Footwear (19)
Sunnies (3)
Day Bags (4) Evening Clutch bags (4)
Lounge/gym/weather/ski/swim (36 items total) -
- Swimwear 3 pieces
- Practical gear shoes, rainboots, jandals 6
- Gym, running and cycling 18
- Practical coats 3
- Old clothes and leggings 6

Excluding the last category I have 108 items or 97 if we take out the bags, sunglasses and evening clutches.

Additions for 2018 - 16 to date
Shopping list for the rest of the year - 4 definites and a few maybes
What I have edited out so far this year (7 - but there will be more that I have forgotten about)

I can sort by season, year of purchase or retailer.

At this stage I have categories on separate pages but I might make one large page. Visually I like being able to look at my dresses though and see how many I have for each season.

There are a few gaps - vintage pieces where I don't know the brand or I can't remember.

I have attached the dress page here. I haven't added what I spent...It shows I have a lot more summer options than winter, and I have a couple of pretty old pieces (that are rarely worn now).

While I don't track wears I do aim for 30 plus (or certainly an average of 30 plus).

This is a bit long and naval gazing but it might help some. I have found it helped me identify my shopping list quite clearly - and also know when a hole has been filled. I won't be too precise about it - I fall for pieces and add them in quite readily, but I can see looking at my dress list that I have no need for party dresses......I do however have a need for parties - anyone want a gatecrasher?

I will sign off now.

Comments are welcome.

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26 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

jussie

Veteran

Sal this is fantastic. Great idea. I am averse to spreadsheets so I might do something like this instead.

Sal

Veteran

Jussie - I did it on excel. But it was very simple. I used excel so I could sort by retailer or date or season if I wanted to. And also for counting numbers as I was curious if my numbers were similar to what I thought they were.

I did contemplate adding colour/price etc and might do so. My main issue is overbuying in some categories and underbuying in others. This points out to me I do not need more summer dresses despite my love for them, nor evening heels. However I am really thin on simple tops...

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

This is like my favorite kind of post. Even though I don’t do anything like this with my own wardrobe! I love the idea of being so organized.
I do keep a list of “wardrobe holes” and occasionally dig around to see if I have anything in storage that could fill those holes.

Joy

Veteran

What a great way to track things! When I make lists I find that I don't actually use them, except for a short list of what I should look for when shopping, to keep me focused.

jussie

Veteran

Oh! Silly me lol. I thought it was just columns/rows in Word.....

Sal

Veteran

Joy - we will see how I maintain it....I like to be planned but not too planned - especially as I am trying to pick up more second hand - some flexibility is needed.

Thanks Jessi - I have not done it before either - I did write lists of major items I wanted - it may or may not work. I certainly don't think it is for everyone and I know some others are way ahead of me in terms of record keeping.

Jane

Veteran

Its so helpful to see how others handle their clothing lists. I also think that you can remember most of your items in an hour or so is helpful. For me, when I did something similar, it did kind of establish those that I’ve pushed to the back of my mind because they are / we’re meh.

Style Fan

Veteran

This is great Sal! I love looking at posts like this. I did an inventory a year or two ago. It was extremely helpful. I used a notebook (pen and paper) because I prefer writing in general.

Mainelady

Veteran

You made excellent use of an hour’s time! I like your system very much and appreciate that you shared one of your pages. I notice that most of your dress purchases are in store. I who love to do more in store purchasing, but we have very few options where I live. Thank you for sharing!

Becky

Veteran

I need to do/keep an inventory and this might be a "gateway" way to do it. I would want to start basic before adding a lot of complications. Thanks for sharing.

LaPed

Veteran

I have a very similar inventory system! I identify year purchased, brand (if known), fabric content, new or secondhand, and I'm attempting to categorize broadly as dressy/casual/gear/chore/lounge (but there's lots of overlap of course), plus a column for comments. I also use colours to highlight items I'm thinking of passing on, and the items I'd like to be wearing more.

I've been wondering if I need to jettison the "dressy" designation and switch to "formal" and "festive" -- I need to push myself to build up a party capsule, as mine is non-existent!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have a similar but even simpler inventory. (Jussie, you'd love it -- just notes, no spreadsheet!)

I call it "Grand Inventory" and list all items by category/ season and sometimes notes about whether they're statement or essential. I usually name the store in the item description but sometimes don't. Most of my shopping is online so I don't track that.

I then add an "Items retired" list at the bottom, with approximate dates. And I usually keep a separate list of what I bought in a given year.

Some familiarity with spreadsheets would probably make this more organized and useful. I like your idea of sorting by store, etc. But for now, this works for me and I am glad to have it.

Anonymous

These types of posts are great!!! I love seeing the method and the information gleaned.

I track this type of information religiously. It helps bring order to my compulsive shopping inclination. I have never tracked items that were edited out along the way. That may be a very important piece of missing information.

You have a well edited and compact wardrobe. You commented that you are not sure you will keep it up. I hope you do as these exercises are incredibly informative.

Gretchen

Veteran

Great stuff Sal! I've got a similar version, but I'm also tracking the price I paid, and the last time I remember wearing it (month). And then I've got a running tally when I"m tracking monthly how many pieces, and avg cost. My goal is to be able to look at some of the pieces and track "was it a good investment" or "is this a good brand/style for me"

I'm finding this system is helping me hold off on impulse purchases, and to look hard at cases where I might be tempted to buy something to fulfill a perceived gap, or a wardrobe weakness (how many stripe shirts do I *really* need?)

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Gretchen - sounds like your system works for you. I agree looking at the brands is helpful.

Sterling - I think I will keep it up...I have done the hard part. I am interested in not overbuying as well. Editing out is easy, I just cut the item to a new page. I will have edited out some pieces January-June that I can't remember now which shows that they are not missed.

Suz - your system sounds good and I can see the merit of having essentials and statements listed too. I may add that in at some point.

La Pedestrienne - your system sounds good and I like the festive tweak. It is good to remember pieces that you might want to wear but don't get around to.

Becky - thanks - it didn't take long and I hope will be easy enough to update.

Mainelady - thanks. Let me know how you get on.

Style fan - I also like writing and did have a shopping list on paper. There is something about a good pen and paper isn't there.

Jane - exactly - there were one or two that I immediately edited out and there are a few that are meh for different reasons.

Thanks for the feedback - but still no party invitations where I can wear my languishing dresses?

Anonymous

Interesting , and aspirational . I consciously reject anything to do with tracking and counting and record keeping , and I’m not sure why . I start with all good intentions , and then miss recording a few purchases and then forget about my good intentions . This is why I need a babysitter - I’m such a big-picture thinker that I can’t keep track of anything detailed . Is it too late to change ?? I would love to tie this in with my planned big closet edit tomorrow .

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jussie, I'm sure you could do the same thing with rows/columns in Word--but after a point, a table like that in Word and a simple Excel spreadsheet are pretty much the same thing, aren't they?

Sal, I don't mean this in a catty way (even though it will probably sound like it): how is this helpful? Could you not have learned the same thing by quickly counting up dresses and/or setting up your closet so they are all hanging together?

A couple things went wrong in my move, leaving me with an awkward wardrobe for the time being. I started making a collection of what I have here last night, with an eye towards developing some kind of system but am not sure why, or what to do with it. One thing I have so much extra of that it's funny is black dresses. Can I wear them to your garden party?

Anonymous

Lisa P -- Years ago I was told that there are big picture people and detail oriented people. The two don't seem to mix in my opinion. The good news for you is that the big picture people seem to have higher earning power.

Sal

Veteran

Sterling - I agree although I see myself as more of a big picture person. That is why I wonder if I will maintain it as I sometimes am a bit slack on details.

Lisa - it did help me but I don't think it is for everyone. I see it as a bit of fun and a little bit useful.

fashintern - the act of writing was helpful and to keep a record of it easily. But not for everyone I agree.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

My lists are all on paper, handwritten. They get rewritten perhaps 4 times a year. I find tracking easier that way by making a tally mark in the morning or evening for all the items I wear. Workhorses and orphans/benchwarmers are easily seen. Your system looks great. I want more parties too!

cindysmith

Veteran

I suck at spreadsheets, but I like keeping an inventory of my wardrobe.
I have a couple of junk journal scrapbooks where I keep this information about a lot of my garments. I need to add pictures to them, and spend time adding notes to the garments that have stories.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Sal, have you done anything more with yours since writing it?
I’m trying to figure out what to do with my first step in documenting my wardrobe. I knew about too many black dresses/too few bottoms before I did it. The realization that surprised me was how few things I’ve worn. In 18 days here, I’ve worn 15 items. Only one of those is a dress; the rest of the time I had at least 2 pieces on. So tracking wears might be the way to go, especially as I settle into a new life.

I’m def a big picture person. The trick is forcing enough focus on the small stuff that it can’t upend the big stuff.

Sal

Veteran

Fashintern- I have edited in and out as I made changes. And reviewed what I own in different areas as I prepare for a new season. I think it is true that you don't need many clothes in some situations. Living out of a suitcase does reinforce that.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

By “editing in”, do you mean that you bought things to fill holes you saw as you were putting this together, or that you have other clothes that aren’t included here and you grabbed things from that cache?

Reviewing what I have as I move into a new season is def a reason I wanted to put one together! I’m still not sure mine does that, need to find a way to record my ideas of what could be layered with what to be warm.

Sal

Veteran

No this is all I think (unless there truly are some hidden and forgotten items - but I did check through including the summer pieces that are in storage).

I wrote this about six weeks ago - since then I have bought a pair of new jeans and removed the stained ones. I also bought a two piece online so I added that in. And removed one pair of totally worn out shoes (in the bin), and two tunics (to the thrift shop). These were all moved from the current wardrobe list to the removed page.

I hope that over time I can see some trends ie statement tops get edited out before wearing out - lesson don't buy so many - or X brand shoes fit and last a long time. But I don't know.... it could be just an exercise.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks.

I’ve shifted my questions over to a new thread, so I don’t clog up hours any more, and maybe I’ll get some input from other people.