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Numbers - Gulp!

Neel

Veteran

Sorry for a third post today .... But I need to get this off my chest!

My closet spans across all four seasons (stinking hot, very hot, hot, mildly cold aka 120 F to 60 F). We have 3 months of mildly cold weather (winter). The rest 9 months are just hot. I am a SAHM.

Here are my numbers:

22 skirts - Surprised because like I said I am a pants girl.

4 shorts - Only for water activities. Blessing during our summers.

12 jeans - 6 blue and 6 non blue. All are workhorses. Money well spent!

18 pants - Good rotation here. So I am fine with this number.

20 jackets -(!!!). No clue! A third layer is usually too hot unless I spend the time indoors in arctic AC. This includes blazers and winter weight motos and vests.

34 dresses! - what on earth is this figure?????! I don't even wear them enough. And they are supposed to be my HEWIs. Oh, I don't love them all, so purging part 2 targets a few dresses.

87 tops! - A few purges on the way. But why do I keep saying I need more tops?

A total of 197! I haven't counted my shoes yet. Basic tees and tanks have been excluded too.

With all this, you would think I have everything. Not nearly! I have only been making shopping mistakes with my sales goggles on (I have improved but clearly not enough) My needs are still a huge hole.

So my policy going forward would be upgrade and one in one out. No more adding to the pile. And here's a shot of my closet now. Clumsy and overcrowded. Long long way ahead to reach the simplicity level I desire. Please wish me luck!

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Neel

Anonymous

Gee that's 197 items in that picture? It looks like a lot less (maybe you have some in drawers). If not, I can see how the number creeps up like that; your things aren't exactly exploding out onto the floor, lol!

Well, I think you've made some good deductions and I support you 100%! I'll be interested to see what you end up getting rid of. I wonder what percentage you actually wear if you don't wear your skirts and dresses very often.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Neel!! You are too hard on yourself. Honestly, if my climate were stinking hot, very hot, hot, and somewhat less hot, I would have 107 tops. Truly. You probably need to change those tops about four times a day. At least where there is no air con.

I do think a one-in-one out policy is a good one for keeping numbers in check. And also a good edit of those items that don't make you feel fully fab or that are getting worn, etc. That type of edit is pretty easy to do and once you've done it, you can go from there.

A larger wardrobe may not feel "virtuous" in a way -- but it does have a lot of advantages. You can pull together amazing looks at a moment's notice. As your WIWs demonstrate. (Ms. Mary shows a similar prowress for the working woman side of things.) So that is also something to consider. It could be that variety makes you very very happy.

That said, no point hanging onto the duds!!

Neel

Veteran

Yes that's 197 items Claire! O_O. I can barely move hangers and put in clothes any more! Thankfully the hangers are the cheap iron ones which probably take less space on the rod than the wooden hangers.

The pile below the hanging stuff are my jeans, tees and skirts. The bottom row are my scarfs and lounge wear. I have drawers that contain my undergarments and shoes.

I promise they were exploding over Claire :D. Hence the crisis purging

Gracie

Veteran

Good luck in your purge! keep us posted – your closed doesn't look jammed-full, are the off-season clothes elsewhere?

Windchime

Veteran

Astonishing what's revealed when we start analyzing our wardrobes and crunching numbers, isn't it?!

I'm more or less trying a one in/one out policy although I'm in a wardrobe building phase so don't always follow my policy. But I always ask myself, when I bring in new items, if there's an older item that could be purged. This process helps me to continually assess the use and practical value of my wardrobe items as well as to prioritize (this one or that one?)

I'm enjoying the recent posts on purging and simplifying. Thanks for bringing us into your process!

Neel

Veteran

Claire - Reread your post! I am not sure how much percentage of wears my skirts and dresses get. I think 1/5 times I choose my dresses/skirts over pants/jeans. That's being positive about it :D. I suspect the number is more likely to be 1/8.

Suz - You are spot on in that variety does make me happy. But what disappoints me is that I am not using the said pieces to their full (or even half) potential. I clearly don't need so many. I have to go the *Claire purge* (aka ruthless purge) route I am afraid. Yes Claire I have named a purge pattern after you

ETA - Also Mary dresses to work every single day (except weekends may be). I only wear the said 197 pieces when I step out for errands/school runs (DS mostly takes the school bus)/grocery shopping, which is about 4 times a week ... On a *happening* week that is!

Gracie - Nope! All my clothes are in there. Right there in that pic! Thank you for your wishes!

Wind chime - High five for one in one out! You seem to be pretty disciplined Going forward I will post what's in what's out as a rule. No more individual WIB post. It has to be accompanied by WIP (What I Purged) post!

rachylou

Veteran

Lol, Neel! I love your 34 HEWI dresses. Really informative to see how your closet is weighted.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

It can be eye opening, huh? I'd ask yourself what purpose the items fill. The dresses - are they hot weather casual, go to church, conservative office, date night, etc, etc. Figure out what you really spend your time doing, find the best few for each use, and toss the runner ups. If you mostly need casual day dresses, for instance, make most of your choices that type.
So, for me, I had probably 20 dresses or close to it about a year ago. I simply don't wear them that often. I am now down to 15. Doesn't sound like a big change, but that's 25% less.
I have 3 maxis for hot weather casual. A couple of versatile day dresses. 3 winter knit dresses. 2 Sunday brunch/ wedding attendee/garden party style dresses. 2 tunic style for over jeans. 1 date night LBD. 1 interview/possible funeral dress.

Dee

Veteran

I cannot believe that you have 197 items in that pic! I bet my wardrobe is around that size and takes up a closet and a dresser.

I was struck by the fact that you have almost twice as many skirts/dresses and pants/jeans, which does seem like a lot if you rarely wear dresses anyway. Good luck with the purging process!

Lyn D.

Veteran

Thanks for showing us Neel!
I see that you might have room for another shelf under your hanging space- is this an option for you?

Lisa

Veteran

It's only a high number if there are many items you are never using. How often you want to repeat an outfit/item and how often you change your clothing in a day, will influence overall numbers. And when I first took an inventory of my four season wardrobe a few years ago, I was around 300 items if not more.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I agree with Lisa it's only a number - now you can move forward & work out what you truly wear

amiable

Veteran

Way to go - joining the counting club. I know that crushing feeling when you first realize you had so much more than you expected. My numbers are even higher than yours (though I counted shoes too). But now that I'm over the embarrassment and taking action, I think I'm in a good position. (And I think you are too)

Helena

Veteran

Neel, you too are an inspiration for tackling this and sharing your learnings ... keep at it!! You've got a great direction established and now it's just time and patience (and self-compassion and kindness too )

E

Veteran

Ok, as someone happy with my 200ish (probably a bit more now, definitely more if I count shoes & outerwear) closet size, I'm going to have to count just to make you feel better! I'll do just tops since you felt bad about your 87 (although you wear separates a lot, right? and live in a hot climate so need more clothes between laundry cycles?)...I have (for all seasons/moods/occasions): 54 woven tops, 15 jumpers/pullover sweaters, 9 tees, and 5 layering camis. And I love them all. Oh, and do cardigans count as tops? I do sometimes wear them buttoned up on their own as well as over others, so let's count those, shall we? 26 (they are a wardrobe staple or essential or whatever that term is for me). Now I have you beat for that category!

(My wardrobe skews very top heavy; I seem happy wearing the same bottoms over and over again but apparently want a top in each of my favourite colours and fabrics and prints...)

E

Veteran

Now, having defended extensive wardrobes, I will say that since your closet is stuffed/overflowing and you don't wear a lot of what's inside, you'll probably be happier once you weed out the orphans, as they're just distracting you anyway. So good luck.

jackiec

Veteran

Neel, well done. What a lot of work! You are very inspirational.

Come on guys you are killing me with these closet counts. I feel the guilt and should get in there...

carter

Veteran

Oh, geez. I knew I was in some level of denial, but if that's 197 items, I'm in serious trouble. Oh, geez.

Gigi

Veteran

Neel, I agree with Carter that that doesn't even look close to 197 items! You are a master organizer.

And I also agree with Suz that if your weather is that hot, you're going to be needing a lot of clothes, because I assume you will need fresh things every day most of the time.

It sounds like you already have some possibilities on the chopping block. I hope that once you complete your purge you will have a better idea what kinds of mistakes you are making and what kinds of things will actually fill the wardrobe holes perfectly.

Neel

Veteran

Rachy - ... How can I have 34 HEWIs in my wardrobe?! Embarrassed!

Mo - Today I am targeting dresses and I am going to figure out what on earth was I thinking when I bought them o_O. You have given some sound advice and I am taking notes.

Dee - You are right! Twice as many dresses and skirts than pants! Shouldn't I be wearing dresses and skirts twice as many times then?! oh dear ....

Lyn D - I probably can't. The dresses are all long and I am not sure if I can squeeze in a shelf there. Moreover if I do, I am afraid I would only fill it up with more garbage!

Lisa - I think I would have to come up with a challenge like yours to truly curate my wardrobe and see what I really wear. For now the dresses number is embarrassingly high and I know I dont wear them even once a week At this rate I wouldn't even repeat a dress in an entire year!

Caro - Thank you. I really needed to hear that

Amiable - Misery loves company ... But I agree that realizing a mistake is the first step to setting it right. Better late than never!

Toronto girl - Most of my shopping were impulse emotional purchases over the past 3.5 years. No wonder I made plethora of mistakes. I have curbed the emotional shopping habits now that I am in a stable mental state. Upwards and onwards

E - Thank you! You are too sweet to have counted for me! If I wore everything in my closet E .. I would have been happier with that number. Unfortunately I don't

Jackiec - Hop on board whenever you are ready! It took me years on YLF reading purge/curating wardrobe posts!

Carter - I think you have a fantastic and colorful wardrobe that you love. If you wear and love everything I think you are good even if the numbers are higher

Gigi - Figuring out my mistakes and how to avoid them is going to be the most difficult part. But I have to. In order to avoid another wardrobe disaster. I will report back my findings. Until then .... I am on a shopping ban.