I added this at the top too.

I had a spare hour in the car with a laptop and no WIFI so I counted my closet - then got home and checked. It is possible there are one or two summer pieces in storage that I have forgotten about.

• Winter coats  3
• Jackets and Blazers 9

• Cardigans 2

• Dresses and tunics (Incl occasion wear) 18
• Tops and blouses 24*
• Sweaters 5
• Skirts 2
• Pants and jeans 11
• Shoes, Boots and sandals 20
• Sunglasses 2
• Bags and clutches 9
• Loungewear and gear (about 35) **

* Blouses, tanks, shirts, tee shirts, knitted tops etc (long, short and sleeveless)

** includes leggings, sweaters only worn at home, raincoat, rain boots, running, gym, cycling and swimming gear

*** not counted - hats, scarves, lingerie, sleepwear, jewelry

So my wardrobe is about the same size as last time. Jackets have grown as have dresses - sweaters have decreased as have skirts.

I also identified pieces that are really showing wear and are unlikely to make it past the end of the year - 11 items across most categories especially shoes and tops. These will need replacing in some way.

I also have about 10 pieces that I don't really "love" but either still have a place for practical reasons OR for sentimental reasons (my 40th dress, a tea dress I have worn a lot over the last 18 years) . I noted down the reasons I don't really like them so much now - and mostly either too "masculine/tomboyish" or too "feminine/girly" for my style. I don't really like those words but am struggling to think of better ones to describe what I mean.

I am clearly a little "top heavy" with a lot more options to dress my top half - although since I am a regular dress wearer.

Time to stop naval gazing now - this will be of interest to some and not to others. I don't think a small closet or a big closet are good or bad - we are all in different situations.

That seems like a pretty lean closet to me. It will be interesting to see how it evolves. I’ve also taken to noting items that will need replacing sooner rather than later when evaluating my closet.

It really is interesting how individual this all is. I cannot imagine having only 2 cardigans. I probably own close to 40!

It is very individual. I used to have more cardigans but struggled to find ones to wear over the looser tops, statement sleeves etc so have moved away from them. I could do with one more though - but I keep procrastinating on it:)

While it is lean remember that my winters and not that cold and my summers not super hot, I work from a casual office and from home, and I do laundry every single day of my life...... Also clothes and shoes are more expensive here than in the US.

I do think with the exception of a formal job interview requiring a suit, or a black tie event, I am covered for conceivable occasions. I could interview in a blazer and ankle pants and I could go to a cocktail or dressy party.

It's a lean but well functioning closet, Sally -- you have done exceptionally well. Dresses work especially well in a temperate climate and you've honed in on lifestyle needs.

I don't own many cardigans either -- 5. And one is a sentimental piece that I took from my mother's closet when she died, and I don't really wear it. (I do wear the matching shell). I prefer the structure of jackets.

But I have far more tops than you do -- I have about 24 spring/ summer/ fall tops (or tops for under jackets, pullovers, cardigans) PLUS almost that many pullovers (knits) for fall/ winter/ spring!! So if you're top heavy, I'm positively overloaded. Yet I wear them almost all of these regularly within their respective seasons. It just goes to show you how an extreme climate affects wardrobe size -- for those who have the luxury and privilege of purchasing for it. I feel so badly for those who are not middle class here because it can be very difficult to dress appropriately/ comfortably for our varied weather without a relatively large wardrobe. And as in NZ, clothes are more expensive than they are in the US.

Suz - a huge difference - and you may find it a bit similar on the West Coast.. I had six tops down as summer only, and only one as winter only with all the rest being trans seasonal. While I don't wear some much in summer I might wear them on a chilly night, such as a red merino. And many of my tops are worn all year - sometimes alone, sometimes under a blazer, and sometimes under a blazer and a coat.

What this means is I do wear my clothes out more quickly because they might get worn every single week. But I wear them out as I tire of them.

I know there are many families who struggle here to for warm clothing - it must even harder in a more extreme climate.