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Show me your wardrobe notes

harmonica

Veteran

I got my nice notebook. I'm looking at a great (for me) wardrobe. I've collected the receits for my 15-30 most recent items. I don't know how to get started.

My main goal is to spend less money(shop less) and as a result save more money. My second goal is to get rid of the items I can do without.

I thought I could do an inventory, but then I got stuck on how to make the list -- notebook and pen (or coloured pens, what kind of pens, do the kids have some...), or computer, or both, or mobile... and which software or app, or maybe pen/paper is better etc etc.... and maybe I also should track CPW, and how would I do that (pen/paper, computer, mobile...) Well, you see how I got caught in an endless chain of indesisive thoughts. *lol*

I think I'm just afraid that the notebook will look like a mess and that I won't follow up on what I started (and then the notebook would be cluttered with a project that got lost etc etc...). Ok, hopefully you get the picture here.

Anyway, I thought if you could share some of your notes or how you make the list and so forth, that could be an inspiration so that I actually get though the overwhelming initial startup. Feel free to add visuals if you like.

General

47 replies

Latest reply was from Sisi

Anonymous

I use a Numbers spreadsheet. It works perfectly. I can color code. I can add/delete. It helps control and manage my wardrobe. I highly recommend it to you. If you need help setting one up, send me a message.

It takes moments a day to maintain (I track cost per wear), but it took some time to set up because I had to assess and enter my entire wardrobe. It was worth it to me.

Staysfit

Veteran

I have tried various apps, and spreadsheets. What ended up working best for me is a calendar. I just write down what I purchase on the day I buy it and the price I paid. If I return it, I cross it off and write return next to it. I have enough space to write down what I wore in the calendar also.

I'm a cheapskate too. I use a free calendar that was sent to me n the mail, however you can use any calendar. It has a page a day.

harmonica

Veteran

Sterling - sounds like a great system for you. Is Numbers a bit like Excel?

Staysfit -- I really like the idea of a calendar or calendarish set up. My life would be a disaster without my Moleskin calendar. I like how easy it is for my purpose and that so much info is in one place. And I find handwriting very satisfactory and efficiant (despite my almost unreadable letters *lol*).

Anonymous

I like the free calendar idea. Sometimes we forget that a simple pencil and paper can work just fine.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That calendar idea is really great!!

My "accounting" system is different from my wardrobe tracking (such as it is). I simply set a budget and keep a list of my clothing bills and compare them. The first year I did this, I pretty much allowed myself to buy whatever I thought I needed, since I was still in wardrobe building phase, and my budget was higher. The second year, I decided not to go over a certain amount. Now I'm considering if that amount is too high or too low and putting it in the context of overall budget and expenses.

For my inventory, I do a couple of things.

1. I put a list in Notes (on my Mac). I call it Grand Inventory and list items by category. If I add something, I put it in; if I get rid of something, I take it off my list. I don't put the prices on this list -- this is more to help me see how many jackets, coats, jeans and which ones are "regular" (backbone, essential, fade into background) items and which ones are statement items or items with extra details that make them feel special in some way. I try to aim for a couple of statement or at least "special" items in each category if I can.

I do this because I have a tendency to buy boring essentials and no statements (due to price considerations, often) and this can lead to a dull style.

I also keep a running list of the items that i "retire" in any given season so I can observe the degree of "churn" in my wardrobe and consider what I tire of quickly and what has longevity. I'm hoping this can guide future buying decisions -- where to spend, where to skimp.

2. I also keep a season list of items I have bought and their prices.

3. I also use the Finds Feature to compile collections of my seasonal wardrobe. I still have to take photos of a lot of items not in Finds and add the to Finds, but if I do this I will have a visual reminder of every item in my closet! Angie does this in her own collections.

I definitely add items to Finds if they are new purchases and put them in a collection.

Meredith

Veteran

"I think I'm just afraid that the notebook will look like a mess and that I won't follow up on what I started (and then the notebook would be cluttered with a project that got lost etc etc...)"

Yes, I get it. I only buy spiral notebooks for this reason. That way I can rip out the evidence of failed projects. I use my pen and paper to take down ideas (make lists, style descriptors, etc), but use the spreadsheet app on my phone to track purchases. This works for me because I always have my phone and I my recording system is basic enough that I can record the purchase right away. Just so you have an idea of what works for me I included a screen shot of the simple spread sheet I use (populated with fake totals and purchases). I have an annual clothing budget that I divide into 5 categories. I have a chunk for each season and then a "wild card" category (if I want to really splurge or I find summer sandals on sale in December). Once I've used up my money for the season, that's it. No more shopping. But leftover money roles over to the next month.

I don't take a quantitative approach to that tracking wears. But I do try to think generally about what gets worn most frequently/least frequently and why.

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Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Don't get caught in the "this notebook is too good to write in" trap! That's like saving your clothes "for good" and then having them go out of style without ever having worn them.

I've posted this photo before, but #1 is how I tracked wears all the way back in 2007. Pretty basic system, but it's immediately obvious which things got worn the most.

I used the Stylebook app for a while, and liked it a lot, but I hated that it was device-specific. I switch between my phone, iPad, and laptop so often that I needed something that would store my data online and allow me to access it from any device.

Now, I use Closetspace, which works both as an app and as a web view. There are features I miss from Stylebook, but mostly, I really like it. The rest of the photos are all screenshots from my data in the app. (And wow... I haven't worn my favorite skinny jeans in 132 days...that's a pretty accurate indication of when summer weather must have started!)

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I keep track of monthly purchases on a spread sheet to know exactly how much I've spent and can spend each month. I stick to a monthly budget.

Visually, my entire wardrobe is on Finds - and anyone can see it there. I keep track of my incoming purchases in the shopping section. For the rest - I mess around in my closet. It all works flawlessly well.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

When I tracked wears, I used Jenn's system. I don't track them all the time -- I just did it for one fall/ winter and learned a few useful lessons from the aggravation!

Anonymous

Question: how do you set a budget for the year, and then by month? i know this sounds like a dumb question, but I have never set a spending budget for clothes. Do you - anyone here- take a percentage of your take-home income and use that? And then, do you recommend allocating monthly depending on how heavy a purchasing month is likely to be? I could use some direction here - please! I am pretty random in my spending - if i have it, I spend it. Ugh. And I have no clue what I would spend in a year - and perhaps don't want to know, either.

deb

Veteran

I use a spread sheet for the financial part and have 4 years tracked so far. It is very enlightening. I use an Access database for current items in my closet, retired items and outfits worn.

Penny

Veteran

I track my wardrobe purchases (only recording what I decide to keep) in a note on my iPhone, and I track my overall wardrobe numbers by category in a separate iPhone note. As I also have notes from 2015 for purchases and overall wardrobe, it's fun to compare, and it's easy to update the current notes (e.g., when on the metro or waiting in line).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisap, FWIW, I can share how I do it:

A budget is a very personal thing, and I set it with Greg ages ago so that I can have what I need and want as a fashionable professional - but stay hungry and appreciative too. I appreciate my wardrobe items so much more when I can't have it all. AND I only want a fixed number of items in my wardrobe at once so that I can wear the heck out of my stuff. I never buy a lot at a time (my birthday and the NAS are exceptions). My frugal parents who grew up during WW2 have had an impact on me - but my Mum who died at 59 also made me want to spend a lot more than I used to. You have to find your sweet spot, and I believe that I have.

Soooo, I have a monthly FASHION budget. It does NOT include: wardrobe basics (undies, socks, loungewear), haircuts, grooming expenses, gear, hair and make-up, or presents. It does include wardrobe essentials.

I do not set a seasonal budget - but rather a monthly one of X amount because I find it easier to attend to my current style needs that way. If I overspend the one month, I underspend the next month. Sometimes I save up for a very expensive purchase - like my Prada boots and Joseph coat. I am disciplined about my budget, and I love having one actually. I am emotional, but not random.

Anonymous

Thanks Angie.

Chris987

Veteran

Wow what a treasure trove of ideas! I have created a spreadsheet that has inventory on one worksheet (with a lot of columns for details like type of garment, color, season etc ), another worksheet for a shopping log with $$ amounts (everything I bring home goes here, even if I return it), and another worksheet for logging what I wear every day. It took a long time to set it up but now it's pretty easy to use and I can crunch the numbers a lot of different ways. I have used spreadsheets for many years at work and at home for all kinds of things so I'm comfortable with that format. I started in such a mess earlier this year that I needed to get a handle on everything. It has been well worth it, it's giving me a great picture of what I'm wearing, buying, and spending. The only thing this system is not so great for is making it easy to see which outfits are repeats unless I want to get into some very complex algorithms...which I do not.

I also have been tracking all new purchases and a lot of existing items in "Finds" but I recently decided to only include things I wear out of the house. I also have a lot of fall/winter stuff for which I need to make custom finds.

Suz I really like your idea of tracking which items are "regular" vs "statement" - I'm going to steal it. I already know that 95% of my list will be "basic" at the moment but what the heck I have to start somewhere.

BrieN

Veteran

I also have a fixed monthly budget for clothes. I find it to be so liberating. I don't have to worry if I can or can't buy something because I know if I can or can't. It is so much more fun and I make better choices. I also used to have trouble spending money on myself (the mom thing). The budget tells me "ok, time to shop for you".

We budget and track every expense, have done so for about two years.

Keix

Veteran

I track all of my spending, which I started back in college when my primary spending was on fashion. I track very strictly (every penny) but budget very loosely, and the total amount has definitely crept up over the past few years as my disposable income increased. But I'm still spending well within my means and adding to my wardrobe at about the same rate--just each item is better quality and thus pricier--but I'd like to slow down on that. As my wardrobe quality increases, I wear beloved items less often and it's hard to prune pieces that are still in good condition and stylish.

I also keep an inventory in a separate spreadsheet that just tracks what I have. It was really useful during college also when my clothes were split across multiple physical locations.

Marlene

Veteran

Am I doing something wrong? I don't budget or track or CPW or anything!

rachylou

Veteran

Don't use Yahoo notes like me. I have lost my notes due to their system glitches...

JAileen

Veteran

Marlene, I don't do any of it either. You'd think I would have, since I was an accountant and budget analyst, but no. It's very interesting, though.

harmonica

Veteran

Thank you all for the insights and comments! Very helpful and great to see the variety of approches. It makes it clear that each one has to find the system that actually works for oneself, and it could also be not having a system at all. Whatever is functional and make you happy.

Jenn - you sent me into nerdy closet "accounting" heaven with Closetspace and your simple note system!!

I'm setting it up right now -- and its so much fun! (ok, very nerdy, but hey, it is fun!)

Style Fan

Veteran

I like to write. I mean writing with a pen and paper. I have tried to use computer journals, finds, pinterest, etc. for my wardrobe but I don't keep it up. The best method for me is to use a notebook. I have several going at one time. I have my favourite outfits notebook, my packing notebook, my makeup notebook, my wardrobe notebook and my field notes (a fancy way of saying random thoughts about fashion, clothing, whatever).
I don't have a budget exactly but I have an idea of what I will spend per season. I may not always spend it and if I don't I just leave it. I don't carry it forward. If I really want something then I can have it but that rarely happens these days. I do have some items on a wish list that I will spend money on if I come across. For example I wanted a silver bangle that stayed on my wrist (didn't slid off like most do) for a long time. I finally found one recently so I bought it.

shedev

Veteran

I've had a few different systems. I did 2 item per month for a year. I did a$ amount per month ( I ended up buying a bunch of cheap stuff) I'm doing best on my 5 piece. I split between just above my basics limit and super splurgey.
I have the history of my current wardrobe in a notebook. It includes when I bought it, how much I paid, how many wears a year, and CPW.

Roxanna

Veteran

Wow! This is so helpful! Like @lisap, I have never done this abs have resisted it (perhaps bc I have always been an impulse shopper abs didn't want to know how much I spend!) but you all have inspired me. I will do a budget and clothes tracking for the fall!

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I think this is why spending a lot at once can unnerve me. I don't budget and really didn't purchase much at one time unless I lost or gained too much weight for my clothes to fit. I used to buy anything that fit without clinging, looked fairly good with my coloring, and looked somewhat like me, because it was so challenging to find clothes. My price points and lack of finding clothing worked with my spending.

I have more choices at my present size, and I have to remember not to purchase something just because something looks like me and fits. I'm not used to having enough clothes. I have enough summer clothes except for a few specific items - a lightweight topper to cover my arms to wear with a light as air dress on an extremely hot day. Or else the dress goes back. Of course, we haven't had any of those horrendously hot days since I purchased it. And skin colored underwear to wear with my first color of non dark pants. I can get away with them because the dark flower print hidesthings.

I think that I need to examine my fall wardrobe and figure out what I need and then assign a dollar amount to fulfill those needs. I like the idea of having a certain amount for fun extras or something special. I plan to go beyond that only if I drop a size.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Sorry if that was long and a bit off topic. It really helped me sort out my shopping habits and to plan for the future.

Anonymous

Interesting post, Harmonica. I enjoyed reading all the comments.

To answer your question, Numbers is the Apple version of Excel. The two programs are nearly exactly the same (in my opinion).

I find that tracking systems evolve over time. I started out with a very simple spreadsheet that merely listed garments in each category. I did this to have an idea of how much I had so I didn't overbuy. This was really helpful to me. It literally put the brakes on buying in those categories (pajamas) that I had way too much of. In time I added date purchased and price. Eventually I started to track the number of times worn and the cost per wear.

I have never tracked items that are purged. I guess I didn't want to be reminded of my "failures." I can see now that this information would be valuable and so naturally I'll be adding it to my spreadsheet today. I get ideas and I incorporate them.

About budgets, I allocate myself an annual budget. I can spend that budget any way I want throughout the year. My clothing budget includes anything that can be worn (underpinnings, athletic wear, pajamas). I don't exactly understand how these items are not clothing. How these items budgeted by other women? It doesn't make sense to me. I track down to the penny. And I track cash! So few of my friends forget to track the expenses they pay for in cash.

The one thing I don't budget for is hair care. I schedule appointments as I need them. I may be the one woman in America that hates having her hair done. I don't want a budget to give me an excuse to skip an appointment.

Thanks for a very fun post.

Note to Barbara Diane. I am always interested in your posts. It helps me sort out my buying habits as well.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sterling, I also include my undies and PJs in my clothing budget but not my gear (it goes in the "active" part along with gym membership etc.)

But I think the undies could as easily go in "necessities" or some category like that.

The distinction actually makes sense to me particularly to those with an advanced sense of style and a need to appear particularly fashionable. You want to ensure your fashion budget is going to fashion, not to underpinnings and PJs.

Anonymous

Sterling, for me, anything obtainable at Costco does NOT go into the clothing budget, and that includes undies and gear but not bras.

I have been experimenting with a $ monthly limit and and have been tracking inventory in a note on my phone. The amount of money I spend is tracked in my head. Most months this year I've gone over budget and I'm wondering how to deal with this.

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