The end (of shopping) is nigh... - YouLookFab Forum

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The end (of shopping) is nigh...

LaPed

Veteran

Well, I just counted my closet. I counted everything, because yesterday I couldn’t have told you how many socks I owned (24), or how many bras (9). My wardrobe has grown a little bit over the past couple years. The last time I counted was in 2015, before I moved from Nevada to New Hampshire. At that point I had around 90 items total in my daily-wear wardrobe (counting shoes and outerwear, but not counting baselayers/underpinnings or accessories). Today, I’m up to 119. I include some of my gear-clothes in that calculation and not others, because some gear (merino tank tops, solid-color leggings) pulls double-duty and get used in everyday outfits. Then I have a “capsule” of about 20 gear items that are too gross or silly looking for me to wear anyplace but a backpacking trip or a quick run on my own road (where next to nobody will see me).

So. 119 is a little higher than I’d like to be, in the abstract. Let’s say my target is 100. It’s a little arbitrary, but it seems like a good number for my purposes. Maybe a little too low for my four-season climate? But certainly not impossible. I’m not going to bend over backwards to pare things down, but I am going to try to let certain categories shrink through attrition. I’ve used this approach for t-shirts over the past couple years, and I am finally at a point where real shirts outnumber t-shirts -- one of my “greatest accomplishments” style-wise of the past two years. My 119 also includes 5 items in a holding zone, which I will probably let go of in the next year; they’ve been sitting there for a while.

But the real question is… how do I keep that number from growing? There’s pretty much nothing I need right now. I’m really happy with my wardrobe and what I can create with it. There are a few things I expect to retire within the next year (an old winter coat, a pair of jeans) and would like to find direct-ish replacements for. I can think of a couple things that would boost my style (a waterproof trench or dressy anorak, for example, or a casual non-gear backpack) but they aren’t necessities. Does this mean I become a one-in-one-out person? Take a year-long break from shopping and see where things stand at the end of 2018? Both of these appeal at the moment, but that could just be household and holiday expenses talking. Space is as big a concern as budget; 120 items pretty much maxes me out storage-wise.

Anyway, no real questions, just waxing philosophic. Has anyone else reached the end of a wardrobe rebuild recently? How did you know when you had “arrived”? What methods did you use to slow down or stop shopping?

Sales and Deals

19 replies

Latest reply was from texstyle

JAileen

Veteran

I don't understand having a certain wardrobe number, or how someone determines that ten pairs of pants is right, but eleven is too many. My storage space is limited, and that was one thing I considered with the bulky pink jacket I was thinking about. With my long sleeve tees, I donated the worst looking ones until the rest fit in the drawer. Maybe that's how others determine a number.

When you were in Nevada (Las Vegas?) did you have much in the way of outerwear? I assume you need more cold weather items in New Hampshire. So that might account for some of the growth in your wardrobe. When we lived on the Gulf Coast I didn't even have a real jacket. Then we moved to Lake Tahoe, and I had to get warm things ASAP.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

There's no completion, only progress and maintenance. Feel free to take this with a pinch of salt - you heard it from a shameless clotheshorse.

I've definitely changed my shopping habits since YLF, becoming more goal-oriented and focused in what I've been buying. I don't know if there's a way to stop though, or if I would want to. I do what I can to keep my purchasing ethical and sensible, but I think I will always be looking for ways to develop.

As to numbers, I'd love to be able to do one in one out, but I find a ruthless edit once or twice a year helps. I'm very glad I'm running a spreadsheet now.

unfrumped

Veteran

I think, look to see if even among those items, there are any you don’t reach for. Any fit issues at all. Any, I need something kinda like this but more THAT. These become goals, specific shop list items. If the existing item is not essential to daily outfits you could either toss it right now, or put it in tote box holding zone. That creates “ mental space” for a new, better item.

Also, target number is great, but you’d want to be able to go BELOW that if ever you want, with s bigger full, and then maybe come across more items in one season.
Constructs and systems are great and are individual— whatever kinds of limits or systems work best for you.

3style

Veteran

I like to think about it based upon the simple statement: "I wish I had something to wear when (fill in the blank)." For example, for you it might be, "I wish I had a dressy backpack when I run errands on foot." So the question becomes, for example, do you already own a cross body bag that keeps your hands free and which works for this purpose? If you don't have a substitute, then go ahead and get the backpack. If you do have a substitute, and you want to spend the time and money to get something in addition, then you can evaluate if maybe there is an awkward tote bag you have been hanging on to "just in case" which can be repurposed or donated. If you have the situation covered and don't have anything that you want to get rid of and you still want to have the backpack, you have to ask yourself if you ultimately value simplicity or variety more. If you are on the fence about that preference (like me) then you keep refining your taste. So that over time you are feeling more and more definite about which items add value to your life.

Jane

Veteran

I don't really have any answer, I feel as if I am in kindergarten class regarding fashion and numbers and budgets etc.

But, DH and I had some beautiful new wardrobes made for us a couple of months back, and I have decided that besides a small holding zone in our spare room, that my whole wardrobe (clothes, shoes, boots, coats, etc) should be contained within my wardrobe and dressing table.

I have also been less strict with myself of late regarding budget, which has strangely made me more discerning. I am so lucky as my office is based near lovely retail areas and so I get exposed to lots of retail all of the time. I also need to have a polished work wardrobe, as it fits in with my work. I don't think I will ever have 'arrived' because I am aiming to get to beyond kindergarten to senior school to college! And I also have, may be completely mis guided view that wearing current-ish fashion along with classics is a good way of keeping things fresh.

In terms of numbers I think my wardrobe is around 90 to 100, with too many shoes that don't fit properly. And I know that patterns have a shelf life for me, and I may be better to focus on colour and texture.

So may be your constraints are similar to mine in regards to space. Interesting thoughts.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I can’t be at the end of my wardrobe rebuild, because I still have more inches to lose and we haven’t moved. But I have slowed down buying clothes and should probably stop. I think I’m using shopping as a distraction these days, instead of doing what needs to be done that doesn’t bring such short-term gratification.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

More thoughts from this maximalist. You and I have different lifestyles and priorities, but I know we share concerns about sustainability. If you feel your wardrobe is almost complete, now is a good time to kick back and take stock. Here are a few things that have helped me, and might also help you.

Buy nothing you don't love. Set your your standards ridiculously high. Narrow the field and hunt down rarities. Target and stalk something really special.
If you think you need something, look for the solution among things you already have. Be imaginative.
When you really need to replace something, try not to leave it to the last minute. Take your time to find the perfect replacement before it wears out. Remember Angie's PPP rule.
Stay interested in your current wardrobe. If something feels tired or boring, find a way to liven it up. Customise pieces to make them your own.
Shopping is the means, not the end. Never forget this.

Greyscale

Veteran

I've also felt recently like my wardrobe has hit some sort of steady state and I need to slow down the replacement cycle.

On the other hand, I always want to update my jeans collection (core of my wardrobe). Right now, I want higher waists and more light-colored bottoms. And since only my bottoms size seems to change, there's been more flux in that category over the last few years.

My goal is to keep my wardrobe to exactly what fits in my dresser and on my three free-standing racks. But the play clothes (which "don't count") have started to overflow to our guest room, and it might be time to cull those too. Or to give in to reality and get a separate dresser in there? Until your post I hadn't really thought about whether I should catalog & edit these, too. I sense a post of my own brewing.

Anonymous

I want to send admiration to a fellow counter. There is something oddly satisfying in this exercise, isn't there?

Recently I have challenged myself to wear my Winter wardrobe (reverse hanger trick). Any pieces that are not worn by the end of the season (February 2018) will be donated. No excuses.

I am also asking myself this question "why isn't it being worn?" Fit? Color? Nothing coordinating? Taste changed? Itchy? So far I have purged 14 wardrobe items in October alone (mostly shoes and tee shirts). There was nothing wrong with these items, I just never, ever reached for them.

Sal

Veteran

Your closet is a similar size to mine- and to me this is a good size to cope with climate and laundry and the odd curveball day when you need something different. I have hit pause for a couple of months at a time - and find this effective. I do seem to add over 20 pieces a year though. I have shopped more this year then others but made less mistakes too so I feel well set up now.

The changing retail and clothing scene makes it harder to stop- there is no waiting til sales season or a new range arrives- there is always something new or discounted.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if the issue might be that while collectively your wardrobe satisfies you, not all the individual items offer sufficient satisfaction. What makes you pass over the lesser worn everyday items in favour of the new? Or do you wear everything with equal frequency? As we strive to perfect our wardrobe, our tastes can change in subtle ways that don’t seem drastic enough to warrant moving items into holding zones. Some of these changes might take time to register, too. If space is an issue, then you might need to reassess some of the items that seem to work well in theory, but might be neglected in practice.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I just did a quick count of what I think are the 2017 wears so far. ( I track wears on paper, not computerised, but have tracked since May 2016 without noting which year the item was worn in. At end of 2017 I might draw a slash across each line so I can also count in calendar years.) Until today I was at 186 items owned, after my recent high heels cull. I bought one thing today- that's a different post. I *think* I've worn 111 of the items this calendar year. This proportion seems reasonable given that I know there are certain items I'm not wearing much but still want to keep, and also that a small number bought for hot summer haven't been worn yet ( it's still spring). As my wardrobe has been in better shape but then got too big, in 2015/16, I have done 2 x 3-month shopping fasts since last November, bought now 15 items this year instead of 35 in 2015 and 32 in 2016. So I think naturally with some culling, it is coming down a bit. YLF has helped me become more fussy and tracking has made me note what I don't wear and shouldn't buy: skirts!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

One thing that slowing down has made happen, is some of the fun of it has been lost. And that is sad. I think the forum has helped with that a bit in that I can have fun interacting with all of you as well, while then feeling better about not wasting my money, overflowing my space, and wearing out the world! Some but not all of my best past purchases have been made on a whim so I want to reserve the right to still act on whims occasionally. But hopefully as I have thought about it all so much, the whims would fit with my style and needs.

LaPed

Veteran

Hmm, GF, your question is an interesting one. I’m not sure if my shopping is driven by dissatisfaction. I’m pretty good at pinpointing the items that bother me or don’t feel “right” -- and I usually get rid of them or find a way to alter them (dated jeans usually make okay cut-off shorts, etc). What I do do is this: when I realize a beloved item is on its way out, I scramble to find a back-up. Usually these items are old enough that direct replacement isn’t an option, so they drive my shopping, if not my purchasing. For instance: boiled wool hoodie, preferably red or black; fitted sweater vest with rugby stripes; black all-cotton straight-leg jeans. I think maybe I need to learn to let go of old favourites without directly replacing them, but that’s really hard for me. Like approprio says, maybe it partly a matter of being able to find solutions/substitutions within my existing wardrobe, rather than hunting down something new.

JAileen, climate has definitely factored into some of my shopping. I’ve doubled my coat options, and added a couple pairs of boots too. Certain categories did grow while I was in Las Vegas -- lightweight long sleeve shirts, for instance, and indoor toppers. Most of those additions translate well to New England spring/summer, so they are still getting lots of wear. Also -- socks. My socks never wore out in LV, I barely needed them. Since moving, I’ve really bulked my collection back up.

Approprio -- I agree about progress/maintenance. I guess I suspect I’m shifting into maintenance mode for a bit. I like change, variety, and trying new things to much to settle into any sort of stasis (this drives my husband crazy, he’s one of those people who wants things to stay the same for ever and ever!). Also, it’s easy to come up with a new look by just buying something -- the challenge is coming up with something new by tweaking what I’ve already got. And I do like challenges. Your second list of suggestions is great. One thing I’ve been toying with is shifting the bulk of my purchasing back to secondhand. It’s a different process, not so much instant gratification as buying new, and maybe more intellectually stimulating now that I have a functional base of essentials again.

Unfrumped -- yes, I like to have a set of constraints -- I find I come up with better solutions when I self-impose some limits. As true with personal style as it is with writing or any other art/craft.

Jane -- I wish I had a gorgeous wardrobe to store my clothes! I have half of a reach-in closet and one very large underbed drawer, plus a few small baskets in the closet for accessories. Our house has three different outside doors, and not one of them has a well-sized entryway, so coat/shoe storage gives me trouble. I am close to maxing out my storage. We have room in the bedroom for a dresser, but I’m not excited about spending money on furniture that will just enable us to spend more on clothes!

3style -- Yes! Simplicity vs variety -- you nailed it! Trouble is, I like both. It’s always a balancing act, or a tug of war, depending on the day.

Fashiontern -- two years ago I was right where you are, losing weight (baby weight) and planning a cross-country move. I’m cheering you on, because I know how important it is to find the right environment, and to get your body to a place you feel good about. The next big step, for me, will be adding more work hours outside of the home. If I go back to teaching full-time in the next couple years, that will trigger a whole new process of re-assessment.

Greyscale -- omg, pants! Pants and jeans are the source of almost all of my wardrobe fluctuation. Since I have to buy jackets and shirts to fit my shoulders, rather than my bust or waist, they fit forever. But pants -- I have such high turnover with my pants because that’s where I gain and lose weight. It doesn’t help that I don’t like wearing dated pants or distressed pants. Holes in knees drive me crazy -- they get turned right into shorts once that happens. I always have it in my head that I don’t have enough pants -- although the numbers right now do not bear that out! I have about a dozen pairs that I could wear on any given day, plus a couple of special-occasion pairs (silk, wool) that I do tend to “save” a bit for holidays, parties, etc. And I always forget to factor skirts and dresses into my bottoms number -- my brain insists on putting skirts and dresses in a different category.

And yeah, “play clothes”: I finally got around to segregating (or quarantining) my very beat-up backpacking clothes. They live with the tents and packs and other gear now, in our attic/crawl space. That way I don’t feel tempted to pull them on when I could be wearing something -- anything -- more fab. I have a feeling your play clothes are more fun than mine.

Sterling -- waving to a fellow numbers person! I’m hoping that if I curtail my shopping, it’ll give me the push I need to catalog my closet, take photos, and put everything in Finds. I tried to wear-track earlier this year, but gave up after about 6 weeks. I’ll probably try again in 2018. I did manage to track consistently during my 30x30 challenge over the summer, but did not during my October “tomboy challenge” -- all those items, except the blazers and field jackets, were pretty high-wear to begin with...

Jenni -- I know what you mean about needing some fun/spontaneity. I’ve added some really FUN things this year (sun hats, trendy pants, etc), and most of those have been very successful purchases. I can’t say I made them spontaneously, though -- I am too much a researcher/contemplator to buy things on a whim. I almost always wait a couple weeks (or months) before I actually take the plunge.

Sal -- Yes, the constant onslaught of new releases, new seasons, special collections -- it’s exhausting. I’ve been tuning a lot of it out. Angie’s “organized emotional” approach really helps. Make a list, but don’t buy the first thing you find that ticks off a box -- wait until you find the thing that really speaks to you.

Joy

Veteran

You might try the 30x30 challenge again. For me this sparked more exits from my closet than any other method I tried. If an item was one of 30 and I still avoided wearing it, it was time for it to go. It has mostly been pants for me too. Fit is more exact and I found that I was done with anything low waisted. I am about ready to join you in buying more second hand. Hardly a day goes by that I am not wearing something thrifted. Today I had on thrifted skirt, top, and topper and felt great. Micro fishnet stockings, scarf and booties were bought new but had been on my closet at least a year. I realized that I would not want to give up any of these pieces anytime soon. Sometimes second hand is better quality than what is available now.

Anonymous

I agree with second hand being better quality than what I find is available in retail.

Anonymous

The constant new stuff is only exhausting if you try to keep up. I actually just purchase a bulky sweater and jeggings (long over lean) and still feel pretty stylish. If I were a stylist I might not wear this combo, but for me, I’m ok with being a few steps behind.

It is VERY hard to find exact replicas, isn’t it? You mention rugby shirts and I can totally see those being difficult to find from one year to the next. Can also see those as being key to your style too, sigh. For me, it’s leather colour. I’m worried that the dark brown and burgundy won’t be available in the future and I’ll have a bunch of mismatched things.

Anyway, I think if you can’t find exact replicas, it’s time to evolve your style, even if you’re kicking and screaming about it

Maybe you’ll need a new signature, you know?

Style Fan

Veteran

I am not really at the end of my wardrobe rebuild because there is always something that I need. Usually footwear. I have such specific needs for footwear that shopping for shoes is almost nonstop.
I have become pickier in the last few years. I have narrowed down what I want in my wardrobe and I am listening to Angie's advice (3Ps, etc.).

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I haven't counted but I have a feeling that it would be a number in the range of 125 - 150 if I did. That is a pretty large wardrobe for my needs and some things don't get worn often, but I like having options. For my super casual life, options are sometimes as simple as a neat (not faded, distressed, stained, etc.) tee in a few different colors. Some of my tees are on hangers. I agree with Style Fan about shoes - I demand comfort but like something with at least some style so I'm nearly constantly trying to replace a pair due to them getting worn out. Esp. my sandals. What I have to stop myself from adding is jackets/coats/sweaters because I rarely get to wear the ones I own but I love them and love to shop for them.