The Size Question - YouLookFab Forum

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The Size Question

Jenn

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Veteran

Sally's post got me thinking...we talk a lot about having a small, moderate, or large wardrobe, but I'm curious what those terms actually mean. No one is more surprised than I am to learn that I like numbers, so...

Approximately, how many items are in your wardrobe?
What items do you count/not count?
Do you consider that small, moderate, or large?

I've been saying I have a small wardrobe, but I look at my closet app and see I've worn 20 tops in the past 2.5 months, which doesn't seem small at all. Maybe I'm deluding myself!

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from Word Lily

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I haven't counted, but I am sure my numbers would throw the more minimalist folks here into shock. At the same time, I have a friend whose wardrobe spills out of a much larger walk-in closet than what I have, and she refuses to part with much of it, and that makes my closet look positively modest in comparison. What is generous to one person is meager to another. We all have such varying lifestyles, needs, wants, climate requirements, etc., that I think it can be counterproductive to do too much comparing. I say if it works for you, and you don't feel like you either don't have enough to wear or you can't possibly wear it all, then it's all good.

Anonymous

We've discussed this at length on the forum many times - everyone chiming in with their numbers. and it's always interesting to see what other people consider a large or a small wardrobe. I haven't counted, but I can tell you right now, I don't even own 20 tops for one season. Sure, if include the tshirts I wear for working in the yard, or the sweatshirts I wear for hanging around the house,maybe, but for everyday work wear? Nope. I know I have a small wardrobe using this forum as a standard for comparison, and I'm happy with it. I'm trying to get to the point where the majority of it is worn to death and then replaced the next season. This is borne from far too much stuff being donated every time I do a purge of my closet - tons and tons of things worn a dozen times at the most over a couple of seasons and still in perfect condition. Also borne from major size fluctuations that happen every other year or so. Crazy eh?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Closetspace tells me I've worn 65 items total over the past 2.5 months. That's most of my summer/fall wardrobe, and includes jewelry, eyeglasses, accessories, shoes, layering pieces, and gear, but not lounge/sleepwear.

LisaP - I have the major size fluctuations issue too. In the past 6-7 years, I've gone from an 8-10 to an 18 and back to a 14-16. Bleh. Smaller is definitely better if your size changes a lot. It's too painful and expensive to deal with huge amounts of clothes you can't wear.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think what Janet says is true. What's meagre to one is generous to another.

Here are some factors that contribute and to consider before deciding in the abstract on an appropriate size for your closet.

Do you like to hang onto some proportion of your items for many years, rotating them with newer items that you buy to "refresh" your style....or do you prefer to buy what amounts to a complete or almost complete capsule each season, and wear it to death and then let go of most of it the following year? Fewer clothes = more wears = more likelihood that the items will wear out in a season or you will be sick to death of them by that point.

Do you live in a temperate climate or a true 4 season climate? If you live in a 4 season climate with extremes of temperature, you are likely to require more clothes simply to withstand the elements.

How varied are your activities? If you do pretty much the same things in the same environments most days, you won't need a huge amount of variation in formality or type of outfit. If you wear many hats and have multiple roles outside the home, you might need more clothing.

Are you the type of person who wears loungewear or gear while at home, or do you prefer to wear casual clothing at home? If you work from home, what are your requirements for workwear?

To me, a truly small wardrobe would be one that allowed you to create enough (and just enough) outfits for one week (and then the laundry). Plus one special occasion outfit and whatever gear was required. I personally wouldn't be happy with that much limitation and I'm not sure I could manage it in my climate, with its wildly varied weather (even within a season). But everyone's mileage varies.

At the moment I consider my wardrobe "moderate to large." I'd like to trim it back just a little bit but this urge competes with a need for variety in our long winters. So this year I'll be evaluating and re-evaluating.

It may be that my best bet going forward would be to shop in complete outfits and buy two or three complete outfits per season, retiring older items as needed to keep the size of my closet where I like it. This would allow me to participate in trends while also hanging on to quality items I still love and mixing/ matching.

Elly

Veteran

Jenn-- I consider myself having a small wardrobe. I own 46 items of clothing and live in a 4 season climate -- that includes shoes and everything but underwear, sleepwear/loungewear, painting clothing, and gear. Right now that number may be a little short because I have some winter tops I tossed at the end of last year that I haven't replaced yet (two or three and a couple layering tees). It doesn't include accessories like handbags, scarves, belts, and hats. I have a lot of gear, but I don't count that because each piece serves a different purpose (fieldwork, woodcutting, fishing, hiking, running) and I don't wear mine all day unless I'm in the mountains on a fishing trip, etc (I have about 18 pieces including hiking boots and my ski jacket). I wear the same 3 pairs of jeans year around, have one pair of summer shorts and a summer skirt, and have two pair of winter slacks I add in and wear the same 3 jackets year-around too, plus one winter-only one. I have one pair of sandals, a summer heel and winter heel, and otherwise wear sneakers and boots. I have about 10 pieces that are "single purpose" meaning things like my summer graduation/wedding guest dress, interview capsule, etc.

Personally, I think the 50 piece mark is a little too small for me. I run into laundry bottlenecks with jeans, I have to buy all new tops most seasons because last years are worn out, I'd really like a black summer jacket, I sometimes don't have the right shoes, my summer-weight army jacket doesn't really cut it in winter, etc. All my clothes (but not my shoes) fit in a carry on, if it gives you an idea.

I'm not sure yet if changing climates will increase or decrease my clothing needs. I'm personally thinking increase, but that might prove to be false economy (at least in the long term). This winter I will see how wearing my CO clothing goes-- next year I might purchase lightweight stuff and find I can wear it year-around with layers. I think that weights of fabrics will be more important and I'll have to give in to having two of some of my staples in a light but warm fabric and in a hot-weather fabric (plus the need for a small CO capsule for winter funerals and visits home). I also think that I will need more of each item April-October to keep up with sweating/laundry cycle -- which also might mean I wear through things faster because I'll be washing them more. I'll definitely have to add more hot weather shoes.

Word Lily

Veteran

I think it's probably relevant that the past 2.5 months isn't quite all the same season, too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Elly, I think 50 is really small; even a couple of extra bottoms would give you more leeway.

In your new climate I'll bet you need more tops at minimum -- you might need to launder more often.

When I first joined YLF my wardrobe was about 50 pieces (if that). What I didn't get was any sense of variety or play. And most things had to be replaced each year.

I think when you get over 60 items you can start to think about keeping items for longer than a year and then you also get wardrobe "creep" if you are not a good editor.

Elly

Veteran

I agree that 50 is really small, Suz. I'm actually coming from smaller though-- when I lived in southern NM and worked in CO in the summers I had so little lifestyle and temp variation that I had about 30 pieces- I wore jeans, layering tees, scarves, and jackets. Before that I had a larger wardrobe and found that one of the hardest things was getting rid of clothes I wasn't wearing anymore.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I've been thinking a lot about the issue of "what counts." I think I've finally decided that, for me, if it's visible and worn in public, it counts. That means, underwear, socks, and bras generally don't count. Tights do. Scarves do. Jewelry does. The hole-ridden shoes I throw on to mow the lawn don't. Sleepwear doesn't. Hiking gear does.

Given that, and that I wear glasses every single day, every outfit I wear has a minimum of three pieces, and often it's much higher. (Yesterday, for example, I wore nine visible items: shoes, pants, sweater, jacket, glasses, necklace, cuff, hat, bag.) I will have to take that into account when thinking about reasonable numbers.

Suz, I'm also thinking hard about your questions, because I'm realizing that a work-from-home lifestyle might actually involve more daily variability in needs than an office job, which is kind of counter-intuitive.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Mine is in the 150-200 pieces range, including shoes but not undergarments or gear. From previous conversations on this topic that's shockingly large compared to a lot of people on YLF. But for me it's positively restrained compared to how many clothes I had a few years ago.

I've been trying to track down how much variety is enough for me. After my 30x30 challenges and monthly outfit tracking experiments this year, I've found that I wear about 60 different pieces of clothing in an average month where the weather is fairly consistent. I don't mind repeating outfits within the same season as long as it's not within the same week or two. So if I assume four seasons and no overlap, that's 240 pieces. If I assume six 'seasons', which is more accurate for my locale, and half the items overlap, that's 180 pieces. So my ideal wardrobe size is somewhere in that range. (The funny thing is that our weather is not that extreme, so if I ever move back to the Midwest my wardrobe would have to get even bigger. Or maybe I'd get really into seasonal capsules or something.)

unfrumped

Veteran

I've not done a good counting approach--probably should.
But, I can relate to your 20 tops in one season. I have tended to over-buy tops and though we have "4 seasons" here, with air-conditioning I don't need a complete set of tops for each season , especially summer. And I want to re-wear more than once per month in general, and feel like I have really worn a given top during its first year rather than have it worn once, stored and bring out again months later.
Same for sweaters--I love them so tend to add more and then find I either wear some of the same ones as favorites, or could only wear once a month or so. For cashmere and merino that's a lot of summer storage for few wears.

So if I were to have something like 20 tops for each season, that is likely to be too many to get good use out of all, and a possible goal would be to cut that down to maybe 10 for warm summer ( a focus here is often easy washability), 10 cold winter, and 20 that are 3-season wear, in weights and versatile colors that can skew spring or fall and combine with accessories, and also to make more use of some cardigans I have for layering over summer or mid-weight tops.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Looking at my tops in detail, WordLily is definitely right when she says the last 2.5 months weren't strictly one season. I've dealt with temps from 38° in the mountains to 98° at home in that time.

Breaking it down, I see:
4 sleeveless blouses/tees
6 lightweight, long sleeve tops
2 heavyweight, long sleeve button downs (flannel, denim)
4 cotton/linen short-sleeve blouses/tees
4 layering tanks

Add in a handful of deep winter sweaters and this actually represents entirety of my 4-season collection. July and August are the only months where we can't expect temps in the 40s (or below) at our elevation, and those are the months I spend the most time in the mountains, so I keep almost everything in rotation year-round.

Astrid

Veteran

I think I counted quite a while ago (no underwear, gear, pajamas, jewelry, bags etc.) and came up with around 60 pieces. I'm not sure if it has stayed the same or not. I do still have quite a few pieces in my wardrobe though that I could very well get rid off because I never wear them anyway. If you take only the pieces I'm really wearing (meaning I've worn them more than once already this year) out of my wardrobe there might be one third left in it. The reasons for keeping this third are varying... The overall count might be different now, though.

Anonymous

I have around 45 pieces, excluding gear and jewelry and scarves. This is not enough. I know so because I feel a very strong need to purge at the end of season because of a hate for certain items because I've worn them too much (and also because they're worn out). I just can't stand to look at some things any more. I don't have enough winter tops or bottoms.
I think, to be happy, I need at least 20 more clothing items, and maybe 4 or 5 more pairs of shoes.

Sal

Veteran

I am pleased that my post got you thinking Jenn! We are all in different positions with climate, work, home life, social life and preferences.

For me, in a temperate climate I feel my closet size is about right although ideally I would probably have a couple more sweaters and pants and a few less occasion pieces and tops. But I work from home, don't go out to dressy places all that much, and my size is pretty consistent.

I included footwear and that is one capsule that is working pretty well for me. I have good options for casual, active, formal, work etc.

At 45 years I have accumulated slowly - aside from thrifted pieces I have a wool coat that is 15 years old, a dress the same, shoes the same, and many pieces that are 7-8 years old. I have about five smart work looks but I only need to wear one or two a week, so I don't need a lot of variety here.

What I am not happy about is the shorts I gifted away that I had for one season and no longer like (but are in good condition), or the work trousers that never really were a flattering fit and were too short. These were poor buys and should not have entered the closet.

I only have tracked wears when doing a challenge, but intuitively I know my blush sweater, my grey merino and my Underarmour hoodie get worn an awful lot, at least once a week, usually more. But there is a black sequined merino sweater that has been worn one time this winter, and a grey striped knit that I am heartily sick of wearing. The sequin merino is a pretty layering piece but does not work with many other pieces, and the grey striped knit is good for slobby work from home days or popping on in the evening as loungewear. But we all have new favourites and the odd item that is harder to wear.

And my maths is dodgy. I have about 10 scarves (2 new to me this year as gifts, lots of costume jewelry (I think 3 being new this year) and a full large drawer of running jackets, sports tees and tanks, shorts, tights, swimsuits, rash tops etc. There would be 25 pieces in that drawer alone!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Sally - We're close to the same age, and my shoe capsule is in great shape, for the same reason your wardrobe is. I've accumulated slowly. Alas, my size variations (thank you, PCOS) mean that the rest of my wardrobe hasn't had the same benefit.

I appreciate your note about the dodgy math too. I wear gear every morning, and it represents a somewhat significant investment for me, so I figure I should count it. And my scarf and jewelry collections are out of control, so now I'm counting those too. Keeps me honest.

Sal

Veteran

Jenn, I also don't worry about sunk costs. Would I buy the sparkly cardigan now or the wool A line skirt. Probably not. But since I own them and neither of them is really worth anything if sold (I might get $20 between the two) I may as well keep them as I do have room. If I was brutal and removed about 15 pieces like this I could reduce the size but i am not sure what benefit I would gain. The sparkly cardy will be perfect one autumn night to put on when it cools over my cocktail dress. All I need now is the invitation

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I think this post from The Vivienne Files earlier this summer is relevant to this discussion:
http://www.theviviennefiles.co.....-need.html
I think we discussed it at the time, lemme see if I can find the YLF thread.
ETA: here it is:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....are-enough

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I was very transparent about my own numbers in this post:

http://youlookfab.com/2015/03/.....-wardrobe/

Things have adjusted a little per category after more editing and purchasing.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for reminding me of that, Angie. The comments are illuminating too.

I really was feeling like I was insane to think I had a small wardrobe, after looking at my tracking for the past couple of months, but reconciling that with my closet, and realizing that I've essentially been using three seasons worth of items, I think I'm still making reasonable use of what I have. My wears are just spread across multiple seasons, rather than concentrated in 3-4 month spans, like they might be in more predictable climates.

Staysfit

Veteran

I have what I believe is a large wardrobe, even though I have purged and honed it down significantly. I live in a four season climate, and I do not like to repeat wears more than once every three weeks.

I do not count gear, shoes, outerwear, jewelry, scarves, handbags, belts as part of my count. I also don't count layering tanks or tees, and lounge wear. Maybe it sounds like I'm leaving out too much?

i can instantly relate to what Suz says and see myself as a person who keeps things for many years and adds a few items each year to update, while purging a few. I am not someone who plans to wear through a capsule in a season, etc. To have this type of wardrobe, you need to have a well developed sense of your style, a consistent weight, and maybe even be willing to go without the most trendy pieces.

So, in terms of numbers, I'm down to the 200 -225 range.

Tania

Veteran

Not including grunt gear, utility gear, or things in a short-term holding zone that I'll likely purge, I currently have 19 tops, 7 bottoms, 7 toppers, 9 shoes/boots (including special occasion) for all seasons. This does not include coats, scarves, camis, etc.

I have 5 coats- my puffer, a utility ski jacket, an organic wool fleece, my red trench, and a waxed cotton jacket. Three scarves (2 light, 1 blanket wool).

I can definitely use more clothing, particularly for the summer, but I am starting to hit critical mass. Things feel easier to pull together, especially now that fall is here. I've been reluctant to buy too much as I've tried different styles/trends and working through what feels right for me. Even though my closet is relatively small, it feels worlds different than before I started this journey, when all my clothes were gear/garden work wear.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I've always been honest that my wardrobe is quite large. I suspect it's not because I love variety; but rather because I love to shop. That's under control at the moment, thankfully.

Last I counted, I had over 180 pieces in just my summer wardrobe. These numbers didn't include shoes or bags or scarves-----this was just clothes. But I did another big edit last month to donate some clothes so this number may have come down. I'll have to check. I also gave away my muddy brown vest and beige linen blazer to my best friend yesterday. I felt great about it----I haven't worn them all season and have no need for them. She goes to a lot of meeting and both those toppers could convert her woven cotton tops info more formal attire.

I'll do the numbers today. My tracking days I don't wear more than 60 garments a month (2 pieces after my shower in the morning, 2 pieces of gear for my walks) but the workout clothes get a lot of repeat.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Maneera - I love that you have 180 summer pieces that fit great and store comfortably in your closet space and you love and are excited to wear! You too, Staysfit. It seems like you both really adore and are happy with your wardrobes! i want to be as happy as you both are with your clothes. Time will tell what that satisfaction point is for me.

Tania, you have a great point about critical mass. It's sort of like having a well-stocked pantry. There's a point at which you can expect to have ingredients on hand for the dishes you make the most. It's way harder to cook when you you have to shop for every spice and dry good every time. At the same time, you probably don't need to keep a stock of every exotic spice on the shelves at Penzey's. And avid gourmet cooks will certainly have a lot more ingredients than your average family dinner wrangler.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a great analogy.

And you should see my spice cupboard!!

MsMaven

Veteran

This post inspired me to count up my items, which I don't remember doing before. I have 100 items, including coats and yoga pants, and with shoes, bags and scarves add another 50. (Not counting stuff in the donation bag.) This seems like a lot to me, and I'm pretty sure this is more stuff than I've ever had, but with a big closet, coat closet and guest closet, not to mention drawers, I have things spread around the house.

Right now I'm not wearing heavier pants, coats, wool/cashmere sweaters, and not many jackets. So my active wardrobe is smaller. I try to rotate through most of my stuff, but I find that things get pushed into a corner and forgotten about.

When I had a much smaller wardrobe I was much stricter about keeping things that didn't work for me. Now I have room, so I hang on to stuff.

This has been a useful exercise, so thanks Jenn. I'm glad I took up the challenge to do the count.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well I am in the middle of a giant closet review of my closet, so I will now say with, if not pride no shame, I have a very large amount of clothes. Of course I work part-time in a thrift store, and thrift as a hobby, which accounts for some of it, but mostly I just get a lot of enjoyment from playing with clothes and thinking about various aspects of fashion and style. I spent most of my life before 40 or so with minimal interest in clothes and style, various self esteem issues, and was mostly focused on other aspects of my life, and couldn't be more delighted with my second half hobby and the spill over effects on my confidence, social skills, and self esteem. Definitely a "your mileage may vary" sort of perspective, but that's what I've got :-).

anne

Veteran

Well if you want a criteria, Eva posted one a while ago which began like
under 50 = minimalist
50-100 = small
and then I can't remember!

I am fairly sure I'm under 100, perhaps around 90. (not including shoes, sleepwear or accesories - inclues lounge wear and possibly gear). This feel around the right size for me.

Like Sally ( on her other thread), I don't mind having some item that are in the category of "things I wouldn't buy again/ buy myself but won't cull". I still like wearing them a few times a year. I also give any clothes that I have been handed down to me (after an initial assessment) a while to see if they fit into my wardrobe.

I don't like churn, and prefer to add just a few things each year.

Helen11

Veteran

I've been wondering about closet numbers, too, so it's great to read this thread. I have a fairly small space, and I know I should do a good edit and reorganise. (So why did a parcel of three dresses arrive today???)

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