Wardrobe duplicates (or multiples) - YouLookFab Forum

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Wardrobe duplicates (or multiples)

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I'm pretty sure there is similar thread somewhere in the archives, but I don't remembers this being asked during my time on the forum.

Do you have duplicates in the wardrobe, whether exact same item (style and color) or in different colors?

What makes you reach for the same item in the shop?

I'll start.
I have two dresses, red and purple; red one was bought first and at the end of the season the purple one reappeared in the stock, on sale, and knowing what workhorse the read one had been, I haven't thought much about buying the second one. (There's now a blue one too, but I've hid credit card from myself )
Some layering tees with 3/4 sleeves proved to be clever buys - all in different colors. They are of good quality, I actually never thought I'd become picky about tees, and definitely worth the money.

Over to you.

Shopping

28 replies

Latest reply was from Irene

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I've done this in the past, and with the exception of my clamdiggers and basic layering tees and camis, I find that I usually end up wearing one item way more than its duplicate. I tend not to buy duplicates now, for that very reason.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I duplicate layering Ts or tanks in different colours. If I find one at a good price that seems to fit well, it just makes good sense.

I think if I owned the Halogen pencil skirt I would want a few of those, too!

I can also see the value of duplicating jeans if you wear them a lot and find a style and cut that works. At the moment I do not have duplicate jeans. (To clarify, I own more than one pair of jeans, but each one is different from the others and none is my perfect jean!)

anne

Veteran

Got to run but Ornella have you seen this post of Angie's
http://youlookfab.com/2008/02/.....ttlenecks/

I have jeans that are exactly the same except one is hemmed for heels.

There are a few items that if the opportunity came up to duplicate, I would.

MsMary

Veteran

Oh my goodness! I am the queen of multiples!

Halogen seamed pencil skirt in six colors
Madden Girl patent pumps in seven colors
Nine West "magic dress" in two prints
Halogen cotton blazer in two colors
DKNY skinny jeans in dark blue denim and black denim
Colored skinnies from a Hong Kong eBay seller in red, pink, and green
Frye Rory boots in red, black, and sand
Jessica Simpson "Oscar" pumps in black/gray snake print, metallic gold snake texture, and leopard print
Halogen merino wool cardi in three colors
Old Navy long-sleeve layering tee in at least six colors
JC Penney animal-print cardi in brown/tan and black/gray

That's what I can think of off the top of my head. There are probably more...

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hmm...I guess I think of duplicating as owning two or more items that are exactly the same--same cut and color. Different colors seem like different items to me.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I do this a LOT more than I would have thought. I just feel like I've gotten so picky that, once I find something I love, I end up wearing it almost every day. Why not be able to switch to a different color to break things up? It's more efficient than searching forever for another perfect item. So far, my duplicates are:

- 5 (?) Pairs Hudson bootcut jeans (black, two ripped, two striped - sized for weight fluctuations).
- 3 Gap jeggings
- 2 tall boots (black & brown)
- 2 Dr. Martens ankle boots (black & tan)
- 2 Hollister utility jackts (not exact duplicates, but close - red & citron)
- 4 colors fleece-lined tights
- 2 ON fishtail parkas (blue and getting the white one to dye red)

That's all I can think of, but I would not be shocked to find more...

rae

(website)

Veteran

Hahahaha, laughing at how similar my parting line is to MaryK's!

rachylou

Veteran

Layering tees, Target waffle weave tees, my drugstore yoga pants in assorted colours, round-toed mid-heel pumps, and trousers from The Limited and Express.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Other than layering tops, camis and turtlenecks:
- Le Chateau silk tunics in teal and indigo;
- Gap leans in navy and faded black;
- Halogen seamed skirts in yellow and grey
- Halogen BF cardigans in teal and b/w stripe
- BR Martin skinnies in black and grey
I almost duplicated Trouve oxfords in brown but they were gone in my size by the time I got to the checkout

JennyAnne

(website)

Veteran

Layering tees and camis. I bought three of the same long cardigan at Loft last year. One already wore out, but I still wear the gray and lavendar with pride! Sure wish I had another pair of the black ponte pants I'm wearing right now.

NK

I have so many duplicates it's not even funny. I started laying them all out on my bed one time to take a photo but I got embarrassed by the sheer number of duplicates I own! (I actually have a pair of flats in three different colors - bronze, pewter, and black, I love them that much!) Just today I ordered the same striped t-shirt from Banana Republic in both the green and the blue.

I figure if I really like something, why not? (Especially for items I use a lot and that come in so many different colors like tees and cardigans.)

nancylee

Veteran

Yup! I've got plenty of duplicates. When something works well (especially basics), it's wise to stock up. I have duplicates of:

premium denim (skinnies and bootcuts)
layering tees (long- and short-sleeved)
v-neck cashmere pullovers
pencil skirts (different colors)
sweater dresses (one tan, one black)
button shirts

Dashrashi

Veteran

I try not to do this, but totally do it. I have one Banana Republic skirt in three different iterations--in black in both size 4 and size 6 (the 4 sits higher on my waist and is also therefore a bit shorter) and a third in tan. I wear all of them, surprisingly enough. The tan one gets the most use in spring/summer and then I vary which black one I'm going to wear by what silhouette the top of my outfit calls for.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Off the top of my head, I can think of only a few:

- Paige HH boot cuts - 1 pair hemmed for low heels, the other for high
- Equipment silk blouse - 1 black, 1 cobalt
- Brooks Brothers button-front shirt - 1 black, 1 white
- Calvin Klein button-front shirt - 1 blue, 1 green
- 7FAMK wedge sandals - 1 red, 1 tan
- Target Mossimo layering tees in black, forest green, burgundy

Oh, and in gear, multiples of Lululemon running capris and Brooks running shoes.

And except for things like bras, underwear and hosiery, that's really it. I think my recent ongoing closer purge has eliminated a lot of my older duplicates.

Debora

Veteran

I'm guilty! I will duplicate in different colors, especially shoes since I have such fussy feet. If I find a super comfortable pair, I stock up!

AGL ballet flats in black and slate shimmer
Aerosole tall boots in brown and black
Vaneli sandals in gold, tan and black
Alfani Voyage sandals - two pairs in black, one in pewter
Halogen seamed pencil skirt in black and yellow
Caslon long-sleeved layering tees in four colors

Makrame

Veteran

I agree that the Halogen skirt is an obvious candidate for duplication. I don't think there are too many other skirts of similar quality and weight, and since it is pretty much always in stock, year after year, why not duplicate in different colors?

Aside from that, I have bought duplicates of good quality t-shirts, Loft sweaters and cardigans (in different colors, because I liked them and they were on sale), and good quality running t-shirts and shoes (Brooks).

Kate

Veteran

Yes, but always in different colors. I have three of the same simple loft tank tops (in brown, army green, and olive green) and two ballet neck 3/4 sleeve AT tops (in white/tan stripes and plum). And I have plenty of duplicate panties and socks

Kate

Veteran

Yep, got quite a few of them. Halogen seamed pencil skirt in black, red, yellow and turquoise; Gap Long & Lean jeans in white and dark blue; Gap cotton cardigan in black, gray, teal and mink; AT cropped heavy knit sweater in ivory and brown; AT turtleneck sweater with elbow length sleeves in turquoise, yellow, green and brown; and Tignanello long-handled shopper in camel & brown and black & white.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

So fun and interesting to read

Louise

Veteran

Other than 3 layering T's in different colours I don't think I have any other duplicates even my leggings are all different! x

Irene

Veteran

- I have the same coat in black and camel (black one was bought during sales)
- Tees and cardis in different colors
- Two leather jackets, one is caramel and the other one dark chocolate brown
- Jeans - I have four pairs of skinnies by MANGO, they are the same exact style in different washes. And I wanted to add a fifth, but I didn't like how the wash looked on my legs
-Trousers or dressy pants in black and tan
- Two sweater dresses in black and white and red and cream. Don't wear them anymore because they are waay too thick but saved my life when living up in the North of Europe
- Bras and knickers and socks (but I guess this is way more common lol)

kimlee

Veteran

Here is my list:

2 Halgoen Seamed pencil Skirts - In black and In grey
2 Gap Long and Leans - One hemmed for flats and One hemmed for heels
3 Worthington Cowlneck Tops - Teal, Black, and a pattern
Numerous pairs of New York and Company trousers (6 in total) in a variety of color/patterns.

I agree with Rae's comments that once I find something I love - I wear it all the time. So for me, it makes sense to duplicate. I also think duplication can lead to a more cohesive closet, which in turn makes remixing easy.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Yes.

- Layering tees, especially white because they have a half-life.

- Jeans (but I try not to have more than 2 pairs that are the same). I have two pairs of bootcuts and two pairs of straight-cuts that are exactly the same. I have 2 pairs of wide-legs in the same cut, one black and one denim. The rest are skinnies but in different cuts and fabrics.

- Cashmere cardigan sweaters, in a shawl-collar thigh-length cut, one black and one gray.

- Slim princess heel boots, one black and one plum suede.

Think that's it. Maybe some of my Eileen Fisher linen dresses are the same cuts, but different colors.

There's no shame in duplicating your best basics!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like to purchase the same thing in the same colour - like white shirts and black turtlenecks.

rute

Veteran

I'm guilty too!
When I love the fit of a pair of Jeans or top, I purchase in different colors. I do that with basics a lot!

Elly

Veteran

I occasionally duplicate Ts, jeans, and workout gear.

I've also occasionally regretted this. Like Angie, sometimes I find I wear one color more, or one color wears better. Sometimes I end up not loving the item, finding the quality declines after a few wears and now I have two, or feel like I am wearing the same thing everyday, even if it is not the same color.

I find I don't mind having two pairs of the same bootcut jeans, but only if I have a pair of skinnies or a different style to wear for variety. Otherwise, I am essentially wearing the same jeans 6 days a week.

I've sometimes wished that I had two of my favorite items. I could definitely find ways to wear the same black layering type top within a week, but rarely do laundry mid-week.

I find I duplicate because I am hard to fit, but I think I would probably be happier waiting for another item so I don't feel bored and can wear an item out before I tire of it.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Oh, man. I think I've got more doubles than not. Sometimes it will even be triples. I don't have many identical items -- i.e. same cut AND colour -- but many, many duplicates in two or three different colours. I almost never regret buying a duplicate. Usually I do this when I love the item so much that I'm wearing it to death, and I'll go back about a month after getting the first one and I'll buy it in a different colour. Or, sometimes, the item will only be offered in one colour, but the next season they'll offer it again in a different colour, so I'll buy a second one.

I rarely buy duplicates at the same time, unless it's camisoles, socks or tights.

Irene

(website)

OMG. I did that a lot five or six years ago, I call it "twice age". I bought two pairs of pants in different colours, 2 or 3 tees, shoes, etc. It war very wrong for me, because I like changes a lot, but with doubles I felt as if I stay in the same clothes, even though in different colours.
Now, I try do not buy doubles, unless I really need it.