This is such a useful exercise. My wardrobe is based on 10 items in 16 catagories, at least in theory. I'm a little over in most and a lot over in a few. I'm having a pretty high turnover year so far, so I expect some decreases this year. I refine this each year and will likely add a few more catagories. My replacement rate is about 10 pieces x 3 seasons (5 statement, 5 essentials) My current breakdown is

under layers- 15
tees s/s- 11
blouses s/s- 18
tops f/w- 9
sweaters light- 11
sweaters thick- 12
sweatshirts- 7
sweatshirt jacket- 8
leggings and sweats- 18
jeans- 14
trousers- 9
skirts and dresses- 10
jackets- 15
overcoats and puffers- 8
shoes- 13
boots- 11
Based on these numbers, I will likely split s/s tops into casual and dressy, split jackets and vests, and split leggings and sweats.

Shedev -- I like the idea of just saying I am going to have "10" items in each category. Simplistic. Do you find that some categories get worn much more than others or is wear evenly distributed?

My replacement rate is about 10 pieces x 3 seasons (5 statement, 5 essentials). I take this to mean that you buy 30 new pieces per year, fifteen of which are statement pieces and fifteen of which are essentials. That system seems perfect too. You have simplified everything!!!!!!

I would love to be able to make your system work for me. I think I could easily adapt it for casual/athletic wear. Work stymies me though.

This is a great post, very analytical. I am going to take a look at that app for sure. The hardest part for me I think would be determining the number I need. I suppose you got a better idea of that after tracking for 3 years. And what if your tastes change? Like you wear a lot of jackets and not as many cardigans, what if five years from now that is the opposite? Would your wardrobe be all out of whack or do you think that would have gradually adjusted? Such an interesting exercise.

OMG this is wardrobe analytic's heaven, not else, I so would like to get my numbers right too, but never had the time and perseverance to do it:-((. But I need to munch on it at a point in my life later, for sure:-).

*APPLAUSE*

WELL DONE, Anchie.

This has been a very interesting read and I decided to add my numbers to the mix.

dresses 8
tunics 20
button up shirts 20
vests 6
toppers 18
layering tops 18
pants 13
shoes 24
sporty outerwear 4
dressy outerwear 4

I purchased 50 + items this year and with all of the options I have, will probably need less for the coming year. I have been tracking wears and plan to base further purchases on those numbers. I know I have more tops that I like than I need, I would like to update pants and shoes, I am not wearing the vests much although I like them, and I feel OK about the outerwear and dress options I currently have. This has been an enlightening exercise.

Oh I love number posts and crunch numbers all the time on my blog, especially when I have a wardrobe challenge check-in post. Thanks for sharing your wardrobe totals!

Right, have added up my numbers. Not what I feel I need- feel I still have too many. It is getting colder gradually and may purge a couple of more summery things yet, but not many.
Anchie, you asked if I track wears as well. Yes I do, but not for as long, just for 11 months so far, May 2016. That has helped a lot. It helped me get rid of a couple of skirts. I've found I hardly ever wear my skirts.
The categories I've done here say summer and winter. But winter also covers autumn and spring, so it should be bigger. However summer is my favourite season and that's why I got out of control there and was able to fast for 3.5 months our whole last summer season. Our winter is not cold- no snow where I live. It can be very wet though so feels cold to me.

Layering tops or layering Ts: summer 3, winter 10
Singlets ( similar to camisoles but more covering): summer 7
Soft tops/aka blouses I guess: summer 9, winter 8
T-shirts for wearing alone not layering: summer 2
Shirts aka button-downs( we don't call them that here): winter 3
Tunics: summer 7, winter 14
Dresses: summer 10, winter 4
Vests/waistcoats/gilets: summer 2, winter 4
Jumpers aka sweaters and cardigans: summer 5, winter 10
Jackets: summer 7, winter 6.
Coats: Winter 3
Total so far for top half including dresses and "toppers" ( we don't use that term either): 105.

Skirts: summer 4, winter 5
Shorts: summer 2
Pants: summer 6, winter 9
Jeans: all year 4
Total bottoms 30, total clothing without shoes 135.

Shoes: summer 23, winter 29, total 52.
Total wardrobe 187 pieces. That doesn't include underwear, camis, PJs, swimwear or my old sentimental clothes kept separately.
I haven't included "gear" here as I wear very little. I have one old T-shirt and one pair of cropped leggings I would wear for the gym or Pilates if I ever went, which I prettty much don't. My main form of exercise is walking and I just wear comfy trousers and walking shoes for that, or occasionally the aforementioned old tee and leggings.
I'm still trying to wear everything at least 20 times and get the CPW down to under $ 5. I have done much better on my summer clothing for that with the fast and may be happier to purge some soon eg a soft brightly coloured top I have loved but bought in early 2011, still in excellent condition, I'm just over it. Over 6 years of frequent wear.
I may also reply on a different thread about how long to your clothes last. I know pretty much what year everything was bought since 2008 and most of it is since then.
Thanks for the idea Anchie! Happy Easter. Jenni

Bumping. Relevant to Jenn's thread on #30 wears.

This is interesting. Thanks for posting.

This is a great exercise to do. I did it last year with my closet and it really helped to look at my closet with realism. Even though you can never say exactly how long a thing will last (laundry mishaps, anyone?), the fact of knowing what you have and what you actually use helps you to know what you need. Otherwise, I think shopping can easily kick in as a quick compensation when we're hiding bigger problems, or get kicked out as something superfluous. Keeping tabs on ourselves helps us manage our habits with reason.