Such fascinating replies! It is so interesting to see the differences between what different individuals consider essential. In posts about capsule wardrobes/all-season lean wardrobes people often appear to consider only 2 or 3 dresses sufficient, whereas when I asked my sister the above question, she had a whole list of different sorts of dresses adding up to 18... (which seems reasonable to me!) but only 2 pairs of jeans and zero pairs of any other kind of trousers. I have dramatically (seriously dramatically!) cut down my wardrobe but despite not even liking jeans very much, I can't quite think how I could manage with fewer than 5 pairs.
Elly, I so admire your list. I think you have just inspired me to keep a record of everything I wear in the next year, for fun.
Rachylou, I am so with you on variety being needed for a very varied life. Mine is similarly varied so I too can't imagine managing with a super tiny wardrobe. I also like to dress differently depending on my mood. Perhaps I'm still at the childhood dressing up stage! But part of it is also different needs for different countries, climates, cultures etc. (I'm good at coming up with justifications!)
I mentioned the one-in-one-out rule in order to allow for some turnover over the course of the year, because, well, if one is interested in fashion there is bound to be *something* one wants to buy here or there in the course of the year. The question is not 'what would you need if you could never buy anything again?', but more of a general question about the number of items you could live with as a comfortable (not bored) minimum. I fear mine is still at the top end -- I'd guess nearer 200 than 100 -- but I haven't actually established my minimum yet. I will let you know when I have. Who knows, perhaps it might be fewer items than I am guessing!
Anne, to answer your question, avoiding boredom is very important to me. I really enjoy putting outfits together and generally having fun with fashion, and I tend to wear layered looks unless I'm wearing a particularly interesting (to me) dress, so the number of items seems to add up rather.
I think if I were going to Vienna for a year (how wonderful!) I would make a serious effort to cut down to 100 items. In fact, when I think about it in that way -- if it were a trip -- my preference for extremely minimal packing comes out and it suddenly seems like a good idea to limit myself to one large suitcase and one 20" hand luggage case. I wonder how many items one could fit in those? Probably fewer than 100, I should think. One friend of mine is so obsessively minimal that he prefers not to own more ANYTHING than he can fit in one large suitcase plus hand luggage -- not just clothes! I've always admired his austerity... from a distance! Almost every item of clothing he owns is designer though. Thinking about him and his strictly limited but high quality wardrobe has been quite inspiring when it comes to deciding what to donate.
