If you took a guesstimate at how many items of clothes you owned, what would the answer be?

[Hopefully]

Mine is 60 garments though.

I'm over-thinking this, aren't I?

< thud > justread, I'm not a jealous person at ALL but I have total and absolute wardrobe envy after reading your post!!

Hundreds of things! I see no joy in wearing the same thing week in week out and couldn't stick with a capsule wardrobe. I have clothes going back to uni days (and even then I was a bit of a collector) and have remained pretty much the same size. I don't tend to buy into fads so if I like something and it suits me, I keep it. This week I have resurrected two dresses that I haven't worn in a few years so I disagree with those who say you should chuck stuff out if you've not worn it in 6 months etc.

justread- I have serious wardrobe envy too!

Tell you what..get down to Marie Curie cancer shops near you. I lost a load of weight over last 18 months due to illness. Had to get rid of clothes and then find replacements. Due to divorce etc had (still do) had no dosh..these shops (and others like them) save my bacon form and, often, for my teenage kids (I don't tell them)

Around 500 ish - would have to go and check.

If covering socks/pants/bras/shoes etc would be closer to 1000
Bit intrigued now - will check in the morning when I can get to wardrobes in dc's rooms
I am obessive though and know this is too many

It is years of collecting.

Years.

Hhmm don't know. I do an annual charity cull else it would be well out of control. We had a wardrobe custom built in our bedroom, spent ages with the design team sorting out the scarf rack, pull out shoe rack, height of racks etc then dh decided to nick half the space when it was built. Grr. So 2 years later we turned the bedroom next door to ours into a dressing room and had that custom built etc. That's bursting at the seams (dh has annoyingly nicked a little bit of that space). I have just culled all my maternity and post maternity wear into boxes for the loft to try and make room.

My GOD the CLOTHES you all own!!!

I have-

1 pair good jeans
1 pair dog walking jeans
2 pairs trousers
3 t shirts
2 long sleeved tshirt
4 jumpers
1 dress which is too big
1 cardigan
1 coat

However i have been losing weight so am reluctant to buy much since it'll be too big before I know it, so you can put the violins away

JustRead your wardrobe post just oozes quality and care and love for the things you wear.
And even the stuff you don't wear deserves beautiful adjectives like ephemera and flim flam.

Sigh. I think I have some work to do on my relationship with my clothes! I have things I like or feel nice in, but nothing that would stand up to that praise!

Ooh god it's hard to remember when you get asked! Maybe:

2 x Winter jackets
8 x Jeans
4 x Trousers
6 x dresses
4 x shorts
2 x skirts
25 x tops
3 x leggings
4 x jumpers
1 x tank top
4 x cardigans
2 x hoodies

So like 65... but probably is more. OH says I have too many!

My wardrobe is quite full but I'm terrible at discarding things so some doesn't get worn, and also clothes purgatory spaces. This is working through what I wear, I know I'll miss stuff.

Ts and tops- about ten, some need replacing

Jumpers- Sandro knit and cardigan, Stella M oversize knit, Burch cashmere, raspberry cashmere, Theory cardigan with yellow trim, Birger blush angora, APC apricot v neck.

Dresses - Ce Me black, Lanvin black, p&j red, Stella M blush, Halston red silk and cashmere, Sandro dark floral with white collar. Various others would have to look at wardrobe.

Jeans etc - indigo Avedon, Stella m grey, CE floral skinnies, MiH Paris in storm, Bruno burgundy and CE yellow but too big now. Acne pale pink chinos.

Shirts- one white one and all v old ones from work days

Skirts - red Sandro floral and ecru mini, Wang stretch mini-ish

Shoes- Lanvin wedge, pistol, Marant heel, Kors heels x2, APC chestnut boot, Chloe ankle and Bruno ankle boot rarely worn, MJ black boots back in action, Lanvin flats relegated will be replaced.

Tights- Wolford x 6

Scarf- wool 2, Stella acne silk- 1 liberty rarely worn

Hats- one cashmere beret Johnson

Coats- 4 Stella m green, see by c navy, p&j trench, Bruno off white longish pea coat, Ralph Lauren wool cape with leather

Bags - Celine orange mini and large slouchy pale duck egg blue Leonello Borghi one from Liberty

Main wardrobe that gets worn. Loads of other stuff floating in shelves I'd have to check. I have a few of each thing but some spots where I don't have that much. Scarves and shirts are ok as don't wear them, but skirts could do with more. Also very work light.

A very rough guesstimate
3 coats, 5 cardigans, 1 hoody, 30 tops, 8 jeans, 4 skirts, 4 shorts, 6 dresses, 12shoes... So about 73 items.. Of the top of my head.

Love this thread. Have packed summer stuff away, but everyday winter clothing not inlcuding coats, shoes, evening dresses/cocktail (which I never get the chance to wear!), or gym wear is abut 45 items -I cull regularly and would love a capsule wardrobe. Is 45 items for everyday wear too much for a capsule winter wardrobe?

I do like and wear everything in the wardrobe though.

Lol Rarely.

I love justread's too.

Really interesting, especially the different relationships with our wardrobes that we all have, which is so clear in the way everyone writes about them.

Also fascinating that a few of you have more of a 'collection' of clothes than a wardrobe of stuff you throw on. I am reasonably young(ish), and I hope to have more stuff in my wardrobe in 5-10-15 years, because I hope that some of my 'investment' (cringe) stuff will last that long, especially things like a jacket I am having made and the leather leggings I have finally committed to. Although it is really hard to find amazing quality fabrics any more, even in quite £££ brands.

I think a lot of us are still in that PG/BFing/gaining/losing weight still, which I suppose artificially multiplies the amount of stuff too.

Reading this thread so far has kept me very happy while slowly frying a pan full of onions for onion tart, so thank you

Mrsdevere!! Me too - I was too embarrassed to admit it! I didn't have clothes as a child - I mean, really, I'd have one or two things that were too small, and I know the smelled because I used to try to sponge bits of them because I literally had nothing else, actually I'm just realising how awful that was - I always make sure ds's have enough clothes that fit them!. I used to take clothes fom my school's lost property so that I'd have a tshirt for non-uniform day . I too keep 'just in case'!! I'm good with DSs, I somehow trust that they will always have clothes, but for me I just can't relax about it! This makes me sound like a loon :) I'm not, I'm happy with a fab dh and gorgeous boys - but oh dear me the inability to throw clothes away! I'm much better than I was though, I have 3 bin liners in the loft of 'just in case' clothes... It's been 4 times that at points during my life

Yes - I'm exactly the same! My kids' clothes are generally second hand but they're NICE, they're made of natural fibres and they fit well. Everything is organised and nicely stored as you say - it's a complete reversal of my own experience! And my dh and exdp (their dad, we're still very close) are always telling me off for buying just a FEW too many shirts/ties etc. but I know they can ALWAYS find a clean one

I think putting things on ebay is a fantastic idea - the paypal would make me feel secure too. I actually do do it occasionally but I find it takes a lot of time and that's something I'm woefully short of - I WILL get better though - it would be so NICE to have more space :) I have a pair of boots on there at the moment, which is a start.

See, I love threads like this - these things can be REALLY important to people, not silly at all :)

Not really MrsDeVere, not much anyway, I'm 40. And I make that same joke!! Wow, this thread has been like a counselling session - I don't feel alone in my lunacy any more (sorry, I'm being flippant) :)

But oh my gosh can I just say 'wow', I'm EXACTLY the same - any anxiety and THUD, that's the parcels coming through the door - even the postman comments on it! And you've articulated my fears perfectly - I just can't trust that I won't end up with nothing to wear again, and it seems like such a silly fear because as you say, clothes are cheap and easily obtainable, and it's so much easier to buy second hand now too. And the bargain buying - I still buy mainly through ebay or charity/vintage shops or sales... I cannot pay full price for anything - unfortunately this doesn't help with the accumulation of stuff because at least if I WAS buying new and full price I'd HAVE to stop at a few pieces!

I am getting slowly better though, as you say, with age. I'm starting to relish the order and space that comes from trying to control my fears. I'm quite stressed at the moment though with work and an MA i'm doing so it's slipping a bit - more ebaying for me in the Christmas holidays :)

Thanks for sharing - I feel so much better :)

Absolutely no idea
I know I have 76 handbags and 27 vest tops because I just counted them for this thread. Not including horse riding gear because I have 59 Joules tops....
Maybe 500?

Don't you think it also depends on your lifestyle and your personal style? ? If you are a SAHM and a casual dresser,you can probably wear jeans and tops or tunics or dresses all week

OTOH if you work in a formal office, you need at least 5 work outfits plus a wool coat for winter commuting and a mack for summer. Plus probably a couple of jackets or blazers.

I don't go to many formal functions or parties so I only have one long dress and two cocktail dresses. But if you go to lots of these you need more . Or you need to hire them.

And if you have just lost/gained weight or are pg or bf your wardrobe might be much more limited than at other times.

So I don't think you can specify and ideal number , or say What is too many or too few. Some of us prefer a capsule wardrobe of more expensive items while others like variety or get bored easily and prefer cheap and cheerful

If you are a classic dresser you probably keep clothes for years. Those who are more directional probably only wear things for one season