How many clothes?

[IsSpringSprangedYet]

Hi everyone, hope this is the best place for my question!

I was just looking at my mammoth pile of washing that I always seem to be trying to get through, and think I need to cull a lot of clothes - mine, DHs and the kids. We don't have much room either, so just a few items would be ideal, then upstairs would look so much tidier and I'd be able to find things easier if I had less to wash. I put a load of stuff away when I became to big for them when i was pregnancy and i'm thinking of sending it straight to the charity shop as I haven't missed any of it. I have a few bits I seem to live in at the moment.

So just out of interest, i have a couple of questions for you - how many items of clothes do you own? And for your kids too? Do you store out of season clothes (and how?) or do you get rid and buy ready for the summer/winter? And how do I begin to set up a realistic capsule wardrobe?

Sorry it's so long, and thank you!

I have a LOT of clothes, but wear the same bits most of the time. I find it so difficult to throw anything out, as I might wear it in the future or I will fit into it again when I lose weight! I did have a cull a few months back, but must do another one.
I do store Summer holiday things away and have a maternity bag of clothes that is stored away but I would say in my wardrobe I (very) easily have over a hundred pieces of clothing....I must take some to a charity shop....Same for hubby and DC to be honest!

Dh and i have a small wardrobe each. I have 30 hangers and hanging shelves for underwear. Underbed drawer for pjs and gym kit. I rotate based on season but never have more than 30 items in at a time. I have 4 year old twin boys. They have one large and one small drawer of a small chest of drawers folded konmarie style (horizontal). So 3/4 of each item.

Less is easier to manage, better value for kids as they tend to wear things out and washing is easy.

Good luck with the cull!

It is not easy to cull clothes.

But for adults it might be easier. I did a cull there a while ago on this basis.....

Going out clothes, six dresses, six lovely trousers, and six lovely tops.

Sorry.... a funeral outfit that is in an out of the way wardrobe. Grab and go, but I know it is always there. Possibly insensitive but you never know.

Personally I will always buy new for a wedding. Yee Haa.

I work fh so don't need corporate clothing but the going out clothes will serve the purpose if needed for a meeting or whatever.

DP the same, Six suits, six good shirts for work. And a funeral/wedding suit tie and shirt.

Then we have the lounging around stuff. Not too much but it works.

Shoes are the problem in this house have to say! But we are working on it.

I'm always tempted to get rid of everything and start again! I think it's probably easier than trying to cull. In my dream wardrobe I'd have a small capsule of good quality classic pieces, with a few seasonal/fashion bits on rotation. Maybe once I've had this baby I'll do it....

I don't have any dc so can't answer that bit. I imagine it'd be loads and loads of clothes though. I don't even have anyone to dress and I'm always seeing kids clothes that I'd buy.

For myself though, I had a clear out about 2-3 years ago as I realised I didn't like a lot of my clothes and was just keeping them because having a half empty wardrobe felt wrong. I now buy clothes much more carefully and only if, I'm totally happy with the fit, they make me feel good when wearing them and each item can be worn with something else I already own. There's a couple of things I've just bought because I loved them (pewter sequinned skirt...) but mainly my clothes are now all things that are worn regularly.

I don't store out of season clothes. I have a double pax wardrobe and a single pax so can divide things up into categories easily. Drawer for knitwear, drawer for t-shirts, for example.

I still don't have much compared to other people but like to think I'm now focused on quality rather than quantity. It's also all more cared for and looked after now compared to when I had loads.

Forgot DH, he has a wardrobe and chest of drawers. (My wardrobes are in a dressing room, his in the bedroom. Just in case anyone's imaging a room full of wardrobes.) Tends to go for the same outfits but had quite a bit. Think he's needs a clear out soon but it's not bad really. All organised and looked after.

3 pairs of trousers, 2 x shorts. 5 dresses, 1 skirt, 6 pairs of shoes. A couple of jumpers, 3 cardies and about 10 shirts/tops and undies and socks obviously. 1 wintercoat and 1 leader jacket. And clothes for sport.

all pretty monochrome so everything goes with everything. I keep it simple in purpose. I loathe owing lots of stuff. I am always puzzled by friends with huge wardrobes. Cannot image the decision making involved when getting dressed in the morning. I also clear out regularly and only buy if I need anything and for every new thing bought, something old needs to go.

I obviously only need to store the winter coat away (back of my wardrobe). I wear my mainly short sleeved dresses all year round but in winter with tights and cardies and in summer just the dress.

there is no need for a summer Vs winter wardrobe imo. many places are heated in winter and air conditioned in the summer (my office e.g. has the same indoor temperature all year round) and the weather isn't that extreme in the UK anyways.

Similar to chocolate, although I seem to have a billion coats.

Interesting to hear what other people have! And I like the one in, one out rule.

DH has more clothes than the return of us, and needs to do a major clear out. The kids have a little chest of drawers each and a wardrobe to share. I have two more chest of drawers for their spare school stuff, hoodies and pyjamas. It's all a mix up, mish mash of organisation and it's driving me mad. I'm the only one who seems to know where anything is.

So if I get cracking next week, maybe I'll be done in time for half term. I can just chill then.

I have half a double rail, a single rail and 4 30cm drawers full.

I can only comment on my own wardrobe (currently winter)
Probably have 6 pairs of jeans or jeggings in black or indigo
Around 6 pairs of other trousers ie leggings or work trousers
4 tube skirts
20 ish jumpers
10 ish cardigans
10 ish blouses
15 is dresses including sweater dresses
Must mix and match

chocolate I am seriously impressed!
I need a wardrobe cull too.
I do have separate winter/ summer wardrobe though as the seasonal changes are greater where I live and houses not as warm in winter as UK. I also enjoy the process of changing my wardrobe around in autumn and spring..
There are loads of things I don’t wear but they are lovely and I hate to throw out.

Luna, my system is pure laziness. It's only a slightly enhanced version of the Zuckerberg dressing mode. And I am tight and this saves lots of money. Clothes shopping isn't for everyone

I've recently done a huge clear out and kept:

6 pairs of jeans (had 20 or more but gave to charity)
2 trousers
1 tracksuit
2 tulle skirts
3 mini skirts
5 pencil skirts
5 ish tops/blouses to wear with the above
3 blazers
5 'good' dresses (weddings, parties etc)
5 everyday tops from Primark etc for wearing around the house
1 gilet
1 biker jacket
4 coats
Underwear etc drawer

I keep most in a box room in our house, hanging or shelved. I have another shelf of Summer clothes; Vest tops, shorts, skirts, white jeans, dresses, swim wear etc

I forgot about my jumpers
I think I have 7 or so

I think I have hundreds of items - and they’re not even that nice...

I'm half way through a traumatic wardrobe edit. I'm shocked at how many clothes I've accumulated. Need to shop more mindfully.

I have far too many clothes stashed away too!

I don't understand how you'll have less washing and ironing after a clear out though? Do you mean you'll wash the clothes more often or wear them for longer if you have fewer clothes?
I think the amount of washing will be the same (unfortunately).

I find that’s the only real advantage of having too many clothes - you can get away with not doing washing for months

I find that’s the only real advantage of having too many clothes - you can get away with not doing washing for months

I have DC and do a few loads a week anyways. so not an issue at all

To my shame, I’m actually seeing how long I can go without doing a load of washing so I can wear all my clothes at least once - then either take to charity chop or discard those I don’t really like that much, which are ‘worn’ or which don’t fit / are uncomfortable.

I've heard it said that if you haven't worn something for a year or more then throw it out. I always think I'll keep it just in case I change my mind though!

I must admit I've got clothes in the bottom of our washing basket that haven't been washed for ages even though I do a wash everyday.

OMG i am the worst for this, clothes seem to be my hobby (and shoes, and bags, and scarves, and jewellry to go with them all ) I have four double wardrobes and a single crammed with clothes, with shelves in each full too, I actually need a second home for all my stuff! resolved this year (after the sales ) to not buy anything unless I really really need it (ha) and resolved to use all my make up and toiletries, face stuff before buying any more too.

Good point ilostit. I guess I'll still have the same washing to do, I just won't have this back log of stuff to wash. I was thinking that as there would be less clothes, that I wouldn't have the machine running all the time.

Well, better get on with getting through it all.