If you have a minimalist/capsule wardrobe roughly how many clothes do you have?

[Jerri907]

To put it simply, I have too many clothes, and most of them I never wear. I was sorting through my wardrobe yesterday and actually was thinking that having lots of clothes is stressing me out! I know it sounds like a first world problem.

I am going to have a big clear out of everything I never wear and just have a very minimal wardrobe, but how many clothes is not enough? Do I buy, for example, one pair of really good denim shorts that I love and wear and wear them again this summer? Or do I need more pairs.

I work in an office where we can wear casual clothing so I just wear skinny jeans and a jumper or shirt each day, so no need for anything dressy really.

I always consider value per use when buying clothes - i love classic pieces that you wear with everything, I always imagine outfits for a piece before I buy it - if I can't imagine 2 or more, I don't buy it no matter how nice it is, because it's got no per wear value so would be over priced if that makes sense?

Also whenever I have a clear out, I'm brutal! If I can't remember when I last wore it, it's gone.

In answer to your question - find one pair of denim shorts you love and that would suit lots of other clothes in your wardrobe. Easily done with something like that, too. Same with a denim jacket, a leather jacket, a good pair of smart jeans, black jeans.

The trick is to have a balance of pattern and texture too. You want bold, simple pieces that can mix with everything, then you want some patterned more unique pieces that act as highlights and interest. Again, consider which go with which and use value.

Example
Considering a smart patterned top - would it go with both blue and black jeans? Would it look good tucked in and loose? Would it look good with a statement necklace and without? Could I tuck it into a skirt? Do I have a blazer that matches? Or a coat? Or a cardigan?

The more "yes" answers, the better but the top would be.

Thanks so much for your reply @sirmione16

I definitely need to learn to be more brutal when I clear out my wardrobe! I do have a tendency to hold onto things that I 'might wear on holiday'.

The fewer clothes you have the quicker you'll wear them out. Midlifechic did a sensible series about capsule wardrobes in January. It's probably worth thinking about why you don't wear some clothes and if there's another basic item that would make you wear them.

Have a Google for project 333 and unfancy lots of good ideas around

I have lots of dresses and coats/jackets but only a few each of t-shirts, shirts, cardigans, trousers and skirts (and no jeans at all).

Pretty much everything goes together (but no two pieces look too similar either). I try to stick to colours that suit me and my skin tone and hair/eye colour. I try to buy things that will wash and wear well and that won't get creased too easily. Also, if items don't suit my figure I won't buy them - no matter how much I like them.