How many clothes is too many? How many clothes is enough?

[Pangolin44]

I often find myself considering this question. I've got what I consider to be a 'fair amount' of clothes, I do love clothes, but I'm pretty disciplined about jettisoning things that don't really work for me, so there's a good bit of natural churn that goes on.

I actually feel quite stressed when I have too many clothes as I forget what I've got, and I do like to wear all my clothes, and then I'll read about capsule wardrobes and it all sounds very serene and organised, but then I'll think about the implications of that and I'd find it very limiting. I lull myself to sleep thinking about outfit combinations it's very soothing!

I don't think I ever wear the same outfit more than twice, each individual item yes, but in different ways.

There's no real point to this thread, I'm just interested to hear other people's approach to their wardrobe. I just fancy a bit of wardrobe chat!

I love clothes & shopping so a capsule wardrobe doesn’t appeal to me!!

I would like more wardrobe space so I can see what I have / store things in a more organised fashion though (old house with pokey built in cupboards)

Like you I am ruthless about getting rid of stuff I don’t like or doesn’t quite work.

I love watching the Trinny videos on YouTube- her wardrobe is insane!

I feel like I have too many at the moment, including new things I hung up and haven't worn. It makes me feel disorganised. I'm definitely going to sort out and have a cull this weekend. I might join that low/no buy thread in here after that!

Both wardrobes are too full and I've given a couple of cardigans away to make space on my 'knits shelves. I have another cupboard which houses gym and exercise clothes, overspill jersey tops, and then chest of drawers with sundries. I only have one pair of jeans (new and unworn, though I plan to try them) as I prefer skirts and dresses.

[quote Pangolin44]@EmmaH2022 it was flared jeans, a Dodo Bar Or polo top, Chloe stack heel boots, a Loewe hammock bag, a Sezanne trench and a pair of Chloe octagon sunglasses. My hair was in a loose low bun.[/quote]
Sounds good.

I totally understand how clothes can be a joy in the right circumstances.

I have just done a big clothes shop after about 10 years of "when I lose weight".

I didn't, so I no longer buy for an imagined future. I also seem to have accepted my lifestyle has changed over that period of time!

Apart from budget, I had to be realistic and say that I didn't want to do tons of laundry. I have bought a few sweaters, a few light tops (to be worn over T shirts/camis which I also just bought), two jackets, two pairs of jeans, two pairs lounge pants.

The jeans and lounge pants have always been well stocked but the old ones are very old!

For the first time, I understand why people organise by colour. Then I found myself being irritated by that because it feels like the item I want comes to hand last! So will maybe rearrange by garment type.

It's so nice having a wardrobe of clothes I actually wear. I wish I had done this before.

Could you go 12 months without buying anything other than underwear and still have enough clothes? Seems the test to me as to whether you have enough or too much.

I did one year about 12 years ago when I only bought, knickers, tights and one going out dress. Then I got to the end of the year and thought what was the point of that and that I’m not doing it again?

@balalake

Could you go 12 months without buying anything other than underwear and still have enough clothes? Seems the test to me as to whether you have enough or too much.

Definitely. Again, a lot depends on lifestyle. I hope not to buy anything for another decade now, lol.

But there's always something I want!

For example, I've embraced colour since finding out I'm Spring. So today for example, I wore a lovely apple green trench to work. Problem is, I have only worn it before for downtime with mid tone blue denim flares where it looked fresh but today wore it with a black jumpsuit. It looks dreadful with black - too contrasty and garish. So now I'm thinking in order to wear my colours, I need to find trousers and skirts in non black colours - maybe tan or grey or cream? Nearly all of my work basics are black. Then I think, ooh which shoes/boots and on it goes - clothes are like the magic porridge pot - I always have more to get which I know isn't very eco friendly in this age. I do love a charity bargain though

And I totally get the tights/no tights problem. All depends on putting fake tan on which I can't guarantee I will have done (notoriously lazy with fake tan!)

What I found life changing in terms of getting to grips with my clothes was getting a proper, fitted wardrobe. Suddenly I had enough space to hang all my clothes! (Not to mention my vast shoe collection... I have an issue with shoes .) Perversely, once it was all hanging neatly, I could see exactly which pieces were obsolete, not worthy of hanging space, or just yuck what was I thinking.

I'll stick to my (1) every-day-capsule, (2) special events and (3) charity-shop-finds approach to clothes. #1 and #2 ensure I waste zero time thinking "what am I going to wear", and #3 means I have some fun with clothes without spending a fortune - bright pink raincoat , psychedelic sundress , fake fur coat , classy Italian knee-length cardigan ...... Finding these treasures is half the fun!!

In terms of "always something to want", normally I hate shopping. This is possibly the first time in my adult life that I've bought a bunch of stuff and enjoyed it. In my 20s, I had a few times of trying stuff on that I couldn't afford...😂 but enjoyed trying the stuff on.

I have lunch with a friend tomorrow and I can guess he will be surprised to see me in an "outfit" though still a casual one.

@EmmaH2022
Ooh what are you wearing tomorrow for lunch?
I have an afternoon tea tomorrow in a fancy venue. Had an outfit all planned (purple knitted tube dress with matching long 70s style scarf, raspberry wool coat and burgundy suede boots) but will have to rethink as it’s going to be 16 degrees!

[quote JMAngel1]@EmmaH2022
Ooh what are you wearing tomorrow for lunch?
I have an afternoon tea tomorrow in a fancy venue. Had an outfit all planned (purple knitted tube dress with matching long 70s style scarf, raspberry wool coat and burgundy suede boots) but will have to rethink as it’s going to be 16 degrees![/quote]
Ooh I love an afternoon tea!

I'm nervous to say on here as everything gets criticised...

Not a posh place. Very dark teal top. Infinity scarf in a similar tone with some burgundy accents. There's a sun shaped silver pendant under the scarf - may not need the scarf but I am going a bit of a way so have to leave when it's still chilly out, plus we're going to walk in his local park after (it's a nice park, not like my local one).

Charcoal grey biker jacket - was amazed to find I'm not too fat to suit that look. Black trousers and black boots.

People who have seen me looking more put together at work have said "oh, are you out later tonight", lol. He's going to be a bit surprised because he loves fashion and I haven't been interested in it for years. He will do a lot of surprised "oh" I think. If his boyfriend comes to meet us, he's the type who will ask lots of "have you changed your look" questions.

I have enjoyed doing this wardrobe exercise but expecting it to be a one off project, or a once every few years project.

I had a rich boss who used to shop once every five years. She'd just pick a designer, go for the personal shopper and stock up. I always thought she looked terrific.

Sounds like a lovely outfit - teal and burgundy are gorgeous together.

'The Curated Wardrobe' book really helped me.

@JMAngel1 Trinny on YouTube has some really great videos on how to wear black & what colours to wear together. She rightly points out that a lot of colours are cheapened or diminished by being put with black & suggests alternatives. I wear a lot of hot pink & since watching her videos I realise it looks great with burgundy rather than black

Your absolutely right. My two favourite everyday trousers are burgundy and purplish-mauve. They go with just about every other colour.

kiteflying
I would love Trinny's walk in wardrobe.

I agree that black with bright colours looks harsh.

EmmaH
You can organise garments in categories and within those categories organise by colour. My tops, trousers, dresses and skirts are hung from light to dark. It makes choosing outfits so much easier.

@Pangolin44 I have a very similar attitude to you. I love clothes and see them as a hobby. I do wear all my clothes but over a long period of time. I love buying second hand designer bargains. And I do dress for an imaginary role, same as you

There's a thread about jackets and I got one similar to the khaki ones suggested, which makes me feel less out of touch

I wanted one of those in the 90s!

I have too many clothes OP and if I’m honest, it stresses me out but for some reason I NEED them all.

I can’t seem to part with that mustard coloured roll neck or that cropped lilac cardigan in case I want to wear them one day.

I would love a capsule wardrobe but I love colour! (I think if I was a neutrals girl it’s be easy) I think I have a jumper and T-shirt in every colour, it’s madness, I hate it. It’s overwhelming sometimes.

I have a huge fitted wardrobe in the main bedroom. 4 tall chest of drawers and another big fitted wardrobe in the spare room (and that’s not including my summer stuff stored under the beds!)

But I can’t bring myself to get rid of any of it. I have too many different styles (depending on my mood) and love all the colours!

Last week I nailed the 70s US West-coast investigate journalist look, I was very pleased with it! Today my theme was 80s avant-garde band manager.

This is me and why I have too many clothes. I’m like a girl playing dress up. Today I am 70s California surf girl in a pair of shorts and stripes halter top (I’m about to go out and do some gardening!) later I’ll be British lady of a historic mansion taking my dogs for a walk in my Barbour gillet and wellies, yesterday I was very Japanese art museum curator, in beige mules and a very Cos-like plain oversized sleeved dress and tomorrow, who knows.

Why am I like this?!

Ooh I just remembered a fave of mine recently. Hair half up, black ray bans, light wash Mum jeans, flat slouchy beige pixie type boots, hoop earrings and a oversized bright blue jumper! My twist on 80s ☺️

I have a double wardrobe for hanging short things (that's most of mine, I'm 5') with a couple of drawers underneath for the things I don't hang. Half of a single wardrobe for dresses. That's it.

Roughly 4 pairs of jeans, and all skinny so I need a new pair in a more current shape. A row and a half of t shirts/ short sleeve tops/ long sleeve tops/ jumpers. About 3 skirts and 4 dresses, mostly work for work. About 8 pairs of shoes incl one pair of trainers, 1 black ankle boots, 1 long black boots, 1 flip flops, 1 sandals, 1 work shoes. Mostly black, grey, blue. Tidy. Boring. Efficient. Out of date. A perfect representation of me.

I don't think I ever wear the same outfit more than twice, each individual item yes, but in different ways.

This and your comment about playing with your image sound very much like me. I could never be a minimalist, I think of clothes and accessories as my art form - and I'm probably much older than you, but have got more and more into it as I get older. Most of my clothes are second-hand so it doesn't break the bank, but I do feel a bit guilty sometimes about the number I've collected.

Last year I had a serious think about my style and decided to downsize a bit. My plan to do this had two main lines of attack - wearing literally everything I own once, and making a quick decision about how I felt in that item and whether I could really justify keeping it, and then sticking to 4 main looks and about 8 colours for anything new, not necessarily getting rid of everything that doesn't fit into those categories straight away.

I call my 4 main style personalities Retro Librarian, French Art Expert, Outdoorsy Hiker and Arty Hippy. I don't intend to take on any more.

So far one more colour has crept in, one that I am just very drawn to this year. I think I have bought 5 items altogether, 3 of them second-hand, and I don't intend to buy any more, although I might make something like a necklace to go with that collection. It is very different from my usual colour palette and this means that if I don't end up being permanently attracted to it, I won't have much to give away.

Do you feel different when you wear your four different looks soulinablackberrypie?