How many clothes do you own? Come in for a wardrobe chat :)

[Marghe87]

Various lockdowns and being on maternity leave have really pushed me to do a massive wardrobe declutter and reconsider the way I shop. I used to buy a lot of Zara, HM etc and was never satisfied with my clothes. I have now changed my approach and prefer to buy less but higher quality. If I can’t afford full price, I shop second hand and, I must say, it’s very addictive! I feel like I have transformed my wardrobe in a year or so, with the majority of pieces coming from Vinted. I am now much happies with the stuff I own but still feel I have a long way to go.
How many clothes do you have in your wardrobe (ie: how many pf each category) and how do uou normally shop? Do you keep your clothes for years and do you look after them or do you have a more disposable approach?

Hmmm. I hadn’t thought about it before, but I think I have too many clothes.

The amount of sports clothes I have is a bit shameful, but I do a lot of exercise and I run, hike and bike. I sometimes use two outfits in a day or go on active holidays. I get through a lot changes of sports clothes in a week and most can only be worn once before needing washed if wet, muddy or sweaty.

I have:

10 pairs of sports leggings
10 dry-fit tshirts or vests
10 sports bras
2 pairs padded cycling leggings
2 pairs padded mountain bike shorts
3 pairs hiking trousers
3 pairs sports shorts
2 thermal running tops
4 hiking thermal tops
3 hiking jackets (different seasons)
1 running jacket
3 cycling jackets (one winter, one mountain bike, one hi-vis rain jacket)
1 pair bike shoes
2 pairs of trail runners
2 pairs hiking boots

The rest of my wardrobe isn’t much better, but I do send anything to charity that I won’t wear again and I try to buy classic/quality pieces I’ll wear for years.

I have:

20ish dresses for work/casual. Some are wintery, some summery and some can be worn in both seasons. If I’m not in sports clothes, I’m in a dress.
4 dresses for more formal occasions.

1 pair of jeans and 3 good quality tees (don’t wear jeans often).
2 pairs of formal work trousers,
2 pairs of casual work trousers
10ish work tops.
6 jumpers/hoodies
3 pairs of joggers for the house

6 pairs trainers
3 pairs boots
2 pairs sandals
3 pairs heels
3 pairs work shoes

Really interesting thread!

I have never counted, but I know I have far too many clothes. I’m not too bad for buying shoes or bags, but clothes are definitely my downfall. On the plus side this means I never have a problem finding an outfit for any event - I always have loads of possible options.

The downside is there just aren’t enough opportunities to wear all my clothes! I find that people dress increasingly casually these days. Particularly at work - since covid, everyone seems to dress down. I have so many nice work clothes and I’m only in the office 1-2 days per week now so really want to make use of them. The other day I wore a pencil skirt, blouse and heels for work and DH said I looked like I was going for an interview or board presentation. It would have been standard office wear pre pandemic but looks overly formal now.

That is a strong positive @turquoisebuttons always having something to wear for most types of events.

Yes! I honestly never struggle with “I have nothing to wear” issues. It’s always should I wear that one…or that one…or that one…or that one… 😆

If I never bought another piece of clothing I'd have enough for the rest of my life about 3 wardrobes full, I used to go out to work and generally go out a lot.

Everything has changed, I haven't bought clothing in a long time. None of it is cheap stuff.

Thanks for all the responses, I am reading them all with interest. I am fascinated to see how some can be perfectly satisfied with 10 items and others have 3 wardrobes full of stuff.
I am not a minimalist and intend to expand my “collection”, although I think I will continue to focus on having several basic pieces as those are the ones that make most every day outfits. The mistake I used to make was that I’d buy lots of prints and then had nothing to wear. Never invested in a good quality tshirt for example as I thought it was a waste of money whereas now I am the opposite!
😀

I have far too many clothes, always wear the same five or six outfits on rotation. I cleared out a load the other week and I still feel like I have too many!

Interesting point someone upthread made about not knowing how people manage at work with a limited wardrobe, then commented that men wearing the same thing to work all the time. I've taken this approach to my work wardrobe recently - I have a very limited number of work clothes and I wear them on repeat - not suits but nice dresses, some prints, cardigans. I've no idea if anyone notices - I suspect the other women might but the men don't! It's an inequality that women feel the need to wear different clothes while men don't.

Doorhost
Interesting point as I too notice that my male colleagues from junior to senior rotate the same two/three suits and nobody blinks an eye.

I hate the idea of wearing any item of clothing more than once in the same week. So much so, that I make a note of the date and my outfit each time I work in the office. If meeting with friends I always think back to what I last wore when I saw them. With me, it stems from having a very limited wardrobe as a teenager - one coat/jacket for all occasions and one pair of shoes for school and one for the weekend. A 'friend' commented on my lack of wardrobe age 13/14 and though over 30 years ago, I remember the shame all too clearly.

@Lovinglife45 kids are so mean! These things really do affect you for a long time, don’t they.

About fifteen trouser hangers and maybe 50 normal hangers. I don't have clothes for wearing in drawers, apart from underwear and PJs.

Interesting thread! I’m in the process of renewing my wardrobe post babies, after finding many of my old clothes no longer fit. I’m aiming to create a wardrobe of classic simple items where most things go together. I have purchased some neutral color tees, still looking for the perfect cardi to go with them.

My problem seems to be that I still have perfectly good items from 6+ years back that I just no longer like that much. I am now wondering how do I manage to buy clothes that I will still like severely years down the line? I mean, that would be the aim with buying god quality times, to wear them for years? I’m now mainly going for neutral single color items and natural fibers, hoping they won’t get old.

I’m now creating a collection of outfits which will be casual, yet make me feel well dressed and like I look nice. Things like black skinny jeans and a flattering tshirt in different colors. Still lacking a solution for when I go out for a drink or dinner. Need something that can be dressed up a bit for such occasions or a few going out items separately. Perhaps a dress. What I’m looking for basically are nice clothes that could be worn for any occasion. Currently sahm so no need for work clothes.

I am an environmentalist but I have accepted that I also love new things and novelty so a minimalistic wardrobe is never going to work for me! So I’ve embraced more of a circular fashion idea. Now I have a core of things that always look great and make me feel great in the permanent wardrobe then a sort of revolving door of charity shop and eBay purchases that I wear for a bit then donate. Keeps it interesting but I’m not buying new and things aren’t going to landfill.

I have an average sized wardrobe and a large chest of drawers. Wardrobe is always sorted so current season's clothes are on the right and those currently not being worn are on the left - more tightly packed in.

My wardrobe is 99% casual - even my dresses are pretty casual - jersey or jumper dresses. Over the last couple of years the number of jogging bottoms and hoodies has definitely grown - these are for sitting around at home rather than exercising - although I would also wear them for walking dog, popping to shop etc.

I have been working from home for two years but starting to return for the odd day/meeting now - so the balance of what I actually wear may change a bit . My work dress code is pretty casual anyway.

My shoe collection (mainly boots/trainers) and underwear drawer most definitely need a sort out/tidy.

Wardrobe and big chest of drawers here. Both stuffed. Am aware I need to resist buying anything until I genuinely need something ....

@User3568975431146 how do you manage on holiday or hot weather, two dresses two skirts and one top, I couldn't do it.