Do you have clothes in your wardrobe right now for these events?

[2026IsMyYear]

I'm always struck by posts from people who don't seem to have a range of clothes to carry them through a variety of life events. I get that people dress mostly for the day to day stuff but i always assumed that you also had other, lesser worn perhaps, clothes in the wardrobe to be used as needed.

I reckon i could dress for most eventualities if pushed

With no notice could you dress for:

1. A funeral

1. A formal work presentation / meeting

1. A party in a fancy bar or similar

1. Dinner & drinks where its dressier than jeans

1. A gig

1. A walk in the countryside / forest etc

1. A date where you'd like to impress / make an effort

1. Regular work from home or office day that's not pjs or gym gear

I'm curious - i don't have gym gear & or wellies & i need new walking shoes / boots as mine are old & worn out.

These are my gaps but i could dress for the rest in the morning if i had to.

A black dress that you dress up or down covers 6 of those

Definitely!

And, as a self-confessed shoes addict, I cannot get my head around “My biggest issue is shoes, however - I have smart high heeled ankle boots, army surplus combat boots, very cheap black flats, and cheap trainers, and that's it”.

In the last couple of years I severely culled my collection of footwear, but I probably still have around 50+. Mostly trainers, ballet flats and comfortable, low-heeled boots these days, but still way more than I ‘need’.

As for clothes, the only ones I’d struggle with are a ball-gown/black tie and - possibly - something suitable for a VERY smart wedding. Neither of which I’m likely to need at this stage of my life.

I think this absolutely has to be cultural.

What about funerals of your parents friends, aunts & uncles, grandparents, siblings parents-in-law, close friends parents or siblings, neighbours, work colleagues, people in hobby groups etc

I've attended many many funerals in my 50 years.

What about funerals of your parents friends, aunts & uncles, grandparents, siblings parents-in-law, close friends parents or siblings, neighbours, work colleagues, people in hobby groups etc
I've attended many many funerals in my 50 years.

I havent been to many funerals and Im 60.
Parents, siblings and uncle still alive.
None of my friends have died and I dont know my neighbours.

The funerals I have been to are my grandparents and that was about 30 years ago, a child hood friend and he died 38 years ago.
A colleague who died in service and I wasnt particularly close to him ( 11 years ago)
I went to my sons friend's funeral 8 years ago and we were asked to wear non expected funeral clothes.
Apart from that there's been a couple of Dh elderly aunties that I didn't really know.
I have quite a few friends and are age rage is 41 to 72 and we see each other regularly. I have a few hobby groups that I meet up with so its not like im isolated and dont know anyone!

I have been to a lot of funerals. Family, friends, neighbours, colleagues.

I have a quite a big family if you include in-laws, friends from all age groups and live in a small community where everybody knows everybody else.

Funeral: I could now, but I was lucky enough to go through my entire 20s and early 30s without attending a funeral, so back then I couldn’t.

Meeting: I don’t work in an office environment, but I could probably cobble something together (probably the same stuff I’d be wearing for funerals!)

Fancy bar: most of my clothes fall either side of this ie too formal (black tie) or too casual. But I’d get by.

Fancy dinner: yes

Gig: no idea what one wears to a gig these days haven’t been to one for decades!

walk: yes

date: yes

wfh: yes

I’m rural and it blows my mind that you can get through life without a pair of Le Chameaus! I’m in them every day at the moment.

Yes.

i actually don’t have a huge amount of clothes but fill any gaps as they come up. I do have family on different continents and like doing different activities, so that’s part of it.

Fair play, I took this generalisation from police reports when they ask witnesses for what people were wearing, it’s very low on accuracy. If there is something distinctive about the item it’ll be remembered- but other than that it’s often just colour.

i guess if you have a particular interest in fashion then it’s different

Funeral - Smart black trousers (Hobbs or M & S) or black Reiss skirt, white shirt or black polo neck, Black Hobbs blazer. Black suede boots (I have ankle or knee length). If it was winter I would add my navy wool Max Mara coat.

Work Presentation - Most of my clothes are smart work wear. I'd probably go for something very similar to the above but with a coloured fitted top. Or I might choose my burgundy wool/silk mix Max Mara dress with a nice belt.

Party in fancy bar - One of my All Saints dresses but maybe with a blazer rather than a leather jacket and probably block heel shoes rather than boots.

Dinner & Drinks - how dressy? I have a burgundy Ralph Lauren long dress or a Sandro sleeveless ribbed green dress or a floaty black & green All Saints dress. Or maybe black slim fit trousers and a green Sandro top or black sparkly Whistles top

Gig - this is my comfort zone - black jeans & All Saints peplum top or t shirt or lacy black top with black leather jacket or Black and red All Saints dress with leather jacket again. I've also been to a gig wearing black jeans, long sleeved green fitted ribbed top with a slight sheen from Sainsburys and a black blazer.

Country walk - Black/brown check Sainsburys trousers, t shirt, Ralph Lauren cream fluffy jumper, Barbour coat, old boots.

Date - Floaty silk Paige dress with a jacket or black mini skirt, coloured fitted top (I have a couple of jewel colour ones, some with a shimmer). I dress it up with heels or down with boots

Work from Home - During lockdown I tended to default to black trousers or jeans and ribbed top/t shirt/long sleeved t shirt (mostly from Uniqglo) or a ribbed jumper eg Ralph Lauren or Tommy HIlfiger on colder days

It’s situational rather than cultural.

My parents didn’t have any close friends - I certainly didn’t know them.

I left my home town when I was in my late teens and never went back other than for brief visits.

3 of my grandparents were already dead when I was born. I was living abroad when other relatives died, and I barely knew most of them anyway. My brother didn’t want a funeral.

None of the rest apply. Either never met them or none of them died.The one funeral that was really tough was the son of friends, due to the circumstances.

Depends on the time of year. I have a smart knit jumpers and wool trousers that could probably do most of those events so in the winter it would be ok but summer blouses and dresses don't feature in my wardrobe at all.

For most of those unless I was very close to them I would not be given the time off work. Dh is a teacher and certainly would not have been given the time off.

The last funeral I attended was a tough one, the son of my cousin in very difficult circumstances too. But I didn't wear black, I wore a football shirt.

Speaking of witness observation, when I was about ten my friends and I were walking home from school and a man stopped his car and asked for directions to the nearest public toilets. I was so un observant that I didn’t even notice he had no trousers or pants on. The police were most unimpressed when they came to the house for info!

Funeral, work, dinner, & date can all be the same dress just with different accessories. My walk in the forest clothes are pretty much the same as work from home clothes, but I do have a box of more serious mountain and running stuff

Also, this thread has reminded me of the two biggest gaps I have in my wardrobe:
A perfect little black dress (I got too fat for my VW one that served me well for many years) and a black midi length tube skirt (Whistles used to be brilliant for these).

Yes, I could dress for all those occasions.

But, I’m the same size I have always been since a teenager and I love clothes so tend to keep everything. I rarely throw anything away other than old T-shirts etc.

So I have over 20 years of clothes, shoes, bags collection.

I think if someone’s weight has changed dramatically over the years then having an outfit for any occasion would be challenging.

1. A funeral: yes
2. A formal work presentation / meeting : yes. Although I’ve lost quite a bit of weight but I’m holding off buying new blazers because I’m still loosing weight…
3. A party in a fancy bar or similar: yes.
4. Dinner & drinks where its dressier than jeans: yes.
5. A gig: yes.
6. A walk in the countryside / forest etc. Yes. But I currently don’t own any hiking boots, which I have been trying to remedy (but my feet are tricky so it’s been a process).
7. A date where you'd like to impress / make an effort: sure.
8. Regular work from home or office day that's not pjs or gym gear: lots of business casual for the office, yes. Gym gear (for going actually to the gym) as well…

In other words: yes / sort of. But I need new hiking boots and a light rain jacket that can be packed up easily.

I’m the opposite to this! My size has fluctuated slightly over the years thanks to pregnancies etc but my main problem is I never keep hold of stuff. I’m limited on space and have a brutal wardrobe clear-out every few months. Definitely regret some of the clothes I’ve got rid of, as things start coming back into fashion!

Fair play, I took this generalisation from police reports when they ask witnesses for what people were wearing, it’s very low on accuracy. If there is something distinctive about the item it’ll be remembered- but other than that it’s often just colour.
The first time i expierenced a child who went missing( on purpose) on my shift I had no idea what she had on! She had breakfast as normal and then 'went missing from home' ( children's residential) The police asked for a full description and I felt such a fool that all I could think of was black leggings and Nike trainers! My manager commented that you'll never forget in future. After that i automatically remembered what a child was wearing when I last saw them.
Apart from that I havent a clue what anyone wore at the last family event I went to. Someone could wear the same dress for the next 10 occasions and as long as it wasnt particularly flamboyant I wouldnt notice ( or care)

I could but I do like to treat myself to new clothes so for a fancy date or a party I would probably buy something.

I'd say most of this was normal! But will admit I regularly buy new stuff if going on a special night out, just because I like to.

A funeral - Yes because I've been to 3 in the past year, including my mums but there's always a smart black dress or two in my wardrobe.

A formal work presentation / meeting - Yes because I do this regularly and dress quite formally for work because I like it

A party in a fancy bar or similar - Yep, again I go to a few fancy work events in a year

Dinner & drinks where its dressier than jeans - Same as above, but also me and DH go out a lot.

A gig - Yes, easy

A walk in the countryside / forest etc - Yes, do this every weekend

A date where you'd like to impress / make an effort - Yes as a lot of 3 and 4 would fit this

Regular work from home or office day that's not pjs or gym gear - Yes, wearing it now, jeans and a nice jumper. Never ever wearing anything slobby for work from home as I think it gives the wrong mindset and I have unexpected calls. Office, I dress up, I like the opportunity to wear something smart.

I lack formal clothes as I rarely have need for them. I work in childcare so don’t need anything smart for that! I rarely go out anywhere fancy so would have to buy something if the occasion occurred one day. Most of the time black trousers and a nice top do the job for going out.

I could dress for all of the occasions you listed, but perhaps not with the number of options/particular look I'd like. I lost a significant amount of weight (11 stone) and am slowly rebuilding my wardrobe having lost the one I'd carefully curate dover a period of more than 10 years - including shoes, as my feet have shrunk!

That's a frightening situation! I hope that girl turned up safe & sound.

As i said, i'm very observant in general. I also have a very good memory. I notice lots of details about places, interiors, people, convesations, food, drinks etc and what people wear is just one element.

I don't actually care what anyone else wears, i don't judge unless its utterly inappropriate for the sutuation (which is really rare). But i do notice.

I thinm most people don't including my dh, although intetestingly he is getting better & has surprised me with remembering what i wore to a dinner or event.

I think good observation & memory are very useful skills to have.