How many items of clothing is “normal”?

[youredeadtomesteven]

Hi all,
I’m drowning in clothing most of the time yet once washing is done and clothes are somewhat put away, I seem to just wear what I’ve just washed yet have seemingly mountains of clothes that I love but never seem to allow myself to wear.

I started thinking about getting it all onto the bed one weekend (from wardrobe, clothes rail, drawers and suitcases) and was discussing my idea with my DM who said I’d likely get overwhelmed with this and seemed shocked when I estimated that I likely had at least 50 items of each category (eg 50 bottoms, 50 T-shirts, 50 jumpers/cardigans, 50 dresses)

I have work clothes/outfits but find myself wearing the same stuff a lot, then on weekends wearing the same old stuff and I don’t feel good about myself/my appearance in part as a result of this.

How many items of clothing is normal (if there is a norm!) and how many of each category?

I have nostalgic clothing and all variations of styles and types.

Is 30 of each category too many or not enough?

With shoes, I have less than 20 pairs as I just don’t find shoes all that interesting nor inspiring whereas my DM has at least 100 pairs of footwear.

any ideas/advice/help/guidance welcomed!

You need the Whering app.
I have, including shoes. Bags, coats, scarves 129 items. That's the wardrobe core to cover work, home, holidays
Probably another 30 ish with sports wear, hats, wedding dress, too small dresses.

Gosh that is a lot! I would say I err on the other end of the clothes spectrum, I've about 10 T-shirts, 4 jumpers, 3 dresses, 3 skirts, 2 pairs of trousers, 3 pairs of shoes (yes really!). I am house bound though so not really in need of much! I also regularly clear out older clothes before buying anything new. My clothes need to fit in my wardrobe/chest of drawers, if they don't, I have too many!

I think that is a lot of clothes op. I don’t have 50 t-shirts or jumpers but I probably have 50 dresses.

I now do 'one in , one out' so if I really want to buy something new then I'll give something away in the same category... I also tend to go with the 'if it's been in the wardrobe for 6 months or more and is just general clothing' then it's time to sort through and get rid. I also look through from time to time and get rid of things that maybe are getting a bit too bobbly or looking a bit washed out etc

I don't know how much I have, certainly not 50 of anything, but I think I am fairly lightweight on items by many women's standards, although hardly a minimalist. I'd guess I have between 5-8 each of trousers, t-shirts, jumpers, dresses, other tops, plus 2 sets of gym kit and about 10 bits of 'occasion wear' that don't come out that often.

50!!!! That’s utterly bonkers.

I would guess I have about 5 or 6 of most things possibly a few more skirts & jumpers but I’d be surprised if that’s double digits. For sorting, why not tackle each thing first - so suitcase first, then wardrobe etc. one you’ve done that, then maybe get them all put at once but you need to get rid of at least half imo.

aak yourself:
Is it in good condition and does it fit?
Do I still like it? Have I worn it since I bought it/in the past 3 years? Does it go with anything else I own? Does it actually suit me?

An honest no to any of these, then pack it off to they charity shop.

No more than 10 of each item. In fact no skirts at all. Only four dresses. I couldn't cope with 50 of each.

I use the app Stylebook to have pics of everything and pot outfits together. It’s brilliant!

I just looked on my app. I have 240 items in total. That includes belts hats swimsuits etc.
OP I think you may need to declutter!
have you ‘had your colours done’? Then you will know what colour of clothes to easily get rid of.
there’s just no way you could wear that many different clothes? Pick 10 each favourite to start with and move everything else out of your wardrobe?

People put their clothes on an app?

@youredeadtomesteven I think if you're happy with what you've got and you've got the space for it, go ahead

but why aren't you wearing the clothes you love?

In theory, I would love a capsule wardrobe

but in practice I don't think I could manage that, and also I tend to see the same people a lot, I hate being seen in the same outfit frequently

I know it capsule is meant to be good for mixing but then you've got to think about limiting colours, etc

I don't have anything like what you've got more like the poster who says 5 to 8 of everything

but if I could buy all the things and had space for all the things I would totally do that

Like Carrie Bradshaw

I'm wondering why you don't wear all these clothes that you like

If you go through your clothes and put some new outfits together, you'll probably end up wearing stuff that's been on the back burner

50 of a particular type of item is a lot. I assume you must have a walk in wardrobe to be able to fit it all in.

I am by no means a minimalist but I find having too many clothes overwhelming. I think it can also be difficult to put together outfits if you have too many things.

That's a lot of clothes!

I've lost quite a bit of weight in the last year so have had to replace almost everything and it's made me realise I don't really need much and I probably still have more than I need. It depends on lifestyle too, I mostly work from home and don't socialise much.

I've tried to stick with basics I can mix and match. Replace and add pieces when needed rather than on a whim. Quality over quantity.

Roughly I have...
1 set of gym wear (I only go once a week, if it was more I'd need more)
3 leggings
6 wide leg trousers, various colours
2 jeans, one blue, one black
1 wide leg joggers
8 basic t-shirts
8 tops / blouses
3 shirts
2 cardigans
3 jumpers
2 hoodies
4 vests
3 pairs pjs
2 swimwear
2 blazers
1 skirt
3 dresses
1 warm practical coat
1 smart winter coat
1 light waterproof
1 lighter jacket
1 trench coat
1 brown boots
1 black boots
3 trainers

I will need to add some spring/summer bits soon.

I probably have around 100 dresses and half a dozen skirts but I never wear trousers. I have winter dresses, spring, summer and autumn dresses, work dresses, going out, black tie, ball dresses as needed. I have probably around 20 coats but I circulate wool winter coats, winter rain coats, non winter rain coats, spring coats, summer coats, autumn coats, spring, summer and autumn rain coats as needed for temperatures, weather and what I'm wearing.

I've no idea how many jackets and cardigans or sweaters I own but see above - they all get worn.

There is no social or work occasion where I can't pick something out of my wardrobe to wear - wedding, funeral, interview, black tie, ball, Royal Garden Party, Ascot, graduation, whatever - no problem.

I guestimate that I have about 150 items of clothing, including coats, but not including socks or underwear. Also not including shoes or hats, gloves, or scarves. I don’t have many of those anyway, except scarves as I love to accessorise with those. Including all those things, I probably have closer to 300 items. Lots of knickers.

Are you Kate? 🤣 Say hi to William!

ETA: Do you like each dress equally? I’m not sure I could find 100 dresses that I like enough to buy.

Also, when it’s not hot, do you find the dress/skirt underpinnings to be a hassle? I consider wearing more skirts/dresses, but then I consider wearing tights, and then the fact I’d need a slip to make everything lie well and not cling, and that’s when I just think “Jeans it is!”

And I also think that with floaty summer dresses, shapewear is a must to stop the jiggle. Even if slim, your bum still looks like two animals in a sack fighting when you walk. My MIL was telling me how in her first job, in the Fifties, they’d check you were wearing a girdle for just this reason!

I read once that you should turn all of your clothes hangers around. Then as you wear items turn each item back. After a year get shot of the hangers facing the wrong way.

App? What app? Tell us more?!

I love all my clothes. I wear all my clothes. I don't recognise any of the problems you've highlighted. I always wear a slip under unlined dresses. I can't begin to understand why anyone would choose jeans in preference to a skirt or dress in hot weather.

If it is cold I wear opaque tights,, if not so cold sheer tights, if hot ankle socks or bare legs. Never fake tan.

The answer is as much as you can fit in the area you have to store it. If you find that it's squashed in and you can't find things then you have too much.

OP, looking on the bright side, you’re in the perfect position to “shop your closet.” I bet you’ve got loads of looks in there just waiting to be worn!

I think the first order of business should be donating the clothes you don’t like anymore or that you don’t feel good in.

The people on here who only have 5-8 of everything must be frequently doing laundry and not full loads, at that. So I think it’s more eco-friendly to have somewhat more of things (doesn’t have to be 50 but more than 5-8) and do less frequent laundry, doing full loads when you do.

It’s also handy to have lots of knickers, socks, and basic tops so that if I’m ill or something I don’t have to do laundry. (I live in a flat where the laundry is in the basement.)

Do you have to upload all your clothes ?
I’d be there all day.

Why do you hate being seen in the same things frequently? I am, too, but am now wondering if I should feel this way too. Would like to hear the thinking behind this. Worried that people are thinking badly of me now bc of it!

I don't count essential basics like underwear, scarves, pyjamas, socks, and gloves
If you add them in around 20 Hermès scarves and maybe 20 wool scarves and same number of gloves.

I’m similar to OP. I have about 20 each of jumpers, cardigans, sweatshirts, long sleeve tees, tees, long sleeve blouses and short sleeved blouses, plus under suit tops (which are different to long sleeved tees) shell tops and vests. About 25 ‘going out’ tops.
i have probably 10 blazers, separate to suits (about 20?)
jeans and trousers- actually - I’m embarrassed to continue. I’m going to sort it all tomorrow as I’ve not even got onto dresses etc. I seem to have hundreds of pairs of shoes and coats.
it’s too much

I got rid of everything not used last year, it took a weight off of my shoulders.

I have one wardrobe (built in) everything is in there not squashed. ( that’s all my clothes including jackets and handbags). Then one chest of drawers for underwear socks and pyjamas. That’s it apart from coat, handbag and shoes downstairs that I’m currently wearing depending on season.

sadly I’ve had to buy a few new things as some things have worn out and some have shrunk. I only get new stuff in these circumstances so that everything is worn and used.

unless you are a dress only wearer, you aren’t, I would think the maximum dresses you would need would be 25. I’ve got a few summer dresses and a few autumn dresses so overall I think 15 but some are old and tatty just for in the garden in the heat.

and yes it is overwhelming, I did it all in stages over quite a few months and I had to be ruthless. I have no smart or workwear type clothes left, unless I’d worn it recently it went.

When I get my summer clothes back out (put away in a suitcase in wardrobe not elsewhere and winter jumpers then go in there ) I will be sorting through it all and anything getting tatty will be for the garden only then the bin. Will also be cutting it down again as I have some shorts and vest tops that aren’t that comfy so will probably get rid of those.