If you had to rebuild your wardrobe with 15 items

[Neighbourmystery]

My friend is a total minimalist . As long as I've known her she's only owned about 15 items of clothing at a time (she actually used to blog about it) she also has one shampoo bar at a time, one moisturiser etc etc she's never really worn make up so that is not a thing
One year on returning form holiday- she had her backpack stolen with every single item of her clothing in even her underwear. She had to go out and buy everything from scratch. I've often thought about this and am fascinated by the idea of having to just start again. For fun - if you had to start again with your wardrobe with a max of 15 items what would you buy?
You don't have to include a coat (my friend has one woolen and one raincoat parka type)

Mine would be :
Matching tracksuit (sweat shirt and wide leg joggers)
Barrel leg chino type trousers in 2 colours
Soft white t shirts x 3
Thin soft cardigan
Simple dress
Oversized plaid or denim shirt
Graphic t shirt
Cigarette trousers
Vintage or floppy oversized silk shirt
Soft velvet/denim or leather jacket

Anyone else want to play?

I’m assuming I don’t need underwear, swimwear, shoes socks or exercise wear.

Black and blue jeans- probably one wide leg and one straight leg

pair wide leg trousers

black, white and navy vest or sleeveless tshirt

2 x cardigan ( bright colours) and 1 jumper ( plain colour)

light coloured “peasant blouse” and black silk blouse of some sort.

boyfriend type blazer

pair jersey shorts, pair denim shorts

sleeveless puffa

Jeans
another pair of casual trousers
1 pair smart casual trousers
1 pair smart trousers
1 blazer
comfy trousers (joggers etc)
denim shirt
an other smart shirt/blouse
white t shirt
1 fine knit jumper
oversized jumper/cardigan
sweatshirt
Brown ankle boots
trainers (possibly leopard)
hooded trench

in reality I would want a couple of t shirts including some long sleeves ones, more jumpers, a dress and more coats. My actual wardrobe is not a million miles away from this tbh. i do have more trainers than anything else though so that would be a problem

Missed the coat caveat. I would add a dress instead I think

Just the thought of this is making my head hurt ... so I think I'll pass!

I love this type of malarkey.

Jeans x 1 (boyfriend, mom or carrot-esque)
Cords x 1 in navy
Wide-leg trousers in black
Linen tapered trousers in e.g. burgundy
Graphic tee
Plain white tee
Plain black racerback vest
Long-sleeve top for layering
Summer dress (maybe pinafore style?) that I could layer
Full skirt with pockets and elasticated waist
Patterned skirt of some kind
Graphic or leopard-print Hush sweatshirt
Cotton or cashmere jumper
Denim shirt
Cable cardigan in a neutral
Another shirt - maybe a blue striped oversizedlinen one

Oh hell, I forgot shoes and shorts. I LOVE shorts!!

1 pair dark blue jeans
2 pairs leggings
1 pair tracksuit bottoms
2 tea dresses
2 t shirt dresses
2 t shirts
2 pair shorts
1 winter coat
1 jacket
1 cardigan

this assumes no gym/swimming/funerals/ weddings

2 pairs black wide leg trousers
1 pair dressy black trousers
I long sleeve black jumper
1 short sleeve black jumper
I black vest
I black cardigan
3 white long sleeve t shirts
1 black cami
I black lace blouse
1 smart casual black dress
i sun dress
1 black jacket maybe a tux?

In reality my actual wardrobe isn't far from that but most of it is also repeated in navy and I have a lot more t shirts as I wear one every day. I also have a few more dresses, a couple of skirts a a tonne of evening wear as I need that quite a lot.

5 bottoms, dark wide leg jeans, chocolate brown cords summer linen trousers sage/ olive coloured denim skirt another skirt summery but can do spring or autumn with tights, 3 shirts white and 2 small patterned probably vertical stripes, short sleeved linen or cotton blouses for summer or with jumpers for winter 2 jumpers 1 slightly chunky 1 fine knit a summer dress and a winter dress plus a smart/ casual jacket.
Never done 15 items but have done 333 project 33 items only for 3 months but it includes coats shoes bags and accessories but not underwear sleepwear or sportswear just for sport but if athleisure it's included. I think it includes additional jewellery above a watch and wedding ring.

Do people really have this many clothes?
I have about 3 pairs of jeans and 3 pairs of shorts, half a dozen tops and a couple of zip up hoodies.

I'd have
black cords - wide leg but not too wide
khaki linen trousers
navy linen trousers
khaki chinos
navy chinos
joggers
one maxi or midi sun dress
one maxi or midi long sleeved dress that is light enough for summer but can be layered for winter
one white shirt
one white boho blouse
one blue silk blouse
one thick cableknit cashmere sweater in neutral
one soft lighter cashmere sweater
one summer weight loose cardigan or sweater.

Can't be done. I don't even have tees in that list. Or any layers for winter. I'm trying to imagine having survived this baking summer with only one pair of linen trousers and one sun dress; having to wear chinos instead. Or having only two blouses to alternate, when I wanted to change tops several times a day. I feel sweaty just thinking about it.

Very hard to cover all seasons but I think I'd go for

Loose blue jeans
Slimmer black jeans
Taupe cotton trousers
Black cotton midi skirt
Khaki cotton maxi dress
Patterned jumpsuit eg leopard

Long sleeve black t-shirt
Short sleeve charcoal t-shirt
Two other t-shirts - patterned or slogan
Grey marl sweatshirt
White vest
Dark brown decent jumper eg cashmere
Blue/white stripe shirt
Thin knit black high neck jumper

I'm now going to go and see whether I've actually got all of these!

2 pairs of straight leg jeans
1 pair of cropped chinos
1 pair of shorts
1 denim pinafore dress
3 t-shirts
2 long sleeved t-shirts
2 sweatshirts/cotton jumpers
3 wool/cashmere jumpers

For a whole year !!

Summer
shorts
3 x tshirts
cotton sun dress
cardigan
cotton sweater

Winter
jeans
cord mini skirt
3 x brushed cotton shirts
2 x wool sweaters
tidy wool dress

But that excludes evening/cocktail clothes, sports gear, ski gear, summer skirts, work wear etc.

I'm not minimalist when it comes to clothes 😁

Oh my word. I don’t think I could do it.
For a start I work in the office at least 5 days a week. I have to wear smart clothing. So this is extra to my usual clothes.
I also often walk to work so have to be very mindful of the weather.
I will have a think though and post later.

That's the same amount as us on here 😂 @blueberrycloud

I do not have many clothes.

Smart chinos
Pleated linen trousers
Collarless shirt (x 3 of same one)
Blouse frill collar shirt
Linen shirt
White tshirt
Utility patch pocket shirt

Thats a week of work. Problem is have to iron trousers before wear. I think owning more than 1 of same item also key.

I love thinking about this type of thing
I'm really drawn to the sparseness and also in toiletries etc

My wardrobe is the opposite of this…
I have more clothes can I can wear.

Agree about the toiletries, too.
And I’m looking at AC as well…

Long cotton black skirt
Uniqlo black dress
Wide leg black trousers
Oversized cardi
Black jog bottoms
Hush jumper
T shirt
Pink button up shirt
Long 'going out' skirt
'Going out' top
My favourite All saints shirt
3x tops 2 by Hush and 1 x Monsoon.
Denim jacket

Not included
Lanx boots
Dr Marten sandles
White Adidas trainers
Swim costume
Pilates kit

2 x jeans 1 light blue and 1 grey/faded boack
1 x black wide leg trousers
1 x linen trousers
1 x linen shorts
1 x denim shorts
1 x turtle neck top
1 x long sleeve tshirt
1 x black tank top
2 x vest tops
1 x hoodie in a neutral colour
1 x blazer
1 x graphic tshirt
1 x jumper

I could just about manage with this for everyday - shopping, occasionally going into the office, coffees with friends, pub.. This is pretty much what I wear from my existing wardrobe anyway.

Obviously I would need shoes, coats, underwear and gym gear/ sports wear, etc.

Surely you know that some people work? If you are always at home or retired you could maybe manage with a small casual wardrobe, but people who work might need smart clothes for interviews/ meetings/ presenting at conferences and then smart office wear for daily use or smart casual for meeting clients or patients ? Then people need normal clothes for weekends. Obviously many people need lots more clothes than this 🫣

Two pairs of jeans (cropped Levi’s 501s) in indigo and black
Wide leg black trousers
Camel double breasted blazer
White shirt
Denim shirt
Red crew neck fine knit jumper
2 short sleeve T shirts
2 long sleeve T shirts
Silver top and matching silver trousers for going out
Silk dress
Denim shorts

I actually own all of these so it would mean replacing them. I could probably live without everything else.

I was thinking about over consumption earlier after walking round the shops and seeing so much of everything. I was about to buy yet another set of cheap gold hoop earrings which I seem to lose all the time and I was thinking of my nans jewellery box which was very small but had very classic items in , gold chain, pearls, studs, some beaded evening earrings. I think I really want a return to a small and very considered wardrobe