Vildy sent in these links:
- 34 pieces, 78 posts. The blog author weeded out her wardrobe and, with a total of 34 pieces (not including socks, etc), created 78 distinct outfits, and could have created more.
- A Perfectly Small Wardrobe showcases the same author establishing a new, smaller, curated wardrobe.
- Retail Recovery: riveting questions from the same author.
So, now I’m wondering: what’s the perfect size for my wardrobe?
The funny thing is – most peoples’ de facto wardrobe is actually pretty small! So the first thing we think about when we consider a minimal size wardrobe is how bored we might be and yet we are often wearing the same favorites over and over! I read recently an opinion that most mens’ wardrobes are 90% used – vs. the tiny percentage of womens’ – and the idea was that men just shop for what they need and replace those items. I’m sure there are a lot of exceptions to that notion of the functionality of mens’ wardrobes but it is intriguing.
I keep loose track of purchases and subsequent routine purges and I notice that the chief areas in which I buy are shoes, purses and, lately, sweaters. I’m finding skirts and dresses hardest to buy and I have hardly any for winter. These are easier for me to buy for summer and I have a nice supply. Maybe I should say that I have trouble locating “serious” skirts and dresses.
Another idea I found was that many women have wardrobes over heavy in either tops or bottoms and might find it easier to shop for one half of their bodies over the other half. I certainly have way more top pieces and it might have to do with that being the important piece for me in getting dressed.
One thing I think about is time and opportunity. It’s like collecting books to read. There comes a point where you can’t live long enough – even if you’re Methusalah – to read them all. The point with clothing comes much faster. If you live in an area with seasons and even if you generously figure a 5 month heating (cold weather) season then that’s roughly 150 days.
If you wear a lot of separates – the way she combined her pieces – it’s not that hard to work up to having too many components to wear all your possible outfits. And then who wants to wear something only once.
I have been thinking about packing/travelling as a metaphor for wardrobe size. There is a formula from an older issue of Glamour that suggest the ideal vacation wardrobe is to take the number of days you will be gone and pack half that number of bottom pieces and 1 1/2 the number of tops. This seems to work great for, say 4 days = 2 bottoms and 6 tops.
But it doesn’t work too well, I think, for longer periods.
2 weeks = 14 days = 7 bottoms + 21 tops.
And for a season it would be ridiculous
90 days = 45 bottoms + 135 tops
Yet I’ve easily had that much in my wardrobe before! I think right now, after many periods of serious paring down (albeit with additions, too) when I counted all of my pants recently (includes sweatpants) I got 22.
Thanks for the links. Wow, I would buy those 34 pieces in one fell swoop if I could. I love every single one of those outfits.
This has really got my mind going because my wardrobe seems to be a lot of pieces, but the same basic outfit most of the time (knit top in umpteen colors & 3 sleeve lengths with one of 4 jean skirts). I love the tremendous variety in the 34 pieces.
I’ve always loved the idea of a minimalist wardrobe, but thought it had to be black or basic, classic pieces that I would get tired of. Time to get creative and minimalistic at the same time!
BTW, Rebecca, I probably haven’t told you but back in September I decided not to buy myself a single thing for 12 months (other than absolute necessities if something has worn out). I hope to wear out a lot of my stuff and get rid of it! I have way too many clothes. For example, the knit tops. I tend to stockpile at Goodwill. I have 12-15 long sleeve knit tops. that doesn’t include the 5 ribbed turtlenecks, the sweaters, etc. etc. And I have so much but I feel like I always wear the same thing because I’m *always* wearing a knit top and a jean skirt (or overalls).
Vildy, I wear primarily skirts. I have 25 skirts hanging in my closet right now, and that doesn’t include the summer-only ones (about 5) that are put away!!! So you’re doing better than I am. 🙂
I also have this fear that if I pare down to 7 knit tops one will be suddenly ruined and I’ll only have 6! So, some balance is in order here.
It’s definitely fun thinking about clothes when you can’t buy. You have a lot more time to decide what you really want. When I see something I crave I think, “Will that still be in style in a year? If it is, I can get it then.” Then it will be a wise purchase. Maybe I’ll alternate every other year not buying. I’m really liking it so far.
Oooh, I just love the sound of a “curated wardrobe.” I have a very small closet. I wear the same things over and over again. I could and should ditch several items and never miss them.
Accessories are key. My own wardrobe is very accessory heavy. I have more shoes and bags than anything. I have more hats than pants that fit. But, it allows me to get a lot of looks.
I do have a lot of clothes, but if I just think of what I wear regularly, it’s not that much. I have a few jersey dresses that I wear regularly, about half a dozen skirts, no pants that I wear regularly, about a dozen tops or less, about half a dozen cardigans/jackets I wear, and then a drawer of gym/lounge clothes that I wear at home.
Part of me wants to clear out my closet, but I admit, I’m holding on to a lot of stuff in hopes that I loose some weight that I gained this year. Since I lost two pounds Thanksgiving week, maybe that’ll work. In the meantime, I think I’m going to move some stuff to the closet in our spare room.
I’ve definitely been winding down, shopping wise. I’d like to get a few more basic pieces. I’m always on the lookout for simple tops and dresses that fit great.
Thanks for posting the link and summary of the 34 pieces site. Really inspiring. I started the culling this Saturday. Have intended to do this for a couple of months, but this was the kick in the seat I needed.
So far, down to four dresses (maybe five, if I keep a special occasion dress) from nine, and eight blouses from almost 20. The skirts are tricky, but I’m shooting for nine – three for summer only, three for winter only, and three year round. The slacks & sweaters are tricky. And, here’s a question: would you count t-shirts & layering tanks in the general wardrobe, or do they fit in the category with tights, socks and unmentionables?
I’d like to say it was a surprise how many things I wear next to never, but it’s not. Anything purchased on a whim seems to fall in the “go away” pile. Ugh – bunch of money I’ve wasted over the last several years, even if some of it went to thrift stores.
I can’t wait to do more on this! Clearly it’s inspiring (makes me want to get into the closet). I think one reason people shy away from a smaller wardrobe is because they don’t own enough stuff they really love. At least, that’s my problem, anyway.
Joy – to answer your question, layering tanks for sure get counted with the “foundations”. T-shirts might be counted with the summer shirts, if you wear them alone, but I do have some I only wear under stuff. For the past couple of winters, I have found it makes my life easier to store the tank or tee I wear under a sweater folded right with it. For example: I have a light purple sleeveless tee-shirt. In the summer, I would wear it alone, so I’d probably count it. In the winter, though, I wear it under a fair-isle sweater, so basically it becomes one with the sweater.
*chuckle*
The first portion of my wardrobe is complete… almost. I’ve ditched 6 dresses, and am keeping another 6. Could end up being only 5 – I’m undecided on one. This means I could end up with only half of what I’m keeping up with now. That’s such a liberating thought. Now, on to the skirts & pants.