This is a post that has been knocking around in my head for some time, then today when I read a post on Frugal Babe about how few clothes her adorable 10 week old baby really needs, I decided to share my wardrobe with you.
When I first became more knowledgeable about the retail world, who made the clothing we buy, how little they are paid, what conditions they were kept in, I vowed to make a change. I started to think more about the fact that part of the problem was just how big the clothing industry is – we create such a demand for “new trends”, we shop cheap without a thought as to why clothes are cheap, we buy clothes as if we needed them to survive and nourish ourselves….note: clothing is not food!
Slowly, I’ve started making changes about the clothing I buy and what I wear. The first thing I did was stop buying cheap, I looked for clothing that was fair trade, local, organic or second hand. I found this much easier when I was shopping for baby clothes for friends, then for adult clothing, but as the years went on it got easier. The second thing I stopped doing was buying clothes monthly or even by-monthly, I now do a “clothing shop” twice a year, usually just before the summer (April or May) and then in the winter. This lets me clearly determine the difference between need and want. Then as I changed dress sizes, I began to majorly downshift the clothing I had. I donated my old clothes to women’s refuges and slowly purchased what I needed.
I get positive comments on my clothes everywhere I go, when I visit the GP/Family Dr, when I go to work, when I meet friends, you might think I have a large expensive wardrobe filled with designer products, well that couldn’t be further from the truth. I currently have:
- 1 work black skirt with a nice fashionable flair
- 3 work dress shirts – 1 red, 1 green, 1 black
- 5 dresses – appropriate for work, an evening out, Church, functions etc
- 1 pair jeans & 1 casual t-shirt
- 1 pair work dress pants
- 1 workout outfit and 1 swimsuit
- 1 formal work jacket &1 informal long cardigan
- 1 pair PJ’s and 1 nightie
I may never have had the hundreds of pieces of clothing several of my friends have, but I had too much. My clothing has gone from filling up a wardrobe and a 6 drawer dresser, to filling 1/6 of a wardrobe and 2 drawers in my dresser. I now know when I put clothes on that they haven’t been made by someone working 16 hr days for peanuts, they have helped small business owners, given people lively hoods and provided food and education for workers children. My life is about downshifting and downsizing, starting with your wardrobe is a great way to do that. After all, there are only 7 days in a week, how many outfits do you really need?
If you need any further inspiration have a look at Fabulously Broke In The City who created a site about getting rid of her wardrobe!
I have about 90 pieces of clothing, total, including fancy dress and winter and autumn jackets.
But that was after clearing out my ENTIRE wardrobe eh?
We don’t need VERY many outfits or anything in our lives, but sometimes I just desperately want a beautiful top
By the way, I’m linking this…. (have you considered adding CommentLuv to this blog?)
Hi Fab Broke, don’t feel bad, it’s a journey and certainly took me some time.
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I just cleaned out my wardrobe and it feels so good to be rid of all the old clothes that don’t fit or are out of date. I have about 35 items of clothing left and it’s so much easier to find something to wear now. I’d rather have fewer clothes, but good quality that doesn’t wear out and date.
Hey fab broke, you’d be proud of the wife, 5 days on a business trip all on a carryon and that includes her running kit!!
Her co-worker a guy always hauls a large bag, have no idea what he brings but ti’s always a large bag.
I went through my Tshirt drawer and realized I have 15 tees (I’m sure I’ve got more)most of which I never wear so I took out 4 of the nicest and put the rest away, see what happens in 5 weeks when we leave on holidays, see if I really wear them.
Same with good shirts, have loads most never wear.
I also think women are programmed to stuff there closets to the gills and my wife is no exception. Only plus I give her is she uses only 3 pairs of shoes. 1 pair crocks and 2 pair skechers.
Blimey! You really should be proud of yourself!
I just have one dress but I do have three pairs of jeans, 2 trackie bottoms and quite a few t-shirts but that’s because I spend most of my time in casual clothes and don’t like to use the washing machine until I have a full load. They’ve all been bought either at charity shops, boot markets or through eBay though. Like you, I’ve stopped buying ‘cheap and cheerful’ stuff because they certainly doesn’t bring any cheer to those who we exploit in order to have them.
Shoes however…. I wouldn’t dare say how many pairs I have. Not cheap ones though, and most I’ve had for donkey’s years.
Well done Rob!
Thanks Sharon! Old shoes don’t count
Wow! I’m impressed. I’ll admit, I have too many articles of clothing for myself. Although I’m getting better. The problem with only shopping in thrift stores, is that you can afford a lot more, and you don’t feel guilty because it’s all recycled. So it’s easy to get carried away. But when I was pregnant, I stopped buying clothes, because I had enough maternity clothes (didn’t want to buy loads of stuff that I would only be wearing for a few months), and I couldn’t try on regular clothes because nothing would fit. That started in about January, and I haven’t really been clothes shopping since. I bought a couple maternity shirts in the spring, when it was getting warmer and I didn’t have anything with short sleeves. And I bought two shirts a couple weeks ago that have buttons on the front, for easy nursing. But my strategy has been to stop going to thrift stores for fun. I just find other things to do instead. I’ve gone through my closet and donated a bunch of stuff, but my main progress has been to stop adding to what I already have. I’m really impressed by how pared down your closet is!!! Makes me feel like Imelda Marcos of clothes…
Good for you for paring down your wardrobe. I probably own too many clothes as well, but I try to buy classic items so that I’m ending up always buying new trendy items.
I have done well lately to resolve that I have enough clothes and I don’t NEED anything else right now.
Sometimes I wish I still had a job that required a uniform – you really save a lot then. When I did wear a uniform I mostly owned jeans and shirts. Only a few dressy items, but now that I work in an office, it’s important to me to look nice and “feel” like I look nice.
One vice I’ve managed to give up is buying expensive jewellery. I have a few nice items and that’s fine. There are so many lovely costume items out there too.
ah. this is one of the toughest things for me. some weight loss has helped me to believe i don’t need all those clothes to feel good. but wardrobe is something it’s going to *kill* me to downshift on (you are really an inspiration). i think i might settle on wearing out what i have?
I agree with you wholeheartedly, most people just have way too many clothes. How many of them are worn on a consistent basis? Don’t we tend to find 5 or 6 outfits that we really enjoy out our sea of clothes and wear those over and over?
It’s also awesome to see women who are downshifting their closets. Maybe I have just always been around women who have larger closets (and that strange shoe fetish that I will never understand), but it’s still great to see!
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I love this entry and your goal. Great stuff. I started downshifting and trying to be a minimalist since the beginning of this year. I have gotten rid of a lot of stuff, but still feel that I have a few more clothing than I need. It is amazing and inspiring that you have pared down to so few. I am wondering what is a good number for me because I live in the US where we have four seasons, and I need to have work clothes and casual clothes. I dread work clothes, and prefer a more laid back, chic look, but the corporate uniform is still required. Would appreciate any tips. BTW, I am not working currently and am job hunting, so I cannot get organic items because they are pricey, but I have more than. enough now I think
Thanks Katrina!
I try to mix and match, my jacket and knit wear can go with formal trousers or work dresses, they also look fine with jeans or dress down clothes.
My dresses can work for all seasons depending on what I wear them with – in the summer I don’t wear a jacket, in the winter I wear them with tights and a jacket. With careful consideration, you can get through seasons with simply adding an extra layer or two.
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Fahsion designers don’t have to do this, right?
I try to get rid of anything I don’t wear, or can’t “use” (meaning there is no inspriation, can’t make it into something else, etc.). I have a 3/4 of a closet and a small dresser full of clothes.
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I just wanted to say Thank You. I don’t think I’ve ever had my eyes so wide opened. Wow. I knew something was missing from my life. I just didn’t realize I could make the CHOICE to simplicity. Its what I’ve wanted all along, but didn’t know how to get there… I think I’ve found my starting ground.
Again, thank you, and Good Luck on your journey.
I agree with AmyKay… this blog is a real eye opener… its so refreshing… why do we allow all ourselves to amass all this wardrobe clutter.. Yes clothes are cheaper than they have problably ever been (and this is down to cheap labour and exploitation – so we ought not to encourage it anyway!) but how many outfits do we actually need?
Hey!
Just How Many Items of Clothing Do We Need?
Wow i like the blog of this.
I have sorted my life out in some amazing ways… I have healed myself of rheumatoid arthritis, my children of asthma and eczema BUT can I sort my wardrobe out? Hell NO!
It is humongous!
I was looking on the web what a typical modern woman has in her wardrobe and I thought… similar to my stuff (I have a bit more… I have about 20 saris and Indian suits too!). Anyway then, I saw your this article. What a blessing.
Thankyou for inspiring and sharing your clothes list. I will bear it in mind as I go through my clothes to give to charity…
I guess I should not go cold turkey… or maybe I should!