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Too many clothes?

(102 Posts)
sazz1 Mon 13-May-24 00:17:07

Spent the weekend changing my wardrobe from winter clothes to spring or summer clothes. I pack a suitcase or 2 and put it in the loft until Autumn.
I can't believe how much I've accumulated over the year.
I have 18 tops, 6 blouses, 15 tshirts, 6 jackets, 20 pairs of summer trousers, 7 skirts, and
7 dresses. I've just bought 2 cardigans as didnt have one from last year.
Is this a lot or am I a hoarder? I'm retired so don't need work clothes. Do other grans have this much?

nanna8 Mon 13-May-24 00:35:55

I’m the same. I send stuff to the op shop quite often and half the stuff I have left I rarely wear. Trouble is, I hunt for something and then realise I gave it away . After our Covid isolation I found a couple of things still with tags on. Mi d you, our over zealous isolation lasted over 2 years!

Ailsa43 Mon 13-May-24 01:55:44

sazz1 You're certainly not a hoarder, I have much more than you, and I donate regularly to charity shops at lest every 2 months. but still loads of clothes, simply because not only do I have seasonal clothes, I also have a weight problem where my weight fluctuates very regularly , so many of my clothes are in 3 sizes.,

I have a triple wardrobe full.. a separate clothes rail, and 5 chest of drawers..

Grammaretto Mon 13-May-24 03:01:37

I live in Scotland and have a lot of coats, fleeces and woollies!
Lots of pairs of shoes but only a few I actually wear.

I'm not well off for Summer clothes because our Summers tend to be short.

20 pairs of Summer trousers and all those tops does sound excessive.
But if they give you pleasure, why not?
I have thousands truly of books.

Ailsa43 Mon 13-May-24 03:05:26

She's only got 18 tops, not excessive IMO..especially if someone works and has to change clothes much more regularly...

I have at least double that... I can hear people grasping their pearls when I say I also own over 25 coats and jackets... hahaha

Calendargirl Mon 13-May-24 06:37:22

She no longer works, so 18 tops sounds a lot to me.

If you are still working, one clean top a day, only 5 needed in a working week.

I have several tops, but most are years old. In fact, one must be about 40 years old! It’s only fit to wear round the house, but I love it and have never seen another like it.

Curtaintwitcher Mon 13-May-24 06:41:57

I also have a lot of clothes. Partly because I buy things 'for best', but hardly ever get the chance to wear them. I wear comfy things at home but like to dress smartly when I go out.

Allsorts Mon 13-May-24 06:55:32

Nanna 8 tgat coukd be me talking.

Cabbie21 Mon 13-May-24 07:10:33

I have lots of clothes as I hardly ever throw anything out. Different colours, sizes, weight, thicknesses, fabrics account for a lot. Some best things rarely get worn. But I buy very few each year. I might spot something in a seasonal sale and wear it the following year. I tend to keep on wearing a few favourites.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 13-May-24 07:10:47

I love clothes, do not think you have an excess sazzl

I no longer keep things for best (apart from cocktail dresses and a couple of evening dresses) wear and enjoy the contents of your wardrobe.

Charleygirl5 Mon 13-May-24 07:11:52

Apart from underwear, I will never need to buy clothes again. I dare not count the number of items I possess. All of mine are comfortable clothes, for coffees and the odd lunch out.

Nightdresses are in a league of their own. I would not have to think about washing for at least 3 weeks and that would be after a daily change!

BigBertha1 Mon 13-May-24 07:33:02

If I had more space I would have more clothes especially coats. I don't think you can have too many clothes if you rotate wearing them.

Vintagewhine Mon 13-May-24 07:38:03

I've got more clothes than I need but tend to wear a few things most of the time. I've got a pair of white cotton m&s shorts that are nearly 40 years old that I still wear in the garden, I've bought many pairs since but nothing fits me as well.

tanith Mon 13-May-24 07:38:47

Why do I always see friends and family in clothes I’ve never seen before but feel I’m wearing the same things over and over? I have lots of Summer things but have favourites I wear a lot. I’m trying not to keep stuff for best as I rarely need ‘best’ clothes anymore. Winter time as I’m out walking every day I’m in jeans or track suit most days with sweaters. Shoes now I’m in Skechers all the time nowadays in different styles and colours.

Marydoll Mon 13-May-24 07:46:27

Ailsa43

She's only got 18 tops, not excessive IMO..especially if someone works and has to change clothes much more regularly...

I have at least double that... I can hear people grasping their pearls when I say I also own over 25 coats and jackets... hahaha

Ailsa, we could be twins. I'm too embarrassed to say how many dresses I have. blush

RosiesMaw Mon 13-May-24 07:47:59

I have more clothes than I need because I no longer go to enough places to give them an outing! Covid resulted in a much reduced social life and it has never quite picked up again as I am older and lazier and (whisper) quite like staying in!
But I also find that styles I like have a habit of disappearing from one season to the next (linen trousers for instance) so I often buy a “spare” of something I really like - insurance against that splash of tomato sauce or oil which never comes out again.
What I do lament though is my judgement on what to wear for an event, I seem to have lost my touch, perhaps precisely because I don’t go out enough or even forget something that I already had in the wardrobe that would have been ideal.

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 13-May-24 07:49:47

Yes, sazzl, that is a heck of a lot of clothes! Even when working I didn’t have anything like the number of garments you do. I look after my clothes and they last. Most things are years old and all my clothes fit into one wardrobe, except jackets and coats which are in the hall cupboard.

M0nica Mon 13-May-24 08:05:26

i would be absolutely terrified of having lots of clothes. It would reduce me to a quivering wreck to have to make choices every morning from as many clothes as some of you have.

It is not that I do not love clothes, I do, but I am happy to have a small range of clothes, which I wear frequently and then replace when they become worn out.

Like GSM i can get all my clothes into one wardrobe, and I would add, one chest of drawers.

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 13-May-24 08:07:14

Having so many clothes would really trouble me too, MOnica.

Poppyred Mon 13-May-24 08:08:26

Clothes are my weakness. I have far, far more than your (small) 🥴 list. I am making a big effort to cut down. Selling on Vinted and filling a bag for the charity shop quite often. Also if I see something I really like, try to find something similar on a pre-loved site before splurging….

Greta Mon 13-May-24 08:19:54

Patrick Grant (Great British Sewing Bee) has just published his book "Less" and he was interviewed about the reason for writing it. His message was simple: "Stop buying so much rubbish". It certainly makes you think. When did you last see a clothes label "Made in UK"?

flappergirl Mon 13-May-24 08:25:17

I absolutely hate shopping for clothes so my wardrobe is minimalistic. I have a few things for "best" which don't see the light of day very often. I suffer from eczema and a lot of materials, especially anything with the tiniest bit of wool, sets me off. I much prefer summer clothes when I can wear cotton. I still possess items from the 1980's!

keepcalmandcavachon Mon 13-May-24 08:34:05

I'm on the minimal side for clothes, a fancy name would be a capsule wardrobe, haha. I've a couple of pairs of jeans, three linen trousers , half a dozen tops and a few summer weight cover ups- cardigans etc. Everything goes together so no morning dilemmas! Two handbags, many scarves though so I never actually look the samegrin.
Love an easy life me.

Calipso Mon 13-May-24 08:48:39

sazz1
Isn't it less about the numbers of clothing items you have and more about how often you wear each piece? If you are wearing all those items on a regular basis then you don't have too many.

But I am baffled by how many people who claim to "love clothes" send them by the bagful to charity shops on a regular basis. Fast fashion is a huge contributor to the destruction of the planet.

downtoearth Mon 13-May-24 08:59:15

My weight fluctuates too at the moment hopefully downward,but have bottoms,jeans jegging etc that fit when its upwards,toos arent really the problem.

Last year was all linen trousers to reduce rubbing on my newly operated hip scar,they made me look bigger, 14-small 16 asnI am 5ft 2,they have gone to charity shop,in their place some lovely maxi dresses very flattering wether my weight is up or down.

Love denim jackets and have bought several coloured ones very versatile.