Too many clothes?

It would be a lot for me sazz, but each to their own. I’ve got one small wardrobe and half a chest of drawers, three drawers, that’s for all of my clothes.The only exception is four full length, cheap summer ‘floaty’ dresses, only worn when it’s very hot, they’re hung in a spare bedroom wardrobe. I have eight pairs of shoes/sandals/boots and four jackets/coats, I wear everything throughout the year, big into layers.

I recently did a small "survey" of my own. I thought about everyone I had been in contact with recently and then tried to think what they had been wearing. I almost drew a blank. Just shows that we can wear what we like but most people don't actually notice.

I've more clothes than I need but haven't bought a single item for years now. Last week I attended a special occasion where (happily) my outfit was well admired. I simply said thank you, of course, but chose not to reveal that nothing was less than twenty years old. I don't think classics date and it's all about feeling good within onesself methinks.

M0nica

What always puzzles me is how people can afford to buy all those clothes. Even allowing for how cheap they are when you buy a lot, it still adds up to a substantial sum.

It is probably because I am not a leisure shopper (unless its a secondhand book shop or junk shop) and I have said, I hate clutter and to have a bedroom, let alone a house, cluttered with clothes, would be my idea of hell.

Excuse me Monica my house is not cluttered with clothes! They are all very tidely kept in wardrobes and chest of drawers. I only shop online now, no shops anywhere near me and even if there was, it would be my worst nightmare having to trudge around shopping centres.

Since retirement I use the library, so no need to buy books at all. If they don’t have what I want, they will order it in for free.

I also have a lot of clothes especially jeans which I wear daily. And I do wear most of my stuff even if it’s once a year. I haven’t changed much size wise and keep things for years .
And I have a dressing room . It was my one request when we had an extension. My daughter is a buyer for a high street store and gives me loads of samples which is a size 12.
I do a regular cull and sell stuff on vinted . I also buy on vinted and in charity shops.

Erm...I refuse to count, especially my leggings and trousers 🤣
I've never been a girly-girl, much preferring jeans in my youth until I found that leggings were so comfortable and versatile, so now I have, well, several pairs!
The same with t-shirts.
Both of which are 'all-year-round' types of clothes to me.

Clutter doesn't have to be untidy, it can just be cupboards and drawers neatly stacked.

But that still doesn't answer the question of how people can affird to spend so much on clothes, especially as we are always being told how poor so many people are and how they have to use food banks.

Yes, it is a bit of a puzzle. I think some just don’t add up the cost of all these purchases.

I have been doing the very same this weekend. I have been putting my winter clothes in vacuum storage bags. I always have more winter clothes than summer somehow, but I have also cleared quite a few out I haven't worn for a long time, to give to charity. I haven't worn dresses for some time as I have found them very ageing on me, so I tend to stick with separates.

The people who spend a lot on clothes aren’t usually poor, I don’t see how that correlates. I don’t think it’s up to us to judge people because they don’t do things how we do, no doubt all of us spend money on things others would think was a waste. Vive la difference!

I don't get what people are saying about spending on lots of clothes. If I have 5 (not occasion but good) dresses in my wardrobe totalling say close to £800, but my DD2 has 20 from various high Street stores, we have still spent the same amount?

Re spending on clothes each to there own.

I have had periods in my life when I haven’t had funds to buy many clothes believe you me. I am now at a stage in life where I can afford to splash out. Nothing else gets scrimped on to do so.
Not that it’s really anyone else’s business what you spend your money on.

But that still doesn't answer the question of how people can affird to spend so much on clothes, especially as we are always being told how poor so many people are and how they have to use food banks
Is that anybody else’s business?
You might as well ask how people can afford a holiday or to go to the cinema or a football match or shop at Waitrose or send their child to nursery , or, or.
Because many people are poor and some people use food banks and probably most people find the cost of living has gone up, doesn’t mean that you can make sweeping generalisations!

sazz1

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?

I don't believe you have a lot or are a hoarder.

We each spend as we choose on clothing. I hate to shop and am blessed with internet clothing shopping. I accumulate as I keep everything and downgrade to gardening, dog walking, exercising - before I bin.

I purchase several new jeans every season, several white Tshirts and tops, some black tops, all are worn. All are re-used in the garden, walking, cooking, if I work for my husband - drive his jobs.

People all spend their available excess money differently - as they should. None of us are twins to each other, or I hope not.

But surely having someone say, 'Yes, I spend a lot on clothes, but we always take inexpensive holidays, or, I dont spend much on clothes, but we love eating out, is something interesting to know peoples preferences.

And any thread that suggests people sometimes spend money, nearly always brings some virtue signaller on board, to remind us that their are millions of people for whom clothes are a luxury too far. As no one had done it yet, I decided it was my turn.

I spent yesterday morning doing the same, winter all moved to other wardrobes, and summer replacing it.
I enjoy buying clothes, I definitely have plenty, and if every clothes shop in the world closed down, I would definitely have enough.
I still work, so need clean clothes every morning, and if we go out, I like to wear nice clothes.
I feel no guilt, I still earn a wage, it gives me pleasure, so I will carry on shopping.
When my children were small, I went for several years buying only what they needed, so I reckon it’s my turn.
I think I’m fortunate in a way, that my husband’s tastes are probably more expensive than mine, so he’s never likely to question anything I’ve bought.

I have not counted how items of clothing I possess although it is a fair amount. Not as much as I used to have as I was made redundant and took retirement - so simply do not need so many things.
I do have what I call holiday clothes which come out on occasion and are mixed and matched with stuff in the wardrobe with the odd thing despatched to the charity bag.
I spend much of my time in jeans which is a far cry from smart work wear. But practicality reigns here as looking after GCs and gardening need sensible clothing!!
But I wouldn't say that your wardrobe is excessive provided you have enough space for it all.

Sara1954 ... if every clothes shop in the world closed down, I would definitely have enough.

I agree, I would never ever need to buy any clothing again if white didn't get dingy and black didn't fade. Doesn't much matter as I downgrade all clothing to mucking purposes once dingy or faded.

I'll always cook, walk dogs, exercise, garden, play with children - and put my old clothes to good use all day, everyday.

I bought a top from m and s, went to hang it up and found that I already bought it earlier in the year! I read the reviews for the first one which suggested that you could go down a size which I did. So now I have 2 in different sizes. I had a deprived childhood 😁

It sounds like we are all the same. I really need to have a serious sort out soon.

We are definitely not all the same!!!

I am the same as [M0nica], I have one small wardrobe and one chest of drawers (2 large drawers and 2 small drawers).

My older sister has loads of clothes/garments and barely wears half of them.

Thanks for all the replies it's nice to hear how much clothing others have. Made me feel a lot better knowing others are the same.
I've realised reading this thread I have lots of items I've never even worn so I'm making an effort this year to wear everything at least once and donate or sell anything that's a bad fit. They majority of my clothes came from vinted, ebay or charity shops and the low prices probably encouraged me to buy so much. My expensive coats and jackets were bought with a gift voucher present from my son. Someone mentioned, can't remember who, the one in two out method for cutting down the amount of clothes you have and I think this is a very good idea.

Pre Covid we had a week in Ibiza. We flew over from Malaga and took hand luggage only. It was so bluddy liberating! One pair shoes, one pair sandals. Flip flops. 2 swimsuits. One sarong. 6 nights there so I took 3 outfits for evenings. Plus a spare dress (soft, non crease). I still remember the pleasure of coming up from the beach, having a shower and literally opening the hostel wardrobe to loads of empty hangers and dressing for dinner - in THIS, THIS or THIS. We had a wonderful time.

I have a closet around 6' wide. Casual stuff on one side, and dressier clothes on the other. That and a dresser. I do consider that quite a bit of clothing, but some items are 30 years old, especially the dressier items.

I don't bother to separate out summer and winter clothing, but if I did, that would create a void which I would most likely fill again.

I haven't really bought much this year other than replacing underwear and bras, plus a few t-shirts. We do have a weekend event to go to this July, and I was tempted to buy something new, but I think I can get by with what I already have.