Too many clothes?

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.

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 used to have lots of clothes, and at one point had 115 pairs of shoes. When I emigrated, I got rid of almost all of them, and have since operated a fairly strict one in-one out rule. So I now have three pairs of winter trousers, three pairs of summer trousers, eight or nine tops, two jackets (one winter weight, one spring/late summer), four or five jumpers, four dresses, and 20 or so pairs of shoes.

I do have an awful lot of outside activity stuff, from winter sports to walking to gardening, for all seasons, from base layers to way too many jackets, though.

I have a lot of clothes, which, apart from underwear, are second hand, mainly from charity shops, so no guilt on the environment or expense score. Many of them are what might be called dressing-up clothes as I take part in several festivals each year, and love creating the costumes from second hand buys.

Going through them always brings surprises, as I have forgotten things, and quite often, relief that I didn't donate them, as I can suddenly see a new way of wearing or adapting something.

The majority of my clothes work all year round, with layers in winter. Of course I have a few jumpers only needed in the depths of winter, and a few items worn only in heatwaves. So only one drawer of seasonal clothes to pack away/ get out.

I’m with Joseann on the capsule wardrobe, you need less clothes if everything goes together. That’s not to say I don’t have lots of clothes, particularly shirts and T-shirts, but I am now practicing ‘one in, two out’ and my wardrobe is a lot less full than it used to be. I don’t do mass declutters, I’ve found the best way for me to get rid of clothes is to make sure I wear each item, and if for whatever reason it feels wrong, it goes out.

I admit to several of the I'll slim into it items. Shysal

I would love to be able to afford well made clothes, sustainably sourced etc but have you seen the prices!
I make do with knitting using wool from UK.

I love the kits from North Uist.
DGD, 17 is enjoying buying 2nd hand clothes now she's at college, heading to Art School.

I am another whose weight fluctuates a lot. I live in hope that one day I shall get into the smaller clothes, so don't part with them.

So much virtue signalling, poor OP must wish she had never mentioned the subject.
We all have different priorities and if we can afford it enjoy indulging in our pleasures.
Some people buy books, some people buy plants for their garden, some people spend a lot of money on their hobby , or on their car or on holidays, maybe on art or things for the home. Some people enjoy good food and wine and eating out ( eg see the “What’s for lunch” thread)
Some people take pleasure from having animals - and they don’t come cheap- and some people take pleasure from buying and wearing clothes.
To suggest that a bedroom or a house cluttered with clothes is akin to the seventh circle of hell is pushing it a bit.
And then when all else fails, there’s the incontrovertible argument about the environment.
If something brings somebody pleasure why knock it, implying guilt or coming over all self righteous?

It is said that you wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time which adds to the huge waste in the fashion industry.

Fast fashion is going out of vogue with the younger generations , they are buying much more second hand and it is frowned upon to only wear an outfit to one event.

When I buy now it is to replace something, I have enough outfits to fit my lifestyle, if I needed something special then I shall hire it or buy from Vinted, gone are the days when I waste money on clothes I do not need

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.

Sewing clothes for myself is my hobby and I always have something on the go. I have wardrobes full to bursting with all my clothes. They last so long and I've hardly changed my dress size in years so it's difficult to get rid of anything. I'm off for coffee with my sisters this morning and plan to wear a new dress, and off to a daytime party on Saturday and it'll be another new dress for that! I love clothes.

Someone upthread said they have 91 tops - that is a lot !!!! 😳

zakouma66

I find reading this overwhelming, never mind owning that many clothes!

My mother was always "well turned out" She had her staples, Windsmore, tweed and wool featured heavily. A nice blouse and scarf, always the earings and lipstick.
Sadly due to health / weight issues I've never really cracked it.

Nicest thing to wear which never goes out of fashion?
Big smile
Transforms any outfit dahling!

So do I (overwhelming). But excessive would be a criticism and not up to anyone else to do that.
I get by with 3-4 pairs of linen trousers, ditto jeans, and a couple of denim skirts that I live in. I’ve shrunk in recent years and my midi skirts have become odd-looking maxis.

I'm not counting leisurewear trousers and t shirts here by the way because they are just a second skin.

You are only a hoarder if you have wardrobes, and suitcases, full of clothes you no longer wear, although 20 pairs of summer trousers seems a little excessive. When I retired I had 50 T shirts, but I wore them throughout the year, under shirts, cardigans and jumpers, and some were 15 years old. I don't have distinct summer/winter clothes, just layer.

I have far fewer clothes now, mainly because I spend most time dressed down, village life I think, and partly because I like shopping for clothes in shops so I can see the colour, texture, feel, of a garment before I buy. Now there are far fewer shops I am not enticed into spur of the moment purchases, plus the fact I tend to go shopping with a friend (shared lifts) who just as I am considering the 'what will it go with/can I afford it' calculation will say, goodness, have you seen how much this costs or are we going to be much longer because I am worried about the carpark?

I'm with the minimalist, capsule, wardrobe where everything starts with a navy base. Occasionally a bit of pink gets thrown in to lift things, because my colouring is very fair. My 3 or 4 dresses are blues of some description, plus one green.
I have 2 jeans and 2 Barbour tops for daily dog walking, and 3 pairs of summer trousers.

I find it overwhelming too.

I find reading this overwhelming, never mind owning that many clothes!

My mother was always "well turned out" She had her staples, Windsmore, tweed and wool featured heavily. A nice blouse and scarf, always the earings and lipstick.
Sadly due to health / weight issues I've never really cracked it.

I do the same sazz1. My Summer/holiday clothes are currently in a suitcase waiting to be checked over and freshened up for the new season. I can then pack away the Winter wardrobe. I have more Summer clothes than Winter, and will count how many, just to satisfy myself. There seem to be quite a number of white tops! I am looking for cropped, linen mix trousers, but had no luck so far - M&S, Boden, Land’s End, White Stuff etc. I think £60 is rather excessive for my budget. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I am going to sit on the naughty step having just counted my jeans, I have over 30 pairs, from knee length to full length, different styles and colours from black all the way through to white 😱

Tops (T-shirts, shirts, floaty, strappy) over 50 😱

I am not going to count my footwear, handbags, sweaters nor my dresses…

Greta

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"?

That's a good point actually. I wonder if part of the reason we have more clothes than we need is because they are cheap? Marks and Spencer used to proudly declare that their goods were made in Britain. Now they are made in other countries and the quality has deteriorated.
Women used to have a basic wardrobe and use different accessories to vary the look. An expensive skirt could be worn with a variety of blouses to get more use out of it.
We don't seem to think like that any more.

Grandmadinosaur , that is also my problem. I have gone from a size 10 to a size 16/18, due to health issues.
However, some lucky person has benefitted, the clothes have all gone to the charity shop.

Definitely! I store my summer stuff away in winter months. When I'm rummaging through my wardrobe it does make me realise two things, I only wear a small proportion of my clothes and when I was a child the amount of clothes I had then were minimal. There is a school of thought that if something hasn't been worn for say six months then get rid, but I do resurrect certain garments occasionally and start wearing them again. I mainly wear trousers, jeans etc my skirts and occasional dresses just languish there.