How much clothes does a person need?

[tanteva]

I have been going through my clothes today. 4 plastic bags to donate to charity. Can you see that this happened? Nope! Wardrobe is full. Laundry room is full. Huge pile by the ironing board. Clothes everywhere. And I say I don't bother about fashion & clothes. LOL

If one were to break things down to categories (tops, jeans, pants, sweaters etc) - how much clothes does a person need? I wash about once a week, 2-3 loads.

Do you have more clothes than you need too? Do you, like me, keep clothes for weird reasons? (Nostalgia, "I might gain/lose weight", "I might need this if I {fill in the blank}", "I could make something of this" ... and so on)

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Absolutely!! You NEVER know when you'll need something. Hahaha I live in stretch pants, T-shirts and zip up hoodies. However, I need jeans a lot - if we go out. I have way too many shoes - cowboy boots, other boots, Yeah, way too much. Occasionally, I need dressier things, so I have a few that fall into that category.

 

[tanteva]

OH! I've not even thought about my shoes yet!

 

[Lynn Grieveson]

I struggle with this too! Here in New Zealand we generally have fewer clothes than people in the States, from what I have heard. Apart from anything else, they are usually a lot more expensive here ;-)

Nearly all mine are from consignment stores. I do purge quite often, but then I have some things that I never wear but still think 'one day' ...

Funniest example is a silky top I really like but have never managed to wear outside the house because EVERY TIME I have either dribbled toothpaste, coffee or water on it before I go out the door!

 

[Cherylndesigns]

I struggle with this too! Here in New Zealand we generally have fewer clothes than people in the States, from what I have heard. Apart from anything else, they are usually a lot more expensive here ;-)

Nearly all mine are from consignment stores. I do purge quite often, but then I have some things that I never wear but still think 'one day' ...

Funniest example is a silky top I really like but have never managed to wear outside the house because EVERY TIME I have either dribbled toothpaste, coffee or water on it before I go out the door!

When you live in a hot climate - high humidity - you always have those silky clothes "sticking to you". Hahaha

 

[felis]

My mom has a poor childhood and she have that need to store everything just in case. Me from other side, oh If something doesn't fit I'll not keep it.
But I wear absolutely everything to the last possible point, as I care about the environment. For example (as my english is rough these days) one pair of jeans start as night out, then shopping, then hangin out at home, outfit for cleaning, and then will be retired as a cat bedding.
Everything that not fits in its first excellent condition will be donated.

You need as much clothes as personalities you have: one for home, one for work, and one for getting out, two more for different occasions, add laundry and that mean at least 15 different top and bottom outfits per season.
But also in some workplaces is not acceptable to wear same/similar blouse twice at the same week. It really depends of your situation. I'm not very good at minimalistic style of living.

 

[tjscraps]

Y'all go out??? lol!

I have more than I probably need too, despite having had to buy a whole new wardrobe a few times in the last few years (bariatric surgery). I have had a lot of people give me their hand-me-downs or things they don't use anymore, so it's been good to not have to buy it all. I have a whole bin of clothes that I hope fit this summer though (I'm having the extra skin cut off - 110 lbs down, leaves a lot of skin!).

 

[*sylvia*]

Let's forget us the shoes very quickly LOL.
As long as one works, one certainly needs more clothes. Wearing a top for 1 week does not make a good impression. Then there is fashion, which imposes colors, patterns and styles on us. Who wears clothes that are no longer IN?
I definitely have more than I need ... but not too much because space is limited..

 

[faerywings]

I have a hard time donating clothes because I typically don't have the money to go out and get something new if I need anything. Typically I live in leggings and t-shirts/sweats and I wear a lot of Gary's clothes. If I am going out, I will borrow something of Caitlyn's. I don't have lots of clothes and end up wearing the same thing over and over which sends me into a panic when I have a party or dinner to go to.

@felis One of my best finds ever are D's Jeans. If you ever see them in your country- grab them They are stretchy jeans that are made from recycled water bottles. They are very inexpensive ($16.99 at TJ MAXX!) I have three pairs of them in different styles/lengths and they look brand new but feel broken in.

 

[bcgal00]

I have always had a large wardrobe. My mom loved buying clothes and shoes and passed that joy down to me. I have way more clothes than I need but I don't regret it. I shop carefully, frequent consignment stores, sales, online deals, etc. If you can afford it, have room to store it, I say...why not

 

[zanthia]

as much as they can afford to - with money being tight totally stopped buying clothes but years ago i did buy buy always on sale as my motto back them was you can never have enough sweaters.

I need jeans real bad. Shoes are always a pain to buy as it is so hard to find a pair that fits well and is comfy. My sneakers have holes in them and i dread having to look for another pair.

 

[*gina*]

I think - I am not the normal woman. I don't need a lot of clothes and shoes. I try to buy clothes that I can mix and match in different ways. Important for me - my walking shoes... (and you won't find high heels).

 

[tanteva]

Weird thing is I don't really buy clothes. Everyone knows we're a one-income-family, and give me their handmedowns when they go through their clothes. Which make my wardrobe a really weird mix of styles.

I think this is why I have so much clothes. I know I can't just go buy new clothes, hence I keep the things I have. Just to be sure I have stuff to wear.

Basically I just buy underwear, socks & shoes. The rest is a mess of other peoples taste. LOL

 

[ClaireG]

I love clothing and shoes WAY too much. BUT with the move last year I sold a lot of the stuff that was in great condition (mainly work wear, as I am perm WFH now) via Thred-up. I also donated a lot of stuff to a charity that helps women on low-incomes get kitted out for interviews, as I am a curvy girl, my stuff was very popular! I am slowly purging more of it and I am not buying new items unless I see a gap. For example I was NOT a shorts girl, move to Florida, now I am a shorts girl And I love shoes, I am trying to purge the ones that I know will never be worn again, but I just can't do it!