Awhile back, I got a question from One Hundred Dollars a Month reader, Jane. She wrote,
I am curious, I am retired, trying to minimalize, how many clothes should a person keep? I keep getting rid of things and down sizing and it still feels like too many. Thirty or 40? Less? Help.
I LOVE questions like this, one, because you pretty much know how I feel about clothing, and two, it makes for some interesting discussion in the comments. I keep my wardrobe super simple. I like black, white and gray tees and long sleeve tees from the GAP. I usually pair them with jeans. The best part is that I am never stuck in the closet trying to pick out an outfit. Keeping it so simple pretty much fits every occasion in my life right now, though, I do own a few more items for times when I need to dress up {which is almost never}.
Exactly how many items of clothing you own is entirely personal. Some people need work clothes, casual clothes, etc., so their number goes up. Since you mentioned you are retired, I totally recommend looking at Project333. It’s all the rage in clothing minimalization right now. It’s basically a 3 month challenge to live with 33 items in your wardrobe. Those 33 items include clothing, accessories {scarves, jewelry, etc.}, outwear and shoes. That number doesn’t include underwear, pajamas, at home lounge wear, or workout clothing. The idea is to create a wardrobe that is interchangeable and can easily go from casual to dressy, so think color coordination and easy pairings, for example, a black skirt/slacks can go with pretty much anything and can be dressed up or down.
I honestly think that if I were to count my clothes, I would be at right about 3o items that I wear regularly. I like to splurge a bit on quality, so that my basic items look neat and tidy. This is particularly true for me with shoes. I’d rather have less shoes, but have them hold up longer, and actually keep my feet comfy and dry.
To get started, go through your closet and remove ANYTHING that is thread bare, has holes or stains, or you just NEVER wear, despite best intentions. I know you probably promise yourself you are going to wear those items when you do yard work, paint, or whatever, but honestly, how many “junk” clothes do you really need? Save maybe one set, and let the rest go. That’s the easy part.
I remember a long time ago, watching Clean Sweep on TLC, and Peter Walsh said {I’m paraphrasing}, “If you don’t love it and look great in it, it goes.” If you really get honest with yourself about the clothing that fits that description, you will be left with very little. Imagine a closet where every single item you can choose from, you love. You may have less than you are used to, but trust me, it will be immensely freeing to know whatever hanger you pull, you will love the way it feels and looks.
So Jane, if you really want to minimalize and aim for a specific number, I say give the 33 number a try. Box up the rest, and wait until the end of the 3 months to give it away, that way, you know for sure that 33 is a number you can live with.
How about YOU, any of my readers strive for minimalism in their wardrobe? If so, how do you decide how many items get to take up space in the closet?
~Mavis
1000 Outfits From Just 30 Pieces
dawn says
I think that is a great idea. I am a stay at home mom, so I really don’t need that much. I would need a few church clothes, but other than that, I could totally go for jeans and t shirts most days!!!
Julie says
We are having a yard sale this week. Thanks for the inspiration to go through my closet one more time. I think many people are starting to go through the post consumption and throw away culture. It seems to be all about downsizing now.
Sakura says
I just bought some new hangers online and they came with 40 hangers, 20 for pants and 20 for shirts. They also included some clips to add to the pant hangers. I’m working on getting my clothing down to 40 items excluding underwear, bras and pj’s. Accessories will have to wait for another day. But once this is tackled onto the shoes! For my youngest I do something similar. He has 7 shorts, 5 pants, 3 button up shirts, 5 T shirts and 5 Tank tops. In the winter we switch out the tank tops for Long sleeves. He also has 2 hoodies and 1 coat. As for shoes he has 4 pair. High tops, low tops, flip flops and sandals. I don’t know why he is a lot easier to organize than myself. I’ve noticed a world of difference in him when it comes to getting ready in the morning. I’m aiming for the same thing. I’ve been giving our stuff away on Free Cycle.
Tina B says
I think that for me, this is definitely a doable idea. I believe that I have approximately 33 or less clothing items (not counting the accessories and undergarments, as you mentioned) and it definitely makes choosing my daily outfits much more efficient. It was something that came about for me because for so many, many years I was very overweight. I have always been trying to lose weight, so never wanted to own an entire wardrobe, because I was “going to lose the weight” but never did. In the past 2 years I have finally dropped it off to a healthy weight and now own 4 pairs of pants rather than just 2, and more than a handful of shirts and sweaters, but I believe I am still around the 33 or less mark, including shoes. It takes us little space in my closet this way, too.
Mavis says
Great job on losing the weight!
Mel says
Congratulations on losing weight. It is a struggle. In this world so much of what we consume is unhealthy and carries a surprising large amount of calories. It can often be difficult, just be careful to maintain. Once lost its easy to go back to old habits. Well done, a pat on the back!!!
Ellen in Clackamas says
I am still working so I have “sets” of clothes…working vs. gardening vs ? I am going to see how many work outfits I really do have and pare the closet down. I know I have some of those that I want to fit into “someday”…think I will pull them out and box up. I love dressing for the holidays though and I am pretty sure I have 33 Christmas/Halloween/4th of July shirts!!!
Veronica says
Just as something to look into, “Dressing Your Truth” is a self-discovery program that also helps you look and feel beautiful. One of the steps is cleaning out everything from your closet that doesn’t match your “Type” and you end up with a lot less. It might be a helpful thing for some of your readers to look into. Cheers!
Leisa in NSW Australia says
Hi All,
Something I learnt years ago to help you cull your clothes. Turn all the hangers the opposite way to how you normally have them, and six months later, check what hasn’t been turned around. You won’t need what is left. I have done this regularly over the years, it truly works.
Leisa.
Mavis Butterfield says
I love this idea!
Cheri says
I read a book called “Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris.” In it the author talks about how many French keep a very pared-down wardrobe–she called it the 10-item wardrobe. I don’t think it includes shoes and accessories, but the idea is the same. I am trying to live close to that ideal myself. It is liberating!
Julie Ann says
Brilliant! Today is my Friday – so off to the closets I go! I am starting with my teen daughter’s though… I did 12 loads of laundry on Sunday last weekend and I was HALF DONE. We have four people in my house. I sort the laundry together, but strictly by happenstance and person-to-item ratio… my 13-y-o daughter had FOUR loads of laundry that were only hers!
Rach says
I haven’t cut right down to 33, – but I am slowly cutting back in a couple of ways #
1. Spending freeze.
2. I started hanging clothes in complete outfits to save time getting going in the morning. (including knickers/tights with skirts and trousers) – saved time and drawer space.
3. That helped me see how I wear the same outfits week in week out. with 4 days at work, even with spares that’s only really 5 work outfits and 3 at home sets.
SittingOverHere says
I’m a stay-home mom, so I honestly don’t need that many clothes. But, I do like feeling supa fly whenever I leave the house, so I have a well-curated collection of outfits hanging in my closet.
In total, I have a little over a full week’s worth of outfits – a couple pair of great fitting jeans, various styles of casual blazers & a few cute Anthropologie tops, etc. I have very few pairs of shoes, but every pair is high quality & perfectly matches my ONE expensive, black leather Marc Jacobs purse – which I LOVE & use every single day, no matter what. I’m super picky about what I buy & I love having a very small wardrobe. It makes getting dressed in the morning incredibly easy, and I always look fly when I’m running those errands….
Other than that, I have ONE drawer for workout clothes, ONE drawer for loungewear, etc… I love having a minimalist system that works for me!!! 🙂
Mavis says
I love your way of thinking. A few quality items like you own sounds awesome!!
Rachel Nichols says
I just got done reading a wisebread article. According to it, if I do my laundry every week I should be able to get by with 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of slacks, 5 tops, 2-3 blazers/cardigans (if it’s chilly), 8 pairs of underwear and socks/nylons, 3 bras, 2 nightgowns, and perhaps a dress. Add an umbrella, a jacket, and an overcoat with gloves and hood or hat for bad weather. 3 pairs of shoes should also suffice–moccasins, sneakers, and sandals.
Of course that’s the bare minimum. Few women own that little in this country. A lot of solid, neutral colors and at least a few accessories would be necessary if you wanted to jazz things up. And you would need to shower every day!
Cheri says
I have long tried to stick with a wardrobe that will last me just a week, though I don’t see the need to shower every day. I also live in a four-season climate where it can get very hot and very cold, so I have to have two different wardrobes. Some pieces cross seasons, but a lot don’t. Anyway, I am always looking for ways to downsize my wardrobe, but I find it’s difficult to have a wardrobe where I wear everything in it for a week and then wash it all. I have to account for events that don’t happen on a weekly basis, such as special occasions. And some weeks I work more than others, so some weeks I need nicer clothes and other weeks I need more casual clothes. I try, though.
My stepmother once told me that when she was young, she owned five dresses and that was it. If I liked wearing dresses in the winter, I could go for this kind of simplicity. That’s what I think I am kind of aiming for somewhere in the back of my mind–to have what I need, to be realistic about what that really means (after all, St. Francis of Assisi owned nothing but a single habit and a begging bowl), and to enjoy owning little. Not easy in this society, though!
Rachel Nichols says
You can say that again, Cheri. I hardly ever buy clothes; I get more outfits than I need or use as gifts for Christmas or birthdays! 😀