How many clothes does one actually need
 

Keyshawn's latest endeavor;

While putting away some laundry, I noticed my closet space is starting to brim with clothes on hangers and becoming a bit messy. With inspiration of the living well...well below your means thread and this latest episode, I'm tackling the endeavour [hopefully with fellow TFP'ers help as well :)] to discover how many clothes does a person need, realistically. Some of the cynical ones here might suggest just one pair of everything, but I'd like to actually switch my boxers everyday :p
Factors like your climate and occupation also can have an influence on the numbers as well - For me, a few more months of high school [with a dress code of any button-down dress shirt, any tie, any non-cargo dress pants, and dress shoes] and then college in the fall. [college will either be in MI or buffalo, though thats for another thread]

Here's a sample of what i have right now, and I encourage you to do the same and post it as well:

My current inventory:

SS = short sleeve
LS = long sleeve

7 SS Button down shirts
8 LS " " "
4 Sweaters
7 khaki dress pants
2 dress pants [other colour]
5 LS nice/semi-casual shirts [a few are polo-style]
2 SS " "
6 sweatshirts
two hoodies
3 Polar fleeces
Thirty-four SS t-shirts [not including undershirts]
2 LS t-shirts

[pants, socks, etc. to be added later].

What I found to be ironic about the t-shirts, is the majority of them I didn't even purchase myself. They were gifts from family/relatives for b-day and christmas, or returning from a vacation. Not many people have the gall to tell them that you don't need a t-shirt and will be rarely worn, if at all. [As well as the fact it's damned ugly.] The rest of the t-shirts are from various events at school & the community or from some giveaway.
Currently, the t-shirts alone have one whole drawer and half of another one held hostage. I'd like to siege some of that space back too ;)

Join the siege against textiles overbearing your living space !

_keyshawn_

Good topic. I own so many clothes that I won't even take the time to list them because the inventory process could take days! About two or three times a year I go through my clothes and try to get rid of things I don't think I need anymore, but part of the problem is I keep things for reasons other than that I actually wear them. For example, I keep things as a memento of some good times, or because someone special gave them to me, etc. I admire your frugal and practical take on the subject and maybe I can learn something from you. :)

Keyshawn - that looks pretty similar to the inventory I've got in my apt. Since you're going to school soon, I'd definitely recommend cutting back on the stuff you take. I know I didn't have much room at all in the closet during the first two years in the dorms. For instance, you probably only need 1 pair of dress pants at school. I've got 2 because I was flying profesionally while going to school, but before that and now, I really don't need 2. I might as well list inventory:

2 dress pants
4 dress shirts
2 jeans
4 khakis
~20 t-shirts/undershirts
2 LS t-shirts
3 sweaters
2 sweatshirts
2 swishy pants
4 polos
whole shitload of socks and underpants, they won't get counted
1 each jacket/blazer

There are a group of clothes that just stay in rotation pretty much all the time and a lot of the t-shirts never get worn, either too big or just ugly. I'm quite cheap so I very rarely buy clothes and generally the closet only gets fuller during Christmas or birthdays. Depending on how messy my workplace has been or I've been eating, I can get away with wearing: pants 3 times, shirts 2 times, sweatshirts/ers until they are dirty or have any sort of smell. Underwear/shirts/socks are changed everyday. Seems to work well and I've never got any comments from anybody.

I have:

2 SS button-down shirts
20 t shirts
3 pairs of shorts
2 pairs of pants
1 sweater
1 polo shirt
1 jacket
and some underwear and socks, which I didn't bother to count

I've found that that is about all I really need, living in Florida. Plus I can't afford to buy clothes very often.

I have way too many clothes to post here, lol. I'm a grrl, though, and prone to being a bit of a clothes horse. However, in the spirit of keeping our budget manageable, I go through my closet at least once a year, optimally twice. I pull out anything I haven't worn in 6 months (unless it's a seasonal thing), anything I'm not wearing because of a stain or because I don't like it anymore, and anything that doesn't fit. I either give it away, or donate it (provided its in good shape). I don't buy anything new unless I can immediately think of something to replace with it.

I keep two or three nice outfits, for parties or dress-up functions, and the rest ranges from chinos to jeans. Using the above method, I keep my clothes fresh and "wearable" and my closet manageable, and still manage to have some variety in what I wear. My hubby hates to shop, and we're actually right about to have to go shopping for him. He wears clothes until they literally fall apart, and he sometimes has a hard time finding something to wear when we have to dress for something other than work. He manages a bar, so he can wear tshirts and jeans... which of course contributes to the wear and tear on his clothing. We'll probably throw everything on his side of the closet away in a few weeks and replace all of his every day wear.

This thread inspired me to pull out some of my old clothes and put them in bags to take to the Goodwill.

Shiiiiit, all I got are three boxers, two Levi's, a couple T-shirts, 4 pairs of socks, and a hooded sweatshirt.

Jk.. I got a couple dress pants and some dress shirts for work, too.

Oh and my 4 year old Chucks, dress shoes, and a pair of tennies for footwear.

I am working on building a better wardrobe, more timeless peices that can last for longer then a few months. I have around:

4 Jeans
2 Dresspants
1 Suit
6 sport shirts
5 polo shirts (just ordered 10 for summer)
14 Tshirts
2 long sleave sweaters
1 rain jacket
1 leather jacker

Dang ... I have many clothes, but all I really use are 2 cotton athletic pants, 3LS, 3SS, and ofc, underwear and socks.

i was going to move out of the country this year (postponed now) and from others who had done the same, the basic advice i got was two weeks worth of clothes plus one "nice" outfit and one "really nice" outfit will cover the essentials. if you select pieces that can mix and match easily, that should be plenty. if you live in an area where you really need seasonal wardrobes, look for items that you can layer and you shouldn't need much more than the two weeks worth.

I had a rough count and found:
10 undies
12 pair of work socks
5 pair of shorts - For work
4 pair of track suit pants - Thanks Mum! (She made them).
1 pair of jeans
3 LS button down shirts
1 SS button down shirt
4 jumpers - 2 knitted by my Mum (She likes making things)
1 leather jacket - For when I'm riding my bike
1 'Driza-bone' stockmans riding coat - I take it when I'm camping/shooting.
20+ T shirts - I wear T shirts everywhere! The last wedding I went to I wore one.
I cull the old shitty stuff occasionally.
I wear for comfort and I don't care what anyone thinks.

Also, I have a chest of drawers that's jam packed full with band T shirts from my old roadie days which I'll never throw out
...until I get Alzheimers disease and forget everything, that is.

Wow you guys put me to shame. I just went through my closet and cut the volume almost in half. The other half I'm intending to sell this spring in a garge sale. Just for example though I have 8 sweaters and 15 sweatshirts. All different colors and styles. I have quite a few dresses, a whole drawer of socks, whole drawer of nightshirts, teddies, etc, a whole drawer of undies and bras, and 3 drawers of t-shirts. I won't go on since the number of shoes that I have are so great I can't keep them all in one place. Just a guess but I think the number of shoes now is around 25 or 30. I just collect - not intentionally - just don't get rid of old when I get new is all. I suppose I should go through things again. I don't NEED half of what I've got still.

10 undies.
10 pairs of black socks.
1 pair of black pants (work)
3 button down shirts (work)
4 button down shirts
2 t-shirts
1 sweater
2 pairs of jeans
3 pairs of shorts
1 pair of shorts (lifting)
1 pair of running pants (cardio)
15 beaters

there is my current inventory. i try and keep it very light. i dont work more then 2 days in a row so that helps keep only one pair of pants for work. weather permitting the beater gets worn solo...yes im that cool.

Hoo boy. I probably have more dresses than most of you have underwear, and I rarely wear dresses... I should be able to throw out a few sacks of clothes if I could only bear parting with them. There are so many memories connected to my clothes. But I need to purge the wardrobe now, because my big closet and drawer are full of stuff I never use while the stuff I use are piled on the chairs. Should make the sorting easy though. :D

10 LS Button down shirts
12 ties
10 pairs of dress pants with matching tailored jackets
2 trench coats
4 Sweaters
6 khaki dress pants
5 LS nice/semi-casual shirts
4 SS polo shirts
1 sweatshirt
15 SS t-shirts [not including undershirts]
5 LS t-shirts
7 pairs of jeans
2 pairs of exercise pants
9 pairs of white socks
9 pairs of dress socks
8 pairs of boxers
8 white SS undershirts
8 muscle shirts ("wife-beaters")
1 pair black leather gloves
1 pair brown leather gloves
5 dress watches
2 wallets
4 pairs of casual/sports shoes
4 pairs of dress shoes with matching belts
2 pairs of flip-flops
1 wedding band

I won't even begin to count...

but I can tell you I have clothes for just about any occassion one can think of...because I've made it that way.

I know when I go on interviews, it can be anytime during the year, so I make sure that I have appropriate outerwear for suits.
A long wool coat looks much nicer than trying to wear your timberland jacket over your suit.

3 pair of black pants
1 pairs of jeans
1 pair cargo pants
2 pair sleep pants
2 button down shirts
3 short sleeve printed shirts
5 short sleeve colored t-shirts
3 short sleeve white t-shirts
3 long sleeve shirts
2 sweater
1 heavy jacket
1 Peacoat
4 bandanas (work)
2 beanies (fun)
10 pairs socks (black, gray and white...mixed)
1 pair boots
1 pair sandles
0 pair sneakers

I moved abroad again, so of course had limited lugauge space, so I live with these:
3 kahki's
1 pair of jeans
2 pairs of shorts
1 LS button up
3 short sleeve button ups
3 tshirts
7 pairs of socks
5 pairs of boxers
swimsuit
1 pair of shoes
1 pair of sandals.
1 waterproof coat
1 hoodie.
That is it. no more. So total (not including shocks/boxers/ outwear, etc.) is 13 clothing items.
enough clothes for a week, including washing and time drying. (no dryers here, only hang drying)
Back in Canada I have plenty more, but need to get rid of most of it..

Hoo, boy.

I have more each of dresses, skirts, slacks, tops, sweaters, hose, socks, shoes, and undies than metalgeek has total clothing items, in some cases by a factor of two or three. I probably have more bras than he has clothing items.

We have one of those superorganized closet systems in a large walk-in, and a free-standing wardrobe, and it's still at the point where if either my SO or I wants to buy something new, we have to dispose of something old first.

Spring cleaning is fun because we get to throw out the old, and bring in the new, which means shopping again.

I would have to say I have a TON of clothes. Some of them even have tags on them and sometimes I actually forget I have things because I have so much.

My clothes are almost like a collection of memories to me, that is why I have a hard time getting rid of anything.

enough for a week in my opinion, i just like to have a variety, i dont wanna wear the same thing every day of the week every week tho, like every monday i got this shirt etc etc etc

I have only a few clothes and am happy that way! I only buy new clothes when my old ones wear our or I out-grow them (this now means greater waistline unfortunetly!).

However, if I bought more clothes more often then maybe they wouldn't wear out and I'd still be able to wear those old clothes I had from years back. Maybe I'm just not stylish enough....

It really depends on the life you lead, etc. I cant believe i actually counted my clothes

35 tshirts
85 ls shirts
30 sh shirts
5 jeans
2 khakis
10 other pants (no clue how to call them)
6 shorts
swimming trunks
6 suits (pants + jacket)
2 blazers
around 50 pairs of socks
around 50 briefs
13 belts
24 ties
4 hoodies
14 sweaters
4 polo shirts
5 sports pants
8 scarves
6 pairs of gloves
9 belts
2 black coats
snowboard jacket
2 leather jackets
3 suede jackets
1 military outfit
12 pairs of sport shoes
5 pairs of boots
10 pairs of "day to day" shoes
24 pairs of dress shoes

and a pile of them just went off to charity...
i just realized i have way to many clothes.

the minimum is:

3 dress shirt
5 short sleeve shirts
1 pair of khakis
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of dress paints
2 pairs or shorts
3 long sleeve shirt
1 pair of sneakers
1 pair of dress shoes
7 undies
1 winter jacket
1 rain jacket
1 regular jacket

i think everyone should have at least one of these

Good God. That's a lot of clothes. Does your lifestyle require such numbers, or do you simply enjoy having many clothes?

a bit of both, actually.
i didnt realize before counting them today though. it is a bit over the top, i have to admit...

I try to go through my clothes at least once a year and get rid of anything I haven't worn. My problem is I won't wear something a lot during winter, get rid of it during summer, and then the next winter I want to wear it. I do have lots of old t-shirts and jeans that are just really ratty and need thrown away too, I keep saving them for days where I might need to paint or something but that happens once in a blue moon. so it's all just taking up space. Plus I work in an office now so I had to go buy some dress pants and several nice tops so my closet is even more crowded than before. Part of it is the fact it's a small closet. the rest of it needs sorted out. Moving in a few months though, so that's when I'm gonna sort through stuff.