Less wardrobe shopping, more joy
Too much clothing is overwhelming
It’s time for wardrobe maths.
As a challenge to wear only 10 items for 10 days sweeps style blogs, Bethan Holt wonders how to shop sparingly for life, not just the new season.
7. 28. 37. 48. These are just a few of the figures that have been mooted as the “perfect” number of items to have in your wardrobe.
Wouldn’t it be comforting if there really was a definitive answer to that conundrum – a magic amount – meaning you were neither bored silly nor overwhelmed when looking for something to wear?
Donna Karan caused a sensation in 1985 with her Seven Easy Pieces idea, which included a bodysuit, tights, a skirt, relaxed trousers, a tailored jacket, a cashmere sweater and a white shirt. “So many women find assembling the right clothes bewildering today,” she said at the time.
Perhaps the most notable modern advocate for limiting your wardrobe is Caroline Rector, an American style blogger who embarked on an experiment to limit herself to just 37 items in 2014. She acknowledged that everyone’s casual versus smart is different, but she arrived at the figure by allowing herself nine pairs of shoes, nine bottoms, 15 tops and four dresses or coats, depending on the season.
Today, 31-year-old Rector – who has just completed a 10x10 challenge whereby you try to wear only 10 items for 10 days – is still a go-to source of minimalist wardrobe inspiration, but she has relaxed the rules. “Currently, I think I have somewhere around 50 pieces … I let go of some of the structure but I carry the heart of it with me: smaller closet, intentional purchases, less shopping and much more joy.”
Recent research has found that we don’t wear 60% of the clothes in our wardrobes.
“Never shop by trends, only what suits you and your lifestyle; be honest, not aspirational,” advises Anna Berkeley, a stylist and buyer.
She believes 48 pieces is the most effective tally as it allows a total mix of old and new per season. –