Hannah Louise Poston has a great video called ‘How to match your wardrobe to your lifestyle’, where she walks through her decision making process of how to decide how many of each kind of clothing item you need. Would recommend!
Id be interested in an episode on fabrics. What is viscose? How do you care for silk? What costs are involved not just in purchasing an item but in maintaining it? What materials perform best and last longest in your climate and seasons? What about wool vs synthetics in winter and summer? Thanks!
Fabrics is an interesting one, especially when you think of the growing number of vegetarians and vegans. Natural fibres are generally said to be better (obviously production techniques need to be taken into consideration), and synthetics are bad. But vegans aren't going to wear wool, silk, and leather (at least not if they're vegan because of animal rights issues), and even though there are plant based leathers being developed, are they suitable for winter shoes, and what are the environmental issues, etc? And what do you wear instead of wool and how do the alternatives compare, not just in terms of performance, but also in terms of the environment? I feel like it's a jungle!
This past year I have been inspired by Alyssa to buy all my clothes (except underwear, socks and shoes) second hand. I feel better about my purchases and love my clothes.
Y’all, I had three deaths in my family in 9 months. I inherited closets and closets and closets of clothes! My mother had three full size closets packed full plus dressers! 😬😬😬😬my goals are 1. Don’t leave this much for my kids to go through in case of sudden death. And 2. My biggest goal is TO FIT ALL MY CLOTHES INTO 1 CLOSET AND 1 DRESSER!!!!!!!!! (Including off season clothes) #SENDHELP. 😢😅😮
If 3 closets full of clothes drop on top of you, you can be crushed to death. I like your goal. I have 3 closets full of clothes shoes and bags. I think I should have a goal like yours.
Yikes, I’ve already purchased 11 new items this year! 1 t-shirt, 1 pair of walking shoes, 1 exercise top, 2 exercise shorts, 5 pairs of exercise leggings, and a small purse. Hearing the data on what to aim for is helpful. Thank you for sharing.
Tin Foil Hat here (I'll say it to save some readers' time). This comes directly from the World Economic Forum's Agenda 2030 plan, available for reference on their website. It is marketed in a very slick/deceptive way. Read it, think it through, unhitch from indoctrination of the [un]sustainability movement, and ask yourselves if that is the world you want to live in. I do not. I will not be made a slave to a few hypocritical and egotistical elitist overlords. I am a frugal homesteader who employs the regenerative farming method. Not to oversimplify, but this is the way. Hopefully there will be ears to here on this forum.
I think we have to overlook the strict numbers but be mindful of what we really need, what we really wear and focus on our creativity ( how to multiply the number of outfits you can make with less pieces). We have to keep asking ourselves the tough questions when we “go” shopping: will I wear it often? Can I match it with my other pieces? Does it fit my real lifestyle? Etc….
I live North UK I have 75 items of clothing that mix and match and the rest are statement pieces. I only include stuff I wear outside the house and don't include accessories. I wear most of my clothes regularly. I buy more second hand than new. I am 67 years old and love clothes.
It’s easy to stick to 33 items for Spring and Fall, which are shared, and for Summer, but cold weather is up to 5 months of the year and involves layers so more is needed I feel.
I think it'd be worthwhile to think about content creator wardrobes vs those with non clothing related jobs. There's a great analogy by Hannah Louise Poston about the industrial size kitchen of a chef as opposed to the several pots and pans of a regular person, in her video about the problem with declutters. Mentioning this as first of all, a way to hopefully help lighten this feeling of guilt that seems to have permeated this convo, and also just that I'd love to see content creators being transparent about this -- their clothing needs are tied to their jobs and so the numbers -- very legitimately -- may look different from if clothes weren't also tools for their content creation job/side project (as well as being something that brings them joy). ❤
I counted the clothes hanging in my closet in preparation for a move and can say I currently have 63. I would say at least half were bought second hand with new pieces when I couldn’t find something specific. I am weaning myself off of even second hand clothing now, because I honestly love the clothes I have. I have started to “build myself a second hand boutique” with beautiful pieces saved in second hand apps. When I need something specific, I will look there first . I am trying to focus more on wearing what I have and rotating by season and piece to make sure they all get worn. I probably still have too many comfy sweaters, but I live in Colorado and need them for at least 6 months of each year.
I have, at this moment, a 268-piece wardrobe. This includes every piece of clothing I own (including all workout gear, sleepwear and outerwear) and all of my shoes, bags, gloves, scarves, belts and hats. (I count everything but bras, panties and socks.) Three years my wardrobe was 310 pieces. I LOVE clothes. For me they have always been art, and a form of self-expression, but I had the bad habits of buying multiples when I liked something, and buying styles that looked great on other body types but not mine. Now, I keep a list of every item in my wardrobe, and when something new comes in, I make sure at least one goes out-usually it’s more. My goal is to get down to 250 pieces total. I know that for many people that would still be a large wardrobe, but as Alyssa said, we’re not one size fits all in what we need our wardrobe to do. As with all things in life, mindfulness is key.
I read once that a garment needs to be worn about 30 times to make up for the resources used to make it. Obviously that’s an average (for example jeans and leather are super resource intensive and likely need way more) but if you’re focusing on the after-purchase part, I find that number really useful. I also like to ask myself when I’m considering anything (new or secondhand) whether I honestly think I’ll wear it at least 30 times before I pass it on or declutter it. It sort of self-levels the lifestyle question, because things I wear to work, outerwear, etc are easy to imagine wearing 3”times whereas things that are more for ‘fashion’ are harder to justify (for example the overalls I bought 2 years ago- and honestly love- are only up to 6 wears. At this rate I’ll need to keep them for over a decade to get to 30, but in that case I’ll probably still have and wear them that far down the line.) So anyway, my point is that for me focusing on that number really helps. And for a bonus, I’m actually at 5 newly purchased items this year but it wasn’t something I tried to do or thought about- I just followed the 30 wears thing extra diligently when it came to newly manufactured stuff. I would love to hear a discussion between y’all and someone like Shelbi or like Justine who does life cycle analysis for clothes to get their perspective :)
I like that guideline with 30 wears- but am confused how that really limits you? I can't really think of things that would not easily apply to, aside from occasion wear or things that just turn out to not work for you ( and sure, with time you find out what the latter will most likely be) but you need to make these experiences to learn. I find what really might be a game changer here might be not to declutter too often - I bought a blouse 3 years ago, and just started tower it continuously this year.,,
For me the 30 wears helps with things that might be sparking my interest but not part of my enduring core style, or things that are “an extra pair of . . .”. It helps me limit the temptation to get something “just in case”, because I do track how often I wear things and I’ve noticed that certain pieces are easy to get to 30 wears and others less so. For me that’s casual non-active wear because I work in active wear, so the actual number of chances I get to wear a given pair of jeans is lower than average, so if I wear my less-reached-for pairs 10 times a year will I still like a trendier pair in 3 years? will I really wear a riskier style of jeans 30 times before I declutter it? Probably not, makes more sense to stick with the ones that fit my core style. I hope that helps clarify, but also people are different so a different method might work better for you :)
Where I struggle is in my weight fluctuation. I have to have approx three separate sets of clothing in size 0-2, 4-6, 8-10. I’ve decluttered all clothes in a certain size range only to find that I had to re-buy clothing in that range a year later. Now I store the wrong sized clothing under my bed and this saves me from consuming new items when my weight shifts. I shop under my bed when I lose or gain weight and the items feel new to me. Knowing my clothing consumption is higher, I’m relieved that I’ve been vegan for twenty five years, so my carbon footprint is MUCH smaller than a meat eater.
So wise! I'm living in regret having decluttered clothing due to weight change. Now, with a better self knowledge, and more stable housing I'm holding on to a wider range so I'm not caught out again.
Great conversation and definitely food for thought. Especially when we consider the flip side of the coin, if fewer garments are being made, fewer people are being employed and therefore become unable to sustain themselves and their families. It is such a nuanced issue. But being a more conscious consumer has definitely improved my life. I currently have 280 items in my wardrobe, which include shoes and bags. I've been using an app to track my usage this year. And glad to say that I utilise 82% of my wardrobe. It's been a great way to play with outfit combinations as well as look at the items I enjoy but have only worn a few times. Now, I can either build more outfits around them and prioritise them or decide if I need to pass it on. It all helps to be more mindful and intentional, and I'm so glad I've found something to track the data. It's incredibly helpful. Would love to see how everyone else gets on with tracking. Thanks for creating awesome, thought-provoking content. Love you ladies. ❤
Regarding your comment on lower consumption = less jobs, consider that a push for higher quality items means more time spent on each item. It may be more equalised than you think if we have skilled workers taking longer on higher quality apparel! Of course, I agree again that it's an exceptionally nuanced issue, because the employees shouldn't be expected to pay for their upskilling training either and we are talking global shifts, not just individual countries.
Hello girls, love from the Netherlands. I'm tracking my clothes this year, and what I already found is that I can see WHY I don't or hardly wear some things: for example I have to wear a strapless bra under the garments, or the fabric is thick but the tops have no sleeves... you know. It already has given me so much information about myself and my wardrobe which will influence my purchases. I will definitely keep on doing this and I am looking forward to your videos about it. 🙂
The WHY is really important to prevent me getting rid of that really warm winter coat that I may only need for one year in three, but is still really useful when the temperatures plummet! And this summer, I've not worn my high summer pieces because of the lack of high summer weather! I need to remember why, rather than declutter due to lack of use.
I appreciate the thoughtful discussion here. I haven’t counted my clothing items and I’m sure the number would be in the hundreds. I did a thorough clean-out years ago to eliminate items that I didn’t love. With respect to my current clothes (and shoes and accessories), I really enjoy them, I wear them (admittedly just once a year for some items), I care for them and I keep them for the long haul. When I go to replace an item that has finally worn out (or gotten a stain I can’t remove or damage I can’t fix), I now look for a quality second hand item to replace it, rather than buying new. Sometimes I don’t replace at all since I have plenty of options already. The main challenge of having that number of items is that they won’t all fit on my closet rod/shelves/dresser drawers at once, so I keep a small selection of outfits readily available at any given time, and once I wear and launder them I store them in cedar chests and pull out the next assortment of outfits. That has been a pretty effective way to enjoy the variety of items I love without feeling frustrated or overwhelmed when I walk into my closet. It does still seem like a large number, but as noted it’s not that different from keeping a large collection of books that you read or craft supplies that you use. I like the balanced approach of this podcast. Jen
May we join you in the tracking clothing with a spreadsheet challenge? It would be fun to try the parameters, and then add our comments to the follow-up podcast. I love learning from you three, and from our following community.❤
I think that just the fact that we actually care, and decide to talk about this subject and taking action is a good sign of us doing something good for the planet, our budget and courselves as well. Maybe the key could be to be aware of what our lifestyle ask for in terms of clothing, so that way we can curate our wardrobe and that way even if we have more pieces than we should, we know that is not a waste.
Im the opposite of Christina: when I buy something its like “its too nice to be worn now” so Im wearing more older clothing than my new purchases… its ridiculous I know but its a fact. As for the number of clothing/items, its not how much tou need as minimal bur more definitely an upper limit you need to watch in order “to feel off”. When I hit a too hing number Im lost in my closet and then I know I got too far. Great episode❤
Your reaction when Signe read that we should not buy more than 5 new items per year was absolutely priceless. The guilt was palpable. Please remember that it is the fossil fuel companies that should really feel bad for knowingly destroying our planet and worse still, continuing to promote their products, expand their industry and greenwash to make individuals feel bad. Ultimately we don’t need a lot of clothes. When I did the analysis of how I spent my time, I realized that I didn’t need all the clothes that I own. Still working to reduce but it is tough. At the end of the day, our clothes need to be worn and we need to dramatically reduce our consumption. A climate scientist that I follow, Dr Heather Short wrote that we need to reduce our consumption by 90%! Being mindful and thinking about what we buy is the first step. Great podcast! Love listening to all of you.❤❤❤
I LOVE this collaboration, you are three of my favorites so I was so happy to see you all working together. Your content is thought provoking and continues to inspire me, I'm beginning to declutter without overdoing it and trying to shop less. It's a fine balance to be mindful but still have fun with fashion without guilt and/or shame. Thank you, lovely ladies!
I’m retired now so 5 items would be easy for me. When I need new undies I’m in trouble. But seriously I’m slowly buying the quality Knix underwear and bras as I can afford them. The other things I’m looking for is a pullover sweater, a denim skirt and black dress pants. I check a nice used clothing store near me. It’s fun hunting. I go out very rarely looking.
I have found that 90-120 pieces not counting pj's, outerwear and shoes has served me from student, to young Mom, big career, working 2 jobs to retired Grandma. And it has always felt like too much. I live in Calgary so deal with all of the weather. I would say 70-80 covers life. 5 pieces a year is doable if you don't count socks, underwear, and outerwear. I buy a bit more than that, all 2nd hand, treating my buys like a library, swapping frequently. I would agree that 33 pieces for 3 months is plenty... I can just never decide on the 33!
"Depending on where you live you may need more you may need less" Exactly! I live in a climate with extreme weather variation (both -10F and 100F for about a week each year) and have a lifestyle that requires dressy casual/workout clothes/casual clothes every week plus hiking gear on the regular. I don't worry about exact numbers, but make sure I've got space (I have a pretty limited space for my wardrobe - two "Half size" dressers and half a small closet - so this keeps me honest!) and am getting good use out of everything. I'm planning a full clothing no buy next year and I'm genuinely STOKED about it. Christina's content has inspired me so much! I did an inadvertent project 333 last summer during a move. I had 20 something items for 4 months. And what I really learned was that quality is important! A lot of the clothes really didn't survive being worn that constantly. And now I have focused on higher quality purchases and my new summer "capsule" (30 items plus workout gear and scarves/hats) is holding up so much better this year!
The five pieces remind me of my youthful teenage years. I fared fine with my re- equipment i was allowed every new school year. Basically 5 things every year, and maybe a new jacket every couple of years :)
What about responsibility from those who manufacture those garments? Are 5 sustainable brand garments per year having the same environmental impact as 5 fast fashion ones? How was that number calculated? It seems to me a quite dodgy assessment. I do agree we all have too much but I don't like when studies are only addressing the final consumer as to blame for the current situation and not companies, institutions and governments for not controlling companies for proper resource management in their manufacturing and transport chains.
Absolutely. It's like the World Economic forum telling us we will own nothing and be happy (for the sake of the planet of course :)) and yet they all show up on private jets to their summits and it's comprised entirely of companies that pillage the Earth and treat their employees like literal garbage. I am suspicious of all these 'authorities' though I do think runaway consumerism is it's own problem with a spiritual solution not a bureaucratic, top down one.
I added 11 items this year with only 5(!) new pieces, the rest are secondhand. Pure coincidence but it will fuel my resolve to not add anything else, new or used, in 2023.
I own 36 pieces, underwear and shoes (8pair) not included. 12 bottoms 24 tops. I only buy cotton, silk, wool and linnen and only when I need to replace an item. Because off that I dont have to skimp I can look for quality items.🙋🏼♀️🇱🇺
I went a little crazy this summer and purchased a lot of linen and linen blend clothes. I retired last fall so I rarely go anywhere anymore and when I do, it's almost like I feel that the outing is not worthy of these new pieces, like I'm going to be overdressed or something. Is that weird? I'd love to have the confidence to just wear these clothes, regardless of the occasion!
Just start wearing them - mix them in with what you wear regularly. I think it just takes time to get used to a new piece. Wear it for a few hours to the grocery store and eventually you will start to get used to the item!
@@phoebeyang8134I definitely agree! A good way of wearing things that you feel are outside your comfort zone is by pairing them with something that you live to wear. Linen is totally acceptable on a day to day basis!
I wear my linen mostly round the house and garden. It's comfortable, casual and no one is thinking my outfit is too smart, too casual too loose, too bright or anything else.
No, I don’t think it’s weird at all. But I know what you mean - I’m retired too. (And my husband no longer asks me if I’m “going somewhere” when I had fun with my clothes and look more “put together”. Now he’ll just say when he notices and likes an outfit.) And if you just retired from a job where you had to “present” a certain way, you may be transitioning into dressing less for how others perceive you and more just for yourself, for your own experiment in comfort and enjoyment and expression. I think linen has historically gone from a worn-in “common folk” fabric to a meticulously ironed and possibly starched “fancy folk” fabric and back around to now more relaxed again, depending on how structured the item and what it’s worn with. Wear it with your casual sandals and your jeans etc. and you won’t be overdressed at all. It’s so delightfully airy in the summer - enjoy!
Don't be afraid to dress better than what you see around you. I live in a tiny town and frankly what people wear is pretty awful. My uniform is a pair of 'NICE" flare jeans and a sweater. . .jackets as needed depending on the weather [I live in a 4 season climate] . . In summer I switch out the sweaters for tees and short-sleeved knits. I rarely wear woven fabrics as I hate to iron.
This fall/winter season is the first time I"ve actually written down a focused list of items that I'm looking to add to my wardrobe and I've found that it is SO helpful in keeping me focused on what I actually want/need and not being distracted by fun and shiny impulses 😆 It also helps when I'm looking for those items 2nd hand! Thanks for all your inspiration!
I have not read the Project 333 book, but I saw an interview with Courtney Carver in which she specifically said there's nothing magical about the number 33. You may need 29 items or 52 items, or some other number of items. 33 is just a place to start. She also said that if a category is a dealbreaker, shoes or jewelry for example, don't throw away the whole challenge, just don't count that category. I think a lot of people have no idea where or how to start minimizing their wardrobe, and her ideas are a good place to start. You can make adjustments as you go, based on your individual personality and circumstances. Maybe you will adjust the number of items you have, or maybe you will use some other measure and not count items at all, but you will get started.
For a few years now, I’ve been following the seasonal 10-Item Wardrobe from Jennifer Scott, with my own sustainable take on it. It has made the whole capsule process so much simpler for me. It focuses on ten core items and then filling that in with “extras,” things like tee shirts, cardigans, and special occasion wear.
I moved from CA to CO almost 3 years ago and HAD to change my wardrobe. I slowly added more winter cloths, and tried to find things second hand first. But sometimes just had to buy new. Also started a job on a ranch, so also needed ranch cloths and boots. Those were pretty easy to find second hand. So it really depends on individual circumstances.
❤ the tracking of wears! I also geek out with finding my most worn items and how that can inform what I buy and how to use my budget. However, I do ask myself why I’m not wearing something and whether I could change it or my mindset to make it more appealing. For example, I altered/cropped a top that I wasn’t wearing and I wear it much more frequently now.
This conversation was excellent. I am over five pieces, but I have been reducing my wardrobe. I gave away almost everything, and sold some. Also, I have been buying clothes that I want to wear everyday. Personally, I am not a fan of secondhand clothes. I don’t need to absorb people’s energy.
This!! I don't really get the secondhand thing that everyone is so gung ho on these days. I get that people want to reduce their "carbon footprint" but I also think it is trendy to say that you only buy second hand clothes. I don't want stranger's clothes and their energy either. I might take something from my sisters, my mom, or a friend but I know them and their energy. I find second hand clothes to be creepy to be honest. I just buy a lot less these days and put a lot of thought into what I buy so I can have the item for a long time. I might buy the odd trendy piece here or there but for the most part, I stick with classics. That is how I reduced my "carbon footprint".
This os a great discussion. I think that buying secondhand is great but even then don't overconsume. I think that the rate of keeping up with the rapid pace of trends is how fast fashion with its cheap prices reels alot of people in. I shop my own weardrobe for trends. I tend to keep things till they wear out and I try to get things with natural fibers. One thing about fashion is that it keeps coming back around so storing things I love instead of decluttering is a good way to cycle things around. Lastly lifestyle and climate plays a huge roll in how much we need.
I have always had way too many clothes. Lots of times I have bought out of boredom. Since I have been following you 3 along with some other fashion minimalist, I have loved learning how to declutter. I very seldom buy from a store. I only buy second hand. My favorite things are blue jeans! I probably started out with over 50 pairs! I have worked on getting rid of so many in the last year. My problem now is , I have been taught by the best❤how to work your wardrobe and mix and match. I’m loving my wardrobe! Learning my go to colors and learning how to wear things differently. Its so much fun. But… I still have so many clothes that I realized I love and don’t need to buy anything unless it’s something here and there I have wrote down I needed. I have all the basics plus! So… it is still overwhelming trying to get dressed and make decision on what to wear because I want to try all my different looks. I work from home so that makes it harder to express myself but I still do on occasions 😂. Thank you for all you have taught me. I have learned so much from all 3 of you. I feel sometimes I get overwhelmed thinking I have got to get rid of something and I look for items quite frequently to sale or 2nd hand
I’m finding your opening conversation very entertaining. The article you quoted said “5” items a year. It meant - “5”. Instead of having a conversation rationalizing a different interpretations of “5”, There was an opportunity to dig into the reality of how horrifying the number “5” means. And if we’re over it do we not buy new for the rest of the year?
Such a great conversation! It makes me feel better that you all have bought 10 or more items this year, even with being mindful consumers. I try to be mindful, but as I started counting the new items I bought this year I realized that I have bought over 10. I am going to explore more second hand options and maybe set a goal for 2024 of only 5 new items. I would also love a podcast about shopping second hand!
Love this video. I’m going to commit to one new clothing item per month, or no more than twelve items per year. It won’t be easy, but it’s a start. Took away so much from this episode. Wish me luck.
Second hand and vintage is a great idea, IF you are young and a size Small or Medium. Your selection will be severly limited if you are a larger size. The thrift stores are full of funky, trendy pieces that are on the small side and these would look ridiculous on an older professional person.
I have about 70 items in my wardrobe for UK climate. It’s not something I tried to enforce, rather it came to be naturally. Very comfortable and abundant for outfit choices. All weather conditions and my life situations covered. I cannot bring myself to record video about it, but truly, I am in my happy place now 😊😊❤️ ( took me about 3 years to get here)
I love your podcast! I’ve been tracking my outfits everyday on Cladwell, and it’s been 850 days so far. 😮 I love that the app tells you how many times you’ve worn the item this year, and how many times you’ve worn it in total. I have a little capsule called “over 30 wears” and I feel pretty awesome each time one of my garments gets added. It also keeps a cost per wear of each garment. Shout out to Alyssa - I live in Ottawa. 🤗
A lot of food for thought here! Wow, two athletic wear outfits sounds so low! I would literally stink all the time! I'm a serious hobby ballet/modern dancer, and on weekends when I sometimes take three classes in a day, I have to completely change between each class because I am soaked to the skin. I buy almost all my street clothes second hand, but dance stuff is never available pre-worn because dancers just wear everything to threads. Interestingly, I have noticed that almost all dancewear is made in Europe or US so hopefully workers are at least adequately paid.
After my first intense declutter, I wound up with 10 tops, 10 bottoms, and 12 pairs of shoes. Then, my husband and I decided to become world-travelling nomads, with just one small backpack and one suitcase each. So, for two years, I lived with four tops, four bottoms and four pairs of shoes. I only bought something new when one of my items wore out and was irreparable. At the end of our sojourn, I had two major realizations: 1. I was bored with my outfits; 2. I was using a lot of water with the laundry. When you economize in one sector, you consume in another. So then, the questions becomes, "Did I really save anything, or did I worsen my financial status and/or the planet." It's hard to put things in perspective. Now, I have a lot more clothes- a capsule for winter and one for summer. I'm almost at the tipping point of overwhelm, so I sense another declutter coming soon. :)
@@belkyhernandez8281 True, but I was doing only a couple of pieces in each load of laundry (what I wore that day), whereas, if I had more pieces, I could go a few days before running a load. I was doing laundry every day in the summer, because I would get very sweaty, and I couldn't wear my tops a second time without washing.
@@carmelasantana3091 I see. Well, during the pandemic, I stopped using machines for laundry since I don't have my own. Eventually, I started jumping in the shower with my dirty clothes and just use the water runoff from the shower to fill a plastic bin. The only extra water I use is for the rinsing and the end. But I find that if I empty the bin of water while still showering, most of the rinsing is done by the time I finish. It is a lot more work though. And I do use machines for big things such as comforters.
So the study is hard on the number. And they look at 1st world vs 3rd world countries and how people in 1st world countries are using more that what they need. In another podcast (concious style) that interviewed one of the researchers they went more into the numbers aspect. I'm really excited that this research is getting more attention. I feel like there needs to be more discussion about using what we have and really not over consuming. I tried to stick to this and immediately messed up when I started working out and had zero gym cloths.
I've been tracking my wardrobe use on an app to see what the cost per wear is of new items I add, and what am I reaching for and what I haven't worn in a while. So far I've worn 55% of my wardrobe, and I only started tracking this summer. We'll see if I can get up to 80% use by Spring.
Buying 5 pieces per year regardless of whether they are new, old, or accessories, seems like a lot of buying if you have a wardrobe and if it excludes socks and undies. The exception is size changes and unforseen lifestyle changes. From a purchasing standpoint, I am living with this problem. My previous lifestyle included many more dressier and business functions so I am overstocked in that area. I am still holding onto those clothes however. It makes no sense to get rid of them and then once again have the need come up just to repurchase. Standard clothes styles haven't changed much since the 1960s. I'm sure the clothes will be fashion appropriate in 20 yrs. Right now my goal is to not buy anything until the clothes I have are unwearable. Currently I have approximately 180 pieces including my workout, ballet, and bathing suits.
For me 5 garments a year (without underwear, socks and leggins as I wear them like tights) are quite realistic. That’s the stuff I wear down. As for the amount I need it’s the laundry that decides. I need about 10 days worth of clothes, means 4-5 outfits (of course fitting for the season) plus some for special occasions (hiking gear, nice dresses, sport gear). I have more than that because I didn’t throw out good stuff starting minimalism, but in most categories I reached the sweet spot now. I love it that I actually need new clothes now and then after 8 years. I repair what I can, I have some kind of (colorful) uniform to decide what I can and I buy most stuff Second Hand. I think the goal is to feel good with the clothes you have. I never feel tired from a piece I really love. I fret the first signs of holes or thinning of the fabric (because if it gets thin you cannot repair). With this 5 replacements a year is enough.
What I have been thinking is that we could buy very little if we did it just from need to be dressed and not to follow social standards. If we could live in society where you are not judged by looks, trends were not changing as often, and there were less strict dress codes, people would consume less naturally. We need a change in our priorities in a big, global scale.
I like dressing up for me since I was 5 years old I remember being excited about a polkadot red dress and I had no social media then not to impress anyone but feeling cute and happy so some of us enjoy dress up like art
My sense is that rubrics like precise numbers can lean into guilt/shame--which will never be sustainable as a long-term motivator for most people. For me, quality, personal aesthetic, geography, time of life and overall (not just clothes) sustainability are more important rubrics. Where I live in Canada, the temperature can change 25 degrees celsius in a day, and seasonal outdoor mountain activities require specific clothing and footwear. I work in both 'corporate' meeting contexts as well as more 'artistic' contexts. I don't look great in the ubiquitous minimalist camel/grey neutrals; i have a broader collection of complimenting colours. They don't all coordinate because that's impossible unless curating your wardrobe is either a focused hobby or line of work. I have some gorgeous 'orphans' in the collection that I pull out when I want a little extra sparkle. I purchase quality, care for them meticulously, store away when I get bored, bring them out even 20 years later. Something I've chosen regarding overall sustainability for planet + my energy is: focus on creating things that will make a real difference to my family and community, rather than getting distracted by debatable details or polarizing discussions. For me, I find that draining my energy into self-chastisement over whether i have 33 or 133 pieces can actually turn into another form of 'Western Weird World' self-indulgence, rather than contribution.
I was secretly hoping you guys would do a challenge and invite us to do it along with you! Im totally hip to starting once our jet set girl gets home and settled to get it underway. Btw...Xtina im not seeing ye olde link to the clothing tracker? Love this podcast 🖤
Enjoyed the pod cast. Would love to see a video regarding second hand purchases as I was the last of three girls and got hand-me-downs growing up which causes me to have an aversion to buying second hand pieces. And will definitely try and not buy more than five in the coming year.
I am moving this week so most of my clothes have been boxed up for about 2 weeks, and its just shown me how I really only need the staples. Getting dressed has been so much easier during this time, not being bogged down by options.
Great conversation. Shocking that only 5 new items per year but certainly gives food for thought. I also believe it's not about an item count it's about internal feeling. Second hand episode yes please 🫶
I really appreciate all of you and your honesty regarding this subject. I have plenty of clothes and an earring collection that I started in my 20’s. I am 59 now. This has given me food for thought too. I do a lot of second hand shopping. My goal now even more so is to make use of the clothes I have. Thank you 😊
I've been trying to figure this out for two years! 😆 "How many of each type of thing do I NEED?" It's complicated. Depends on how predictable/routine your life is, do you garden? Cook? Hike? How often you do laundry, weather...Are you good at planning... I bought 100 hangers and ran out (I hang EVERYTHING), and I don't feel like I have the right things to go with what I have (colors, mood, season, purpose...) Very complex 🧮⚛️🧺🌕😳
I think this article is really important for the masses and the general consumer. It highlights how extreme our consumption habits have become and how drastically we need to reduce our buying. If you are already consciously buying, including focussing on longevity (fabrics, timeless pieces), sustainable brands, buying less and second hand, then you already doing really well. If you can say you wear everything you own (including fast fashion) you are helping the planet. I don't think decluttering is the answer either. From personal experience, I have seasons where I invest in a few pieces (update, fill holes in wardrobe, replacements) and then I won't buy anything in that 'category' for years. For example, I recently bought 3 pairs of sneakers, which sounds like a lot, but I haven't bought new sneakers in about 4 years. So if you do the math, that's not even one pair of shoes per year...:) P.S Capsule wardrobe has changed my life! Highly highly recommend this approach if you struggle with impulse shopping. Every season you get to pull out your favourites for that time of the year and it's like a new wardrobe. This is a good psychological practice. LOVE IT
The size of your wardrobe is not the problem, its the production and purchasing of vast quantities of poor quality clothing that is worn a few times then goes to rags. I buy mainly second hand and have a lot of items so I wear each item less often and they last longer. So many second hand clothes either get shipped abroad or get ragged. Some are ragged, dirty, or damaged but most are simply out of fashion or poor quality fabric or construction. The fashion industry creates jobs and wealth, but it creates the market, excess and pollution that are the problem. The industry needs to reduce in size and change it's focus. To stop the constantly changing of colour and cut with each season to encourage people to buy new, and focus on timeless quality in smaller quantities. People need to be happy to buy and wear clothes which are not new and pristine, to look after what they have, and not to judge outfits on the basis of being 'in fashion'. Your videos show how we can still have variety in our looks using older clothes. You should not be judged as not stylish or out of fashion because you wear the jean shape that suits you not the shape the industry wants you to buy.
I definitely have too many clothes, but I wear multiple times between washes, I wash at 30 or 40°C, I air dry - we don't own a tumble drier. My most worn pieces are my work shoes (I work in a hospital, and my main criteria is that once I put my work shoes on, I don't want to think about them until I take them off), my dog walking boots and jacket, which get worn until they're worn out! I either take the train to work, or car share with my husband, and the last car we sold was 15 years old (we'd had it for about 12 years). I'll quite often walk into town, instead of driving. I generally only travel by plane for one holiday a year. We keep food waist to a minimum. And although we've just bought a new mattress, we don't often buy new furniture, and several pieces are second hand (good Danish design, built to last). So I feel that, while I'm nowhere near perfect, there are a lot of positives.
I don't order clothes often, but I placed an order today for 9 pieces. 3 cardigans, a pair of sleep pants and 4 bras. I nearly doubked their yearly recommendation. Idk. It might be a good benchmark to aim for but it definitely shows excess.
Thanks for this episode! I actually recently counted my clothes (leaving out socks, underwear, and things that I only wear at home like loungewear or athletic clothes) and was pleasantly surprised to find I was only at 70 items. I also have purchased quite a few second hand items this year (more than usual because I'm trying to curate my wardrobe a bit more than in the past), but only 3 items that were brand new. I like having a sort of baseline metric to put these numbers in context.
Hi there, great episode, something I would be interested in, for a future episode maybe, is talking about why when you visit or live in a big city like New York you feel like you need a new and over the top outfit every day. I think Lisa mentioned she felt she needed more clothes when she visited NYC and I have had the same feeling. I should say I love fashion but is not my line of work nor do I go to fashion shows or anything like that, I’m just a regular girl. Also I think this feeling is so much worse for people who live in these big and fashion forward cities. Longest comment ever, anyway food for thought, love you all!! 😅❤✨
I think 74 would be overwhelming to me at this point. I hadan overflowing walk in closet 10 or 12 years ago, and at some point I was just overwhelmed and stuff didnt fit, I had piles of laundry everywhere and we constantly seemed to have "nothing" to wear. I want to say I went through and pulled anything that just didn't fit anymore..... And that helped a little, not a lot. And the next time I wanted to downsize, I tried the color pallet idea where I picked 1 base nuetral and 3 accent colors. This time I started feeling more put together. I no longer landed at work in mismatched stuff because it was all either black or one of my accents, not black, brown, and navy on top of colors. I think it was this time I counted and was about 150 pieces. The next time I wanted to do something I started Project 333, but it kind of overall had to stay in my closet because I didn't have anywhere to pack it away to, and I got down to either 74 or 79 pieces. Then I tried Konmari and got down to 33. 4 seasons, 1 year round wardrobe. It did creep to 40, and I stayed there for a few years. Things would rotate in and out, and so I was still consuming more than I would like, and because of weight and fiber needs due to health stuff I actually got less coherent. Then I switched to a uniformed job, so with weight fluctuations and such at the beginning of the shutdowns I had 7 pairs of long black pants from work (the chefs coats had to stay there so as to not bring pet hair into the kitchen), 7 white tshirts, and 2 pairs of shorts, and 2 shirts. I live in an un-airconditioned mobile home, and summers get in the 90s with fairly high humidity. Wearing essentially 2 tops and 2 bottoms was not enough. Lol. I am aiming to get back to about 18 items for tops, bottoms, and dresses. I ballooned back up to 25 or so, but fit, fiber, and feeling good in stuff is often not great for plus sized tall people. And figuring out how to sew is also a challenge since I am actually above even most of the size inclusive size ranges.
Crap I bought 5 new items today and 2 used. I realized after purging and thrifting a full way too many items still wardrobe that I had no nice leisure wear like a sweat suits and track suits. The comfy at home pieces that can run to the store in. I’m only working 24 hours a week and dress up for those this has only been this way this year so my closet still reflects the full time job and I find these types of garments aren’t usually in best condition thrifted plus matching sets not easy to find either. Your show has made me realize this recently so I’m trying to focus now on what I wear on my 4 day weekends. Usually grungy old leggings and hoodies or sweater then if I leave the house I put on jeans but if I had some smart matching sweatsuits and/or tracksuits I would just need to throw on a coat. Time to do some more purging I have things I’m just not wearing anymore. Any idea wear to find cotton sweats or tracksuits made of tencel?
When building one the 74 could be a goal, but if you already have more it's too late. You can weed some out but if you have them already they won't be hurting the environment any more than they already have. Just take care of what you got and work with replacing what needs to be replaced. You also have fluctuating weights. You might have more because of it.
I don’t think it’s useful to feel guilty over past purchases, but I think we all should be serious about that 5 new items per year limit because climate change is not some distant threat in a nebulous future. It’s now.
I love Christina’s 33 items for each season so 33 times 4. 🤣🤣. Four very distinct seasons now that we moved that year and still trying to figure out what I need and what I wear for each. I definitely don’t count undergarments, sleepwear, exercise clothes, or accessories. I mainly don’t count them because I have very limited for each category I pull from. I also only count the clothes I have put in my wardrobe for the season. Total I have around 100. In each season between 30 and 50. I could reduce this number, but again I’m still trying to figure out clothing for temps that now range from -30 to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hi Ladies great topic! Truly love this 😊 I ponder on this thought a lot wherein if there’s an emergency and you’re just given 15 minutes to take everything you can from your closet and just limiting it to clothes, what would those be that you would most likely grab and not leave? I think this would be a great challenge to discover the pieces that you truly love from your closets. I have yet to do it and test myself but just wanted to share it with you gals 😊
I'm so glad you mentioned Courtney Calver, I found her first in my 'shopaholic recovery/ mindset change' journey. and have read her books. Even if you don't stick to 33 items it's such a great way to start and realise what little you actually need. I feel about 50 items is good for me (everyone is different). Just started a No/Low Buy journey indefinitely; having done one in July and I've set myself 10 items of clothing (I will defiantly try 5 new and 5 second hand) I'm doing 10 household items too. I'm finding it a little scary how my behaviors are so similar to Christina, I'm a recovering shopaholic who has turned towards minimalism, not totally there fully, I also use an App to track my clothes and how much I wear them. I find my style loves change so often I'm trying to think long term more about my 3 words, what colours sute me and what I love looking like, being more creative with less helps but once I have an item I really want in my head it's hard to let it go and I'm concerned I'm going to regret it in a couple of months. Second hand is how I'm approching this. Totally agree with Alyssa ref trips, I came back with a lit of items to declutter after my most recent holiday/vacation. These are such great conversations, If I was a TV producer I would have you all on TV doing a chat show style slot on prime time TV, these messages need to be spread out across the world well done.
My needs are far different since I retired, I don’t need cocktail dresses,business suitable,only simple casual with a few hot weather dresses ,cold weather sweaters.It’s so much easier to have less stuff.
I have 4 accent colors na d 3 neutral colors in my wardrobe. For the fall, winter and early spring season I generally want a mock neck/crew/v-neck/and hoodie in each of those colors. For bottoms I have a selection of flare jeans in various washes. I also have some flare yoga pants that I wear around the house, as well as some leggings. that's a lot of clothes but I wear it all depending on the season. Secondhand shopping for me sucks as I am 5'1" and weigh 135. Nothing ever fits and the few times I found things that did fit they were NOT quality!!!
Bjones .. queen of thrift. Her motto, " always play dress up!" The flip side of that.. for me personally... ive spent waaay too much money on stuff i never wear , filling a void of lonliness or boredom, or needing a mental pick me up.. but.. i do love clothes..
I like a little wardrobe turnover for fun but my main sources are charity shop and online second hand. I shall probably buy some new socks this year but don't people mend that they have to keep buying every year? I dont for a moment think it means five new new items over what is actually needed (ie replacing specific needs where something has worn out). I do like the empasis on sourcing and also washing temperatures
The funny thing is that your videos actually gave me permission to buy more lol. I was thinking before "I don't need that second pair of jeans, I already have one" and now, when I see that you are so conscious about consumption and still have like 35 pairs of shoes and a dozen of jeans, why do I have to worry before buying the 3rd sweater? Well, it may be connected with the level of wealth, as I am from a poorer country. But the main question is why did I even need that permission?
I don't think we can be asked to follow a number, be it a chart or an item number. We can and should be thinking about sustainability and our impact on the environment. Judging ourselves and others is so over. I have turtlenecks that are of college age
Hannah Louise Poston has a great video called ‘How to match your wardrobe to your lifestyle’, where she walks through her decision making process of how to decide how many of each kind of clothing item you need. Would recommend!
I was just going to post the same thing! Loved that video
It’s a great video!
Her fashion videos are soo helpful
Id be interested in an episode on fabrics. What is viscose? How do you care for silk? What costs are involved not just in purchasing an item but in maintaining it? What materials perform best and last longest in your climate and seasons? What about wool vs synthetics in winter and summer?
Thanks!
Fabrics is an interesting one, especially when you think of the growing number of vegetarians and vegans. Natural fibres are generally said to be better (obviously production techniques need to be taken into consideration), and synthetics are bad. But vegans aren't going to wear wool, silk, and leather (at least not if they're vegan because of animal rights issues), and even though there are plant based leathers being developed, are they suitable for winter shoes, and what are the environmental issues, etc? And what do you wear instead of wool and how do the alternatives compare, not just in terms of performance, but also in terms of the environment? I feel like it's a jungle!
Justine Leconte has an episode about fabric.
This past year I have been inspired by Alyssa to buy all my clothes (except underwear, socks and shoes) second hand. I feel better about my purchases and love my clothes.
Y’all, I had three deaths in my family in 9 months. I inherited closets and closets and closets of clothes! My mother had three full size closets packed full plus dressers! 😬😬😬😬my goals are 1. Don’t leave this much for my kids to go through in case of sudden death. And 2. My biggest goal is TO FIT ALL MY CLOTHES INTO 1 CLOSET AND 1 DRESSER!!!!!!!!! (Including off season clothes) #SENDHELP. 😢😅😮
If 3 closets full of clothes drop on top of you, you can be crushed to death. I like your goal. I have 3 closets full of clothes shoes and bags. I think I should have a goal like yours.
Yikes, I’ve already purchased 11 new items this year! 1 t-shirt, 1 pair of walking shoes, 1 exercise top, 2 exercise shorts, 5 pairs of exercise leggings, and a small purse. Hearing the data on what to aim for is helpful. Thank you for sharing.
Tin Foil Hat here (I'll say it to save some readers' time). This comes directly from the World Economic Forum's Agenda 2030 plan, available for reference on their website. It is marketed in a very slick/deceptive way. Read it, think it through, unhitch from indoctrination of the [un]sustainability movement, and ask yourselves if that is the world you want to live in. I do not. I will not be made a slave to a few hypocritical and egotistical elitist overlords. I am a frugal homesteader who employs the regenerative farming method. Not to oversimplify, but this is the way. Hopefully there will be ears to here on this forum.
Yes! a second hand shopping episode!🎉
I think we have to overlook the strict numbers but be mindful of what we really need, what we really wear and focus on our creativity ( how to multiply the number of outfits you can make with less pieces). We have to keep asking ourselves the tough questions when we “go” shopping: will I wear it often? Can I match it with my other pieces? Does it fit my real lifestyle? Etc….
I live North UK I have 75 items of clothing that mix and match and the rest are statement
pieces. I only include stuff I wear outside the house and don't include accessories. I wear most of my clothes regularly. I buy more second hand than new. I am 67 years old and love clothes.
It’s easy to stick to 33 items for Spring and Fall, which are shared, and for Summer, but cold weather is up to 5 months of the year and involves layers so more is needed I feel.
I think it'd be worthwhile to think about content creator wardrobes vs those with non clothing related jobs. There's a great analogy by Hannah Louise Poston about the industrial size kitchen of a chef as opposed to the several pots and pans of a regular person, in her video about the problem with declutters. Mentioning this as first of all, a way to hopefully help lighten this feeling of guilt that seems to have permeated this convo, and also just that I'd love to see content creators being transparent about this -- their clothing needs are tied to their jobs and so the numbers -- very legitimately -- may look different from if clothes weren't also tools for their content creation job/side project (as well as being something that brings them joy). ❤
Great comment about topic that should be talked more when comes to clothing declutters and counting items one have.
I counted the clothes hanging in my closet in preparation for a move and can say I currently have 63. I would say at least half were bought second hand with new pieces when I couldn’t find something specific. I am weaning myself off of even second hand clothing now, because I honestly love the clothes I have. I have started to “build myself a second hand boutique” with beautiful pieces saved in second hand apps. When I need something specific, I will look there first . I am trying to focus more on wearing what I have and rotating by season and piece to make sure they all get worn. I probably still have too many comfy sweaters, but I live in Colorado and need them for at least 6 months of each year.
I have, at this moment, a 268-piece wardrobe. This includes every piece of clothing I own (including all workout gear, sleepwear and outerwear) and all of my shoes, bags, gloves, scarves, belts and hats. (I count everything but bras, panties and socks.) Three years my wardrobe was 310 pieces. I LOVE clothes. For me they have always been art, and a form of self-expression, but I had the bad habits of buying multiples when I liked something, and buying styles that looked great on other body types but not mine. Now, I keep a list of every item in my wardrobe, and when something new comes in, I make sure at least one goes out-usually it’s more. My goal is to get down to 250 pieces total. I know that for many people that would still be a large wardrobe, but as Alyssa said, we’re not one size fits all in what we need our wardrobe to do. As with all things in life, mindfulness is key.
I read once that a garment needs to be worn about 30 times to make up for the resources used to make it. Obviously that’s an average (for example jeans and leather are super resource intensive and likely need way more) but if you’re focusing on the after-purchase part, I find that number really useful. I also like to ask myself when I’m considering anything (new or secondhand) whether I honestly think I’ll wear it at least 30 times before I pass it on or declutter it. It sort of self-levels the lifestyle question, because things I wear to work, outerwear, etc are easy to imagine wearing 3”times whereas things that are more for ‘fashion’ are harder to justify (for example the overalls I bought 2 years ago- and honestly love- are only up to 6 wears. At this rate I’ll need to keep them for over a decade to get to 30, but in that case I’ll probably still have and wear them that far down the line.) So anyway, my point is that for me focusing on that number really helps. And for a bonus, I’m actually at 5 newly purchased items this year but it wasn’t something I tried to do or thought about- I just followed the 30 wears thing extra diligently when it came to newly manufactured stuff.
I would love to hear a discussion between y’all and someone like Shelbi or like Justine who does life cycle analysis for clothes to get their perspective :)
I like that guideline with 30 wears- but am confused how that really limits you? I can't really think of things that would not easily apply to, aside from occasion wear or things that just turn out to not work for you ( and sure, with time you find out what the latter will most likely be) but you need to make these experiences to learn. I find what really might be a game changer here might be not to declutter too often - I bought a blouse 3 years ago, and just started tower it continuously this year.,,
For me the 30 wears helps with things that might be sparking my interest but not part of my enduring core style, or things that are “an extra pair of . . .”. It helps me limit the temptation to get something “just in case”, because I do track how often I wear things and I’ve noticed that certain pieces are easy to get to 30 wears and others less so. For me that’s casual non-active wear because I work in active wear, so the actual number of chances I get to wear a given pair of jeans is lower than average, so if I wear my less-reached-for pairs 10 times a year will I still like a trendier pair in 3 years? will I really wear a riskier style of jeans 30 times before I declutter it? Probably not, makes more sense to stick with the ones that fit my core style. I hope that helps clarify, but also people are different so a different method might work better for you :)
Where I struggle is in my weight fluctuation. I have to have approx three separate sets of clothing in size 0-2, 4-6, 8-10. I’ve decluttered all clothes in a certain size range only to find that I had to re-buy clothing in that range a year later. Now I store the wrong sized clothing under my bed and this saves me from consuming new items when my weight shifts. I shop under my bed when I lose or gain weight and the items feel new to me. Knowing my clothing consumption is higher, I’m relieved that I’ve been vegan for twenty five years, so my carbon footprint is MUCH smaller than a meat eater.
So wise! I'm living in regret having decluttered clothing due to weight change. Now, with a better self knowledge, and more stable housing I'm holding on to a wider range so I'm not caught out again.
Great conversation and definitely food for thought. Especially when we consider the flip side of the coin, if fewer garments are being made, fewer people are being employed and therefore become unable to sustain themselves and their families. It is such a nuanced issue. But being a more conscious consumer has definitely improved my life. I currently have 280 items in my wardrobe, which include shoes and bags. I've been using an app to track my usage this year. And glad to say that I utilise 82% of my wardrobe. It's been a great way to play with outfit combinations as well as look at the items I enjoy but have only worn a few times. Now, I can either build more outfits around them and prioritise them or decide if I need to pass it on. It all helps to be more mindful and intentional, and I'm so glad I've found something to track the data. It's incredibly helpful. Would love to see how everyone else gets on with tracking. Thanks for creating awesome, thought-provoking content. Love you ladies. ❤
Regarding your comment on lower consumption = less jobs, consider that a push for higher quality items means more time spent on each item. It may be more equalised than you think if we have skilled workers taking longer on higher quality apparel! Of course, I agree again that it's an exceptionally nuanced issue, because the employees shouldn't be expected to pay for their upskilling training either and we are talking global shifts, not just individual countries.
Totally agree!
Hello girls, love from the Netherlands. I'm tracking my clothes this year, and what I already found is that I can see WHY I don't or hardly wear some things: for example I have to wear a strapless bra under the garments, or the fabric is thick but the tops have no sleeves... you know. It already has given me so much information about myself and my wardrobe which will influence my purchases. I will definitely keep on doing this and I am looking forward to your videos about it. 🙂
The WHY is really important to prevent me getting rid of that really warm winter coat that I may only need for one year in three, but is still really useful when the temperatures plummet!
And this summer, I've not worn my high summer pieces because of the lack of high summer weather! I need to remember why, rather than declutter due to lack of use.
I appreciate the thoughtful discussion here. I haven’t counted my clothing items and I’m sure the number would be in the hundreds. I did a thorough clean-out years ago to eliminate items that I didn’t love. With respect to my current clothes (and shoes and accessories), I really enjoy them, I wear them (admittedly just once a year for some items), I care for them and I keep them for the long haul. When I go to replace an item that has finally worn out (or gotten a stain I can’t remove or damage I can’t fix), I now look for a quality second hand item to replace it, rather than buying new. Sometimes I don’t replace at all since I have plenty of options already. The main challenge of having that number of items is that they won’t all fit on my closet rod/shelves/dresser drawers at once, so I keep a small selection of outfits readily available at any given time, and once I wear and launder them I store them in cedar chests and pull out the next assortment of outfits. That has been a pretty effective way to enjoy the variety of items I love without feeling frustrated or overwhelmed when I walk into my closet. It does still seem like a large number, but as noted it’s not that different from keeping a large collection of books that you read or craft supplies that you use. I like the balanced approach of this podcast. Jen
May we join you in the tracking clothing with a spreadsheet challenge? It would be fun to try the parameters, and then add our comments to the follow-up podcast. I love learning from you three, and from our following community.❤
I think that just the fact that we actually care, and decide to talk about this subject and taking action is a good sign of us doing something good for the planet, our budget and courselves as well. Maybe the key could be to be aware of what our lifestyle ask for in terms of clothing, so that way we can curate our wardrobe and that way even if we have more pieces than we should, we know that is not a waste.
It's hard to reconcile a wardrobe you want with the life you live
Im the opposite of Christina: when I buy something its like “its too nice to be worn now” so Im wearing more older clothing than my new purchases… its ridiculous I know but its a fact. As for the number of clothing/items, its not how much tou need as minimal bur more definitely an upper limit you need to watch in order “to feel off”. When I hit a too hing number Im lost in my closet and then I know I got too far. Great episode❤
Your reaction when Signe read that we should not buy more than 5 new items per year was absolutely priceless. The guilt was palpable. Please remember that it is the fossil fuel companies that should really feel bad for knowingly destroying our planet and worse still, continuing to promote their products, expand their industry and greenwash to make individuals feel bad. Ultimately we don’t need a lot of clothes. When I did the analysis of how I spent my time, I realized that I didn’t need all the clothes that I own. Still working to reduce but it is tough. At the end of the day, our clothes need to be worn and we need to dramatically reduce our consumption. A climate scientist that I follow, Dr Heather Short wrote that we need to reduce our consumption by 90%! Being mindful and thinking about what we buy is the first step. Great podcast! Love listening to all of you.❤❤❤
I LOVE this collaboration, you are three of my favorites so I was so happy to see you all working together. Your content is thought provoking and continues to inspire me, I'm beginning to declutter without overdoing it and trying to shop less. It's a fine balance to be mindful but still have fun with fashion without guilt and/or shame. Thank you, lovely ladies!
I’m retired now so 5 items would be easy for me. When I need new undies I’m in trouble. But seriously I’m slowly buying the quality Knix underwear and bras as I can afford them. The other things I’m looking for is a pullover sweater, a denim skirt and black dress pants. I check a nice used clothing store near me. It’s fun hunting. I go out very rarely looking.
I have found that 90-120 pieces not counting pj's, outerwear and shoes has served me from student, to young Mom, big career, working 2 jobs to retired Grandma. And it has always felt like too much. I live in Calgary so deal with all of the weather.
I would say 70-80 covers life.
5 pieces a year is doable if you don't count socks, underwear, and outerwear. I buy a bit more than that, all 2nd hand, treating my buys like a library, swapping frequently.
I would agree that 33 pieces for 3 months is plenty... I can just never decide on the 33!
Love this! In the last 3 months or so, I’ve found all three of you individually. This is great. Thank you.
"Depending on where you live you may need more you may need less" Exactly! I live in a climate with extreme weather variation (both -10F and 100F for about a week each year) and have a lifestyle that requires dressy casual/workout clothes/casual clothes every week plus hiking gear on the regular. I don't worry about exact numbers, but make sure I've got space (I have a pretty limited space for my wardrobe - two "Half size" dressers and half a small closet - so this keeps me honest!) and am getting good use out of everything. I'm planning a full clothing no buy next year and I'm genuinely STOKED about it. Christina's content has inspired me so much!
I did an inadvertent project 333 last summer during a move. I had 20 something items for 4 months. And what I really learned was that quality is important! A lot of the clothes really didn't survive being worn that constantly. And now I have focused on higher quality purchases and my new summer "capsule" (30 items plus workout gear and scarves/hats) is holding up so much better this year!
Alyssa! I really want to hear more about how you approach life in general. You seem so balanced and mindful. Love to see it!
I'm afraid of counting my clothes 🙈
Lol , I just wouldn’t be able to.
The five pieces remind me of my youthful teenage years. I fared fine with my re- equipment i was allowed every new school year. Basically 5 things every year, and maybe a new jacket every couple of years :)
What about responsibility from those who manufacture those garments? Are 5 sustainable brand garments per year having the same environmental impact as 5 fast fashion ones? How was that number calculated? It seems to me a quite dodgy assessment. I do agree we all have too much but I don't like when studies are only addressing the final consumer as to blame for the current situation and not companies, institutions and governments for not controlling companies for proper resource management in their manufacturing and transport chains.
Absolutely. It's like the World Economic forum telling us we will own nothing and be happy (for the sake of the planet of course :)) and yet they all show up on private jets to their summits and it's comprised entirely of companies that pillage the Earth and treat their employees like literal garbage. I am suspicious of all these 'authorities' though I do think runaway consumerism is it's own problem with a spiritual solution not a bureaucratic, top down one.
I added 11 items this year with only 5(!) new pieces, the rest are secondhand. Pure coincidence but it will fuel my resolve to not add anything else, new or used, in 2023.
I own 36 pieces, underwear and shoes (8pair) not included. 12 bottoms 24 tops. I only buy cotton, silk, wool and linnen and only when I need to replace an item. Because off that I dont have to skimp I can look for quality items.🙋🏼♀️🇱🇺
I went a little crazy this summer and purchased a lot of linen and linen blend clothes. I retired last fall so I rarely go anywhere anymore and when I do, it's almost like I feel that the outing is not worthy of these new pieces, like I'm going to be overdressed or something. Is that weird? I'd love to have the confidence to just wear these clothes, regardless of the occasion!
Just start wearing them - mix them in with what you wear regularly. I think it just takes time to get used to a new piece. Wear it for a few hours to the grocery store and eventually you will start to get used to the item!
@@phoebeyang8134I definitely agree! A good way of wearing things that you feel are outside your comfort zone is by pairing them with something that you live to wear. Linen is totally acceptable on a day to day basis!
I wear my linen mostly round the house and garden. It's comfortable, casual and no one is thinking my outfit is too smart, too casual too loose, too bright or anything else.
No, I don’t think it’s weird at all. But I know what you mean - I’m retired too. (And my husband no longer asks me if I’m “going somewhere” when I had fun with my clothes and look more “put together”. Now he’ll just say when he notices and likes an outfit.)
And if you just retired from a job where you had to “present” a certain way, you may be transitioning into dressing less for how others perceive you and more just for yourself, for your own experiment in comfort and enjoyment and expression.
I think linen has historically gone from a worn-in “common folk” fabric to a meticulously ironed and possibly starched “fancy folk” fabric and back around to now more relaxed again, depending on how structured the item and what it’s worn with. Wear it with your casual sandals and your jeans etc. and you won’t be overdressed at all. It’s so delightfully airy in the summer - enjoy!
Don't be afraid to dress better than what you see around you. I live in a tiny town and frankly what people wear is pretty awful. My uniform is a pair of 'NICE" flare jeans and a sweater. . .jackets as needed depending on the weather [I live in a 4 season climate] . . In summer I switch out the sweaters for tees and short-sleeved knits. I rarely wear woven fabrics as I hate to iron.
This fall/winter season is the first time I"ve actually written down a focused list of items that I'm looking to add to my wardrobe and I've found that it is SO helpful in keeping me focused on what I actually want/need and not being distracted by fun and shiny impulses 😆 It also helps when I'm looking for those items 2nd hand! Thanks for all your inspiration!
Weather is a huge factor too. I live in Spain and you change clothes throughout the day as temperatures fluctuate and houses are not well insulated.
I’m trying a monthly capsule - I get to shop my closet every month!
Another aspect is how easy it is for an individual to do laundry and get it dry, ideally without using a tumble dryer.
I have about 50 items of clothing and I thought that was too much but now I’m feeling better about it. 😊 Thank you!
Yes a episode on thrifting / second hand shopping would be great!
I have not read the Project 333 book, but I saw an interview with Courtney Carver in which she specifically said there's nothing magical about the number 33. You may need 29 items or 52 items, or some other number of items. 33 is just a place to start. She also said that if a category is a dealbreaker, shoes or jewelry for example, don't throw away the whole challenge, just don't count that category. I think a lot of people have no idea where or how to start minimizing their wardrobe, and her ideas are a good place to start. You can make adjustments as you go, based on your individual personality and circumstances. Maybe you will adjust the number of items you have, or maybe you will use some other measure and not count items at all, but you will get started.
For a few years now, I’ve been following the seasonal 10-Item Wardrobe from Jennifer Scott, with my own sustainable take on it. It has made the whole capsule process so much simpler for me. It focuses on ten core items and then filling that in with “extras,” things like tee shirts, cardigans, and special occasion wear.
I moved from CA to CO almost 3 years ago and HAD to change my wardrobe. I slowly added more winter cloths, and tried to find things second hand first. But sometimes just had to buy new. Also started a job on a ranch, so also needed ranch cloths and boots. Those were pretty easy to find second hand. So it really depends on individual circumstances.
❤ the tracking of wears! I also geek out with finding my most worn items and how that can inform what I buy and how to use my budget. However, I do ask myself why I’m not wearing something and whether I could change it or my mindset to make it more appealing. For example, I altered/cropped a top that I wasn’t wearing and I wear it much more frequently now.
This conversation was excellent. I am over five pieces, but I have been reducing my wardrobe. I gave away almost everything, and sold some. Also, I have been buying clothes that I want to wear everyday. Personally, I am not a fan of secondhand clothes. I don’t need to absorb people’s energy.
This!! I don't really get the secondhand thing that everyone is so gung ho on these days. I get that people want to reduce their "carbon footprint" but I also think it is trendy to say that you only buy second hand clothes. I don't want stranger's clothes and their energy either. I might take something from my sisters, my mom, or a friend but I know them and their energy. I find second hand clothes to be creepy to be honest.
I just buy a lot less these days and put a lot of thought into what I buy so I can have the item for a long time. I might buy the odd trendy piece here or there but for the most part, I stick with classics. That is how I reduced my "carbon footprint".
This os a great discussion. I think that buying secondhand is great but even then don't overconsume. I think that the rate of keeping up with the rapid pace of trends is how fast fashion with its cheap prices reels alot of people in. I shop my own weardrobe for trends. I tend to keep things till they wear out and I try to get things with natural fibers. One thing about fashion is that it keeps coming back around so storing things I love instead of decluttering is a good way to cycle things around. Lastly lifestyle and climate plays a huge roll in how much we need.
I have always had way too many clothes. Lots of times I have bought out of boredom. Since I have been following you 3 along with some other fashion minimalist, I have loved learning how to declutter. I very seldom buy from a store. I only buy second hand. My favorite things are blue jeans! I probably started out with over 50 pairs! I have worked on getting rid of so many in the last year. My problem now is , I have been taught by the best❤how to work your wardrobe and mix and match. I’m loving my wardrobe! Learning my go to colors and learning how to wear things differently. Its so much fun. But… I still have so many clothes that I realized I love and don’t need to buy anything unless it’s something here and there I have wrote down I needed. I have all the basics plus! So… it is still overwhelming trying to get dressed and make decision on what to wear because I want to try all my different looks. I work from home so that makes it harder to express myself but I still do on occasions 😂. Thank you for all you have taught me. I have learned so much from all 3 of you. I feel sometimes I get overwhelmed thinking I have got to get rid of something and I look for items quite frequently to sale or 2nd hand
I’m finding your opening conversation very entertaining. The article you quoted said “5” items a year. It meant - “5”. Instead of having a conversation rationalizing a different interpretations of “5”, There was an opportunity to dig into the reality of how horrifying the number “5” means. And if we’re over it do we not buy new for the rest of the year?
Such a great conversation! It makes me feel better that you all have bought 10 or more items this year, even with being mindful consumers. I try to be mindful, but as I started counting the new items I bought this year I realized that I have bought over 10. I am going to explore more second hand options and maybe set a goal for 2024 of only 5 new items. I would also love a podcast about shopping second hand!
Love this video. I’m going to commit to one new clothing item per month, or no more than twelve items per year. It won’t be easy, but it’s a start. Took away so much from this episode. Wish me luck.
Has it worked out as you hoped?
Signe was my first intro into sustainable shopping. And Alyssa is my continuous inspiration. Thank you ladies for great content
Second hand and vintage is a great idea, IF you are young and a size Small or Medium. Your selection will be severly limited if you are a larger size. The thrift stores are full of funky, trendy pieces that are on the small side and these would look ridiculous on an older professional person.
I have about 70 items in my wardrobe for UK climate. It’s not something I tried to enforce, rather it came to be naturally. Very comfortable and abundant for outfit choices. All weather conditions and my life situations covered. I cannot bring myself to record video about it, but truly, I am in my happy place now 😊😊❤️ ( took me about 3 years to get here)
I love your podcast! I’ve been tracking my outfits everyday on Cladwell, and it’s been 850 days so far. 😮 I love that the app tells you how many times you’ve worn the item this year, and how many times you’ve worn it in total. I have a little capsule called “over 30 wears” and I feel pretty awesome each time one of my garments gets added. It also keeps a cost per wear of each garment. Shout out to Alyssa - I live in Ottawa. 🤗
A lot of food for thought here! Wow, two athletic wear outfits sounds so low! I would literally stink all the time! I'm a serious hobby ballet/modern dancer, and on weekends when I sometimes take three classes in a day, I have to completely change between each class because I am soaked to the skin. I buy almost all my street clothes second hand, but dance stuff is never available pre-worn because dancers just wear everything to threads. Interestingly, I have noticed that almost all dancewear is made in Europe or US so hopefully workers are at least adequately paid.
After my first intense declutter, I wound up with 10 tops, 10 bottoms, and 12 pairs of shoes. Then, my husband and I decided to become world-travelling nomads, with just one small backpack and one suitcase each. So, for two years, I lived with four tops, four bottoms and four pairs of shoes. I only bought something new when one of my items wore out and was irreparable. At the end of our sojourn, I had two major realizations: 1. I was bored with my outfits; 2. I was using a lot of water with the laundry. When you economize in one sector, you consume in another. So then, the questions becomes, "Did I really save anything, or did I worsen my financial status and/or the planet." It's hard to put things in perspective. Now, I have a lot more clothes- a capsule for winter and one for summer. I'm almost at the tipping point of overwhelm, so I sense another declutter coming soon. :)
You would need to do laundry regardless of how many clothes you had.
@@belkyhernandez8281 True, but I was doing only a couple of pieces in each load of laundry (what I wore that day), whereas, if I had more pieces, I could go a few days before running a load. I was doing laundry every day in the summer, because I would get very sweaty, and I couldn't wear my tops a second time without washing.
@@carmelasantana3091 I see. Well, during the pandemic, I stopped using machines for laundry since I don't have my own. Eventually, I started jumping in the shower with my dirty clothes and just use the water runoff from the shower to fill a plastic bin. The only extra water I use is for the rinsing and the end. But I find that if I empty the bin of water while still showering, most of the rinsing is done by the time I finish.
It is a lot more work though. And I do use machines for big things such as comforters.
@@belkyhernandez8281 That's pretty hardcore :)
So the study is hard on the number. And they look at 1st world vs 3rd world countries and how people in 1st world countries are using more that what they need. In another podcast (concious style) that interviewed one of the researchers they went more into the numbers aspect. I'm really excited that this research is getting more attention. I feel like there needs to be more discussion about using what we have and really not over consuming. I tried to stick to this and immediately messed up when I started working out and had zero gym cloths.
I've been tracking my wardrobe use on an app to see what the cost per wear is of new items I add, and what am I reaching for and what I haven't worn in a while. So far I've worn 55% of my wardrobe, and I only started tracking this summer. We'll see if I can get up to 80% use by Spring.
Buying 5 pieces per year regardless of whether they are new, old, or accessories, seems like a lot of buying if you have a wardrobe and if it excludes socks and undies. The exception is size changes and unforseen lifestyle changes.
From a purchasing standpoint, I am living with this problem. My previous lifestyle included many more dressier and business functions so I am overstocked in that area. I am still holding onto those clothes however. It makes no sense to get rid of them and then once again have the need come up just to repurchase. Standard clothes styles haven't changed much since the 1960s. I'm sure the clothes will be fashion appropriate in 20 yrs.
Right now my goal is to not buy anything until the clothes I have are unwearable. Currently I have approximately 180 pieces including my workout, ballet, and bathing suits.
For me 5 garments a year (without underwear, socks and leggins as I wear them like tights) are quite realistic. That’s the stuff I wear down. As for the amount I need it’s the laundry that decides. I need about 10 days worth of clothes, means 4-5 outfits (of course fitting for the season) plus some for special occasions (hiking gear, nice dresses, sport gear). I have more than that because I didn’t throw out good stuff starting minimalism, but in most categories I reached the sweet spot now. I love it that I actually need new clothes now and then after 8 years. I repair what I can, I have some kind of (colorful) uniform to decide what I can and I buy most stuff Second Hand. I think the goal is to feel good with the clothes you have. I never feel tired from a piece I really love. I fret the first signs of holes or thinning of the fabric (because if it gets thin you cannot repair). With this 5 replacements a year is enough.
Brilliant and thought provoking episode! Love it!
What I have been thinking is that we could buy very little if we did it just from need to be dressed and not to follow social standards. If we could live in society where you are not judged by looks, trends were not changing as often, and there were less strict dress codes, people would consume less naturally. We need a change in our priorities in a big, global scale.
I like dressing up for me since I was 5 years old I remember being excited about a polkadot red dress and I had no social media then not to impress anyone but feeling cute and happy so some of us enjoy dress up like art
I can easily get distracted while buying second hand. 😊 but I love it ! Shopping my wardrobe has made a huge difference for me
My sense is that rubrics like precise numbers can lean into guilt/shame--which will never be sustainable as a long-term motivator for most people. For me, quality, personal aesthetic, geography, time of life and overall (not just clothes) sustainability are more important rubrics. Where I live in Canada, the temperature can change 25 degrees celsius in a day, and seasonal outdoor mountain activities require specific clothing and footwear. I work in both 'corporate' meeting contexts as well as more 'artistic' contexts. I don't look great in the ubiquitous minimalist camel/grey neutrals; i have a broader collection of complimenting colours. They don't all coordinate because that's impossible unless curating your wardrobe is either a focused hobby or line of work. I have some gorgeous 'orphans' in the collection that I pull out when I want a little extra sparkle. I purchase quality, care for them meticulously, store away when I get bored, bring them out even 20 years later. Something I've chosen regarding overall sustainability for planet + my energy is: focus on creating things that will make a real difference to my family and community, rather than getting distracted by debatable details or polarizing discussions. For me, I find that draining my energy into self-chastisement over whether i have 33 or 133 pieces can actually turn into another form of 'Western Weird World' self-indulgence, rather than contribution.
I was secretly hoping you guys would do a challenge and invite us to do it along with you! Im totally hip to starting once our jet set girl gets home and settled to get it underway. Btw...Xtina im not seeing ye olde link to the clothing tracker? Love this podcast 🖤
Enjoyed the pod cast. Would love to see a video regarding second hand purchases as I was the last of three girls and got hand-me-downs growing up which causes me to have an aversion to buying second hand pieces. And will definitely try and not buy more than five in the coming year.
I am moving this week so most of my clothes have been boxed up for about 2 weeks, and its just shown me how I really only need the staples. Getting dressed has been so much easier during this time, not being bogged down by options.
Great conversation. Shocking that only 5 new items per year but certainly gives food for thought. I also believe it's not about an item count it's about internal feeling. Second hand episode yes please 🫶
I really appreciate all of you and your honesty regarding this subject. I have plenty of clothes and an earring collection that I started in my 20’s. I am 59 now. This has given me food for thought too. I do a lot of second hand shopping. My goal now even more so is to make use of the clothes I have. Thank you 😊
I've been trying to figure this out for two years! 😆 "How many of each type of thing do I NEED?"
It's complicated. Depends on how predictable/routine your life is, do you garden? Cook? Hike? How often you do laundry, weather...Are you good at planning...
I bought 100 hangers and ran out (I hang EVERYTHING), and I don't feel like I have the right things to go with what I have (colors, mood, season, purpose...) Very complex 🧮⚛️🧺🌕😳
I think this article is really important for the masses and the general consumer. It highlights how extreme our consumption habits have become and how drastically we need to reduce our buying. If you are already consciously buying, including focussing on longevity (fabrics, timeless pieces), sustainable brands, buying less and second hand, then you already doing really well. If you can say you wear everything you own (including fast fashion) you are helping the planet. I don't think decluttering is the answer either. From personal experience, I have seasons where I invest in a few pieces (update, fill holes in wardrobe, replacements) and then I won't buy anything in that 'category' for years. For example, I recently bought 3 pairs of sneakers, which sounds like a lot, but I haven't bought new sneakers in about 4 years. So if you do the math, that's not even one pair of shoes per year...:)
P.S Capsule wardrobe has changed my life! Highly highly recommend this approach if you struggle with impulse shopping. Every season you get to pull out your favourites for that time of the year and it's like a new wardrobe. This is a good psychological practice. LOVE IT
The size of your wardrobe is not the problem, its the production and purchasing of vast quantities of poor quality clothing that is worn a few times then goes to rags. I buy mainly second hand and have a lot of items so I wear each item less often and they last longer. So many second hand clothes either get shipped abroad or get ragged. Some are ragged, dirty, or damaged but most are simply out of fashion or poor quality fabric or construction. The fashion industry creates jobs and wealth, but it creates the market, excess and pollution that are the problem. The industry needs to reduce in size and change it's focus. To stop the constantly changing of colour and cut with each season to encourage people to buy new, and focus on timeless quality in smaller quantities. People need to be happy to buy and wear clothes which are not new and pristine, to look after what they have, and not to judge outfits on the basis of being 'in fashion'. Your videos show how we can still have variety in our looks using older clothes. You should not be judged as not stylish or out of fashion because you wear the jean shape that suits you not the shape the industry wants you to buy.
Interesting topic. Some people cant do laundry weekly. It factors in alot including one's lifestyle and work
I’m very analytical so I love the math nerds! Bring it all on ladies, hold nothing back. Haha
I definitely have too many clothes, but I wear multiple times between washes, I wash at 30 or 40°C, I air dry - we don't own a tumble drier. My most worn pieces are my work shoes (I work in a hospital, and my main criteria is that once I put my work shoes on, I don't want to think about them until I take them off), my dog walking boots and jacket, which get worn until they're worn out!
I either take the train to work, or car share with my husband, and the last car we sold was 15 years old (we'd had it for about 12 years). I'll quite often walk into town, instead of driving. I generally only travel by plane for one holiday a year. We keep food waist to a minimum. And although we've just bought a new mattress, we don't often buy new furniture, and several pieces are second hand (good Danish design, built to last).
So I feel that, while I'm nowhere near perfect, there are a lot of positives.
I don't order clothes often, but I placed an order today for 9 pieces. 3 cardigans, a pair of sleep pants and 4 bras. I nearly doubked their yearly recommendation. Idk. It might be a good benchmark to aim for but it definitely shows excess.
Thanks for this episode! I actually recently counted my clothes (leaving out socks, underwear, and things that I only wear at home like loungewear or athletic clothes) and was pleasantly surprised to find I was only at 70 items. I also have purchased quite a few second hand items this year (more than usual because I'm trying to curate my wardrobe a bit more than in the past), but only 3 items that were brand new. I like having a sort of baseline metric to put these numbers in context.
Hi there, great episode, something I would be interested in, for a future episode maybe, is talking about why when you visit or live in a big city like New York you feel like you need a new and over the top outfit every day. I think Lisa mentioned she felt she needed more clothes when she visited NYC and I have had the same feeling. I should say I love fashion but is not my line of work nor do I go to fashion shows or anything like that, I’m just a regular girl. Also I think this feeling is so much worse for people who live in these big and fashion forward cities. Longest comment ever, anyway food for thought, love you all!! 😅❤✨
I think 74 would be overwhelming to me at this point. I hadan overflowing walk in closet 10 or 12 years ago, and at some point I was just overwhelmed and stuff didnt fit, I had piles of laundry everywhere and we constantly seemed to have "nothing" to wear. I want to say I went through and pulled anything that just didn't fit anymore..... And that helped a little, not a lot. And the next time I wanted to downsize, I tried the color pallet idea where I picked 1 base nuetral and 3 accent colors. This time I started feeling more put together. I no longer landed at work in mismatched stuff because it was all either black or one of my accents, not black, brown, and navy on top of colors. I think it was this time I counted and was about 150 pieces. The next time I wanted to do something I started Project 333, but it kind of overall had to stay in my closet because I didn't have anywhere to pack it away to, and I got down to either 74 or 79 pieces. Then I tried Konmari and got down to 33. 4 seasons, 1 year round wardrobe. It did creep to 40, and I stayed there for a few years. Things would rotate in and out, and so I was still consuming more than I would like, and because of weight and fiber needs due to health stuff I actually got less coherent. Then I switched to a uniformed job, so with weight fluctuations and such at the beginning of the shutdowns I had 7 pairs of long black pants from work (the chefs coats had to stay there so as to not bring pet hair into the kitchen), 7 white tshirts, and 2 pairs of shorts, and 2 shirts. I live in an un-airconditioned mobile home, and summers get in the 90s with fairly high humidity. Wearing essentially 2 tops and 2 bottoms was not enough. Lol. I am aiming to get back to about 18 items for tops, bottoms, and dresses. I ballooned back up to 25 or so, but fit, fiber, and feeling good in stuff is often not great for plus sized tall people. And figuring out how to sew is also a challenge since I am actually above even most of the size inclusive size ranges.
Crap I bought 5 new items today and 2 used. I realized after purging and thrifting a full way too many items still wardrobe that I had no nice leisure wear like a sweat suits and track suits. The comfy at home pieces that can run to the store in. I’m only working 24 hours a week and dress up for those this has only been this way this year so my closet still reflects the full time job and I find these types of garments aren’t usually in best condition thrifted plus matching sets not easy to find either. Your show has made me realize this recently so I’m trying to focus now on what I wear on my 4 day weekends. Usually grungy old leggings and hoodies or sweater then if I leave the house I put on jeans but if I had some smart matching sweatsuits and/or tracksuits I would just need to throw on a coat. Time to do some more purging I have things I’m just not wearing anymore. Any idea wear to find cotton sweats or tracksuits made of tencel?
LOL ITS TOO HOT TO EXIST
When building one the 74 could be a goal, but if you already have more it's too late. You can weed some out but if you have them already they won't be hurting the environment any more than they already have. Just take care of what you got and work with replacing what needs to be replaced. You also have fluctuating weights. You might have more because of it.
I don’t think it’s useful to feel guilty over past purchases, but I think we all should be serious about that 5 new items per year limit because climate change is not some distant threat in a nebulous future. It’s now.
I love you'll 3 approaches about clothing ❤
I love Christina’s 33 items for each season so 33 times 4. 🤣🤣. Four very distinct seasons now that we moved that year and still trying to figure out what I need and what I wear for each. I definitely don’t count undergarments, sleepwear, exercise clothes, or accessories. I mainly don’t count them because I have very limited for each category I pull from. I also only count the clothes I have put in my wardrobe for the season. Total I have around 100. In each season between 30 and 50. I could reduce this number, but again I’m still trying to figure out clothing for temps that now range from -30 to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hi Ladies great topic! Truly love this 😊
I ponder on this thought a lot wherein if there’s an emergency and you’re just given 15 minutes to take everything you can from your closet and just limiting it to clothes, what would those be that you would most likely grab and not leave? I think this would be a great challenge to discover the pieces that you truly love from your closets. I have yet to do it and test myself but just wanted to share it with you gals 😊
I'm so glad you mentioned Courtney Calver, I found her first in my 'shopaholic recovery/ mindset change' journey. and have read her books. Even if you don't stick to 33 items it's such a great way to start and realise what little you actually need. I feel about 50 items is good for me (everyone is different). Just started a No/Low Buy journey indefinitely; having done one in July and I've set myself 10 items of clothing (I will defiantly try 5 new and 5 second hand) I'm doing 10 household items too.
I'm finding it a little scary how my behaviors are so similar to Christina, I'm a recovering shopaholic who has turned towards minimalism, not totally there fully, I also use an App to track my clothes and how much I wear them.
I find my style loves change so often I'm trying to think long term more about my 3 words, what colours sute me and what I love looking like, being more creative with less helps but once I have an item I really want in my head it's hard to let it go and I'm concerned I'm going to regret it in a couple of months. Second hand is how I'm approching this.
Totally agree with Alyssa ref trips, I came back with a lit of items to declutter after my most recent holiday/vacation.
These are such great conversations, If I was a TV producer I would have you all on TV doing a chat show style slot on prime time TV, these messages need to be spread out across the world well done.
My needs are far different since I retired, I don’t need cocktail dresses,business suitable,only simple casual with a few hot weather dresses ,cold weather sweaters.It’s so much easier to have less stuff.
I have 4 accent colors na d 3 neutral colors in my wardrobe. For the fall, winter and early spring season I generally want a mock neck/crew/v-neck/and hoodie in each of those colors. For bottoms I have a selection of flare jeans in various washes. I also have some flare yoga pants that I wear around the house, as well as some leggings. that's a lot of clothes but I wear it all depending on the season. Secondhand shopping for me sucks as I am 5'1" and weigh 135. Nothing ever fits and the few times I found things that did fit they were NOT quality!!!
One in one out didnt work me. More like one in three out these days. Otherwise my dressing room would actually explode!
Bjones .. queen of thrift. Her motto, " always play dress up!" The flip side of that.. for me personally... ive spent waaay too much money on stuff i never wear , filling a void of lonliness or boredom, or needing a mental pick me up.. but.. i do love clothes..
I like a little wardrobe turnover for fun but my main sources are charity shop and online second hand. I shall probably buy some new socks this year but don't people mend that they have to keep buying every year? I dont for a moment think it means five new new items over what is actually needed (ie replacing specific needs where something has worn out).
I do like the empasis on sourcing and also washing temperatures
I like how long the shoes last when you have more pairs to switch to
Children and women change their shapes and sizes. I have a few pieces that I hold onto until I lose weight etc..In nursing the scrubs get worn out .
The funny thing is that your videos actually gave me permission to buy more lol. I was thinking before "I don't need that second pair of jeans, I already have one" and now, when I see that you are so conscious about consumption and still have like 35 pairs of shoes and a dozen of jeans, why do I have to worry before buying the 3rd sweater? Well, it may be connected with the level of wealth, as I am from a poorer country. But the main question is why did I even need that permission?
That is key. Love what you own. That way you don’t need much more.
Did you guys consider, what is the impact of buying clothes comparing to travelling especially, flights ?
I don't think we can be asked to follow a number, be it a chart or an item number. We can and should be thinking about sustainability and our impact on the environment. Judging ourselves and others is so over.
I have turtlenecks that are of college age
I think I’m just at 5 new garment or I might have 1 more to go
Just wanted to confess that is also passed the five new items. 😏