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When I was in my twenties buying new clothes made me feel invincible. New clothes were like bandages, wrapping me up safely and shielding my real self from the world. Back then I would have never imagined the freedom that I would find in owning a drastically pared-back wardrobe.

When I started clearing the physical clutter a few years ago, my wardrobe was my logical first step. It wasn’t even just that it was overflowing. It was the shame that came from the items I’d purchased but never worn, and the ones I’d spent exorbitant amounts of money on only to boost my ego. 

A few weeks ago, out of pure fascination, I decided I would count the items of clothing I have in my wardrobe now. 

I was interested to see if I came anywhere near the 33 items that Courtney Carver from Be More with Less suggests trying. 

(Sidenote – I don’t think the number matters, what matters is the bit where you are paying attention 😛)

My inventory

So, one Sunday afternoon, when the kids were having their allocated screen time, I pulled everything out of my wardrobe and drawers and counted.

My total? 54 items. Not including underwear, pajamas or workout gear as per Project 333 suggests. But this includes shoes, bags, and scarves. 

I’ve never done this before…

I don’t usually share pictures of my home or items on the blog. I am not a photographer (and have no desire to be) and don’t have a good camera.

But today I’ve decided to let that fear of imperfection go and share my wardrobe inventory with you!

Winter-ish

• 1 x woolen coat
• 1 x soft shell jacket
• 1 x black jeans
• 1 x rain jacket
• 1 x boots
• 2 x wool mix sweaters
• 3 x hoodies
• 3 x long sleeved cardigans
• 4 x long sleeved tees
• 1 x long turtleneck
• 3 x long sleeved dresses (one never worn!)
• 2 x scarves

And this is my current count for all four seasons. We live in New Zealand and have four defined seasons. I know people who pack their clothes away seasonally. I don’t do this for two reasons. Firstly, it’s another chore to do, and secondly, I suppose I don’t need to as I have plenty of space in our wardrobe and drawers. 

Autumn/Spring-ish

• 2 x ¾ length pants – including the amazing apartment pants by Home-lee!
• 1 x casual flats
• 3 x linen blend tops
• 3 x short-sleeved dresses (one never worn, see below)

Summer

• 1 x sandels
• 1 x jandels
• 3 x t-shirts
• 3 x shorts
• 3 x singlets
• 2 x dresses

Why taking a clothing inventory is a good exercise 

I don’t think this number (54) is good or bad. In fact, For me, numbers are always a healthy way to compare myself.

However, I did like the exercise for two reasons.

It enabled me to see a ‘birds-eye’ view of my wardrobe. We don’t often get this when we are just pulling out our outfits daily, especially if you are someone who packs clothes away seasonally. 

This overview was helpful because it showed me how far I’ve come in my journey to owning less, but more importantly, it showed me that my wardrobe just wasn’t that important anymore. It was so freeing to look at my clothes and not feel the emotional pull or endorphin rush I felt in my twenties. 

I felt separate from my clothes and it felt good.

And secondly, it helped me evaluate what I had so I could apply the Goldilocks principle. I’ve spent years filling up bags of clothes to donate, but I needed to spend some time to decide what was ‘just right’ when it came to my wardrobe.

Not because I wanted clothes to be my focus. Because I wanted the process to be done and dusted for at least 6 months (hopefully longer) so I didn’t have to think about it again! 

Seriously, owning a more minimal wardrobe has simplified my life dramatically. I no longer start the day with major decision fatigue and don’t spend time worrying about what I wear anymore.

Things I’m struggling to de-own

1. A dress that used to be my mother-in-laws 😥 – I’ve not worn it yet but now that she’s gone I can’t get rid of it.
2. Personalized hoodie from Carmi, Illinois that friends of my in-laws had made for us when we visited the US a decade ago. I just can’t seem to let it go 😀
3. The black dress I brought (secondhand but still $40) last year. It’s too dressy! I haven’t had an occasion to wear it 💁‍♀️

Ways to keep a simpler wardrobe

Keep a ‘someone else’s treasure’ box 

Your ‘trash’ will more than likely be someone else’s treasure.

Keep a box or bag inside your wardrobe so you can easily pop in items that you don’t want anymore. Then once a season (or more if you have lots of clothes!) you can grab the bag and drop it at your local charity shop. 

Keep to the 1-in-1-out principle

Today I brought home 3 hand-down items from a friend. I immediately picked out 2 older items from my drawers and put them in my charity bag. 

This principle is really helpful for warding off impulse purchases. When you see a new dress that you absolutely ‘must-have’, think through which of the dresses you already own that can be tossed in the ‘someone else’s treasure’ box.

Make do!

I’ve become an advocate for making do. Our throwaway society expects us to replace items when they have the tiniest scuff, or rip. What if we tried making do instead? Not only would it benefit our wallets, but it would also give the environment a helping hand. 

I’ve been ‘making do’ with a pair of sunglasses I bought for $3.50 2 years ago. I also make do with my boots that are 2 years old even though they are stained. 

Buy quality (if you can)

If we can buy better quality items in the first place, this means less shopping and less focus on clothing in the long run. 

My green coat purchased from one of my favorite New Zealand stores, Kilt, was the most expensive clothing purchase I’ve ever made at $299, but it’s still going strong 6 years later!

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What are your struggles when it comes to owning less clothing? Do you have sentimental items like me? Or are shoes your nemesis?

Challenge!

If you are game, take an inventory of your own and share with me here in the comments or via email. And if you are really looking to do a deep clean of your wardrobe I recommend my friend Jen’s program.

The One Day Closet Cleanse is an easy to follow roadmap for finally dealing with your overflowing closet!

The One Day Closet Cleanse is a roadmap that will empower you to finally follow through on your closet decluttering plans. When you join, you get access to the proven Style Standard Method, a unique two-part approach that includes:

A PRACTICAL STEP-BY-STEP STRATEGY Decluttering can feel overwhelming and sometimes just getting started is the biggest challenge! But not when you have a step-by-step plan for you to follow.

All you need to do is show up and you’ll get walked through the tough decisions, like deciding where to begin, what to keep, and how to dispose of your unwanted clothing.

EMOTIONAL DECLUTTERING SUPPORT If you’ve made even a half-hearted attempt at closet decluttering in the past, then you’ll know that one of the biggest challenges is learning how to let go.

It’s about so much more than just “clothes”—isn’t it? You also have to declutter guilt, shame, insecurities, memories and so much more. Learn how to tackle these emotional challenges head-on so you can say goodbye with grace.

By the end of the program, you’ll …

• Feel confident about your personal style and wardrobe goals.
• Know how to declutter your closet (even the challenging items, like clothes you don’t fit or expensive pieces you never wore)
• Have a clear plan for letting go of your unwanted clothes

No more tears and frustration. It’s time for you to conquer your closet.

Amazing!

The One Day Closet Cleanse is on sale from 2-4 May 2022. Click HERE to grab the program at this special price.