How much clothes do you really need?

unregistered168043 · #1 09/29/12, 10:08 AM

Realistically I am coming to the conclusion that I have WAY WAY too much clothes. I have 3 hampers that are full all the time and I can't even keep track anymore. I have drawers full of clothes that I never wear. I'm going to bag up 90% of it and dump it off at goodwill.

What seems reasonable and manageable to me is the following;

1. 4 pairs of pants ( jeans mostly with one pair dressier pants for those rare occasions when I need to look spiffy )

2. 2 shorts ( also double as bathing suites )

3. 7 t-shirts

4. 5 long sleeve

5. 3 sweater/fleece

6. 2 pair carhart bibs

7. 14 pair underwear

8. 14 pair socks

9. One knit hat

10 one pair work gloves

11. one pair warm gloves

12. One suite for funerals ( including my own )

What do you think of this list? What do you think you would need personally?

unregistered168043 · #2 09/29/12, 10:13 AM

Oh yeah...one winter coat as well.

Laura Zone 10 · #3 09/29/12, 10:22 AM

I have a handful of jeans that fit, handful of t-shirts (junk w logo on front / nice) handful of shorts, handful of dresses, 4-5 pair of shoes; casual to heels, couple of dress pants.

I don't 'go' anywhere or work outside the home so I don't need a huge closet of stuff.
My size is almost impossible to find. I guess that's God's Way of keeping me from over spending!! HA HA

ETA: I would really like a full length Lynx coat....but instead I have a couple of coats that ain't much to look at but they get the job done!!
Skinny chicks don't do cold!!!

MJsLady · #4 09/29/12, 10:29 AM

I have 7 everyday dresses (includes skirts and jumpers) and 2 for best. Also 2 I wear for doing icky jobs around the place.
I will not list foundation garments as they are to personal, but less than you listed.

I have 2 coats and a heavy faux fur cloak and a few sweaters and light jackets.

Beloved has 2 sets work pants, 9 shirts for work, 1 set weekend pants, 2 sets shorts/tees and a few pjs.
2 heavy jackets and 1 light jacket.

RonM · #5 09/29/12, 10:32 AM

I probably have about 60 pairs khaki pants 15 pairs jeans,2 closets full of shirts 36 sweatshirts, 3 large boxes of socks and 40 winter coats and jackets, where do I start...I still have the jacket I deer hunted in in 1969....I get attached to these items and dont like throwing them away , but, running out of room , and I live alone.......

nebula5 · #6 09/29/12, 12:03 PM

Because I work at a school I have a variety of clothes: classic twill pants in tan, navy, brown, gray, black, olive; a few pairs of jeans, and maybe 4 pairs of capris; maybe 5 dressier button down shirts, and a bunch of tailored T-shirt type pullovers in various colors. I have about 6 cardigan type sweaters and overshirts.
At home I live in sweats or jeans, t-shirts or fleece pullovers. I have a few skirts, but no current dresses. Will have to work on that.
Winter coats- I have 3 of different weights that I use regularly, plus an old blue plaid Filson wool double mackinaw cruiser which doesn't fit, but I keep for sentimental reasons.

I do have too many clothes-- once a year I go through the closet, and try to get rid of anything I haven't worn in the last 2 years. It's hard to part with some things, though.

HeelSpur · #7 09/29/12, 12:04 PM

I know someone with 200 pair of shoes and every so often she's like a kid at christmas because she finds a pair she bought years earlier and forgot about them. (what a waste of money)

geo in mi · #8 09/29/12, 12:55 PM

I will NOT throw out the T-shirt that says: "Whenever the fish hear my name, they tremble."

geo

where I want to · #9 09/29/12, 12:59 PM

My goal is to have enough of everything that I can have clean clothes daily (occasionally with changes during the day) and only have to do a laundry every two weeks.
IMO you can't have too many t-shirts. The animals and barn chores cause neccessary changes - at least I think they are neccessary.
And, in my climate, I have a sunny use hat, a rainy but still summer hat, a rainy but winter hat and a snowing hat. Oh- and a blowing a gale with rain hat (has ties.) Then I have corresponding gloves too. And on the rainy ones, I have more than one because they will never get dry between uses.

Ravenlost · #10 09/29/12, 01:05 PM

I have been spending the last two weeks sorting through clothing and packing it up for my mom's annual community yard sale next weekend. I am going to have a LOT of clothing to sell. I've decided to stop hanging on to clothing that no longer fits...clothing that I don't like...outdated clothing...etc. I want just enough clothes to fit in my closet.

TheMartianChick · #11 09/29/12, 01:50 PM

It sounds as though I have more clothing than everyone (combined) in this thread. I've been collecting clothes since I was in high school. We have 4 distinct seasons here and I have plenty for each season. I've spent much of my adult life working in offices so I always needed to have dressy stuff and business suits. I also have my chore clothes for doing dirty tasks and running/exercising clothes. I have a lot of shoes and have no intention of getting rid of any of them. They all serve a purpose and match the many outfits in my closets.

farminghandyman · #12 09/29/12, 02:13 PM

If you have the clothes and they fit, why not box them mothball them and store them until you wear some of the current selections, wear out,

I probably go through two or three sets of work cloths ever year, and a pair of boots,

some day it may be such that buying clothes could be hard to do, if the dollar does go in the toilet or some other economical catastrophe happens,
you own them
I would only get rid of them if they no longer have a value, or did not fit, but may save them for some one who they could or would fit.

jwal10 · #13 09/29/12, 02:19 PM

2 pair work jeans, and an old pair that gets cut off for summer. I don't wear shorts in public due to a skin condition that makes my legs orange and splotchy below the knees. 1 pajama pant and a pair of lightweight shorts for summer. Assorted T shirts, some good for work and some for projects. 2 polo shirts and 6 pairs of socks. 2 pairs of Addidas, 1 good 1 for work and a pair of Danner work boots. A heavy winter jacket and a light jacket/lined flannel shirt. I like cotton. When I go on vacation trips I can take most of what I have in a small Gym bag....James

Plowpoint · #14 09/29/12, 02:27 PM

There are five people that live in this house and four of them are female. One day, deciding that we may have too many shoes, I went through the house and counted them...

We have 84 pairs of shoes in this house...most of which belong to the feminine of the family. My wife herself belongs to 3 shoe of the month clubs, though in fairness she does not get 3 pair of shoes from those places every month. Still be it; she likes her shoes.

I do not help the situation though, on Valentines Day of last year I could not decide between a black and red outfit, or a black ensemble. Not being sure...and knowing the outfits had to have shoes to match...I went and bought both a black pair of heels, and red pair of heels, just to be sure I was still in my love's good graces. She said any husband that came home with two pair of shoes for two outfits, was a keeper.

By the way; she could not decide between the red outfit or the black one so she kept them both. Since thee were miniskirts, I was not complaining about the doubled up Valentines Day present.

MushCreek · #15 09/29/12, 04:01 PM

I have and use lots of t-shirts and shorts. In really hot weather, it's not unusual to go through 3 t-shirts in one day. I find it uncomfortable once they get really, REALLY wet with sweat. With the triple digits we had this summer while building my house, not only did my shirts get wet, but also my shorts, underwear; even my socks!

My t-shirts go through a progression: I find one I like, and it is a 'good' t-shirt to wear to casual events. Once i stain it irreparably (doesn't take long) it becomes a wrk shirt, but I can still wear it to the lumber yard or feed store. Eventually, they get so bad I won't wear them off the property, and they are the ones that might get changed during the day.

I have a lot of clothes because I hate doing laundry often. I can go 3 weeks or better before I need to do laundry.

frankva · #16 09/29/12, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plowpoint

There are five people that live in this house and four of them are female. One day, deciding that we may have too many shoes, I went through the house and counted them...

We have 84 pairs of shoes in this house...most of which belong to the feminine of the family.

I hope you had the common sense to keep this info to yourself.

Quote:

By the way; she could not decide between the red outfit or the black one so she kept them both. Since thee were miniskirts, I was not complaining about the doubled up Valentines Day present.

About time you gave yourself a present. Fine pragmatic logical sense getting 2 versions.

I think the op's clothes issue might sort itself out by trying on and sorting non keepers.

Use Less · #17 09/29/12, 06:35 PM

I likely have about 4 to 5 times as much as I need. Somehow I bought a LOT of clothes when I was working (school teacher), and though retired a few years, and doing a major sort at least twice, STILL have crammed closets and a lot of dresser drawers full. He is worse since he buys two or three of the same thing, then only wears one before he stops liking it or can't fit in it. Won't talk about his boots, vests and coats. Also, he is like a 4-year-old twisting, moaning and grumping if I ask him to try things on...

texican · #18 09/29/12, 06:42 PM

For many years, I thought I was rich if I had one pair of Carharrt overalls, a pair of regular pants without holes, and another pair, for weddings/funerals/whatnot. A handful of shirts, few pair of socks, and two pair of shoes. Work boots and (again) wedding/funeral/whatnot shoes.

Up until about four years ago, I still only had like three pair of shoes.... work/nice/sandals. Always been a prepper, but didn't think about shoes and what I'd do if I could never have more... more I thought, more I worried... now, I have a large tote of brand new work type boots, half a dozen pair of hunting boots, rubber boots, boxes of sandals, extra pair of good boots in each vehicle.

You cannot have too many clothes, if they fit and you can wear em. I have to buy new pants, as it's real hard finding mens' pants in second hand/thrift shops... we (men) wear em to rags. Started storing things in totes, for safer storage.

Bought > 50 pairs of expensive Rocky socks last fall, for $1/pair (normally 12 to 15)....

Get $1/bags of shirts at the thrift store.

Being a prepper, having lots of backup and extras means not wearing rags in old age (when the system collapses, what you have is you got.... unless you can weave and make cloth)...

sisterpine · #19 09/29/12, 06:53 PM

I somewhere learned that one should have a weeks worth of clothes. I think that was so you could go to the laundry once weekly???? I am now retired and dont have much in the way of clothes at all. Probably need socks for winter though.

I have one pretty skirt (all special occassions)
2 pair of jeans
2 pair of shorts
4 pajama pants and tops
10 pair of socks, 5 summer and 5 winter
Probably 10 tee shirts that I wear every day
1- painting bibs and shirt
1 - robe
1 winter coat
3 cardigan type sweaters
1 pair of sneakers
4 pair of crocs
NO boots YIKES!

I feel like I have lots of clothes but only about 1/8 of my closet is used - my DB has two closets full! Most of my stuff I keep in drawers or on the closet shelf with my ammo LOL. i do need new boots- hiking type that snakes cant bite through though!

YuccaFlatsRanch · #20 09/29/12, 07:09 PM

About 25-30 t-shirts (2 a day in the summer - I sweat), 6 pairs of shorts (denim), 1 nice pair of khaki shorts. 4-5 long sleeve waffle knit shirts, 3 long sleeve t-shirts and a dozen sweat shirts, 4-5 pairs jeans plus some sweats. A couple of pairs of slacks and a nice shirt or two for more formal and church. If they don't like me not in a sport coat, they don't need me. 3 pairs of New Balance walking shoes (work, better, best), 3 pairs of crocs (work, better, best), 3 pair GOOD work boots.

In storage - 15 T-shirts (I buy them on close out at Wally World for under $4 each), a couple pair of denim shorts and a couple pair of denim jeans.

I wear size 15 4E shoes. I buy additional pairs every time a pair comes up on Ebay. Ebay does the watching for me and sends me an alert.

I divide my clothes according to the season (avg temp during the day) - shorts and a t-shirt when the temps are above 65 degrees on average. Other stuff when below 65 degrees on average. It's much harder to dress in the cooler times of the year - too many layers.

it's about time to check Wally World and thrift shops.

Best part about being a rancher and retired - the sheep and dogs could care less if my shirt has spots or if they have to look at the same color for days on end (I buy multiples of colors if that's what is cheap or on closeout). I tell people I dress to impress - the Border Collie and the Lab. The Anatolians and cats could care less.