I'm back to thinking about the perfect wardrobe, those 100 pieces (max) that make you stylish and never have you reaching for the style panic button. Do you believe there is such a thing as the perfect wardrobe? In your world what would this contain?
UPDATE: I meant to link to Nina Garcia's 2008 book The One Hundred This is a great starting point to agree or disagree and adapt your wardrobe for your own personal style.
I honestly don't know how many items I have but this may be a timely point to start. A 100 items would force you to look at what you wear most of the time. My wardrobe contains lots of pretty dresses many of whihc I only wear once every other year.
ReplyDeleteWould shoes and bags be included in this 100 item list. I am definitely starting to think very hard about what to keep - if it doesn't make me feel great now it goes.
Yes I do think you can make the perfect wardrobe, and it could take you anywhere... but in human nature or lack of confidence we will still want one more thing ...xx
ReplyDeleteMy perfect wardrobe is filled with any number of beautifully made, timeless, practical pieces that can be dressed up or down with unique accessories - plus a few curiously creative outfits to express my arty side.
ReplyDeleteIm not entirely convinced it exists. Right now I probly have what I think is my perfect wardrobe, it also includes the odd few pieces that I only wear occasionally but sometimes they feel right. That said every season I like to get something to liven it up, and also whilst the general staples remain constant their style does change. For example jeans cut! You wouldnt still want 80s wash jeans today. I dont ever think I will have a wardrobe that is 'at peace' and to be honest I am glad or I would be seriously bored!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have 100 items in my wardrobe yet - it's fun, gives me lots of chance to go and find those perfect pieces! I think it's a praiseworthy sort of aim but I know that I'm the sort of girl who will always need to occasionally purchase something cheap and temporary.
ReplyDeleteI think perhaps you could reach a point where you feel very happy with your wardrobe but I think it's also about the stage in your life. If your situation changes then sometimes your wardrobe needs to change too. In terms of what I would have in it the list would probably be quite short (at first!) but extend with the temptation to make something one of the 100 to justify it :)
ReplyDeleteThe perfect wardrobe is easy to pull off-much easier than happiness at work or a fabulous relationship. I am very happy with my wardrobe, but probably because I've been throwing money at it and tweaking it for years! Bennoff line- missed you!
ReplyDeleteI´ve also just realized that I have way too many items in my wardrobe, which makes it very difficult to overview! Gotta cut away, and I´m starting now! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHugs from
A Shopaholic is loose...
(which really is a shopaholic!) ;-(
Yes, it's a constant question... I guess my 'active' wardrobe consists of around 50 pieces, but I've got a whole closet of clothes, which I review from time to time or use for outfit posts etc. (including these it's probably more 300).
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Perfect wardrobe is 50:50 practical, elegant basics (a decent white shirt, smart trousers, amazing jeans etc etc) and the bonkers, billowing sleeved, sparkly, chiffony vintage pieces. Saying that, I can never seem to strike the balance. Especially since 'perfect' pieces can wear out and your mood can be ever-changing for either type of clothing.
ReplyDeleteI have a sprawling wardrobe and still can't ever decide what to wear.
I could not imagine owning 100 pieces of clothing! At least I don't think I could. (Do work-out clothes count?)
ReplyDeleteI almost certainly don't have 100 items in my wardrobe, unless we are counting shoes and underwear. I am definitely lacking a few essential things, e.g. hot weather clothing that isn't black, an evening dress, and a swim suit (I wear underwear under my rash vest, shhhh). I don't own any tees I really love, and jeans and I will never be friends. The perfect white shirt would be a disaster for me - instantly covered in red dirt! A 'perfect' wardrobe is definitely contextual.
ReplyDeleteI think that sounds dreadful. People make up these rules/concepts just to sell book ideas/promote themselves as an expert. I don't mind what people do to make money, but it's depressing when others take it to heart and feels like they have to try to achieve something silly. Like that "drink 8 8-oz glasses of water a day," which was nothing but a marketing gimmick.
ReplyDeleteI guess some people like having a regimented life though. It provides a feeling of control and something to focus on. "Oh, I drank my 8 glasses of water and winnowed my wardrobe to 100 boring pieces today."
I'm with Wendy B on this subject. I don't like arbitrary rules about these sorts of things. For some 100 is an appropriate number, for others a revolving 50 items will do.
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing at Wendy's '100 boring pieces.' I always do this never explain fully as it means wider more diverse views!
ReplyDeleteI'm just gathering views at the moment... watch this space
PS there are no rules and yep the 8 glasses of water a day is a rubbish made up rule.
Nina's book is great it isn't rule bound at all. And she is an expert in her field. I read this post as what items do you consider useful as a way to have an easy, not necessarily boring or limited. How can someone make the leap from an open question to having a spat. Sorry Wendy don't know you but I'm not sure what is dreadful about having to consider what you can do to have a great wardrobe especially if you've got limited funds. That's why I love Make Do style it always has great advice.
ReplyDeleteI can't do with out skinny jeans and a leather jacket but I'm sure my skinny jeans love will end one day. I always have to have my one good handbag, same one for 4 years but I'd rather have a gorgeous designer bag than not. I'm shallow like that.
I would love 100 great pieces that would take me anywhere. I possibly have 100 pairs of shoes though!
ReplyDeleteThere's the whole "need" vs "want" thing, of course; I'm sure even a very public figure could have a wardrobe with fewer than 100 pieces if items rotated through quickly. I'd like to think I could do the same were my budget and inclinations different!
ReplyDeleteIn my perfect, non-itemized closet, everything would fit extremely well and be ridiculously flattering--and there would be clothes that accommodated bodily fluctuations. I'd find everything I needed to indulge my serious/playful, utilitarian/decorative, and minimalist/magpie sides. It would cost almost nothing and come with a staff to maintain it.
In real life, I have a smaller wardrobe: probably around 100 items, with 25% being easily-ignorable layering shells/Ts. For me smaller = more workable, though I do get bored with what I have and would love to donate and buy new more frequently.
At this point (40+) I'm comfortable with my overall non-trend based style; if my budget increased I'd certainly be open to more exploration, but I have a feeling I'd primarily buy more expensive versions of what I have.
Right now I'm making headway with my goal to incorporate pattern and non-black, -brown, or -grey items. I don't know that what's in my closet could take me "anywhere," but it's starting to take me where I commonly need to go, ha.
No! I just wrote lots of lovely and very long replies to comments and lost them all!
ReplyDeleteI definitely don't have 100 items in my wardrobe even including shoes, undies and sportswear! It works well for me though. I would never describe it as perfect - I always have a mental list of things I would like to add if budget allowed, but does't everyone?
ReplyDeleteIf I shopped with you I feel sure we could find 100 pieces that would give me the perfect wardrobe. On my own I could have 1000 pieces and I would still feel like it isn't enough.
ReplyDelete100 strikes me as too many things, even though I have 58 t-shirts. Nobody should need 100 items of clothing! I feel we've been brainwashed into wanting much more than is reasonable.
ReplyDeleteYu can have very limited number of clothing pieces, but you can never have enough scarfs, belts, gloves.
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued and I mean to find out.
ReplyDelete100 = too many!
ReplyDelete