Wardrobe Statistics Update

On a recent AMA post on Instagram, someone asked me about my current closet statistics, which is a topic I haven’t written about in a while. Assuming some level of interest, I went ahead and wrote this post so … here’s hoping you keep reading. Let’s not let all this sweet Google Docs data go to waste!

Yes, friends, that’s what it has come to; I got too lazy to update the Stylebook app, so I created an Excel spreadsheet for my wardrobe inventory. Not quite as fancy, but it does the trick. I record the item description, year of purchase, cost, retail value, and number of wears (for clothing only). The latter is an approximation only, because I frequently forget to update it. I keep a separate spreadsheet where I try to track the history of items (where they go after I remove them from my closet, why I’m letting them go, etc.) but, again, I have not always been consistent about updating it.

Ok, let’s talk numbers.

Tops: I currently have 40 tops. The average cost is $13/item.

Sweaters & other knits: There are 42 items in this category, which includes cardigans and vests. The average cost is $15/item.

Blazers: I have 35 blazers, down from a, um, much higher number. I can’t help it, I am a blazer hoarder. The average cost is $19/item.

Pants: I have 24 pants, including denim. I used to own more, and actually should probably pare down further. After being diagnosed with IBS, I wear pants much less often. I find them generally too uncomfortable for long stretches of time, especially anything tight/structured like denim. Average cost in this category is $14/item.

Skirts: I have 27 skirts and the number is only going up. I have rediscovered a love of skirts in the past year, although I now gravitate towards midi and maxi silhouettes, not pencil skirts. I find skirts much more comfortable (they don’t constrict my lower torso like pants). Average cost is $17/item.

Dresses (everyday): There are 42 dresses and counting. I love them. I think I own a dozen black ones at this point, which is ridiculous … but also totally necessary. I’m obsessed with interesting silhouettes over prints or colours, so it makes sense – or so I tell myself. Average cost is $45/item, but that is skewed due to 2 specific dresses. If those are removed from the equation, the average cost would be around $20.

Special occasion dresses: I have 11, which is probably too many given the lack of cocktail parties, weddings, and other galas in my life. But I can’t resist a pretty, thrifted frock. Average cost is $22/item.

Coats and outerwear: There are 22 items in this category, with an average cost of $47/item.

Shoes: I have 56 pairs of shoes, including summer & winter stuff. I really need to pare down because I have a bunch of fancy shoes (heels, mostly) that I don’t wear but can’t bear to let go. Oh well. Average cost is $32/item. It’s on the higher end because I still buy a fair amount of shoes at retail (unlike my clothes); probably a third or so.

Bags: I have 32 bags, which are largely a legacy of my “bag lady” past. I rarely buy bags now, and they’re usually simple totes or cross-bodies, nothing fancy. Average cost is $141/item, which sounds high but consider that this includes a Chanel bag, a couple of LVs, and the like. I could probably make a decent amount of cash if I re-sold the designer bags that I don’t use, but I prefer to keep them around for my daughter.

Because the majority of my clothing (upwards of 90%) is now secondhand, my out of pocket purchase costs have been hovering around the 10% of retail value for the last couple of years. That’s reflected in the average price of my items, as summarized above. I did the math on the (estimated) retail cost of my wardrobe recently and was staggered to realize it would be well over 6 figures. I like clothes but, like, not that much. That’s why I thrift, friends. Well, that and the fact I want to support a circular economy when it comes to clothes.

I have not included lounge clothes in my calculations above because I’m a slob at home; I rotate the same 2 t-shirts and 3 pairs of lounge pants (my favourite cost $1!) all the time. I have also not included gym wear because, well, I haven’t been to the gym since 2013. As for, ahem, unmentionables – they shall remain unmentioned. (Although I will say that I am partial to Natori bras, Aerie cotton briefs, and CK nylons, all of which I buy new.)

Overall, my clothes spending and wardrobe stats numbers have remained fairly consistent over the past couple of years since I’ve devoted myself almost exclusively to thrifting. I have a “happy zone” for my wardrobe contents, which I tend to judge by the number of empty hangers available; running short on hangers is my cue to edit things down. Too many clothes, and I start feeling overwhelmed – hard to believe, I know. But I also like having lots of options and experimenting with new styles and pieces all the time, so I have come to accept that regular turnover is a feature of my closet, not a bug. This is where the circular economy thing comes in handy; I always sell, donate or swap things I no longer want to keep around, as they usually have lots of life left in them.

If you have questions about my wardrobe tracking system or statistics, or want to share yours, the comment section is all yours!