Today we are overbuying clothes because of fast fashions and changing trends. If we want to declutter, the best way is not to buy into cheap and low quality clothings that is a wear it one time and dispose off.
There are always clothings we gravitate toward wearing them. Based on Pareto Principle, which is the 80/20 rule, 20% of your clothes are worn 80% of the time. This means only a small portion of your clothes are being utilized, and most of your clothes are just hanging there unworn. In order to maximize space in our closet we have to flip the number to 80% to be sustainable and clutter free.
According to research done by Berlin’s Hot or Cool Institute, a “sufficient” wardrobe is made up of:
“74 garments and 20 outfits in total. As an example, they’ve suggested six outfits for work, three outfits for home wear, three outfits for sports, two outfits for festive occasions, plus four outdoor jackets and trousers or skirts.”
+ Read further from this Vogue article: https://www.vogue.com/article/how-many-clothes-should-we-own
Let’s get down to the basic. The amount of clothes you need also depends on factors such as climate, personal style and life style. The list is a general guideline for all seasons. And your selection should be mindful and focus on what you enjoy wearing.
Tops:
Short sleeves tees X3
Long sleeves tees X3
Blouses X2
Sweaters or cardigans X2
Bottoms:
Pants/Jeans X4
Skirts X2
Shorts X2
Dresses:
Casual X2
Formal X1
Outerwear:
Jacket X1 (get something like a tri-climate coat)
Lightweight jacket X1
Blazer X1
Under garments:
Panties X7
Bras X7
Socks X7
Sleepwear:
PJ X3
Shoes:
Everyday shoes X2
Dress shoes X1
Sandals X1
Accessories:
Belts X2
Scarves X2
Gloves X1
Hats X1
Sunglasses X1
Jewelries X3
Handbag X1
Sportwear:
Swimwear X1
Gym clothes X3
The list provide a framework and the idea is to create layering and mixing and matching, allowing you to create more outfits throughout the seasons. The key focus is about versatility.