a wardrobe that fits
For a while now, I've been steadily removing items from my wardrobe.
Before I started getting rid of things, my wardrobe was stuffed full and stacked high, but I still couldn't find anything I wanted to wear. None of my clothes seemed to match the occasion, or the outfits didn't make sense. I also had a seemingly endless pile of laundry to get through.
I realised that my wardrobe had simply accumulated over the years, without any focus. I had items of clothing from different phases and moments of my life. Things that I'd kept for a long time, things that held memories or that I'd once loved.
I began to remove anything I knew I didn't really like wearing. Then I gradually parted with clothes I thought I liked, but never wore. Over time, I started to cut it down to things I liked wearing and wore a lot. Eventually, I had a range of clothing for exactly what my lifestyle asked for, and nothing more than that.
I've managed to reduce my current wardrobe to 51 items, excluding socks and underwear.
Here's a summary:
| Everyday tops | 9 × short-sleeve tees (regular, slim, and graphic), 2 × long-sleeve tees |
| Smart tops | 2 × Oxford shirts, 2 × collarless shirts, smart blazer |
| Warm layers | 3 × sweatshirts, 1 × wool jumper |
| Bottoms | 3 × jeans, 2 × linen trousers, 1 × combats, 1 × shorts |
| Outerwear | Light jacket, waterproof, winter coat, down vest |
| Active wear | 3 × tops, running shorts, yoga pants, vest, swim trunks |
| Sleep wear | 2 × vests, pajama bottoms, oversized tee |
| Footwear | Smart trainers, boots, running shoes, sliders |
| Accessories | 2 x caps, 2 x scarves, beanie hat |
I've found that this combination gives me everything I need for my day to day. It's taken a while to tie it all together, and I've also replaced a lot of what I started with.
I'm able to dress casually for work most of the time so t-shirts are my staple. Mostly plain and neutral colours make it easy to put outfits together.
Finding good Oxford shirts took a few tries - I have one in white and one in light blue.
For bottoms, it's three pairs of Levis and some lighter trousers for the warmer days. I find the jeans last a long time if you look after them.
One pair of trainers, which I try and clean fairly regularly to keep them looking smart. In the winter, I switch to leather boots. Sliders for spring/summer, holidays, or short walks.
Outerwear has taken a little while to get right. The weather is very seasonal here, so I have a heavy winter coat for the colder months and a down vest with a waterproof jacket for rainy days. Plus a light jacket for spring and early autumn.
Although it might seem like a small selection, I already have plans to cut this list down even more! Keeping just the right items has made getting dressed a whole lot simpler.