What would be your 'minimum' wardrobe?

[nunzia]

B&M=Brick and Mortar(vs. online) Yes! They have some styles that fit the junk in my trunk.

I haven't tried Coldwater Creek jeans- they are too long, and the petite too short. The tops I've bought from there are usually beaded and decorated and the decorations are always falling off after 6months or so.

ahh..so they don't have good clearance stuff online? I don't wear stuff with embelleshments so I guess tht's why I don't have trouble with CC..I'm pretty bland

 

[mrsklamc]

well that was liberating... got up this morning and discarded about 75% of my clothes ( closet and drawers).......now I am going to right a list of what i need to fill in......

Isn't it a great feeling?

I did my first major purge at the beginning of the year, and then I organized what was left by color, just for fun. My MIL had suggested it and it was interesting to see. It has affected what color pieces I've purchased.

As a matter of fact I think I will do this again, even though I'm on a purchasing hold right now... losing weight and I hate to spend between that and the shifting season.

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

10 pants and long shirts(don't like jeans)
10 tops
2 dresses
2 sweaters
1 jacket
2 winter coat (1 longer coat to wear with dresses)

 

[Taja]

I already did this years ago. My body doesn't meet manufacturers' specifications--regardless of my weight! I have a definite pear (or triangle) shape that's also a bit of an hourglass--very small waist compared to bust and hips. *sigh* I design and make most of my own clothing for that reason, although I do buy some things that don't require a precise fit.

Business
Skirts (2)
Slacks (5)
Sleeveless Tops (5)
Jackets/Blazers (3)
Short-sleeved Tops (2)
Long-sleeved Tops (2)
Vests (2)
Shoes, open--usually some form of sandals (3)
Shoes, closed (1)

Nearly everything can be mixed and matched. I'm not a fan of skirts/dresses because I grew up in an era when girls and women were required to wear them and also because I frequently end up crawling around on the floor in the office to deal with computers and other equipment. But I do have a couple for the times when they are more appropriate.

Formal
Long Black Skirt (1)
Tops, sleeveless (2)
Top, long-sleeved (1)
Jackets (2)

I actually can wear the tops and jackets with tailored slacks or a street-length skirt for dressier occasions not requiring the long skirt.

Personal

Slacks (5)
Tops, sleeveless (5)
Tops, short-sleeved (2)
Tops, long-sleeved (2)
Dresses, long casual (3)
Sweatshirts, pullover (3)
Thermal-knit pullovers (2)
Sandals (3)
Sneakers (2)
Flats (1)
Birks (6 - down from 10!)--my weakness! *LOL*
Edited to add
Swimsuits (2)

I'm not comfortable in capris or shorts, so I wear light-weight slacks in warmer weather. I usually have 3 light-weight and 2 mid-weight pairs of slacks.

Outerwear
Fleece jacket (stadium length & reversible)
Pant-length coat (water repellent) (works with skirts, as well)
Gloves (1 pair leather, 1 pair thermal)

Grubbies
Anything retired from business or personal that can be worn for doing the grubby work around the house! *LOL*

I have an advantage in that I live in a warm climate and don't have to maintain wardrobes for separate seasons. Most of my personal and business clothing coordinate with one another, so I can stretch my wardrobe if I'm able to wear casual clothing to work or want to wear something a bit more tailored or dressy for an evening or weekend out. I usually add two or three tops and bottoms to my wardrobe each year. Sometimes things are retired, other times they still are in excellent condition and can continue in the wardrobe for another year or two.

 

[locolala]

I'm fairly lucky with what I wear to work.. scrubs. Dark scrubs, doesn't matter what color as long as they're on the darker side. I have about 5 sets, one for each day. They stay at work and get washed there as well so I don't bring germs home. I just go in wearing normal clothes, jeans and a tee.

I have 3 or 4 pairs of jeans that fit me well, about a million teeshirts (lol, I have a fascination with tees), the same in tanktops. We don't attend church, but if we did I have a few outfits that would work for church or other formal events. Not much though, I'm not a big fan of dressing up. It's just not comfortable for me!

 

[jacksmom]

Woohoo!!!! Congratulations!!! That is awesome! I've only lost one size, but I'm cheap and don't want to buy more clothes!!! Luckily, I still have some clothes from when I was this size pre-kids, so I do have things to work with.

Have you checked thrift stores? I've found some great bargains there. Good brands, some with tags still on them!

Let's see. For me, my bare minimum for fall would include:

1 pr khaki capris
1 pr nice jeans
1 pr dress pants
1 dress shirt
1 pr nice khakis
1 white fitted shirt
1 t shirt
1 cardigan (red?)
lots of scarves to dress it up

I think I'd need lots of shoes too!!! Heels, boots, running around shoes, etc. I think that's it! Of course, that doesn't include the nice black dress that everyone needs for those more formal occasions. And, I run. So, I really need good, warm running clothes and shoes (I'm training for the Disney marathon!!). But, the basics are there.

Thanks for the tip! That is really a great idea to check out my thrift store! I could buy a few things now and not feel bad if I don't wear them for long!

 

[indimom]

Wow, I feel extravagent. Maybe we have too many seasons here and I have too dirty a job, but there is no way I would try to get by on the number of pieces quoted here. And I do laundry weekly, normally on Sundays.

*I need a minimum of 8-10 tops for three different seasons (high summer which can be a broiler and I do work outside, spring and fall, and dead winter which can be frigid.) Sometimes I do have to change my shirt during the day due to my job.

*I would need a minimum of 6-8 pants for the same three seasons (shorts for high summer, capris for spring and fall, jeans for winter) I can cut the fall/spring capris to maybe 3-4 pairs since some days would be warm enough for shorts or cool enough for jeans.

*I also have active wear for working out (some of that I wear for work also, but not all.)

*Since I don't get to dress up for my job and actually enjoying doing a little make-up and hair on the weekend, I like to have 4 or 5 dresses/dress slacks and tops for church and date nights. (Again, I would need to cover at least two seasons, winter and summer.)

*I also like a couple hoodies for the winter months. Can't live without them when you are going to the kids' sports and sitting in the freezing bleachers for hours at a time. Love a thick, warm hoodie under my coat!

*Some crappy old t-shirts and jeans or sweats for real dirty jobs like cleaning the bathrooms or painting the walls. I'm not willing to ruin my other stuff and I've learned my lesson with both paint and bleach.

*Jacket for the spring and fall

*Coat for the winter

*Tennis Shoes for work in the winter

*Crocs or flip flops for work in the summer

*A couple pairs of dress shoes to match my "church clothes" to coordinate with the seasons - basically balck, brown and white or along those lines.

*Boots for the snow.

Even this seems slim to me. Do I logically know I could get by with less. Yes, but I guess I'm not willing to do it, and the thought of doing laundry more than once a week?

 

[roadtripper]

Great topic!
I am not only purging for space reasons, but to get rid of stuff that doesn't look good on me. I may be a teacher, but I don't need to look UBER frumpy.

Re: work clothes--I had an epiphany this year. I work at a technical HS, and ordered 5 fitted twill dress shirts in different colors from the school store. They say my school name on them. One per day, with black or khaki skirt, capris, or pants. Cardigans as needed.
DONE! I always wanted to wear a school uniform!

All my workout gear and date clothes I get as hand-me-downs from my sisters, who are shopaholics. I do need a cute pair of non mom jeans, but that's it. I also have some great cocktail dresses-- I love to dress up.

You guys have me motivated to get rid of stuff-- thanks!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Okay, this has motivated me!

Hmm. . .

So:

Casual clothes:
3 pairs of blue jeans
5 t-shirts
5 pairs of shorts
2 pairs of capris
2 pairs jeans to tuck into boots

Work clothes:
3 dresses
4 pairs of pants
8 tops SS
8 tops LS
4 pairs of capris to tuck into boots

Dig/hunting camp clothes:
1 pair jeans
1 pair long canvas pants thick
1 pair long canvas pants thin
2 pairs capri/long cargo shorts
2 pairs regular length shorts
1 long sleeve sunscreen shirt
2 short sleeve sunscreen shirt
3 short sleeve tees, tissue weight or t-shirt
2 sweatshirts or hoodies
2 long sleeve tees

Casual and Work Jackets
9 light cardigans (2 black, 4 colors, 2 brown 1 cream)
2 heavy acrylic cardigans (To leave at work - one to have, one to wash)
3 cashmere sweaters (Black, brown, gray)
1 trench
3 cheap raincoats to stash in the vehicles
1 nice raincoat for non-emergencies
2 winter jackets, leather or wool
1 dress coat

Shoes
2 pairs black dress sandals
2 pairs brown dress sandals
1 pair white dress sandals
2 pairs black flats
2 pairs brown flats
1 pair white flats
1 pair brown boots
1 pair black boots
5 pairs sneakers (2 for exercise, 1 for running around, 2 that can be ruined and tossed at digs.)
1 pair nice rainboots
1 pair grotty rubber boots (can be old rainboots) for out at camp and digs
1 pair hiking boots
1 pair sports sandals
1 pair casual (around the house) sandals
1 pair dress up heels

Workout Clothes
5 - 7 tops
5 - 7 shorts
3 knee shorts
5- 7 jogging bras

Hanging out Clothes
4 t-shirts
2 sweat pants
2 sweatshirts/hoodies

Dinner out Clothes
1 summer dress
1 winter dress
1 LBD

Business Formal Outfit
1 suit
2 blouses

Bags/Totes
2 Tote bags
1 sling bag (for carrying lunch on digs)
1 brown purse
1 black purse
1 dress laptop bag
1 casual laptop bag
1 laptop backpack
1 bag for outfit to keep in car for emergencies
1 formal clutch

BFF Winter Visit Clothes
1 pair warm boots
1 pair wool pants or cords
1 thermal parka, lighter weight
2 pairs good gloves
1 good scarf
1 good hat

I have a LOT of paring down to do this weekend!