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What is Your Ideal Wardrobe Size?

My last post on paring down a large wardrobe and the resulting comments got me thinking a lot about wardrobe size. Specifically, I’ve been pondering the topic of ideal wardrobe size.  Now I don’t believe there is an absolute ideal wardrobe size that applies across the board, but I do think it’s possible to determine our own individual optimal wardrobe sizes.

In today’s post, I share my thoughts on the important topics of wardrobe size and frequency of wear.  Using my own wardrobe as an example, I employ statistics (my favorite!) to estimate the number of items I need within various closet categories.  A number of key factors are considered in making my determinations, and I hope my findings will be helpful to those of you who wish to pare down but aren’t sure of your ultimate end point.

Ideal wardrobe size

Do you know what the ideal wardrobe size is for you?

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Reader Question – Help With Paring Down a Large Wardrobe

I recently received an email from a reader who is struggling with paring down her overly large wardrobe.  She has too many clothes and would like to reduce the volume, but her difficulty lies in the fact that she still likes most of what she has.  Since I’ve struggled myself with a similar dilemma and I believe many of you can relate to this reader’s challenge, I decided to address her question in a blog post.

Overstuffed Closet

Is this what your closet looks like?  Do you want some help to pare things down?

I’ve written on the subject of reducing wardrobe size previously, most specifically in this post, but it’s an important topic that bears revisiting.  In today’s post, I’ll share some additional tips and suggestions for downsizing our closets.  If you have other words of wisdom to offer, I invite you to share them in the comments section.  There is no one right way to approach this issue, so the more tips the merrier! What feels off base to one person may totally resonate for another, so it’s helpful to get as much information as possible onto the table. Continue reading →

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10 Signs That You’re a Recovering Shopaholic

I’ve been writing this blog for over a year now.  When I started the blog, I selected the title “Recovering Shopaholic” as a way of declaring my intention for recovery to myself and to the world at large.  I also hoped to connect with and inspire fellow shopaholics who want to overcome their compulsive shopping habits.  Over the course of this past year, I feel very fortunate to have achieved some measure of success on both fronts.

I went shopping the other day for the first time in about a month.  As I left the mall, I was struck by a very strong feeling of “maybe I’m cured.”  I didn’t feel the same “pull” or exhilaration for the activity of shopping as I used to feel.  My mind was clearly “running the show” rather than my emotions and I felt very pleased at the shift in both my thinking and my behavior.

Peaceful woman on the beach

There is life beyond compulsive shopping…

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Closet Reorganization, Part Two

I didn’t expect to be doing another post on the topic of closet organization so soon, but I like to go with the flow as a blogger and write about things that are timely.  I received some very insightful comments on Friday’s post that caused me to think more deeply about the topic and make further changes to the way my closet is organized.

Today’s post addresses why I opted to shift my closet organization again after such a short time and outlines the changes I have made.  At the end of the post, I share some alternate closet organization methods offered by readers, as well as some useful links for additional information.

Colors of rainbow, clothes

I don’t believe there is one right way to organize a closet; we all have to do what’s right for us and that may change over time.  However, my hope is that reading about my process and that of others may help you determine what will work best for you. Continue reading →

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Lessons from Closet Reorganization

I was inspired to reorganize my closet yesterday after reading an article by Jill Chivers titled “You Don’t Wear What You Can’t See.”  In this article, Jill offers her top tips for creating an organized wardrobe you can shop in.  Since I’m working to “shop my closet” rather than the mall these days, I’m all for learning more about how I can successfully do this.

Organized Closet

How do you organize your closet?

A New Suggestion

Many of Jill’s tips were things I’ve read and used before.  In fact, some of them I’ve even offered myself in previous blog posts.  However, there was one suggestion that was new to me which may make a big difference in terms of how I approach my wardrobe:

With prints, I advocate putting them together in a ‘print’ grouping and not interspersing them with your colours…”

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