I’ve had a couple of comments lately along the lines of “My, how many CLOTHES you have!”
(Kinda reminds me of Goldilocks: “My, what BIG TEETH you have grandma!”).
The first time was when I posted a pic of our walk in wardrobe, after the hubster had given it a bit of a reno.
Then, a friend mentioned she was enjoying my “Everyday Style” posts on Instagram and Facebook (where I link up with the fabulous Nikki from Styling You) – but she was beginning to think I had a bit of a never-ending supply of clothes!
I never thought of myself as owning an excessive amount of clothes, although I will confess that I do enjoy shopping and picking up a bargain.
So here’s the secrets to my seemingly extensive wardrobe …
1. Op Shopping: I’ve found some fabulous bargains over the years, and if you don’t tell anybody, they’d never know your clothes are in fact second hand! (Jealous? Don’t be – here’s a post where I share my tips for successful op shopping.)
2. Share & Swap: We might not be the same size, but Miss 17 and I still manage to share and swap jewellery, scarves, and shoes. I grew up as one of three sisters – it was only when I left home at 19, that I realised what a blessing that was because all of a sudden my wardrobe was cut by two-thirds overnight!
3. Time for a Clear Out: I have clothes in my wardrobe I haven’t worn in a looong time, for example, from my days of working in an office. I really must clear them out!
4. Hang it All: We are short on drawer space so I hang nearly everything up, so perhaps that makes my wardrobe look fuller than normal?
5. Catering for Different Sizes: Like many women, my weight fluctuates. It might look like a lot of clothes, but at any one point in time only a portion of them actually fit … I lost 5 kilos recently, and have been enjoying wearing some items that I hadn’t touched for a couple of years!
6. Shop your Wardrobe: The whole point of Everyday Style is to “shop in your wardrobe” – to look at the items you already have, and think about new ways of putting them together. It’s a great way to break out of your style rut and make the most of what you already have. So that’s exactly what I do!
What about you – do people think you have a big wardrobe or is it all smoke and mirrors like me?!
Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.
I don’t have lots, but all of it is from op shops. It’s amazing how many barely worn clothes you can pick up in perfect condition, for a fraction of the price of retail. And the best part is, you never know what you’re gonna find! I also find it helps me take a risk with clothes I wouldn’t normally think to wear.
I tend to hang on to good quality stuff, and going out dresses that I don’t wear much. Trying to ‘shop in my wardrobe’ a bit and not spend at the moment. Have lost about 7kg since April, so my next new purchase is going to be a bikini! It was interesting when we came back from Canada after living there in 2011 and I realised how many clothes I had – some I still have and hardly ever wear. Time for a clean-out!
Sometimes I wonder this about fashion bloggers – or anyone really who posts for #everydaystyle – but then I look at my overflowing wardrobe which I have collected for 30 odd years and think gee that sure is a lot of stuff! I try to do a once a year clear out – hard as it may be – it is vital to keep on top of everything xx Josefa #teamIBOT
While I love #everydaystyle I don’t think there are many people who shop in their wardrobe all that often! I tend to cull my wardrobe 1-2 a year. You are so lucky to have an eye for the op-shops I am terrible at shopping there, I have no patience for finding that perfect gem.
I have a lot of clothes to, struggle to throw favourites out. Now, if I have had something for three seasons and it is starting to look like tatty regardless of whether it is a favourite or not I throw. Congratulations on losing the 5 kilos xxx
Love op shopping both for myself and my son. People donate SUCH good stuff – you just need the patience to have a bit of a dig!
I have a lot of clothes some of which I’m selling or donating because they don’t fit anymore or are the wrong shape. My weight has fluctuated hence why I have so many clothes I think.
I would love to shop in op shops but I am useless. I just don’t have the patience. My wardrobe is a bit of a mess, I really must clear it out. I kind of just shove everything in there. I’m very jealous of how ordered yours looks!
You’re right, it does take patience. And don’t worry, my wardrobe only looks ordered because it’s just undergone a reno … give it a few months 😉
My husband’s always complaining about how many clothes I own… and how many I don’t wear! I tend to stick with the ones I’m most comfortable with, yet can’t help but buy others that I really like along the way. I was just doing a clean out yesterday and donating lots of unworn ones!
Boys just don’t get it do they …
I tend to wear the same handful of outfits on rotation. I probably need to do another clean out of my wardrobe and then look at what gaps I have that need filling. Unfortunately I never find anything at op shops which I like, fit me and look flattering.
I’ve had quite a few wins at the op shop lately Ingrid, but there are times when I can go months without finding anything because like you, I look for things that I like, that actually fit, and look flattering.
I have a lot of clothes too, so shoot me! We all have our passions in life and clothes are mine. Like you, though I have a huge amount of bargains in there and I never pay full price for anything unless I completely can’t live without it.
Exactly!!!!!
I never find anything in Op Shops as I like to shop for current fashion mainly and I find Op Shops a bit outdated. I do have an extensive wardrobe from my working days, but now because I work from home I don’t need anywhere the amount of clothing I once did. I have barely bought anything this year except the other day I splurged on a pair of Country Road white jeans that I will get a lot of wear out of.
There is a real art to finding stuff in the op shop that doesn’t look dated. I am constantly amazed at what people get rid of, I’ve picked up many current season items while op shopping!
As I was looking at your picture I was thinking that it probably looked more because it was hanging and then you mentioned it! I have a pretty big wardrobe but it needs a massive clean out. I just got a few new clothes and my mum has given me 2 garbage bags of clothes too (she tends to buy stuff on a whim and then decide she doesn’t like it after all lol) so I need to clean out so that I have enough room for it all.
Oh how awesome to get goodies given to you! My sisters and I used to swap a lot more but as we’ve gotten older our sizes and tastes are VERY different …
If I took a photo of my wardrobe, it would look like I have heaps of clothes, but I really only wear about ten percent of them. I really need to do some springcleaning! I’m off to read your tips on op-shopping 🙂
I probably regularly wear only half of mine, must be time for a clear out …
I’ve just started doing everydaystyle and I think people are starting to think I have a massive wardrobe. I’m going to run out soon though 🙂 I’m lucky enough to be a similar size to my mum and she’s a funky mumma like you, so we do lots of swapping.
I must admit I find Winter much more fun when everyday styling, because you can do so much more with layers. Summer gets a bit boring – I’m sure people don’t want to see me in the same frock 20000 times! 😉
Well Boatman thinks I have a big wardrobe, but he’s probably the only one 😉
Pffft men, what do they know?!
I occupy 2/3 of the wardrobe (we have walk-in in our room and I invaded some of my son’s space too), does that classify as too many cloths? But people probably don’t think I have too many because I always wear the same pieces. Which reminds me, I really need to spring clean and get rid of cloths I haven’t touched for years, thinking I might need them one day and I don’t know when that one day will be.
Yes, I have about 2/3 of the space in our wardrobe too. Which is the way it should be! 😉
Whoa. That’s a lot of clothes!