How many clothes do I really need?

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Readers who disagree with their partner’s minimalist approach to clothing wonder how many items they should keep in their closets.

As part of her memoir, “Clothes… And Other Things That Matter,” former counted the items she owned: 22 coats, 35 dresses, 34 jackets, 37 skirts, 17 trousers, and shirts. 16 pairs, 18 sweaters, 12 cardigans, 35 t-shirts. There were more, but there are already 226. Many jobs are given

Especially what is known as the 20-80 Rule or the Pareto Rule because it applies not only to the clothes we wear, but to many things in life. First described by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in 1896, the theory states that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. Or, in the case of clothes, 20% of what is in your closet is worn 80% of the time.

That means 80% of what’s in your closet isn’t worn most of the time.

It suggests that husbands are right to believe that they don’t need a lot of clothing. Indeed, an unavoidable part of the current patriotic shirts for women discussion of sustainability is that consumers must consume less to waste less.

But I don’t think it’s just that I wear one outfit at a time, wear it until it runs out, then throw it away, get another one, and put it all in the closet, imitating the Child hero who never has a bag left over. .

Clothing also has an important emotional component to consider. We stick with our clothes because we are convinced that they can one day be the answer to a problem, or because they represent moments we cherish, or because they cheer us up or make us feel powerful and happy. Clothes feed our emotions and imagination and can help us get through the day just as much as clothes that function.

To get to the bottom of the matter, we asked Marie Kondo, queen of tidying up and author of the soon-to-be-published book, How to Organize Your Space and Achieve Your Ideal Life.” ” What she will advise. Here’s what she said.

“Rather than focusing on the amount of clothing you have, it is more important to take the time to evaluate and see if each piece of clothing serves its purpose and brings joy to your life. Some people may find that multiple pairs of jeans can make them feel comfortable. Because they love options, and others may find that a few are enough. I like to carry a few of everything with my clothes so I have spares ready for laundry.”

That is, there is no magic number. But if you take a look at your closet and really think about why you’re storing each piece, you can make all the compromises you need.

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