Americans buy an average of 64 items of clothing per year, according to Overdressed, the book I'm currently obsessed with reading right now. That's an average of more than one new item a week. That statistic MIGHT be true of my household if you add up the items I bought last year with the items I bought for my Handsome Husband and divide by two. But to be honest, the number of my items probably are triple his. When we divided up our closet, we agreed that I would have 60% and he had 40% of the space. But his space has actual space in it and mine is jam-packed! I don't remember why but my cousin once saw a photo of my closet and I remember her being astonished. I remember saying to her, "What? Your walk-in closet is WAY bigger than this." And she replied, "Yes, but it's not so full!" Ok, she has an excellent point. So... one goal this week is to say good-bye to 20 items. I'm halfway there- I said gave up ten items on Monday. But I came home with a newly thrifted pair of shoes on Monday. And today I picked up a striped top, a funny t-shirt, and a cardigan from Frenzi and Secret Closet. Sigh. Yes, I like clothes. I really really really like clothes.
How many new articles of clothing do you think you've bought in the last 12 months? About one a week? More? Less?
Daily Details:
- weather: cloudy and comfortable
- location: Lowman Beach
- yellow blouse, old, approximate current cost per wear (accpw) $3
- shorts, old, accpw $10
- bag, old, accpw $1
- flip flops, old, accpw $1
- bracelets: AE, Gap, old, old watch
- ethical ensemble evaluation: B
I ADORE those short; seriously adore them!
ReplyDeleteI fear I am a bad American...I bought 9 clothing items this last year. Ah well, getting back into the workforce is certain to amend my bad habits but I'm going to be sure to be as ethical in my clothing purchases as possible; thanks in large part to your good example.
Have the loveliest of days!
In the past year? Oh man, I think my wardrobe has just about been completely overhauled since a year ago. I know at least I'm definitely up there in the one item per week average. Women just love to entertain themselves this way. It's a journey of self discovery which I really enjoy. I enjoy it more once I realized that I'll never achieve the perfect wardrobe and be done. It will always be an ongoing balance between "what was I thinking?" and "this is so me, I'll never get rid of it."
ReplyDeleteI am a new visitor to your blog from over the pond, but definitely a great lover of clothes!! Can't count how many clothes I have purchased! I do sell old clothes to justify buying more - does that help??! I am currently doing a challenge to see how long I can go without buying anything - 3 weeks so far . It is so hard as all the sales are on over here, I'm such a lightweight!!! Xx
ReplyDeleteMmm, I would have to think about that. I used to buy a lot before I moved countries, but then, most of it was thrifted. I had to laugh at the space allocation of your and hubby's clothing - when we moved into our new pad recently, I took over the TRIPLE closet while he got the double one. Hey, I do have more clothes, even in spite of donating/selling a good 70 percent of them before I moved country!
ReplyDeleteBTW I am loving the way you stack bracelets etc in your recent posts. Nice look.
oh I have no idea! this week I've thrifted myself two gorgeous pieces but I guess there are weeks when I don't buy clothes, so it's really hard to tell. and I totally know the feeling! my vacation will start soon and this means I HAVE TO clean my closet and wardrobe. I have a closet for dresses and coats and another for tops and jackets and so on, it's crazy!! I must do something about it :P btw, I actually give my clothes for charity when I have the chance to clean everything in that department.
ReplyDeleteMaiken,
Maikeni blogi - part of me
I am not American but that statistic would hold some truth for me, there's a lot of new stuff in my closet and when we add my hubby's closet, that's just another story.
ReplyDeleteI awarded your blog with 2 awards, go check it out
xx
meinmode.blogspot.com
I've really cut back on my shopping this year and I think I've bought less than 1 item per week. In years past though, it was probably a different story!
ReplyDelete-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
I've got to read that book! I've gone way overboard with buying clothes in the past 12 months...especially since moving to DC where the shopping is out of this world...although I have definitely cut back lately since I've found that my monthly spending money lasts a lot longer when I don't buy little things here and there.
ReplyDeleteAlso--I know it wasn't really the point of this post but I love the shorts you are wearing!
The print of those shorts is so cute!
ReplyDelete64 is average huh? That is interesting. I honestly could not guess how much I've bought in a year. At the vintage/thrift sales I hit up over the weekend I came home with at least six new things. Wow. Man, I don't think I want to know how many items I buy in a year. I do know that I give away quite a bit in a year too though, we actually go through the work to track it for taxes, so yeah.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, closets? My husband gets the one in our room while I have the one in our spare bedroom. Because right now there is no way we can share. I will be screwed if we ever decide to have children!
Loving your arm party and fun ruffled top!
v, you're looking good. i wish i could see the top & print better, from what i see, i really like. the bracelets are my heart. i actually don't shop that much.
ReplyDeleteNew photo up just for you!
Delete--V
i don't even want to know (ok, i do, but i think i'd be embarrassed). for business last year, i saved all of the two birds' receipts and in the same bag, i saved my own thrifting receipts as well. the numbers really shocked and horrified me. i love clothes, too!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a very interesting statistic. I buy WAY more than that (thrift stores, yikes!)
ReplyDeleteDef. following!
xo,
Allie
www.sparklesandstilettos.blogspot.com
Vivienne, you are too funny girl. Good for you for getting rid of items. One suggestion, have you thought about purchasing outfit hangers (with clips) where you can hang the top with the appropriate bottom. It really saves me space. Then I have drawers where I keep things that don't match up. Just an idea. Maybe you're already doing that! Hmmm, if your hubby is not using that space, maybe he can charge you hahahahah if you need extra space. I hope he doesn't read this! LOL
ReplyDeleteJust messin with ya! Have a great day.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/
I don't know how they got that stat because I have no idea! Who keeps track of it all? I don't think it's been much for me cause I havent had loads of money this year. I've got a lot better at wearing stuff I had ages ago in new ways though rather than just shoving it to the back of a cupboard.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had time to get rid of my old clothes. I give away more than I buy. I am an un-hoarder!! Hi, my name is Renae and I am an Un-hoarder! I wear the same things over and over. I have my comfy style I developed in the 90's and haven't moved much from it except to get newer versions of the same thing... make sense? I am a minimalist! Too much junk, clutter or stuff get me upset/nervous/jittery/twitching/ and the like. hahaha
ReplyDeleteYou and my daughters should be best of buddies. She gave away a bunch of stuff lately and is now down to 35 pairs of shoes instead of 87 pairs.
oh, Ps. I love your bracelets and your b/w shorts with the yellow top. So cute. Don't get me wrong, I love clothes too, just not tons of them. (but granted my closet is much more full compared to my husby's)
ReplyDeleteFirst off- thank you for your sweet comment on my blog! I wasn't fishing for compliments when I posted today but what you said brought a smile to my face.
ReplyDeleteSecond off- once again, you are making me think! I think over the last year I have bought about half of that amount in new pieces. 64 articles of clothing seems like a lot to me. But I don't have a full closet either. Hmmm. Do shoes count? :)
Hannah Tattoos and Pearls
oK so I don't buy clothes. Well I do, but not like you...your posts are so fun..it may inspire me to go shop. Infact, this afternoon I am meeting my clothingesta friend at the thrift store. That is secondary to lunch...so if we run out of time, thift store will be post poned. I know, don't choke.
ReplyDeleteI'd totally believe that statistic. I am probably (sheepishly) well above it. Good luck saying goodbye to 20 items--that will be hard! I love your pretty printed shorts and yellow top today Vivienne!
ReplyDeleteI honestly have no idea. If i see something that is exactly my style or where i want my style to go to a "T" and it's in my price range i usually grab it. But i also feel i'm pretty picky and do this because a lot of times if i impromptu walk into a store i leave empty handed. I've filtered down my style personality pretty well by now and it's not so much random, "oh i just really want to get something new".
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you that your pictures really make me smile because i'm originally from Alaska and the background of your photos really remind me on home.
Good luck with the parting of clothing items!! That has got to be tough!
ReplyDeleteJulia
Cup of Tea
WOW! I think that I'm way over the average, too. Thrifting does that to people :) Did they report on the $ amount that is spent per person on average? Maybe this would be a better measure? I bet that I still about the same (or even less?) than the average. I do try to be really good about getting rid of things... I try to stick to a one in, one out rule and it works for me most of the time when it comes to keeping my closet volume under control!
ReplyDeleteLove those shorts, the print is great!
ReplyDeleteXO
Alison
heartofgoldandluxury.blogspotom
I am afraid to count. I am so guilty and then some. Especially shoes....my appetite is simply insatiable. i have encroached on my boyfriends closet too. It's safe to say I'm well above the average American. I am working on it though. I swear.
ReplyDeleteWait so you are giving up 20 but you already bought another 3? ha!hah!
Love your shorts.
-- Muthoni
FashionBeautyInsight
I think im right in line with 64, and I feel like that is excessive. Oh and thanks for the comment on my DIY! While I was painting the cantaloupe I realized it looked a lot like watermelon. But I assure you, the actual color of the fruit is a lovely orange and not red. Also I guess I associate white seeds only with cantaloupe but I now realize that watermelons have white seeds too. A bit confusing, yes.
ReplyDeletecant wait to check back in!
-Nico
www.SatinAndSalt.com
I'm a little late to this post, but I wanted to get in on the conversation. :) I buy way less than one item a week, and that was true even when I was working. One thing I try to do is decide how much is "enough" in any given category, and if something new comes in, something else has to go. Or it gets reassigned to another category -- for example, tees that go from work-wear to around-the-house wear when they get faded and sad looking.
ReplyDeleteGood taste, love this post!
ReplyDeleteI think I definitely bought more than 64 items... but well, I'm probably not average - although if I'm german and not american ;-) How did your say-goodbye to 20 items go out? I just returned yesterday from short trip to London, and so I have to catch up a bit with blogs and also yours of course - that just as little excuse for my late comment to this post ;-)
ReplyDeletexxx Anita
Kim from Sweetest Blog recommended me to your blog. I've been writing about the same issue as of late. I read Overdressed by Elizabeth Cline and it really changed my thinking. I would highly recommend you grab a copy too. It brings up even more questionable issues regarding our disposable fashion culture.
ReplyDelete