What is too much?

[Russell Street]

If I had infinity billion dollars I still wouldn't want 2000 pairs of shoes. What a nightmare.

There seem to be two extremes on the igent fora, some that have very modest sized wardrobes for whatever reason, and the people that seem to blindly accumulate stuff to a vulgar level.
I have a wardrobe maybe a bit larger than the average joe, but probably marginal by enthusiast standards. I have stuff that gets worn maybe two or three times a year, shoes that I forget I have for a month or two. I don't have piles of regrettable stuff, I just have enough that things sit around unused for long times. It's wasteful to a degree, decadent. But then I see the loons with many multiples of this, usually at a couple steps up in on the price scale too, and I feel less lush.

When does one have enough? Or rather, not enough?

 

[doghouse]

There seem to be two extremes on the igent fora, some that have very modest sized wardrobes for whatever reason, and the people that seem to blindly accumulate stuff to a vulgar level.
I have a wardrobe maybe a bit larger than the average joe, but probably marginal by enthusiast standards. I have stuff that gets worn maybe two or three times a year, shoes that I forget I have for a month or two. I don't have piles of regrettable stuff, I just have enough that things sit around unused for long times. It's wasteful to a degree, decadent. But then I see the loons with many multiples of this, usually at a couple steps up in on the price scale too, and I feel less lush.

When does one have enough? Or rather, not enough?

I'm of the opinion that if you aren't using it it's probably too much. But everyone has a couple things just laying around. I tend to minimalism, but that is just me and I don't expect everyone to be that ascetic. However, the absurd consumption that you see by the strivers is just terribly sad.

 

[Thruth]

My wardrobe is probably far smaller than it could be based on my means and iGent standards

 

[Russell Street]

I think everyone has a few things they "own" more than wear, but this should be the tiny minority.
I hate to use the "diminishing [marginal] returns" talk, but there is a theoretical optimization point where additions stop adding meaningful variety and range.
I could further add the complication of things that fall out of favor but are rediscovered years later to great re-appreciation...

 

[OfficePants]

If I had that kind of money, I would reward artisans. I can't predict where that would end, but probably not lunacy.

 

[fxh]

I keep thinking I'll go all minimalist but that paradoxically requires money for precision in colours, fit and combos. And I do like variety as much as theoretically I can justify the basic minimalist look/wardrobe. I have given away a lot of stuff recently - so I maybe more minimalist than I have ever been but still have more clothes than ever. I'm wearing suits less.

Here we have a big difference between winter and summer. And Melbourne is famous for having weather not climate - even in a day - as Crowded House sang - Four Seasons in One Day. So I have summer outfits and winter outfits. Then there is business, biz caz and casual - all different to me. So summer and winter in each.

Plus I sometimes get down and dirty on building sites. Then theres stuff for slouching /mooching around home and doing messy stuff at times and still go out in it if I have to. Stuff for rainy days. Also I don't go to work at the same place like many others and i have many different contexts. So I have to dress for context, weather, myself, and variety.

As much as I think I could survive on a few grey trousers, brown suede chukkas, navy blazer and OCBD with black knit tie I often get it in my head to have a change of scenery in the mirror.

I hadn't worn jeans at all for a few years - as a protest at the uniform of everyone else - but lately I've been in jeans a lot - to fly a bit under the radar - now searching for the almost "perfect" jean - high rise, dark denim, narrow not tight - impossible .

I cant help it - I'm lately looking longingly at my black leather jacket - no not from Korea - not been worn for a few years - and wondering if I could get a nice pair of narrow high rise wide wale cords to go with it - I have black boots but can never feel l happy with what shirts to wear with all black - black shirts I don't like - white is too art director/graphic design/ creative drone.

So there you go - it goes on

 

[prince nez]

Yes, minimalism is a good idea in theory, but as time progresses, priorities and contexts change and occasionally revert (for normal people anyway). Once upon a time I was in a suit most days, jaquard silk ties, spread collars/french cuffs, plain black shoes, pocket hanks - very put together and very "City" wanker to be honest. Now that's just not appropriate for me, so I'm more for tweed or linen jackets, OCBDs, flannel trousers, cords, chinos, smart jeans, more casual coats - usually no tie but if I'm wearing one its probably knitted.

That's not to say I don't wear suits at all anymore but certainly not enough to justify more than a couple. Yet if I get rid of 3 or 4 suits and a few french cuff shirts that seem to be just taking up wardrobe space now I could very likely be in the position of having to replace them in a couple of years depending on my next career move, and that seems far more wasteful than simply storing them in the meantime.

That said, if there are items I genuinely never see myself wearing again, they're gone. Some of the stuff I wore in my 20s would just look try hard on me now.

 

[Thruth]

Yes, minimalism is a good idea in theory, but as time progresses, priorities and contexts change and occasionally revert (for normal people anyway). Once upon a time I was in a suit most days, jaquard silk ties, spread collars/french cuffs, plain black shoes, pocket hanks - very put together and very "City" wanker to be honest. Now that's just not appropriate for me, so I'm more for tweed or linen jackets, OCBDs, flannel trousers, cords, chinos, smart jeans, more casual coats - usually no tie but if I'm wearing one its probably knitted.

That's not to say I don't wear suits at all anymore but certainly not enough to justify more than a couple. Yet if I get rid of 3 or 4 suits and a few french cuff shirts that seem to be just taking up wardrobe space now I could very likely be in the position of having to replace them in a couple of years depending on my next career move, and that seems far more wasteful than simply storing them in the meantime.

That said, if there are items I genuinely never see myself wearing again, they're gone. Some of the stuff I wore in my 20s would just look try hard on me now.

^this. Cannot always account for changes in taste & environment.

That said, whatever number of items people here have, it is probably more than the average man has.

 

[fxh]

ha - I have kept the first pair of suede cuban heeled Chelseas had in my teens. As museum pieces. I still have 2 x perfectly good pairs of RMWs with cuban heels one brown and one black Santa Fe not worn for 20 years. Lots of Rock Dog stuff in a box somewhere I discover every now and then. Theres a few old pieces I regret throwing out - the deep green flannel DB suit from NYC......

 

[Arnathor]

I am laughing loud.

 

[fxh]

thruth - is there anything can be done for arnathor?

 

[Thruth]

thruth - is there anything can be done for arnathor?

lobotomy?

 

[fxh]

I was thinking more benignly.

We here in Oz like to think kindly of our Commonwealth cousins as a bit like us.
And a bit like Americans except politer, more intelligent, not as fat and less inclined to believe carrying a loaded gun beats having to think..

 

[prince nez]

lobotomy?

They tried that it didn't take.

 

[fxh]

They tried that it didn't take.

No content?

 

[doghouse]

I was thinking more benignly.

We here in Oz like to think kindly of our Commonwealth cousins as a bit like us.
And a bit like Americans except politer, more intelligent, not as fat and less inclined to believe carrying a loaded gun beats having to think..

Thinking is overrated.

 

[fxh]

My dry y wit seems bit heavy-handed after I've heard the news about the church shooting only just heard. Sad.

 

[Russell Street]

Yet if I get rid of 3 or 4 suits and a few french cuff shirts that seem to be just taking up wardrobe space now I could very likely be in the position of having to replace them in a couple of years depending on my next career move, and that seems far more wasteful than simply storing them in the meantime.

Oh my, so true. Replacement is hard for the picky, and I think that may be a differentiating factor between healthy and perverse wardrobe surpluses. The sane person has discernment, has chosen with some degree of wisdom and forethought. When one is just impulsive and indiscriminate in their consumption, it all becomes very vulgar and wasteful.
Shoes are the easy example. The average joe seems to have two or three sets of footwear. Women are notorious for hazing a dozen similar black shoes, but they are swift enough to explain the differences that justify, nay necessitate having each. To be extravagant, I can totally understand having multiples of the same exact shoe. Hey, you can wear the identical style days in a row, send one out for repair, have another in that other house...
At some point, you have to concede that additional units are pointless. I know I'm this way with tweed coats. Every time I see some tweed coat, expecially checked, I want it. Luckily I'm sane and disciplined and consider how rarely I get to wear the ones I already have and reason takes over.
Similarly, the phases of life and appropriate daily wear is much more pardonable reason for amassment than "ooh, XXX has that in a new color that I don't have yet. gotta have it!"

 

[doghouse]

My dry y wit seems bit heavy-handed after I've heard the news about the church shooting only just heard. Sad.

Very sad. I actually used to live right down the street from that church. Of course someone has already chimed in with the "he was such a sweet, quiet kid" nonsense. I swear, the sweet quiet kids seem to be the most dangerous motherfuckers on the planet.

 

[doghouse]

Back to the thread, one thing I realized reading through here, is that I'm amazed at all the people are on the minimalism is good in theory bandwagon. Maybe it's just because it's my natural inclination, but I find minimalism way better in practice than theory. In theory, I'd like to have the perfect item for everything, but it's way to oppressive to even contemplate.

 

[Algernon Crisp]

I thinks suits would be easy enough to stop at 10 or so, but when it comes to jackets (assuming money no object) I'd probably go on for ever. I've only got two at the moment, with two more being made, so I might feel differently once I've got a reasonable number. I'm thinking I 'need' three for summer / warmer weather, and three for autumn / winter. After that, I'm going to have to really justify extra ones.