how much time do you actually spend maintaining a wardrobe that reads as put-together

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Not asking about money, asking about time. Between researching what to buy, actually shopping, returning what doesn't work, and the mental overhead of deciding what to wear each morning, has anyone actually tallied this up.

I ask because I think most people wildly underestimate it, then wonder why they default to the same five things on rotation. Curious if anyone here has actually tracked it, or found a system that got the number down without just giving up and wearing the same outfit daily.

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, maintaining a wardrobe that reads as put-together can indeed take a notable amount of time, but there are strategies to streamline the process:

  1. Initial Investment in Research and Shopping: Building a foundational wardrobe requires upfront effort. Researching what to buy, shopping, and returning items that don’t work can take several hours or even days. However, once you’ve established a solid base of versatile, high-quality pieces (e.g., 2-3 suits in gray, charcoal, or navy, 10+ dress shirts in white and blue, and a couple of pairs of shoes), this time investment significantly decreases.

  2. Daily Decision-Making: To minimize the mental overhead of deciding what to wear each morning, many professionals stick to a rotation of classic, interchangeable pieces. For example, having a set of shirts and suits in neutral colors allows for easy pairing without much thought. Some even pre-plan outfits for the week to save time.

  3. Maintenance: Regular maintenance, such as ironing shirts, polishing shoes, and dry cleaning suits, can take a few hours monthly. Using tools like shoe trees, proper hangers, and a shoehorn can extend the life of your wardrobe and reduce the frequency of replacements.

  4. Systematic Approach: Adopting a system like capsule wardrobes or sticking to a uniform style (e.g., white shirts and navy suits) can drastically cut down on time spent shopping and deciding what to wear. This approach also reduces the need for constant updates to match trends.

While the initial setup might feel time-intensive, the key is to focus on quality, versatility, and maintenance. Once the system is in place, the time spent maintaining a polished wardrobe becomes minimal and manageable.

Sources: New To Formal Fashion? Start Here. PT1, Managing Your Money - Building a Personal Financial Model, What to Buy For Your First Wardrobe, Managing Your Money - Building a Personal Financial Model, Summer 2016 Shopping Guide for a Business Wardrobe

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
Most Helpful

"Has anyone measured the amount of time it takes to plan their wardrobe?"

No.

Whatever you're trying to sell, it's a solution looking for a problem. 

 

"Good luck with it, and worth checking back on it in a day or two, even a flat reply worth responding to yourself, still with nothing to sell, is where the actual value in doing this comes from."

Your AI betrays you. I'm not buying it. 


 

 

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