I can show you incredible things

While we’re still on the topic of clothes, let’s talk about *collecting* clothing items. As someone with a hard-to-fit body (2+ sizes larger on the bottom than top), when I do find something that fits well, my first instinct is to BUY ALL OF THEM. Like there’s some kind of clothing famine coming and I’ll never be able to buy xyz again.

This is how I ended up with a shocking 15 (not a typo) of the Geneva dress by Universal Standard. Thankfully most of them are secondhand and only the first was purchased at full price. I can wear this dress for casual and dressy occasions and I always pack one when I travel. Most are the standard cotton knit, but I also have velvet and mesh because I’m a sucker for different textures! Some are a size bigger than I normally wear for a more drapey look (those are my faves, truth be told). My collection is front and center on a rack in my bedroom and it makes me happy to see it.

But it’s too many. This is why I have 45+ dresses. And even though I’d be happy wearing a dress every day, it’s still way more than a person needs. Another style blogger wrote that saying yes to another one of the same item means you’re saying no to something new and exciting. I wish I could remember who that was because I think about this a lot. My closet space is finite. The number of outfits I will wear in a week is finite.

the gang’s all here

I found myself buying multiples of other things in the Great Consumption Era of the pandemic, like a particular set of joggers from Universal Standard that I’m wearing today. At some point I had 6 pairs but I sold a few and now I’m down to 4, which is fine.

I have 36+ pairs of Superga sneakers in different colors, prints, and textures and I’ve rationalized that I am allowed to keep as many as I can store in my closet. They are one of the few pairs of shoes that don’t make my feet hurt and I can walk for miles in them.

I got really excited about a particular lounge top which is great for wearing around the house, but terrible for shifting around while I’m asleep, enough to wake me up. Nothankyou. I traded those 3 to a friend for standard tees I wear to bed every single night.

I bought a t-shirt dress in 3 colors because it was a t-shirt dress AND I LOVE THEM, until I realized it was a bit too short, didn’t have pockets AND didn’t fit as well as my other dresses. Those 3 found new homes too.

These failures got me to thinking, that even if I LOVE something, I don’t need 5 of them. As I say to my kids about sweets, “There will always be more cake.” In this case it’s joggers or dresses or loungewear, *even* in my size.

I’ve recently made myself a rule, which will be hard for my Obliger self to follow. I’m not allowed to buy any more multiples. I can buy ONE and see if it works for my life and my laundry methods. If that’s the case, I can buy a second. In a different color or texture. Ideally one should be neutral-colored. Got this tip from a stylist and I love it because I always buy ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS and never have good neutral items when I need them. Right now I’ve also placed a moratorium on new Geneva dresses and Superga sneaks. Because I have enough.

So, tell me, is there some clothing item you love enough to have more than 2? For research of course 😁