to conduct an inventory of your wardrobe is a hugely valuable excercise. To become reaquainted with your pieces.
To curate a wardrobe thats refelctive of who you are is a process. And one that doesn't start with shopping.
To remove your pieces from your wardrobe space and look at them in a seperate space allows you to see them objectively. away from other noise. you see detail, behaviours in their fabrics that you may not have noticed previously.
Over the years i've gently phased out, responsibly, many old high street pieces in favour of vintage and pre loved alternatives to give my pieces longieivity, to enjoy quality fabrics and workmanship as well as sourcing pieces with indivuality, interest to me.
As such I know the provenance of each piece, I know why it's there.
I was curious, as to the value of what I own. And how that would compare to an equivalent wardrobe from the UK high street.
My wardrobe. An inventory. Januray 2024.
C O A T S
Navy Wool Cashmere Mens Coat - ebay - 40.00
Navy Wool Cashmere Womens Coat - Sue Ryder Charity Shop - 20.00
Gurteen Mens Blazer - Barnados - 1.00
Mens Blazer - Our Favourite Shop - Vintage - 10.00
Tux Blazer - Me & Em - received as gift - 50.00
RAEY Blazer - 2nd Look - 100.00
Faux Fur Topshop Coat - ebay 35.00
Vintage Sheepskin Aviator - Jolly Brown Vintage 70.00
Faux Fur Jacket - Samsoe Samsoe - received as gift - 60.00
[ unpictured mens wax riding coat - ebay - 0.99 ]
K N I T W E A R
RAEY cashmere deep navy roll neck - 40th birthday gift - 400.00
Arket navy merino blend mens crew neck - old. bought new - 50.00
Maads Norgaard cashmere grey roll neck - received as gift - 70.00
Vintage Aaran Fishermans Handknit - Jolly Brown Vintage - 30.00
Mens Grey Vest - Second Time Around - 10.00
RAEY - Cashmere Dropped Sleeve Grey Cardigan - Vestiaire 180.00
Cos Boiled Wool Longline Cardigan - old. bought new - 60.00
Cream mohair blend short cardigan - christmas gift - 80.00
American Vintage Mohair Blend Fine knit - old. bought new - 60.00
Vintage metallic teal and brown cardigan - vintage markett - 8.00
S W E A T S H I R T
Grey Logo Sweatshirt - a gift - bought pre loved - value unknown
Grey vintage mens XXXL Sweatshirt - etsy - 10.00
H&M Grey raglan sleeve sweatshirt - very old. bought new - 30.00
Mens Grey Ralph Lauren Sweatshirt - Our Favourite Shop - Vintage - 10.00
RAEY waffle texture cream sweatshirt - old - 150.00
Isabel Marant Zip Fleece - received as a gift - 200.00
[ unpictured - mens navy sweatshirt - vintage - 8.00 ]
[unpictured - zara - old - red oversized hoody - 25.00 ]
D E N I M
home made Cut offs - using Vintage 501's graded B - ebay - 15.00
Grade B Vintage 501's - ebay - 15.00
Zara trf - old - high waisted wide leg jeans - 35.00
Pip Denim - were bought new from Cissy Wears - 80.00
Levis Mens Shirt - light wash - ebay - 10.00
Levis Mens Shirt - mid wash - ebay - 10.00
Mens Vintage Levis Jacket - ebay - 40.00
Vintage boiler suit [ not strictly denim, but approached as such ] - Bon Tot - 40.00
D R E S S E S
Self Portrait Dress - Received as a thankyou gift - value 380.00
Vintage Akris Punto - Vestiaire - 45.00
Vintage Nightdress - etsy - 30.00
Zara trf cream maxi dress - old - 50.00
Arket pencil skirt - old - 15.00
S H I R T S
Mens Silk Shirt - etsy - 10.00
Mens Shirt - Cream - ebay - 8.00
Mens Blue Cotton Shirt - Vintage Seller - 20.00
Mens Cotton Striped Shirt - ebay - 15.00
Mens Blue Brown Shirt - ebay - 8.00
T R O U S E R S
Cos Tailored wide leg trousers - bought new - old - 40.00
Weekday lyocell tapered trouser - bought new - old - 35.00
Baserange wide leg knit trousers - Vestiaire - 80.00
Arket alpaca blend - bought new - old - 50.00
Vintage Military Liners - Werkhaus Margate - 40.00
Oversized Scuba Joggers- bought new - old - & other stories - 50.00
Le Bonne Shoppe Light Joggers - Cissy Wears - 65.00
Lyocell Blue Wide Leg Trousers - Mango - 30.00
[ unpictured oversized grey joggers - bought new - old - & other stories - 40.00
R O B E S
Vintage Kimono - etsy - 45.00
Vintage silk blend robe - ebay - 30.00
T O P S
Baserange body - bought from friend who bought pre loved from Manifesto Woman- 35.00
Silk Camisole - Whistles - 15.00
It's interesting how the high street will create newness that channels the energy of and emulates vintage pieces. But with substandard use of fabrics and using questionable processes with disregard to impact.
Take my very old H&M sweatshirt as an example, that i've worn to the point where the cuffs are seperating, it feels so buttery soft, in only a way that repetitive wear can do, a quality that vintage sweatshirts will hold. I would have bought this new for in the region of 25.00. I can buy a vintage sweatshirt, from etsy, ebay, from a vintage shop for between 8.00 - 15.00 depending on condition, Searching vintage sweatshirts in a 3XL for how I like my fit.
A brand new sweatshirt, with similar detailing that has been treated and processed to make it look vintage for ths & other stories example, which is essentially H&M and sells for 65.00 on the high street.
taking this example and applying it to each piece I own, I worked out....
If I were to have bought each piece from the high street, the same wardrobe would have cost in the region of 5385.00
It takes time, and patience and self reflection to our own reactivity to 'see it want it buy it'. It's a process, and not always a comfortable listen to recognise these shopping behaviours you want to change. But. The benefits of truly understanding what you really need and grasping how that can deliver for you , sourcing that piece within the circular market doesn't only make a positive climate impact but it makes clear financial sense to do so.