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I Tracked Everything I Wore for 6 Months

Introduction

Fashion and data have always been fascinating realms for me. When merged together, they create a unique opportunity to analyze my personal wardrobe and how I utilize it. Six months ago, I cataloged my entire wardrobe and began tracking my daily outfits with the goal of acquiring solid long-term data to examine. Today, I’m excited to break down the stats involving composition, usage, and investment—essentially, what my wardrobe consists of, how often I wear what I own, and the financial aspect behind it.

Background Context

For this endeavor, I used the Index app to track my outfits. While this video is not sponsored by them, I do work as a stylist with Index, and they recently launched a premium subscription called Index Insider, which offers access to detailed analytics for $ 5 a month. That's aside from all the basic features, which will remain free. The purpose of this piece is not promotional; rather, it's to share insights from the analytics they provided.

Wardrobe Composition

Let’s start with some wardrobe stats. I have a total of 320 pieces cataloged, of which around 33% (approximately 105 pieces) are accessories, including jewelry and bags. This leaves me with 215 clothing items.

Here's a breakdown of wardrobe composition by category:

  • Tops (32%): 103 tops, accommodating all four seasons.
  • Accessories (16%): 51 items, such as hats, scarves, and belts.
  • Bottoms (14%): 44 pieces, crucial for daily outfits.
  • Jewelry (11%): 34 pieces, mainly the items I actually wear.
  • One-Piece Items (9%): 27 dresses and one jumpsuit.
  • Outerwear (7%): 23 jackets and coats, with recent purchases increasing this count.
  • Bags (6%): 20 bags.
  • Shoes (5%): 17 pairs of shoes.

Notably, while I primarily focus on secondhand shopping, only 67% of my wardrobe consists of secondhand pieces. A further 12% is categorized as undefined—these include gifts and handmade items, leaving 21% as new purchases. Shopping from small businesses and sustainable brands is something I prioritize, so my new items are often thoughtfully chosen.

Usage Analysis

Over the past six months, I’ve utilized 64% of my wardrobe, leaving 36% untouched. Given the seasonality factor, some pieces like sweaters and jackets weren't necessary in a warmer climate. I've averaged four wears per piece; however, shoes (11 times) and bags (9 times) significantly uplifted this average.

  • Average Wears by Category:
    • Tops: 2 times
    • Bottoms: 4 times
    • Accessories: 3 times
    • Outerwear: 2 times
    • Dresses: 2 times

Interestingly, my most worn items are primarily go-to shoes, bags, and comfortable bottoms. I find a strange social pressure to rotate my tops more frequently while repeating bottoms is seen as acceptable.

Financial Breakdown

In terms of financial investment, I spent a total of $ 330 over the past six months. Breaking it down by category:

  • Tops: $ 109
  • Outerwear: $ 79
  • Bottoms: $ 41
  • Dresses: $ 36
  • Jewelry: $ 26
  • Bags: $ 12
  • Shoes: $ 12
  • Accessories: $ 10

Most of my purchases were low-cost due to thrifting, which greatly influences my overall spending habits.

The monthly expenditure varies, with spikes during seasonal transitions but relatively balanced financial tracking overall.

Conclusion

The experience of tracking my wardrobe has shed light on my personal style and shopping habits. While I acknowledge the need for some decluttering, the data has been enlightening and encourages mindful fashion choices. The next step will be to continue this tracking for a year to observe how my wardrobe evolves.

Keyword

  • Fashion
  • Data
  • Wardrobe
  • Composition
  • Usage
  • Investment
  • Accessory
  • Thrift
  • Analytics
  • Secondhand
  • Budget

FAQ

1. What percentage of your wardrobe is secondhand?
67% of my wardrobe consists of secondhand pieces.

2. How often do you wear your clothes?
On average, I wear each piece about four times over six months.

3. How much did you spend on your wardrobe in the last six months?
I spent a total of $ 330.

4. What categories of clothing do you have the most of?
I have the most tops (103), followed by accessories and bottoms.

5. What app did you use to track your outfits?
I used the Index app to track my outfits and analyze the data.

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