(Data collected from 2020 to 2024)
The first question most people ask when they want to transition to a minimal wardrobe is: how much clothing should I have?
In this data visualization story, I explore wardrobe sizes using data from 283 people around the world. On July 30, 2020, I opened a survey and invited my Instagram followers to go through their closets and count all their clothing - including things out of season, in the laundry, their gym clothes, pajamas, and everything except for under garments! You can check out the survey (and submit your own responses!) here.
Disclosures: This is not a true scientific study. I’m aware that there isn't enough data, controls around data submission, and even survey respondent selection to make real conclusions. Please read and participate with this as a project that is intended to make you think...and enjoy!
Median: 108 pieces
Mode: 73 pieces
Min: 6 pieces
Max: 656 pieces
Note: I removed submissions that were blank or appeared to be erroneous.
Credit: Histogram by mariaclee1
Number of survey responses by wardrobe size category
Credit: Pie chart by mariaclee1
Micro wardrobes: 6-20 pieces
1% of survey participants (3) from Poland and the United States.
Average of:
4 tops
2 pants or shorts
0 dresses
0 skirts
2 outerwear
2 pairs of shoes
Ultra-minimal wardrobes: 21-55 pieces
11% of survey survey participants (30) from Australia, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Average of:
16 tops
9 pants or shorts
3 dresses
1 skirt
7 outerwear
6 pairs of shoes
Minimal wardrobes: 56-99 pieces
30% of survey participants (84) from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canda, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, andthe United States.
Average of:
33 tops
15 pants or shorts
7 dresses
3 skirts
10 outerwear
11 pairs of shoes
Standard wardrobes: 100-200 pieces
39% of survey participants (109) from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.
Average of:
60 tops
23 pants or shorts
15 dresses
6 skirts
15 outerwear
17 pairs of shoes
Maximal wardrobes: 201-300 pieces
11% of survey participants (32) from Belgium, Bulgaria, India, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Average of:
100 tops
39 pants or shorts
32 dresses
15 skirts
26 outerwear
32 pairs of shoes
Ultra-maximal wardrobes: 301-500 pieces
7% of survey participants (19) from Austria, Croatia, Germany, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Average of:
167 tops
56 pants or shorts
51 dresses
19 skirts
34 outerwear
42 pairs of shoes
Jumbo wardrobes: 501+ pieces
2% of survey participants (5) from Australia, Finland, Spain, and the United States.
Average of:
318 tops
99 pants or shorts
61 dresses
30 skirts
60 outerwear
54 pairs of shoes
Credit: Untitled by mariaclee1
North America: 48%
Europe: 33%
Asia: 13%
Australia / Oceanian: 3.5%
South America: 1.8%
Africa: 0.4%
Acknowledgments: BIG thank you to Mike Bostock whose code I referenced for the globe data visualization and Elise Ay and Sophia Li (who shared this project with their audiences on Instagram in 2020 and helped me get more responses! Please go check out the great work they do!
Share how much is in your closet here to be included in the future.
Subscribe to my newsletter to stay up-to-date with this Wardrobe Decluttering series, exclusive wardrobe trivia, and related projects.