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If you have to reduce your wardrobe to only 5 items...

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,870
Location
East Java
What, neither socks nor underwear?
in many RPG games, loincloth is included in default nude state (unless modified) :D

anyway my 5 clothes item
-this nylon camouflage pants I'm wearing, it is quick drying, and can be turned into shorts, great color fastness, perfect for pajama too
-brown long sleeve wide turtleneck that can be worn as a hoodie
-harness boots (socks included)
-brown leather jacket since in post apocalyptic world I can always find button replacements and DIY it myself, can't say the same with zipper malfunctioning:eek:
-photochromic minus eyeglasses I'm wearing
 

OldOilPull

New in Town
Messages
21
Boots: Black chrome round toe Red Wing boots
Jeans: Levi STF 501
Belt: 1.5 inch width, black hand tinted harness leather, double roller buckle from leather goods connection
Shirt: Black Fred Perry twin tip polo shirt with yellow trim
Jacket/Coat: Unlined Navy blue Filson cruiser
 

torfjord

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,796
Location
Sweden
I work with a successful, high functioning man who only owns 2 pairs of jeans,two pairs of sneakers one pair of shoes, 5 shirts, two nylon windbreakers ( I think there is a suit in his wardrobe for events which he wares once a year at most). He owns no sweaters or t-shirts or over coats or hats. He is happy. I really admire his approach.

If you think about it, there are a few examples of super successful people with that approach to clothing, like Zuckerberg in his jeans and grey T-shirt or Jobs in his black polo. I used to work with a guy like that as well, he owned probably three piké shirts and cheapest possible brand of jeans. He’s one of the few HR professionals that I’ve come across that I’ve been truly impressed by, the type of guy that everyone came to for advice, from the most junior staff to the CEO.

That approach to clothing sure do remove a lot of decision work from your day-to-day routine. Which would be nice, since it would save energy for more substantial decisions. However, sadly unobtainable for jacket freaks like us.


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Dickie Teenie

A-List Customer
Messages
367
Location
Iowa now Athens Gr.
Can I pick 5 jackets and go naked except for a jacket?
Only if she protects you.
langlitz.JPG
 

Bfd70

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,327
Location
Traverse city
I really like the idea of wearing basically a “uniform”. It would be jeans, a chambray shirt, and boots. Basically 3 items with a back up set for doing laundry. Unfortunately:
1. In this vicinity people would assume you were a complete nutter and behave accordingly.
2. The annual temperature varies by around 105 degrees f annually so a little variety is essential to avoid death by exposure.

But, it seems the original intent is to basically list your “favorite” of each essential piece of wardrobe (protein nerd is the only one who gets to roll winnie the pooh style). I’m too new at this whole high end jacket game to confidently pick one, and for me, the fit of a shirt trumps the brand. The best fitting most comfortable boots i’ve owned are Wolverine 1000 milers and for pants it’s imogene and willie “willies”.
 

Seb Lucas

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7,562
Location
Australia
I really like the idea of wearing basically a “uniform”. It would be jeans, a chambray shirt, and boots. Basically 3 items with a back up set for doing laundry. Unfortunately:
1. In this vicinity people would assume you were a complete nutter and behave accordingly.

You may be surprised. In my experience people don't really notice or care what you wear. I have worn pretty much the exact same outfit for the past 15 years - black business shirt (untucked) and dark jeans, black boots - various dark jackets. No one has ever mentioned my clothes.
 

Bfd70

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,327
Location
Traverse city
It was just a coincidence that i mentioned the “uniform” idea to my wife last night 2 hours before i saw the thread. She was the one with......an opinion. Suppose i was mostly basing it on that.
Still, while i really like the idea, its just not practical at this point. Today i will coach youth sports, perform some moderate construction, and go out for cocktails. Thats 3 uniforms today alone (plus i literally wear a uniform at work).
 

jacketjunkie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,321
Location
Germany
I wear jeans, white t-shirt and brown leather boots every day, the only thing i switch up is sweaters and leather jacket. i only buy the same jeans and the same t-shirts whenever one wears out.

if i had to bring it down to five pieces, it would be my william lennon boots, generic blue jeans, generic white t-shirt, generic wool sweater and my Vanson Stadium.
 
Messages
11,165
Location
SoCal
I might get an earfull, but I think I could get away with:

Olive bucket hat
Navy T shirt
Olive shorts
Black hoodie
Black flip-flops
IMG_1438.JPG
It's been up in the 90s this week already, and this outfit is what I usually wear 80% of the time. My kids ask why I'm always wearing the same clothes. Truth is, I've got 5 pairs of shorts- all olive/ 8 navy T shirts. I should have bought two of the hats ;)
 
Last edited:

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,081
Location
London, UK
If you think about it, there are a few examples of super successful people with that approach to clothing, like Zuckerberg in his jeans and grey T-shirt or Jobs in his black polo. I used to work with a guy like that as well, he owned probably three piké shirts and cheapest possible brand of jeans. He’s one of the few HR professionals that I’ve come across that I’ve been truly impressed by, the type of guy that everyone came to for advice, from the most junior staff to the CEO.

That approach to clothing sure do remove a lot of decision work from your day-to-day routine. Which would be nice, since it would save energy for more substantial decisions. However, sadly unobtainable for jacket freaks like us.


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Einstein was the first person I'm aware of to whom this idea is attributed. I'm not convinced of its effectiveness myself. I tend to the view that a goodly chunk of people who do this are simply either enormously pretentious, or just not interested in clothes. Both are especially common in the tech industry, a field so square and conformist that they think it's still an act of rebellion not to wear a tie.
 

torfjord

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2,796
Location
Sweden
Einstein was the first person I'm aware of to whom this idea is attributed. I'm not convinced of its effectiveness myself. I tend to the view that a goodly chunk of people who do this are simply either enormously pretentious, or just not interested in clothes. Both are especially common in the tech industry, a field so square and conformist that they think it's still an act of rebellion not to wear a tie.

I’ve worked the last six years in the gaming industry and your last sentence made me literally laugh out loud. Spot on!

And I do think you are right that people who do this are not at all interested in clothes. It’s not like Zuckerbergs example is standard among the super successful either. I’ve met cutthroat CEO’s that spend grotesque amounts on shoes and clothes.

But I can’t get over the idea that somehow reducing your number of options can be a good thing. Spending a lot of time trying to decide what to wear is just not time well spent, IMO.


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Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,081
Location
London, UK
I suspect that back in the 30s/40s, most people had maybe only five outfits (or counted themselves lucky to have such). Part of the attraction of the vintage/heritage thing for me is about buying less but buying quality rather than disposable. Slow fashion, rather than fast fashion, if you will.
 

Doctor Damage

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,324
Location
Ontario
tan trenchcoat
single-breasted navy blue blazer w gold buttons
light blue dress shirt (poss. button down collar)
grey wool dress pants
grey socks
gucci/horsebit loafers

That's what I'd wear every day if forced to pare it down to the bare minimum. Threads like this can be an interesting mental exercise. But beware of uniforms and minimalism; it works for celebrities who make it a part of their public image, but for regular folks life is too short and too anonymous to be concerned with building a consistent image.
 

torfjord

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,796
Location
Sweden
I suspect that back in the 30s/40s, most people had maybe only five outfits (or counted themselves lucky to have such). Part of the attraction of the vintage/heritage thing for me is about buying less but buying quality rather than disposable. Slow fashion, rather than fast fashion, if you will.

That’s what I tell myself as well. And here I sit, with 11 leather jackets, 4 denim jackets and a couple other jackets as well, maybe 20 in total [emoji6]

I joke, but really it is one of the attractions for me as well. I attribute the inordinate amount of jackets to trial and error in searching for those few keepers.


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Doctor Damage

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,324
Location
Ontario
I had several silk cravats when I was very young. I never had occasion to wear them but I gave them to a friend who still uses them. Older men still wore them at 'artsy' functions or soirées when I was in my twenties. I've not see one in the wild in years.
I hope the same thing happens with bow ties.
 

zebedee

One Too Many
Messages
1,905
Location
Shanghai
William Lennon tug of war boots (the 'normal' shaped ones), Pike Bros. Hunting Pant, old Levi's chambray shirt that I picked up in a vintage store that has lasted forever and smartens up well, Brown FQHH Aero Highwayman, Hanes Beefy blue t-shirt.
 

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