What’s in My Wardrobe: A Complete Closet Inventory

Great trips start with good gear.

Over seven years I’ve whittled my wardrobe in hopes of better equipping myself for everyday work and life’s adventures, feeling comfortable with the size and style of my closet, and supporting ethical and sustainable brands that are doing good work around the world. This culminates into four closet goals.

My closet goals

  • get dressed as efficiently and effortlessly as possible
  • invest in quality and spend less energy and money on clothes
  • be mindful about purchases and patient for the right pieces
  • know who made my clothes and what my shopping supports

At over 100 items, this list is neither minimalist nor prescriptive. I have a sentimental streak and always save space for a few things I love immensely but wear rarely — a pair of vintage Brazilian leather boots from my mom, a t-shirt from tenth grade soccer camp, my wedding dress. I also love to thrift and shop secondhand clothes online.

Notes on favorite brands, size, fit

  • You may notice many pieces are from a few designers — , , and (sadly, now closed). They’re among my favorite resources for responsibly-made pieces that I know fit, wash, and wear well.
  • Size and fit: I am 5’8″ / 125 lbs / 32″ x 24″ x 32″. I live in loose tops and skinny jeans. Whenever I’m on the fence with a size, I go up for an easy, comfortable fit. In shoes I usually wear a US 8 narrow (or the occasional roomy US 7.5).
  • “Similar by” = A responsibly-made piece that’s no longer available. Similarly transparent, ethical, sustainable labels linked.
  • “Better by” = An old and/or thrifted fast-fashion piece. Visually similar brands with better ethical and environmental standards linked.

Tees and tanks

Everlane , grey, blacksmall ℅
Cuyana heather greysmalleBay
Alternative Apparel , Vintage Garment T-Shirts,  Muscle Modal T-Shirt, BeltLine Tee, Weathered So Low V-Neck T-Shirt, Chainstitch Teewhite, green pigmentsmall, mediumAlternative Apparel
Zady .02 T-Shirts similar by Cuyana, , Alternativewhite, navy
small, xlZady
Vintage silk tank - similar made in USA silk tank by Cuyana

Tops

Cuyana Silk Teesblush, oxbloodsmallCuyana, eBay
Cuyana Silk Tankdove greysmallThredUp
Cuyana Turtleneck Long Sleeve TeeblackmediumeBay
Everlane blackUS 2Everlane ℅
Elizabeth Suzann Silk Harlow tankblack
smallsample sale
Elizabeth Suzann Linen Petra Cropflax
xssample sale
Elizabeth Suzann Long Sleeve Harper Tunicblack
OS minussample sale
Stone Cold Fox fan print2/MSoleil Blue
Stone Cold Fox ink dotO/SPoshmark
Emerson Fry A-Line Mod TopblacksmallThredup
Vintage silk tanks, tee, sleeveless linen button down, crop similar Everlane, Cuyanacream, grey, navy, blackmany sizes!thrifted

Sweaters

Cuyana Baby Alpaca Oversized Turtleneck Sweatercamelregular (xs/s)Cuyana
Cuyana Oversized Alpaca Sweater Teebeigeregular (xs/s)eBay
Cuyana Wool Cashmere Slim Crewneck SweatercamelsmalleBay
Everlane heather greysmallEverlane ℅
Everlane Original Seed Stitch Raglanlight grey, heather greysmalleBay
Zady .06 Lightweight Alpaca Sweater
similar by Everlane, Cuyana
charcoalsmallZady ℅, Poshmark
Gap cotton open stitch sweater
better Everlane Chunky Knit Cotton Crew
cream thrifted
Filson Mile Marker Trench Coat in Otter Olive Green - waxed cotton - with Tradlands Arapahoe Buttondown

Button downs and flannels

Cuyana Poplin Pleat-Back ShirtwhitesmalleBay
Everlane Women’s Tuxedo Shirtwhite0Everlane
Everlane Men’s Slim Fit OxfordwhitexsEverlane
Zady .05 The Boyfriend Button Up
similar by Everlane, Cuyana
bluesmallZady
Tradlands redsmallTradlands
Tradlands The Bozeman Flannel
greysmallTradlands
Penfield Wayland chambray and buffalo shirt
better by Tradlands
 blue + redUS 4Tradesy
Vintage Cabela’s Chamois Saddle Blanket Shirt
better by Johnson Woolen Mills
green-blue + umber my mom

Jeans

Everlane Authentic Stretch Mid-Rise Skinny Ankle JeanDark blue wash27Everlane ℅
AGOLDE “Offspring” white27RAlternative ℅
Paige
Tradesy, eBay, Poshmark, The Real Real, Nordstrom, Amazon
“Grey” olive,
distressed light rinse
27ReBay,
eBay
Paige Margot High-Waist Ankle“Tay” light rinse, “Regal” dark rinse27ReBay, Paige ℅
Paige Coated Denim Peg Skinny (similar)“Pandora” black26RTradesy
Elizabeth Suzann Petra crop top and vintage linen pull on pants

Pants

Stella McCartney Vivian Trousers
Similar Everlane Work Pant, Back-Slit Work Pant
navy, black, greyIT36, tailored IT38, tailored IT40TheRealReal
Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Wool Pant
similar Everlane Italy GoWeave Easy Pant, TheRealReal wool joggers
greytailored
US 6R
sample sale
Vintage linen pull on ankle pants
similar Everlane Easy Chino, TheRealReal linen pants
oatmeal eBay

Shorts

Patagonia Women’s Cotton Stand Up Short
old moon-pocket style; similar Everlane Twill Short, Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Work Short or Patagonia Men’s Stand Up Short in 5″ and 7″ inseams
oliveUS 6thrifted
ASOS leather shorts + Lou & Grey suede track shorts
better by Everlane, Shopbop, TheRealReal
blackUS 4, US 2ASOS, Lou & Grey

Dresses + Skirts

Cuyana navysmallTradesy
Cuyana silk tee dressgreyxsPoshmark
Alternative Cotton Modal T-Shirt Dress midnightsmallAltnernative ℅
Stone Cold Fox Alabama Gownnavyxs/seBay
Elizabeth Suzann Georgia dress in raw silk
similar by Cuyana
blacksmallsample sale
Vintage Gianni Versace linen shift dress
similar by Cuyana, Everlane
white thrifted
Vintage washed silk maxi wrap dress
similar by Cuyana, Everlane
black thrifted
Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti silk tank dress
similar by Cuyana, Everlane
coral thrifted
S Max Mara mesh-panel scuba cocktail dress
similar by Cuyana, Everlane
black thrifted
Yumi Mazao wool pencil skirt,
Max Mara quilted moto pencil skirt
similar by Cuyana, Everlane, The RealReal
grey, black thrifted
Adrianna Papell netted ball skirt
better by The Real Real
black thrifted
Marchesa FW14 silk bridal gown
similar at Nordstrom, Shopbop, Tradesy, The Real Real
white Tradesy
Eileen Fisher Alpaca Wool Coat Moonlight - sold out but Cuyana has a similar coat!

Coats and capes

Eileen Fisher Alpaca Kimono Coat
similar by Cuyana, , Everlane, The Real Real
greysmalleBay
Zady .08 Wool Coat similar by Cuyana, EverlaneblackxsThe Real Real
Cuyana Classic Alpaca CapeblackpetitePoshmark
Islay Woolen Mill knitted serape in “Lagavulin”green Islay Woolen Mill
Vintage blue fox fur coat
Please don’t ever buy new fur – here’s why.
grey thrifted
Patagonia Down Sweater VestblacksmallDenali Outdoor

Jackets

Filson Cover Cloth Mile Marker Trench and hood similar by Everlane
otter greenmen’s xsTradesy
Cuyana Cropped Trench
similar by Everlane
khakixsPoshmark
Smythe Duchess Blazers
Also available at Shopbop,
navy, olivetailored UK 10, regular UK 4eBay, Poshmark
A.L.C. Wool Blazerblacktailored xsTheRealReal
Everlane ReNew Lightweight Half-Zip PufferolivexsEverlane ℅
Marmot
similar by Everlane
grass greensmallREI
Raw silk belted robe
 black none DIY
Everlane The Soft Cotton Wrap Cardiganheather greysmallEverlane ℅
Sevilla Smith April D'Orsay Ballet Flats and Sandy Slingback Flats

Shoes

Everlane The Modern Loaferblack suedeUS 8.5 Everlane ℅
Sevilla Smith Sandy D’Orsay Ballet Flatsblack pebbled leatherEU 38Etsy
Sevilla Smith April D’Orsay Slingback (3cm heel) powder soft greyEU 38 Etsy
Allbirds Women’s Wool Runners natural greyUS 8 Allbirds
New Balance 420 Runnersgrey greenUS 8.5REI
Vintage Cole Haan penny loafers
better by Everlane, Allen Edmonds, The Real Real
walnut  thrifted

Heels and Sandals

Everlane The Bridge SandalnaturalUS 8Everlane ℅
Ancient Greek Thais Slides
similar by Everlane, Everlane
blackUS 8Tradesy
Ancient Greek Niove SandalsnaturalUS 7.5eBay
Teva Universal Sandals
also at Nordstrom; similar Chaco Z1
blackUS 8eBay
Dolce Vita Gwendolyn block heel sandals
better by Ancient Greek, Nisolo, Pedro Garcia, Loeffler Randall
white + tanUS 8Belk
Christian Louboutin Simple Napa Pumps
also at The RealReal
blackFR 38eBay
Christian Louboutin t-strap nude heels
similar at The RealReal
tanFR 38Tradesy
Everlane Rain Boot in Surplus Olive Green

Boots and Booties

Everlane Boss BootiesblackUS 8Everlane ℅
Everlane Rain BootssurplusUS 8Everlane ℅
Hudson Horrigan Booties
note: these run 1 size small
brown,
tan suede
EU 39
US 9
Shopbop, Amazon
Frye Paige Riding Boots
also at Nordstrom
cognac brownUS 8Zappos
Alexander Wang Over-The-Knee Boots black US 8 The RealReal
Vintage Nine West riding boots
better by Frye, Frye, Frye
 tan my mom
Hunter ‘Tour’ Packable Rain Boot
better by Aigle, LL Bean
 black thrifted

Outdoor, Swim, Athletics

Beyond Yoga Studio Bra + Take Me Higher Long Legging also at Shopbop, Carbon 38black steelsmall℅ Beyond Yoga
Patagonia Barely Baggies Shorts blackmedBackcountry
BAIIA St. Remy Reversible Bikini Top and Bottoms + old VS black bikini bottomblack/olivemed top +
small bottoms
BAIIA
12 old yard/housework t-shirts  camps, concerts, events, work
People Tree breton loopback sweatshirt - similar Everlane cotton long-sleeve box-cut tee in stripe

Lounge + Sleep

People Tree Loopback Sweatshirt + Shorts similar by , Everlane, Everlanenavy + white stripeUK 8People Tree
Linen shorts + vintage linen tank + top similar by Cuyana, EverlaneoatmealsmallReformation, thrifted
Cuyana Pima Boatneck Top and Pima Lounge shortsgreysmallCuyana
Ebbets Field flannel large loop crewnecks oversized fit
grey, navymedWilson & Willy’s, eBay

Socks + Underthings

Ibex “Balance” Light Bra + Bralette + Briefs similar by EverlaneblackmedMoosejaw
Icebreaker Merino Wool “Siren” brasblack, greysmallAmazon
Sokoloff Bralettes + Pantiesblack, tansmallSokoloff
Grana Italian Sensitive Briefs
better by Pact, Everlane, Boody
blacksmallGrana
Wigwam Countryside + Cypress Sockscharcoal, greymed
Amazon
Cotton RAGG camp socks
+ old soccer and ski socks
grey, navy, creamJ.Crew, school, Sierra Trading Post
Merona low cut + foldover socks
better by Pact, Boody
black, grey, cream
Target

Updated July 2019.
Every few months I list a few items for sale in my Tradesy closet.

Here from the Tiny House Festival? Thanks for coming to my talk with Alternative Apparel! Here’s that guide to building a smaller wardrobe. 

  1. Pingback: City Guide: How to Spend a Weekend (Or Two) in Savannah, Georgia - Where With Elle

  2. Pingback: A Perfect Summer Weekend in Portland, Maine - Where With Elle

  3. Pingback: Acadia National Park Travel Guide - Where With Elle

  4. Pingback: How to Pack Light: 2 Weeks in Europe with a Carry-On Bag + Printable Packing List - Rose & Fig | Atlanta Sustainable Style Blog By Jess Hunt-Ralston

  5. Pingback: My First Wardrobe Edit: A Complicated Guide For A Complicated Closet · Rose & Fig | Atlanta Sustainable Style Blog By Jess Hunt-Ralston

  6. Pingback: A Simpler Wardrobe: 7 Fall + Winter Outfits · Rose & Fig | Atlanta Sustainable Style Blog By Jess Hunt-Ralston

  7. Pingback: A Simpler Wardrobe: 4 Spring Outfits + Starting a Year of Buying Nothing new · Rose & Fig | Atlanta Sustainable Style Blog By Jess Hunt-Ralston

  8. Pingback: A Simpler Wardrobe: 10 Summer Outfits · Rose & Fig | Atlanta Sustainable Style Blog By Jess Hunt-Ralston

  9. Pingback: Documenting What I Wore: My First Year Fashion Blogging Outfits + Personal Style · Rose & Fig | Atlanta Sustainable Style Blog By Jess Hunt-Ralston

  10. Pingback: What's inside my wardrobe: A complete closet inventory · Rose & Fig | Atlanta Sustainable Style Blog By Jess Hunt-Ralston

  11. Pingback: Inside My Closet: Tour and Interview with Jezebel Magazine · Where With Elle

  12. Pingback: Cuyana vs. Everlane: Cashmere, Cotton, Silk and Alpaca Wool Reviews · Where With Elle

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *