Why having too much choice can actually be bad for your wardrobe

I like to joke that I try and lead a bit of ‘an edited life’, and while there’s nothing wrong with having options, too much choice can actually be a bad thing for your wardrobe. Aside from the fact that it’s a lot trickier to pull together an outfit in a pinch, there’s a certain psychology attached to having too much choice, that can really impact the way that you make decisions – and not just when it comes to your wardrobe.

Wearing Everlane silk shirt, Grana skinny jeans (old but similar here), Everlane trench coat (affordable option here), Everlane editor flats, Fendi mama zucchini bag (also here), Missoma necklace, Mejuri earrings (similar), Orelia bracelet

The topic came up over on my YouTube channel, while having a discussion about shopping rules to follow when buying something new, and it reminded me of a key factor in my decision to try and streamline what I had. I found it hard getting dressed in the morning, often second-guessing what I was wearing, and I regularly felt like a wolf in sheep’s clothing – if you get my drift. I’m not sure I’d put it just down to having too much choice, but it was definitely a factor in how I felt about getting dressed each morning.

Decision fatigue is real

You know that saying, ‘a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear’? Well it wasn’t until I read Barry Schwartz’s book, ‘The Paradox of Choice’ that I really understood the impact of having more choice than I could possibly need. Essentially, when we have an excessive number of options, we need to consider all the alternatives which means making trade-offs when we finally do “decide”. Ultimately, it can affect our satisfaction, and it can also impact how you might feel about your outfit for the day. While picking out our outfits each morning isn’t going to be the most important decision we make all day, what you wear is your personal projection of self – it’s part of who you are, and if you aren’t happy with what you’re wearing, you’re going to feel it until the minute you get home and can change into something more you.

Your favourites will get ‘lost’

I have a handful of items in my wardrobe that I consider my favourites. They’re items I want to wear again and again, and tend to be regular pieces I reach for week in and week out. The bigger your wardrobe gets, the less likely it is that you’re going to be reaching for those same items. While I wouldn’t class my own wardrobe as particularly small (there’s a little over 100 items total for summer and winter), I do try to rotate what I’m wearing. I do play favourites to a degree, but I like to spread the love out where I can, so you can appreciate that this love gets spread pretty thinly when I’ve got an abundance of choice.

More isn’t always more

One thing I’ve really set out to document this year on my YouTube channel is how versatile our wardrobes can be. You can do a lot with a simple white blouse, and even a trendier piece like a slip dress can be styled up multiple ways, as long as you continue to look at it with an open mind and fresh perspective. A lack of resources – or in this case, a smaller wardrobe – can actually force you to be more creative with what you have, rather than relying on something new to mix things up.