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Mama Moon
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Joined: Feb 22 2006
Location: Eritrea
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Posts: 62
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| Posted: Nov 03 2006 at 10:42am | IP Logged
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Hi ladies,
My daughters have recently complained that they have too many clothes!
I was brought up with a minimum -
2 dresses for school uniform
and for homewear
2 skirts
1 pair of pants
3 T-shirts
1 jumper
2 dresses for concerts (I did a lot of music ones).
I had one pair of shoes and one pair of tongs.
Also one sports outfit and a swimming costume.
We lived in a hot country so jackets and coats weren't needed. My parents were wealthy but my mother always said I just had one body to clothe!
I always wanted my daughters to have more of a choice than I did but maybe I have overdone it. I would be really grateful to have advice from you all.
What would you consider to be a comfortable minimum of the following for 6-8 year old girls?
Underclothes
Socks
T-shirts/ shirts
skirts
pants
dresses
shoes
jumpers/pullovers
We would love to get down to this comfortable minium and donate the rest of the clothes. Where we are living there are many children in need.
Thanks for your precious time!
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amyable
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Joined: March 07 2005
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| Posted: Nov 03 2006 at 11:17am | IP Logged
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I think about this often with four girls who share two tiny closets and have what always seems like too many clothes!
Much hinges on how often you are willing to wash clothes...or how dirty you are willing to let them get before they are washed!  Now that we have six in the family I can comfortably do a full load every day -- which means, if I can get this done and PUT AWAY every day we can try to keep a minimum of clothing in the closets. Our goal, which keeps shifting as gifts come and hand me downs get passed around:
5-7 long sleeve or turtleneck shirts
5-7 short sleeve shirts (which get put away when it's cold, same with long sleeves in summer)
1-2 pairs of jeans
2-3 or so other pairs of pants (colors, knit, etc)
3 PJs for each kind of weather
3-4 dresses, one being extra nice (we lump jumpers into this)
4 pairs shoes - 1 sandle (white), 1 sneaker, 1 somewhat dressy black (that can be used more causally or more dressy and still look OK)
This allows me some leeway with washing and choices...I really *could* do with less if I washed both colors and whites every day.
My girls don't wear skirt/shirt combos, just dresses when they need a skirt. Not for any real reason, yet it is great because there are less pieces to store/worry about/take care of, and it is easier to find dresses that fit my skinny girls than skirts. As I ponder whether or not to encourage dresses more (vs. pants) I think the above list would change to 1 "fancy" dress (i.e. holiday), 2 nicer dresses like for church, and 4 play dresses, with probably 7-8 pairs of tights in various colors.
Now, my 3yo has a stuffed closet area, much more than she needs, and my oldest (almost 9) has less than this, and still is OK as long as she doesn't ruin something she only has one of.
When paring down, I try to match items in complete outfits, and if one thing can do double duty (like go under a jumper and be OK over pants) that is even better. So our favorite clothes are plainer items that can match many things.
All this typing has made me realize I should go check my kids closets again! 
ETA: I forgot they each have 1 cardigan, 1 sweatshirt, several jackets/coats for various weather, and 7+ pairs of underwear.
__________________
Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Rachel May
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Joined: June 24 2005
Location: Kansas
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| Posted: Nov 03 2006 at 8:26pm | IP Logged
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In brief, Maria has 4 full outfits, either a top and pants or a dress, and 2 sets of pajamas. She owns about 8 pairs of underwear, 8 pairs of socks plus some tights. She has one pair of play shoes. In addition, she has a soccer practice outfit with sweats and a soccer kit for games.
She has one full Sunday church outfit including tights and shoes.
She also has one sweater, on light jacket, one coat, one pair of boots and some hats and mittens.
It sounds slim, but you would be amazed at how clothes creep into a wardrobe without being bought. I'm constantly weeding things out.
__________________
Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Mama Moon
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Joined: Feb 22 2006
Location: Eritrea
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Posts: 62
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| Posted: Nov 04 2006 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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Thanks ladies,
This is really helpful. We've got too much stuff piled up in the wardrobes. As you say Rachel, a lot of it just crept in! I have never weeded anything out. As a kid I always wished I had more of a choice so I was a bit blocked by that... Even so, as an adult I have very few clothes (my husband has given up telling me to get more stuff).
So, this is a real turning point. Less for the girls (they will be pleased - and we shall keep in mind Amy's plainer clothes matching) and (this is the one that will take an effort) I shall have to take a look at increasing my own wardrobe!
Bless you all,
__________________
Mama Moon
blessed with 2 precious ones
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Topic: How many clothes do my girls "need"
