Wardrobe Tracking: What I spent on clothes in 2024

Have you ever heard the expression, “what gets measured gets done?” I applied this idea to wardrobe tracking in 2023 and it was illuminating. The idea is that regularly measuring and reporting on a goal keeps you focused so you stay accountable and the information informs your decisions and improves your results. Tracking your wardrobe helps align spending with sustainability and provides valuable insights into consumption habits.

In 2023, I started keeping track of everything that came and left my wardrobe. Like those who are afraid of looking at their bank account, I really had no clue just how much I was spending and accumulating. Keeping an honest record was one step towards better aligning my actions to my values of sustainability and financial well-being. After one year of tracking, I did a deep drive into the numbers and it was shocking. 

For 2024, my goal was to cut my clothing and accessories spend in half. I aimed to spend $3500 or about $300 per month. I also wanted 75% of my purchases to be consciously sourced, either via secondhand items or small, independent designers. 

Before I dive into my 2024 audit, here is some context on average clothing spending in the U.S. The average American spent $1,196.42 for 55 pieces of clothing and $318.29 to buy 6 pairs of shoes in 2023, according to the American Apparel & Footwear Association. That’s a total of $1514.71 for 61 items. 

So, how did I do?

2024 clothing spending: The breakdown

Drumroll please…..

In 2024, I spent $6553 on 43 items. This year I also decided to track the retail price of the items I bought, which totaled *gasp* $21,400! Basically the cost of a sedan if I paid full price. By focusing on buying secondhand items, I saved 70% off the retail price. 

Here’s how my year went:

• Total spent: $6,553
• Total items: 43
• Retail value of items: $21,400
• Savings off retail: 70%

While I didn’t hit my goal of $3,500, I made significant progress. I reduced my overall spending by $1,500 compared to 2023 and added 19 fewer items. I also surpassed my goal of sourcing 75% of purchases consciously, hitting an impressive 86% conscious sourcing.

Conscious fashion goals and achievements

In 2024, I aimed to align my wardrobe spending with sustainable fashion principles. Here’s how I did:

• Reduced overall spend by $1,500
• Reduced overall consumption by 27% (43 items in 2024 vs 59 items in 2023)
• 86% of purchases were consciously sourced
  • 56% were secondhand
  • 30% were from small or ethical brands

Tracking my wardrobe has pushed me toward better decision-making like prioritizing quality over quantity. One of my husband’s taglines is, “Be better than The Gap”. Prioritizing secondhand shopping allows me to source contemporary and designer brands at 70% off retail, while avoiding fast fashion. Here are some brands I added this year, sourced secondhand:

• The Row
• Rag & Bone
• Agolde
• Proenza Schouler 
• Mara Hoffman
• The Frankie Shop
• Veronica Beard
• Tanya Taylor

Wardrobe tracking by the numbers

Here’s a snapshot of what I added to my closet in 2024:

• 31 pieces of clothing
• 5 pairs of shoes
• 3 pieces of jewelry
• 2 bags
• 2 belts

That averaged out to be: 

• 3.5 items added to my closet per month
• $152 spent per item
• $546 spent per month (ouch!)

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Lessons learned from two years of wardrobe tracking

Tracking has been an eye-opening journey. Over two years, I added 100 items to my closet, which led to a big realization: I need to hit pause. For 2025, my focus is on slowing waaaaay down with a goal of adding just 12 high-quality, long-lasting pieces. It will be a year of rediscovering creativity with the clothes I already own.

So, are you interested in trying wardrobe tracking? How much do you think is reasonable to spend on your wardrobe each year? Let me know in the comments!