We asked thirty people to log what they wore to work over two weeks. Across ten working days, an average of just 3.4 core combinations appeared.

The interesting part is the gap in self-perception: before logging began, participants estimated six to eight — close to double the real figure.

Shoes are reused most

Of all categories, shoes were reused most. Twenty-two of the thirty wore only two pairs across the fortnight.

The street at rush hour.
The street at rush hour.
  • Sample: 30 participants, 10 working days logged
  • Actual: 3.4 combinations on average
  • Estimated: typically 6–8
  • Shoes: 22 people wore only two pairs

The finding has a direct implication for buying: rather than adding items, raise the quality and durability of the few pieces that make up the core rotation.