I fall into the category that duplicates very rarely work and I never love the 2nd (or 3rd) as much as I loved the 1st one. The exception for me is true basics. I have my favourite tank top in 4 colours black white navy and beige and I wear them all regulary but they almost fall into the same category as underwear does they are such a staple. But i think that might be the same for your shirts they are almost so much of a basic they are a foundation for many of your outfits. And I would love a month free of AB newsletter if you have one going as I have been thinking of upgrading to paid for a while so this would help me decide!
I think it's great that you know that duplicates don't work for you. You might be right that shirts are such a foundation for many of my outfits (and they are all neutral).
I have duplicates of many items in my wardrobe. I normally have a favourite colour that I wear the most, while the other colour/s are less worn. Normally I find that if I buy duplicates in basic colours like black, navy, grey and white I wear them just as much, while adding a colour that is harder to style - lilac, for instance - gets much less worn. Since I’m very tall and have problems getting clothes that are long enough, I tend to buy duplicates of garments that fit me well. The Cos dressier linen trousers are an example. I have worn the black pair the most, with an almost equal number of times the white (though they get stained more quickly), while the lilac pair have barely been worn. Turns out lilac trousers are not that versatile. 😂
I guess the neutral colours are often more versatile and feel easier to repeat. Getting the right fit can definitely be a trigger for buying duplicates. Do you like to have duplicates or would you rather have different versions? How do you feel about your lilac trousers?
I don’t mind the duplicates when I like the fit. The lilac trousers I like in theory - such a lovely summer colour - but they require much more thought and actual styling, so I don’t wear them much. They’ll get a second chance this summer. 😅
I have a sweater in 5 (!) colours - I really loved the shape and weight (it’s a boxy, chunky recycled cashmere). I bought it first in black, and just wanted to wear it every day. I now have it in purple, blue, pink and off-white. I wear the darker colours most but still get a lot of wear out of the others. I loved the shape so much I was confident I’d wear it in other colours. I’ll wear a different bottom to change up the silhouette. Other than that I duplicate underlayers a lot, also the same model in different colours.
I don't think there's anything wrong with having duplicates as long as we wear them 😊 The important thing is knowing whether or not they work for us, and that sweater really seems to be a stable for you.
The prevalent advice seems to be not to buy duplicates, and it can get easy for me to start doubting if duplicates actually is a good idea or not. Therefore it has been so interesting to hear from people that duplicates actually work for them! I've also decided that I will buy the black sweater I mentioned in the post.
Do you ever wonder if a duplicate is a good idea or do you know instinctively?
Whenever I got the sweater above, I knew I wanted it in more colours! However, I collected the other versions over a couple of years, and in the case of the pink and white ones, it was that I wanted to experiment with those colours, and thought the safest way to do it would be with a shape that I already knew I liked. The sweater comes in even more colours, but I don’t think I would wear them, and that would be falling into old habits. I definitely used to be a collector of things in every shade, but I try to stop myself now!
I read the width and depth article too, and felt strongly that that model would not work for me, it would just make my wardrobe feel as though it lacked cohesion. My entire summer wardrobe is made up of duplicates - I have a couple of silhouettes I love, so I just switch up the colours. I suffer in the heat and the summers are long, so I really need to keep my summer wardrobe to clothes that feel good on my body, and that make me feel put together with minimum effort.
I like the idea of experimenting with new colours in a style that you know work for you! Of course as you say maybe not buy a style in every colour.
I love that you know what works for you in your summer wardrobe and it makes it easier for you to get dressed, which I think is a goal for a lot of us. I will say I tend to have more of category 3 duplicates in my summer wardrobe, but do also have a few category 2 duplicates.
good read! i’m very into duplicates, i have a standardized wardrobe style and wear it like a uniform with some variation. there hasn’t been a time i didn’t wear the duplicate piece either lol
I love seeing that there are others out there who loves a good duplicate. The general advice seems to be not to buy duplicates, but in my opinion this depends very much on where you fall on the spectrum from very experiemental style to having a uniform. It's a shame buying a duplicate if you never wear it and end up decluttering it later, but this doesn't seem to be the case for you. A style uniform can be truly great!
There is so much nuance to duplicates! I have duplicates across t-shirts and jeans across different colors, but if duplicate anything that's less of a basic it takes away from the specialness of the item.
For me, category 3 duplicates are usually my most successful. In the past I often made the mistake of often buying category 2 duplicates, like after finding a white shirt that I loved I would buy it in every color, or my favorite green jacket I would also get in a «classic» black, but I rarely wore the duplicates and would eventually end up getting rid of them. After a lot of analyzing I realized that I have certain types of pieces that I am drawn to in certain colors, and that it is better for me to have multiple of the same with slight variations. Would that be depth rather than breadth? For example, I love green coats and jackets, white tops and shirts, black turtleneck sweaters, black denim, navy dresses, and with small variations in the same items I can take an outfit formula that I know I love and make it work for different situations and seasons.
I do have a few category 2 duplicates that work though, and those are mostly knitwear, like the same cashmere crewneck sweater in both black and navy. And also some category 1 pieces, like 5 of my favorite white t-shirt (5 long sleeve and 5 short sleeve!), but that’s purely for practical (laundry) reasons.
So interesting to read about others' experience with duplicates!
I find where it often goes wrong is 'buying an item in every colour'. Do we even love the other colours and do they fit in your wardrobe?
It's great that you know that category 3 duplicates is mainly what works for you. In Angie's term this is depth as well - she has an example of slightly different versions of a grey sweater. As you write that this enables you to vary your outfit formula, I would guess you like me like to dress a certain way and maybe not experience that much? Could off course be totally wrong! I find it cool that you have a formula that both works for different situations and seasons. Might have to experiment with that.
I do have a few category 3 duplicates - most notably 3 white/cream sleeveless button-ups that I bought last summer. I'm not totally sure how I feel about them, which is why I didn't include them in this post. They have slightly different vibes from polished to casual, and I have worn them all. 3 still seems a little excessive to me, as I also last year was limiting myself to only buying 20 pieces... So I'll have to see this summer whether or not it actually was a good idea or not.
Category 1 duplicates is also for me mostly for laundry reasons - definitely has duplicates of my uniqlo heattech layers!
You are absolutely right, I am not very ecperimental when it comes to my wardrobe, and having formulas that work makes my analytical brain happy😅I would actually like more breadth in my wardrobe, but I haven’t found the right way to go about it.
And three simillar sleeveless shirts sounds entirely reasonable to me!😉
I have a few duplicates in my wardrobe, mostly basics like T-shirts, jeans, and shirts. Last year, I sold many of my other duplicates, including blazers, handbags, and blouses. I find it difficult to find the right balance or know when it’s a good idea to invest in a duplicate. Right now, I’m contemplating buying another vest that I really love, but am still indecisive!
If you still have subscriptions to give away, I would love one. My email is: tamaraslightn@gmail.com
Sounds like duplicates mostly don't work for you unless it's a basic piece, but finding the balance can be quite difficult. In regard to knowing whether or a duplicate would be a good idea, I like Maureen Welton's approach of noticing when you would "reach" for the duplicate. When do you find yourself wishing that you had the vest in this case in the other colour? Or are there things about the original piece you wished were slightly different - then a complete duplicate might not be the best idea. Curious what you decide!
I've send you a subscription to Allison's Newsletter. Let me know what you think.
What are your reasons for loving the white vest? Is it because of the fabric and the cur or is a big part of why you love it that it's white? Do you like how the white vest looks with your bottoms? I can totally understand that a black version seems more practical, and it might be a good buy for you, but I find that I prefer how a white top look with a lot of my trousers. Would the black one integrate just as well in your wardrobe? Do you find yourself actively wishing when you're getting dressing that you had the vest in black or is it more of a practical consideration?
If your answers to the above questions are positive, then the black vest might very well work for you! I don't know your wardrobe, so this is just my take on it :)
I do have a few duplicates. Some work, but others don’t and i end up reselling them. For mostly basics that fit well a black and a white/off-white works well in my wardrobe. But it’s good to know that you get bored more easily with duplicates. I love your article! I would love to win a monthly subscription to Allison Bornstein her Substack/newsletter.
Thank you. I'm happy that I'm not the only duplicates can work for, and analysing why some work and others don't will help me to decide whether or not buying duplicates going forward is a good idea.
I've sent the subscription to you. Hope you enjoy it!
I'd don't really have any duplicates in my wardrobe as most of it is thrifted, but I do have 3 blue/white striped shirts that could technically fall under category 3, but they are from different brands and fairly different in style. Something I need to work on in the future are my basics such as tank tops and t-shirts - I can imagine buying duplicates of these items if I found ones that I really liked.
I have had one of them for a few years and I wear that one a lot in the summer. The lighter blue/white stripe with a fun ruffle was bought last fall and I have worn it a couple of times layered under a vest. A cropped navy/white one was also bought this past fall and I haven't worn it yet but I envision it more as a layering item over dresses in the summer. So, not much wear for the newest 2 yet but hopefully this summer I'll be able to tell if they were good additions!
If it is a staple for you and the fit and shape is different I think it can absolutely work if you have duplicates that fall under category 3. I do have a lot of duplicates like basic tanktops in light and dark which I wear a lot. Mostly under sweaters in winter time or as a basic shirt in summer. I also have two pants in a different color, bought in 2024, so not sure if i get bored from them. I will see this summer. At this moment I love them both 😁
Oooh I would love to try Allison’s newsletter subscription please!
I have just bought two wool tops from Hush - same style, different colours - as my heart just LEAPT when I tried them on, which rarely happens! One ecru, one sage green. They are button up, structured cropped cardigans with patch pockets. They go with EVERYTHING. Who knew?
I fall into the category that duplicates very rarely work and I never love the 2nd (or 3rd) as much as I loved the 1st one. The exception for me is true basics. I have my favourite tank top in 4 colours black white navy and beige and I wear them all regulary but they almost fall into the same category as underwear does they are such a staple. But i think that might be the same for your shirts they are almost so much of a basic they are a foundation for many of your outfits. And I would love a month free of AB newsletter if you have one going as I have been thinking of upgrading to paid for a while so this would help me decide!
I think it's great that you know that duplicates don't work for you. You might be right that shirts are such a foundation for many of my outfits (and they are all neutral).
I've send you a subscription for AB's newsletter.
I have duplicates of many items in my wardrobe. I normally have a favourite colour that I wear the most, while the other colour/s are less worn. Normally I find that if I buy duplicates in basic colours like black, navy, grey and white I wear them just as much, while adding a colour that is harder to style - lilac, for instance - gets much less worn. Since I’m very tall and have problems getting clothes that are long enough, I tend to buy duplicates of garments that fit me well. The Cos dressier linen trousers are an example. I have worn the black pair the most, with an almost equal number of times the white (though they get stained more quickly), while the lilac pair have barely been worn. Turns out lilac trousers are not that versatile. 😂
I guess the neutral colours are often more versatile and feel easier to repeat. Getting the right fit can definitely be a trigger for buying duplicates. Do you like to have duplicates or would you rather have different versions? How do you feel about your lilac trousers?
I don’t mind the duplicates when I like the fit. The lilac trousers I like in theory - such a lovely summer colour - but they require much more thought and actual styling, so I don’t wear them much. They’ll get a second chance this summer. 😅
Quite interesting what we like in theory and what we actually wear 😆
I have a sweater in 5 (!) colours - I really loved the shape and weight (it’s a boxy, chunky recycled cashmere). I bought it first in black, and just wanted to wear it every day. I now have it in purple, blue, pink and off-white. I wear the darker colours most but still get a lot of wear out of the others. I loved the shape so much I was confident I’d wear it in other colours. I’ll wear a different bottom to change up the silhouette. Other than that I duplicate underlayers a lot, also the same model in different colours.
I don't think there's anything wrong with having duplicates as long as we wear them 😊 The important thing is knowing whether or not they work for us, and that sweater really seems to be a stable for you.
The prevalent advice seems to be not to buy duplicates, and it can get easy for me to start doubting if duplicates actually is a good idea or not. Therefore it has been so interesting to hear from people that duplicates actually work for them! I've also decided that I will buy the black sweater I mentioned in the post.
Do you ever wonder if a duplicate is a good idea or do you know instinctively?
Whenever I got the sweater above, I knew I wanted it in more colours! However, I collected the other versions over a couple of years, and in the case of the pink and white ones, it was that I wanted to experiment with those colours, and thought the safest way to do it would be with a shape that I already knew I liked. The sweater comes in even more colours, but I don’t think I would wear them, and that would be falling into old habits. I definitely used to be a collector of things in every shade, but I try to stop myself now!
I read the width and depth article too, and felt strongly that that model would not work for me, it would just make my wardrobe feel as though it lacked cohesion. My entire summer wardrobe is made up of duplicates - I have a couple of silhouettes I love, so I just switch up the colours. I suffer in the heat and the summers are long, so I really need to keep my summer wardrobe to clothes that feel good on my body, and that make me feel put together with minimum effort.
I like the idea of experimenting with new colours in a style that you know work for you! Of course as you say maybe not buy a style in every colour.
I love that you know what works for you in your summer wardrobe and it makes it easier for you to get dressed, which I think is a goal for a lot of us. I will say I tend to have more of category 3 duplicates in my summer wardrobe, but do also have a few category 2 duplicates.
good read! i’m very into duplicates, i have a standardized wardrobe style and wear it like a uniform with some variation. there hasn’t been a time i didn’t wear the duplicate piece either lol
I love seeing that there are others out there who loves a good duplicate. The general advice seems to be not to buy duplicates, but in my opinion this depends very much on where you fall on the spectrum from very experiemental style to having a uniform. It's a shame buying a duplicate if you never wear it and end up decluttering it later, but this doesn't seem to be the case for you. A style uniform can be truly great!
yes! definitely and i’m glad you pointed out this spectrum in your post
There is so much nuance to duplicates! I have duplicates across t-shirts and jeans across different colors, but if duplicate anything that's less of a basic it takes away from the specialness of the item.
The most important thing is to know what works for you! Duplicates lessening the uniqueness is absolutely something to be aware of.
I love your analysis!
For me, category 3 duplicates are usually my most successful. In the past I often made the mistake of often buying category 2 duplicates, like after finding a white shirt that I loved I would buy it in every color, or my favorite green jacket I would also get in a «classic» black, but I rarely wore the duplicates and would eventually end up getting rid of them. After a lot of analyzing I realized that I have certain types of pieces that I am drawn to in certain colors, and that it is better for me to have multiple of the same with slight variations. Would that be depth rather than breadth? For example, I love green coats and jackets, white tops and shirts, black turtleneck sweaters, black denim, navy dresses, and with small variations in the same items I can take an outfit formula that I know I love and make it work for different situations and seasons.
I do have a few category 2 duplicates that work though, and those are mostly knitwear, like the same cashmere crewneck sweater in both black and navy. And also some category 1 pieces, like 5 of my favorite white t-shirt (5 long sleeve and 5 short sleeve!), but that’s purely for practical (laundry) reasons.
So interesting to read about others' experience with duplicates!
I find where it often goes wrong is 'buying an item in every colour'. Do we even love the other colours and do they fit in your wardrobe?
It's great that you know that category 3 duplicates is mainly what works for you. In Angie's term this is depth as well - she has an example of slightly different versions of a grey sweater. As you write that this enables you to vary your outfit formula, I would guess you like me like to dress a certain way and maybe not experience that much? Could off course be totally wrong! I find it cool that you have a formula that both works for different situations and seasons. Might have to experiment with that.
I do have a few category 3 duplicates - most notably 3 white/cream sleeveless button-ups that I bought last summer. I'm not totally sure how I feel about them, which is why I didn't include them in this post. They have slightly different vibes from polished to casual, and I have worn them all. 3 still seems a little excessive to me, as I also last year was limiting myself to only buying 20 pieces... So I'll have to see this summer whether or not it actually was a good idea or not.
Category 1 duplicates is also for me mostly for laundry reasons - definitely has duplicates of my uniqlo heattech layers!
You are absolutely right, I am not very ecperimental when it comes to my wardrobe, and having formulas that work makes my analytical brain happy😅I would actually like more breadth in my wardrobe, but I haven’t found the right way to go about it.
And three simillar sleeveless shirts sounds entirely reasonable to me!😉
I have a few duplicates in my wardrobe, mostly basics like T-shirts, jeans, and shirts. Last year, I sold many of my other duplicates, including blazers, handbags, and blouses. I find it difficult to find the right balance or know when it’s a good idea to invest in a duplicate. Right now, I’m contemplating buying another vest that I really love, but am still indecisive!
If you still have subscriptions to give away, I would love one. My email is: tamaraslightn@gmail.com
Sounds like duplicates mostly don't work for you unless it's a basic piece, but finding the balance can be quite difficult. In regard to knowing whether or a duplicate would be a good idea, I like Maureen Welton's approach of noticing when you would "reach" for the duplicate. When do you find yourself wishing that you had the vest in this case in the other colour? Or are there things about the original piece you wished were slightly different - then a complete duplicate might not be the best idea. Curious what you decide!
I've send you a subscription to Allison's Newsletter. Let me know what you think.
The reason I want a second vest is that I love the first one, which is white. Now that I am a mom, I think the black version might be more practical.
What do you think? Should I still hold my horses?
What are your reasons for loving the white vest? Is it because of the fabric and the cur or is a big part of why you love it that it's white? Do you like how the white vest looks with your bottoms? I can totally understand that a black version seems more practical, and it might be a good buy for you, but I find that I prefer how a white top look with a lot of my trousers. Would the black one integrate just as well in your wardrobe? Do you find yourself actively wishing when you're getting dressing that you had the vest in black or is it more of a practical consideration?
If your answers to the above questions are positive, then the black vest might very well work for you! I don't know your wardrobe, so this is just my take on it :)
I do have a few duplicates. Some work, but others don’t and i end up reselling them. For mostly basics that fit well a black and a white/off-white works well in my wardrobe. But it’s good to know that you get bored more easily with duplicates. I love your article! I would love to win a monthly subscription to Allison Bornstein her Substack/newsletter.
Thank you. I'm happy that I'm not the only duplicates can work for, and analysing why some work and others don't will help me to decide whether or not buying duplicates going forward is a good idea.
I've sent the subscription to you. Hope you enjoy it!
ahh thankyou!! I definitely will!
I'd don't really have any duplicates in my wardrobe as most of it is thrifted, but I do have 3 blue/white striped shirts that could technically fall under category 3, but they are from different brands and fairly different in style. Something I need to work on in the future are my basics such as tank tops and t-shirts - I can imagine buying duplicates of these items if I found ones that I really liked.
Buying most 2nd hand is one sure way to avoid duplicates! Do you wear your 3 striped shirts equally or do you prefer one of them?
I have had one of them for a few years and I wear that one a lot in the summer. The lighter blue/white stripe with a fun ruffle was bought last fall and I have worn it a couple of times layered under a vest. A cropped navy/white one was also bought this past fall and I haven't worn it yet but I envision it more as a layering item over dresses in the summer. So, not much wear for the newest 2 yet but hopefully this summer I'll be able to tell if they were good additions!
If it is a staple for you and the fit and shape is different I think it can absolutely work if you have duplicates that fall under category 3. I do have a lot of duplicates like basic tanktops in light and dark which I wear a lot. Mostly under sweaters in winter time or as a basic shirt in summer. I also have two pants in a different color, bought in 2024, so not sure if i get bored from them. I will see this summer. At this moment I love them both 😁
With the pants I would assume it also depends on how statement or basic they are. Hope you'll still enjoy them this summer.
Oooh I would love to try Allison’s newsletter subscription please!
I have just bought two wool tops from Hush - same style, different colours - as my heart just LEAPT when I tried them on, which rarely happens! One ecru, one sage green. They are button up, structured cropped cardigans with patch pockets. They go with EVERYTHING. Who knew?
They sound great! As long as you love both of them - go for it. And even better if they go with everything.
I've sent you the subscription.
That’s incredibly kind, thank you!!