Wardrobe Budget Planner
Enter a total budget and, optionally, which categories to prioritize, to see a category-by-category spending plan.
Your allocation
| Category | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tops | $250.00 | 25.0% |
| Bottoms | $200.00 | 20.0% |
| Outerwear | $200.00 | 20.0% |
| Shoes | $200.00 | 20.0% |
| Accessories | $150.00 | 15.0% |
Base split: 25% tops, 20% bottoms, 20% outerwear, 20% shoes, 15% accessories. Checking a priority category shifts 10 percentage points toward the categories you pick, taken proportionally from the rest (checking all five leaves the base split). The split is a rule of thumb: it does not know how many pieces you own, what they cost or how long they last.
Why split a wardrobe budget by category at all
A single lump-sum budget tends to get spent on whatever catches your eye first, which often means one category (tops are a common culprit) eats the whole budget while shoes or outerwear get whatever's left. Splitting the total up front, even loosely, makes it easier to notice a gap before you're standing in a cold winter with a great t-shirt collection and no coat.
The percentages here are a sensible starting point, not a strict rule — adjust them with the priority checkboxes to match a wardrobe that's genuinely light in one area, or a season where one category matters more than usual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the default percentages come from?
The planner starts from a rule-of-thumb split: 25% tops, 20% bottoms, 20% outerwear, 20% shoes, and 15% accessories. It's a general guideline, not a formula unique to any one person's closet or climate, and it does not know how many pieces you own, what they cost or how long they last.
What happens when I check a priority category?
Checking one or more categories shifts a fixed pool of 10 percentage points toward them, split evenly if you pick more than one, and taken proportionally from the categories you didn't prioritize. The categories you check always end up with a bigger share than the base split. Checking all five leaves the base split, because there is no category left to take the points from.
Why don't outerwear and shoes get a bigger default share?
Only tops sit above the others in the default split; bottoms, outerwear and shoes get the same 20%. The split does not know how often you replace anything, so it gives a coat that lasts many years the same share every year as shoes that wear out in two. If you need a serious winter coat this year, use the priority checkboxes to rebalance.
Does the allocation always add up to my full budget?
Yes — the five category amounts always sum to exactly the budget you entered, with each leftover rounding cent given to the line whose rounding lost the most, so the totals reconcile to the cent and no line is more than a cent from its exact share.
Should accessories really get the smallest share?
In the default split, yes — accessories are usually the least expensive per-item category, so a smaller dollar share can still buy more distinct pieces than the same share in outerwear or shoes. Use the priority checkbox if accessories are actually where you spend the most.
This is a guide, not a rule — not professional styling or financial advice. The split is a general guideline; your own priorities and climate should adjust it.