21 Pieces, 51 Looks

Redbook recently published an article indicating that using what you already have in your wardrobe, plus just 8 additional pieces (at a cost of $200), you can have 51 new looks.  As one of the many women with lots of clothes and accessories (but nothing to wear), I wondered about this.  This notion of "different looks" is one that my favorite show, What Not to Wear, is a big proponent of also, and so I'm curious as to what really constitutes a "different look" in these stylists' minds.  So here's what I found:
The basic pieces we are all assumed to own are:

1. a little black dress
2. black pants
3. a blue button down shirt
4. strappy high-heeled sandals
5. a print sundress
6. a patterned short-sleeved top (with tie top)
7. a white tank
8. blue jeans
9. khaki pants
10. a solid cardigan (redish color)
11. a brightly colored T shirt (pink)
12. black pumps
13. flat sandals

The new pieces to get for the spring are:

1. striped, nautical-theme long sleeve T
2. black belt
3. patterned flats
4. light blue A-line skirt
5. black/white Chanel-type jacket
6. red short-sleeved button-front blouse
7. multi-colored scarf
8. white jeans

The outfits (organized by what's on the bottom) are:

1. blue jeans, white tank, black/white jacket, high-heeled sandals,
2. blue jeans, blue button-down, black/white jacket, black belt, black pumps
3. blue jeans, pink T, covered by blue shirt, covered by cardigan, flats
4. blue jeans, patterned top, cardigan, high-heeled sandals
5. blue jeans, patterned top, black pumps
6. blue jeans, patterned top, black/white jacket
7. blue jeans, striped T, scarf at neck
8. blue jeans, striped T, scarf at neck, cardigan, patterned flats
9. blue jeans, blue button-down, scarf at neck
10. blue jeans, white tank under red blouse, patterned flats
11. white jeans, striped T, black belt
12. white jeans, striped T under blue button-down, black belt, black pumps
13. white jeans, pink T, red blouse, scarf at neck
14. white jeans, pink T, cardigan, scarf as belt
15. white jeans, pink T, black belt, black/white jacket
16. white jeans, patterned top, black/white jacket, high-heeled sandals
17. white jeans, blue button-down, scarf, flat sandals
18. khakis, blue shirt, black/white jacket
19. khakis, blue shirt, scarf as belt, patterned flats
20. khakis, white tank, red blouse belted with scarf, flat sandals
21. khakis, striped T, cardigan knotted at waist, high-heeled sandals
22. khakis, striped T, flat sandals
23. khakis, pink T, scarf at neck, flat sandals
24. khakis, red blouse, cardigan, high-heeled sandals
25. khakis, red blouse, black/white jacket, patterned flats
26. khakis, patterned top, black/white jacket, black pumps
27. black pants, striped T, cardigan tied like scarf at shoulders, high-heeled sandals
28. black pants, striped T, blue button-down open under black/white jacket, patterned flats
29. black pants, white tank under red blouse, black pumps
30. black pants, patterned top
31. black pants, red blouse
32. black pants, pink T, cardigan, scarf at knotted as necklace
33. sundress with red short-sleeved blouse tied at waist, patterned flats
34. sundress with cardigan, high-heeled sandals
35. sundress with black/white jacket, black pumps
36. sundress over striped T, flat sandals
37. sundress over pink T, high-heeled sandals
38. sundress with blue button-down, open but belted w/black belt, black pumps
39. black dress with cardigan and scarf tied at neck
40. black dress with scarf tied at waist
41. black dress over blue button-down
42. black dress over striped T
43. black dress over patterned top, black/white jacket, high-heeled sandals
44. blue skirt w/pink T and scarf
45. blue skirt w/blue button-down and scarf
46. blue skirt, patterned top, black belt, black pumps
47. blue skirt, red blouse, black/white jacket
48. blue skirt, white tank under cardigan, high-heeled sandals
49. blue skirt, striped T, cardigan tied at neck
50. blue skirt, scarf tied as halter top
51. scarf as sarong with black belt, white tank, cardigan, flat sandals

So the bottom line is that I agree that you can get lots of outfits out of these pieces.  But I think that throwing on a jacket or cardi and calling it an entirely new out fit really pushes the definition of "outfit" when all the other elements are the same.  And I'm not sure that the last two uses of the scarf really count either since there is no mention of what's underneath for modesty's sake.
August 2011 update: for a similar Redbook story, but with Fall clothing, click here.

March 2012 update: here's the 2012 Spring Redbook story.