Decision Fatigue Calculator
How Many Clothing Decisions Do You Make?
Steve Jobs famously eliminated trivial choices by wearing the same turtleneck daily. This calculator shows how many decisions you make about clothing and how much time you could save by simplifying.
Your daily clothing decisions will appear here...
Steve Jobs didn’t wear a turtleneck because it was trendy. He didn’t wear it because it was cheap. He wore it because it was the one thing he could count on every single day. No distractions. No decisions. Just simplicity.
People often assume his black turtlenecks came from high-end fashion houses or custom tailors in Silicon Valley. But the truth is quieter, more practical-and way more telling about who he was.
The Real Brand Behind Steve Jobs’ Shirts
Steve Jobs got his shirts from Issey Miyake. Not just any Issey Miyake pieces, but a specific line called Black Turtleneck from the Japanese designer’s 1990s collection. Miyake didn’t make them for celebrities. He made them as functional art: one pattern, one fabric, one fit. Jobs ordered them in bulk.
According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Jobs bought about 100 of these turtlenecks at a time. He didn’t care about size variations. He didn’t want different colors. He didn’t want buttons, zippers, or pockets. Just a seamless, high-twist wool blend that stayed crisp, didn’t wrinkle, and felt like a second skin. Miyake’s design used a single piece of fabric, folded and stitched in a way that eliminated seams along the shoulders. That’s why the collar sat so perfectly-no sag, no pull.
Jobs didn’t have a stylist. He didn’t go shopping. He’d call Miyake’s team, place an order, and wait. When one batch ran out, he’d order another. He kept a stack of them in his closet, folded neatly, ready to grab. He wore the same one until it frayed, then swapped it for the next.
Why Not Just Buy Any Turtleneck?
You’ve probably seen turtlenecks at Zara, H&M, or even Amazon. They’re cheap. They’re everywhere. So why didn’t Jobs just buy those?
Because most turtlenecks don’t hold their shape. They stretch. They pill. They lose their structure after a few washes. Jobs’ turtlenecks were made from a proprietary blend of wool and synthetic fibers that resisted wear. They didn’t shrink. They didn’t fade. And they didn’t need ironing.
Issey Miyake’s technique-called pleating-wasn’t just about aesthetics. It was about durability. The fabric was folded and heat-set while wet, locking the shape permanently. That’s why Jobs’ turtlenecks looked identical year after year. It wasn’t magic. It was engineering.
The Psychology of a Uniform
Jobs didn’t wear the same shirt because he was eccentric. He wore it because he knew how much mental energy people waste on trivial choices.
Studies show the average adult makes over 35,000 decisions a day. About 200 of those are about food alone. Imagine adding clothing choices to that pile: socks, shoes, belts, jackets, ties. Jobs cut that noise out. He treated his wardrobe like a computer system: minimal, optimized, predictable.
He once told a reporter, “I have to make decisions about everything else. I don’t want to waste time deciding what to wear.”
That mindset didn’t just save time. It sent a message. In a world obsessed with status symbols, Jobs’ uniform said: I don’t need to prove anything. His power came from what he built, not what he wore.
What Happened to the Turtlenecks After He Died?
After Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, his family donated his personal wardrobe to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The black turtlenecks were among the first items cataloged.
Curators noted the wear patterns-faint fraying along the collar, slight thinning on the left shoulder from leaning on desks. One shirt had a tiny stain near the hem, possibly from coffee. They didn’t clean it. They preserved it. Because it wasn’t just fabric. It was evidence.
Today, you can see those shirts on display in the “American Innovation” exhibit. Next to them: the original Macintosh, the first iPhone prototype, and a handwritten note from Jobs that reads: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
Can You Buy the Same Turtleneck Today?
Issey Miyake still makes the turtleneck. It’s called the “Pleats Please Black Turtleneck” and retails for around $380. It’s not easy to find. Most stores only carry a few pieces each season. You can order it online through Miyake’s official site or select luxury retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue or Net-a-Porter.
But here’s the catch: the original 1990s version is no longer in production. The fabric blend changed slightly. The fit is a bit looser. The pleating process is automated now, not hand-finished. So while you can buy something close, you can’t buy the exact one Jobs wore.
Some people have tried to replicate it. One engineer in Oregon spent six months reverse-engineering the fabric, using a textile lab and a 3D scanner. He finally matched the density and weave. He sold 12 copies for $1,200 each. They sold out in 48 hours.
Why This Matters Beyond Fashion
Steve Jobs’ turtleneck wasn’t about fashion. It was about focus. It was about removing friction from life so he could pour everything into what mattered.
Most of us don’t need 100 identical shirts. But we all waste time on small decisions that add up. Choosing between two pairs of jeans. Worrying if our shirt matches our shoes. Checking if we look “professional enough.”
Jobs didn’t eliminate choice. He simplified it. He didn’t dress like a robot-he dressed like someone who knew exactly what he wanted to do, and refused to let anything else get in the way.
If you want to simplify your own routine, you don’t need to buy a $380 turtleneck. You just need to ask: What’s one thing I can stop thinking about every day? What’s one decision I can make once-and never again?
Maybe it’s your morning coffee. Your workout clothes. Your work shoes. Pick one. Stick with it. See how much space it frees up.
That’s the real legacy of Steve Jobs’ shirt. Not the brand. Not the price. But the quiet power of saying: This is enough.
Did Steve Jobs ever wear anything besides black turtlenecks?
Yes, but rarely. In public appearances before the 1990s, he sometimes wore button-down shirts or sweaters. But after meeting Issey Miyake and seeing his designs, Jobs switched almost entirely to the black turtleneck. He wore other outfits for formal events like the Macintosh launch in 1984 or his Stanford commencement speech in 2005-but even then, he chose simple, dark, minimal pieces. His public image became synonymous with the turtleneck because it was consistent, not because it was his only option.
Was Steve Jobs’ turtleneck custom-made?
No, not in the traditional sense. The turtlenecks were part of Issey Miyake’s mass-produced Pleats Please line, but Jobs ordered them in bulk with no alterations. Miyake didn’t tailor them to Jobs’ body-he designed them to fit a wide range of people. Jobs chose the size that worked best and stuck with it. His uniqueness came from how he used the garment, not how it was made.
Why did Steve Jobs choose black?
Black was practical. It didn’t show dirt, wrinkles, or wear. It looked professional without being formal. And psychologically, black removes visual noise. Jobs believed in reducing distractions, and black clothing helped him stay mentally focused. He once said, “I don’t want to look like a fashion victim.” Black was his armor against superficiality.
How many turtlenecks did Steve Jobs own?
He owned about 100 at a time, all identical. He bought them in batches of 100, wore them until they frayed, then replaced them. He didn’t keep extras beyond what he needed. He didn’t want clutter. His closet was a system, not a collection.
Can anyone buy the exact same turtleneck Steve Jobs wore?
No. The original version from the 1990s is no longer in production. The fabric, stitching, and pleating process have changed slightly over time. Today’s version is similar but not identical. Some collectors have tried to recreate it, but even the closest replicas are not exact matches. The real ones are now in museums.