What is the importance of Wanda's closet of dresses in the novel, The Hundred Dresses?

Wanda says she has 100 dresses, all lined up in the closet at her house. When Maddie and Peggy go to Wanda's house after she's moved, they discover that there is a very small closet but it's empty when they arrive there. The closet was never filled with real dresses but Wanda's drawings provide an imaginary wardrobe that makes her happy.