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How much in your wardrobe are you really happy with?

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

This follows on from Una's wardrobe thread:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-wardrobe

I have a few clothes that always feel good when I put them on - they are close to perfect for me at the moment, that means in fit, fabrication, colour, detail etc. They are:
red H&M jacket
Zara denim shirt
Lands End Jackie fit bootlegs
Zara striped top (well, perhaps there are slight fabric issues there but I'm stretching the point...)
Blue and White Hobbs summer dress
Purple TM lewin pussy bow blouse
Boden navy tunic
Great plains red tunic
Gap dolman sleeved top

Off the top of my head, those are items I am completely happy with. Everything else, I realise, is fine (I have got rid of most things that I need to) but not perfect - details aren't right, they're a bit worn, the fit isn't exactly right.

I've said on the other thread that I have about 75 items of clothing and there are 9 items there, so I am entirely happy with just over 10% of my wardrobe, then probably about 60% is ok, and the last 30% I'd like to have better or replace but many have to wait for money and opportunity.

So how is everyone else doing?

General

51 replies

Latest reply was from Aziraphale

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have half a walk-in wardrobe full. (I share a walk-in with Greg).

My stuff is not fab to everyone, but it's *really* fab to me :). I need to build a shrine for my handbag collection.

Polly, it takes time and funds to build a wardrobe of really fab pieces. The process is part of the fun! I love the goodies that you've listed. You are well on your way to having a wardrobe full of really fab pieces!

Irene

Veteran

None?

I don't know. It REALLY depends on my mood. One day I feel amazing in a dress and the other day I totally hate it. One day I think 'oh, this is soo sweet with the flowers and the cut suits my shape so well', then next day I'm like 'meh, this is too sweet and it makes me look like and old lady'. I know, I'm weird. Also, I mentally lose and gain pounds like a yo-yo, so one day I feel totally flat, the other I feel super skinny-miny, then on monday I feel overall huge.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I have a gorgeous collection of handbags and not one clothing piece that I can say the same thing about...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. Thinking this through, I realize that MOST of the really fab items I own are only "occasional" wear things (given the way I live.) Perhaps not coincidentally, they are also (mostly) more expensive items.

1. A jersey wrap dress, tiny white polka dots on a dark, dark navy background. Deep V neckline, 3/4 sleeves. Although it is not a super-dressy item (and can be dressed down a bit) it still is not an everyday MOTG outfit for me, so only gets worn about 6 times a year.

2. A Comrags silk dress, summer wear only, dressy (perfect for weddings and such). Only worn a few times a year.

3. A Comrags skirt, dressy, worn about four or five times per year (given my lifestyle).

Two others, bought less expensively on sale—Ann Taylor navy blue jacket, military details, cropped, and a pair of skinny jeans.

Hmmm. Wonder if I should be creating "occasions" for my fab dressy clothes?

But it might also be useful to analyse them to see what they share. Mostly, I think, it is great fit and comfort combined.

I DID at one time own a few more day to day items that were FAB but after my weight loss they are no longer fab on me (even with alteration, they are okay, but not fab) or they are no good, period, and had to go.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I am going to say about 80%. It's still in progress, but I'm really pleased with where I'm at.

Anonymous

Angie's picks and YLF has helped me find items that I'm really happy with. I'm trying not to buy anything that is just ok or perfect except for some aspect (like dresses that fit perfectly but are a bit too short and cannot be let out.)

Queen Mum

Veteran

I'm resisting the urge to go count the items in my closet, and count the items I'm less than thrilled with...

I'd say I'm happy with 80% of my wardrobe. The other 20% is wearable, but stuff I wouldn't choose if I were out shopping today. I''m good with that. I figure I'm always going to be in a state of style evolution, so I'm always going to have some things that I'm less than thrilled to wear.

taylor

Veteran

I will say 90%. I have a very large wardrobe that has been trimmed to my favorites the past 2 1/2 YLF yrs, so I only add things that I love or are killer..to me anyway!
I have more handbags and shoes than any normal person needs and could probably go a year and not wear the same item...but I know what I have and wear it all...eventually:)

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Although I have a larger wardrobe with 150+ pieces I am basically quite happy with 90% of it and LOVE a good 20% of those. There is about 10% that could be tossed but I can't bring myself to do so yet. Mostly these are comfort/fit issues. A shoulder too tight, a waistline hitting a bit too low, jeans too snug around the hip, that sort of thing. I no longer have pieces in there that I feel are too tired or outdated to be worn anymore. I did a lot of tossing of those things this fall. I did the turn the hanger around trick and find I've worn almost every top although I have more tops than anything else. I am wearing my stuff happily!

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

If you exclude basics - 99%, that last percentage are things I didn't choose myself. I'm happy with my basics, but if I lost them all I wouldn't care, I'd just replace them and not notice the difference.

Anonymous

I'd say about 50% for me. And only a small percentage of that 50% do I really LOVE. I've moved 4 times in the past 3 years and my closets keep getting smaller and smaller....so I'm dealing with space issues on top of personal style issues. Plus one of the moves was from SoCal to Seattle and the climate/dominate season issues wrapped around all that. PLus I gained just enough weight the past year or so that I bumped into the next size up and now clothes that USED to be my workhorse favorites just do not fit. Wow. Now that I wrote that all out, I realize I'm in a clothing crisis!

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

(I seem to have lost my post where I said I changed the thread title from something like 'really fab items' to 'things you are really happy with'. I realised after Angie's tactful comment that the original title wasn't quite what I meant!)

BM I'm envious of your bag collection.

Airin - I like the sound of your days when you feel amazing. I think that is probably what other people see.

Suz - sounds as if you've got some really quality pieces sorted.

Angie, Sarah, Kim and Taylor I think that's probably what I would have thought - it's nice for me to have something to aim for.

Joy - that's what I'm trying to do too.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Mo and GirlX I'm so impressed!

Engine mom I think you're doing very well! It sounds as if you know what you need to get next.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

hi Polly! what a good topic, and it's great to see everyone's answers. Enginemom, sounds like you had a shock of realization there~

now i'm at ~75%, but then i don't have a lot of clothes (about 60-70 pieces, including tanx and coats). i agree with Angie, the process is a lot of the fun - but i think the 'fun process' kicks in more when you have at least a third really great pieces for your everyday life, climate, etc. and when you have a handle on your style identity and current needs.

the part where you feel you're not quite there with your style identity and/or you're not sure how that identity matches up with your real life can be a true bear. you feel tempted to give up, but DON'T! that confusing, frustrating feeling is the sign that you're actually making progress and really want to reach your goal - if you didn't care and weren't making actual changes you wouldn't be feeling uncomfortable, right?

2.5 - 3 years ago i decided to just go for it, clothing wise. i'd always had the idea that 'when my life was settled' i'd get together this great wardrobe (for me). but, largely due to chronic illness, life never settled down. i also realized that i was not that far off from where i wanted to be with clothes (i sew/design a lot of my own, and much of what i really like doesn't cost much in $$$). also due to my health, there's a lot i can't do/have - career, education, travel, kids - & i didn't want to end up being one of those people who only can see the 'couldn't's.

so, even tho it's just clothes, it WAS something i always really wanted. i've had a great time (much more fun once i've got more of a handle on my style and real life needs and you can make a lot of progress once you give it enough focus. these areas of the web that focus on how to find your own personal style are priceless -it's a completely different animal than copying someone's else's. this forum is a treasure! hope this isn't too off-topic, but it's a question that's close to my heart (of all places!! hang in there everybody!!!!! steph

MsMary

Veteran

Hmmm... I'd say I am ecstatically happy with more than half of my wardrobe, maybe more than that. And I'm getting better and better at not buying anything that doesn't make my heart sing!

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

& how exciting and inspiring to see so many people at 80% and above! Mo, Girl X, Talor, Queen Mum, Angie, Sarah - you are lodestones for us all!!! brava! steph

Astrid

Veteran

I would say maybe 20%. Most of these things are items I bought since YLF. The better part of my wardrobe isn't really perfect or all that fab. But I don't have the money to replace many things at once, so I have to be patient. I think the rest is okay, but nowhere near the look I have in mind. I wouldn't be ashamed to leave my flat in it, but that's it. Maybe I should start with the one in / one out policy. I'm nowhere near brave enough to throw the lot out, even if I probably wear only a third of my clothes.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, I had (still have) a hard time purging, but it's just as important to get rid of what doesn't work as it is to get new things that do! Maybe start with the stuff that obviously does not fit right and the stuff that is stained, pilled, faded or otherwise worn out.

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

Much of why I'm happy with my wardrobe is because I can sew - which means I can (and usually do) tailor and tweak most things pretty easily. I'm also happy to return things that aren't what I hoped - I know people who are actually uncomfortable making returns, like they feel embarrassed or think they're somehow doing something wrong. I shop mainly online so half of what I buy winds up going back, otherwise I'd be stuck with a ton of stuff that isn't perfect.

Now if you asked how much of my wonderful wardrobe has actually be worn, totally different answer - but I'm working on it!

Sparky

Veteran

*planning a pilgrimage to Angie's handbag shrine*

I am very happy with over half of my wardrobe right now. It's definitely been a process ~ one that started before I found YLF ~ and I know it will continue to be one as my tastes and style knowledge change.

I am very, very happy with almost every single one of my footwear. Hmm, I could probably build a shrine for them!

catgirl

Veteran

Great question! I am happy with several items in my wardrobe on their own (my Nik & Zoe jackets!), many of which are statement pieces. But others which I don't adore on their own make me happy in conjunction with those items or in some creative combo. Today I'm wearing a pair of tan Gap flares, a Halogen polka-dot silk tank, and a grey and yellow floral AT cardi. None of these are standouts on their own, but somehow they came together well and are making me happy today.

Then there are lots of items that make me miserable, mostly because I can't figure out what to do with them or they no longer fit. Fortunately, my most recent purge evicted the majority of them.

My goal is to both love AND use everything I own.

Isabel

Veteran

I would say that it is about 90 %. It is not all fab, but I think most looks good on me, fits well, and is useful for my lifestyle.

Lisa

Veteran

Hmm I had over 200 items in this post and I'd say about 40% of it I'm really happy with. Some of the items I probably can get rid of because of sizes or because my tastes have changed. However, I notice I prefer a slightly larger wardrobe so my purging process is very slow. I try to only include new items that I really love as I slowly shift to loving everything I own. I figure if I only purchase new items I really enjoy, eventually I'll have 90% or higher of items in my closet I love.

Ruchi

I recently inherited a complete wardrobe courtesy of my sisters, so I am one happy gal.I would say that I am happy with most items in my wardrobe.There are few items which I have been worrying about how to wear as they are out of my comfort zone.As Una said,my goal is to love and wear everything I own.

Astrid

Veteran

You're right, Mo. Although I did already throw out all the things that didn't fit me anymore because of my weigth gain. I have some loungewear/sportswear/pyjamas that aren't in the best shape anymore, but the rest is okay. But I really wasn't stylish at all and you can see that when you look at these items. I just struggle with throwing things out that did cost money and are in a good condition. I don't know why I have such a problem with it, I normally love to weed through things and throw old stuff out.

Marley

Veteran

I'm probably happy with about 90% of my wardrobe - but that doesn't mean that I've got it under control or even a slight idea of how to organize it! I just know that pretty much everything that I pull out of my closet I say to myself "Oh, I love this!" I figure that's a good sign!

Aida

Veteran

I would say less than half for me, probably close to 25%. It is certainly a slow process, and I'm looking forward to being able to shop again soon; hopefully I can replace some of my less-than-happy items

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

So interesting - lots of people around the 50% mark. I think that's where I need to aim for next.

Steph - such a thoughtful post around the subject. Inspiring, actually. I really like the idea that around 30% it gets easier and so impressed that you can sew and make things work yourself.

MaryK - interesting as I somehow assumed you'd be higher! But actually the 'not buying unless your heart sings' is something wonderful to aim for. One I'll remember.

Astrid - I know the feeling! I have found that when I've let things go I do feel better (although in my heart and in the end I want to buy things that I will keep until they are worn out as I get upset when I feel I am wasting things). There are a few things remaining though and this may be the time to let them go...

Malina - you're doing really well! I'd forgotten about the turn the hanger round trick. I like the fact that you've got a handle on exactly where you are with everything, partly because of that.

Sparky - have you thought of running combined shrine pilgrimages? I'll join the one that goes to Angie's bags and your shoes...

Una - fab goal! You're on your way! I think I have fewer clothes than you but also correspondingly fewer things I love. Your threads have set all of this off...

Isabel - sounds fab to me!

Lisa - I love that you have such a clear idea of where you're going. I think you're fortunate to have so much that you really can afford only to buy perfect things - and that you know that you like to have a larger wardrobe to choose from.

Ruchi - lucky you! I'll join that goal too!

Marley - you're sorted and it shows!

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Aida - it is a slow process, isn't it! Angie raised such an interesting point about needing the time and funds to build a really fab wardrobe.

What's particularly interesting, though, is seeing the number of really stylishly dressed people who, like me, feel as if their wardrobes are only partly filled with things that are 'just right'. It's so inspiring, as sometimes I've been feeling recently that the 'not quite right' things are holding me back.

It makes me feel that style is partly an expression of where you are now. I heard a lovely story about a concert at the house of a real 'grande dame' (older, influential, formidable, eccentric) of music, who sat in the place of honour in the front row in a flamboyant and dramatic dress. Part way through, possibly at the interval, she moved and her dress split! She disappeared during the interval and everyone wondered what she'd do. Rather than changing or mending it, she returned with an even more dramatic and ornate shawl thrown round the dress. I suspect it was in no way fashionable but it was extremely stylish!

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