OK, I have wayyy too many clothes... - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

OK, I have wayyy too many clothes...

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

...because this is what my closet looks like AFTER I removed half of the clothes! It still looks pretty full, but now the clothes have room to breathe rather than being crammed together. Most of these are still my pre-maternity clothes. I pulled out all the clothes that I know are not going to fit me right now because they are too tight now, or shirts too short to cover my 2nd trimester belly, and all of the trousers and skinny jeans. A lot of what's left may still need to be put away but I haven't had a chance to try everything on, so I left the maybes (like some of the stretchier pencil skirts) in my closet for now in case I can still squeeze into them. And most of the jackets and button down shirts stayed because I think I can wear them open over a T shirt/tank even if they don't fit all the way around my tummy.

The huge pile in 5-6 is not even necessarily stuff I am purging for good, just putting away till after I have the baby and hopefully make it back to my pre-pregnancy weight. (I also purged a bunch of DD and DS's clothes of the sizes that are too small for them so that's also part of the pile). I don't know where I'm going to store all these extra clothes (saving DS's clothes for the baby and mine for later)!

It's making me seriously re-think my large wardrobe, because I really like how my closet looks now that it's not overstuffed anymore. But of that purged pile, I'd say at least 80% of it is still stuff I love and want to keep wearing (like my beloved sheath dresses!), and another 10% of it is older pre-YLF clothes that I still use to complete outfits sometimes (like an old rust mock turtleneck that I like to wear with my Tory Burch skirt).

I haven't even been shopping much lately anymore (only one skirt and a few maternity pieces in the last few months), but I sometimes wonder if you all get sick of me posting WIW's on clothes I've worn many times before. I feel like that may be contributing to my over-full wardrobe, my wanting to be creative and not repeat outfits so often.

I don't know where I'm going with this ramble, just that I've been so worried that I have nothing to wear now that I'm pregnant but in reality, I do still have plenty of clothes to wear...I'm not going to run out of clothes anytime soon! So that's a relief! And I think I need to think harder about purging some items, even the stuff I bought after YLF!

This post has 6 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

MsMary

Veteran

*waving at some things that used to live in my own closet*

Wow, Natalie! That is a verra verra large amount of clothes! Congrats on the closet project!!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

OK MaryK, now I'm really embarrassed, because if YOU think that's a lot of clothes...! I thought your wardrobe was even larger than mine, Queen Bottomless Closet! Or maybe it just seems a lot larger because you're more creative than me at remixing!

And thanks so much for your hand-me-downs! I think most of the stuff from the swap I ended up with must have been yours! I especially love the black and white honeycomb pattern blazer.

I think I need to start a swap bag of my own for the next YLF swap. Because some of the stuff I could/should purge I think is too new/good to donate to Goodwill, but would be perfect for other YLF'ers!

MsMary

Veteran

Uh, now that you mention it, you may be right. Because I have, uh, THREE closets full of clothes! (Albeit considerably smaller closets than your palatial walk-in, but still...)

*blushing*

And yes, isn't it fun to see our castoffs go to good homes?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, you do have a lot. But you wear the heck out of them and enjoy them. So no worries. Well, maybe a few worries, about where to put them. Other than that, brava for tidying things up!

Marley

Veteran

Oh Natalie - I can so relate! I pulled out a bunch of clothes - in fact purged over 30 items and I am just now beginning to be able to "see" what is hanging in my closet! One thing I want to reassure you about though is that you should not worry about posting WIWs that you've worn before, because there are a lot of us who don't get on the forum everyday and so we miss out on a lot of people's WIWs - so, chances are (at least for me) I haven't even seen half of the WIWs that you've posted in the past!

Scarlet

Veteran

I don't know. Honestly I suspect that the huge wardrobe is one reason that you and MaryK look so consistently amazing--because you always seem to have just the right pieces to complete your outfits from head to toe. You both also have more of a maximalist look, so having just the right maximalist piece for a new ensemble requires more stuff. Obviously a giant wardrobe is not the only way to look amazing, but I can see how it might be more necessary to certain styles. Also, about repeating items, I actually like seeing how people use their items day in and day out because always wearing new things isn't a real representation of how one uses their wardrobe.

soobee

Veteran

Mmmmm, closet heaven I love looking at other people's closets. Yours is gorgeous. I'd love to have so many items to choose from.

Louise

Veteran

Oh wow I want to come shop your closet it's fantastic *swoon* x

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

After Mary K suggested the challenge for next week and I spent yesterday in my closet looking for options, I came to the conclusion that I have enough clothes and need to stop buying for awhile. I then decided I could still buy purses, shoes, belts and scarfs. After that I thought, I could just ask for other items for Christmas... I think I have an addiction problem....
After neglecting myself and not having anything to wear I think I've gone overboard and need a happy medium. Step one is being aware..... will see what I do

Anonymous

You can always post in the style exchange section for items such a the Anthro top. I sold mine on ebay a while back. I do have probably as many clothes, they are just in 2 different closets, plus my outerwear on a third. Purging is good for the soul.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Natalie, don't get rid of your clothes, and don't assess you have too much just quite yet. Your body and needs have changed recently, but it will change again. I would store away everything that is pre-maternity for the moment, taking care to fold them neatly into blue bins or hanging them in a separate wardrobe inside storage covers. You might not want them after the birth, but then you could sell them and get $$$ for them.

But now, it would be too difficult to assess which ones should go and which ones should stay. You will be so happy to find a choice of clothes in those stored away bins some time from now, after then birth and after everything settles a bit.

Lisa

Veteran

When I started purging my closet (two years ago but I digress) I had over 300 items of clothing. It was crazy! I don't think there's anything wrong with a large closet, as long as you are wearing all the clothes. I do think that personal preference for repeating outfit combinations (identical or remixed) will be a factor in how large a person's wardrobe is.

And I don't mind your repeat outfits, even identical one's. I am striving for a smaller wardrobe myself and when I have a favorite outfit I find I wear it the same way again and again because it makes me happy. And clothes should always make a person smile.

Raisin

Veteran

Whew, that is a lot! Looks like you have some fabulous clothes though. I went through my closet while being pregnant last and this year, and it was a great time to do all the purging. It really makes you look forward to your "old" clothes once the baby arrives too!

Glory

Veteran

Well your closet looks lovely and well organized. I agree don't purge just yet - just pack away what you cannot wear and have a relook later on.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I totally agree with everything Krishnidoux said.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Wish we lived closer to eachother! I would raid your closet. We were the same size

Sara L.

Veteran

I have serious closet envy! Your's is so big and organized! I have a small closet so pack away out of season clothes into bins. If I had them all out at once I'd probably start feeling like I had too many clothes, but with half packed away at any one time, my wardrobe feels reasonable.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I haven't read any responses, as I wanted to comment on one of the last statements in your post:
"I sometimes wonder if you all get sick of me posting WIW's on clothes I've worn many times before. I feel like that may be contributing to my over-full wardrobe, my wanting to be creative and not repeat outfits so often."

I just this month decided that taking a little step back, and remembering my real life day to day audience, was very helpful and therapeutic. Yes, it can be easy to get caught up in making outfits that appeal to the YLF audience. Or that you think will, anyway. Once I stopped trying to 'dress up' for the board, and in my case, grabbed a simple white tee and jean shorts, it feel into place for me.
I understand your style is much more polished - but the point is that you don't need it to be new, or remixed, or following a latest trend, or copying a blogger or advertisement, to be interesting or look wonderful on you. I found freedom in that. Maybe you will, too? At the very least, you'll tend to acquire less I think

cheryl

Veteran

I love your closet and your clothes! don't get rid of anything just yet. Put them away for now and they will be like treausres when you do get back to them. If you get to the point where you still fell you have too much maybe go with the one in, one out strategy. You like variety, nothing wrong with that, but I also don't mind seeing repeat items or entire outfits!

unfrumped

Veteran

Remember first rule of pregnancy--don't make any unnecessary major decisions!
So, don't decide to purge all your clothes right now!

Storage can be a problem, but if you have a place to put them, your large wardrobe can be a blessing over the next year or so as you change body shapes and weights. You've been very successful in using elements of your wardrobe during tummy-expansion and could likely do that somewhat in reverse, post-partum.

Also, use the analogy of healthy lifestyle. Small realistic changes can have more staying power than a big "I'm never gonna....". And making changes for positive reasons. Examples: the size of your wardrobe is neither good or bad inherently, as Angie has noted, but has pros and cons. So you're just looking to see how your wardrobe helps or hinders your various goals. Large wardrobes do tend to take more space and $$ (more space for sure, but $$ is much more relative). If you are finding that you like mroe "breathing space" in your closet, then that's goal for a positive benefit and you determine if you value that more than a larger selection of clothes.

if you are thinking about a smaller wardrobe, think of small changes. Think more of 1 in/1 out, or 1 in/2 out, or a 10% reduction. Think in terms of limiting or reducing certain capsules, or wearing certain outfits one more time than usual, or developing a bit more mix& match potential so you repeat certain items more often but still feel like you're not repeating complete outfits.

Apropos healthy "eating", think in terms of keeping basics replenished and maybe a bit less in the special event lineup. Or maybe the reverse is true for you--dessert first!

At the risk of sounding very middle-aged, my advice is, prepare to think that in 10 years (maybe 5) you may have all different clothes ( or wish you did) than you do now. Thinking that way, you will begin to see the value of budget and space agility--staying a bit leaner in what you buy and keep allows you to keep refreshing the wardrobe you have. Some ladies are in the process of accumulating a basic or desired wardrobe--you have mostly what you need now, but don't let that fool you in to thinking it will be what you need in 3-5 years. Instead, your budget goes for wardrobe upgrades, replacements, style and body changes, whims and fun and THAT NEVER STOPS. You may also think you'll use all your current clothes post-partum but I'd sure allow myself space and $$ for buying some stuff that may just look better on your changing body than what you have now.

Lastly, many people have discovered that there is also no end to the items that are actually fab and great on, if you look hard enough, and since you have good taste and a good eye for fashion, you are buying things that you continue to enjoy. That's good, but it's also why it's hard to get rid of them (e.g. 1 in/1 out) ! I had the same experience with some home decor items and with some clothing--I had to learn to stop acquiring new items just because I "loved" them, because I didn't dislike what I had enough to toss it, so things just added up. I had to learn to wait until I was tired of something or it faded or wore out, then toss it, and then take my time before getting something else.

Anyhoo, keep sharing and enjoying fashion and wardrobe ideas!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Alls I know is, if you purge, I wanna be there when it happens! LOL.

I know what you mean about rethinking a large wardrobe, though. I've removed SO many hangers from my closet while purging... and the closet still looks full as ever. So I am right there with you. I don't think you should feel pressure to keep a large wardrobe for US, though! If you feel better with less, go for it. In fact, working with the same pieces should make you more creative - like working within a tight rubric... it forces you to think outside the box.

catgirl

Veteran

So I was looking at your pictures and thinking "that's about what my closet looks like" before I realized you had removed half your stuff.

If you love it, use it, and truly have room for it all, then keep it. Plus you are pregnant and it's not a great time to purge IMHO. But otherwise, see my recent post on stuff being just stuff - if it is not used and has no emotional value, why have it around?

I actually love when people post "remixed" WIWs with items they wear often - it's more helpful than seeing it just once and hten it's over.

And yes, I'll line up for your rejects!

rachylou

Veteran

What's cool about repeats is that they're informative. One item used in different outfits, one whole outfit worn for different occasions. The decision process.

I will say this for a large wardrobe, even as I try to purge my own, it makes SYC just like shopping shopping. Lol.

fern

Veteran

So much wisdom on this thread from so many fab ladies!
Store everything you can't wear now, both for seasonal and pregnancy reasons, & you will get the experience & practice of a leaner closet.
Then next summer you can go back to maximal closet, if you want to. Win win!
You do have plenty of clothes that still work. I'm amazed how much of your clothing you have been able to continue wearing. There's another reason to keep posting WIWs - as you get more creative making the clothes work for your changing body.

Mochi

Veteran

This will probably not make any sense to the rest of you, but hearing these sagas about overstuffed closets makes me feel happy and relieved...I know I don't want this many clothes, and thus I can spend more to buy many less, but higher-quality items, which is what would really make me happy. (Not saying that other people don't buy quality--I mean that for myself--one's own money is finite after all!)

I say that if you can't manage and keep track of what you've got, it's a clear sign you've got too much. However, it's obviously possible to manage varying amounts. It depends on how good a manager you are, and how committed, I suppose. As an extreme example, I've heard of a woman in Rome or London or somewhere who owns two flats--one for her and one for her clothes!

bj1111

Veteran

mochi, i believe that is anna della russo. i also believe that her clothes will eventually be donated to or made a subject of a museum retrospective, much like isabella blow's or lulu guiness'.

Aida

Veteran

Wow Natalie your closet is incredibly cheerful to look at, all that pretty color! But yes, youdo have a lot of clothing :} Definitely no need to purge until well after baby, but it may be worth noting if you enjoy this more limited closet in the meantime; there's always the chance that you may not, and if you are able to manage it that's perfectly fine. Of course if you do, then purging might be in your future... but it should probably stay just that: in the future for now.

EDIT: Wanted also to say that I really, really enjoy seeing repeat and remixed outfits. For all the reasons mentioned above, and also because I find remixing super inspiring: It gets all those creative juices flowing, and well-worn, well-loved items have amazing charm to them. I hope you won't feel bad posting them!