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reduction by attrition

qfbrenda

Veteran

We've all read the many posts about people purging their closets and they are inspiring. My dilemma is this: I like all my clothes and don't want to get rid of anything! If I purge heavily, I'll get rid of perfectly nice things that still have wear left. And it will mean all the pieces I keep will wear out faster since they will all get worn more often.

My wardrobe has gotten too big and I'm thinking the answer is to stop shopping [gasp] for a while and allow the numbers to naturally reduce while things wear out and get eliminated.

My only struggle is as I get rid of things that are worn out, my first instinct is to try to replace it. But really... I have plenty.

Has anyone taken that tactic rather than doing a big purge? How did it work out?

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from qfbrenda

Anonymous

You make very good points. I never loved my wardrobe enough (too many buying mistakes) to want to try attrition. I was happy to purge my wardrobe of my many mistakes and focus on lessons learned.

You are in an admirable position.

rachylou

Veteran

Um. Well, I've been doing "the big purge" for the last 5 years... lol

Diana

Veteran

I often think that I should try to do this, but then I realize: the things that wear out are precisely the things that I wear all the time and can't live without, so I have to replace them after all. For example, of all my jeans, this winter two pairs bit the dust: my grey jeggings and my favorite blue Vince skinnies. They were the two pairs I wore the most. I happened to have a second backup pair of the skinnies, which I had bought for precisely this eventuality, but if I hadn't you can bet I'd be on a serious hunt for them right now. I am poring over grey skinny jeans options right now too and definitely miss having a pair in my wardrobe, despite the fact that I have plenty of other pairs of pants.

See, I think the reduction-by-attrition model only works if you like/wear everything in your wardrobe equally to begin with.

Anonymous

I did it this way a couple of years ago when I had too much in my summer wardrobe . I stopped buying work clothes. Great in theory, but what happened was about 2 years/summers later, I had a closet full of pieces that were now not very current nor suited to the changes that come over a few years - different tastes, job requirements, lifestyle etc. I'm not exaggerating when I say that "all of a sudden" - every skirt I owned was now too short. To the point where I was surprised I even wore skirts that short! The looks were no longer current, and didn't' reflect how I wanted to present myself. So.......and this is still happening for this summer - I ended up with nothing to wear for work. NOTHING . Of course I couldn't replace an entire wardrobe all at once, so it's still a work in progress for this summer (my second after the reduction by attrition debacle). Unless you are introducing few new pieces every season, your closet won't look very current - very quickly.

qfbrenda

Veteran

Lisap, that's a good point about keeping things current. That is one of the downsides to trying this experiment.

unfrumped

Veteran

Good question, and I think I do some of that anyway.
I have enough for sure but want to "evolve". So not always feeling like massive tossing is needed to get me there, but a combination of much more selective adding and letting things go.
I'd just note that probably some of your things may well be favorites at some level and other "good" things less so. Perfectly nice, right? One thing that helps is to really wear as many things as you can, don't let anything lie fallow for "someday" and that will often identify the items that are ready for attrition--not necessarily wearing out but wearing out their welcome. Then you don't worry about wearing things out faster, because the fit and fashion cycle will keep up with that--you'll purchase the same or less items per year (or per time interval) but will store fewer in your closet, if that makes sense. An example for me is , I can fall in the trap of buying 10 wool sweaters in season thinking, it's cold outside! these will last me for years! I'm especially prone to duplicating in multiple colors from the same maker. But, I won't wear all 10 as many times as I'd really like (meaning I have some other tops, blouses, a dress here of there, weather will be unpredictable, etc), so the next fall I've got a carload of sweaters and don't really need new, but maybe my idea of colors and fits has shifted a little, plus I have to store all of them all summer. The alternative approach is to buy only 2 or 3 or whatever and when they pill or fits change, I've got flexibility to replace with new ones in the direction I want. So either smaller seasonal capsules or a little more multi-tasking or both.

The other thing is to identify your best items currently (doesn't have to be your most expensive items ) and really use those as the benchmark for new items. This ideally should all completed in the dressing room, but I still bring things home and then say, what was I thinking?

Thistle

Veteran

After listening to lisap, perhaps a 2 out one in approach would work better. That way, you are reducing, just not as fast, and you are still maintaining an up to date wardrobe. This also lets you replace key staples that are wearing out due to lots of use.

shedev

Veteran

I'm doing this, sort of. I'm reducing by attrition with things I wear out. I'm also doing a one in one out for things that come in. This way, I'm still able to get some new while I reduce the size of my wardrobe. But I'm pretty close to the optimal size closet size that I want to have.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Diana and LisaP make good points - if you stop buying entirely, you can end up with a situation where everything is seriously dated, or, as has happened to me before, nearly everything falls apart right around the same time (always seems to happen with shoes for some reason, and jeans). Both situations can strain your budget because few of us can go out and buy a complete new wardrobe all in one fell swoop, not to mention the time that takes.

I've been thinking about this, what with trying to buy seasonally and plan ahead. I think it was Mo who posted a link to the Yogastic Shopping Planner who blogs about planning her purchases for the next four years. I thought that was the most peachy keen idea and sat down and wrote out a draft version of it for myself. I haven't followed it 100% yet but it did make me aware of how I should be more deliberate about replacing basics as I go along rather than spending all my $$ on fun stuff and then being stretched for time and/or money when all my gear sneakers, say, are three years old and should be replaced.

Of course, that approach requires identifying what your basics are, and keeping that list up to date as your lifestyle, body, and aesthetic preferences shift.

A 2 out, 1 in plan might work (or whatever ratio makes sense, 3:1, 3:2, etc.). Another option is to resell some of the 'nice but not me anymore' pieces, via ebay, consignment, Twice, whatever, and get a little money back - reduces wardrobe volume and guilt about 'wasting' perfectly good items.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

IMO the best thing to do is to keep a record of what you actually wear & how you feel about that particular outfit at the end of the day. Doing this made me realise that I didn't wear all my clothes. In fact had had a very small group of clothing that I gravitated towards. If you are already doing this & are wearing everything then your plan sounds good & please ignore this

E

Veteran

I love Unfrumped's suggestions! I might have to try those techniques in my own closet, which I'm also hoping to shrink organically over time.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I think unfrumped has the right idea.

Brenda, I never do a massive purge. The only time I did that was a couple of years after my second (and last) baby, when I tried a bunch of things on that I hadn't worn in three years. Some things didn't fit properly anymore, and many were a bit out-of-date, so I remember purging quite a lot. But otherwise, I do a 'spring clean' of my closet every year and pass on a few things that I haven't worn in quite a while (usually a year) and that's about it. Throughout the year, I get rid of the odd thing that has worn out. And if I bring home something new, I try to follow Angie's rule and get rid of something else.

Maybe the way to approach this is to get rid of an item when it wears out, but don't replace it right away. See if you miss it first. If you don't, maybe you don't need a new one. And if you find you are reaching for something that's no longer there, you can start looking for a replacement -- whether it's the exact same thing, or another item that will function in the same way.

It's nice to have shopping to look forward to.

Sal

Veteran

Various different approaches work....and theoretically if you had a shopping moratorium for a period and put the money aside, if one year later you needed to buy several things the money is still there...it just hurts more to have to replace in a big batch.

I would tend to the natural attrition approach with a small amount of leniency..for example I would really struggle without a simple black tee, if my one gave up I would need to replace it.

rabbit

Veteran

Lot's of good wisdom. I think the most useful thing for me to be able to implement what unfrumped suggests, is like Caro says, to track wears.
Tracking wears for a little over a year has both encouraged me to try to wear the more neglected pieces more often, and if they don't work that well again and again or are just not that fab on me, I pass them on. I do it little by little and usually try consignment first as Laura says so that helps to offset the price of a new piece when it's really needed. If not I happily donate.

I also move things from the 'outside the house' to the 'lounge/gardening' category if they are comfortable but just aren't the best, and there they wear out much faster, since I usually have only a few items in that category at one time and they get used for heavy work. Those items don't end up getting donated, but cut up into rags because they really are worn out.

In terms of when to replace, my price thresholds are very low, so it usually takes quite some time to find what I'm looking for in terms of quality and style at the price I'm willing to pay. In the meantime I live without and usually that's not a problem (essentials like bras, underwear and running shoes would be an exception --those I replace as soon as I can).

vesperholly

I admire your diligence in tracking wears, Rabbit! It must be interesting to see any patterns that emerge. If you ever feel like experimenting with a more intuitive approach, have you ever tried taking out any garments that give you a little internal hesitation? I've found that if I scan my closet from side to side, there are certain clothes that give me a little (or a serious) feeling of ".....eh....". It's like there is an internal resistance to wearing them. If I keep them on the hanger, and then take them out of the closet to look at them more closely or try them on, it usually becomes clear that there is a reason I don't love to wear them. Sometimes it's a fit issue, other times length, sometimes I realize the color is hard to match. It might be easy to fix, or you might eventually decide the garment isn't for you. It was eye-opening to see a recent donations pile and realize that almost everything in the pile was pastel or low saturation colors which don't really work on me.

This might be really basic for the rest of you! But I have noticed my internal fab-o-meter is my most reliable guide to closet success so far. My goal is to have a closet with only clothing that makes me feel good, or is so basic that it is a necessary supporting piece. Purging is so nice because it frees us both from guilt and also from that little, quiet, ambivalent feeling.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Such fabulous comments from those who posted before me!

I have tried that tactic, qfbrenda, and it didn't work for me for the reasons mentioned above, but mostly because I just plain like to shop and I like to wear pretty new clothes.

The hardest part about purging my closet is removing items that I still love but are getting dated, and removing items that are current, fit well, but just aren't getting worn. It's tough but I do it, and I make it easier by donating to a worthwhile charity.

I've also been trying to make more mindful purchases, using what I've learned here on YLF to guide me. I've also been following a one in, one, two or three out policy, largely relating to the quality / cost of what's coming in.

dakotacheryl

Veteran

I have so few (and such small) closets that I have to practice "one in - one out" for new purchases. That philosophy really does limit my purchases to only items that I really love. An added benefit to this strategy is that I buy fewer items, but better quality.

This includes handbags and shoes too..in fact, I just bought a pair of ivory sandals for spring/summer and brought FOUR pairs to the Salvation Army.

Also, for my work clothes, I try to only go to the dry cleaners once a month (big pile by then)...but this way, I actually have to wear more of the items in my closet, instead of the same things over and over.

Staysfit

Veteran

The ideas in this post are very timely for me because I am in the midst of making some new purchases for Spring/Summer, and promised myself to adhere to a one in one out program so my closet doesn't grow to the unmanageable size it was prior to last summer. I am someone who did a major purge all at once based on color palette. That worked very well and I was pleased with the results. My closet was instantly neater, and easier to work with. I have enjoyed having fewer items tremendously. I love everything in my fall/winter wardrobe. I am working to do the same for Spring Summer. I have some items to purge to allow me to build my spring/summer wardrobe-dresses, and exercise gear, which I didn't sort yet.

One of the difficulties I am currently struggling with is bringing more balance to my closet. I have a preponderance of blue jeans. I counted once, and there were over 20 pairs. Closer to 30 maybe. They take up a lot of space, they all fit well. I wear all of them. I certainly don't need that many. I'm not going to purge them. This is the one item that I plan to let go by attrition. I am trying to wear the same pairs repeatedly so they wear out. Once their hangers are free, I will replace them with blouses, or dresses, etc. My goal is to have 10 or 11 pairs.

rabbit

Veteran

vesperholly -- yes, that's a great technique. That was actually my first step, and since now my closet is mostly items bought within the last year and a half, and real favorites from the past, I usually spend a little more time re-styling before deciding to pass on something. I also have a pretty limited group of colors, which helps, and a group of silhouettes that tend to work together -- nothing is orphaned due to shape, if that makes sense.

There are still categories I'm less enamored with and are on probation (the shorter than knee length skirts lisap mentions, most leggings, etc.) There are also some favorites from the past that still aren't regularly getting worn but may as they align with newer trends so I'm reluctant to lose just yet (one pair of ink flowy trousers, my last pair of boot-cut jeans).

qfbrenda

Veteran

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, everyone. I think I have a plan.

Some certain items I don't want to live without and they will be replaced as needed. Other things I can try to wear more often and let them wear out and leave.

For instance, I have 9 pairs of jeans. To some that's a lot and not enough to others. For me, I want 6 pairs for sure and they need to fill certain categories. The other 3 are optional and won't be replaced when they wear out.