What to keep, what to toss? - YouLookFab Forum

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What to keep, what to toss?

Amy

Okay, so this may not be a common problem, but I'm going to ask anyway. I have basically been the same size since high school, so I have clothes that are 20 years old that still fit and still wear well. Because all of my stuff still fits, I don't shop much--a couple of tops a year and maybe a new pair of pants on occasion. Obviously, some of what I've purchased I've discarded, either because I wasn't wearing it or because it was soiled, stained, etc.

But what I don't know how to do is how to figure out what I need keep and what I need to toss based on style or some other measure. How do you do that?

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from Gaylene

Anonymous

I think you're going to need to study the silhouettes of your clothes and also length, collar shape and so on, to assess whether a piece looks current and modern. Subtle things like lapel shape on jackets change and can look dated for instance. Fluid fit is very modern, so do some of your pieces fit this criteria?How about skirt lengths too... the midi is trending at the moment for instance. Some items could also be altered too, for instance a pair of wide legged pants could be transformed to culottes. Have a look through Angies trend posts and use them to help you decide.

DonnaF

Veteran

Basically, I agree with Diane. I keep my clothes a long time, too, and I've noticed that some subconscious part of me has recognized that something has dated and perhaps that's why I don't wear it much any more. Also, think about whether you have psychologically outgrown certain styles/cuts or if your style has moved on.

In terms of dating:

For jackets and coats: look at collars, stance, length of body, shoulders (amount of padding), width of sleeves, width of body.

For shirts and tops: look at collars, width of body, length; also one doesn't seem empire tops much at all any more.

The trendiest, most extreme items will date the most. Prints can date. But if you skew toward classic, those items will be slower to date. I'm still learning this after a couple of years here BTW.

Thistle

Veteran

Already have some fab advice.

Another thing to think about is what is your style? This is a huge question in and of itself as it will dictate what trends you adopt, how you incorporate them, etc.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I agree with Donna, to start with items you haven't been wearing.
If you have the storage space, then the rest can stay.
When you purchase a new top, perhaps consider 1-in-1-out, so your numbers remain at a comfortable level too.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Great advice given.... good luck! You may want to look at 'purging' threads on here, lots of excellent suggestions

Sal

Veteran

I would get over a stylish friend or family member you trust and whose style you admire. I would then get them to help you with their opinion. Style is subjective so there are very few absolutes. For example bootcuts jeans can look fresh and modern or a little dated depending on what else is worn with them. Same with a fitted tee shirt.

You are also welcome to,post pics on here but until we know your style and situation it is difficult to make recommendations.

Well done on staying the same size for 20 years.....

rachylou

Veteran

I've got bins and bins like this. I'm on the "is this me right now?" round of weeding...

unfrumped

Veteran

It depends on budget and personality, too.
Other useful questions for me are whether I have outfits for typical occasions. And meaning, tjmhinge I think are really appropriate and look good. Don't have to have multiples, bimut are most things covered. So if you have a dress you might wear to a wedding, say, is it still " you", is it what you'd really like to wear? That can give a focus, of modernizing for specific activities or purposes and not just shopping for its own same.
The other thing I've had to notice is I may be the same size, but I'm a little, umm, different. So there is fit, and there is FIT!

Joyce B

Veteran

You already got great advice, I just wanted to say that your problem is a nice one to have. Keep it up, you have done a good job.

Anonymous

What great advice people posted. I can't add anything. I just wanted to chime in and wish you luck moving through the process.

Liz

Veteran

Your body size may not have changed in 20 years, but surely you have? How are you different now as a woman from the girl you were in high school or college? Clothes that made sense for her may not fit the grown-up woman you are today -- fit psychologically I mean, in terms of style and with what you want to say about yourself to the world.

Anonymous

Congratulations on maintaining the same weight since high school; that's no mean feat!

The book Lessons From Madame Chic has some good questions to ask yourself:
Do I still like this?
Do I ever wear this?
Does it fit well and flatter me?
Does it still reflect who I am?
Is this how I want to present myself to the world?
Does it bring out my beauty?

A few additional questions that I picked up somewhere:
Would I be caught dead in this?
Would I want to run into an old friend in this?

None of these questions deal specifically with the problem of dated clothing, but since you are not the same person you were in high school, I doubt many of those items still speak to who you are.
Good luck with your editing. I hope this helps to get the ball rolling for you.

annabelle

Veteran

Unless you are dealing with a small wardrobe and can't afford to so this, I have replaced Madame Chic's excellent questions with: Do I look fabulous in this? That one question encapsulates fit, style, current, and how you feel. You deserve to feel and look fantastic, every outfit every day, even if it means cycling just three outfits, right? Have fun feeling and looking gorgeous!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

For me, color would also be a factor. It took me a while to figure out which colors were more flattering on me so I had a few items that weren't my best. Fit is critical as well. Perhaps you could start out by identifying what you need most for your lifestyle and go from there.

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I'm amazed every fabrication has held up that long! For me, pills and discoloration or mild fraying are deal killers unless it's a denim or leather that improves with patina.

Amy

Thanks for the help, everybody! Honestly, I used to live in a place where style didn't matter much. Clothes were either functional or not. But things have changed, and I now live where I'm supposed to have a style. I don't, but I'm trying. I work in an office. So if anything, I guess it would be "classically office appropriate."

I don't wear dresses or skirts much (still too much of a tomboy, I guess), but when I do they are usually straight and hemmed to hit just above the knee, which, from what I can gather, is one style that seems to transcend trends.

I mostly wear pants/trousers and blazers, so I guess I'll take a look at the collars--never would have looked at that. I have already weeded out the ones that had too much shoulder padding (I did get that memo). As far as pants/trousers, from reading this blog, I guess I'm supposed to be wearing things that make me look longer and leaner. At 5'2" that's quite a tall order (lol), so I have no idea where to begin there.

Part of my frustration is that I don't like spending money on clothes or shopping. When I go to a store, I get completely overwhelmed with all of the choices and wind up talking myself out of buying anything. I'm still most comfortable in jeans and would wear them every day if I could with either my brown or black boots/booties, a white button-down shirt and a blazer or a shell and cardigan.

unfrumped

Veteran

I understand getting overwhelmed by choices--but then I also feel like I may not be evaluating enough options--the tyranny of choice, for sure.

You might want to read post on silhouettes--see the challenge going on now, too. It's perfectly fine to have a favorite silhouette or "uniform" (or 2) and not need a lot of variety. You just want to try on your items and see if they are modern versions of those types of outfits and appropriate for a grownup who works in an office--length, ease of fit, good fabrics (not specifically delicate or impractical, though), good condition. If you start thinking in that direction, you might then upgrade one outfit--modern pants, blazer and top, modern cardigan. The color advice is good--are you wearing your best colors, allowing for office-worthy neutrals as needed, and so if you make new purchases, you have a plan for what colors you're looking for.
So, you need an idea of style first (what shapes to look for), then fabrication (washable? some dry cleaning?), and color--and budget.
People here might point you toward the retailers that carry things that have a higher yield to meet your needs, so you are less likely to have to traipse all around. Or if you have the energy, take a Saturday to just do retail research for what brands fit you well now-no pressure to buy, but what pants fit, what jackets look good.

Amy

This is what I would wear everyday if I could! The maxi cardigan is new, but jeans and shirt are at least 6 or 7 years old.

As far as colors. I wear lots and am not afraid to mix and match. I look horrible in autumn colors and don't like pastels. Blues, greys, greens and black with some brown (as long as there are no yellow undertones) red and purple thrown in for good measure are what I prefer--and what looks best on me.

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Gaylene

Veteran

If you are entering, or re-entering, the world of style (as opposed to just being concerned with looking decent in public), the choices can be overwhelming to say nothing of the inherent fear of feeling like an idiot if you spend your hard-earned dollars on the wrong things. It just seems easier to keep wearing what is familiar.

Purging is also dicey because, again, outside the obvious "I know shoulder pads are dated" mantras, the details that date or make an item current can be pretty subtle--as evidenced by the host of "is this dated" threads on YLF and the lack of uniformity in the responses. Tricky, even before you see an expensive jacket in a trendy boutique that CLEARLY has a padded shoulder. And only keeping things that fit your current, or aspirational, style means nothing unless jeans, boots, a T-shirt, and the nearest jacket in fact constitute a "style"--which means you are probably just fine and can relax and go do something else.

If any of the above strikes a chord, I'd say you have probably found the right spot by landing on the YLF site. Pick any one of the stylish ladies you admire here and dig back in their posts three or four years--and prepare to be astounded at the transformation. But it didn't happen overnight.

All the advice that you've been offered is good, but, if you are wondering how to get started, l think unfrumped has given a good entry point. Find an ensemble in one of Angie's posts that appeals to you and try to replicate it at a pricepoint that seems reasonable using the Finds feature as a shopping guide. Wear the outfit and see how you feel about that "look". Then maybe try another outfit or two, this time incorporating some of the clothes in your closet that you like. Once you start wearing clothes that make you feel fabulous, then start purging because now you have a benchmark for evaluating the rest of your wardrobe.

When you do start purging, aim for a very small wardrobe of pieces that will fulfill your daily needs--AND which make you FEEL great. Go with how you feel in something instead of concentrating on how you look. If an outfit makes you FEEL confident and gorgeous, you have a winner.