When is a wardrobe hole not a hole?

I have been thinking on this. Sometimes when an item wears out or gets dated, or in my case the skirt length is no longer comfortable, I purge it and put its replacement on the ol' shopping list. I don't give it much thought, just a quick," hmm, time for a new _____." But then maybe weeks, or months, go by and you are still without _____, but getting dressed just fine. You start to wonder, do I really still need this? Have I moved past it or am I just working around it without even realizing?
My recent 'is it a hole or isn't it?' is a denim skirt to replace my much loved, but now too short, mini with zipper pockets. I bravely gave it to the consignment store shortly after arriving here. I eyed it in the window once or twice longingly, thinking about asking for it back! I'd love the exact skirt 2 or 3 inches longer. But alas, no such luck. Not even close. I wonder, do my BF shorts and black cargo skirt alternately fill the hole of the denim skirt? Hmmm. To continue searching or not continue, that is the question.

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

That's a very good question. I gave away my heeled knee high boots and have not missed them one iota. I'm a little bit over boots and dresses like that.

(website)

I don't know if I've moved on or I'm subconsciously doing a work-around. How to know, how to know. lol

rabbit

I think sometimes you just can't find a replacement that was as awesome as the original, so it goes into the 'clothes I loved that are now gone' mental file.

I find that holes are very rarely holes, unless it's a shoe thing sometimes. Usually if the rest of the wardrobe is cohesive and you have other bottoms of similar length/casualness it takes up the slack.

Rabbit, I like that - 'clothes I loved that are now gone' mental file.
Yes, every other denim skirt I've tried has not measured up. They run either conservative or hoochie teeny bopper. Sigh.
I might have to just let one come find me out of the blue some day but leave it alone for now.

Lyn D.

I think if and when I let my denim skirt go I may not need to replace it.
I searched for a long time to find 'the one' and only wear it once or twice a year. I am so a pants person that I have to make an effort to wear skirts and dresses though.

texstyle

I can think of one dress I wish I could replace - and it's been a couple of decades, and I'm not even a dress wearer. But that particular casual dress was *my* style sweet spot. I recently almost thought I'd found one but it was too expensive from a specific designer (no stores near me) and I didn't want to pay shipping both ways just to try it.

So, I guess if it keeps nagging you, you really do want a replacement, but if you're able to move on without it crossing your mind much, then it's not a needed item.

Gigi

If it were me, I would keep looking. It might not be a wardrobe hole in the sense of a legitimate need, where you can't get dressed without it, but it sounds like something very versatile that would have a high happiness factor (once the right one is found) and would help you create lots of outfits with already-existing pieces.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

It's only a wardrobe hole when you miss the item. If you're getting along without the item just fine - no need to replace it. Onto the next fab thing - whatever that may be.

Caro in Oz

I agree with Angie if you aren't thinking I wish I had a (fill in the blank) every time you get dressed then it isn't a hole. For me, I found looking for perfect replacements kept me a little stuck. Now I tend to think more about what new piece would do the same job as the old piece & it gives me a much wider field.

krishnidoux

It's a very good question you ask here. I would say instead of thinking of the item in terms of commercial description (in this case: short denim skirt), try to think of it in term of the role it played, how it occupied your wardrobe, as in: something I'd wear on sunny, lazy days - something fun that wasn't pants - something that showcased my ___ footwear - something blue, i.e. not dark...

The "hole" the denim skirt leaves behind might not be a "short denim skirt" hole, if you can live without one, but there might still be a need for a piece of clothing that plays that role for you.

TraceyLiz65

For me there are just some classic pieces like a denim skirt and jacket that were top on my list in recreating a wardrobe after losing weight. I think it is such a personal preference whether something feels like a hole or not. I would give it time and see if that nagging feeling returns when I get in this situation.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

What krisnidoux said - I think it's not always about pieces, but about what role they served in your wardrobe. And sometimes you don't need that role filled anymore (life has changed, etc), or sometimes you're filling that role with something a little different.

annagybe

I'm WAY over denim skirts. I gave mine away a long time ago. Somehow I don't think you need to replace it.
But by today's WIW. I'm not over my neon red-orange skirt. Go figure.

Suz

I agree with Angie and Krish. If you're not missing it, something else is filling that role very nicely -- or else the role no longer exists.

Adelfa

I have my denim skirt in the giveaway pile, and I was super happy with it for a while. This post totally dovetails with one I've been thinking of writing since I lost a workhorse/favorite item this week.

Janet

You know, I've noticed this with some replacement items. I was so anxious to replace a beloved fill-in-the-blank that I found and bought one, but the new item hasn't been worn much. It seems like perhaps I'm over the whole idea of the original item.

But my wardrobe is big enough, is it actually possible for me to have any holes in it?

Jules

It's almost like a mourning process for a beloved item to think you need a replacement and then be over it. In my case my love for the item might have been such that I didn't realize I (or the current styles) had already moved on, until I can't find or don't like potential replacements because they just don't feel right.
Once I kept trying on tnecks in colours I thought I wanted to replace (chartreuse and pumpkin), and kept walking out of the store empty-handed. When they finally went on deep discount those colours were gone, so I tried hunter green and dark teal (fall 2012) and realized the more current colours were what I needed. The chartreuse and pumpkin are "me" colours, but I was just staring to get interested in trends and recreating old looks was not what I needed.

Ariadne

Great thread! I love what Angie said. Some of the non-holes (former essentials that I now "get along just fine without") in my wardrobe appear to be dresses and skirts, tall boots, and cardigans.

Beth Ann

........when you don't fall in!

Seriously, I often don't replace things, because I'm afraid of looking like a past version of my self, or of often thinking the replacement is second best. I'm beginning to replace more often now, I hope because I've learned from YLF what is "classic" for me. Straight leg jeans and white denim are two examples! a black blazer? No brainer!

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