This poll is for all pump wearers. You are on Team Closed Toe Pump if you prefer to wear closed toe pumps. You are on Team Peep-Toe Pump if you prefer to wear pumps with peep-toe toe box detailing. ALL styles of pump count for this poll, be they stacked heels, stilettos, mary janes, wedges, low heels, high heels or platforms. 

I am on Team Closed Toe Pump because peep-toes rub my toes and give me blisters no matter what. I have a pair of peep-toe oxfords that I can wear for about four hours and that’s with body glide, but no peep-toe pumps at all. I like the look of a peeping toe, but my fussy feet won’t have it. 

Over to you. Are you Team Closed Toe Pump or Team Peep Toe Pump? Tell us why and no batting for both teams.

A useful way to determine whether an item deserves a place in your wardrobe is by assessing its style potential on three levels. First, assess the piece as an item. Second, assess it as one part of an outfit. Third, assess it as a component in one or more wardrobe capsules. Applying the “item-outfit-capsule test” helps you to make more informed decisions. This is how to eliminate closet orphans, ensure easy outfit integration, and get the biggest bang for your fashion buck. 

By way of example, here’s how I recently used the item-outfit-capsule test to determine whether this Rebecca Taylor combo sweater deserved a place in my wardrobe. We were in Neiman Marcus. Greg had just spotted the item and had offered to buy it for my birthday.

Let the testing process begin: 

Item

First I assessed whether the piece was flattering and comfortable, worked for my lifestyle, was aligned with my current style goals, and whether I felt fab wearing it. YES was my response to all of these questions. I loved the colour, the non-itchy warmth factor, the simple design, the modern cut, the mixed use of fabrications, the refined gauge of the knit, the dropped shoulder seams and the high neckline. The item was off to a good start earning a spot in my wardrobe. 

Outfit

Next I imagined how I would style the item in an outfit. The first thing that grabbed me was that the item can be dressed up or down because of its fine gauge knit. Wearing it with jeans is a no-brainer, but I asked myself which non-denim bottoms would work with this style of pullover. I came up with cigarette pants, wide tailored trousers, slouchy tapered trousers, classic bootcut trousers, cropped pants, pencil skirts and harem pants. Check. I have all these bottoms covered in my wardrobe. 

I realized that I would not be able wear my tailored blazers over the sweater because it’s too bulky, but that’s okay because I could wear it over a white button down shirt and add a leather jacket or coat for insulation. Sorted. Purchasing this sweater was still an option.

Capsule

Finally, I thought about how the sweater would work across a few wardrobe capsules. A capsule is a group of wardrobe items that work together, and nothing more complicated than that. I wear a lot of black, white and cream and have an assortment of both dressy and casual items in these neutrals. I love this sweater’s shade of blue with black, white and cream so it fits right into capsules that are built around those colours. And because of the styling details, the sweater would work in both casual and dressy capsules. 

I could also see the sweater working with my smaller but growing citron and tomato red capsules. Throw in patterns like stripes, checks, dots and animal print and the mix-and-match possibilities just kept on growing. 

After having these conversations with myself in the dressing room, this piece passed the item-outfit-capsule test with flying colours. The sweater has earned a well deserved spot in my wardrobe and I’m excited to wear it as soon as the weather cools. 

Although this particular piece has a multitude of styling possibilities with the items already in my wardrobe, that needn’t be the case for all new purchases. It’s totally fine to bring home an item, or keep an existing one, with the intention of purchasing more to wear with it over time. That’s why we think in terms of wardrobe capsules. The point is that it’s worthwhile to think through these questions before you commit to keeping an item. That way you’ll know how to wear it and what you need in order to enjoy it to its fullest.

You know you’re really scissor happy when you attack your husband’s side of the closet with a sharp pair of fabric scissors. Well, I’m thrilled to report that my scissor happy behaviour yielded great results. 

I recently saw a cool dude walking downtown in a pair of cut-off denim jeans. I told Greg about the look and asked whether I could hack a pair of his old jeans to re-create it. Greg eventually said okay as long as they were a really old pair. 

So out came the scissors and a pair of old, slightly bootcut jeans. I hacked off the hems so that they finished an inch or two below the knee. Greg tried them on and loved them, frays and all. He has worn his new cut offs all weekend because they are extra comfy and a nice change from his other shorts. He wears them with a slim fitting tee and Converse sneakers. I love it! 

I’m still feeling scissor happy, so I’m thinking about giving some of Greg’s other old jeans the same treatment. Whether my sweetie agrees to this is another story.

I suggest creating six piles of items when you edit your closet. I’ve mentioned them when writing about closet editing challenges in the past, but in this post I’d like to go into a little more detail. 

Here they are:

1. Keep: These are the items that you love and are aligned with your current style preferences. They make you feel great when you wear them, are flattering, and fit well.
2. Temporary Keep: These items aren’t quite right, but you rely on them to pull together daily outfits. The plan is to replace the items when you have the time and budget, or when a good substitute comes your way. For example, I will wear extra comfy shoes into the ground because finding a replacement does not happen overnight. Or, you recently found out that most of your trousers are too short. You can’t let down the hems or purchase another six pairs straight away. So you’ll rebuild your trouser collection step by step, getting rid of the ill fitting pairs as you add in the updates.
3. Alteration: Sometimes a little hem, nip or tuck is necessary in order for an item to fit or look updated. Shorten or lengthen hems and sleeves, have shoes resoled, take in tops at the side seams, sew on new buttons, alter waistbands and remove pocket linings. All items that need altering end up in this pile.
4. Holding Zone: This is an interesting pile that is hopefully not too large! It’s made up of items that are questionable, but you’re not entirely sure they should be banished from your life forever. Pop them into an area that is out of sight. Give yourself a season to gauge whether you really miss them. If so, haul them back into your closet. If not, pass them on. 
5. Sentimental: These are the items that you don’t wear, but they tell a story, bring back a fond memory, or remind you of the good old days. You don’t want these items cluttering up your closet, especially when space is at a premium, but you can’t part with them either. So pack them into a “sentimental box” that you’ll store out of the way. That said, occasionally it’s nice to keep the odd sentimental pieces in your wardrobe even though you don’t wear them. I used to keep my late Mum’s brocade jacket, the one that she wore to our wedding, in our closet because it made me smile each time I looked at it. I finally moved it away when I was ready to do so. 
6. Pass On: These are the items that you don’t like, have outgrown, are beyond alteration and are unflattering, dated, ruined, don’t fit, or are no longer in line with your current style preferences. Pass them on by donating them to places like goodwill, the Salvation Army and non-profit organizations like Dress For Success. Consign them, sell them on eBay, pass them on to friends and family members, or have a swap party. 

You’ll greatly reduce the closet editing process by making it a more frequent event. And if you do a fast edit every few months like I do, you’ll create fewer and much smaller piles. 

How often do you edit your closet? Are you challenged along the way? Please post your closet editing questions in the comments section and we’ll get you sorted. If you are a seasoned closet editor, do chime in and share your own tips.