https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 17 May 2026 00:56:56 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1769343 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 19:47:11 +0000 Lisa 1769343@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I adore a little number crunching and do this one my <a rel="nofollow" href="https://shoppingbrake.com/">blog</a> often. &nbsp;That's great that you've gotten rid of more than you added last year, to an overshopper like me, that's a huge accomplishment! &nbsp;Nice job! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1769120 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 00:26:13 +0000 Greyscale 1769120@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm glad I'm not the only one with a really high return rate - it does seem inevitable with online shopping. (I need to be more decisive in brick &amp; mortar stores, though. Too often I buy things to go home and try them with outfits, then decide to return.) I haven't actually tracked that number and it would be useful to do so - I have a list of things to return, but I delete items once the return is complete. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1769109 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 23:29:14 +0000 Style Fan 1769109@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting read.&nbsp; You seem to have good luck with sending your things to consignment stores.&nbsp; I never did.&nbsp; I wonder if it is partly where someone lives that makes the difference. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1769106 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 22:30:29 +0000 LaPed 1769106@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>GF -- Mostly I consigned locally. I have two consignment shops I really like -- one for Gear, and one for everything else. I did sell a number of things on eBay too, mostly things that were out of season which I didn't feel like sitting on for 6 months. I think eBay is not very good for high-end right now, but for mall brands and vintage and gear it's still a good market. I've tried some of the other online resale options (ThredUp, Twice -- which no longer exists), but haven't loved any of them. I might look into The RealReal and Poshmark this year -- people seem to like those and they seem to have a good buyer pool. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1769103 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 22:19:40 +0000 gradfashionista 1769103@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Where did you end up selling your items? That's a great example of one-in, one-out, roughly speaking. Tracking the number of items returned would be horrendous, although if I know in advance to track, that would make things much easier. Maybe I'll try that, February onward. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1769024 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 17:44:18 +0000 Anonymous 1769024@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am impressed!!!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1769022 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 17:42:01 +0000 Penny 1769022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very impressive - it sounds like you're in a good place, and it's interesting to see how you've used the data on returns. Best of luck with your continued / expanded approach in the new year! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1768999 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:39:50 +0000 LaPed 1768999@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tracking returns has been really useful for me. First of all, I find it absolutely essential to keep a list so I know what I've sent back, if I've received my refund, etc. It also helps me identify which brands or styles are misses for me, and serves as a reminder that perhaps I should move on to something else.</p> <p>I didn't track CPW in 2016, because I didn't track wears. I have a pretty good, instinctive sense of which garments have "earned their keep" so to speak. But, I do have a spreadsheet going for 2017 wear tracking. More data next year! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1767124 Tue, 10 Jan 2017 00:22:55 +0000 Tisa 1767124@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A really interesting post. Reading this was the first time I had heard of someone actually making a list like that. Feeling inspired I followed your example, though I only listed items I own (not those returned). Then I evaluated each item as "hit, miss, or still undecided" according to how often I wore it and how good I feel wearing it.<br /> This gave me a really good perspective on how successful my shopping actually was in the past year and more importantly: I now know what to avoid this year.</p> <p>Thank you for sharing your idea with us. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1766795 Mon, 09 Jan 2017 03:41:17 +0000 Ledonna N. 1766795@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Crunching the numbers it sounds like a break even. Was this the outcome you expected? Do you know the cost per wear? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1766729 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 23:25:27 +0000 Suz 1766729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is an excellent analysis. One thing I have not done yet is track what I ordered and returned -- I only track what I keep. But I can also see the value of including that number in the calculation.&nbsp;</p> <p>I actually made more S/S purchases this year than F/W. I think that simply reflects the fact that my S/S tops were mostly worn out and I had to replace quite a few. I also tend to buy a lot of footwear in S/S because I go through it quickly and depend on it as an updater.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1766710 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 22:48:22 +0000 Chris987 1766710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love your analysis. My numbers were much bigger, but I hope to get them down in 2017. I'm going to use your summary as a way to organize my own info. Thanks for posting! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1766705 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 22:39:21 +0000 Sal 1766705@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds as though you are in the right place. &nbsp;Online shopping does mean a substantial amount of returns in my experience - you just have to think about it like the changing room!! &nbsp;As does thrifting/consignment shopping - my bar is slightly lower for second hand shopping due to lower prices and knowing it is already used makes me less wary of wastage.</p> <p>It is a good feeling when the basics are covered in the most part. &nbsp;I am there with exercise gear, summer casuals, summer party, winter casual, outerwear and beach wear. &nbsp;I do need a slightly larger workwear closet especially for the winter months and also something a bit more interesting for winter dinners/parties.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1766524 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 15:04:11 +0000 LaPed 1766524@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes -- I'd say about 75% of my shopping this year was online, and the other 25% local thrift/consignment. Before I had a child, it was the inverse: I did almost all of my shopping locally and only bought hard-to-find items online, but going shopping with a toddler is so time-consuming, and often not very successful. Also, I now live in a very rural area with limited retail options.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1766518 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 14:43:35 +0000 Murph11 1766518@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bravo, LP! Do you purchase mostly online, adding to your return rate? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-by-the-numbers#post-1766515 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 13:46:13 +0000 LaPed 1766515@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I finally went through my spreadsheets and receipts and did a final tally. I added 36 items in 2016, consigned or re-sold 30, and donated or trashed 12. Total number of clothing items purchased was 106, 70 of which were returned*. The break-down:</p> <p>Tops (including sweaters/hoodies/etc) - 12<br />Bottoms (including skirts) - 12<br />Dresses - 1<br />Accessories - 5<br />Footwear - 3<br />Outerwear - 3</p> <p>My numbers are MUCH lower than I'd anticipated, and more balanced too. I certainly didn't feel like I added 12 bottoms, but to be fair half of them fall into the gear/travel/gear-casual category. I wear them a lot, but in my mind it doesn't feel the same as adding jeans.</p> <p>Moreover, purchases were split almost evenly between F/W and S/S (19 and 17, respectively), though it certainly didn't feel like it -- since I didn't shop much at all between March and September last year (closed on a house, then went on vacation shortly after moving in!).&nbsp;</p> <p>From a one-in one-out perspective, I actually got rid of more than I brought in. For 2017 I'd like to stay at about this level, but put more energy into shoes and accessories. I might, <i>might</i>&nbsp;be getting to the point where my basics are in order and I can start thinking in terms of statements. I'm not particularly concerned with whether my wardrobe gets larger or smaller, as long as its functionality and joy-factor continue to increase, or at least hold steady.&nbsp;</p> <p>*I didn't include socks and underwear in this tally, since I always buy the same ones, and I felt they would skew my rate-of-return. Also, I buy them as direct replacements for worn-out items, so they don't have an impact on the size of my wardrobe.&nbsp; </p>