YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:12:47 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Ornella on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399581 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 22:35:54 +0000 Ornella 399581@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ May I suggest nice cup of tea Anonymous on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399546 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:43:40 +0000 Anonymous 399546@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Or maybe I should go have a cup of tea and wait for Angie's blog post so I can really, really be sure I'm doing it correctly! Anonymous on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399543 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:41:47 +0000 Anonymous 399543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a certain number of hangers, shelf space and drawer space and use that as my guide for one-in-one-out. If I free up 2 hangers, I can replace with 2 new hanger-able items. Sometimes I try and work the system by cramming something that should be hanged in a drawer or shelf but that doesn't really work over the long term ;-) Today I am finally getting to my closet purging (after 6 months of construction in the house) and actually able to downsize the number of hangers since I am getting rid of so many orphans. It's nice to be able to see everything that is there. And I need to keep the momentum going since I am feeling so ruthless. Now I am faced with what to do with all my cast-offs! I have a pile for donation, repair, tailor and even a pile I am saving for my friend that wears the same size. I am going to take care of it all right now so I don't start filling up those hangers again! Aida on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399534 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:33:56 +0000 Aida 399534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm I don't really follow the one-in-one-out, but I do have a limited number of hangers, limited drawer space, limited floor/rack space for shoes, and I can only stack things so high on my knits shelf before I can't reach so my limit is based around those things I am very much looking forward to reading Angie's blog post though, I definitely need to be more strict with myself about letting go of those items that aren't 10s! Sveta on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399524 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:20:21 +0000 Sveta 399524@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kim, if you get rid of old pantyhose when you get a new dress what would you throw away when you have to get a new pantyhose?:-) Marley, you are so funny! I think this is a good rule to follow when you have a fully functional wardrobe but not necessarily when you are building it up and have a lot of holes. I got rid of at least 70% of my fall/winter wardrobe last year and was building a new one so I did not follow this rule. However when your wardrobe is getting where you want it to be I see this rule as very useful. I got rid of 4 pairs of shoes before going to NAS last weekend and planned to replace them with other 4. However when I bought 5 pairs there I just got rid of another one which was not uncomfortable as the first 4 but just not my style anymore. After that I did not feel much guilt about buying an extra pair!:-) Angie. I would really want to be in that place where all your "one out" things go: I suspect they are all fab!:-) Angie on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399511 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:11:37 +0000 Angie 399511@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You all crack me up. mamaKate on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399508 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:09:06 +0000 mamaKate 399508@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Marley (and all) - One of my tricks to prevent closet overstuffing is to use really thick wooden hangers! Admittedly, though, the closet still gets stuffed, just with nominally fewer items. Marley on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399394 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:36:53 +0000 Marley 399394@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Can;t wait to read the blog post on this, as my practice over the years has been "one in" and "one in" and "one more in" and "just one more in" and "I know if I cram these hangers together I can get at least one more in!" NOT GOOD! Ornella on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399384 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:09:37 +0000 Ornella 399384@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, I never thought you'd apply the mentioned rule to the letter, but it's always good to know how you do certain wardrobe-related interventions :) Btw, I am chuffed I have unintentionally guessed next week's post. In the meantime, I might de-Lynne my wardrobe, just for fun. lyn* on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399379 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:00:01 +0000 lyn* 399379@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I generally am pretty ruthless with what goes out - it goes to the Closet of Purgatory and Out of Season Clothes. If it stays in there for awhile, then it goes to the Big Black Garbage Bag of Donations. I don't miss anything. Polly (thunalata) on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399367 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 17:29:47 +0000 Polly (thunalata) 399367@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz - I know exactly what you mean. In the last three years since finding YLF budget considerations (and lacking confidence in my abilities to choose clothes) have meant that I have bought cheaper items to fill gaps. I think each season I have had a plan and focused on a small number of for me important buys (well fitting jeans, tall black flat boots, winter coat for example) and for those I have focused on quality and fit. Additionally I have bought things that are either cheap or Angie recommendations (when I can find them, as I'm in the UK - of course they are always winners). I have reached the point now where everything I have is at the very least ok so am definitely now only looking for really good quality and fit. As I get these I think it will be easier to be ruthless about purging the 'stop gap' buys. And then move onto a 'one in one out' rule. mamaKate on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399299 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:38:59 +0000 mamaKate 399299@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sure, a dress for a pair of shoes definitely counts in my book! The one criterion I use when deciding what to go is "what won't I miss? (once it's gone)" Good luck! MNsara on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399296 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:20:34 +0000 MNsara 399296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Or better yet - buy new dress and out goes ONE old sock? So looking forward to Angie's blog post as I only have the '1-in,1-out" rule about 50% down IYKWIM Mo on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399295 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:19:41 +0000 Mo 399295@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have loosely been trying to follow this. But I have found that my items naturally settle at a certain number. For tops, I have almost exactly 15 of each sleeve type - tank, short, long. This wasn't on purpose, it's just where I'd culled to when I got to counting up my pieces one day. I try and replace like with like. When I got my Suzi Chin 'wedding attendee' dress, I got rid of the more dated floral one I'd worn to the last wedding. If the blue cord jacket from Crazyone fits, I will pass on my dark teal velvet blazer that's a tad big, etc. For me, there's not a lot of sense in the thinking that if I bring in a new skirt I have to ditch a pair of shoes to make the numbers the same. No one is counting but me! To me, the idea is to make you think about buying new in the sense of 'is it special enough that I want to get rid of it's predecessor hanging in my closet right now'? Queen Mum on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399291 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:08:20 +0000 Queen Mum 399291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ so Angie, does that mean that I can buy a new dress and throw away an old pair of pantyhose? Woo hoo! Anonymous on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399289 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:01:37 +0000 Anonymous 399289@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie reads our minds! Angie on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399271 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:21:32 +0000 Angie 399271@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ *chuckle* Ornella, I am not THAT strict about the item categories, but it's a great principle to practice. I *cannot* handle clutter and a wardrobe bursting at the seams. My life feels a mess when that happens. Queen Mum on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399259 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:08:37 +0000 Queen Mum 399259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love how Angie is always thinking a step ahead of us Can't wait to read the blog post! Angie on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399256 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:03:59 +0000 Angie 399256@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Blog post coming up this week and already written Suz on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399255 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:52:48 +0000 Suz 399255@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I will be eagerly reading replies to this. I'm still in the massive overhaul stage and need to buy quite a lot in the next months to replace the clothes that no longer fit, but the temptation this summer was to buy really inexpensive pieces just to fill huge gaps, and I fear I might succumb to the same problem this fall/winter. Meanwhile my GOAL is to build a small but perfectly functional wardrobe, so I need to pay attention to not just emptying the closet only to stuff it again with things that are less than perfect! JulieinMI on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399244 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:05:40 +0000 JulieinMI 399244@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What Lynne said. I spent a lot of time editing my closet this summer. When I had everything organized and counted, I finally admitted to myself that I have way more than I need for my lifestyle. Even though my kids have moved out and it would be easy for me to start taking over one of their closets; I told myself that that was not allowed! This led me to the "one in, one out" rule. As I do still desire new things, especially all the nice ones I see here, it has made it easier for me to get rid of things that I have been hanging on to that I really know I will never wear. I do end of getting rid of things with the tags still on, but I hopefully am making better purchase decisions because of what I read here. If I purchase something new, I get rid of one of those borderline items, even if it's not the same type of item as the new one is. Lynne on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399221 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 11:43:25 +0000 Lynne 399221@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If you had refined your wardrobe to a great working collection, you could substitute like for like. But IRL, most of us are still a long way off, and our closets are still evolving; the ideal closet 6 months ago isn't the same as now because your life and you, are different in small ways. I usually have one or two things I've been hanging on to, that, in the light of the new thing, suddenly seem more superfluous than they did before. So, in my case, it's not usually like for like. Unless, as you say, Ornella, it is an obvious replacement :). Wait, what am I saying?! In your case, I take back all of the above Ornella! I think you should ask yourself the question, "what, in my closet, would Lynne most like to have next?". JK Deborah on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399218 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 11:18:51 +0000 Deborah 399218@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ornella, very good question. I don't have an answer but I will eagerly await the responses. For me its usually 'another one in' lol. Ornella on "Ask Angie (and others): One in, one out rule. But what goes out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-and-others-one-in-one-out-rule-but-what-goes-out#post-399199 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:00:17 +0000 Ornella 399199@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As the title says - if you try to, or do, implement "one in, one out" rule when editing your wardrobe, how do you decide what goes out? One obvious thing would be replacing worn out items or replacing items of lower quality by the more quality/luxury/versatile ones of the same kind (e.g. my H&M button down would go out if I'd find BB like the one Angie wears), but I'm thinking more about wardrobe additions of other kind. E.g. you find nice new dress, but don't have other dresses to take out in order to make room for the new one, what goes? Does removing "one" pair of shoes to make room for "one" new dress/skirt count? To cut the long story short, what does "one in, one out" look like in your case?