https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:48:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540760 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:24:37 +0000 Meredith1953 540760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>NancyLee,<br /> I think the reason I have always been so practical is because I am still learning to quiet some inner critic inside me who is discouraging me from taking delight in dressing my body. I am still working on loving and treating my body as special. I am going to give serious thought to trying to find clothing and accessories that make me swoon with joy. After all, it shouldn't be impossible to find things that are beautiful AND practical. I just have to take a Zen approach where things that are practical should also have beauty. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540717 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:48:38 +0000 nancylee 540717@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Claire, ManidipaM, shevia, Liz, and Lisa, thank you. Claire, I AM excited about my new "love" and "fun" approach to my wardrobe! </p> <p>Lisa, I think you'll really enjoy doing this exercise. It's a great way to get at the heart of your wardrobe and discover what you love. Good luck!</p> <p>Liz, you make some very intriguing points about my closet and its composition. Clearly something more is going on under the surface of what I always saw as a simple Modern Classic wardrobe with a few fun touches! Your comments about my closet's mix of pattern and clarity have really got me thinking. Pattern and clarity of theme are very important elements of my fiction....Hmm. Very interesting! </p> <p>I think there is something rich to mine here as I go forward in my style journey. Thanks so much for the helpful insight! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540530 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:06:49 +0000 Lisa 540530@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>First your closet, I'll take a ticket for a tour please! I love how organized and calming it is, both because it's not over stuffed and because of how neat everything is arranged. Also because of the soothing palettes and textures/patterns in there. You have a great eye for details!</p> <p>Second, you have found from great insight and I really like your idea to keep the love and must have items in the closet and put the meh items in a holding zone. It's hard to know what to do next to purge a closet once one has gotten past the basic tips (purging items that do not fit, are too worn to be repaired etc). I really like this idea and I may do this myself. I've been wanting to continue purging my closet down to a more minimalist amount than I currently have but had been stumped on what step to take next. Thanks for sharing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540485 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:31 +0000 Liz 540485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nancylee, since you’re in the middle of closet discovery, I can’t help mentioning what I notice when I look at your pictures: There’s an artist in you somewhere. Your closet is a wonderful mix of clarity, pattern, and embellishment -- a mix I find really unusual. The space itself is spare and organized and clear, but the elements you’ve chosen to go in it (the clothes and shoes) have real artistry in them. That’s an intriguing combination to me. It may seem that you’ve been choosing clothes with practicality in mind, but maybe there’s also been something else at work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540462 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:56:56 +0000 ManidipaM 540462@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Clearly, there is hidden treasure in the tidiest of closets! Such a fantastic, USEful discovery. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540222 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:00:23 +0000 Jaime 540222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your closet is beautiful. A new goal - have space between each item. Wow, that would take some work. I am going to use your categories when I tackle my closet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540182 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:20:18 +0000 Anonymous 540182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's interesting because some people are so emotionally driven that they wind up with a closet full of beautiful, embellished pieces and no basics to wear them with. You seem to be very practical and disciplined, so now you get to have some fun! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540168 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:07:25 +0000 nancylee 540168@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Meredith, I've always been like you, too: always looking at my wardrobe in a functional/practical way. But two things spurred me to focus on the "love" aspect of it: the way Angie is always talking about her heart fluttering over certain colors and cuts of clothing.....and Una's (alaskagirl) post the other day about what attracts you to a certain item of clothing.</p> <p>I realized that I almost never shop with an eye toward what makes my heart flutter...and that I couldn't tell you what attracts me when I'm shopping. So, I decided to change my approach...at least starting with what I already own. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540015 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:31:17 +0000 Meredith1953 540015@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>NancyLee,<br /> What a interesting a brilliant way of looking at your closet. I tend to look for functionality but never have thought about actually putting my LOVED items in their own area. I'm going to try this this weekend! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-540010 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:18:47 +0000 nancylee 540010@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the compliments on my closet, everyone. I had to wait a LONG time for it! We've lived in this house for 16 years, and until four years ago I lived with a cramped, tiny closet and a standing wardrobe rack to hold the overflow. (We have a 100-year-old house...very little built-in closet space.) But when we renovated the bedroom four years ago I was able to make my dream closet! </p> <p>Claire, I haven't analyzed my Meh! items for a common denominator, but most of them are tops/blouses that have either a color or styling that just doesn't feel like "me." It's a good suggestion to analyze them, though. I'll do that! </p> <p>Regarding my closet, I haven't considered selling tickets, but I do sometimes just open the doors and sigh. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-539987 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:28:42 +0000 Anonymous 539987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I guess great minds think alike! We were both very busy this weekend. And we both LOVE pattern. If I had to do a *solid* challenge, it would be very sad. But solid pieces make great building blocks, like you said.</p> <p>Putting all of your favs in one spot to analyze was brilliant. I'm going to remember that exercise! Is there anything that all of the *meh* items had in common? You don't seem to have a large percentage of them, so that's a good thing. Shannon has been systematcially going through all of hers in her WIWs and I think that has been a really good way to decide if each one is Keep or Edit. </p> <p>Nancylee, I love your style and now I know how you do it! Your closet is the happiest, most beautiful closet I've ever seen. You could sell tickets and give tours to that place! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-539986 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:22:45 +0000 jenanded 539986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nothing like a gorgeous tidy wardrobe with only clothes you love in it in the morning... Some really useful insights too - thank you for sharing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-539980 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:15:40 +0000 HelenInCanada 539980@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great job! How freeing to discover your favourites. I must do this, with a more certain hand. Many attempts, but always sidetracked by "possibilities". Jam-packed and overwhelming closet still! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-539976 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:08:21 +0000 Debby 539976@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am seriously coveting your closet wit all that shelving. </p> <p>This sounds like it was a wonderful experience!!! I should try this, though I think I have a pretty good idea by style of what I love (skirts, cardigans) and the meh (crew neck T-shirts). A family member suggested to me that you should hang up your clothes backwards on the rod, and after you wear them, put the hanger on the normal way...after a little while you can see what is still unworn. </p> <p>Anyway, I'm so happy for you that you only have what you love in your closet now. I'd be interested to hear how you work with the "meh" pieces -- if you start with a bottom or top, or pick a color to work with them. Good luck!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-539972 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:56:52 +0000 Ginny 539972@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am a total pattern girl myself!!! Love that scarf collection, what a great discovery you made.Love those fun flats in your closet!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-539970 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:51:47 +0000 Transcona Shannon 539970@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your scarf collection is gorgeous (and well organized)! This sounds like an excellent exercise for anyone to undertake. I'm going to be digging out my spring/summer stuff fairly soon and think I will do this before I shop any more. Thanks for the inspiration! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleaning-and-a-discovery-about-my-style-long#post-539966 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:39:41 +0000 nancylee 539966@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Since I couldn't make it to the YLF NYC meet up last weekend, I consoled myself by cleaning my closet and doing some musing about where I am in my style journey. I actually took everything out, dusted the shelves and rods, and then put everything back in. I didn't try anything on like I usually do when I play around in my closet, but instead looked at every item and asked two questions: Is this me? What do I love about this item?</p> <p>It was a really interesting experiment! And I ended up dividing my wardrobe into three categories: </p> <p>Elements of Love<br /> Really Useful/Practical Items<br /> Meh!</p> <p>To my surprise, my Elements of Love category included a lot of PATTERN and EMBELLISHMENT. How did I not know this about my style? Wow. It was a new discovery for me. See photos #1 and #2 of some of my favorite tops and dresses, and photo #3 of my scarf collection. My love of pattern and embellishment was so incredibly obvious when I put all my favorites together it kind of blew me away! It's amazing how sometimes you miss what's right under your nose. </p> <p>My Really Useful/Practical Items category included mostly sold neutrals (black blazer, white button blouses, etc.). See photo #4 for a small sample. It's boring stuff to look at, but all-important "glue" for making everything work. See photo #5 for a little sample of my favorite embellished shoes and practical/useful shoes/boots. </p> <p>My Meh! category was made up of those items that tend to languish unworn in my closet and that cause me frustration either because I don't feel fab in them, or can't figure out how to wear them in a fab way. </p> <p>SO, I only put items from the first two categories back in my closet. (Photos #6-8 are of a happy, clean, and functional closet). The "Meh!" items are hanging in wardrobe purgatory in the guest bedroom. They will only be invited back into my wardrobe if I can find some way to incorporate them that makes me really happy. They'll have to prove their worth or else be sent to goodwill! (Photo # 9 is Meh! clothing purgatory)</p> <p>So far it's working. I see only "Love" or "Useful" items when I open my closet, and that feels great. One at a time I'll try to incorporate some Meh! </p> <p>In the meantime I REALLY need to think about how to better incorporate my love of pattern and embellishment into my look. Hmm. :)</p> <p>(thanks for reading...I know this was long!) </p>