YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Closet Cleanout: Part II

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Closet Cleanout: Part II https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 04 May 2026 03:10:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1345127 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:31:16 +0000 Staysfit 1345127@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Good suggestion Chadya. So far I have the good fortune of having remarkably consistent weight. There is some fluctuation, but not enough to cause a change in clothing size. (Up a few ponds in winter, down a few in summer). We also have ample storage. I just try not to pack it overly full of things I will forget about and find years later! chadya on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1345116 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:05:53 +0000 chadya 1345116@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ re: jeans-- if your weight stays the same and you like them don't get rid of yr jeans so quickly, if they fit you well and you like how you look in them. Other wise let them go.  I have some that are old and still wear them. Flattering and fitting denim is hard to find. Of course this is easier if you have the space to store Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344896 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:29:18 +0000 Staysfit 1344896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, the jeans  have been the biggest area of indecision so far.  I just encountered one coat as well.   Although I'm more on the purge side of the indecision than the keep side.   unfrumped on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344815 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:51:44 +0000 unfrumped 1344815@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Using a holding zone for your jeans is a great way to move forward. Better than agonizing. You are finding other items you feel more sure about what to do. At some point, clarity will emerge. Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344814 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:50:57 +0000 Staysfit 1344814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I need to learn to fold my undies also!  I will happily join the OCD undies group!  It's probably better than digging in my drawer and pulling out my undies tangled with a moving comfort exercise bra!  I'm surprised at how knotted the mess can get sometimes! Mo on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344796 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:33:07 +0000 Mo 1344796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Funny you should mention the exercise gear.  That's what half of the first pic is  It lines up nice and neat, too.  Definitely helps to be able to see everything. Alasse, we can have an OCD undies group LOL.  I alternate my BF's Hanes by waistband design when I stack his in the drawer.  I'm sure he has no idea I do this when I fold laundry, but oh well. Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344794 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:28:59 +0000 Staysfit 1344794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Lisap, your questions are helpful.  I will try to remember them as I go through my next task which will be my coats.   I don't keep them all in my bedroom closet, but I have a wide range of fall-winter coats.  I'm only counting coats to keep me warm and no rain coats without linings, and not puffer vests (I have two of them and plan to keep both).  The majority of my coats are actually stuffed into a mud hall closet along with a few mops, winter boots, snow hats and some bins containing our snow shoe gear.  It's a  tight fit, mostly because of my 12 coats.  My husband has 3, and my son keeps all of his coats in his mud hall cubby on hooks.  I've been thinking about how to sort them, and I may use a combination of color and some of the questions you have suggested. Anonymous on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344744 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 22:05:43 +0000 Anonymous 1344744@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I too have been going through the seasonal (and recently more often now that I've joined YLF) closet purge. I've become quite ruthless - and proud of it. Nothing gives me more pleasure that to have room to actually see and move things around in my closet. One conversation I have with myself during these purges is "would I buy this right now if I saw it in a store?"  . And I am so embarrassed to say that 8 times /10 the answer is no.   That's not to say I am pitching 80% of my wardrobe, but it sure is a moment of truth. I did the tshirt purge too  - got rid of all the body con fits that were fine a few years ago, but now look dated and odd to my eye.  Let's face it, how many do you really need?  Same with workout wear - I have 2 drawers full of stuff, and wear the same handful (usually new favourites) of pieces over and over again.Really going to stick to the 1 in 1 out rule here. Glad you are discovering some things about your style while doing this - it's a long haul, this finding your style and building a perfect wardrobe business!  Alassë on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344738 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 21:47:54 +0000 Alassë 1344738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mo: I've converted to your shirt-folding system, and it's made life so much easier. And I've always folded underwear. Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344587 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 17:00:11 +0000 Staysfit 1344587@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love the drawer pics. Right now mine are stuffed with my exercise gear, but folded and stacked, like the shelves. I'm going to change them so I can see everything like yours Mo. I have unused sports shirts that languish in the dark corners of my dresser drawers, this would make them visible so I would use them (I assume). Mo on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344538 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 15:30:22 +0000 Mo 1344538@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Using drawers for the tees and sweaters keeps them much neater than stacking.  I'm such a weirdo, I fold my undies even lol.  No hiding in the back.  They are all lined up. Oh, and Gigi, you're right - on my Oversaturated thread I mentioned the separate peripheral looks and wanting just one or two dead on killer versions of each. Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344503 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 14:40:17 +0000 Staysfit 1344503@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yeah, so hard to give up those straight leg jeans!  I think I will store them away.  I won't forget them, at least I don't think I will.  The closet cleaning bug has spread to other locations in the house now so there is an organization frenzy taking place here!  It will now be obvious if I am storing something! My tee shirt cleanse was very successful by the way.  I am down to 11 short sleeve tees in my favorite colors, three of them are linen, so they would be used for the hottest days.  I have 3 white short sleeve tees for wearing under other clothing, and two gray for the same purpose.  That leaves 7 in my favored colors of  chocolate brown (which I also forgot to mention), green, yellow, rust/red, stripe, and my coral degas.  I have 7 long sleeve in the same color scheme, and four turtle necks for under sweaters.  I'm happy , the piles are much smaller.  I am keeping all the embellished tees for now, but as they wear out, there are only a few that I would want to replace.  I have one purple tee that I have had for several years, it has clear crystal beading in a semicircle around a crew neckline.   I love that shirt, and wear it lovingly, and wash it carefully.   So happy with the end results.  Onward to my coats! shiny on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344486 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 14:11:18 +0000 shiny 1344486@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Staysfit, your tee shirt stacks sound like my sweater stacks -- always toppling over and needing refolding. Maybe hanging them will prove to be more efficient. We shall see.  The straight legs: if these are your "dream" jeans I can understand how you wound up with so many pairs.  I might stash 4-5 pairs away in storage for later - just don't forget you have them and buy more.  Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344227 Mon, 01 Sep 2014 02:14:22 +0000 Staysfit 1344227@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Shiny, Your clothing stacks sound remarkably like mine! I also have one very favorite tee that is never leaving my possession. It's my Degas and the Dance tee. It came from a show I saw at the Detroit Institute of Arts many years ago. It used to be coral, now I'm not sure how to describe it but the famous Degas dancer is still pictured on the front. I am also keeping two ill fitting tees my husband brought back from Australia. He went, I stayed home with our children who had final exams. I have to be honest. My tees are sorted by color, sleeve length and neck line. If I want a particular color, I reach into the stack and all the rest go tumbling to the floor. I shove them all back onto the shelf and repeat every day for a week or so until nothing will stay on the shelves anymore and I have to pull it all down, refold, and start again! So, knowing that this is the case, and giving it much thought. My plan is to purge by color. I am keeping only the colors I will miss if I don't have them. I am also keeping all my linen tees because I like them and don't have too many. I will keep my green tees, my white tees, my yellow tees, and my gray tees. I will also keep anything that is embellished or striped. Everything else goes. Simple enough, unless I come up with exceptions. Gigi, once again you have nailed it. The 12 pairs of straight leg jeans are the EXACT same size, brand, wash, style. I do love them, as they are the best fitting jean I have ever owned, but I also want to wear other styles. I can purge some and survive. I will probably star by purging 4-5 pairs, and then later more. (For some reason the jeans are hard to let to of, I think I might regret losing them). shiny on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344110 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 23:47:40 +0000 shiny 1344110@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hey we are both involved in the same Labor day project! And missing out on all the sales this weekend. ha! A thought about the tees, as I decluttered my own today: is it possible that you reach consistently for the ones on top of the folded stack, and rarely wear the ones at the bottom of the stack? This is what happens to me with any duplicate item, be it a v-neck white layering tee shirt, or .... underwear. I reach for the one on top. So I may have several identical white v-neck tee shirts but the same one gets worn over and over again because it's on top.  Today I made that connection in my brain, while sorting out my underwear, of all things. I thought I needed to do laundry because I was out of wear-with-pants-underwear, but lo and behold, when I removed the underwear drawer and put it on the bed to give it a good sort, I realized I had TONS of wear-with-pants underwear  .. it had just got stuffed to the far back of the drawer and mixed with lesser used stuff. It was like finding brand new underwear, these ones have obviously not been worn or laundered in months.  The penny dropped and so I reorganized not just the underwear drawer, but also my tee shirts!!!!!  I rolled them, instead of folding. This way, they are not in stacks. This way, every tee shirt shows and does not get buried in a stack.  I think I learned this trick by osmosis here somehow -- somebody once shared that this is how they organize their jeans? Anyway, my jeans are all now rolled too.  Final note on tee shirts... I have a ratty ages old AC/DC brown faded crew neck tee that fits to perfection and even though brown isn't my color so much, and even though I may only wear this once or twice a year... they will have to pry it out of my cold dead hands... ha. P.s. If you are still working your closet clean out, it is TIME FOR WINE.  Gigi on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344105 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 23:30:57 +0000 Gigi 1344105@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You're really doing a great job and staying level-headed and on track. That is not easy! About the style personas, I have to laugh at Suz's statement that "this is not a crime." Ha ha! I have a handful of personas that I am developing, among which are boho, feminine, and simple modern classic looks, which it sounds like you have as well. I don't try to meld the different personas but try to have a little capsule that works for each persona. Mo talked about something similar on a thread a couple of weeks ago, I think (though I can't remember which thread). She said that if she knows she is dealing with a secondary persona, she might just buy enough clothes to have two outfits in that persona; she doesn't need a whole section of her wardrobe devoted to that persona. I know what you mean about boho stuff not always looking right. I am very short, and it's hard getting the often-voluminous boho clothes not to overwhelm me. But I didn't give up and do have some boho outfits that I can wear. It was a matter of finding the right cut of skirt, the right amount of flowiness, etc. And some alterations at the tailor too. So I would say to experiment a bit with the boho clothing if you really feel it in your heart, and just be very careful to try on lots of different cuts and styles to find some that fit your body shape. And don't go all out buying boho stuff at first; give yourself time to process the new outfits to see if you find yourself liking boho more and more or less and less. I don't know what to say about the tees. To be honest, I feel like putting safety pins in and taking them out sounds like more work than cataloging. Plus, if you're in a hurry, you'll have to spend time taking the pin out. I don't know exactly how your style app works, but instead of taking a picture of each item, could you just pull a representative picture off the Internet and use that? So if you have a plain red t-shirt, you could just grab a picture of a plain red t-shirt from online and use that for each red t-shirt. I was thinking of how you wanted to keep track of *why* you're purging items (in your other thread), and it seems like that would require an entry in your wardrobe catalog for each item. But we do what we have to do—it may just be too exhausting! If the straight-leg jeans are all EXACT duplicates (same brand, same wash, same size), I would probably just keep two of them and decide whether you want to keep another pair for chores. The rest I would probably give away. If you think about it, it would take a LOT of wearing of these jeans to wear all the pairs out. I'm sure that you probably don't want to be wearing the exact same pair of jeans for the rest of your life. So I would give them away and give yourself permission to look for new styles of jeans. Alassë on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1344006 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 19:57:18 +0000 Alassë 1344006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Congratulations, and great work! Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1343916 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 16:00:57 +0000 Staysfit 1343916@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz, clearly I need to keep my daughters words in my head! You are so correct! I didn't even think of it when I was looking at the mountain of tee shirts! Thanks again for the suggestions and support everyone! I agree, this is a process, and I am not going to figure it out all at once. I am happy with what I've accomplished so far. My closet is definitely looking neater, more organized, and I can see some color themes starting to pop out as well. Marlene on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1343905 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 15:45:14 +0000 Marlene 1343905@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm finding that the pruning of the closet is like an onion. Lots of layers!  Live with this for a while and then do another evaluation and decide if you need to remove another "layer" from your wardrobe.  Who knows!  This may be where you end up.  Or you may decide to do another pruning.  But give it some time and further reflection.  There is no rule that you have to have the perfectly sized wardrobe NOW.   Joyce B on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1343903 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 15:41:19 +0000 Joyce B 1343903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think you are making a lot of progress and I like the idea of pinning the tees, that's a sure way to know what you are wearing. Your post is giving me inspiration on how to make my wardrobe more efficient. Suz on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1343896 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 15:30:02 +0000 Suz 1343896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You are doing brilliantly! I'm so impressed with your calm, systematic approach and your quite determination to nail this! I predict your closet is going to be one of the most functional and happy places imaginable in short order!  It's great that your DD has been such a help. You must be a great mother to have raised such a sensible young woman.  With respect to your style persona -- I think it is absolutely possible to blend your love of simple lines with your love of feminine or bohemian touches. It may be that you have several style personas. This is not a crime! Angie has written a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://youlookfab.com/2012/01/18/multiple-fashion-personas-is-not-a-disorder/">blog post about it. </a> On the other hand, as you prune your closet and pay more attention to what you truly love to wear, and how, you may find your style becoming more defined in one direction or the other. In other words, it's a process and a development over time, rather than a "discovery" in some cases. And we are all continually evolving.  Still others have what they call a "shadow style" -- a look that they like and admire on others but come to recognize doesn't work on them. I used to buy or want to buy a lot of boho items but they never felt or looked right and I didn't understand why. Now I do understand this, and my former boho "shadow" style has utterly receded. I am no longer tempted by this type of thing.  Now, to the pruning. With the jeans, I'd say keep a couple of your favourites in each silhouette and colour for now. This will prevent laundry bottlenecks but will also open up some closet real estate. Also consider, would some of these work as cut off shorts in the summers? I cut off a couple of pairs of straight legs at different lengths for some additional mileage.  I'd do something similar with the tees. Ask yourself if you would miss this item if you didn't own it. Do the test your daughter advised. And good luck!  Alana in Canada on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1343890 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 15:24:32 +0000 Alana in Canada 1343890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Congratulations! This is hard work.  Mo on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1343882 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 15:15:10 +0000 Mo 1343882@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Well, it sounds like you've amassed a lot of duplicates.  Did you find they were splitting your wears?  I would eliminate the things that are keeping you from wearing the ones you really want to wear, whether out of guilt or desire to evenly spread wears through your closet.  Tees, too. Small investment or not.  For a while I hung on to dressier silk tanks with spaghetti straps.  I figured, they take up so little room, why not.  Well, 3 years in and just as many wears I finally realized it was just silly and looking at things I know I don't wear day after day does me no good.  Off they went.  But it took me 3 years to finally get there so I'm not advocating you send it all off NOW just that even tees should get the treatment as well.  viva on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1343876 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 15:09:30 +0000 viva 1343876@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think you have done a stellar job of culling your wardrobe so far, so congratulations are in order!  It's amazing that you have already purged so much and honed your closet to things you love and that fit. To me, it's not about how many, it's about the quality -- in terms of fit, style, and appeal. I really applaud your efforts so far. I am not sure what to say about the jeans. There are fabbers who would say eliminate duplicates and those with huge denim collections who would say to keep them all. I guess I would say hold onto those that are still really you in terms of fit, style and appeal -- try on each pair and assess, and then decide.  Again, for me it's not a pure matter of numbers, it's about the quality of what you have. I also love tee shirts, but I know which ones I wear and which I don't. Every couple of months I just go through the pile and get rid of a few more, and I am very, very careful before bringing another one in. Often I move them from daily wear to nightwear or gardening wear before they go completely out, if they are somewhat beloved. I'm not a safety-pin mover (too much work! too much tracking!!) so someone else will probably have better advice. :) But good for you for all you have accomplished so far. Staysfit on "Closet Cleanout: Part II" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-cleanout-part-ii#post-1343866 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 14:59:14 +0000 Staysfit 1343866@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Progress is slower now, but I am still making progress. I had 27 Ivory blouses. In trying to sort through them I posted a week of WIW's plus one, and with the helpful feedback I have now weaned my collection down to 17. 9 are sleeveless and the rest long sleeved. The eliminated blouses had poor fit ( large arm holes or overly deep/wide necklines), they were uncomfortable when I tried to raise my arms, they felt scratchy or had elastic around the arms that felt too tight. I also eliminated one of my peplum tops. I chose to keep the one posted in the WIW photo dated 8/29. I didn't photograph the eliminated blouse. It had a chest embellishment that ended just above my bra line and it did not look flattering. Some very thoughtful feedback has led me to carefully consider my style. I do not have style descriptor words yet. I am working on this. I had told Suz, that I do not have many extremely feminine items in my closet. I looked again, and think there may be a solid feminine edge to my wardrobe despite my "tom boy" ways. I like ruffles, lace, eyelet, layers. My accessories are generally feminine. I am attracted to Bohemian looks, but they don't always suit my athletic rectangle frame. At the same time, there is another very simple, minimal side that likes little detail, few frills, simple lines. I am not sure how to join these. Do I have two styles? My closet seems to have a mix, and I seem to mix these together also. I also went through my dresses. I eliminated 11. 36 remain with 4 on the iffy/ unsure list, and 3 special occasion dresses. The eliminations were based on neckline (deep v-neck), color (two bright orange dresses, one black), and texture. I also purged two summer skirts that I haven't worn two years in a row now. I am also purging 3 of 5 Athleta whatever skorts. They are nice for travel, but I don't wear them otherwise. I used to, so I don't feel badly. Now, I'm on to tee shirts and duplicates. I have 12 pairs of identical straight leg jeans. 3 pairs of white straight leg jeans, 6 skinny jeans (3 in colors, 3 blue, no black). That's a lot of real estate in the closet! I don't own any boyfriend jeans. I have one pair of crop skinny jeans. Oh, and I have 2 pairs of ecru skinny jeans. Grand total pairs of jeans, 21. Before I added pencil skirts, I wore the straight leg jeans almost every day. Should I purge some of those straight legs or tuck them into a storage closet in another room, and dig them out as I wear through what I keep in rotation? The tee shirts are tough. I went through an initial purge, and pulled out all my body con, tight styles and v-necks. I kept a few of my favs, and now I am still left with what seems like the largest number of items in my closet. DH advises to skip the tees because they are a low ticket item. He thinks I should put my time and energy elsewhere. My idea is to just safety pin each shirt, and as I wear them pull out the pins. Each unworn shirt will get purged at the end of the season. Since we are entering fall/winter, I would do my long sleeve tees. That would save a time in terms of cataloging. I would only enter the other items in my wardrobe, not the tees. What do you think?