https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:11:17 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282782 Sat, 24 Sep 2022 23:37:33 +0000 Anonymous 2282782@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I used to do OOTD pics, but really don't like to do it with my room as it is RN. The futon mom was sleeping on is right by the mirror, and there's really no other place for it.<br /> There's definitely categories I wear more than others. Shorts, jeans, long sleeve dresses are rarely worn- sleeveless tops, skirts, and sandals are high wear. That's easy I did write down a list of what I am trying to find out from the process though, but it's in my car!<br /> I did have big changes in my life-cutting back to part time to take care of my health and family, a different (non office for now) work role, and DHs PhD. Plus, I'm really focusing on minimalism and sustainability more than ever. I don't think the tracking will be permanent, maybe just a year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282778 Sat, 24 Sep 2022 23:22:24 +0000 LaPed 2282778@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tracked for a couple of years and stopped when it wasn't telling me anything new. I tend to be a big picture thinker, so the really granular stuff is less relevant to my process than identifying overall trends (I don't have cost-per-wear stats, for example). Tracking helped me get real about what categories I wear often (gear, lounge, boots, coats) and what I only wear occasionally (dresses, skirts, shorts, transitional-weather shoes), and the result is that I now give myself permission to buy the stuff I'll actually wear, and go ahead and demand quality for those categories. It's okay to have really nice sweatpants and PJ shorts! The flip side is, I restrain myself from adding *anything at all* to the low wear categories. Will I eventually fall in love with a new sundress and go ahead and buy it? Sure, but I'll be aware of the fact that it's likely to split wears with my other summer dresses, because their wear window is so narrow for me. If I had another big life change -- work, living situation, etc -- I'd probably track wears for a while again just to get my bearings and figure out my new needs.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282776 Sat, 24 Sep 2022 23:21:57 +0000 hgr 2282776@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I used to put a single notecard on all my clothes with hangers. &nbsp;I would mark the date each time I wore the item. &nbsp;I know you said that you only want to use pen/paper for your data but maybe consider using your phone by taking OOTDs. &nbsp;I’ve &nbsp;switched to taking OOTD pictures &amp; I created a folder on my phone and send all my OOTDs to that folder (I’m sure you could find a tutorial on YouTube for your particular type of phone). I discovered &nbsp;that I did not wear most of my wardrobe but continued to buy clothes. &nbsp;The pictures helped me to make better choices with arranging my outfits and also helped me with making clothing purchases that were a “need” vs a “want”. Hope this helps. &nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282769 Sat, 24 Sep 2022 22:58:06 +0000 Anonymous 2282769@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So true! TBH, I'm not great at consistency </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282499 Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:49:00 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2282499@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the success of any tracking system depends on honesty and detail. If I don’t track certain foods, there’s no way I can calculate my macros. “40% of calories from protein” means I need to know how many calories total. And my friend is writing me a legs program. It’s damn humiliating to tell him how much (how little!) I can lift now, and I probably should do more sets, but had to tell him accurately, or else he can’t tell me what to do to improve. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282494 Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:19:21 +0000 Anonymous 2282494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Now that's a good system Anchie! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282213 Wed, 21 Sep 2022 15:28:01 +0000 anchie 2282213@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been tracking for long time and find it very useful. I have set up some goals for number of wears. On average I would like to wear every item 30 times over 5 years period. It means at least 10 times the first year and 5 times per year over the next 4 years. Some items easily reach that goal and much more, and some don’t. I don’t force myself to wear something just to reach the goal- if something is a mistake, I admit it. But tracking helps me in getting dressed - every morning I check for the items that got less then 5 wears over previous 12 months and I try to see if I feel like wearing one of them and I try to build best possible outfit arround it. If I don’t want to wear it or can’t come up with an outfit, I try to analyze what is the reason - is it uncomfortable, do I miss something else to wear with, if I don’t like it anymore, if it was a mistake, if it needs upgrade or replacement etc. If something goes through whole year without getting any wear at all, then this item will be used as ‘out’ in my one in one out process next time I buy something new. This also should help curbing my shopping - if I wore everything in my wardrobe within last 12 months it means that I still love everything, and I don’t really need anything new. But that never happens </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282191 Wed, 21 Sep 2022 12:20:44 +0000 Anonymous 2282191@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm enjoying everyone's thoughts!<br /> I don't use a $ budget, but I have a strong motivator. The less I spend, the less I have to work :)<br /> Ha ha Rachy re: insurance agent! I had to meet with investment bankers pretty recently, but don't remember wearing anything out of the ordinary. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2282090 Tue, 20 Sep 2022 19:12:05 +0000 Angie 2282090@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't track wears, but like <b>Roberta,</b> I keep a meticulous spreadsheet of my purchases (and returns). And a budget. I've had this spreadsheet for 15 years, which is why I can accurately tell you that I've had something for X-amount of years. I love that part! I also keep track of my wardrobe in FINDS, and put things into HISTORY when I've passed them on. I find this very handy </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281996 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 23:20:24 +0000 rachylou 2281996@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don’t track wears, but my closet is divided into activity capsules, with things getting the heaviest use at the front (long, deep, old-fashioned closet). I should chuck everything in the MIDDLE. The back is my precious suits and dresses. The middle is pure maybe wear - what you wear to see your insurance agent, lol. I’ve actually started doing this… </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281994 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 22:58:51 +0000 Roberta 2281994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't track wears, but I am very interested in the idea of the wardrobe cycle. I have kept track of my purchases since 2016 on a spreadsheet, and I go back and cross off things I no longer own. This is part enforced honesty - you paid $$ for those shoes and wore them twice before admitting they were too big! - and part noting the items I actually wore out. In turn, this keeps my wardrobe inventory up to date, and helps me figure out what I really want/need.</p> <p>I can see that I regularly purge about 15% of my wardrobe. A few things hang on a long time, and a couple of things turn out to be mistakes every year. The other discards are things that became unwearable for one reason or another. Then there was the PURGE of 2021, when I retired. Every category took a big hit then.</p> <p>Now I'll go back to evaluating every season. Did I wear this at all, must I save it for that one dressy event every summer, am I finally willing to give this well-loved item up.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, does the cycle represent the majority of purchases? If so, I keep things for at least seven years, some longer. I'd always like to bring the error rate down, but one or two items a year isn't bad (unless I paid a lot for them).&nbsp; I can see this cycle stretching, as I bemonan the quality and cost of current clothing. I rarely give up a Boden item, for example, until I am thoroughly convinced it will never be worn again.&nbsp;</p> <p>Fab Nation has very thoughtful discussions! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281969 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 19:51:52 +0000 Jenni NZ 2281969@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>SarahD8 knows me incredibly well! I did estimate the wears from before tracking partly because of wanting to work out how much I was wearing things, which I suspected was not much. I didn’t even know about the #30 wears campaign at that time but had been reading Recovering Shopaholic before I started tracking and had a thought that I might aim to wear everything at least 20 times and get to under $5 per wear if possible.<br /> These days a large number of my purchases get to under $3 per wear before leaving the wardrobe and indeed into the cents per wear if a really good purchase that was on sale. For instance a $10 2018 orange top went recently as I was tired of it and its silhouette. 42 wears put it at under 25c per wear! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281955 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 18:34:02 +0000 cat2 2281955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don’t track. Instead, each week I hang my oldest pieces in outfits with more current pieces and just wear them. That way I find out if they still fit, are in good enough condition, etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281918 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 15:20:01 +0000 SarahD8 2281918@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If your main goal is to figure out what you are wearing *now* (vs. what you think you are wearing or to test your PUPY calculations) then I don't really see a need to estimate past wears/total # of wears for older garments.</p> <p>It seems like once you have some data about current wearing habits, some non-numerical introspection could guide you to the conclusions you're seeking about the older pieces. (E.g., "Hmmm, I feel like I used to wear X a lot but whenever I've needed a statement topper lately I've chosen Y instead. Is that because my style has moved on from X towards Y, or something about Y isn't practical for my current life, or Y has become an orphan...?" Etc.) I think it's the answers to those questions that will guide your actions going forward -- doesn't really matter if you've worn X garment 10 times or 20.</p> <p>I think estimating previous wears is useful if it's important to you to wear an item a certain # of times before moving it out of your wardrobe (like JenniNZ) or if CPW is in fact important to you (which it sounds like you're on the fence about). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281892 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 11:55:50 +0000 Anonymous 2281892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks all! Glad there's lots of trackers on the forum :)<br /> Having hangers facing the other way bugs me! Makes the closet look chaotic or something, and I figure it's easier for the hangers to get tangled.<br /> The edit is mainly due to condition, and a few things going to consignment (raincoat that doesn't keep me dry for one).<br /> A big reason to do this for me is to create a pretty specific no buy list, especially for the statements and non- essentials. I'll always want to add a couple statement pieces, but some definitely work out better than others. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281890 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 11:12:22 +0000 Dee 2281890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I definitely want to be more prudent and sustainable with my wardrobe purchases. There's been too many wardrobe items languishing away in my closet that I end up donating from non use.<br /> You folks have offered a lot of great thoughts on the methods and ways of tracking to consider, I had simply done the old turn the hangar around thing in my closet to see if I had worn something or not but its not been very helpful and i have stuff in my drawers that this method does not consider.<br /> I have seen a few apps but I'm not disciplined enough to keep it accurate. Probably the pen and paper method like RunCarla suggested might work best or using Notes as Suz has done could work too.<br /> Good luck, hope to hear more follow up on your tracking project. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281885 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 10:55:16 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2281885@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Why do the edit first? Isn’t part of the point of tracking (says the non-tracker) to get data to help in editing decisions? </p> <p>If CPW doesn’t really interest you, then why estimate # of previous wears? </p> <p>I absolutely hear you on lifestyle shifts! Uncertainty about what I’d be doing is a huge part of why I dragged so much stuff along on my recent trip, and my life has been up in the air/in flux for the last 12 years, which is part of why I’ve held onto things I’m uncertain about, as long as I like them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281882 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 10:32:56 +0000 Jenni NZ 2281882@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been tracking for over 6 years now. I still use a written list with tally marks. Because I had kept lists of the purchase prices each year since 2010 I decided to “guesstimate” the number of wears of everything, tried to underestimate rather than overestimate to be more accurate and not cheat. It meant I knew the prices of the previous 6 years from when I started tracking so I made a column for cost and CPW. Those items older than 2010 at that time I just put ??? for the cost. Except I remembered the cost of the most expensive item bought in 1986- which I still have and actually wore today.<br /> The columns are Item, Date, Wears, Cost and Cost per Wear. These are in sections, mainly Autumn/Winter/Spring and then Summer.<br /> The lists do get tacky and I rewrite them once every 1-2 months.<br /> I mainly chose paper because I work on computers all day and get tired of them.<br /> I have learned so much that although it is kind of annoying to keep tracking I am not ready to stop doing it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281877 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 09:22:25 +0000 Sal 2281877@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I track on a spreadsheet but that’s because I like spreadsheets. </p> <p>I didn’t worry about wears prior -my reason is to see where my needs are - and more honestly aren’t- I won’t feel bad about updating puffers or running shoes whereas I should pause over blazers and heels…. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281848 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 03:12:55 +0000 Suz 2281848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't tracked for a while but when I did, I just used a hashmark system in my Notes app. It worked fine. I didn't really pay much attention to older items -- I knew they were older and knew they had got a lot of wear already, and it wasn't important to me to have an exact figure -- figuring an exact CPW was less important to me than getting a more accurate analysis of what my "real life" dressing was like -- although, like you, my life changed a lot from year to year so what I wore a lot one year was not necessarily a perfect predictor of what I would wear the next.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have a moderate-to-large sized wardrobe but like <b>Jenn'</b>s and <b>Carla'</b>s,&nbsp; it is essentials-dependent and I <b>DO</b> wear our my essentials on a regular basis, especially footwear, denim, and certain navy or white tops. Meanwhile I have statement items that are at least 12 years old still in the closet and still loved -- rarely worn, in most cases, but I am in no rush to get rid of them.&nbsp;</p> <p>Like you, I wear items far more in the first year than in subsequent years -- as a rule. The exception is a true essential (like, for me, white shorts, or a pair of jeans, etc.) The reason, for me, is fun! I like playing with a new style, new colour, new silhouette, and like bringing my style into "currency" with additions. But I don't buy those things if I don't think they will have <b>some </b>closet longevity -- at least a 3 year run, albeit with less wear in the years following the first season -- and while I make mistakes in purchasing, that's almost never the reason. My bigger mistakes are on items I think are the perfect practical fix to whatever problem I'm facing -- that turn out not to do the job.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281841 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 02:14:30 +0000 Bonnie 2281841@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just made a low estimate of what I thought the wears might have been when I started tracking. I used hash marks for a couple of years but now use and really like the Numbers tracking program that dh set up for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281835 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 01:27:59 +0000 Jaime 2281835@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not a tracker, but interesting discussion. Like Stag, I have clothes I have owned for years that come in and out of heavy rotation. I have worn a very few pairs of jeans out, and some shoes, but mostly my very large closet means most things last for a very long time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281834 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 01:05:22 +0000 Anonymous 2281834@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'll definitely want to make better use of the HZ for the statement items that may come back into favor!<br /> Before starting this I definitely need to do a big review/try on/edit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281833 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 00:52:08 +0000 Jenn 2281833@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tracked with the hashmark system for years before trying out apps and a spreadsheet. &nbsp;Honestly, they all work. Just start where you are without bothering to estimate previous wears. The things in my closet from before I started tracking are just marked with an asterisk so I know the numbers are low.</p> <p>Like you and Carla, I have a shorter cycle with things mostly being retired due to wear. I definitely have some statements that are a decade old or more, though! Those often are timeless and stay around even if I'm not wearing them much at the moment (see: my cowboy boots). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281831 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 00:42:41 +0000 Anonymous 2281831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well I think I wear the pieces most in the first year, when I count I may find out it's not as much of a difference as I think. My life has varied a lot from year to year, though, so I'm really buying for what I need at the time. I don't keep pieces for that long, most is 2017 and later, but I definitely return to certain styles. There's definitely things I wish I still had, but the favorites were passed on due to condition in most cases.</p> <p>That's how I'm planning to track too RunCarla- with the hash mark system. It does make sense to count what's true today, but I definitely want to see how much of the wardrobe has hit the 30 wears benchmark.<br /> Not sure if I'll track CPW. I do write the cost, or approximate, when I write my purchases- so I can. It's more important for me to know what pieces or types of pieces, besides essentials and basics, get the most use over time. Despite changes of job/duties, hobbies, size, trends. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281830 Sun, 18 Sep 2022 23:56:03 +0000 Carla 2281830@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@ suntiger, I keep track with pencil and paper. &nbsp;It’s just hash marks done monthly (since I repeat wear quite a few items) and then a monthly tabulation on a grid. &nbsp;At the end of the year The number total for each garment is marked in a book I keep. &nbsp;</p> <p> <div><br /></div><div>Though I’ve got dates of purchase for just about every thing, I didn’t worry about assigning extra wears to older items, and just started counting anew, but also considering the date of purchase when making an assessment of the piece or an editing decision. &nbsp;<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For example, white shorts below are looking kind of grubby, but are not ‘worn out’, however purchased early 2018. &nbsp;I remember preferring another pair of white jeans more, so they didn’t get worn much after purchase. &nbsp;At some point in time I cut them off into shorts and they became workhorses. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>2018 - ?<br />2019 - ?</div><div>2020 - 39 wears&nbsp;<br />2021 - 14 wears&nbsp;<br />2022 - 12 wears so far&nbsp; </p> <p>So, at 65+ wears over 5 years I’ve got the CPW under $1 and wouldn’t be adverse to retiring them when I do the annual closet audit next month. &nbsp;I’m ‘over’ ragged hems ATM, but don’t have any other white shorts, so will&nbsp;<i>probably&nbsp;</i>hold on to them until I have a replacement. &nbsp;</p> <p> </div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve got 20+ Things from before 2020 that I don’t have numbers for but a general idea of popularity in the rotation. &nbsp;The fact that they are still in the closet is to their credit! &nbsp;They are either well loved (and still worn) or part of specialty capsules that don’t get worn as much, but are still worth keeping. </p> <p>My cycle&nbsp;<i>isn’t&nbsp;</i>long. &nbsp;Most garments last 2-5 years in my closet, and every year I make a few ‘mistakes’.</p> <p>I haven’t figured how to assess thrifted items yet. &nbsp;For example this spring I edited a pair of brown trousers that I really liked, &nbsp;but the rear was getting thin. &nbsp;I thrifted them for $10 and wore them 35 times before editing them.&nbsp;</p> <p> </div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281827 Sun, 18 Sep 2022 22:41:43 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2281827@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don’t track, because my cycle is so long.<br /> I’m curious about your habit of wearing things more often when they are new than in subsequent years; do things come back around? This year, for example, I’ve been into a ditsy miniskirt from the 90s that I don’t think I’ve worn much since my nearly 20 year old son was born. But I’m glad I still have it (&amp; didn’t lose it at a hotel). Other things have shorter cycles that are still pretty long, like the red pants and long ditsy skirt from 2 &amp; 3 years ago that are back on high rotation. Do you do that kind of thing? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/considering-tracking-wears#post-2281826 Sun, 18 Sep 2022 21:15:28 +0000 Anonymous 2281826@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm considering tracking my wears (and possibly CPW)- maybe starting October or January. I'm really trying to be more sustainable and intentional with everything that comes into the house. Basically seeing how many times I'm really wearing things vs. PUPY estimates, especially now that my life has changed a lot. </p> <p>If you track, or did in the past, how did you handle the older pieces? I'm wondering if I should estimate ie: very low wear 0-5, low wear 5-10, medium 10-20, and high 20+. Or just start from 0 cause that's what's true today? I do know that I have a bad habit of using things much more in the first year than later, which I want to break. </p> <p>I would be doing this just pen and paper, as I only use my laptop once or twice a month, and don't want to have to set it all up in a phone app. My wardrobe is in Finds though and I have a written list in my bujo. </p>