YouLookFab Forum » Topic: DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12 https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:27:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php anne on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1154011 Fri, 31 Jan 2014 07:01:39 +0000 anne 1154011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, your challenge posts are always fascinating. You are doing so well with the donating and with having no getting dressed anxiety. Diana - I have a wardrobe size that is more on the minimal size and I don't turn it over at a great rate. I purchase only a few things each year. For instance in general I buy just one casual, on trend sweater each winter. Since I am on a small budget, have to spend up big on orthotic shoes and am trying not to buy from the absolute bottom of the market, I do think the pay off is that I have a less trendy wardrobe. Angie said once you need to buy about 6 or 7 on trend new garments per season to remain current and with the need to buy basics and essentials as well, I just can't run to that. But I try to get the biggest bang for my buck that I can. I bought just one dress in 2013, but it ticked the boxes of being able to be worn for work and casually, a pattern ( I wanted more patterns), blue (wanted more blue), worn summer and winter and incorporated a trend (colour blocking). I wear it every week! Diana on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1153796 Fri, 31 Jan 2014 01:13:14 +0000 Diana 1153796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for answering my question, Lisa!  That makes sense that the trendy, trying-things-out items would be the most likely to get purged, and also that you are always keeping track of when to update/upgrade when you have a smaller closet.  A 22% purge rate seems pretty reasonable under your model, because that's only 12 items.  In my much larger closet, 22% would be like 50 items!  I wonder if you might actually purge less if you didn't have the boutique to pull from because you'd have to first find and buy a worthy replacement?   Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1153700 Thu, 30 Jan 2014 23:27:36 +0000 Lisa 1153700@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Diana-Thanks!  Some great questions.  I find the 'trendier/more out of the comfort zone' the item is to me, (such as the grey jeans) the faster I both sport it and then purge it.  Often those 'trendy' items, are items where I am testing a new look, and it doesn't take me too long to see if a new look is the style direction I want to go in or not.  I'm a bit like Angie, in that I seem to like to tweak all season long in spurts and a high turnover will let me do so.  Then I can try another new look. :) Other items I also sport often (tan printed poncho) but I have not grown tired of.  I think items I truly love, I will wear longer over time and items I am only 'meh' about, are easier to purge quickly.  I can't say I've NEVER regretted purging an item, that's not realistic expectations for myself, but I DO think that I'll want an upgraded version of a piece when I am ready to wear it again.  I recently purged a black sweatercoat because a) I have plenty of other sweatercoats in other colors I like more and b) I can see me wanting a new black one in a new silhouette by the time I am ready to sport one again. Of course, I also expect that some items I love but want to give off for a season.  I adore jeans, blazers and scarves.  Yet haven't worn this formula as much as last season (this year 2'x a week, last year every single day).  I'm not ready to purge blazers and scarves since I adore the look, but it may be time to freshen up the formula with other styles of blazers/or maybe add jackets.  For me, that is the key to a smaller wardrobe.  I have to really love the items in the closet because there isn't much room for "ok" items.  So if I want to keep my blazers and scarves I really do have to love them because they take up room for something else and I am not wearing them everyday right now. I also went back and ran the math on my posts.  At week 1 I had 21 items.  It took me 8 weeks until I hit my current number of 53 items.  Along the way I have purged 12 items, which didn't happen for the first time until week 5.  This means I purged ~22% of my working closet, if I had 53 items from the start.  Of course, I would have better data if I had not been adding for the first 7 weeks (would I have purged more items to freshen things up if I wasn't automatically freshing things up by building the closet...hmm) but I can rerun these numbers next year.  The building the wardrobe weeks throws off my math. :) Angie-A good thing Valentine's day is coming up. xoxo Angie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151739 Wed, 29 Jan 2014 01:21:07 +0000 Angie 1151739@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Your in-house fashion stylist needs a special present, Lisa. xo Diana on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151645 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 23:20:17 +0000 Diana 1151645@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow, Lisa, I am seriously impressed at your discipline!  I am curious about something.  I have noticed that you tend to wear something a lot (like your metallic jeans) and then get sick of it, at which point you replace it.  Do you immediately purge the old item?  (Assuming it is not worn out or in bad shape).  If so, I admire your decisiveness!  I personally would worry that I am purging it prematurely and would probably keep it around for a while but just not wear it as much (or in your case, I'd put it back in the boutique).  I tend to keep things for years though.  If I have to purge something after a season (even if it gets worn a lot) I fret that it was a poor purchase.  My method does not work with a small closet though.    I am clearly not a minimalist in terms of closet size though, so I find it interesting that many with small, minimal closets DO turn over a large proportion of the clothes every season or two.  I guess that is the price of having a small closet AND still participating in some trends/refreshing your wardrobe.  I'm curious what percentage of items that make it into your working closet end up getting purged/replaced by the end of this experiment.  Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151631 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 23:06:29 +0000 Lisa 1151631@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gracie-Thanks!  I'll be sure to post the spring/summer closet as I build it. Susie-A great question!  Preliminary thinking, a 75% or 80% new for spring/summer with 25% or 20% current closet items is what I will look for.  I already have some lightweight tops I think can carry over into spring. And I have plenty of jeans right now, so I plan to carry over a few of those as well (I think the bootcuts, black skinny and cream skinny will work well for spring).  And my denim jacket is a year round piece as well.  To stay true to the DH challenge (what is the minimum I need for a season), I need to carry over items.  I'll start the first week with my 3 new bottoms, and my current toppers, then build up slowly from there by selecting more "spring friendly" items from the boutique (lighter wight fabrics and colors, there's a great mint and grey striped knit in there that would be perfect for spring).  I will be building quite a bit, because our springs are cool but our summers get very hot and there are not too many pieces that can work year round for me. Susie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151602 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:06:46 +0000 Susie 1151602@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That sounds like a good trio to start with. Will you be carrying over any of the current items or does spring mean a completely new (different) group of pieces? Gracie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151474 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:38:46 +0000 Gracie 1151474@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You have done great with your closet challenge – your fall/winter closet looks so organized and beautiful. The new lace sweater and leopard print jeans look like great replacements – I'll be following your spring/summer cull to get more inspiration and ideas. Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151458 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:27:14 +0000 Lisa 1151458@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Susie-Thanks!  Isn't it amazing how little wear an items gets, once you do the math?  I plan to start spring with my boyfriend jeans and my white bootcut jeans.  I also have been on the hunt for a pair of white straight leg jeans that can tuck into tall boots.  It's ironic I don't need a lot of bottoms yet those are the first pieces I plan to add to my spring wardrobe. Alexandra-Thanks! I'm looking forward to starting at the beginning for spring. I just have to decide what month I should start.  I'm not sure yet if it should be March or April.  It depends how long our snow season is expected to be. Alexandra on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151408 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 18:16:11 +0000 Alexandra 1151408@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am so enjoying your posts about this challenge. So neat to read about the reasons behind your decisions to keep something or let it go. Your closet is looking great! I look forward to seeing how you transition into spring. Susie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151330 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 16:51:59 +0000 Susie 1151330@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have so enjoyed following you in this challenge, Lisa. I hear you on the sweaters! I bought 3 or 4 sweaters rather late in the season and now I feel like I have to hurry and wear them before it gets too warm. With about 8 weeks left until the end of March, that's only 40 days of dressing for work. If I repeat an item once every 2 weeks (and usually it is less frequently than that), it will only get 4 more wearings. I definitely do not NEED any more sweaters!  Do you have any ideas yet on what pieces you will use to start off spring? Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1151186 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 14:14:27 +0000 Lisa 1151186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Shemarie-Thanks!  I have found starting with an empty closet at the beginning of the season and then slowly filling it up with items as I wear them has helped me see how much I really need and wear regularly.  And I understand "wanting" but not "needing."  I have plenty of sweaters in the "boutique" plus I have 5 in my working closet, yet I still look at sweaters in the stores.  I don't need anymore but I look anyway. April-Thanks!  DH is really surprised I've kept up with the challenge for this long.  And of course, happy that it is working out.  He was also happy to see me donate clothes, but would rather I did not have clothes in good enough shape to donate.  He uses it until it truly wears out, but I don't think that is quite for me. Angie-Thanks!  Everything has gotten easier since this challenge, getting dressed is faster, picking out items to freshen up the closet is faster, and my closet feels much more cohesive than a mish mash which gives me a high happiness factor. Clearlyclaire-Thanks!  It doesn't photograph well but the chandelier is actually brass with pink crystals.  A complete splurge item. Anonymous on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150983 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 03:52:07 +0000 Anonymous 1150983@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hey, I want a chandelier in my closet too! ;) Great job Lisa. You have really stuck with this and you know any bags going to donation always makes me feel light and happy. And you're right, worn clothing is a sign of its usefulness to you, like a badge of honor! You can purge it without guilt when it's time.  Angie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150879 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 02:43:54 +0000 Angie 1150879@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ *applause* You are doing a stellar job at organizing and editing, Lisa. You have scored off the charts for hubby's challenge.  April on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150766 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 23:15:56 +0000 April 1150766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, every time you post an update, I got back and read the challenge parameters.  I love that DH was willing to give you a wardrobe challenge!  So sweet.  I hope he's impressed that you're making such a signifcant overhaul.   shemarie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150761 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 23:08:32 +0000 shemarie 1150761@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is so inspirational and impressive, Lisa! You are so organized and have  wonderful insight! I am trying to shop my closet as well, since my "winter" season is virtually over, and though I love sweaters/layers/boots I just don't "need" more.  I also don't have any idea what I want/need yet for summer, so I'm trying to embrace this "in between" season to play with what I have, learn what I love/wear/reach for, and save $ in the process.  Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful insights and rationales...so helpful to those of us way behind you on the learning curve! Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150759 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 23:04:58 +0000 Lisa 1150759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Amiable-Thanks!  I have not struggled to create outfits in the morning rush even once during this challenge.  That's a big change from before when I would stare helplessly into my closet to figure out what to wear. :) Pam-Thanks!  * happy dance* I'm looking forward to your insights at the end of the month! Mo-Thanks!  And very true, it is amazing how little one really needs.  I also track my CPW and some interesting numbers: except for a few pieces that were poor purchases, the bulk of what I donated was under $8 CPW, the lowest item was at 53 cents!.  And I will have to adjust my spring/summer wardrobe when the season rolls around (I plan to repeat from the beginning with those items) but for now a rough estimate has my total working wardrobe around $5000, which I thought was interesting because on What Not to Wear that was always the budget they used. Alasse-Thanks!  I would not have guessed I'd still be doing this challenge 3 months later, I thought I would have cracked by now. Inge-Thanks!  I'm enjoying the challenge so much I plant to repeat the process when spring/summer rolls around. LAR101-Thanks! LAR101 on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150731 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:33:30 +0000 LAR101 1150731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I so appreciate your sharing this with us.  Great work! Inge on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150607 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 20:06:52 +0000 Inge 1150607@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Your closet and wardrobe are looking good, Lisa! I've really been admiring your methodical approach, and it's abundantly clear that all your efforts are paying off big time. Brilliant job! Alassë on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150566 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 19:31:14 +0000 Alassë 1150566@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great job getting to 12 weeks! I was excited to see another of your posts. Mo on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150476 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 17:44:31 +0000 Mo 1150476@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Love these posts of yours!  You have come such a long way from the 300 item club.  It's so interesting to see what we really wear vs what we think we need to have.  (and the closet looks just great!) Anonymous on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150375 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 14:42:29 +0000 Anonymous 1150375@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Admiring your progress. You have inspired me to shop my closet and I have been recording outfits, journaling, etc and will write an end of month post on my version of this. Thanks for the ideas! amiable on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150362 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 14:11:54 +0000 amiable 1150362@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Stunning!  I just love this experiment!  Your closet looks perfect - everything carefully chosen and working so well. Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150349 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 13:49:56 +0000 Lisa 1150349@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz-Thanks!  I'm really happy with the current wardrobe.  I have enough variety in weights of clothing to get through our really cold and more mild days.  I'm still surprised at how little I have (compared to adding in the boutique items too).  I was really overwhelmed with clothes. Even with the recent purge I probably have another year (or more) worth of clothing in the boutique.  I plan to begin the challenge for spring summer as I did with fall winter.  A blank closet rod and slowly filling it up with items.  I'm curious if I'll end up with the same number for the summer season too. Shevia-Thanks!  It was nice to have some items that were so worn, I did not feel comfortable donating them for a change.  I made those pieces into rags. Joy-Thanks!  I plan to begin the challenge for spring summer as I did with fall winter.  A blank closet rod and slowly filling it up with items.  I'm curious if I'll end up with the same number for the summer season. Shedev-Thanks!  Yes, it's been work to reorganize the boutique.  But it also helped with the purge, because I had to really, really like the item to go through the hassle to pack it back up. :) shedev on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150164 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 02:59:53 +0000 shedev 1150164@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You've been really busy. Love the leopard jeans. Anonymous on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150156 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 02:52:42 +0000 Anonymous 1150156@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, you are doing an amazing job. Congratulations on all the donations. I'm also curious about your spring/summer closet plans. Jaime on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150143 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 02:38:31 +0000 Jaime 1150143@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You are so organized and thorough! Interesting point about worn clothes showing their worth. You are doing great! Suz on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150133 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 02:13:05 +0000 Suz 1150133@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, you are doing incredibly well with this! Amazing work. Good for you for thinning out the boutique and creating space. And your closet looks so clean and tidy and beautifully organized.  How are you feeling about your current wardrobe? Does it do what you need it to do?  And what about spring? Do you think you will aim for around 50-55 items for your spring/ summer closet also?  Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 12" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-12#post-1150095 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 01:29:33 +0000 Lisa 1150095@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi, I’m still chugging along with this challenge and starting week 12.  DH is really surprised I’ve been able to maintain the challenge for 3 months.  Current wardrobe totals are near the end. I tried to underline some subtopics in case you have a specific one in mind. To read more about the challenge, including the rules, <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-challenge-from-dh-rules" rel="nofollow">click here</a>. For a recap of week 9,<a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-9" rel="nofollow"> click here.</a><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6" rel="nofollow"></a> Reflections for Week 12 (3 months!) New clothes make the old one’s look well, old I added Christmas gifts to my working closet during week 9 and it helped refresh my closet, but the new items also make the old one’s look well…used.  This would bother me when an item starting to show some wear, but now I see it as a badge of usefulness instead.  Old/Worn items in my closet mean smart purchasing decisions and a workhorse piece.  This is good! Donating takes on it’s own momentum I originally was only going to donate the items I took out of my working closet to make room for my new Christmas gifts, but then I thought about a couple items in the boutique that would be better off in a new home.  And before I knew it, I had one entire bag of clothes to donate, then two, then three and finally four!  Granted some of these items were gear wear or lounge wear too, so the boutique is not down 4 bags, but I am quite happy to give these items a new home. And after my closet purge, I still have many items sitting in the “boutique.” Sigh.  But I am happy to see some space on that top shelf again.  The open space on the top shelf not only makes the closet feel less crowded, but it also brightens the space, because there’s nothing to block the light from bouncing off the walls.  I’m looking forward to when the “boutique” is closed for good and the top shelf is once again bare. And while I was rummaging around in the “boutique” for items to donate, I updated my working closet too. Photo-1-Clothes for donation. Photo 2-The “new” boutique after purging. (And <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6" rel="nofollow">here [week 6-photo 6]</a> is the  boutique after a shelf fell and I had to relocated to a bag system.) Photo 3-White for white; the white jumper on the right was always very rough to the touch, so it was replaced with the lace front jumper on the left Photo 4-Grey for Cobalt; the grey knit on the right was showing signs of wear and I have lots of grey items, so it was replaced with the cobalt hoodie on the left Photo 5-Demoting; the grey cardigan was gear and it’s not as soft as it used to be, also it’s missing a button so it was purged, the brown hoodie in the middle was demoted to gear, and the red hoodie on the left is the replacement. Photo 6-The 3 tanks and grey metallic jeans on the right were replaced with the 3 tanks and leopard print jeans on the left.  I was so eager to sport the metallic jeans and now I am so tired of them.  But they were my trendiest bottom, and I didn’t want to loose a trendy bottom, so the leopard jeans fit nicely for this need. Photo 7-Current working closet, fall/winter side (the pink basket is scarves). Starting week 12, I have 53 items: 6 bottoms (no change in total number, one was purged/added) 3 hoodies (one was demoted to gear and two were added) 12 toppers (this includes: pullover sweaters, blazers and cardigans; no change in total number, one jumper was purged/added) 7 knits (donated one knit) 4 gear items (this small capsule was updated; one pair of jeans was demoted to gear, the turtleneck and pullover were updated) 1 shirt (for layering; no change) 3 LS T’s (for layering; no change) 4 tanks (for layering; no change in total number but these were updated) 6 thermal layers (no change) 5 scarves (no change but added into a basket for organization) 2 workout outfits (top and bottom; no change in total number but this small capsule was updated) Thanks for reading!