YouLookFab Forum » Topic: DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months) https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:45:08 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1183276 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:57:43 +0000 Lisa 1183276@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Joy-Great questions. 1.  Yes, I am still enjoying the challenge after 4 months.  In fact, I'm enjoying my clothes more now, because I see pieces everyday that i like, instead of having to fish through pieces I am 'meh' about to find the pieces I like.  Also, I know that at anytime I can grab a new piece from the boutique, so I no longer feel as guilty that I have items sitting unworn.  When I would see the overflow of pieces in my closet, it was overwhelming, and frustrating because I knew I'd never get to wearing them all.  Now I feel like the items are in storage and I can pull them when I need them.  2.  I do remix outfits from time to time, but I am a big repeat outfit dresser as well.  I usually remix often until I find my favorite combinations and then I really enjoy and then stick with those.  I find it less stressful for me to have lots of grab and go outfit combinations instead of remixing daily.  3.  I think the secret to a small closet is having items you love to wear, end of story.  Quality is a separate issue and high quality pieces is not something I see as essential to owning a small closet.  I think how often one likes to freshen up their look is the key to the quality of pieces in a closet.  If I liked to freshen up my look often, and try new trends a lot, purchasing lower quality pieces will let me turn over my smaller closet faster.  And high quality pieces, mean turnover occurs less often.  Right now my closet is a mix of pieces, I've swapped out about 20% of items since I started the challenge and those items were all less quality.  4.  Yes, fashion is a creative outlet and hobby for me.  I find my current closet gives me enough variety to remix when I want too, but also has enough preset outfit combinations that I am not left frustrated with my wardrobe.  A major reason why DH came up with this challenge was, noticing how frustrated (and slow) I was to purge items.  I never knew how much I needed to own for my personal preferences, so how could I ever know how much to purge?  And I am fascinated by the idea of a small wardrobe a-la Parisian inspired (for size, not style).  After 4 months, I am a handle on how much fall/winter clothing I need in my working closet.  And now when I purchase something new, it's easier for me to decide, option 1-I want to wear it forever, spend a little more, or option 2-I want to try out this look, spend a little less.  One aspect I am still working on is, the boutique, how long do I keep it open?  I think time itself will help me make that decision.  I enjoy fashion too much to be limited to boutique items forever when I want to freshen up my wardrobe.  Anonymous on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1183010 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 03:57:27 +0000 Anonymous 1183010@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've been following your experiment with great interest. After 4 months, are you having fun? Do you find that you can remix to keep things fresh or is that not an issue? Do you think that the secret of being happy with a small closet may be high quality items that you love to wear? Do you use fashion as a creative outlet and hobby? If so, does your working closet satisfy that need? Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1182900 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 01:52:34 +0000 Lisa 1182900@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sarah A and Liz-Yes, I have found that having the botique covered up, really does make pieces look fresh.  It also makes pieces easier to purge.  Because I can evaluate it against items I am currently loving as well as new pieces I see in the stores and if it can't match up, out it goes. Suz-Some great insight, thanks!  I do think I get fatigue with items from looking at them just as fast as when I wear them.  This is one reason why the boutique is all covered up.  I have to keep the items out of sight, out of mind if I want to keep the boutique in the same closet as my day to day wear. Liz A-Great questions.  1.  The end result of the challenge, is a wardrobe that is the correct size for my personal outfit repeating preferences.  All items are in the current rotation, with no pieces that sit unworn during it's appropriate season.  I'm a big outfit repeat dresser and like to have grab and go outfits in my closet.  A smaller wardrobe means I have more pieces, I wear my pieces more often, I have more 'preset' outfit combinations for faster dressing, and when I want to freshen up my look, it won't take a lot of items to do so.  2.  How much and when to purge the 'boutique' has been a constant question I've asked myself during the challenge.  At first I wasn't going to purge until I finished an entire year (so that I went through all 4 seasons).  But I did my first purge at the beginning of this year, which was halfway through our winter season.  I plan to do a second purge once I'm halfway through the summer season.  I think all my 'extra' spring/summer items will be purged at that time.  It's harder for me to purge fall/winter items because they cost more.  Right now I plan to do my third and final purge at the end of the year.  This would give me a little over a year to figure out what pieces I enjoy and want to keep.  If I haven't worn it after a year, and it's an item that fits into my daily lifestyle, it is probably better off in a different home.  3.  I'd like to finish the challenge by the end of this year.  Preferably after the summer season, but I may need a few extra months to purge those last winter items.  By the end of the summer I will know how much clothing I really 'need' for my current lifestyle across 4 seasons.  One of my biggest problems when I would try to purge my closet, was not knowing how many pieces to keep.  This challenge slowly answers that question. Angie-I am nodding my head as I read your comment.  Finishing off all my spring/summer shopping now makes perfect sense, because once the stores shift inventory, I can't find a thing until NAS.  I can't wait until next year, when my spring/summer side of the closet has been flushed out, and I will be able to add new items easier than this year.  Right now, I don't have that side of the closet as sorted as my fall/winter items, so figuring out what pieces to purchase is a challenge. Lyn D-Six times a season is a great number.  I notice as my preference has started to shift to pricey-er items, I want more bang for my buck, which means wearing them more often.  Otherwise I need to pay a little less, so that I can still maintain a low cost per wear before I purge an item. Alexandra-I am a big uniform dresser and I do think small tweaks help freshen up a look.  I've been sporting boots, jeans, blazers, scarves as a formula for years.  And I still do.  Except it's been tweaked overtime.  My jeans are mostly skinnies and tucked into tall boots or booties, versus bootcuts over boots in past years.  My blazers were solids with a printed scarf, and while I do still sport this mix, I have added more textured jumpers/sweaters this season.  I still get a printed look, just from less pieces.  But the core is the same.  I haven't gone from say...jeans all the time to dresses and skirts all the time.  That would be a very big shift in my style. April-A great idea about purple with purple!  Alas, I do not have the oxfords anymore.  I had foot surgery two years ago and had to start from scratch rebuilding my shoe wardrobe. And I agree, I get tired of clothing items just from looking at them.  Even if I don't wear them.  This is one major reason why everything in the boutique is covered up and in opaque bags. Suz-I am right there with you on jackets.  I am wearing mine, but am reaching for chunky turtlenecks more often this season.  And that's all due to the crazy cold, super cold, weather we've been having. Shedev-It's amazing what the numbers really say when you track CPW isn't it? shedev on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1182338 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:50:00 +0000 shedev 1182338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I was really surprised at how little I was wearing things that I perceived I was wearing "all the time" when I started to track wears. Your working closet looks very cohesive, Lisa. Suz on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181938 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 23:26:07 +0000 Suz 1181938@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, April -- that's probably part of it. We see them hanging there and imagine we wear them more often than we really do.  Actually, my wardrobe's small enough that I have a pretty good handle on what is getting worn, and it is quite embarrassing at the moment, really.  I have NO guilt about knits, not this year. No way. Wearing all of them, again and again and again and again. (Not to say, ad nauseum).  No guilt on the jeans score, either.  But my button up shirts stare balefully at me, barely worn. My skirts, ditto. My dresses, same. And even my few jackets. Jackets are an item I adore, the backbone of my style, I might say -- yet this season they've gone almost unworn, along with most of my lovely footwear (due to the constant need for snow boots).  April on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181909 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 22:48:17 +0000 April 1181909@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, could you bookend the purple sweater with your purple Cole Haan oxfords?  Or would that be like "crazy purple lady" territory? It does seem, incidentally, that a lot of times people think they wear something "all the time" when that's not really the case.  Like my mom telling me as we cleaned out her closet that she wore every one of the 30 or so light blue tees "all the time," which isn't even possible.  Maybe we say that because we see the items all the time in our closets and don't realize they haven't actually come off the hanger in a while. Until we do a challenge like your husband's... Alexandra on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181854 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 20:56:51 +0000 Alexandra 1181854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Such an interesting post again! I love your insight about the importance of shoe color (possibly because the bright-colored shoes in Angie's blog post about loafers really caught my eye). Suz said: "the question of how much we need not to feel bored is really at the crux of all this." I wonder to what extent this has to do with the total number of pieces and/or outfits. And whether it is at all affected by the number of colors and shapes/silhouettes. Would a real uniform (same exact shape in different colors or perhaps same colors in different shapes) result in boredom if it were the perfect uniform for the person? Or does this boredom represent a point in the style journey that should lead to finding the right shape/color? I'm not even sure this makes sense :-) Lyn D. on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181845 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 20:42:12 +0000 Lyn D. 1181845@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I admire you tenacity in sticking to the challenge for 4 months! When we decide on keeping a medium-sized closet I think that Mo's calculations of wearing each item around twice a week or roughly 6 times per season is the aim. You are surpassing this and I am impressed! Angie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181758 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 18:35:23 +0000 Angie 1181758@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ FASCINATING.  Lisa, I have to curb myself in Spring and Summer too, and I love buying Spring stuff especially because of the colours and the crispness of the items. But from May onwards, stuff in stores is usually too cold and naked for me to wear. I have to be even more selective when stores are full of beach wear. So it's the start of the season - March, April - that you'll do your Summer shopping if you know what I mean. xo Liz A. on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181747 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 18:12:30 +0000 Liz A. 1181747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a question. What is the end result of this challenge? Will you be purging items that didn't get worn st all? Will you put yourself on a purchasing schedule based on your outcomes? When will the challenge end? Three questions I guess. Suz on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181565 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 14:38:44 +0000 Suz 1181565@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think that business of counting how much you actually wear an item and comparing it to how often you feel you've worn it is super instructive. It goes back to Mo's posts on this.  I know that I actually felt I was wearing things more often during my "no repeat November" than I feel at other times!! Now, keep in mind, I WAS repeating items. Just not entire outfits. And I think the rule "no repeat" made me extra-conscious every time did repeat an item. Hence, I got more bored than I would have been if I hadn't been thinking about the rule not to repeat.  That just occurred to me now -- thank you for that insight!  I think the question of how much we need not to feel bored is really at the crux of all this. We need to know how small we can keep our wardrobes without feeling stale and dull.  And it might not simply be a question of SIZE. It might be the specific items we need to feel stimulated and happy, and the kind of items.  Liz on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181499 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 12:30:47 +0000 Liz 1181499@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I always find this so interesting, Lisa. Thanks for these posts! I'm especially thinking, today, about the note that you don't wear items as often as you think. I have some stuff I've been wearing "all the time" this winter. I wonder how often that has really been? Sarah A on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181333 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 03:00:34 +0000 Sarah A 1181333@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I havent caught all of your challenge series, Lisa, but when I do I always take away a gem. You have truly provided us with a great service in documenting you process. I am currently considering setting up a storage closet similar to your boutique (although in reality i know for many items this will just be a holding zone to stop by when heading out the door). Have you found that not looking at items hanging in your closet daily (say, spring items all winter) makes them feel even more fresh for you?  Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 16 (4 months)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-16-4-months#post-1181308 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 02:37:17 +0000 Lisa 1181308@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi, I’ve just completed week 16 (4 months) on the challenge!  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 14, click <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-14" rel="nofollow">here.</a><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6" rel="nofollow"> </a> Reflections for Week 16 (4 months!) Shoe color is very important for outfits After adding a few ‘new pieces’ to my closet and starting to remix spring/summer items with my current fall/winter clothes I realized how important shoe color is.  One of my hardest to wear sweaters is a purple turtleneck.  Is also one of my warmest.  It would look so much better with grey boots but I do not have them.  And my blue leopard jeans, didn’t look ‘right’ with black (too dark) or camel (too light), so I purchased brown booties.  With all the snow we have had, a new pair of boots that are also waterproof is a nice refresher to help get through the rest of a tough winter season. Putting on the brakes for spring/summer I’ve begun adding pieces to my spring/summer wardrobe.  The heavy influx of spring items in the stores combined with our extremely cold and snowy winter season this year, has left me really itching for warmer weather, and lighter weight clothing.  I’ve had to keep reminding myself of the core of the DH closet challenge, which is to deliberately not reach for different pieces as long as I can, so that I maintain a smaller sized wardrobe. To prevent myself from adding in an entire new outfit everyday, I’ve limited myself to adding in only one new piece at a time for the spring wardrobe.  A new item can refresh my style just as much as an entire new outfit would, and by adding in smaller doses at a time, it is also more manageable.  I’ve already added 7 spring/summer items, and we are not into our spring season weather yet.  I’ve had to put on the brakes and remember that I have plenty of cold weather clothing and I don’t need to create a spring season/cold weather wardrobe capsule.  Seven ‘new’ pieces is plenty to remix into my current fall/winter wardrobe. Photos/Spring/Summer Additions #1-Closet-This is the start of my spring/summer wardrobe.  I cropped the photo to only show items I’ve already worn.  Since space is limited, I’ve had to resort to dividing the closet rod into two sections, all items on the right side are spring pieces already worn and all items on the left side are spring pieces that are technically part of the boutique, just not on bags on the top shelf. #2-Bottoms-I’m already reaching for more bottoms and was happy to sport a new purchase right away (straight white leg jeans).  I’ve also grabbed my cobalt jeans, and my boyfriend jeans to mix up my bottoms.  I wear jeans daily, so I am always on the lookout for ways to freshen up wearing jeans everyday. #3-White blazer-This blazer has been a workhorse in past years, and it’s perfect for cool days because of it’s weight. Army jacket-This jacket was a favorite piece last year and I’m eager to sport it again.  #4- Blue short sleeve poncho-Angie’s post about<a href="http://youlookfab.com/2014/01/21/pastels-and-your-style/" rel="nofollow"> pastels</a> had me really itching to sport one myself.  Then I remembered I already have a pastel, just in a blue color.  This poncho is really warm, but the short sleeves always leave me baffled as for what time of year is best for sporting it.  A random warm day (50F) seemed like a good choice.  T-shirt-I have a habit of designating clothes for specific tasks and then not having the item deviate from that task.  I figured a nice way to keep my spring/summer wardrobe small would be to layer my favorite t-shirts on cool days.  This t-shirt worked perfectly underneath the poncho on a rare warm day. Scarf-I still enjoy my scarves, just not as often as in past years.  I’ve reached for turtlenecks more often this season.  (forgot to photograph) I don’t wear items as often as I think Items that were new at the start of the challenge, and became workhorse pieces, I felt I was wearing often.  In fact, I would sometimes wear them twice in one week.  Yet when I review the numbers, these pieces have only been worn about a dozen times in the past four months. Interesting. Completing week 16, I had 52 items for fall/winter [and 8 items for spring/summer; spring items already worn in brackets] Next time, I’ll create a separate list for spring/summer items. 6 bottoms (no change for fall/winter; wore 3 jeans [cobalt, boyfriend, white] from spring) 2 hoodies (one was moved to spring/summer but not worn yet) 12 toppers (this includes: pullover sweaters, blazers and cardigans; added one jumper for fall/winter) [wore one blazer, one jacket, and one pullover jumper/poncho from spring] 7 knits (no change) 4 gear items (no change: 2 toppers, 1 layering knit and 1 bottom) 1 shirt (for layering; no change) 3 LS T’s (for layering; no change for fall/winter; wore one spring/summer) 4 tanks (for layering; no change) 6 thermal layers (no change) 5 scarves (5 for fall/winter) [1 scarf worn for spring] 2 workout outfits (top and bottom; no change) No fall/winter closet photos this week, I’ll try to post outfits soon. Thanks for reading!