YouLookFab Forum » Topic: DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6 https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:57:10 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Lyn D. on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112788 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 07:08:45 +0000 Lyn D. 1112788@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am trying to keep my 10ish dresses in the other closet with off-season toppers rather than all off-season clothes at the moment. Because I wear dresses infrequently this is working O.K. so far. For 'special' outings I make myself choose a dress, thus encouraging more variety, and they are not forgotten just because they are out of sight. E on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112772 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 06:44:00 +0000 E 1112772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Very interesting! I have fewer bottoms than tops, although my wardrobe/style is too young to know much about turn over yet, but I expect I'd keep my bottoms longer (time speaking) for all the reasons Suz mentions! Also, it seems like bottoms are less vulnerable to staining than tops as far as everyday life goes: cooking, cleaning, eating, etc. And while I don't wash my tops after every wearing I still wash them more than most of my bottoms (the exception being trousers that bag out after a wear or two so I wash them to tighten them back up, which drives me nuts). And glad DH is on board with you continuing your hobby. :DDD Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112666 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:55:04 +0000 Lisa 1112666@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz-Those are some great insights and very true.  I also think bottoms get washed less often so that helps reduce wear and tear.  At least for me, I generally do not wash a bottom after every wear, but I will wash a top that fit against my skin after every wear. Suz on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112664 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:51:18 +0000 Suz 1112664@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I also trade out tops (or toppers) more often than bottoms.  I think there are a few reasons.  Flattering, comfortable are hard to fit and find for many of us! If it's not the length, it's the fabric, or something else. So when we do find some we like we don't want to give them up easily.  Second, we mostly buy bottoms in neutral colours that don't "wear" on us too much. We don't see ourselves in them up near our faces so don't tire of them as quickly.  Of course there are exceptions to that. But it's pretty common.  These neutrals in turn pair well with quite a lot of different tops.  Bottoms are often in heavier or more durable fabrics so even though they may be worn often, they don't pill or show wear in the same way that a knit top does, for example.  Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112598 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 02:58:20 +0000 Lisa 1112598@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Unfrumped-One of the hardest things for me is summer clothing, because I always run cold.  I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner, but the other day I realized, I always see sweaters in winter months in the stores with short sleeves or nice thicker weight tops again with short sleeves, I should buy those for the summer instead of the flimsy one's I buy during the summer that have no warmth to them.  I'm keeping this in mind the next time I want to purchase a short sleeve top.  Suz-I actually tried that experiment two summers back.  I purchased a bunch of clothes from a lower end store as my wardrobe for that season thinking "well I'll just be able to wear out and purge the whole lot at the end of the season."  And I hated it.  The fabrications and drape were so different, and at least half of the items didn't even make it to the end of the season.  Either I just picked the wrong brands for that trial run, or that just doesn't work for me.  I've done such an overhaul of my wardrobe these past few years, I'm more interested in just adding some finishing touches to it now (a new top here, a new bottom there) instead of huge overhauls every season. E-Your comment makes me smile, I am very happy the recaps are helpful.  And no toes stepped on here.  One of DH's first questions when we started the challenge was, how can I incorporate my joy of shopping and trying new styles into maintaining a smaller wardrobe?  I have no answer to this yet.  I think a mix of higher and lower end clothes may work but I don't know how much of a mix this is yet.  I do notice my bottoms tend to stick around longer than tops so that is a starting point at least. And of course, one-in/one-out is key to maintaining the size of a wardrobe.  But in order for me to do this, I have to figure out what the starting size of the wardrobe should be, which is a core componet of the DH challenge. Angie-Aha!  I wonder why that is?  Maybe a future topic for the main blog? Angie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112509 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 02:07:28 +0000 Angie 1112509@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I pass on bottoms less frequently than tops too, Lisa. E on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112460 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 01:14:27 +0000 E 1112460@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, have you explained to DH that style is a hobby/interest/craft for you, not just a utilitarian thing? I don't want to step on any toes, but maybe some reframing is in order re DH's wishes! I suspect he probably has hobbies too that he spends money/space/mental energy on. :) I'm glad my original comment was helpful, as your write ups of the challenge have been very helpful to me. Suz on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112120 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 19:17:36 +0000 Suz 1112120@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yep...I can see that, Lisa. I guess each of us is facing different issues here. I have my bizarre OCD tendencies to monitor...I don't like fabrics of different weights all jammed in together, LOL. Plus, my closet is small enough that it really can't fit all 4 seasons at once without things crushing. And as you know, I don't have a huge wardrobe.  But I'm lucky that my second closet is immediately beside my bedroom in the hall -- and is very easy to access. So before I go shopping for  a new season (even if it is online shopping)  I refresh my memory about what I still own. I take it all out, do another edit (I edit at the end of the season, too) and then make decisions based on that information. I never go shopping without knowing exactly what I have and what I'd like. Of course that doesn't prevent me from also buying things that aren't on my list! But it helps.  I did a huge amount of purging in my first two years on YLF, too. I'm now at the point where the purging is going to go much more slowly -- and the buying, too, I expect. I have an almost complete wardrobe and I am clearer in my own style. So this helps.  I'm lucky in another way, too. I don't feel too guilty about the earlier purges because most was bought at thrift or on consignment at lower prices. Yes, I spent money, but not as much as I might have spent, and I don't consider it "wasted" because it helped me refine my style, which is what I was here for in the first place. Now I know some brands I like, some designers that work for me, some styles I like. And this will make my shopping more intentional going forward.  I am still chuckling at the image of your poor kitty when the closet fell apart in the night! Poor thing.  As for DH wishing you would simply wear your clothes until you wear them out...well...um....that is a worthy goal, I suppose, but difficult if you have the fashion bug. Unless you buy really low quality clothes. unfrumped on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112081 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:52:04 +0000 unfrumped 1112081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sorry for the wardrobe weather event. Really like your need/ don't need many seasonal items. So true for me and a real focus for this next year. My 2 extremes are hot summer/ coldest winter work- wear, as they don't overlap much. But, I don't want TOO many items in either. Hence the " all other" category and as you say, having those on hand for milder days that pop up during the seasons. Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1112063 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:20:48 +0000 Lisa 1112063@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Joy-I am also trying to find the balance between wardrobe size, and how much to refresh each season.  The more items I want to refresh a season the more I probably should not be paying a lot for them, since they aren't going to stick around long, no need to make an investment purchase then. Suz-If I needed any extra motivation for having all my clothes in one closet, the hurriance did it.  What a pain that was to clean up from!  I've done a lot of purging of non worn clothes these past few years and have felt really bad about it.  I don't mind if I donate a few items, but I was literally donating bags and bags of clothes every few months which was wasting a lot of money.  So now I'm trying to find a balance so that I can donate items and NOT feel bad about them.  But am NOT donating so many things that I'm starting over each and every time.  I think part of the massive donations were from trying to figure out my style.  DH would love to see me own clothes until they wear out, and only then, purchase something new.  But I don't think I am wired that way. :) Clearlyclaire-That is exactly my problem.  I own a LOT of jeans, and the bulk of them are blue.  I think having the right variety will help prevent boredom and wanting to shop. Alasse-Thanks!  I will be sure to check in at month 2.  I plan to continue the challenge for a full year, which would be a lot of check-ins if I do so every week. :) Susie-That absolutely makes sense.  I call it eye fatigue.  I do think one can grow tired of items if they see them daily, regardless of if they are on a hanger or actually worn.  For myself, I've noticed it's too easy for me to repeat shop if I don't have everything in one spot.  Out of sight, out of mind. Susie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111944 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 15:59:52 +0000 Susie 1111944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love your continuing saga, Lisa, but I was sorry to hear about the hurricane! I struggle with keeping everything in one closet vs storing it elsewhere. There are some items that can be worn year round so they are all in the main closet of course. But I think I might prefer to have the out of season stuff elsewhere. While I understand the desire to be able to see what you have, I think having the out of season stuff hanging there contributes to my wanting to add new things because I get tired of looking at some of it, even if I am not wearing it. Does that make sense?? Alassë on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111932 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 15:44:34 +0000 Alassë 1111932@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Seconding Suz on looking forward to your posts. Anonymous on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111911 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 15:11:33 +0000 Anonymous 1111911@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I look forward to these DH challenge posts too Lisa! I'm so sorry to hear about your hurricane. What a disaster. And I can totally understand your purchase of the BR cream jeans. I hope they work out for you, because all blue jeans all the time can start to feel like you're wearing the same pair, even though you're not.  Suz on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111565 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 04:02:00 +0000 Suz 1111565@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, I can't tell you how much I am beginning to look forward to these instalments. And this week's certainly did not disappoint! Drama, conflict, random acts of god, and more shopping!! ;)  I didn't know whether to gasp or laugh helplessly about your closet hurricane. That certainly wasn't part of the original plan! But I guess it did prompt some re-thinking on everyone's part and I agree with LBD that the construction must have been flimsy in the first place. No doubt you will come up with a brilliant new organization and storage system eventually, but in the meantime I am impressed that you got things settled as quickly as you did in the labeled bags.  I was nodding along with you about your discovery that we actually need different weights of pullovers and layers in our winters. You are so right.This is why I jumped on ManidipaM's suggestion that we really have six or eight seasons and why I try to think of my wardrobe in that way. I only do two main "change outs" (putting one set of clothes into the second closet and taking out the other set) but throughout our seasons I do some "exchanging" from one closet to another depending on the temperature. And, like you, I have found that it often makes sense to have some "like" essentials in core neutral colours but varying weights. The thin sweater that is perfect for late September is essentially useless in mid-December/ January even if layered. But it will come back into use in March/ April.  I am 100% in favour of keeping the BR jeans if they fit and work in your wardrobe, and demoting a blue pair to riding. Like Angie, I regularly donate or otherwise pass along items that are not worn out but simply have lost their lustre for me. It might be that I wore them too many times; it might be that my style direction is changing -- either way, if they don't make me feel 100% fab, I let them go and make space for something new in the closet. That is how the 1 in 1 out policy can work! (Not that I am following it yet, LOL.)  Anonymous on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111561 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:59:32 +0000 Anonymous 1111561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, your experiment is so fascinating. I would also like to have all my clothing seasons in one closet, but until I do much more purging I won't be able to do it in my small one bar closet. There is not enough height to do two levels. I think I would get bored very quickly with a really small amount of clothing, but am learning that maybe that's because I don't edit often enough so as to keep things turning over and fresh. Sometimes I play "if Angie saw this, would she tell me to keep it or get rid of it?" Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111549 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:52:54 +0000 Lisa 1111549@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mo-*chuckling* Mo on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111543 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:50:42 +0000 Mo 1111543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I can attest to getting a lot of mileage out of downgraded tops for the 'at home' capsule.  Just so long as they are comfortable enough.  The red satin tank went right to consignment lol Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111536 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:48:08 +0000 Lisa 1111536@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Deb-That sounds like a great idea to start your gardening capsule.  Why purchase an entirely new wardrobe when one can assemble it from items that are still in good shape, but just falling out of favor for use in the main wardrobe capsule right? deb on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111531 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:46:10 +0000 deb 1111531@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Another good read! I think upgrading your gear (or downgrading) with the bootcuts makes perfect sense to me. I plan on doing something similar with my gardening clothes. Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111529 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:45:05 +0000 Lisa 1111529@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie-When the shelf fell, it woke me up, but DH was still sleeping.  Our poor furbaby looked like a cat from Halloween, puffy tail and arched back and all.  It's nice to hear that your items get passed on to a new home before they are worn out, with no regrets.  I think this is one of my next items to figure out...how long do I keep something before I pass it along?  I think tops are easier to grow weary of faster, because you generally always see your top half in a passing mirror or window.  But bottoms, for some reason I own far less in number and I seem to hold onto them longer.  They just take longer for me to grow tired of the look.  Do you find the same?  Four seasons clothing is a great topic, since I am on team always cold, I think it's easy for me to have a lot of crossover with my cool weather clothes so that I can also wear them in the summer because of a/c settings.  A few years back I owned very few short sleeve tops, because I rarely wear them on their own.  This has crept up in the past year or two and I need to keep a closer eye on how much I generally purchase for hot weather items.  It is easy to shop for them (usually much cheaper than say purchasing a cashmere sweater) but I really don't get much use out of them.  I have to stay more focused on what I really need and use rather than a fantasy life (I am just never going to be the gal in sleeveless summer dresses for the summer months).  La Belle Demimondaine-It's helpful to learn I am not the only one who had a hurricane in their closet. :)  It happened because the closets I was using were not designed to store clothes, so they did not have the center rods for extra support.  I am thinking that demoting a pair of jeans I am already using for gear will work out ok, but I have to really keep an eye on myself, because I do not want to start overbuying.  If I want to keep shopping for new things, then I will HAVE to start purging the boutique, otherwise I'm going to start getting buried under all the extra clothes.  Mo-You read correctly, I added summer items because my closet is split into two sides (it has 3 but I only use 2, the third rod is pretty much in the way so I only use tat one to hang my outfit up the night  before).  Before the challenge I had all my clothes in the one closet.  And it had taken me quite sometime to purge enough to do so.  I also like seeing the out of season items, because it stops me from making repeat purchases.  When it's stored for out of season, it also becomes out of sight out of mind for me.  And you are wise to hand heavy stuff on the ends.  I've learned my lesson! E-You are correct.  Part of the challenge is figuring out how much clothing I need for a personal happiness factor for amount and variety/remixing potential.  I think I was starting to forget about that part and be too literal, just focusing on the numbers themselves.  Thanks for the insight!  I also am happy to hear I am not the only one who prefers a 4 season wardrobe in one closet.  I know some people prefer to store out of season items, but it was always too much work for me.  And too easy for me to overbuy items because I didn't remember what I owned. E on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111518 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:33:01 +0000 E 1111518@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Eek! Sorry to hear about your closet problems: sounds to me like the rod/shelf weren't anchored properly, as I have a full rod of clothes plus a half rod full of heavy skirt & blazers hanging off that with no problems (I was very nervous at first with that configuration but got the ok from my handyman dad). DH should be unhappy with the builders/contracters. ;) I keep all of my clothes in my wardrobe year round, just rearranging the hangers/stacks and while occasionally it's annoying (mainly when my winter clothes are mocking me during our endless summers), for the most part I'm really happy with that system. I like being able to respond to the weather without any extra effort. I agree w LBD: using a pair of jeans for gear isn't cheating if the challenge is to figure out the ideal wardrobe configuration for your lifestyle! Mo on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111472 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:05:52 +0000 Mo 1111472@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ One main reason I organize my closet as I do is pure physics - light items in the middle, heavy ones on the end.  I think I did this subconsciously, but daughter of an engineer . . . well, you know.  I'm not sure I get why summer things are being added in deep winter?   Maybe I misread.  FWIW, I always keep all seasons together, whether I'm in FL or in Tahoe.  The sandals are across from the boots and the breezy tanks in there with the velvet pants.  I like not only knowing what I have, but seeing it.  Somehow that's different than remembering there is a black jacket in some storage place.  For me, anyway.  That said, I have under 125 clothing items and it's manageable to have them mostly in one place. Mary Beth (formerly LBD) on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111406 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 01:49:35 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1111406@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lisa, this is, again, a fascinating read!   Thank you for sharing your experiment and your thought processes with all of us!   You have certainly given me a lot of food for thought.   But let me share this with you... 1.   I, too, created a 'hurricane', and not in my own closet - but in DBF's closet.   And like your DH, he was not happy about it - until he bought and installed double-shelving/hanging units, and attached them properly to beams inside the walls (something the builders did not originally do).   I too, have done the Closet Walk of Shame to clean up the heaps of fallen and twisted clothing...   :D 2.   I have come up with every excuse there is to shop, and I always chuckle to myself when I see the other girls on the forum use "girl math" and not-fully-logical-reasoning to purchase and keep items.   But I think your reasoning for buying the BR pants is valid.   You have a specific need/idea that has been with you for awhile:  "And I’ve been saying for weeks that I’d love to lighten up my wardrobe with a light colored bottom" I don't think it is cheating to re-purpose an existing pair of jeans as work/gear/horseback riding.   It is assigning a better-quality garment to activities you spend a lot of time on, and I think it will give you even more enjoyment.   There is no rule in the world that says you can't wear something nice for work/gear/horseback riding, if you are good with it getting dirty.    Isn't that the point of style, and of having clothing - to wear it in all walks of life?   :) Angie on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111329 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 00:43:03 +0000 Angie 1111329@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh boy. The Hurricane. Never a dull moment, Lisa.  I pass on things that are not worn out every season. When I've had enough of the look, it's on to its next happy home for that item. I have a four season wardrobe too - although my Summer clothes are still very covered and not that breezy because I feel cold fast and it doesn't get hot in Seattle. The only items I wear year round are jeans, really.  Lisa on "DH Closet Challenge Recap-Week 6" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-6#post-1111291 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 23:30:06 +0000 Lisa 1111291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi, This is going to be an extra long post, as there were some interesting developments (hurricane in the boutique discussed about halfway down) that  came up. 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 5,<a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-5" rel="nofollow"> click here.</a> I'll do another recap in two weeks (week 8) as I think the cool/cold weather  wardrobe is set after this week. Reflections for Week 6 It can help to have multiple seasons in one closet. Living in a four season climate I used to store at least half of my wardrobe outside of my working closet.  And certainly in the middle of winter, I am not going to want to wear my shorts.  But sometimes we have swings in temperatures (25F one day, 50F the next) and it is helpful to have cool and cold weather items in the closet at the same time.  Before I started this challenge I had my entire 4 season wardrobe in my closet and it was helpful to grab a lighter weight item on the occasional warm weather day in the middle of winter.  Or I would grab a heavier cardigan for the a/c at work in the summer.  I am missing having all the seasons in one closet. Also, sometimes I see warm weather clothes in the stores right now.  Being able to easily see what I own helps me stay on track and not purchase items that are duplicates when I am tempted to shop for something out of season. I need season specific clothes. I am freezing in some of my outfits, even with thermals and fleece lined hose as my bottom layers.  Apparently you can only layer items so much before you need to shift to another material for warmth.  Some of my lighter weight knits worked  great for our cool weather days but are just not warm enough now that our temperatures have dropped, leading me to start adding in some pieces for cold weather. I don’t need too many season specific clothes. I have to be very careful with how many season specific items I own.  Since we do have four seasons, you don’t have too long to sport a season specific item before the weather shifts again.  This is one reason why I am able to get away with 2 pairs of shorts in our summer months.  We get roughly 3 months of hot weather, yet I only sport shorts on the weekends.  So that’s only 12 times I can wear shorts before they sit waiting for hot weather again.  And since I own two pairs, that’s only 6 times each!  I am currently repeating my tweed blazer as often as I am  comfortable doing so, since it will only be a few months before tweed will not work for the current weather or time of year.   I’m slowly growing my wardrobe. I realized that I have 4 knit tops that are not working for our cold weather, even with layering a thermal underneath and a blazer or cardigan on top.  Yet these tops  were ideal when we had our cool weather days.  So I am not returning them to the boutique, merely adding in some “replacement items” to round up the wardrobe for our cold weather. Here are the additions. Photo 1-Pattern for a pattern.  Ivory leopard pattern top that is three-quarter sleeves for the ivory patterned cardigan. Photo 2-Stripe for a solid.  Striped layering knit that is lightweight for a solid layering turtleneck. (I have four black turtlenecks so I figured I should probably start adding them into my current rotation!) Photo 3-Like color for like color.  Grey layering knit that is lightweight for grey layering knit that is heavier weight.  Grey is a big layering color for me, it’s one of the few softer colors I always see every year for cold months. Photo 4-Like style for like style.  Blue hoodie that is lightweight for a coral (orange?) hoodie that is heavier weight.  This coral hoodie is one of the only bright colored toppers I have in the boutique for cold weather.  Hurricane in the boutique. The boutique had a major problem this week.  The shelf fell.  Apparently the weight of all the clothes hanging from it plus all the clothes folded on top of it, was too much and it ripped the supports right out of the wall.  DH was NOT happy.   Unfortunately this just supports his thinking that I own too many clothes. Photo 5-Everything thrown onto the floor and onto one rod in the working closet, because the hurricane happened in the middle of the night and there was no time to fix the problem before going to work the next day. Photo 6-The relocated/organized boutique which is now sitting inside my working closet.  Not ideal but it will have to do.  I organized everything by categories, so that when I shop I can just grab the appropriate bag.  One reason why the “boutique” was working so well, was because I could not see the clothes everyday.  So I  maintained this concept by putting everything in opaque bags with labels and  covering the tops with tissue paper.  I also created a list of everything in the bags, this way I am not tearing everything apart if I realize I want to add a specific item.  Photo 7-My pre-shopping for spring/summer items.  I wanted to start the spring/summer the same way I started the challenge for fall/winter, by slowly  adding items one at a time.  However, I ran out of boutique storage space, so I had to pre-shop.  I selected roughly the same numbers of items that I currently have for fall/winter and will have to see how this goes a few months from now, when we enter our spring/summer seasons.  One thing I do like, is having all 4 seasons back inside one closet, even though it is a bit cluttered with all the boutique bags on the top shelves.  Apparently I got used to all that extra space in there! I shopped outside of the boutique, again. During <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dh-closet-challenge-recap-week-5" rel="nofollow">week 5</a>, I shopped in the stores and promptly returned the  items the very next day.  At the time I realized I wasn’t shopping for the “right items” and I purchased not one, but a whole bunch of NEW outfits.  This week I went shopping again!  Why would I do this when I have an entire bag of perfectly good jeans sitting in the boutique?  Because every single pair of jeans in the boutique, is blue.  One or two are a lighter or darker wash than the rest but they are all a shade of blue.  And I’ve been saying for weeks that I’d love to lighten up my wardrobe with a light colored bottom. So when <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/excellent-cream-jeans-full-length-from-br" rel="nofollow">Angie mentioned BR had cream</a> jeans on sale, I pounced.  I’m not sure what I’m going to do when they arrive.  None of my current bottoms are worn enough to need replacing, and I already know that 6 bottoms is my limit so I do not want to make an addition to this category.  Assuming the new jeans fit, I have a few options to pick from: <ol> <li>Return the jeans when they get here since there was no current “need” to replace any bottoms.  </li> <li>Keep them and figure out which bottom I am going to donate so that I can maintain one-in/one-out in the working closet.  </li> <li>I could technically just “return” a pair of bottoms to the boutique, but that feels like cheating.  I wouldn’t normally return used items to a store so why would I do that with the boutique?  Then the boutique will never get any smaller and at some point I’d prefer not to have a boutique at all!</li> <li>Demote a pair of jeans for gear use.  I have been using a pair of the skinny jeans as dual purpose (work and gear) and horseback riding in the winter with the slush and the mud can get really messy.  Actually there’s one pair I’ve been sporting often as gear already anyway, so this may be a good option.  But is this also cheating because again it is growing the size of the total wardrobe?  However, I would not wear the new cream jeans for riding (or any light color jean for that matter) because that is just not wise, so technically I would be down a pair of gear jeans if I do not demote a pair.</li> </ol> At the end of week 6, I had 51 items for cool/cold weather: 6 bottoms (no change) 2 hoodies (added one heavier weight for cold days) 11 toppers (this includes: pullover sweaters, blazers and cardigans; added one cardigan) 10 knits (added 3 heavier weight) 3 gear items (no change) 1 shirt (for layering; no change) 3 LS T’s (for layering; no change) 4 tanks (for layering; no change) 5 thermal layers (added one thermal bottom) 4 scarves (no change) 2 workout outfits (top and bottom; no change) Because of the hurricane, I have also added the following 32 items for warm/hot weather: 4 bottoms (To freshen up for spring/summer I’m adding in 3 new pairs; a boyfriend jean, a white bootcut jean, a cobalt jean, and a placeholder for a pair of white straight leg jeans when I finally find them.  I plan to carry over two bottoms from cool/cold weather to round this out to 6 total which has been working well so far.) 1 hoodie (A fun printed hoodie [it has pineapples on it] for weekends, plus I anticipate the lighter weight one from fall working well here if I need a second, or that one may become gear wear by then.) 6 toppers (this includes: blazers and cardigans; I added lightweight items here since I layer in a/c settings; black knit blazer, black printed bomber, green army jacket, navy kimono/cardigan [new item that has been on backorder for a while but I’m leaving a spot open for it], white cardigan, black cardigan.  I also plan to carry over the denim jacket from cool/cold weather clothes to round out this category to 7 items.) 6 knits (4 three-quarter sleeve [white cable, light grey cable, dark grey open stitch, navy tunic], and 2 long sleeve [navy, grey/mint stripe] ) 1 gear item (I switch to bootcut jeans for spring/summer riding but that’s as far as I have thought this through so far) 5 shirts/blouses (I anticipate the white shirt being worn out by end of winter so will replace that with a white/black dotted blouse.  Also adding a few more because they work well for warmth in a/c settings; black/white stripe blouse, black tiger print, denim, sheer black three-quarter sleeve]) 2 LST’s (I anticipate being able to carry over some of the lighter eight one’s form cool/cold weather so I only add two printed one’s here, one is actually three-quarter sleeve) 5 SS T’s and SS Tops (new category for spring/summer, LST’s will be replaced with SS T’s, they can either layer under a topper or stand alone; 3 t-shirts [one black, one white, one purple printed], and a peplum top and a white/black printed knit) X tanks (for layering; no additions yet here, I’m going to try to carry over from cool/cold weather items before adding here) X scarves (haven’t thought this far yet) X workout outfits (top and bottom) (haven’t thought this far yet) 2 shorts (new category for spring/summer, this number worked well last year so no change) I'll try to post outfits soon and thanks for reading! Edit to add: And here are th<a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-for-dh-closet-challenge-week-6#post-1112646" rel="nofollow">e outfits.</a>