https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:57:18 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567449 Sun, 04 Oct 2015 21:50:29 +0000 Karie 1567449@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You're so right, Gigi. That's why I decided to store the out of season clothes in the basement. At first I wasn't going to, but I'm glad I did because it puts the in-season stuff front and center.&nbsp;</p> <p>Carole, I've never lived in a large home so I often feel like I'm constantly de-cluttering. But oh how I'd love to have a bigger closet!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567428 Sun, 04 Oct 2015 20:22:58 +0000 Gigi 1567428@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This was an enjoyable read! Thank you.&nbsp;I have to say, you have organized that closet extremely well! You have done an excellent job making the most of your space.</p> <p>I have a very small closet (I live in a small one-bedroom apartment), so I am learning how to keep my clothes to a manageable amount. I have a dresser too, so I have been folding up my out-of-season clothes and storing them in the dresser. That way I don't feel like the closet is bursting at the seams, and I don't have to look at the out-of-season stuff. It is really a brain drain to have to sift through all the stuff you *can't* wear in order to find the stuff you *can*. And it's even more annoying to find that something that could have been worn wasn't worn because the out-of-season stuff made the item difficult to find. Grr. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567383 Sun, 04 Oct 2015 17:45:17 +0000 lyn67 1567383@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanx for the great read, Karie:-). Oh, and I will have to mounch on Sally's comment: "We are more fashionable now but in many ways less stylish." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567345 Sun, 04 Oct 2015 16:32:20 +0000 Carole 1567345@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Light bulb moment! Bigger closets bigger houses=more stuff. Maybe that's why my wardrobe was crazy...we've always lived in homes with large closets. It's so easy to keep bringing things in. So happy I've finally figured this out.</p> <p>Thanks for the great post! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567212 Sun, 04 Oct 2015 05:19:04 +0000 Karie 1567212@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you everyone, for your insightful responses.&nbsp;</p> <p>Suz, you're completely right when you said that getting rid of the substandard stuff offers clarity.&nbsp;I was thinking today as I was coming up with some outfits for work next week, just how easy it is now to create new outfits. You would think it would be harder, because there all after all less clothes - but it's not.</p> <p>Beth Ann, my goal is to keep only the 10's, but there are still some 8's and 9's in there that are on the list for replacement. Assisted living community indeed! I have some pieces that are quite a few years old. Those are the ones I love, and I'm not getting rid of them unless I have to.</p> <p>Bijou, I've been very ruthless with my wardrobe. In fact, I got rid of two more items today!</p> <p>JAileen and Lara, you bring up a good point that many women in that era were stay at home moms and didn't need business / larger wardrobes. My mother was at home, but she was an excellent seamstress and her closet was bursting at the seams! As soon as my brother moved out, she moved my dad's stuff into my brother's closet.</p> <p>Elly, people probably did re-wear their clothing more back then. I wear both dressy and casual every day. And Bonnie G, I teach in a city school where a lot of my students aren't all that clean, so I put my clothes in the laundry every day. I only actually do laundry once or twice a week, so I do need more.</p> <p>Sterling and Firecracker, I had all 4 seasons in one closet right up until I turned the heat on for the first time yesterday! Then I said, "I can't look at this sleeveless stuff" and put the summer clothes in the basement closet. Once they turn the heat on at work, it gets very hot inside, so I did leave out a few sleeveless shirts that could be worn under blazers.</p> <p>Firecracker, I did it in stages over several weekends. Throughout the summer, the entire house got edited! Aida and Firecracker, paring down isn't as hard as it seems, and it really is like a breath of fresh air injected into your closet!</p> <p>Thistle, when I look at the quality of an item I look at the fabric and the seaming. The fabric should have a good weight/hand to it, lay flat and not look like it's pilling or fuzzing up. The seams should all be finished with no fraying and the stitching should be even and straight.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sally, I love what you said: "We are more fashionable now but in many ways less stylish." Wow. Perfectly stated. My mother wore beautiful hats, suits, and gloves every Sunday to church. I remember my mother's hat boxes. Yes there were beautiful hats inside, but even the boxes were gorgeous. Big, round, pretty boxes, each embossed with the dept. store's name on it.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you all for sharing your stories and wisdom!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567186 Sun, 04 Oct 2015 03:27:07 +0000 Beth Ann 1567186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My move gave me the impetus to edit some.&nbsp; My closet is of decent, but unremarkable size.&nbsp; I'm helped by the fact that my DH keeps his clothes in his office (originally a 4th bedroom).&nbsp; I don't have to share!&nbsp; However, there are no "spare room closets" either. </p> <p>I realize that I have a lot of 8/80's in my closet.&nbsp; These are good, but not great items (hence the "8" or sometimes "7").&nbsp; The 80 stands for 80 percent of wear -- these clothes are elderly, but still functioning fairly well.&nbsp; My closet has a thriving assisted-living community!</p> <p>I'm trying to buy carefully this year, since I don't know where I will end up career wise.&nbsp; That means mostly casual pieces that replace pieces that need to go to the old-clothes home for sure! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567116 Sun, 04 Oct 2015 00:34:14 +0000 Bijou 1567116@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I grew up in the 70's and 80's and my Mum had a huge walk in closet and another wardrobe and kept all her clothes (just in case) she wanted to wear them again. &nbsp;She still has &nbsp;many of these pieces today. &nbsp;I try to be much more ruthless with my wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567091 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 22:58:52 +0000 JAileen 1567091@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I grew up in a house built in the 50s. My parents shared an eight foot long closet and I remember it was very tidy and kind of empty looking, actually. My father wore a suit to work. My mother was a housewife, like virtually every mother in our neighborhood. She dressed sort of like Laura Petrie - no housedresses for her. She did have a few nice dresses, but not many. No wonder the closet was empty. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567085 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 22:07:08 +0000 Aida 1567085@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A great read Karie, thank you for sharing. GOOD on you for that big closet edit,I bet you felt soooo much fresher afterwards. My husband just re-did our closet, which is a modest walk-in, and we purposely designed it with the idea of leaving a lot of open space. Sort to force an air of openness, even if there are a lot of clothes in there (mostly mine, I assure you). And now that I have all this space, and everything finally has a home, all I want&nbsp; is to pare down (but I hate actually, you know, doing it). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567051 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 20:17:18 +0000 Sal 1567051@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Karie. I found it fascinating.<br /> I share a small walk in closet with DH, and we each have our own chest of drawers. I swap seasonally about 1/5 of my things and about 1/10 of DH. My Mum and Grandmothers had similar size closets in their homes although their closets were long and poorly designed with no shoe racks or half hangers. I would buy more clothes than them, but churn through them quicker as they were/are hoarders.</p> <p>I do think we are more fashionable now but in many ways less stylish. My paternal grandmother wore wonderful suits, hats, colours and patterns. </p> <p>We can learn a lot from their approach! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567037 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 19:50:46 +0000 Anonymous 1567037@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My parents' home was built in the 1920s and I remember the tiny closets. But way back when, many women were SAHM and did not need a business wardrobe. I clearly remember my mom always wore dresses (she always made her own) and blouses and skirts. (She never wore pants until she turned 70) Cardigan sweaters, heels and flats and only owned a couple of handbags. One winter coat and a spring coat. In the winter all the warm weather clothes were stored away in containers or the basement cedar closet and then in the summer all the winter clothes were packed away.</p> <p>The one thing I can say was great about the small closet is that you wore everything you owned at least once a week and replaced garments only when you wore them out. But the quality of clothing back then was great compared to today. My mom owned a Chanel suit that she wore often and she still had when she passed away at age 90. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567026 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 19:18:56 +0000 Suz 1567026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fabulous insights, Karie!! Applause!!&nbsp;</p> <p>I think just getting rid of the substandard stuff offers a lot of clarity. Good for you!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1567022 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 19:11:58 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1567022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Karie, thanks for this very fun and enlightening read!<br />I could use the discipline of that small closet. I have a closet that is about the size of the smallest bedroom in our house. Come to think of it, maybe a little bigger. Regardless of the size of my closet, though (I've had much smaller ones in the past), I find I always expand my clothes/shoes/bags to fit and then overflow the allotted space. How does that happen?<br />I like the idea of doing off-season storage and have done it in some places I've lived. Sterling's point really makes a lot of sense--why look at sleeveless tops when it's way below freezing? I like the simplicity of having everything out year-round, though, and in my temperate climate it makes sense. <br />I'm still looking forward to implementing my recent style goal: no more mediocre clothes. It's going to be a huge task, and I'm procrastinating on it daily. <br />How did you get started?? Did you plow through in one day or take it in stages? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1566998 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 17:37:27 +0000 Thistle 1566998@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't drink coffee while nursing, but my herbal tea is still hot!</p> <p>I hear you on this. I look at the closets in my grandmother's home that was built in the 1946, and I can't be,I've how little space there is as we consider whether or not to buy a bigger house as we are feeling cramped now that the two girls have joined us. </p> <p>Yeah, times are very different. My "little" house has twice the square footage that my grandmother raised 5 kids in.</p> <p>I am still figuring this journey out. I have been less than thrilled with some higher end EF purchases. As I am cusp/plus sized, my choices for "better" stuff is pretty limited.</p> <p>I reall need a class on knowing how to spot quality. I just can't tell as I am not sure I've ever had the good stuff. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1566995 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 17:21:19 +0000 Anonymous 1566995@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hear you -- my house was built in 1963, with closets that are similar to yours.&nbsp; In fact, most of the places I've lived have had closets like this.&nbsp; The few times I've had large walk-in closets were very dangerous for my budget, so, although I complain about my claustrophobic closets, they've probably saved me a ton of money.&nbsp; I guess I'll continue my makeshift shoe and bag storage and my one-in, one-out philosophy, like you do.&nbsp; I've finally realized those closets are blessings in disguise! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1566988 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 16:59:30 +0000 Maneera 1566988@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a lovely read!</p> <p>My house was not built in 1960s, but the closets are still teeny tiny. It's an apartment, so you make do with the closet space that was left there by the contractor of the building! </p> <p>Like Sterling, I can't look at out of season clothes, even if I had the space (which I don't). I also like a very neat wardrobe that's NOT overstuffed. Yet, I can't see everything in my wardrobe, because I have just 1 small hanging rod. Everything else must be folded and kept onto shelves. Thank God I have a very good memory. I don't buy clothes and forget them! </p> <p>So I use my very small closet in the bedroom for everyday wear clothes. Pls lingerie and PJs. I use the closet in the guest room for dressier clothes, as I have a longer hanging rod in there. That's where my dresses and skirts live in summer, and my coats and Blazers in winters. And I also have a single door closet in the guest room which is built for housing bed linen. But that's where my bag collection lives Because I have THAT many. As for shoes, I have deep shoe drawers built underneath all closets. (Who stores anything else at the bottom, anyway?) That's where shoes stay - in their boxes, piled neatly and categorized into different drawers by different types (heeled pumps in one, flat sandals in one, loafers in one, wedges in one etc). My husband has the two drawers underneath his two door closet (I mean, the man has 5 pairs of shoes. He doesn't need more space!). I have 5 of these drawers. Plus I have a separate small 3-drawer chest that stores only ballet flats. We keep our everyday walking sneakers (we have 2 pairs each) on an open shoe rack in my study area. I store away boots in summers. </p> <p>What my closet has taught me? Don't BUY more stuff! I am serious here ---- for someone with my kind of lifestyle, I don't need so many things. And I'm slowly trying to cut down --- buy less, purge more. If I don't feel good in an outfit, it goes out the door. If something doesn't feel comfy after a day's wear, out that goes too. If the colour looks only meh, that's gone too. And I am not adding at the rate I'm purging, so I think I'm headed in the right direction. </p> <p>What I really want to do now is come up with 4 to 5 uniforms. I have too much variety in silhouette in my wardrobe. I don't need that or want that. I want variety, but in tried and tested combinations. I'm working on the uniforms....but it may take a while. I'm hoping that by next year, I will have only a few silhouettes I wear, and options within them. That will also greatly control my wardrobe numbers. </p> <p>Phew....I did write an essay here! But I'm glad I did....it clarified things in my own mind! Thanks for this, Karie! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1566979 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 16:16:40 +0000 Bonnie 1566979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Last year I moved to a new house with a walk in closet. First one I've ever had. I had been travelling for over ten years, so had a very small wardrobe. Now, with a more stay at home life, I could finally <br />have a real wardrobe. I started looking at blogs, loved Angie's style and advice, and began shopping following advice to start with basics, limit colors, find a style, etc. I've gotten to the point where I feel I have the number of clothes I need for the life I lead. I've made some mistakes along the way, and am trying to forgive myself and move forward. I'm able to fit all of my clothes in my closet (I live with two seasons, very hot &nbsp;summers with mild winters). My life with a small closet was much like what you're experiencing now. You've come up with some great solutions. As a primary teacher, I needed practical clothes that could be washed daily. I had a few dressy outfits, and casual clothes for weekend wear. I really didn't need much to live my life and a small closet worked. Now I have a big closet that is full without being crowded and think of my wardrobe more as a hobby than a necessity.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1566965 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 15:37:28 +0000 Anonymous 1566965@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great read. &nbsp;</p> <p>My primary lesson is that my closets must fit the clothes that make up my working wardrobe. &nbsp;I admire women that can hang all four seasons in a single closet. &nbsp;That will never every happen in my life (unless I live in a one season climate). &nbsp;</p> <p>And it is not just about the size of the closet. &nbsp;I genuinely don't want to see clothes I can't wear that season. &nbsp;Why look at sleeveless tops when it is 20 below zero? &nbsp;It makes no sense to me. &nbsp;</p> <p>Also I have to see every single option immediately when I open the closet door. &nbsp;If things get pushed back or hidden they are lost to me. &nbsp;I won't even remember I own them, much less wear them. &nbsp;</p> <p>My Mother and her two sisters grew up in a tiny house that had <u>one</u> reach-in closet. &nbsp;Three teenage girls. &nbsp;One closet. &nbsp;I can't even imagine how they did it. &nbsp;Yet they always seemed to be dressed so well in pictures. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1566960 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 15:32:55 +0000 Elly 1566960@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My coffee is still hot! Does that mean I'm a fast reader? </p> <p>I'm glad you wrote this post-- it fits in with some good points others have been bringing up about clothing.&nbsp; </p> <p>I can see why you feel cramped in that closet. It is a small one and I would miss the space to hang dresses. On the other hand, every bit of clothing I own would fit in there just perfectly. I have about the same amount of clothing today that my grandmother had in the 1960s-- maybe a bit less (gma has always been a bit of a clothes horse). I have right around 60 pieces, plus 10 pairs of shoes and a handful of gear and PJs. </p> <p>You know what? It isn't enough. In the 1960s people re-wore clothing more. Maybe they came home from an office job and immediately took off their suits and aired them and put on a house-dress. Maybe they were housewives who wore aprons, or farmers who didn't mind re-wearing dirty things because they were going to go get animal soil on them the next day too. </p> <p>Me, I work in a classy casual environment where I do a mix of physical and office work and have to show up at work clean, but usually leave work at least a little dirty. Plus, it seems silly to change out of dirty clothes for 3 more hours of equally casual activities. Working 40+ hours a week, taking care of my house and partner and aging parents, commuting 10 hours a week means I don't have time to wash clothes every three days. So, I need more casual clothing. </p> <p>I totally agree on all fronts-- everything in your closet should at the very least fit, be in good condition, and serve you well! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lessons-learned-from-my-1960s-closet#post-1566939 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 14:58:14 +0000 Karie 1566939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You'll need a cup of coffee for this one. This post has been in my head a long time, and since I'm still relaxing with my second cup of coffee, now's as good a time as any to write it.</p> <p>For starters, my home was built in 1960, so the closets are VERY small. Why? Well, I'm guessing there wasn't much "fast fashion" in 1960 and comparing the cost of what you wore to the money you made meant clothing was more of an investment. Emotional shopping? Probably not so much. Needs based shopping? Probably pretty strong. On-line shopping? Most people probably didn't even know what a computer was.&nbsp;</p> <p>"So what is this, a history lesson?" You're probably wondering. Nope, but I've been thinking of all that in relation to where my wardrobe is headed. This past summer, I did a HUGE closet edit, the biggest ever (pic 2). Totally filled up the SUV and donated a ton of clothes. Everything that doesn't fit, semi fits, sort of fits, is GONE. If I stood in front of the mirror and said, "I'm not sure about this," I said BYE-BYE to it. If the shoes flopped around on my feet, they flopped right over to the donate bag.</p> <p><b>The Lessons:</b></p> <p><b><u>Cost vs. Fast Fashion vs. Sales</u></b>:<br />Nordstrom, I love you! F21, I love you too! J. Crew is having a sale? Start the car! OK, we have to come to a compromise here. <i>It has to fit / be able to fit with alterations perfectly. It has to be decently made and not look like it's going to fall apart. No more looking at price tags and saying, "Well, it's inexpensive so I'll just buy it."</i></p> <p><b><u>Emotional vs. Needs Based Shopping and the Dreaded "B" Word</u></b>:<br />I'm not an emotional shopper, which is a good thing. I just want everything I see, which is a bad thing. So what to do? Oh this is a hard one. <i>Budget</i>.<i> I'll (try) to (no really I will) stick to a budget</i>. <i>And a list of items my wardrobe is lacking</i>, like dress pants. Well, maybe it'll be the list + one additional item (after all, nobody's perfect - what was that "B" word again?).</p> <p><b><u>The Size of The Thing</u></b>:<br />Yes, we're still talking about the closet &nbsp;It's a small closet, and because there is no long space to hang dresses, I do keep those on a rack in the spare room. The closet in the pic has one vertical shelving unit, three hanging racks, and two shelves above the racks, and currently is showing all four seasons of clothes. Out of season clothes will move to a basement closet. <i>I am now following the "one in, one out" rule.&nbsp;</i></p> <p><b><u>The Shoes, What About The Shoes</u>?<u></u></b><br />Oh, oops, did I forget to take a pic of those? Confession: I'm a shoe girl. In season shoes are stored on stacking racks in an alcove behind the bedroom door, out of season ones are stored in the basement. &nbsp;I did get rid of a few that were worn out or ill fitting. There's a lot left, and I just added more. That's all I'm saying about that :)</p> <p>If you're read all this, wow, thanks! You've done better than I would have (and your coffee must be cold by now). So what are some lessons you've learned about what clothes should live in your closets?</p> </p>