https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:56:48 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045373 Sat, 05 Oct 2013 09:14:19 +0000 fieldmouse 1045373@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My closet tends to be divided into always-wear and never-wear items. The items I really love and that make me feel good I wear all the time (I don't care about variety much) and for years. And then there are the dud purchases that just sit there until I muster the energy to get rid of them. So the challenge is instead to avoid those dud buys... I haven't quite mastered that yet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045296 Sat, 05 Oct 2013 03:31:06 +0000 Sveta 1045296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Why oh why did you have to start this thread, Una? Now I am berating myself for having too many clothes in my closet and hastily putting everything from my recent order into the return pile &lt; then maybe &nbsp;I will sneak back at night and pull something out while my other responsible "half" isn't looking&gt;<br />Seriously though it is an interesting question. Some of my favorite items are 3 years old not and still favorites (Danier leather jackets, I am looking at you!). In general I&nbsp;would say that outerwear, jackets, trousers&nbsp;(!) &nbsp;and footwear are worn the most often. Tops, dresses and skirts qare less so though I did wear my white button down into the ground and had to replace it this year.<br />I also tend to purge all the time and the items I don't wear often are the first candidates for the purge. usually it is the fit, quality or comfort issues which prevents me from wearing them often and enjoy but sometimes it is the style...<br />I started to keep a simple Excel spreadsheet to count the number of wears for each item by month. I have been doing it since this spring and it already proved very useful to me as I also use it to mark potential purge candidates or items I want to salvage. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045279 Sat, 05 Oct 2013 02:33:14 +0000 Beth Ann 1045279@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Since YLF I have replaced many items in my wardrobe, but I doing far better at wearing a high percentage of them frequently.&nbsp; Like Joy, I usually expect an average of 3 years from items in my closet.&nbsp; Knits are shorter lived than pants and jackets, of course.&nbsp; I still find, however, that I don't like repeating things --- not just outfits but items, too often.&nbsp; I'm trying to "get over this," while honoring my desire for variety.&nbsp; </p> <p>I think it's time for me to analyze a little more closely what goes unworn. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045139 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 23:35:53 +0000 shedev 1045139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been using good old paper and pen to track wears since June. Over the summer, Even the stuff I felt like I lived in only got about 10 wears. I'm still working out the numbers, like what are good CPW, total wears, #s of items in total, # of items in catagories, what price point works best for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045062 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 21:19:53 +0000 Aziraphale 1045062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mo and Una, thanks for these joint threads. &nbsp;They are eye-opening. &nbsp;I'm going to use this as a way to see which categories deserve more spendy items.</p> <p>For me the items that pass the 52 wears per year mark are:</p> <p>- sunnglasses<br />- handbag<br />- raincoat<br />- overcoat<br />- gray toque&nbsp;<br />- certain pairs of short boots<br />- certain pairs of shoes<br />- dark wash&nbsp;straight leg jeans<br />- favourite skinny jeans<br />- charcoal "boyfriend" cardigan</p> <p>(I'm not including bras and workout gear in this list, since they don't count as "fashion" for me).</p> <p>There are other items that don't get to 52, but that get worn a lot in certain seasons, like leather flip flops and and wellies. &nbsp;My favourite black tee shirt gets worn 52 times, in a sense, but it's actually not just one tee shirt -- I have six of them. &nbsp;Six identical ones! &nbsp;Because just one would get worn out too quickly.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045056 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 21:18:01 +0000 Anonymous 1045056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kiki, I love your idea of a personal barcode scanner to track&nbsp;wear of items.&nbsp; someone should develop a smartphone app for that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045037 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:57:24 +0000 KikiG 1045037@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm actually sort of proud of myself when I put something into the "giveaway" pile because it is showing unacceptable visible wear.&nbsp; That means I really, really got value out of the item.&nbsp; And I do, deliberately, buy a few trend-forward items, inexpensively, that I know perfectly will are unlikely to make it beyond a year, due to quality.&nbsp;I am thinking of a very open knit sweater, all of $30 from JCP, that now needs to be retired after hard service last year with jeans outfits. </p> <p>I'm trying to think of an easy way, short of a spreadsheet, for me to track this instead of just by gut feeling.&nbsp; Wouldn't it be nifty to have every item bar coded, and a scanner in your closet? What rich data that would be! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045022 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:30:09 +0000 Isabel 1045022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I found it and read it ( Mo's numbers analysis ) . &nbsp;I was utterly shocked at how little one would wear a piece. &nbsp;This then made me think that no wonder things seem to look dated so quickly. &nbsp;I hang onto something for ever because I don't feel that I have worn it enough, but by the time that I feel I have, it is 2060.&nbsp;</p> <p>Great excercise.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times/page/2#post-1045013 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:08:54 +0000 Isabel 1045013@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I missed this . &nbsp;I will have to go back and read it. &nbsp;It sounds fascinating. &nbsp;I love the idea of figuring out how many times I actually wear something. &nbsp;I have had a sneaking suspicion for months that I have too much stuff.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044963 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:03:16 +0000 Anonymous 1044963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have just inventoried my winter clothes, work and casual. There is no way I could hit 26 let alone 52, which means (and I knew this) I have far too many</p> <p>I did this partly to make myself aware of what I had and partly to figure out cost per wear. I hope to make a cull of the closet in the spring when I see what I really wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044876 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:36:03 +0000 Vicki 1044876@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm a bit like Mo in that the more I have, the less I wear them, and a few favorites shove everything else out of the way for a time, because I get in to a routine.</p> <p>Seeing Angie's ensembles helps me to think outside the box, so I can begin the counter on a few more items. &nbsp;:)</p> <p>Sweaters will now start getting some action whereas my boots and booties have been very busy all year long. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044805 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 14:57:58 +0000 unfrumped 1044805@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mo, I especially like your identifying some approximate number of items in a category. That is the bottom line and the connection to the "value" or wears or whatever. </p> <p>There are different ways to think about it, but it overlaps with capsule concept, using capsule in all its interations. "Hot weather work tops capsule". Your cold-weather stand-alone tops. Early fall capsule. Date night capsule. Cashmere sweater capsule. Cardigan capsule! Winter boots capsule. 2-week work outfit capsule.</p> <p>The numbers of items, and/or outfits, are different for different folks, but taking it all together, there'll be a range in which we can start to see items languishing with little wear. And it will vary according to the occasion- or use-capsule. The Canadian fabbers can utilize larger winter boot capsules than can I. I can use boots --mostly short, but boots/bootie--for&nbsp;5-6&nbsp;months of&nbsp;the year, but in the other months they start to be too hot or just look &nbsp;too covered up and non-seasonal. And even in winter I may not want to wear boots every day. That sort of thing.</p> <p>Then add in the turnover factor. A certain turnover time is not right or wrong but it does affect the $$ factor! So if I determine I have a high desire for "fresh" items in one or more categories, I'll need to watch the total numbers, or cost, or both, carefully in order to achieve my goal of having some fun there.&nbsp;If I can identify other areas where I like to have "keepers" or&nbsp;can find items with&nbsp;better longevity, that adds stability and helps&nbsp;keep costs down or&nbsp;frees up $$ for better quality&nbsp;or for the&nbsp;trendy items.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm also starting to noodle over how I can translate that into budget categories, which some people do already--x for great "essentials", x for trendier updates, x for mid-season refresher. I don't think I'll actually get down to the penny on that, but just thinking that that's kind of how shopping works. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044790 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 14:30:29 +0000 Mo 1044790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This all came about in an effort to see how much is too much. &nbsp;By crunching the numbers I realized that once I start to amass any more than about a dozen items in any one category (cold weather stand alone tops, for instance) the opportunity to actually wear them decreases. &nbsp;By using 52 wears as a barometer for the total lifespan of an average item, I found that with bi-weekly wearing over a half year season, these items would get worn out after 4 years at this frequency of wear.<br />My problem was/is that I don't get this much wear out of my things and I usually am tired of it at about the 4 year mark. &nbsp;Some things I keep longer, some get tossed after 2 years, but again, it's a safe average. &nbsp;Therein lies the rub - I'm ready to be done with the item, but it hasn't gotten a fair amount of wear. &nbsp;I'm purging before wearing out things. &nbsp;<br />The more things I have, the less I get to actually wear them. &nbsp;I wanted to see what was 'enough', at least for me. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044779 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 14:10:42 +0000 donnat 1044779@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Work out wear, underwear, my columbia puffer coat, some high boots.<br /> That would do it. Nothing else would see that high wear factor. I am happy if i get 20 wears. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044754 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:46:59 +0000 Glory 1044754@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mo got us all wondering and counting. I have loads of things that get so little use and I bet those are mostly copycat buys (have seen it on someone and they look so great I want it to) aka lemmingitis.<br />I also have sales goggles and think great deal - not returnable when my sense returns to me.<br />And then... the fantasy life. Yep - I guess that is what pinterest could be used for :)<br />Oh, I also tend to duplicate items I do like. I am not sure where I picked up that crazy notion. I now remind myself that the shelves will not be empty later.&nbsp;<br />But winter coats, winter boots, jeans etc. These get tons of use. I should list out the high use items and make those my investment pcs. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044746 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:40:40 +0000 Lisa 1044746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Workout wear, footwear, jeans, and coats hit 52 and beyond easily for me.&nbsp; Layering tops, t-shirts, really any of my knitwear, doesn't run that high before it needs to be passed on or I just tire of it.&nbsp; Eventually I would like all my items to hit higher numbers but that's still a work in progress.&nbsp; I anticipate this winter season all my boots (except one new pair of booties) to break the 100 mark. All of the high number items are 3 years or older.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044722 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:22:31 +0000 cloud9 1044722@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In honestly I'm not sure I have anything that gets 52 wears in one year (besides the underpinnings or coats, shoes, bags). A piece of clothing has a typical life cycle in my wardrobe:<br /> - fresh off the rack- 1st year: At best weekly for a season. At most 6 months, which is 26 Times. After that either season change, or I will be tired of it if wearing it weekly for 6 months!!<br /> - 2nd 6 month period - 1st year: Typically wrong season, so hardly would get to wear it, maybe a handful. So 6 times.<br /> - 2nd -3rd year: Depending on the condition of the item, I may wear it more or less. regardless, I never have anything that I wear weekly that's at least a year old. There is always some new favorite. At best once every two weeks, so 13 times, plus a few times off season, round up to 20 times each year.</p> <p> So 26+6+20+20, grand total of 72 for three years, and that being the best case. In reality probably even less, I think 52 wears over 3 years probably is More likely. Any item definitive has diminished return (frequency of wearing). </p> <p>And these are just quality items in the favorites category that actually last, not to mention the doesn't-quite-work orphans, or the quick-to-fall apart/pill/stain/shrink variety.</p> <p>Like i mentioned in Mo's thread, I have been semi conscious about all this. Thus I'm really only adding new items Only if they really catch my eyes AND practical for my lifestyle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044531 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 04:10:47 +0000 MsLuna 1044531@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me it would be uncomfortable, non-walkable shoes (working on curbing this pretty footwear collection addiction because my feet killing me these days!), jeans (some of them don't suit me - like a pair of BF's), leggings. </p> <p>I've been experimenting a lot with my style lately and I seriously have to stop purchasing things I can't commit to (like pretty uncomfy shoes and styles that don't suit me or match my personality). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044529 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 04:04:29 +0000 Elly 1044529@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Uh . . . other than a few tops that have some issue, my 4 dresses, and my "interview" clothes, by the time clothes in my closet are 2 years old they have all seen 52 wears or have been pitched or purged because they were worn out or have some fatal flaw, like a zipper that crawls. Pretty much everything falls into the category of worn out or 52+ or into the category of failures with 5-10 wears or less. Sometimes I will give something that is very seasonal a 3rd year to catch up to the 52 wears. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044515 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 03:47:07 +0000 Anonymous 1044515@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is really food for thought. Unfrumped's comment "Then, is it just for one year? Does it look like it'll still be in the picture for 2 years? What items really go on to a 3rd year?" Had me thinking about this since a turned over my entire wardrobe a few years ago. In Year 1, I tend to save the new (or new-to-me) item, working with it to form outfits that work and possibly that means buying something to wear with it. Year 2 means that it is worn regularly and enjoyed. Year 3 it may start feeling dated to me unless a new way of using it is found. If it is packed away for Year 4, I may not be very happy to see it when it's season rolls around. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044441 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 02:05:46 +0000 DonnaF 1044441@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I live in the SF Bay Area.&nbsp; Unlike everyone else's experience, my true outerwear like my trench rarely gets worn.&nbsp; I think I need more vests, since my recently purchased utility vest seems to be the right weight to keep me warm without being OTT.&nbsp; Will have to scout boys' departments for dressy vests.</p> <p>Workout wear and underwear get more than 52 wears.&nbsp; Other stuff not so much. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044389 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 00:56:38 +0000 ironkurtin 1044389@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have bags and boots which have definitely passed 52 wears.</p> <p>I have an old sweater of my dad's I sleep in which has surely done its duty. </p> <p>Workout gear has definitely been used and reused. I just now tossed out a tank that predates my daughter. She is 9.</p> <p>Other things though, I just am not wearing enough. Some items get a pass for being pretty and making me happy that they exist, though. Even if I only wear them once a year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044298 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 22:13:53 +0000 rae 1044298@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>52 times..at least once a week on average over a year. As of now definitely my report booties, michael kors agate print dress, fergie booties (worn lots more last year with different job!), black docs, worishofer sandals, now retired sofspots huaraches, karen millen coat. On track fo this year: black shrug cardi, brahmin, tr bf jeans, gibson blazers, olivia moon skirt, timberland booties,yoox skinnies. Hopfuls include burberry trench and ugt boots!<br /> This is so much better than the past, when I would buy and purge weekly due to flea market binges! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044296 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 22:01:48 +0000 Amy 1044296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I keep most of my things for a rather long time, so they usually get a lot of wear. The main exceptions are pumps (I buy them thinking they would be staples for my office job, but it's usually too wet to wear them here) and my faux fur jacket and faux fur vest. I LOVE those, even though they're not every day wear.</p> <p>Lesson: stop buying pumps </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044277 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 21:31:36 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 1044277@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Workout gear, pj's, undies, commuting shoes and boots, trench coats and winter coats, jeans, shorts, cami's in white, black, ivory, taupe (other colors not so much), silk blend short sleeve shells in ivory, taupe, navy - all get tons of wear. I do make a point of wearing everything in my closet at least a couple times a year and I keep things for several years before passing on - but yes, there's a lot of things to rotate through. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044273 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 21:17:39 +0000 Suz 1044273@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Though I've not been of a spreadsheet mentality until now, I'm sort of tempted to start keeping track of wears -- for new items as I buy. Because it's really impossible to estimate how many times I've worn some things. I <b>think</b> I&nbsp;know for sure some have reached the magic 52, but <b>do</b> I really know? Or does it just feel like that because I am sick of them? ;-)&nbsp;</p> <p>Like, say...winter coats. I've had two of my coats for two years and one for one. I am 100% sure that I wore that last one more than 52 times last year. (Oh, I love my VC colourblock pea coat!!) I have certainly worn my puffer that many times as well. But my beloved red wool coat? I'm not sure. It is dressier -- hence it does not get as much wear in my life. On the other hand, it is no where near worn out and I am no where near sick of it. So it has many wears to go.&nbsp;</p> <p>My workout wear -- no question. My jeans -- no question there, either, except for select pairs that turn out not to be as wonderful as I'd imagined when I bought them.&nbsp;</p> <p>Winter boots...again. These get lots of wear.&nbsp;</p> <p>But everything else? It's truly debatable.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044255 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 20:50:16 +0000 Diana 1044255@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I have a decently large closet but I also keep things for a long time so many items in it have probably reached and exceeded the 52 wear mark.&nbsp; These include:</p> <p>--a good number of shoes - the comfiest ones for sure.&nbsp; <br />--outerwear - wool, trench, and my black leather moto <br />--handbags - I tend to use one handbag for about 2 work weeks in a row because I'm too lazy to do a daily switch, so that's 10 wears each time!<br />--some of my favorite jeans<br />--bras<br />--probably some of the many black tees that I own, if they don't fall apart beforehand.&nbsp; I admit to sometimes wearing the ones that are starting to get holes as layering pieces.<br />--watch, specs, rings<br />--loungewear (which is mostly demoted so it started with wears already!) and sleepwear<br />--workout stuff<br />--and some other random favorite items that I've had for ages</p> <p>My blazers have probably not reached this point yet, but I bet they will.&nbsp; It's because I only started collecting them in earnest after I joined YLF, so they have not been in my closet long enough.&nbsp; Same for my newer leather jackets.&nbsp; </p> <p>Sweaters I have A LOT of, since I knit, but I also keep them until they fall apart in general so I expect they'd get to 52 wears at some point.&nbsp; </p> <p>I think in general, if it's something that I like and that continues to fit me I'm not really worried about hitting some minimum number of wears.&nbsp; I tend to keep things for years and if I wear them even just a couple of times per season it's OK by me.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044249 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 20:43:27 +0000 amiable 1044249@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh - guilty as charged! &nbsp;According to my spreadsheet, I have worn nothing more than ten times since May. &nbsp;Yikes!</p> <p>More food for thought. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044248 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 20:43:20 +0000 biscuitsmom 1044248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Way too many :(&nbsp; Especially shoes and other things I'm not happy with. What a great wake-up call.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spinning-off-mos-how-much-is-enough-post-52-times#post-1044245 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 20:41:28 +0000 catgirl 1044245@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not saying there is anything wrong with having variety - I need it! But it is true that I now wear a few things more times and much of my closet goes unused, despite changing from work to casual every day. Just a good way to stay aware of my hoarding tendencies! </p>