https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:13:09 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714371 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 16:01:14 +0000 viva 1714371@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am most impressed and enviable that you can find so many sweaters to love, Staysfit! I am using you as my knitwear hero and my inspiration this fall, as I look with purpose to add to my sweater collection. A few of mine really need to go, and I already have fewer than I need. I think my bar is too high or something ... or I am looking to be wowed in a way that is not possible. I love that you can identify your needs or wants with knitwear so easily and so well, or that you can respond to a knitwear item so completely that you can take it home and add it to the family. This is what I want to do. It's not about numbers; it's about creating the right assortment that works for me.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714370 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 16:00:51 +0000 Angie 1714370@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>High fiving Tanya, UmmLila, Barbara, Janet &amp; Suz.&nbsp;</p> <p>Staysfit, glad your house is okay. That could have been very nasty.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714338 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 14:21:35 +0000 Janet 1714338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Glad you're ok after that storm!</p> <p>I am another non-minimalist when it comes to wardrobe. I haven't counted items in a while but I'm sure some of my categories would sound excessive to some people (um, jackets?). If you love, enjoy, and wear your sweaters and are not going into debt buying them, I don't see the harm in having a substantial collection. Thoughtful editing is always good though. I know my knitwear collection is too heavy in gray and black, so I am sworn to buy no more grey or black sweaters before I add something with color! I tried to get a new colorful sweater via NAS but the colorblock one was poor quality. I did end up with the burgundy Free People cropped one though. I will be taking a closer look at my sweaters once we get temps back below 90 degrees. :-/ I just can't bear to think about anything woolen at the moment. Even the Pendleton coat I bought at NAS is waiting for more try-on and evaluation until it cools off. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714280 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 11:25:46 +0000 Staysfit 1714280@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just walked around my neighborhood, it looks like a straight swath was cut across the yards so some houses have trees and branches strewn all over the place, and others look untouched. Weather is so interesting and unpredictable. - completely off topic now! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714180 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 03:41:54 +0000 JAileen 1714180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sorry about your trees. My son flew out from Boston yesterday with a stop in Chicago and was delayed six hours due to thunderstorms in the Chicago area. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714148 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 02:44:05 +0000 Suz 1714148@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So glad you are okay!! We got a storm yesterday but not severe -- evidently it jumped the lake and hit you instead. Sad to hear about your trees. They are all so stressed from the drought this summer. I expect we will lose a lot in the fall.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714145 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 02:42:31 +0000 Staysfit 1714145@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow! Busy day, sorry to post and hardly check back, but we had a big storm here and lost two huge trees. I've been picking up debris in my yard all day. Luckily our house wasn't hit, and no one was injured, and we have a neighbor who's handy with a chainsaw and mini tractor. The tree's are cut up and moved to our compost. I may need advice on getting pine sap out of everything - clothes, hair, shoes, skin! :-)</p> <p>I'm thrilled that everyone here is enabling my love of sweaters! Certainly numbers are not an issue when it comes to sweaters, but volume may be an issue because I store them on the shelves in my closet and I have limited space there. Right now they all fit, so all is good. I'm happy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714079 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 00:12:15 +0000 Lucy 1714079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post, thanks for sharing!&nbsp;<br />I agree with others - I wouldn't try to cull to fit some idea of a "right number". If you like them, wear them, can store them, why not enjoy them?&nbsp;<br />I'm in a similar state with dresses (mainly day dresses). I have at least 40, maybe more. Some I wear all of the time, others I wear only once or twice a year. Some are quite old (maybe 8 or 9 years), some are new. I got rid of some last year when they started to look dated. But most of them seem quite similar to items I see in the shops now - so &nbsp;really, if they still look good, why would I want to get rid of them? I have plenty of storage in a second wardrobe, which is not needed for anything else, so I may as well keep the non-weekly's there, and wait until the mood strikes. If of course I needed the space, I would pare them back.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714075 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 00:06:55 +0000 Suz 1714075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Barbara Diane -- that's just it. If one makes it a philosophy or a religion it isn't necessarily sensible.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714070 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 23:57:30 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1714070@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>agreeing with Angie </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1714063 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 23:42:35 +0000 Barbara Diane 1714063@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ditto the above. I commented something similar on another post about there not being one "right" number of items, it is personal to each of us, and at each moment. Here is one extreme- I have a cousin who is somewhat self righteously into minimalism. He came here for a short stay and had to do laundry <b>twice</b>. Because he had <b>no</b> clothes. Because he got rid of them. (pulls her hair!). And he only had a few items in the loads. Horrible waste of water, electricity, etc.<br />Enjoy what you have. Wear your clothes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713848 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 17:08:59 +0000 Suz 1713848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What Angie and Smittie said!! :)&nbsp;</p> <p>ENJOY your beautiful things. You deserve them.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713840 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 16:58:42 +0000 Anonymous 1713840@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do think it's a good idea to make sure you're buying in the right areas. But I don't think you should be getting rid of anything you don't really want to, just because your numbers don't line up with others. Tanya and Angie have the right attitude.<br /> Your closet is beautiful, Stayfit, and you worked hard to make it that way. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713829 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 16:36:25 +0000 Staysfit 1713829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the great reminder Angie! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713802 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:59:54 +0000 JAileen 1713802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You do have a lot of sweaters. But is it too many? Do you wear them? Can you store them easily? Are they causing friction with your husband? If not, then you don't have too many and don't worry about it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713791 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:43:36 +0000 deb 1713791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok, thank you for this because it has pushed me to do my mid&nbsp;year closet review and count.&nbsp;I like the idea of doing a single clothing type at a time and evaluating instead of just counting like I have done in the past. </p> <p>For sweaters I have 18 total -</p> <p>7 - hip length cardigans<br />3 - short cardigans (I wear these buttoned up as tops)<br />3 - turtlenecks<br />4 - tunic pullovers<br />1 -&nbsp; hip length pullover</p> <p>None of these have any wool, cashmere, or the like due to the itch factor.</p> <p>2 sweaters went to the out bag. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713778 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:27:23 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1713778@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a love of completer pieces, so my cardigan collection grows every year and now includes open kimonos and ponchos. I have some I may not wear as often but am not willing to part with because when I do wear them my heart sings. I wear cardigans all year as I may be I'm a heat advisory currently, but air conditioning is cold! I even love cardigans instead of bathrobes and pop one one every morning, lol. I do think if they look worn or no longer bring me joy that they need to go and purge a few every season. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713770 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:13:59 +0000 Tanya 1713770@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, I read this comment on Viva's thread but forgot to comment on it. I couldn't agree more with you,&nbsp; I have been nodding along at each and every word.&nbsp; One more thing I would add is that my clothes also have a lot of different roles to play (work/casual/going out/dancing/dressier non-work events) which of course increases the wardrobe size. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713760 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:01:38 +0000 Angie 1713760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Staysfit, I love that you are doing a closet edit and review. It's ALWAYS good to know what you have and revisit how you feel about it.&nbsp;</p> <p>That said, you may have missed what I wrote on Viv's thread about you, Tanya and Suz. I'll repeat it here:</p> <p><i>A few more things:</i> <ul> <li><i>Tanya and Staysfit, you both have very large wardrobes BUT you absolutely wear your clothes, enjoy fashion, love dressing up, don't save things for good, and live in a 4 season climate. You also make informed shopping decisions and are very organized about what you have and want. I LOVE that you love your stuff and are uncomplicated about it. Do NOT get caught up in numbers. Situations are different. Rock on.</i></li> </ul> <ul> <li><i>Suz, you are absolutely justified! You have MORE fun with fashion each year, and I love that you are making up for lost time. You'll continue to go back and forth with wardrobe numbers as you settle with what feels right with your new glorious hair.</i></li> </ul> <i>May I remind EVERYONE that you mustn't expect each wardrobe item to be a workhorse. There is no sense or fun in that.</i></p> <p><b></b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713743 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 14:30:27 +0000 Tanya 1713743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I personally do not want to count anything other than practical items such as Heattech tees, bras etc.&nbsp; I know that I have a large number in most categories and counting would only serve to keep me guilty, since I do wear a vast majority of what I own regularly.<br />I am guessing though, that if I counted, my numbers would be similar to yours minus the cardigans - a have very few of those. It makes sense to me since I, as Suz mentioned, gravitate towards sweaters in cold weather and like variety. <br />Your collection sounds lovey and very diverse, and suited to your climate and lifestyle. I see no need to purge some sweaters just for the sake of purging.&nbsp; If you like them, wear them, they are in good condition, and you have enough space to store them, why would you want to get rid of them.&nbsp; If there are some issues or some sweaters are not getting worn, that is another story.&nbsp; I often retire items if I purchase a newer, more current version of it - this happens more than I like.&nbsp;&nbsp; In general though, as someone with a very large wardrobe, I do not pay too much attention to number of wears.&nbsp; As long as something makes me happy every time I wear it, regardless how often that is, it deserves to stay in my closet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713732 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 14:13:36 +0000 Suz 1713732@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Do you <b>want </b>to reduce the number? Do you <b>need</b> to, really?&nbsp;</p> <p>Sometimes in these numbers games we compare ourselves to others and imagine we are excessive or overly limited. (Or at least I've made those comparisons, I shouldn't presume to speak for you!). But everyone's needs and joys are different and honestly, a closet full of beautiful sweaters for a woman who lives in our climate is hardly the worst sin! &nbsp;It seems you gravitate towards sweaters -- perhaps just the thought of the cold is enough to send you shopping for them. I don't blame you.&nbsp;</p> <p>Before you cull, I would suggest dividing this capsule yet again along seasonal lines (as well as sweater type as you have done). I wear some of my sweaters in deep winter and some in spring. Taking a closer look what I found is that I actually swap them out on an almost one-to-one basis. So I don't really have X number of pullovers at any one time; I have Y number of pullovers (the seasonally relevant ones).&nbsp;</p> <p>If you count by season, you'll have a clearer idea of your wearable numbers. Then you can determine more accurately if you are really overstocked for one season or another. (Hey, you might even need to go shopping!)&nbsp;</p> <p>FWIW, I did a count just now and living in a similar climate I have 18 sweaters. I could use several more and I do plan to purchase this year. However, I won't add more than four or five. I prefer to keep my closet relatively light in this category because:&nbsp;</p> <p><u>They pill and begin to look tired</u>. I usually get two or at most three years of reasonable wear from sweaters before I need to let them go. </p> <p><u>And I like to keep a current and updated capsule of sweaters since they are my main top for months a year.</u> (Like you, my winter uniform consists of jeans, pullover, scarf -- or jeans and turtleneck).&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713694 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:11:04 +0000 Staysfit 1713694@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes Chris, my definition of boyfriend cardigan is what someone else might call a grandpa sweater. I made the distinction because the category listed above, "hip length sweaters" hits my upper hip, and would work best with a skirt, the "boyfriend" length hits lower and would work better with jeans or trousers. At least I think that's the case. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713674 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 12:25:13 +0000 Chris987 1713674@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very impressive collection, Staysfit. No reason to shrink it if you really don't want to. It must feel nice and warm just to LOOK at your collection on a cold winter day especially all the cashmere&nbsp;:-). I love your different categories....best detailed list I've seen of sweater types, another thing I'm going to steal. &nbsp;I think I'm going to have a truly awesome inventory when I'm done although my wardrobe itself is not exactly awesome One question...what is a "boyfriend cardigan"? Is that like what some call a "grandpa sweater".....a loose hip length vneck cardigan? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713658 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 11:08:59 +0000 Anonymous 1713658@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>First, let me say I <u>love</u> sweaters. &nbsp;I adore your&nbsp;<u>ballerina wrap sweaters </u>and hope to find one for myself soon. &nbsp;Sadly my climate differs from yours. &nbsp;I have less of a need for sweaters (still adore them though) AND I can't wear wool or any mixture of wool. &nbsp;Both of these things severely limit the number of sweaters I can own. &nbsp;So I admire them on others. &nbsp;</p> <p><b>1 </b>long cardigan (100 percent cotton)</p> <p><b>4</b> shorter hip length cardigans (100 percent cotton; silk or cashmere)</p> <p><b>6 </b>crew or v neck pullovers (100 precent cotton or silk)</p> <p><b>1&nbsp;</b>sleeveless knit tops (100 percent linen)</p> <p>I think my numbers might be a bit skewed because some of my knits are categorized as "sleeveless" and are counted as sleeveless tops rather than sweaters.&nbsp;</p> <p><b><br />0</b> Turtlenecks (never cared for them =&gt; too hot)<br /><b>0</b> tunic length open cardigans (I favor cardigans that fall just below my hip bone)<br /><b>0</b> zip hoodies both cashmere<br /><b>0</b> linen cardigans<br /><b>0</b> hip length cardigans<br /><b>0</b> boyfriend style cardigans<br /><b>0</b> moto sweater<br /><b>0</b> novelty arty drape sweater toppers (3 viscose, 1 cotton)<br /><b>0</b> ballerina wrap sweaters<br /><b>0 </b>sweater dresses</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-closet-counts-again-for-2016-sweaters#post-1713654 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 10:59:57 +0000 Staysfit 1713654@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was motivated after seeing Viva's post with her closet counts to start on mine. It has been two years and a fairly full closet revamp. I decided to start with my sweaters, and what I thought was going to be a quick count turned into a detailed list of the large array of sweaters I have collected. Sweaters are by far the largest wardrobe category in my closet. It is typically cold enough for a sweater of some sort where I live from mid to late September until late April and sometimes early May. In the summer, I need a sweater in the buildings I work in that have a/c because I run cold. Before my first cull two years ago, I didn't count my sweaters, but after my cull I had 83. Right now I have 87. It looks like I didn't do a good enough job of practicing one in one out! </p> <p>In the category of sweaters, I did not include 6 sweater dresses. I did include 3 thin cotton turtlenecks that I layer underneath items like Blazers, or another sweater. That could account for part of the difference in the count, I'm not sure? </p> <p>I'm currently debating about two NAS purchases. The Vince side Zip rib turtleneck sweater that Angie suggested I order in a size up because the sleeves look small, but I think that was a product of the picture. I had hiked up the sleeve. I am going to call Nordies to see if they can send the larger size for comparison because they have it in stock. The second is also a Vince turtle, the strangely named espresso one that is grey. </p> <p>As I reviewed my sweaters I noted three that have some pilling. I have a tool to remove pills. If the pills don't come off properly, than I will cull those sweaters. I crazily purchased new sweaters during NAS in an attempt to both update my style and increase the texture of my wardrobe. The items I added included sweaters with ribbing, peplum ruffles, and tweed textures. </p> <p>The color palette of my sweaters are remarkably consistent. They are mostly a continuum of grey, white, pink, blue-green. There are a few watermelon red, periwinkle, Royal blue and lavenders also but not many. I am very true to my palette, and everything in my closet mixes and matches well.</p> <p>I am still looking to reduce the overall number of sweaters in my collection. I think this is going to happen over the next few years. I need to figure out what length cardigan is most useful and stick to that. I suspect I have more hip length than I need. Proportions seem to be the last frontier for me. I am still struggling to get them right. I suspect a try on session is needed. </p> <p>The counts:<br /> 18 Turtlenecks - (3 thin cotton, 2 thick cotton, 3 merino wool, 10 cashmere)</p> <p>5 long cardigans -(1 sweater coat, 1 cashmere, 1 silk, 1 merino vest, 1 linen)</p> <p>3 tunic length open cardigans (1 merino, 2 thick cashmere)</p> <p>2 zip hoodies both cashmere</p> <p>3 sweater sets (2 lightweight cashmere, 1 heavy cashmere)</p> <p>4 linen cardigans</p> <p>4 hip length cardigans</p> <p>4 boyfriend style cardigans</p> <p>1 moto sweater</p> <p>4 novelty arty drape sweater toppers (3 viscose, 1 cotton)</p> <p>3 ballerina wrap sweaters</p> <p>30 crew or v neck pullovers (16 simple cashmere, 3 heavy wool, 1 thermal knit cashmere, 1 metallic, 6 ribbed or patterned, 3 merino)</p> <p>6 Summer cotton or linen pullover sweaters</p> <p>6 sweater dresses</p> <p>It's a lot! I have more sweaters than some people have total wardrobe items in their closet.</p> <p>I am not a minimalist. The crewneck category is startling right?! My typical winter uniform is a pair of straight leg jeans, a pullover sweater, a scarf, and boots or booties. I'm sure I don't repeat wears very frequently. With a fall/winter of maybe 6 months, and extended transition seasons into 7 months, I would probably only wear each of these sweaters an average of twice, because I also wear blouses. Additionally, some sweaters get much more use than others, some hardly get any wear. Some are for specific types of weather. Some are for certain types of occasions. Finally, many of these sweaters are cardigans so they serve as toppers and form part of an outfit when worn over another swearer, knit top or blouse, It's clear that I should eliminate what if any I don't wear. Maybe I need to be more diligent with my tracking calendar! I had originally planned to eliminate sweaters by attrition but there isn't much attrition yet. </p> <p>My goal is to have my closet assessment completed by September. Sweaters was a good place to start. </p> <p>I think I'll do dresses next. </p>