https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:17:14 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1951070 Fri, 24 Aug 2018 21:50:59 +0000 Gretchen 1951070@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These are my favorite type of posts - really thought provoking. Thank you!&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm still in the early phases of wardrobe documenting (and with a large wardrobe it's intimidating), but I hope to be able to put some of your advice to work.&nbsp;</p> <p>My aha of the day was the comment on wear. I have no problem mending hems or fixing tears, but rarely have the need to do so. So maybe I'm not getting as many wears as I could before donating. Worth thinking about.&nbsp;</p> <p>BTW - 100% agree on the theme park capsule. Clothes that move well, work in heat, and you won't cry over when someones ice cream comes flying at you!. Good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1951059 Fri, 24 Aug 2018 20:47:33 +0000 Jenn 1951059@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good catch, <b>fashintern</b>, and if you include dresses too, it's 21 vs 23 last year. Really not that much of a functional difference. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1951012 Fri, 24 Aug 2018 16:55:31 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1951012@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jeans+pants+skirts=14. Last year it was 15, with the balance more to jeans, less to skirts than this year. I don’t really know S Cal weather, but I suspect you might be more comfortable in skirts than in jeans there. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950781 Thu, 23 Aug 2018 20:20:13 +0000 Jenn 1950781@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Nomad,&nbsp;</b>this has made me start thinking of ways to make my wardrobe even smaller. I don't think I need everything I have, so it'll be fun to see how the numbers shake out by next year.</p> <p><b>suntiger,&nbsp;</b>I may not have a lot of pants, but when you add in other bottoms like jeans, skirts, and dresses, I end up with 21 bottoms, which is really more than enough! Toppers are definitely essentials here in Colorado, since the temperature range is often 40° in a single day (even today, solidly in summer, we have a 35° difference between day and night).</p> <p><b>Mainelady,&nbsp;</b>thanks for taking the time to comment! It is interesting to see the numbers year over year.</p> <p><b>Angie,&nbsp;</b>"passionate sport." I love it, and it's true. I enjoy the game as much as I enjoy wearing my clothes.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950629 Thu, 23 Aug 2018 10:45:37 +0000 Angie 1950629@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I enjoyed your analysis, <b>Jenn</b>. You are ver<b></b>y stylish, and know exactly what you're doing. Your wardrobe is passionate sport and it shows. Inspirational. You SHOULD be proud.&nbsp;</p> <p>Onto more bottoms :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950618 Thu, 23 Aug 2018 09:51:34 +0000 Mainelady 1950618@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really enjoyed reading your post and especially like how you compared your items to those you had last year. I can see how the numbers would be very helpful. You have a gorgeous wardrobe that is well planned and coordinated. Thank you for sharing your pics! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950533 Thu, 23 Aug 2018 00:47:41 +0000 Anonymous 1950533@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Definitely heavy on the toppers and scarce on pants, but its ok if thats what works for your climate. I envy your organization skills, and your impending move-lucky! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950485 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 22:00:27 +0000 Nomad 1950485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your wardrobe is so trim! I admire your discipline, and I love these posts.</p> <p>I've grudgingly accepted that my wardrobe will probably always be a little larger than I'd like, because it has to cover casual to business formal and everything in between, in a region with pretty severe seasonal swings. But I really like the idea of having a smaller wardrobe where things wear out faster... that creates more space for updates or shifts in preferences. Something to aim for. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950452 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 19:34:46 +0000 Jenn 1950452@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Joy, &nbsp;</b>you make me laugh. You're right, though! Kids do a number on clothing, and lifestyle makes a huge difference in how quickly clothes wear out. I take care of my clothes, but I also expect a lot out of them and I'm not precious.</p> <p>Thank you,&nbsp;<b>jussie.&nbsp;</b>I don't always succeed, but I'm trying.</p> <p>Thanks,&nbsp;<b>runcarla.</p> <p>Jane,&nbsp;</b>and I was just thinking this morning that I'll probably need a beach capsule too!</p> <p><b>Greyscale,&nbsp;</b>you have the perfect climate for wearing jeans daily. Here, they're unwearable for at least two months out of the year. I do enjoy feeling like I really wear things out.</p> <p><b>La Pedestrienne,&nbsp;</b>the mending thing is true for me, too! I am not a good sewer, but I can at least do basic mending, and have many items that have been patched, overdyed, or repaired. Sometimes, though, it forces me to confront that I'm really over something, and just need to let it go.</p> <p><b></b><b>karen13</b>, I use Closetspace, but I did a little image manipulation to combine screenshots here. We love theme parks, and will probably get an annual pass to Universal Studios, too, as they're surprisingly inexpensive. I'll just wear my wizarding robes to Hogwart's, though. (Okay, I don't really own wizard robes... I do have a Ravenclaw cardigan, though. It's the gray one in the sweaters photo.)<b></b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950398 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 16:31:54 +0000 karen13 1950398@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love reading thoughtful analysis like this. And really interesting to see all the pics organized that way. What app do you use?</p> <p>DD is heading off to college in SoCal soon from our mountain climateand I was grappling with many of these transition issues while helping her shop. I kept saying no more sweaters! You need skirts and shorts! </p> <p>And we are headed to both Universal and the Happiest Place on Earth soon so I need to be thinking about my theme park capsule! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950341 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 14:03:05 +0000 LaPed 1950341@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My favorite sort of post! I tend to wear my clothes out, with the exception of true mistakes (fit/sizing/style), which I usually try to consign or sell. Giving myself permission to say goodbye to items when they're worn but could be mended is a big struggle for me. I'm wearing sneakers right now that just started to come apart where the sole meets the upper. I feel I ought to put some shoe glue on them when I get home, or at least keep them around as lawn-mowing shoes. They have many many wears (and more importantly, many miles), so I shouldn't feel bad about letting them go, but I do.</p> <p>It sounds to me like your current wardrobe will transition easily to SoCal life. A temperate climate allows for lots of silhouette play and will give those skirts, dresses, and lightweight toppers lots of opportunities to be useful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy/page/2#post-1950271 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 06:38:59 +0000 Greyscale 1950271@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sterling and Sal - your comments made something click into place to me. I have a large wardrobe, larger than I want, though fairly cohesive and organized. So, I have 18 pairs of jeans. I wear jeans every single day, so they do actually collect quite a few wears (365 / 18 = 20 wears each on average). I used to rotate them out because they had worn out (too faded, ripped, etc). But these days it's more often that my size has changed a bit, or because my style preferences shifted (higher waists, recently).&nbsp;</p> <p>I never did the math to realize that a smaller jeans collection would be more robust. I'd wear things out faster, so the natural replacement cycle would match changes in my size or style.</p> <p>On the other hand, my style is pretty consistent over time and things other than jeans tend to stay in my closet for years. So maybe somewhere in between is ideal for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950269 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 06:15:08 +0000 Jane 1950269@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Impressive organisation and understanding. May be you might you find you need a theme park capsule! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950262 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 04:39:49 +0000 Carla 1950262@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beautiful, cohesive collection of wearable pieces with lots of interest. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950253 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 02:59:17 +0000 jussie 1950253@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice job! I admire your efforts to wear the heck out of everything </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950252 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 02:57:16 +0000 Anonymous 1950252@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you have not worn out clothes before, you will as a parent or grandparent of babies-preschool. Two of my prized Eileen Fisher pieces were ruined just this week. Never try to keep up with a 3- year old on a Strider bike going down hill. A fall on the sidewalk ruined my taupe linen/silk trousers. Do not hold a baby that has been eating raspberries when wearing white. Shame on me for even attempting either of these actions.<br /> Jenn, your wardrobe and charting wears are remarkable and an inspiration. You will get lots of wear out of the theme park capsule. Relatives will visit and send you their kids for a month so they can get to those theme parks. You will be going more often than you want to. Enjoy. Plan to get wet on some of those rides. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950248 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 02:45:55 +0000 Jenn 1950248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Ginger,&nbsp;</b>what a sweet thing to say! Organizing my wardrobe and thinking about it like a puzzle is relaxing for me, but I know that's not for everyone!</p> <p><b>Sal, &nbsp;</b>stains are why I don't wear a lot of light colors. I am terrible about remembering to put on an apron... and I work with art supplies.</p> <p><b>Preppy Pear,&nbsp;</b>it is still a work-in-progress for me, and probably always will be.</p> <p><b>smittie,&nbsp;</b>I feel pretty okay with the jeans, but pants are a little low right now, given my preference for silhouette variety. And I totally agree with you that you shouldn't chastise yourself for passing on things that you end up not liking or not wearing. That naturally slows down when you buy with intention, but some mistakes are inevitable. I need to remind myself of that, too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950207 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 00:46:14 +0000 Anonymous 1950207@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The pants and jeans both seem low but OK if you wear your skirts and dresses instead.</p> <p>I think you’re doing a great job wearing (and wearing out) your clothes. I still donate most of my clothes before they’re worn out, but I’ve decided this isn’t a big deal and not to care too much about this. I would rather focus on making the right purchases at the outset than chastising myself for making bad ones. I think this is something you drive home quite a lot too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950206 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 00:43:54 +0000 Preppy Pear 1950206@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So impressed with your wardrobe - I recently reorganized my closet with the hopes of identifying where I can pare down and finding the items that truly make me happy and make sense, and this is very inspiring. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950201 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 00:10:58 +0000 Sal 1950201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sterling - (Sorry to hijack Jenn) I do wear out shoes regularly, also jeans and pants - and teeshirt type tops.&nbsp; I rarely wear out jackets, woven tops, dresses...</p> <p>My main reason for throwing out clothes is stains - three pieces at least this year have been marked and despite significant effort to fix them I have failed.&nbsp; Coffee, sunscreen and lipstick are the culprits.&nbsp; All have been pale summer items.</p> <p>My second reason would be pants stretching out and becoming saggy.&nbsp;</p> <p>The stains are not quality related but the pants are.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>But I do agree with you - if I had three times the clothes and shoes I would tire of them or not fit them rather than wear them out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950198 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 00:02:11 +0000 Ginger 1950198@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Such a beautiful post! Beautiful to read, and beautiful pictures. It's not a goal of mine to approach this level of organization and intention toward wearing, but it's really wonderful. The comparison with the previous year's numbers are particularly interesting. You're doing so well with wears! That really says that you're using your entire wardrobe, it's not just taking up space. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950195 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 23:45:18 +0000 Jenn 1950195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>CJ,&nbsp;</b>I bet the memorial business is quite a bit more formal than our industries (tech, entertainment, art)! That closet divider you see might be a bit deceptive. While the pole goes up all the way, the actual divider piece behind it is only about half as tall. I have rolled-up paper in the tall boots to keep them standing upright. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950189 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 23:07:14 +0000 Anonymous 1950189@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One of my best friends spent all of her career and family-raising years in LA.&nbsp; They were in the memorial gardens business.&nbsp; I'll ask her on Sat what her wardrobe consisted of then.&nbsp; She is a classy, impeccable dresser.&nbsp; They are now retired in the Northwest like us.&nbsp; We went to high school together and are still best of friends.&nbsp; I do know she doesn't get rid of too much and her closet is packed full!</p> <p>I always notice the details--like the tall divider on your top shelf, separating the boots from the handbags.&nbsp; Most dividers I see are too short!&nbsp; Boots take up so much space in a closet and to keep them upright takes some creative problem solving.</p> <p>I just did the counting for the first time, last weekend.&nbsp; But not number of wears.&nbsp; I generally just judge that as I go along and replace as needed.&nbsp; I take good care of my clothes, never dry in the dryer my tops/pants/dresses/skirts or jeans.&nbsp; I dry clean a lot of my dresses, skirts, pants, nice tops.&nbsp; That preserves my clothes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I like how you do this counting every year, about the same time.&nbsp; And your mindfulness about your clothing helps you as a consumer, I'm guessing.&nbsp; You buy quality over quantity and don't seem to add something on whim.&nbsp; That spells happiness for the budget and for the closet.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950186 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 22:58:07 +0000 Jenn 1950186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Shiny,&nbsp;</b>I just continued wearing things from last year. It's quite likely that I had a lot of items sitting at 15 or 20 wears after last year, and the next twelve months pushed them over the top. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950185 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 22:52:38 +0000 shiny 1950185@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Impressive!</p> <p>Especially this stat:&nbsp;<b>More than 25 times</b>: 42 (last year: 14 items)</p> <p>How did you accomplish such an improvement?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950183 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 22:49:04 +0000 Jenn 1950183@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>LisaP,&nbsp;</b>the hubs' new job comes with an annual pass to Disneyland. Those mouse ears could get thirty wears. &nbsp;:P And the 30 wears will be much easier without distinct seasons. I only aim to wear my summer things 10-15x/year, because that's pretty much once a week for the length of the season. Of course, that means those things need to last three years. Also, consider: I have 28 tops. 365/28=about 13. Yikes.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950182 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 22:47:51 +0000 Jenn 1950182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sterling,&nbsp;</b>my clothing&nbsp;<i>does&nbsp;</i>wear out, for sure, and I think my wardrobe is straddling the line between small and moderate. Just thinking through recently retired items, I can list:</p> <p>sandals - retired with hole in sole<br />cotton tee - retired with stretched out neck and a hole<br />gear capris - retired when I realized fabric had thinned to the point of being see-through<br />duster sweater - demoted to loungewear with pilling and holes in armpits<br />chinos - retired with small hole in crotch, but boredom led me to not mend</p> <p>There are more, for sure, but most (though, not all) of my retirements at this point, have been due to wear.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950179 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 22:43:20 +0000 Anonymous 1950179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like this . I’m on a kick ( hopefully ) to be more organized and keep better records of things . I still think the 30 wear benchmark is so easy to attain : that’s only wearing something 2 -3 times a month ! Anyways - I also laughed at your “theme park capsule” idea . Too funny </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950176 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 22:33:19 +0000 Anonymous 1950176@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sal</b> and <b>Jenn</b> -- I've been reading <i>lots</i> of posts on the Forum that speak to clothing wearing out more rapidly as a result of increased wears due to smaller wardrobes. &nbsp;</p> <p>I spent a couple of evenings mulling this over. &nbsp;I concluded that my clothing items have <i>rarely</i> been culled due to wear. &nbsp;Far more often, weight change, boredom, or poor purchase were the culprits for culling. &nbsp;That means clothing in near pristine state were culled. &nbsp;No sign of wear whatsoever.</p> <p>Is it possible that concern over wear is actually a defense for having and maintaining a larger wardrobe? &nbsp;This comment is not a criticism. &nbsp;Rather it is food for thought. &nbsp;</p> <p>I personally have a moderately-sized wardrobe based on your numbers, Sal's numbers, and Angie's numbers. &nbsp;I haven't counted recently, but I will soon. &nbsp;I'll use your template. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-fall-2018-numbers-heavy#post-1950174 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 22:30:08 +0000 Jenn 1950174@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sal,&nbsp;</b>your goals align right with mine, yes! LA is going to be an interesting adventure. </p>