YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Super-purging

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Super-purging https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:03:46 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php unfrumped on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1107093 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:21:13 +0000 unfrumped 1107093@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ These are all good lessons to share , I think. Sometimes I am not using one now but it will be relevant at another stage or when staring down a certain item. My goal to define and tighten up my color palette guided a lot of discard decisions. Moving away from red was a big step. I'd always bought a lot of tops in red. Then it began to be too "warm" . I'll always keep maybe one sweater or top on hand for Christmas or church calendar days of group fun. Brown is another color I've been tossing, but that was a surprise. Some browns look good on me & better than black. But many shades push me to combine with warm colors. Overall it's been hard to find the right items -- better quality items--to build good capsules integrate with multiple items. So I haven't given it up, but have to avoid just grabbing something brown unless it is the right shade and depth and will truly work in. So while color isn't even as important as fit, more focused color has helped some sort of cohesion start to emerge. amiable on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1106995 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 14:38:05 +0000 amiable 1106995@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm in a definite purge cycle right now, as I try to get pickier about what I want in my closet.  It's really freeing, I'm finding, to wear things I really do LOVE all the time.  What I didn't expect was how quickly some things would wear out.  One of my favorite sweaters, that I've worn less than ten times already (though I bought it used - it was in perfectly good condition) - is dulling and starting to pill and has a tiny hole (in a seam, so I'll repair it).  I was so sure it would at least make it through a season.  So I'm thinking that next time I go shopping, I'll be watching for a replacement.  Same with a few other garments. Fewer clothes (even though I still have a LOT), means that they wear out more quickly.   Still, it's worth it to discriminate and really wear the clothes that I like best all the time. Mo on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1106808 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 04:04:16 +0000 Mo 1106808@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ After getting a little purge happy with perfectly fine items I just wasn't wearing, I am swinging back around to demoting things first.  Particularly coupled with the issue that I have a large amount of 'at home' time alone with the cat that I don't really need great outfits for, this makes sense for me.  Of course, some things just don't lend themselves to lounge/at home (cocktail dresses for instance) but for the more random mistakes I think this will work out fine. My big deadline will be moving back to our CA home sometime next year.  I'm only bringing back the good stuff since space will be an issue.  What does not get worn here in the warm weather capsule won't go back to Tahoe, where there is even less opportunity to wear such items.  Lisa on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1106797 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 03:53:50 +0000 Lisa 1106797@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Purging, that's something I've struggled with since I joined YLF almost 4 years ago.  First I purchased, returned, and purged a LOT of items, as I tried to figure out what styles I liked best, what colors I enjoyed and what silhouettes were most flattering to my eye on me.  And unfortunately this was a costly time period.  Then I did a number of challenges: flip the hanger for x time, then toss the rest.  Toss everything unworn after 1 season.  Try to wear everything twice in a month.  And most recently the DH challenge.  But I don't think one can purge effectively until a few ground rules are in place.  How much clothing do you want to own, which I really think ties into how often do you like to repeat?  Do you want enough for a new outfit everyday of 1 week, 2 weeks, a month?  And what kind of fashion/style do you like?  Someone who is very trendy will need a wardrobe with a higher turnover rate otherwise they will very quickly have a LOT of clothes because fashion moves very fast. And how many mini capsules do you need (interview wear, business wear, gear wear, etc).  If you do not know your needs and personal preferences you could be purging blind.  Some of my errors with purchases or purging were because I did not have a plan before I started out.  This is one reason why the DH challenge is working so well for me right now.  I know how much I like to repeat, and how many capsules I need.  (Not in the working closet, but I do have a mini capsule for business meetings and special occasion wear which have not been included in my daily what I'm wearing numbers for the challenge).  My main focus for the DH challenge has been on my day to day clothes and making that more manageable in size and selection. Also, I think it's ok to make mistakes.  One is always going to purge something they will wish they did not or purchase another "poor" item.  That's ok!  It's not an exact science, as long as one is learning and making less mistakes over time, then the time and money are well spent.  When one gambles in a casino they often loose (or waste) money, why is clothes any different right? pil on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1106583 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 00:34:32 +0000 pil 1106583@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ After the November challenge I feel like I need to try something similar to Lisa's boutique approach. There is room in my closet to segregate what I really like wearing from the hangers on that are still there just because. I think I wore 47 pieces total for the challenge, but counting what I loved totalled only 17! That is too small, but I think I'll try starting with them and add from the rest as needed. So, this should be on my short term to do list. Kristin L on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1106571 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 00:17:02 +0000 Kristin L 1106571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I usually a big purge at the beginning of a season and then smaller ones as I go. When I change out my hanging clothes, I pull everything out and go through it looking at how it fits and in what condition it's in. If it fails one of the tests, then it goes in the donate bag. Then, if something stops working or I finally realize that's just not me, I'll put it in the bag. Once the bag is full, I'll take it out, do one more quick look over and then it goes off to be donated.  I feel like I'm donating less than I did when I first joined YLF (I feel like we all say that at one point) because I'm finally understanding what works for me. Mary.S on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1105898 Fri, 06 Dec 2013 04:15:33 +0000 Mary.S 1105898@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I purge as I go through the season.  I use the backwards hanger trick as I hang stuff up for the first time.  If I put it on, but don't really "feel" it, and take it off I don't hang it back up.  I put it aside in the holding zone.  If I don't dig it back out, at the end of the season it goes; along with anything with a still backwards hanger.   Beth Ann on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1102492 Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:34:05 +0000 Beth Ann 1102492@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hello, UF!  You've been doing a good job of upping your the "modern" in modern classic these last few months.  Do you have 2 or 3 goals for where you want your style and closet to be in, say, a year?  How do you want to dress?   I tend to purge slowly, with a holding bin that I use a lot.  For example, I think I'm kind of over my red jeans (fire britches), but I think I'll keep them in the back of the closet through the holidays at least.  I'm far more ruthless with worn out and ill fitting clothing. shedev on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1102425 Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:48:41 +0000 shedev 1102425@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I just purged 3/5s of my wardrobe and have purged a ton of stuff over the last 2 years so I might be at the 80% mark. About half of my wardrobe is less than 2 years old right now. I'm limiting myself to two new things a month with a 1 in 1 out. Anonymous on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1102149 Sun, 01 Dec 2013 17:01:58 +0000 Anonymous 1102149@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ ROTFL @ Peri! Mayim Bialik plays such a frumpy character. A lot of the skirts I've purged look like hers.  Okay, here's my two cents. I found myself doing large seasonal purges for more than a year, so I knew something was fundamentally wrong with my "system". I guess unless you plug the leak in the boat, you can bail water out all day long and never fix the issue. I had to stop the buying that led to the purging in the first place.  Part of the problem was that I wasn't really sure how I wanted to dress. I wanted to be open to everything so I tried things that, in hindsight, I probably knew were not really me. Some of them worked out, but most of them didn't. Like Suz, I was thrifting a lot during this phase. These purchases were fun in a one-off sort of way. I'd wear them once or twice to see if I could "make them work" and then tire of them quickly. I needed clothes that would work hard for me, instead of the other way around.  So for me, it was a process of putting 80% of my clothes into a spare closet (more or a purge-a-tory than a boutique) and wearing the clothes I loved the most. I did not find myself wanting to pull a ratty, stretched out sweater from the spare closet to wear with my favorites.  Nor did I change my mind about a skirt that, while it was in perfect condition and good quality, no longer fit the style I was aspiring to. After not too long, I couldn't stand that those wrong-for-me clothes were still under my roof and I got rid of them in one rash move.  I continued to make shopping mistakes over the last year, but fewer of them. I no longer freak out because of perceived wardrobe holes or fear of not having enough clothes for a given season. Desperation is a poor shopping companion. I treated myself to several spendy items this year, which definitely raised the bar for fabness, like you mentioned. Now when I'm shopping, I ask myself if an item in consideration is really worthy of my nicer things. Most of the time it is not, which really narrows my choices. But that is a blessing in disguise. Good luck with your purging and keep us posted! Peri on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1102106 Sun, 01 Dec 2013 16:00:44 +0000 Peri 1102106@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've been through a huge purge, but in several stages. First, dividing by season because I agree that it is harder to really evaluate off season. The second phase was that last winter I purged the worst offenders and kept the question marks...this year I'm evaluating the question marks. I have two decision markers. First is to compare it to my new things that have high happiness...does this old thing reflect my current style wishes and does it make me feel happy or bad. Second is, would Amy on the Big Bang Theory wear this sweater? If so, out it goes. Yes, I had sweaters that looked just like the character they dress frumptastic on purpose! What is keeping me from refilling is realizing I don't need as much as I had and I prefer a not crowded closet. But mostly, that I'm having a hard time finding what I want. If the stores were cooperating with me this year I might be filling up again at a much faster rate. jayne on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1102074 Sun, 01 Dec 2013 15:19:54 +0000 jayne 1102074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oops...hit the wrong button there...continuing since my tablet hates edit mode....the top was a bad fit for my broad shoulders, the wrong neckline as well, but oh the color. Worn 3 times also. Luckily the price was no way near the booties. Last item is a flowered pink and red and white blouse that I thought still looked great. But I tried wearing it Friday ....ha ha...fail. Now that the purge is slow I have more energy to analyze what is wrong with each. Lesson learned from these items is to be exacting on fit. To be very very careful when loving an item on first sight. Sometimes the love is fleeting. And to try on my orphans more often with a critical eye. They are usually orphans for a reason. jayne on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1102070 Sun, 01 Dec 2013 15:13:06 +0000 jayne 1102070@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have gone to snails pace purging after probably tossing 50% of what I owned before. I did toss 3 to 4 items that I regretted after. They were tossed in the off season...like summer items tossed in winter. Or in one case I tossed a crop tux when I got a full tux blazer. I realize now that the crop filled a need over dresses that the long tux cannot fill. So I am more careful with the holding zone before tossing. It helps that I am down to about 20 items there. So purging did work very well in getting my current closet focused. I certainly feel I am using 80% regularly. Probably when a person first starts out updating a closet, the big purge, slow or fast, is a necessity...but over time it must slow done. Otherwise I assume I hadn't learned anything. Obviously Suz has quite understood. But me? Hmmm purge items from the last month are up to 3. One impulse rather ridiculous high pair of booties worn just 3 times. Not only were they too tall they were too big. Embarrassing but bought 2 years ago when I was first trying to find a style. I hope I can resist those mistakes now. Next was a trend Colorado cotton top. Totally bought for volor unfrumped on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1102069 Sun, 01 Dec 2013 15:11:56 +0000 unfrumped 1102069@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think what I've actually done is repeated edits over more than a year. So I may over time end up with less than I even thought or intended, but as part of a process and not a one- time " toss 8o% " deal. I think I have needed that to develop some kind of style focus and to improve HOW to review and edit Anonymous on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1101751 Sat, 30 Nov 2013 23:00:00 +0000 Anonymous 1101751@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like (and am trying) Lisa's "boutique" idea- I have a bunch of "duplicate" or less-favored items in the boutique (a separate area of my closet). I have created a carefully curated closet of things I love, and if I experience a wardrobe hole or a need for greater variety, I can shop the boutique first. I have to admit I fell off the wagon a little this holiday (black friday was surprisingly easy-going and not crowded at a local outdoor shopping area), and I am determined to wear or toss/return items I added back to the closet. unfrumped on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1101702 Sat, 30 Nov 2013 21:14:40 +0000 unfrumped 1101702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lyn, yes, I've been following Lisa's challenge reports and am thinking of how to incorporate some of that approach. It's interesting to consider a category not typical holding zone (which for me is, I'm thinking about getting rid of) but the I still love you but don't need to wear you now. I'm kind of split-personality on whether it's best for me to have all my items in the closet so I really realize what I've got, vs. being able to off-load some still active items. Suz, I like your categories--the #1's would be  the ones I want to whittle down more. Am I not listening to the little voice? Or need to get back to Mo's (?) idea of, if I bring this item home, what is it replacing? The #2's I think are part of creativity and changing, as long as it's not a large % of resources. Suz on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1101699 Sat, 30 Nov 2013 21:03:57 +0000 Suz 1101699@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My own personal solution to the "how to not add more of the same" (substandard items) was to stop thrifting. I realized that it was my thrifted pieces that ended up soonest in the donate pile. We have some champion thrifters on this forum, but either the pickings where I live are not as good or my skills are not as good. Even my much nicer consignment finds seem less than stellar now, two years later. I've just donated the last of those.  I'm not sorry I bought from sales, thrift, and consignment following my weight change -- it allowed me to figure out my style without completely blowing the budget. (Even then it got expensive!) So I don't consider these items mistakes. But the happiness factor for most of those items fell quite quickly. And they were difficult to wear with more modern pieces. The proportions were wrong.  Now that I've got a clearer sense of my own style, the "mistakes" I make tend to fall into two categories:  1. An item whose quality or fit or practicality turns out to be less than anticipated or less than could reasonably have been inferred during the try-on phase.  2. A "trend" item that I attempt in good faith (i.e. I like it a lot, can envision it working for me) but it doesn't work out for whatever reason.  Lyn D. on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1101697 Sat, 30 Nov 2013 20:59:46 +0000 Lyn D. 1101697@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Whoops! Just lost my reply Grrrrrr. Love purging threads. I agree about culling items that are continually 'passed-over' for similar pieces, but sometimes struggle with this. A holding area for about to be donated is helpful here. Lisa's recent idea of shopping her own closet might be helpful for your buying new stuff too soon issue. unfrumped on "Super-purging" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/super-purging#post-1101690 Sat, 30 Nov 2013 20:45:21 +0000 unfrumped 1101690@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I always thought that the idea of getting rid of 80% of your clothes was rash, if not ridiculous. But as I keep weeding out things that I've held on to and are just not quite right, I wonder if I might end up there? That you either get there fast, or slowly, but it's the same in the end? I have 2 concerns: one, is trying not to be impulsive, as though the quantity of what you toss out  will solve everything. I still want to evaluate items on all merits, including love, but also giving enough thought to whether an item just needs better styling. But, since I know I'm not the super-creative outfit maker and also feel that outfits need to be not too quirky for my work, then things need to work without too much work.  One of the best questions that helps me here is, do I keep picking another item over this or that and does that seem likely to continue even though I keep thinking I like it ? I've had several epiphanies of that sort that helped me toss some of my semi-duplicate items and stop agonizing. Another of the best tips for me is to have the new "bar" for fabness. Measure against my highest-happiness items. But, I still have times when I think I'm doing that but I'm not being discriminating enough. Second, I can see I would have to resist the urge to buy more stuff too soon or too frequently; resist imagining I see wardrobe "holes" everywhere. I think this is a little easier in the winter, actually, because  winter clothes tend to be more "satisfying" in terms of colors and fabrics, tend to give off more   quality vibes even if not expensive, and seem to repeat or remix better. (Harking back to Angie's point about its being harder to find summer work-wear). I've enjoyed reading some super-toss posts and wonder if the end of year will bring more, and more ideas about how not to add back more of the same.