https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:52:22 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1966422 Thu, 18 Oct 2018 13:55:38 +0000 Christina F. 1966422@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div><b>jussie</b>, these are some really good thoughts. Thank you! I have been thinking about duplication too. A lot of stuff I have serves similar purposes, but I didn't think of them as duplication because they had different color schemes. (Barring some of my essentials, which I tend to duplicate across a range of my neutrals, on purpose.) <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another observation on the above edit (I know it's buried down here, but good to write it out). I don't want anything business formal or too classic anymore unless I can pair it with more current looking pieces. I had been keeping things like that "just in case," but I'd like to do less of that. I may pass on a grey blazer for this reason, along with my new dislike of grey and that it doesn't look too current. I will also need to think about how to style a few "just in case" pieces I am keeping, to integrate them more with my wardrobe; I will probably post about it when I get to that point.<br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1966362 Thu, 18 Oct 2018 10:45:26 +0000 jussie 1966362@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm well I agree with two things that people already mentioned: versatility and duplication. For me, I get a bit cross with things if I can’t think of three different outfits to wear them in. Also I have almost zero need to duplicate tops/have very similar ones.<br /> Another thing you could consider is whether there is a particular silhouette you need more of... at the moment I’m thinking shorter tops that work with higher waist bottoms. Of course, conversely there may be certain silhouettes you just don’t need right now.<br /> If you really want to pare it back and create more space you could prioritize a couple of colours or capsules and pass on the rest.<br /> The other thing you could use as a criteria is “current-ness/trendy-ness”. Also you could keep your style monikers etc in mind to help edit....<br /> Just my 2 cents! I’d like to do a hard edit of my summer clothes in a few weeks.... so I’ll be in the same boat :).<br /> Joy: that plan sounds fantastic. So organized. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1966274 Thu, 18 Oct 2018 00:49:42 +0000 Christina F. 1966274@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bumping in case anyone is interested in how this went. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965856 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 23:54:19 +0000 Angie 1965856@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I WANT you to be picky about the fit.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965800 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:58:02 +0000 Christina F. 1965800@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div><b>SarahDB, </b>I think my proliferation of tops has something to do with a couple of years of more experimentation in fashion and indiscriminate purchasing. I've drilled down on fit and my preferences more recently. I have plenty of cardigans as well, which is good, since it's the only way I can wear those tops in my office!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>suntiger</b>, that's a good idea. I had a "Wear My Orphans" project like that at the end of summer to help with that kind of thing. I don't think I got through enough of the tops, though.<br /></div></p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965728 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:00:07 +0000 Anonymous 1965728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I say wear the tops, not just at home, but out for the day. Then decide as the day goes on. If you haven't been reaching for them you'll figure out why much more than you can just looking at them or trying on for a few minutes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965726 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:43:12 +0000 SarahD8 1965726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's funny how different categories tend to build up depending on the person. I have a grand total of 3 casual summer knit tops -- 2 are wearing out and I dislike the other one. They are basically a HEWI for me.</p> <p>But, uh, don't ask me to justify or edit my cardigan collection! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965716 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:29:51 +0000 Christina F. 1965716@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div><b>Joy</b>, that sounds like a great strategy. You will really be able to drill down on what you want to wear for each season, I bet. I don't have the storage space for this, per se, but I could certainly de-prioritze items by putting them in less reachable spaces like the back of the closet.&nbsp; I'm interested to hear how it works, if you do this.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sara</b>, yep, sounds very similar. I have some casual only (non-work) summer tops that I'm willing to leave in once they wear out.&nbsp; As long as it doesn't cause you grief, I think it's not a problem. For me, I think this anxiety I feel about them is a symptom of my style finally coming into sharper focus after a long period of experimentation. Maybe :)<br /></div></p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965711 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:12:38 +0000 Sara L. 1965711@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have this problem too.&nbsp; I have way too many casual knit tops - mostly tanks and tees.&nbsp; They don't take up much space so I keep them around but I only wear them in the summer on the weekends so each individual piece only gets worn 2-3 times all summer.&nbsp; I could probably get rid of at least half of them, but I can't decide on which ones to keep - they all fit and I like them all (or I would have already tossed them).&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965709 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:57:43 +0000 Anonymous 1965709@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am pulling out all tops of one color and asking myself if there are duplicates. Also, all mint green is going. I am over it. Angie said that she has a wardrobe of about 150 items for 4 seasons. I am thinking of putting together capsules of about 30-40 items for each season to hang in the closet. I may keep extras that I may still want/need in a holding zone but try to get by with the ones in the closet. These in the closet will be day-to -day items to start out, not special occasion things to start out. I hope to add them later. It also helps me to think of how many weeks or days I would wear a certain weight and then how many things I want for that length of time. Then there is budget to consider. Do I want to add new items for a season? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965702 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:35:58 +0000 Christina F. 1965702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Angie!&nbsp; Nowadays, I try a petite size or just pass on the tops that don't fit because of my hips, but I think I may still have a few lurking around. Since I have an abundance of items in this category, I can afford to be picky even if the fit is off only by a bit. I will try to do this edit this week, maybe tomorrow night, and post results. I also need to edit the knits I have that stay in my active wardrobe all year, but I expect to have different reasons for passing those on (like tastes changing). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965688 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:17:24 +0000 Angie 1965688@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great criteria, and well done. I like that FIT is top of the list. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965645 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 13:08:02 +0000 Christina F. 1965645@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Runcarla, maybe! That’s my least abote thing to do, since it involves making a mess of my extremely limited space. I have to still try on and edit some<br /> knitwear (items that stay in my active wardrobe year round rather than going into seasonal storage). So I guess I can tack that onto it</p> <p>Jessikams, my space is actually extremely limited. The problem, however, is more that I get an anxious paralysis of choice over the number of my summer tops. I haven’t yet found the happy medium between too many and too few. That said, I doubt I’ll be able to part with more than 3-5 at one pass at editing. I think I’ve already passed on most of the ones with obvious problems. I need to tighten my criteria at the purchase stage, and I’m doing so all the time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965589 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 09:37:39 +0000 Jessikams 1965589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Honestly, this kind of top doesn’t take up much space and as you say they wear out quickly. I would keep most but get rid of the ones that don’t feel good on your body because of material or fit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965512 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:25:24 +0000 Carla 1965512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like it's time for an outfit creation session. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965379 Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:04:41 +0000 Christina F. 1965379@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oooh, <b>nemosmom</b>, t<b></b>hat's a great notion. I think I have the opposite problem, in that I have a few blazers/moto jackets I'd like to wear, but it's often too much trouble to figure out which tops look good under them. So I either wear very basic tops under the blazers, or don't wear them much at all. Therefore, one of my criteria should be to try the tops I'm unsure about under the blazers I'd like to wear a bit more. Then, I may be able to put some aside for that use, as you say.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965377 Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:54:51 +0000 nemosmom 1965377@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m in a similar phase of my edit and one attribute I’ve started looking for is versatility. I have a handful of tops that pass my tests in other ways (I like it, it fits, good condition, etc) but I can only wear under certain conditions. For example, I have a great top that has an odd cut and I’m only comfortable wearing it with a structured topper; another top, sleeveless chiffon, that I *can* layer in colder weather, but I don’t - I would wear it if planning to be indoors most of the day or at a quick dinner. These kinds of items I keep around, but they require too much brain power to keep in my day-to-day rotation. It has helped me to move those items to a different rack or part of my closet so I don’t have to consider it when choosing my outfit for the day, but it’s still there, if I have an occasion to wear it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-questions-on-further-closet-editing-tops#post-1965367 Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:13:45 +0000 Christina F. 1965367@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I posted about the small edit I did when I changed over my wardrobe for Fall, <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-recent-closet-edit">here</a>. I'd like to pick your brains about editing further, now that many of us are in that mode.</p> <p><div>It's already cooled down enough that I can take the rest of the warmer weather items out of my active wardrobe, except for the ones I believe I can layer with pretty well.. I often advocate for letting such tops leave my wardrobe by eventual attrition, since they don't hold up as well anyway.... but I also <i>feel</i> as if I have too many tops to wear, which is anxiety-provoking. I wouldn't want to overedit, and end up with too few. I like options. On the other hand, the problem with editing is that I genuinely like many of them. I think this will be difficult to edit, in short, but I'd like to do some now as I put tops away, rather than push it off until Spring.<br /> </div><div><br /> </div><div>Here are some criteria I may try to use, since I think it may help in this case to start with some kind of guidelines in mind. Please feel free to make suggestions.<br /> </div><div><br /> </div><div>1. Fit. I think most of what I have fits me, but I'm short-waisted and curvy, and some longer tops don't fit my hips too well. Some of those items can be tucked, of course. I think what I still have around fits me okay, but I'm sure some of them are better than others.</div><div><br /> </div><div>2. Age.<br /> </div><div><br /> </div><div>3. Do I still reach for it? Related, does it go with enough other items? (I wear tops with jeans a lot, so I think this latter criterion is less useful for me.)<br /> </div><div><br /> </div><div>4. Do I like the fabric?</div><div><br /> </div><div>Has anyone else found any other good criteria for editing items they have an abundance of?<br /> </div></p> <p>ETA: I have edited out 7 further items. I only have Finds for the first two. I feel good about my results here. There are a few other items that I’m going to try a few ways (per advice below), but I’m on the fence about. </p> <p>LOFT top (see find). Fit is not great near the belly. Never felt super great in the color scheme.<br /> LOFT lace front tank - showing its age. Prefer a richer color.<br /> Pale grey blouse, forget brand - too business formal. Even if I had a job interview, I could do better,</p> <p>Not shown:<br /> LOFT cardigan in pink - wrong shade of pink for my current wardrobe - not quite bright enough and not a nice pale blush, either. Neither here nor there. Don’t love traditional short cardigans anymore, except in black or navy.<br /> J Crew Factory puffin sweater - doesn’t fit me well anymore. Background color is grey, which I prefer less these days. I will miss the puffin<br /> J Crew Factory striped tee in burgundy and navy. Looking old and I don’t reach for it, even for Lounge wear (where my tees often go to die)<br /> Black and burgundy knit cape (unsure of brand) - very nice object that I never wore enough. I never know what to do with ponchos and capes except as coverups at work, and this didn’t have a versatile enough color scheme for that purpose.</p> <p>I also demoted a plain grey tee to my Lounge wardrobe - I may wear it in that context, but not other contexts now that I don’t prefer grey. </p>