https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 03 May 2026 04:43:35 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880939 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:37:34 +0000 Lisa 880939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lots of great advice here already.&nbsp; I was also in this boat of owning lots and lots of clothes and wearing very little of them often.&nbsp; And when I joined YLF I went on a shopping frenzy trying to learn my style, my colors, and how to dress for my body type.&nbsp;<br /><br />This meant lots of purchases that ended up wardrobe orphans, far too much wasted money, and lots of returning.&nbsp; My husband thought I was crazy!&nbsp; But now I own less, I shop less, and when I do shop, I shop smarter.&nbsp; So the learning curve has&nbsp;finally paid off.&nbsp; <br /><br />As far as what to do with a wardrobe full of items you are not wearing.&nbsp; For me to find my "set point" with how much clothing and variety I needed, I was able to use two closets and added to my main closet as I wore items.&nbsp; With a 4 season climate, I can only wear so many thing before the seasons change.&nbsp; Perhaps this will help you streamline your clothes.&nbsp; This also made purging easier for me because I knew items I was donating were unworn for an entire season.&nbsp; Good luck! https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880809 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:36:29 +0000 Ariadne 880809@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Tanya, I feel similarly about my closet, and I have the same monthly budget as you. &nbsp;I'll be taking notes (and hoping Angie can help you make a plan... that I can steal! &nbsp;Heh. &lt;3 ). https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880737 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 03:15:55 +0000 Tanya 880737@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for the sympathy ladies!<br /><br />Mamapicklejuice, that is a wonderful compliment, thank you! &nbsp;I feel notify the forum as soon as I have some appropriate boards &nbsp;I am sorry you are felling&nbsp;frustrated&nbsp;about your wardrobe as well, maybe we can help?<br /><br />Gaylene, that is an awesome idea, though I am not sure hot to&nbsp;practically&nbsp;implement it. &nbsp;One of my closets has long hanging space for dresses/coats and shelves for folded items, the other one shorter hanging spaces for tops and bottoms, so none can&nbsp;accommodate&nbsp;everything even though there is more than enough space. &nbsp;But I really like the though, I will see if I can do something about that.<br /><br />Thank you so much Laura! &nbsp;Yes, I have learned not to overbuy into a single trend, but now I want to overbuy into multiple ones &nbsp;Meaning, there are so many things I am attracted to, and I want one or two of each.<br /><br />Beth Ann, that sounds very wise, and I already have all sorts of lists in place, they just need some editing, as they are way to big and unrealistic as they are. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880595 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:09:41 +0000 Beth Ann 880595@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ There are others who have wiser counsel to offer than I, for sure, but I'd encourage you to make a shopping plan, using Angie's shopping priority levels, once you've completed the sort of your current wardrobe.&nbsp; I put these lists on my phone, so I have them when I'm out and about, and I can add or subtract from the list easily.<br /><br />You'd be surprised how just a few fresh items can change your whole look (and outlook)! <br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880561 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:51:20 +0000 Laura 880561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I can relate, Tanya! I did wind up purging a lot of things from my first years at YLF and even though my husband had to pry the garments out of my cold clammy hands,&nbsp;here's what it taught me -- don't overbuy!! Now I try to buy trends sparingly, even if the trend&nbsp;really suits me, because I will want something else soon (if not next season, then surely in a year or two). I'm like you and am an early adopter of trends, and I'm only happy when I feel on trend. Good luck, my friend!!<br /><br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880536 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:34:07 +0000 Gaylene 880536@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Can you designate one section of a closet as your REAL wardrobe, stocking and organizing it with what you currently want to wear. The rest of the closet and the other closet can then be a "store" that you shop when you need to complete a outfit or want some variety. When you pull something from the "store", it can get hung in the REAL wardrobe as long as you find it useful.<br /><br />It sounds a bit crazy, but that's what I did a few years back when I was unsure of what to keep and what to purge. Not having to look at things that I didn't really want to wear made me much happier and when I went into my "store" looking for something, I could sometimes see an item in a new light. <br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880491 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:39:43 +0000 Mamapicklejuice 880491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, if you start a pinterest board I'm totally stalki-I mean *following* you.&nbsp; Sorry for the current frustrations.&nbsp; I am in the depths of fashion despair right now for different reasons, so I sympathize with the struggle.<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880454 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:09:44 +0000 Tanya 880454@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, thank you very much Anna and Caro!<br /><br />I very much love the idea on focusing on shoes. &nbsp;Also, I was already thinking of getting a bunch of inexpensive trendy tees from F21 for layering to replace/update my too fitted ones from the past. &nbsp; And I do&nbsp;not have a pinterest page yet, but should start one when I have some time.<br /><br />About sweater vests, I have gotten rid of most of them. &nbsp;I have kept 3-4 in classic patterns (argyle and houndstooth) to see if they might work the upcoming winter - I have seen a lot of shorter sweaters layered over longer shirts. Under a blazer you can not tell that it is a vest and not a long sleeved sweater.<br />&nbsp; https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880452 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:09:27 +0000 Adelfa 880452@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is so interesting, I'm glad you posted. &nbsp;I'm a minimalist, small-closet, late adopter, so I'm not sure I have useful advice. I guess I want to second the fast fashion idea. Sometimes it's great to participate in a new trend by paying under $20 at H&amp;M or Target. Good luck! I feel sure that your own creativity aided by the forum will help you figure out a strategy to feel better about your clothes! https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880432 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:54:21 +0000 Caro in Oz 880432@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree - shoes make such a difference. The other thing I would add is it might be helpful to work out how many times a week, month or year you need a particular type of outfit, this really helped me see that I had clothes that would never be worn. It made it much easier to let them go. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880419 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:42:33 +0000 annagybe 880419@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I read it once this morning and once again this afternoon.Trying to figure out what sort of advice to give you.<br />1 Donate/purge the sweater vests. I don't see them trending anytime soon.<br />2 If you don't have a pinterest page, start one. I'm currently on SYC and what has helped me was pinning outfits and then trying to recreate them. Sometimes it rocks, sometimes it crashes, but hey it's something.<br />3 Two options. Go the fast fashion route. You'll get more bang for your buck. -OR- I saw in a different thread you've been eyeballing some shoes. Plow your money into shoes. I love shoes, and for me they modernize and elevate a outfit much more than anything else. I think those silver sneakers will do wonders. For example my Urban Leprechaun outfit, the leather leggings are three years old, the tunic over a year old, but the shoes I got in January. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880390 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:15:01 +0000 Suz 880390@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sounds as if you are in a frustrating place with your wardrobe, but I have a feeling that just identifying that 30% that you still really love will be a useful exercise. I hope so!!&nbsp; https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880307 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:38:18 +0000 Tanya 880307@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lyn67 and Mirp, I am glad there others who feel the same about the turtlenecks! &nbsp;They are classic, but it is strange how our view of them changes a lot.<br /><br />Harmonica, that is a great idea, along the lines of what other have been suggesting and what I&nbsp;subconsciousness&nbsp;seem to be reaching for most of the time anyway.<br /><br />Denise, I am definitely retaining all the classic pieces. &nbsp;The thing is though, that letting my style go really classic is quite polar opposite from my natural tendencies. &nbsp;What I can do is mix them with trendier pieces, that feels much more like me. &nbsp;Simple&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;pieces like sheath dresses do not get much use &nbsp;because of my lifestyle - most often I need jeans + trendy top for work and a cocktail-ish dress for going out&nbsp;occasions&nbsp; &nbsp; https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880301 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:30:38 +0000 CocoLion 880301@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sorry to hear you are in this frustrating place. &nbsp;And I also didn't think this would happen but I now&nbsp;see how the sequester is negatively influencing the fashion industry. &nbsp;:-)<br /><br />I was going to suggest retaining all of the classic pieces (e.g. navy or black blazer)&nbsp;or statement pieces that are unusual (e.g. vintage velvet jacket). &nbsp;A sheath dress, unembellished might also fall into this category, as well as the white button downs etc. &nbsp;So my advice is to let your style go really classic while you gradually rebuild your wardrobe.<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880295 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:23:56 +0000 Tanya 880295@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm, Mirp and Jayne, though&nbsp;appealing&nbsp; the idea of storing away those 60-70% would technically be difficult for practical reasons. &nbsp;I live in a decent sized studio apartment, and it's biggest asset is having two nice walk-in closets. &nbsp;It&nbsp;doesn't have much of any other storage space, I even store extra bedding etc. in those closets. &nbsp; So it is easy to leave that clothing where it already is, because there is no other space to put it - it is mostly hanging space anyway.That is why I already mentioned doing something similar by subdividing each category of clothing without actually removing it.<br /><br />Jayne, 160 is not big at all, my number is much bigger than that! &nbsp;But the good 30% of total items is smaller than that, which is food for thought in itself. &nbsp;Hmm..&nbsp; &nbsp;Personally, I actually prefer having a large wardrobe (for all the reasons stated in my original post). &nbsp;Everything doesn't have to be worn often -&nbsp;&nbsp; some special occasion wear gets worn only 1-2 times a year. &nbsp;My criterion is more along the lines that whenever I wear something, it should make me happy and I should want to wear it if the right occasion presents itself. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880290 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:19:35 +0000 harmonica 880290@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm so sorry for your frustration! It seems like you are going through a several transitions at the same time which make it even harder to approach. Keeping up your fashion forward standard with 4-5 year old items is really hard. <br /><br />How do you feel about focusing on the items you still really love and make you happy as a start?<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880284 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:09:34 +0000 jayne 880284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh I like Mirp's idea of packing away that 60-70% that you won't use. &nbsp;Consider it long term storage. if next winter you want those turtles, it will be really fun to shop your boxes. &nbsp;And if you don't look back, they will be so easy to donate. &nbsp;I have gotten down to what I consider a pretty happy level and have about 40 pieces in each of my seasonal wardrobes, which equates to about 20 outfits (because I tend to have hero pieces that don't play well together). &nbsp;When I look at the total for all 4 seasons, 160 items of clothes or so, it seems like that is a big number, but I do feel I use it all. &nbsp;So maybe a large number isn't so bad. &nbsp;I don't count shoes and accessories, that is just embarrassing! https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880283 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:08:31 +0000 Tanya 880283@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks ladies, and thanks Angie!<br /><br />Hehe Lyn, well I am bout 10 years older than you, so those 20 years span the 15-35 age range, which is much more&nbsp;realistic&nbsp;than 5-25 when it comes to staying the same size :)<br /><br />Starting with a 30% of the current wardrobe&nbsp;&nbsp;sounds like a good start. &nbsp;My clothes are mainly stored in two big closets and organized in categories (shirts, pants etc.), so maybe I will do that 30/70 separation within each category and figure out a way to cleverly display it. &nbsp;And see how much of that 70% gets worn at all.<br /><br />I do have a monthly budget, which is about $100 a month. &nbsp;I have already spent it for the past and this&nbsp;month. &nbsp;Right now I am&nbsp;reluctant to spend&nbsp;anything else, as the government may or may not shut down in less than two weeks, so I have to wait &nbsp;and see&nbsp;what happens. And there is a big chance of having a little extra clothing money in a month, but I have to wait and see if that happens too - if it does, it would be about $500 &nbsp;one time thing. &nbsp;In general, I am pretty certain I will not be making any new purchases till I see how these things play out.&nbsp; https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880277 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:58:43 +0000 Mirp 880277@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I also have the turtlenecks and haven't wore them but do not feel comfortable passing them on.&nbsp; I will store them for at least one more winter.&nbsp; But if winter 2013/2014 is cold and I don't wear them they are being dumped.<br /><br />Since you have so much closet space and have 2 major thingsyou are saving for I don't think you should feel bad about keeping things.<br /><br />How about putting most of you clothes away and doing a capsule wardrobe that you change every 4-6 weeks?<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880273 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:54:33 +0000 Angie 880273@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Tanya, your post makes so much sense. It's all about what you have been used to. You created a very high style standard for yourself in the past, in which you were able to add in the mega trendy pieces as you stumbled upon them. It's hard to move away from that model and shopping strategy when your passion for fashion is still as strong as ever. Throw into the mix that the face of trendy fashion is shifting and it adds to your frustration. (((HUGS))). <br /><br />Take the 30% of your wardrobe that feels the best to you right now and make that your starting point. Do you have a monthly budget? Lets make a plan! <br /><br /><br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880256 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:27:32 +0000 lyn67 880256@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Feel your pain, Tanya! I also have a big bounch of turtlenecks (tissue weight and heavier sweatter weight, too) which I lived in&nbsp;2-3 years ago all winter, but this seazon they &nbsp;barely saw the daylight:-(...They are fairly basic, &nbsp;simple and neutral, so it's not about&nbsp;considering them oldfahioned-but still, &nbsp;something changed, and I've better layered with some crew- and cowl necks instead of turtles...<br />So, I am sad, too. When bought them I considerred them good basic pieces which will last and last...but it was not the case this season. Now, I&nbsp;just cannot&nbsp;give up on them yet, so I folded them up, and took out from my current closet, will &nbsp;store them in another place, but it still buggs me, and even not there in my closet, &nbsp;they still&nbsp;take&nbsp; some place...and they worth some money, too:-(( sigh. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880250 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:12:50 +0000 lyn* 880250@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh! I hope that I will remain the same size for 20 years! I don't think I have (My clothes when I was 5 were a lot smaller, I would imagine!) so I don't have any suggestions along that line.<br /><br />I know when I was getting really frustrated with my closet (which actually happens quite a bit), I needed to have a section to put all my dream clothes and my favorites. I bought a $14 Ikea rack for this purpose and it sits beside my bed. It is the first thing that I see when I wake up and the last thing I see when I fall asleep - it reminds me that there are wonderful things I can wear tomorrow (even if there's only 10 things on the rack). It also serves as a room divider, but that's another story...<br /><br />I shove all the less fab things or out-of-season things (also 4 seasons here! Warm - Hot - Cold - FLIPPING COLD)&nbsp;together in my big closet in the spare bedroom - I don't need to spend time or energy looking at them when they're not appropriate for wear!&nbsp;<br /><br />I donate when the season comes around and they don't make it onto my Rack of Awesomeness (which doesn't refer to my breasts).&nbsp;<br /><br />*BIG HUGS* https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/very-frustrated-with-the-current-state-of-my-wardrobe-warningvery-long#post-880243 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:07:33 +0000 Tanya 880243@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ First I am going to warn you that this is going to be quite long and whiny, so please feel free to completely skip this thread.<br /><br />I have just finished a long spring wardrobe clean-up,&nbsp;stretched&nbsp;over multiple weekends.&nbsp; There are a couple of huge bags of items to donate.&nbsp; Still, I am extremely dissatisfied with the state of my remaining wardrobe.&nbsp; I have a very large wardrobe, partly due to the fact that for the most part of the last 20 years I have remained the same size.&nbsp; Another reason is because I love clothes and shopping, and I am very interested in looking my best every day.&nbsp; It is a hobby and a stress&nbsp;release&nbsp;mechanism at the same time.&nbsp; I like to follow trends ( though not blindly, for example, I am skipping the current slouchy/baggy pants trend which is huge) and am usually an early adopter.&nbsp; I live in a four-season climate which requires a whole range of different clothing options.&nbsp; My lifestyle is such that I need clothes for very different&nbsp;occasions: &nbsp;work which is casual/conservative, free time when I am more trendy and dressy (my natural inclinations), ballroom dancing clothes, a whole&nbsp;myriad&nbsp;of&nbsp;cocktail /formal wear, and various other going out clothes for evening outings.&nbsp; I also like having a lot of options and tend to get bored easily.<br /><br />While I have always been interested in clothes, the interest really spiked up when I discovered YLF in 2007.&nbsp; Over 2008&nbsp; and 2009 I did a lot of shopping and my wardrobe was in excellent state.&nbsp; Then, due to some complicated circumstances, I went on about ~90% SYC throughout 2010 and 2011.&nbsp; I think I got a couple of trendy items and some emergency items too, but I do not think that I have added more than 10-15&nbsp;pieces&nbsp;total in those two years. However, I do not think i felt it much as my wardrobe was in great shape and I already had a lot of the current looking items. Then early last year I resumed &nbsp;more of an SYB approach and added a more significant amount of new items for spring 2012 and fall 2012.&nbsp; Still, after this cleanup, it is evidently to me that you can tell that most of my clothes are 4-5 years old.&nbsp; The styles have changed.&nbsp; I have changed, and so have my style preferences.&nbsp; In a hypothetical dream&nbsp;situation&nbsp;of having a large sum of money for a complete wardrobe overhaul, I think I would keep about 15% of the current clothes, update about 15% as well with equivalent items ( for example,&nbsp; not-so fresh looking white button down with a new one), than substitute about 20% with items that serve the same purpose ( example: new cocktail dress&nbsp;instead&nbsp;of not-so-high quality old one) and completely throw away about a half of everything I currently own that has survived my big spring purge.<br /><br />The thing is, I am on limited clothing budget at the moment as I am saving for two very important things that are, frankly, much more important that clothes.&nbsp; This will stay like this for a year, after which my budget will still be limited but more tolerable.&nbsp; So in this situation I do not feel comfortable throwing away half of everything I own, especially since I do not know if I would be able to afford to rebuy those things should I need them.&nbsp; I am trying to get rid of things that are really dated (hence a bunch of my recent posts wondering if this or that was dated/current) and keep things that are not&nbsp;necessarily&nbsp;trendy, but still sort-of current.&nbsp; For example, I have a bunch of simple tissue thin turtlenecks in various colors that I used to live in in colder months, but have barely worn in the past two winter seasons, as my style has shifted to wearing much more wovens and less knits.&nbsp; However, there is nothing wrong with those&nbsp;turtlenecks&nbsp; and who knows how I might feel about them next winter or the one after.&nbsp; And there are many more groups of items of this kind: cardigans, knitted tops, fitted tees, sweater vests etc..&nbsp; Or things that represent results of shopping around the item I really wanted but couldn't afford and ended up getting a couple of cheaper versions that never made me as happy but served the purpose.&nbsp; Or overbuying of the certain trends that were&nbsp;particularly&nbsp;flattering/really matched my style,&nbsp; And so on.&nbsp; I have edited all of these groups of items&nbsp; for the favorites, but still there plenty left.<br /><br />I do have a lots of closet space so storage is not an issue.&nbsp; But I do not like the idea of not wearing half of the things I own.&nbsp; Then again, I have learned that I am very fickle when it comes to what i like to wear and greatly influenced by the current styles. I often&nbsp;resurrect&nbsp;old items if they feel in line with current trends.&nbsp;In general, I do not really know what to do and if there is anything I can really do considering the whole situation.&nbsp; But the realization that, in couple of years, my wardrobe has changed from being almost 90% full of stuff that are current and I love to that number being 30% at best is not making me feel good.<br /><br />If I try to keep the big picture in mind, I still have plenty of&nbsp; nice things to wear and the situation is nowhere nearly as tragic, as I feel it is - just a subjective perception.&nbsp;&nbsp; So I don't really know if I am asking for some&nbsp;particular&nbsp;advice or just venting.<br /><br />If you have made it this far, than you are a real trooper :)&nbsp; Thank you for reading!<br /><br />