https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:22:19 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2297495 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 19:37:13 +0000 Jenni NZ 2297495@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Um… do you mean getting ready to shift countries again Stag? As in “working my tail off”? Not paid work though? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2297385 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 09:50:28 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2297385@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So many definitions of holiday! Sounds like my understanding was correct; the disconnect is how anyone would say I was taking a break right now, when I’m working my tail off. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2297381 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 09:19:39 +0000 Sally 2297381@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Zaeobi your explanation of ‘holiday’ is great. We do often say I’m on holiday but that can mean staying at home. A lot of people here might say “are you going away anywhere during the holidays? “<br /> @Lyn67 I don't know if I could differentiate the weather changes every 6 weeks but weather here is very changeable and sometimes feels like 4 seasons in a day. As far as bottlenecks go I feel I need more changes in summer and more washing and less in winter. I do tend to have more summer clothes because I’m changing so much. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2297151 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 12:10:54 +0000 Zaeobi 2297151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@lyn Same here! Life has been much more blissful since I bought all underwear to last me 2 weeks minimum - especially during high summer, lol (I do do laundry every week, but darks one fortnight then I wash lights the next fortnight). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2297148 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 11:57:25 +0000 lyn67 2297148@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Loved <b>Anchie</b>'s analitical breke down. Will think about how das it implement by me when having more time.<br />But thought I will give also my 2 cents learned from <b>Suz</b>, years ago here on YLF.<br />She was the first to aknowledge that she cannot really devide her wardrobe in simples and equals of 4 seasons, because she had&nbsp; changes&nbsp; in weather rather each&nbsp; 6 weeks of the year. That's my approach from then on. So for ex. Spring is 12 weeks here but devides in cold spring and warm spring for me- so I rather concentrate on capsules&nbsp; worth of 6 weeks. Same with each&nbsp; other season.<br />Then, I had to decide how&nbsp; many completely different outfits can I include&nbsp; in a mini season per each of my lifestyle's need (work, casual, lounge, dressy..)-and how many times I am willing to repeat each outfit&nbsp; during&nbsp; the 6 weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;When deciding on outfits I'd also taken account my preffered silhouettes- and then decided how many of these outfits should include pants, skirts or dresses. Then split them down from there even more---just like Anchie started with (neutrals, colors, exact and more speciffic pieces I need, etc)....you get it.</p> <p>This is only for an approximate math. I am not following it strictly but for me was&nbsp; a good starting point.</p> <p>Laundry bottlenecks count, too. I have a large wardrobe, and now I can go 2 weeks without&nbsp; major laundering which I treasure a lot -as so I don't have the laundry stress and also&nbsp; got free time to do something else&nbsp; instead each other week ---but&nbsp; guess, each has to decide&nbsp; on it' s own.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2297147 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 11:56:27 +0000 Zaeobi 2297147@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I never started using the word 'vacation' at all until DH came along &amp; corrupted my British dialect - &amp; accent, tbh </p> <p>I guess 'GOING on holiday' (vacationing) is an opportunity to *test* your wardrobe, since you're living out of a small capsule (suitcase). </p> <p>But for me, even being 'ON holiday' (i.e. off work, like school breaks) is a good chance to experiment &amp; take stock of your wardrobe - I hope to do that this December/ January, once I've finally left academia (fingers crossed I get through all this marking first!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2296936 Sun, 18 Dec 2022 03:45:17 +0000 Sally 2296936@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@<b>suntiger</b> - thats a really good point.&nbsp; Our cold weather is in the middle of the year and that is when I don't socialise much but am working with little holiday.&nbsp; I can justify more cold weather work wear.&nbsp; During the really hot weather, I'm on holiday for half that time.&nbsp; There are about 6 - 8 weeks when I need cool dresses for work from February to April (and a bit in November / December) and the rest of the time I'm in pants and boots with jackets when it gets colder.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />@<b>jaime</b> -&nbsp; I have found it really helpful to follow the guidelines of others' strategies even if it is perhaps following it loosely.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2296914 Sun, 18 Dec 2022 02:29:01 +0000 Jaime 2296914@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well I really don't belong on these kinds of threads because my attitude toward my wardrobe leans very heavily toward art rather than science. The more paints and tools the better ! But I do find everyone's attitudes and strategies very interesting nonetheless.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2296912 Sun, 18 Dec 2022 02:24:29 +0000 Anonymous 2296912@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agreeing to keep a very simple color palette, and to track what your regular activities are. I add weather to that too- which factors into my PUPY (potential uses per year) value, because activities could change depending on the season.</p> <p>For example, my highest PUPY value is warm weather workwear. I wear it 4 days a week for 6+ months of the year. I can justify more pieces in that category. I don't really socialize in winter OTOH, so cold weather party wear is a very small category. </p> <p>Now as far as changing silouettes, and my ever evolving life, I'm still trying to figure it out </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2296889 Sun, 18 Dec 2022 01:06:00 +0000 Sally 2296889@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Sal and Jenni for explaining the vacation puzzlement.<br /> @stagiaire probably like teachers here who usually plan and clean up during their holidays.<br /> @Vildy amazing how the eye gets influenced. I swore I was sticking to skinnies and slim fits but slowly felt tempted to try other styles. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2296813 Sat, 17 Dec 2022 14:15:59 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2296813@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Jenni, Sal, and Sally. I guess you’re calling it a vacation/holiday because I’ll be living out of a suitcase. Now that I’ve gotten my head around it, I’ll go along. But I have never worked this hard on a holiday/vacation! (Except as a prof, squeezing in research and writing between semesters, but everyone knows the profs aren’t actually on break then). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101/page/2#post-2296807 Sat, 17 Dec 2022 13:21:03 +0000 Vildy 2296807@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>LJP</b>'s keen observation as to silhouette change chilled my bones. :D&nbsp;<br />While I do have and wear and love a few oversized outerwear jackets, otherwise I (and not y'all of course) feel like the little boy in a Little Golden Book I used to have who found a dress-up trunk in the attic and donned the masculine clothing.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296743 Sat, 17 Dec 2022 01:22:25 +0000 Sal 2296743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>NZers call both vacation and school breaks holidays. We don’t refer to Christmas as a holiday really, it’s more of a celebration or family or religious day. Similar with Eid or Diwali - it’s just a slightly different terminology. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296738 Sat, 17 Dec 2022 00:28:27 +0000 Sally 2296738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah that’s what I meant. If you go on a vacation you often get a different perspective on your wardrobe. You survive out of a suitcase.<br /> @Jenni. I went back teaching when my son was 3. It is great for the holidays apart from when you are on holiday, they are off school too so sometimes you don’t get a break. Also it’s hard to leave during the day and hours are very set. In saying that a lot of schools I worked at were very flexible and on an even more positive note I have a close relationship with my son and I think that is partly because we took so many holidays together while his dad and others were working. He’s nearly 17 and I do have a lot of holiday time on my own now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296733 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 23:55:33 +0000 Jenni NZ 2296733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Stag I think Sally means what you call vacations- but she is also a teacher so gets a long summer break of 6 weeks or so and several other breaks between “terms” of the year. I appreciate that teachers do have to do wrap-up work and prep work in those breaks but it would be different from actually attending at the school. My older daughter has just done a year of secondary teacher training and will start as a beginning teacher in late January 2023. She is pleased as a Mum of a young child that there will be those breaks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296730 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 23:30:18 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2296730@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Holidays? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296728 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 23:18:35 +0000 Sally 2296728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Once again thanks for the valuable contributions even commiserations are valuable.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />@<b>Zaeobi</b> I think I said black pants because it is something I have a lot of and I need to be versatile in how I use them...especially in dressy situations and work.&nbsp; &nbsp;Great idea about the holding zone giving insight into what doesn't work and yes I have managed to make an alteration to something that wasn't working.&nbsp; The latest were my cotton pants that I cropped.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />@<b>Stagiaire Fash</b> - I think moving is a great chance to clear out and reflect on what you need.&nbsp; Holidays allow us to see how we can get away with smaller wardrobes. And unsettledness and lifestyle changes can play havoc with our wardrobes<br />@<b>Anchie</b> - your analysis is out of this world and my unanalytical mind wouldn't cope with it.&nbsp; But my personal takeaway from your comment is the importance of working out what I need each season (our autumn can be quite warm and our spring cool like yours so I would think cooler weather and warmer weather)&nbsp; and the need for various levels of dressiness and weight etc. I think I have too many casual tanks but a dressy tank could elevate what I already have.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />@<b>olive green</b>- I'm glad you brought that up.&nbsp; When people talked about dressing for your fantasy life, I never thought that applied to me because I don't hunt for dressy stuff which people often do.&nbsp; My fantasy life is probably a permanent vacation as I skew to casual stuff to wear on holiday when in reality I do work for a large part of the year and I do have to attend events so I need to find a comfortable way to dress for these events.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />@ <b>Dee </b>- I never thought about the change to silhouette being a factor in me buying too many clothes.&nbsp; It probably overlapped with my weight loss as I was buying for what I used to wear at this weight but then I changed my style and wanted to try new things.&nbsp;<br />@<b>Suz</b> - yes the change in silhouette has definitely affected me as you make a good point that we need to think about our supporting acts and perhaps overbuy in that area while experimenting.&nbsp;<br />@<b>LJP</b> - I agree the changes in silhouette can affect our views on how we want to dress and I have added in quite a few changes as I experimented during lockdowns.&nbsp; Its all been good fun but now I need to do something about this wardrobe.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Reading all your comments made me think about another point which probably comes under working out the percentages of your lifestyle and covering all eventualities; mixing with different groups of people and feeling comfortable with them as well as in your style. I work and live in a very working class area and if I wandered around dressy I would look out of place, and not be able to do my job, but my son goes to a private school and there are formal events I have to attend. I don't have to wear expensive clothes but there is a definite divide how people dress in these two environments.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296695 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 19:09:07 +0000 LJP 2296695@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always have too many clothes despite taking steps to rectify that . This has been a valuable post and I appreciate the comments here from Jussie and Anchie . I do prefer a current wardrobe thus need to be even more mindful that it’s doesn’t get too big . I was thinking just the other day that this past year or two saw the biggest overall changes in silhouettes in every category - even footwear and accessories - and that it’s left me a bit overwhelmed with figuring out how I want to dress . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296678 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 17:55:23 +0000 Suz 2296678@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Dee'</b>s right that a big change in silhouette in the culture can eventually lead to confusion! That sounds like part of what has affected you, too, Sally, in the move from skinnies to wider, looser jeans.&nbsp;</p> <p>The first few years of a switch up in silhouette can be complicated because we don't always have the new supporting act (so we buy it, or feel frustrated at not being able to make outfits from what we have...). And then some of us overbuy and wind up with more than necessary.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Anchie,</b> wow, that is taking analysis to a whole new level! Impressive! I feel I need to do some counting again....</p> <p><b>Zaeobi,</b> those are great tips as well. Make sure to experiment with what you have, but deliberately, and try on potential outfits in advance.&nbsp;</p> <p>I also did the little exercise Carla linked to, some years ago, and might repeat it. Thanks for the link, <b>Carla</b>!&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296673 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 17:15:32 +0000 Dee 2296673@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh I so identify with what you’re going through<b>&nbsp;Sally,</b>&nbsp;I’m struggling to tame my large wardrobe now too, and there’s a lot of really great suggestions here. </p> <p>It all started to get out of hand for me when pant/ jean silhouettes started to get looser, wider and high waisted. I found my current wardrobe wasn’t working with it that well, and that I needed different tops, shoe/boots, even coats/jackets etc.. to get the proper look, I also got carried away with the some of the trends others were trying.<br />Well now I’m a bit confused with what I own, because some these outfits I don’t care for as much, they just don’t feel quite like me and I still continue to have my older items on standby.</p> <p>So I don’t have any helpful suggestions but I’ll definitely be following along.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296666 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:57:39 +0000 Zaeobi 2296666@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh just remembered that I've subdivided my holding zone, which could help you too? Rather than forgetting why I tossed an item in there (&amp; therefore readding clutter to my closet), I've got bags within the HZ for different reasons why they don't work for me (some are unsolvable, such as breathability, but others are truthfully more of like an 'alterations' category lol, like 'shorten hems').</p> <p>Since I keep items in my HZ for at least a few months (so that I can be sure I don't actually need or reach for them at all), I periodically take stock of which categories seem to be the highest. That tends to:<br /> A) help me avoid similar purchasing mistakes in the future (so that I know my weakness), and<br /> B) pinpoint which alterations are realistic VS wishful thinking - i.e. I still haven't found a tailor for my items, so it's wiser to keep alterations I can easily do at home (e.g. shortening hems) rather than hold onto items in the hopes that I'll find a way to e.g. dye them (washing machine dye pods don't seem to be a thing out here...). </p> <p>So whilst it may not be a culling method as such, it does help with my culling analysis. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296641 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 12:12:32 +0000 Olive Green 2296641@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the first time I saw the phrase “buying for your fantasy life” I laughed for a week. So true!&nbsp;<br />That, and Laundry Bottleneck Avoidance (where to duplicate item types, eg T-shirts) have been very useful forum take aways.&nbsp;<br />I need the reminding, thank you all.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296638 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 11:38:01 +0000 anchie 2296638@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>SF - Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter is just name for me to divide wardrobe into cool and warm season. But I still wear my Fall/Winter items into spring if temperatures require and Summer items into fall. There is definitely about 6 months of warmer weather and 6 months of cold weather so that is why I<br /> split my wardrobe in half, but those seasons don’t necessarily match calendar seasons. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296636 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 11:28:12 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2296636@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anchi, you are a pro! I’m surprised to hear the division into S/S and F/W works for you. My recent epiphany here has been that Berlin’s climate is much more W/S and S/F. There are different colors from season to season, but fall is warm here and spring is chilly. But maybe Vienna is far enough away that its climate works differently. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296634 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 11:00:50 +0000 jussie 2296634@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gosh Anchie that’s brilliant. I’m impressed with your method. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296633 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:56:50 +0000 anchie 2296633@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am nerd, so all my wardrobe management is based on math. When I started I divided my wardrobe in Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. It doesn’t mean that some spring item I can’t wear in fall, but I just assigned every item to it’s main season, just to make calculations easier. Then I split each season into 3 piles - dark neutral, light neutral and color/pattern. Then I analyzed each of 6 piles by categories - tops, bottoms, knitwear, jackets, coats, dresses. At the beginning, some piles were bigger than others, but my goal was to make them even over time. I also decided on numbers of items in each category in a pile. For example, I decided that I would like to have 7 tops in each of 3 fall/winter piles. Calculation told me that if I wear those 21 tops equally during 6 months of the year, each will get about 8-9 wears, and they will hit more than 30 wears over 4 years that I keep them on average. That calculation told me that 21 tops are about correct amount that I need for fall/winter. I also made sure that each of 7 tops in a pile are not duplicates - that they are different weights and shapes and level of dressiness. And similarly with other categories. This approach helped me a lot to see which items I have too much of and can easily be purged, and where are my wardrobe holes. It also helps to be more specific with my shopping because I can see for example that I miss light neutral mid weight dressy winter sweater and that I should stop looking at navy chunky casual sweaters. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296629 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:59:19 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2296629@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wonder if I’m starting a clearer wardrobe management system, with my 3 bags of spring &amp; summer clothes, and 4 of winter. Don’t think it’s ever all been sorted as well as it is for the move. The craziest part (maybe) is that I think I’ve worn a very large portion of it, except for the dressiest things, over the past couple years.</p> <p>My life has been up in the air since 2010. I’m finally taking steps to get that under control, which could lead to eventual clarity about my daily and recurrent needs, in a couple years. Then I might be ready to make some choices. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296628 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:44:11 +0000 Zaeobi 2296628@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You're on! I no longer have black in my current wardrobe BUT if we make it a 'Dark Pants' challenge, then I'll gladly use some chocolate trousers instead </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296621 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 08:15:40 +0000 Sally 2296621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks <b>Sal.</b>  You have also added some good ideas.  I guess my categories would be similar but my everyday casual is ripped jeans so I need to keep it away from my work but could be incorporated into holiday / vacation.  great point about the no buy zones.  Mine is jeans as I find them easy to fit and find in a thrift shop.  At this point, I think I need to keep away from thrift shops per se as I have a book buying problem too.  You and others have given me some goals - define my lifestyle needs and hence my categories- what I need for each category and make sure I have 2 or 3 outfits that fit the criteria and go from there.  Enjoy the warmer weather.  </p> <p>Thanks <b>Sisi</b> - I will look at that.  </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-management-101#post-2296620 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 08:06:58 +0000 Sisi 2296620@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Give a look to Project 333. I found it helpful. </p>