YouLookFab Forum » Topic: What I learned from Flipping Hangers

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: What I learned from Flipping Hangers https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:39:36 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Jenava on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1195347 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 05:34:35 +0000 Jenava 1195347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've never done this, but I feel like I should.  I was thinking just the other day about some layering blouses that I haven't worn in an age... Beth Ann on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1195327 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 04:30:30 +0000 Beth Ann 1195327@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great experiment, Thistle!  I'm doing more what Suz does this year, although I just move things in and out in a big way only twice a year.  Within the big Cold/Hot seasons, I move items forward and back within the closet. I understand your issues with jackets.  I find I wear my ponte jackets most, since they're as comfy as sweaters.  I'm getting ready to transition into my "cool spring" capsule.  Sounds like next week will still be bootie and sweater weather! Jeanie on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1195306 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 03:59:51 +0000 Jeanie 1195306@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think my lessons learned were very similar to yours.  It was so cold this winter.  I didn't touch a dress or skirt.  I didn't like the bulky feel of wearing a jacket topper under a coat.  I need a few more thick sweaters to get through winter. Mo on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1195284 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 03:24:26 +0000 Mo 1195284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It can also be a way to track lightly worn items.  Once I did the trick to see what was being worn, I now turn hangers around when an item is lightly worn and not clean but not dirty either.  I also sometimes hang a shirt inside out to designate 'worn but not yet dirty'. For pants, I turn the waistband facing outward in the stack instead of facing inward toward the back for the unworn ones.   This was near revolutionary to me that one doesn't have to wash every item after every wear.  Anonymous on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1195281 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 03:22:31 +0000 Anonymous 1195281@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz wrote my response! I have adopted her system and want to incorporate capsules within it. I switched much of my closet to cool/cold spring on February 15th and have made an effort to try to pick from those items but had to pull out some of my heaviest sweaters. My closet went from darks and mostly neutrals to more lighter neutrals and spring colors. Since I'd not seen many of these pieces for months, it was like they were new. I really cut back on buying, especially out of boredom with my winter items. My plan is to switch to summer hot weather clothes and accessories about May 15th, probably trading out some long sleeved tops for short sleeves before that date. Like Suz, I wear mostly knits in cold weather and wovens for warm seasons. I look best in jackets and wear them all year, using denim jean jackets and thrifted blazers even around the house. Anonymous on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1195280 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 03:19:27 +0000 Anonymous 1195280@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gigi: to wear something and turn it the opposite way on the rail( assuming all items are hung the same direction). Then you can analyze what wasnt worn, to simplify the method. I know some YLF's track their outfits in a spreadsheet to count the wea and usage Gigi on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1195257 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 02:57:51 +0000 Gigi 1195257@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thistle...sorry to be remedial, but what is this "turning hangers" thing? How does it work? Thistle on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194964 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 20:58:15 +0000 Thistle 1194964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lyn* - I actually found myself adding sweaters even in the middle of the hanger challenge. Even so, the new sweaters were all worn no fewer than 2 times in the month. This was a particularly brutal winter, and I started the challenge during a polar vortex, so that plays a factor. I do reduce their wear by wearing a layer underneath them. I am fine with a tank or tee and sweater, but I learned I will not wear a tank and tee and wrap top, for example.  Or a "sweater" that is really just a thin cotton knit. Wearing the under layer allows me to wash them much less often which really saves on the wear.  anne on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194932 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 20:30:55 +0000 anne 1194932@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thistle, very interesting. I haven't tried the idea myself but it is a good one. Sounds like you have learnt lots for the future lyn* on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194915 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 20:15:29 +0000 lyn* 1194915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Very interesting - are your Truly Warm Sweaters in fabulous shape? They sound like the get a lot of use vs. something for layering - completely the opposite of me, but totally important to know for future seasons about yourself. pil on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194844 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:46:50 +0000 pil 1194844@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thistle, I think you were reading my mind! I rarely wear jackets either, but think the lining has a lot to do with that. I do the lazy person's closet swap. Everything stays but the places change as I start wearing pieces for a different season. April on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194825 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:18:49 +0000 April 1194825@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ha, Thistle, this is what I made my parents do when I did their massive closet cleanout during Hurricane Sandy (I was trapped at their house for a week, unable to fly home.) That was in October 2012.  I suggested that if they hadn't worn the items in six months, they should do another big purge. I haven't been back there since, but I guarantee you that at least 30% of their hangers are still facing backward and not one thing has been purged.   'Cause that's how they roll.   Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194824 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:16:22 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1194824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I did this informally this winter but our weather was so atypical (too warm, *runs from rest of North America carrying pitchforks*) that I don't think it was that useful. The heavy sweaters hardly got worn and there wasn't as much layering as usual. I was in my typical winter mode with less skirts and more pants, though. rachylou on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194798 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:55:16 +0000 rachylou 1194798@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Do you think the jacket toppers are too formal for your work environment? I find I don't reach for jacket toppers that often either. celia on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194706 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:33:01 +0000 celia 1194706@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I never done this but it looks like a very good exercise. I have a notion that some of the clothes I have 'good intentions' to wear during winter don't get any wear because I am not also a big fan of layering more than 2 items at a time. Maybe do a rotation 4 times a year will be more productive for you, as you say.  Do you feel that you will be able to shop better now? Suz on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194704 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:29:38 +0000 Suz 1194704@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thistle, our climates are similar, and I actually do what you describe -- not the hanger flipping, but the closet changeovers.  I do two BIG ones -- in fall, and spring. But I also do "mid" changeovers of certain items in the winter and summer. So....in winter I add my heavier weight sweaters (and may subtract a few of the shirts that won't get worn in the super cold temperatures). And in summer I add in the very light weight linens, etc. (and take away some of the heavier shirts, etc. and some of the sweaters that stayed during the spring.)  Using this system, with my relatively compact closet, I know exactly what I'm wearing and how often. The only things that don't get worn are things that don't fit right (I try to donate them quickly), things that I have few occasions for (dressy shoes, mostly, and a few dresses), and things that turn out to be poor fits for that year's weather patterns. That last category is hard to predict and I don't really blame myself for getting caught, occasionally. Our weather can be quite different year to year. One year the summer will be cool and I'll want sleeved tops; the next year it will be broiling and I'll need sleeveless.  I really noticed a few patterns over the past year that will help to govern my buying, going forward:  1. I wear knits almost exclusively in winter at home. All my warm knits get a ton of wear.  2. I wear woven tops in the spring, summer, and fall -- but much more rarely in winter.  3. I wear skirts and dresses far more in spring and summer. Almost never wear them in the winter.  4. I love jackets -- LOVE -- but only really wear them when I am on a city jaunt. Not so much for work at home. This means I probably need fewer of them than I might like to own.  Marlene on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194701 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:21:39 +0000 Marlene 1194701@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I started last month but got overwhelmed because ALL of my clothes are in my closet...I don't store away my off-season clothes.  So it seemed unfair to judge what wasn't worn if its clearly a warm weather item.  So I seperated the warm weather stuff from the cold weather stuff.  But now I'm feeling the need to look at my warm weather wear since its so close to spring. So I'm moving stuff around again.  I think I need to start over.... Lisa on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194692 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:12:30 +0000 Lisa 1194692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ In the past when I've done this, I discovered I had a lot of extra clothes.  I would own far more than I could ever sport in a given season, epsecially since I have a tendency to repeat favorite outfit combinations again and again. Mo on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194660 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:39:29 +0000 Mo 1194660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have, more than once.  This time around (6 mos in FL now) I found I did not wear 2 of my tanks and several of my dresses.  Everything else got wear.  I can surmise that it's a comfort and delicate fabric issue both.  The tops were a strapless peplum that I have to tug at, and a sequin striped tank that scratches under my armpit and is so long it highlights muffin top.  The dresses were silk and/or fancy for my normal lifestyle.  Now, there are times I want and need a dressy dress, but I have that capsule well covered and any future dresses need to play nice in the daytime, too.  Feels good to see most every hanger turn back around!  Thistle on "What I learned from Flipping Hangers" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-i-learned-from-flipping-hangers#post-1194648 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:31:11 +0000 Thistle 1194648@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So, I am a month into my "flip the hangars challange" and here is what I have learned: 1. All of my truly warm sweaters were worn multiple times. 2. I was not willing to do three layers to keep warm. 3. Simple and easy outfits were selected far more often. 4. Many pieces not "flipped" were seasonally inapprorpiate. Again, not willing to wear thick layers to keep warm. 5. My bottoms get A LOT of use. Every pair was worn many times, except for the skirts. See #4. 6. I want to like jacket toppers, but I don't reach for them. Not sure why. My office is cold. My climate colder. It makes me think I need to rethink how I switch my closet around and doing a swap in and out four times a year instead of twice a year might make it easier to select outfits. Anyone else do the hanger flip? What did you learn?