https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:20:24 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-592076 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:15:32 +0000 lyn* 592076@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The capsule concept is very interesting - as I don't really have separates that I mix; I use my rather versatile dresses for everything, and jazzy up the toppers to the appropriate occasion; I suppose if I was into separates and pants more, this would be more conducive to a lot mixing!</p> <p>I have been known to forget about things - I use my StyleApp to remind me :p </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591810 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:29:26 +0000 Meredith1953 591810@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am still working on identifying what stays and what goes. Ideally I would like to have several (2 or 3) choices of clothing for each occasion. Example: Going out to dinner it would be nice to choose from several different options whether they are pants or dresses or skirts. I like to think of it more by "function". I would like to have mixable pieces that allow me to not have to completely repeat my work outfits more than once a week. I don't need a lot of clothing, I just need at least one or two outfits for pretty much anything life throws my way. I know that is not very specific but I am still developing my ideas of what will work for me. I love the capsule approach because it is so modular. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591780 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:37:58 +0000 Lisa 591780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great topic! I think this has a lot of variables though. How many seaons you have, how many capsules you wear, etc. For myself, with 4 seasons, I only really need two weeks worth of outfits, as long as the items can mix and match I have plenty of outfit combinations to keep me from getting too bored during the season. And my basics have to accomodate my weekly laundering. I keep 9 basics on hand (such as jeans which are a staple for me), just in case items are still hang drying at the start of a week. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591772 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:24:54 +0000 Emily 591772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would define the balancing act as follows: </p> <p>Too Few Items<br /> - too much laundry (for me, more than once a week)<br /> - frequently in a bind because you have nothing to wear</p> <p>Too Many Items<br /> - closet/drawers overstuffed<br /> - forget about things you have</p> <p>I am keeping on track by shopping mainly from a list, with a budget, regardless of seasonal sales (This month: Another casual top for $30, May: A pair of grey capris for $40) I am keeping tabs of which items that I have will be due for replacement soon or that I am on the fence about so that if a perfect [x] comes along I can think about what will go to make room for it. Honestly I think it's pretty personal. For me it helped to remind myself that if I happened to over purge and was in dire need of a pair of pants I could just go get a pair, no big deal. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591661 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:37:35 +0000 mrseccentric 591661@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great contributions, especially christieanne and Manidipa! </p> <p>I believe that any rules you choose to follow exist to serve you, you do not exist to serve any rules. Manidipa's post is an excellent example of the type of process involved in crafting rules or guidelines that will help you achieve your particular goals.</p> <p>So to me the first question is why do you want to do the one in out? What goals do you want to meet in terms of your wardrobe? Only with these ideas in mind can you come up with guidelines that make you happy and help you get closer to your goals.</p> <p>I started really concentrating on crafting my ideal wardrobe about two years ago, and i'm just now getting to where i can see starting to do "one in one out". I've always preferred a smaller wardrobe - i am easily overwhelmed by too much of anything, hubby and i want to live in a tiny (600-200 sq ft) house some day, our place right now is small (1,000 sq ft), i prefer quality and don't have unlimited funds, i make a lot of my clothing, if i can't see it it doesn't exist, etc.</p> <p>I have a chest of drawers with five drawers and a typical suburban closet with 7' feet of hanging rod. Over the past two years i've gotten rid of many items, added many items, and replaced some items. Two years ago both chest of drawers and closet were bulging! Now i have one drawer free of clothing (i use it for important documents, my camera stuff, medicine and jewelry). My clothing is down to about 3.5 rod length. </p> <p>The nice thing about having extra rod space is that i can use one end of it as a 'holding area' for items i'm unsure if i want to get rid of or not. i use the other end for clothes that need to be ironed, outfits for the next day or so, clothing that has been worn and needs airing before it's hung up again in it's proper place. My husband has a lot of clothes and was running out of closet space until he got a bunch of those skinny velvet-surfaced no slip hangers. Instant closet space! I have a lot of fat hangers, though. I hope to get skinny ones in future.</p> <p>For me, deciding on the right size wardrobe has been a back and forth process. Too small and i'm having to do laundry all the time or wrecking a wardrobe workhorse and my options go into a nothing to wear death spiral (it's v. v. hard for me to replace items without sewing, which takes time). Too much stuff and see above. So i take pieces out and put them in the 'holding area' and see how things go, pull items back in if i need them, and so on. The past couple of months i seem to be hitting a good balance.</p> <p>I also find it's important to know what you have, like Manidipa says. For me this means every item goes into its category (either on the rod or in the drawer). I take time weekly to go thru my closet and replace everything in the right order. This makes a huge difference for me! I also make lists of what have in what category from time to time. </p> <p>Hope this helps! I'm looking forward to seeing how this works for you, it's very exciting to feel like your wardrobe is in a good working space, isn't it? Hooray! steph </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591338 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 06:06:57 +0000 fashionista 591338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Until there's space I don't think of one in one out or pruning stuff, but once it starts getting overcrowded and disorganised with too many orphans then, I start googling on how to keep track of closet organisation or lean closet. :-(<br /> Very indisciplined me!!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591334 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:57:28 +0000 jayne 591334@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great analysis Manidipa </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591266 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:35:43 +0000 Mo 591266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I unwittingly follow the simple guideline of the space allowable, as Angie mentioned. I don't think, "if I buy this dress, I must prune another dress." But, rather, I pull out a dress after not wearing it for a season or two, and find it no longer suits me. I purge it, and then find a replacement dress. I did put out 2 empty hangers, when I switched them all out with my new matching set, in anticipation of my ink blue dress and cobalt top. And not 2 weeks later, I found myself purging a couple tops/jackets and freeing up that same number of hangers. Equilibrium. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591257 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:27:41 +0000 ManidipaM 591257@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lyn, I'm not there yet, but I do recall being there. I have only *just* (yesterday!!) managed to understand what went wrong and why, and thus (since I apparently insist on putting the cart before the horse) have also arrived at what did work/will work for me.</p> <p>I looked back to the years when I was satisfied with my style --- with the way I negotiated with fashion and with the size of my wardrobe. It wasn't as though things were perfect. There *were* holes, minor niggles, a couple of orphans that were purchasing duds or tailoring experiments gone wrong, maybe a couple of fantasy-life garments. But on the WHOLE, I could (1) dress for most occasions in life and (2) for all seasons; (3) never be at an ENTIRE loss for what to wear for the more everyday occasions, because something or other was in the wash or drying on the line. Also, 90% of the time, despite a lot of nail biting and bellyaching, I actually could put together a formal outfit for an interview or special occasion without having to run out and buy something new.</p> <p>For me, the biggest problem has always been balancing variety (I get bored fast and I'm pretty moody) vs total recall (I realized that in the phases where I was on top of my closet, so to speak, I can actually still recall most of the garments I had perfectly well --- decades later). So I don't know if this is of any help if the 'sensitive points' of your wardrobe and style are different, but I found that in order to be comfortable with a one-for-one swap:<br /> # I wanted duplication of 'stress spots' or bottlenecks that are especially versatile --- for me these were white or off-white Indian leggings, straight-leg jeans, and black shoes. In fact, triplicate was even better; but at least a duplicate made for relative peace of mind<br /> # I wanted (and this speaks to Suz's point) not just at least 3 tops to each bottom, but also at least 2 bottoms to each top<br /> # However, I actually personally *preferred* each specific top and bottom with a single specific partner most of the time (a habit I'm still trying to break), except the very neutral jeans and leggings<br /> # I wanted ALL my clothes in one place (one closet, one chest of drawers, one suitcase or bag --- as the case may be) or I felt a little frantic and overwhelmed.<br /> # I wanted 5-6 different accessories for each outfit --- to swap out, not wear all at once! (I actually had lots more, being a bit of a magpie)<br /> # I also needed 2-3 default accessories that went (or at least didn't fight) with everything I wore for everyday life (to university or to work, depending on what was topmost at that point) --- so a default pair of earrings, a watch, a bag, a hair clip I didn't need to switch out daily.<br /> # Even with 'weaker' seasons, I had a limited --- sometimes teetering on the edge of the laundry limit --- but sustainable set of garments. (My 'difficult' seasons were the rains and winter --- the first simply overwhelming because rainboots and raincoats in my size and style simply did not exist locally; the second because I did not have the sufficiently structured pieces I preferred because those too were hard to find locally in my kind of fabrication and style or within my budget. However, I still had at least ONE make-do option, rather than a complete black hole!)<br /> # For the weaker seasons, I had to have at least 4 tops, 2 toppers and 2 bottoms that could be repeated, as well as at least 2 sets of shoes to not feel desperate or challenged. For the stronger seasons, I preferred to have 10-12 tops in regular rotation with 6-7 bottoms, 3-4 dresses, and at least 5 pairs of shoes (toppers are not the norm for me, most of the year, but I liked to have typically 3-5 options). </p> <p>To your specific questions:<br /> (1) Yes, I treated an empty hanger as a 'wardrobe credit' of sorts --- but not necessarily on a one-for-one basis. Sometimes the 'empty' represented a damaged or worn garment to replace; at other times it represented a style or idea I'd outgrown, so those might be replaced with something very different indeed.<br /> (2) Well, I always had a very specific budget for sales based on: what I was earning at the time; psychological comfort with what I was willing to spend on clothes at one go or per item; plus what hobbies and studies demanded of my budget at specific times of the year (term fees and book fairs). But within those limits, I've always found it easier to shop the sales rather than full price, because I prefer certain fabrications and styles that I can't really afford regularly at full price (there is no thrifting to be had here). So yes, I'm mentally geared towards a bunch of sale purchases (including lucky finds) twice a year, plus a few things bought at full price twice a year (my birthday and the major festive season are conveniently 6 months apart). I didn't buy clothes every month, so I'd usually have a few months' budget saved up, and a little 'credit' for next month to borrow on if something spectacular jumped out at me. And as for where they went in, if there weren't enough empty hangers, something DID have to come out before I went shopping again --- because I would *not* be buying new hangars! (I gave myself 2-3 months to actually purge, since I tend to be really sentimental about my clothes, so I'd tell myself 'last season for this top'...) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591253 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:16:33 +0000 christieanne 591253@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's your closet, your rules </p> <p>For example:<br /> I set a self imposed limit on shoes based on the space I wanted to condense down too. It's still more than I really need so I'm on one in, one out but if I want to buy a pair in Black, it has to be one in , two out. I have too many pairs of black shoes. When I cleaned out my nostalgic ts and gear I decided to do the same thing - one in, two out just because I still have a bit much but couldn't purge more at the time. </p> <p>Don't feel guilty or embarrassed by having a well built closet - let the busybodies be busy and know you look great </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591251 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:15:33 +0000 bj1111 591251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i did a closet clean out and had more visual space which i loved! it actually dampened my desire to fill it. now, it's at its " maximum occupancy" so to speak, and back to shopping.</p> <p>bleah... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591244 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:09:16 +0000 lyn* 591244@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Partly; I feel that people who see me often remark on how big my closet must be - and I feel a little uncomfortable with it; I think I want to stick to some oldies but goodies for a little bit - I try to wear the same thing if I know i'm going to visit the busybodies :p </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591212 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:21:34 +0000 Anonymous 591212@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When we moved north, I left behind a large walk-in closet...that I filled to the brim. Now, I have a small standard closet and I have been struggling with this issue for 3 years now. Basically, I have a set number of hangers that works comfortably with my limited space and that is my limit. So its basically one-in-one-out or my closet simply doesn't work. I do have a "holding zone" storage bin where I put items that I want to keep (wrong size, unsure if I want to let it go, wrong season etc)....but everything else is required to fit in the closet. I am even firm enough with myself that even my holding zone size is limited....always make sure I can get that lid on! </p> <p>I am actually at the point where I want to be one-in-TWO-out so that I can have everything in the closet at the same time. However, that is too scary for me at this moment! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591197 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:58:14 +0000 Ana 591197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great question, Lyn! I just fill my closet and when I feel like it gets too full, I do a clean out. I'm not sure if I could keep track of one in, one out, because I'd have to decide what to pitch every time I brought home something new. Often, I find that as I bring new things in, some older things just get worn less, which makes it easier to put them in the donate pile. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591180 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:31:57 +0000 Transcona Shannon 591180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie - you always break it down to a simple answer! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591130 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:04:21 +0000 Angie 591130@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It all revolves on the size of your closet. Once that is full - PRACTICE! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591053 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:58:36 +0000 lyn* 591053@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for weighing in, ladies...</p> <p>I just have accumulated a large number of fab pieces and I think I need to rein it in somewhere, but still give myself room to change - I think that it's unfair to my fab items to sit there in the closet, and it's so hard to wear each of them an appropriate number of times when other things are competing against it! LOL.</p> <p>I think my main trouble areas are ... dresses. I haven't worn a skirt/top combo for a month; so I will have to re-evaluate this part of my wardrobe too. </p> <p>Suz brings up an excellent point I have never thought of ... maybe I need to start a casual section of my wardrobe. So far it's all "clinical" or "can I wear this to work" :p </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591050 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:53:13 +0000 rae 591050@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me, the space issue is what makes me ready. I'm still not 100% down to the size that I'd like, but pruning is going slower the smaller it gets because I am not sure what single item would be a functional replacement for 2-3 things that get pruned. </p> <p>I do like your "credit" idea a lot, since it's not like you find something fab the moment you decide something else is worn out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591026 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:59:27 +0000 Suz 591026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not ready yet. </p> <p>I'll know I'm ready when I have a functional wardrobe for each season. </p> <p>I think, for each person, the number of items that make a wardrobe functional and fab must be different. I would love Angie and other veterans of this principal to weigh in, though. How many bottoms (for example) per season is a good working number? How many tops? Do accessories count for one-in-one-out (e.g. belts, bags, earrings). How about shoes? </p> <p>I am sure this is partly dependent on the number of capsules a person needs, too. One person might have work, MOTG, church, date. Another might have only MOTG and night out. Still another might have regular formal events to attend. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591021 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:49:59 +0000 Jjsloane 591021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I have far more will power than I ever have possessed. I am getting better about not buying every sale item I see, but I also believe if something is right and the right price and may not be available again I get it. I take it home and think hard on it, and return if necessary, but don't have to kick, myself for not getting it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591016 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:38:01 +0000 jayne 591016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would definitely count an empty hanger as a possibility for a new item whenever the perfect thing comes along. I think it would be pretty difficult to match one in and one out item for item. Looking to watch what you replace and eventually put in.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-591013 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:28:18 +0000 Becky 591013@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This principle intrigues me, and I've not reached the point where I'm ready to make the one-in-one-out commitment. I don't get the opportunity to shop in person very often (most shopping is done piecemeal and online), so when I do, I often bring home a number of purchases. I don't force myself to purge that many items. That said, there are a lot of items I would purge today if I had something to replace them with. I do think if you prune early, you should be allowed to add at a later date. Personally, I wouldn't pass up great end-of-season sales *if* you know you will wear the items and they don't duplicate something you already have. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-you-ready-for-one-in-one-out-wardrobe-equilibrium#post-590994 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:56:09 +0000 lyn* 590994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been toying with this principle for the last few months; I am fairly happy with where my wardrobe is - and it fits very nicely into my standup wardrobe (which is about as wide as a standard door). I have tried to buy new stuff in the last little while, and I usually think that there is something better in my wardrobe, so I don't end up buying (and lately this has been scary - it extends even to Fossil stuff!)</p> <p>I thought about one-in-one-out to continue to keep myself accountable to what I spend (and how many objects I own in my closet); while remembering to prune too - there are already a few things in my closet I could see pruning out.</p> <p>A few questions for those who have been successful with this principle...</p> <p>1. If I need to prune before I can find replacement objects; do I get "credit in my favour" as evidenced by an empty hanger?</p> <p>2. What happens at end-of-season sales when EVERYTHING is awesome and on sale (lately it hasn't happened to me for 2 seasons, so I may be over this phase).</p> <p>Thanks </p>