https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:21:41 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492218 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:12:18 +0000 Sona 492218@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1. bought I because it was trendy and on sale (usually from a place like forever 21)<br /> 2. doesn't do my apple/rectangle justice.</p> <p>so I need to shop smart and shop in non juniors stores no matter what the temptation! And if it doesn't flatter my figure in a way that appeals to my eye: it ain't gonna get worn no matter that coco chanel herself recommended it!! ( from the grave no less). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492215 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:09:38 +0000 Suz 492215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Khris, I think you have a really good sense of your style and what looks good on you. But some of us are still searching, so we're bound to have a few failures in the mix. </p> <p>I think the caution to AVOID THE SALES is going to be my mantra. Most of what I need to purge for reasons other than weight loss, I bought because it was a "good price." Well, so what, if it doesn't fit well or make me feel fab? I will modify my mantra if I am replacing ultra basic items like layering Ts and tanks; those can be had on sale. But I have to restrain myself from picking stuff up simply because it is cheap. </p> <p>I don't feel quite as bad about the thrifted things that don't end up working. At least they are recycled to begin with. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492202 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:56:47 +0000 chewyspaghetti 492202@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I usually purge due to wearing out/damages or weight gain/loss.<br /> Realistically, those are the only two acceptable reasons to get rid of things in my mind. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492148 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:52:23 +0000 Anonymous 492148@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmmmm. Most recent items were culled because of being:</p> <p>1. POLYESTER (90%) or some combinations of poly+ one of the following<br /> 2. Wrong cut for me<br /> 3. Wrong color for me<br /> 4. Not the right style for me<br /> 5. Makes me feel generally un-fab for some unknown reason </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492136 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:32:23 +0000 catgirl 492136@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1. No longer fits, or never did (too small, too tight, too short, too long).<br /> 2. Not my style (and I should have known it) OR no longer my style.<br /> 3. Was thrifted in a moment of stupidity.<br /> 4. Out of date (although those are now mostly gone).<br /> 5. Redundant (can you say "grey sweaters"?).<br /> 6. Needs to be replaced with better quality. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492104 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:58:50 +0000 Suz 492104@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is so great! A really interesting topic, and I'm loving the responses. </p> <p>In my most recent closet overhaul, the main reason I purged was because the item was very much too large (after weight loss). That included just about everything! But interestingly, I insisted on saving a few pieces through alterations. So those ones must have been really special. When I look at the reasons I SAVED, here they are: </p> <p>1. Super versatile piece by a good design firm. (Black jersey sheath dress)</p> <p>2. Ditto (black jersey gored skirt...had the waist taken in and it fits again.)</p> <p>3. Statement piece that I cannot easily replace. (Bronze leaf print dressy skirt with asymetrical pleating.) </p> <p>Apart from fit, the main reasons I'm purging now include: </p> <p>1. Worn out/ shabby looking/dated (this was mostly shoes, which still fit but just didn't look right.) </p> <p>2. Experiment that wasn't me. (Mostly thrifted items so I don't feel too bad.) </p> <p>3. Colour is not flattering/ does not play well with other wardrobe items. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492090 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:50:58 +0000 HelenInCanada 492090@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@MamaKate, I'll sound like a nut, but it usually goes something like this:</p> <p>"Time to send this one away!"<br /> "Nooo - not the top I wore to the Sarah McLachlin concert 10 years ago! That is sentimental!"<br /> "You can't even get one arm in it anymore. It is ripped in three places."<br /> "I can fix it."<br /> "After a decade, you now decide to fix it? And how? Using Krazy glue?"<br /> "Oh, just put it in the "still deciding" pile!"</p> <p>The Still Deciding pile is enormous! Ahh, I need someone who is ruthless (and who I trust!) to come in and do this with me!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492045 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:00:47 +0000 rae 492045@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thought provoking post, here! It seems we all have purging on the brain at the moment. For myself:</p> <p>#1 - not me, #2 - bored with it, #3 - crummy fabric, #4 - fit. </p> <p>Seems like I need to get a handle on my style goals so that there will be less "mistakes" when trying a new thing - like you, I'll try something out for cheap, but then realize it doesn't feel right. :T </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492041 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:56:19 +0000 mamaKate 492041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Helen, let's hear some of your running commentary. Here's mine:<br /> -But I just got it 2 months ago!<br /> -but it gaps around your bust and your co-workers can see your bra.<br /> -But I've gotten compliments on it!<br /> -but the zipper bulges out in a weird way.<br /> -But it's really comfortable and forgiving!<br /> -but the material is cheap.<br /> -But the gray color goes with anything!<br /> -but the gray color does nothing for you.<br /> and so on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492021 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:30:50 +0000 HelenInCanada 492021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow - impressive list of reasons, mamaKate! I recently did a closet purge (it can be painful!), and my reasoning usually centered on: 1. Unflattering fit 2. Simply doesn't fit, period. 3. Unflattering colour(s) 4. Pilly/torn/missing buttons 5. Completely outdated 6. Makes me feel 'blah' or 'plain' when I wear it. </p> <p>The debates with myself during this process are hilarious. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492017 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:26:27 +0000 Mo 492017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fit! Major reason because I do so much online shopping and can't try on. Followed by comfort, then ease of care, then wrong color/style for me or not appropriate for my lifestyle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492003 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:09:06 +0000 rosee 492003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, that's great and very analytical (I like being analytical)!</p> <p>I haven't yet done the analysis on my wardrobe b/c I'm still in the process of figuring out what I'm keeping / storing elsewhere (mostly smaller size clothes for after weight loss) /selling /donating /junking. I did figure out that I have just over 300 pieces (including shoes, acessories) right now in different sizes. My usual wardrobe is about one-third to half that (and that's what I am aiming for again).</p> <p>Working through the process, these are going:<br /> -- inproper fit /unflattering style for current items -- stuff that's a smaller size but used to fit really well is in storage for later<br /> -- experiment that turned out not to be "me"<br /> -- worn out<br /> -- not my color -- even flattering colors that I just don't feel comfortable wearing are gone (like fuschia). I plan to develop a neutral and muted color scheme with some brights like red and teal for my capsules.<br /> (ETA: -- care of item -- if too high maintenance then I tend not to wear it often. Thanks Mo.)</p> <p>Most of my mistakes were experiments in new styles that I thrifted so while it is clutter now, it wasn't really that expensive a mistake. I am glad I experimented with thrifted items instead of retail ones. Some are in good condition to be resold.</p> <p>I concur with your lessons (worth repeating):<br /> "1. Only buy what I really love and cannot live without! (resist the sales...)<br /> 2. Don't accept less-than-perfect fit." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-492001 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:03:31 +0000 kimlee 492001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tend to purge items for too reasons: a) a bad fit or b) I don't really love them. I have learned that the later types of purchases tend to happen when I am buying on impulse - i.e. I see a clearance rack and think "MUST BUY...MUST BUY." The items that are a bad fit are either items bought pre-ylf and before I learned to dress my body type or because I have lost weight/toned up so they fit funny now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/your-top-reasons-for-closet-rejects#post-491987 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:47:43 +0000 mamaKate 491987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What are your most frequent reasons for purging an item from your wardrobe?</p> <p>In a recent purge, I went through the instructive exercise of ascribing a reason for each of the rejects. I was surprised at my discoveries!</p> <p>Lessons learned:<br /> 1. Only buy what I really love and cannot live without! (resist the sales...)<br /> 2. Don't accept less-than-perfect fit</p> <p>Of 30 purged items (about 10% of my wardrobe), the top three reasons were:</p> <p>1. Bored with it - 30% (a perfectly OK reason by me)<br /> 2. "Not me" / never loved it / bought mainly for versatility - 25%<br /> 3. Poor fit - 25% (this shocked me because most of these were poor fit to begin with; only a few were items that I "grew out of")</p> <p>The remaining 20% were reasons of:<br /> worn out<br /> poor quality<br /> dated</p> <p>Some more interesting statistics from the items purged:</p> <p>Number of wears:<br /> -less than 5 - 30% (another shocker - these were almost exclusively for the two reasons of poor fit and not loving it)<br /> -about 10 - 30%<br /> -20 to 40 - 30%<br /> -remaining 10% - 60 or more</p> <p>Age of item purged:<br /> -less than one year - 30%<br /> -1 to 3 years - 45%<br /> -4 years or more - 25%</p> <p>The surprise here is that the age distribution of rejects approximately reflects the age of my wardrobe as a whole - I would have expected the purge to be weighted more toward older items. But again, the items purged after less than a year were mostly for reasons of fit and "never really loved it." </p> <p>Thanks, YLF, for helping me hone my buying habits and transform my wardrobe! </p>