Ask Angie (and everyone): 1 in, 1 out

For those who have strict wardrobe sizes and practice a one-in, one-out policy, how many garments per month or season do you end up adding/donating, on average?

9 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Impossible to say. It varies greatly because I'm editing and adding all the time. Small monthly edits and larger seasonal edits. But the size of my moderate wardrobe stays constant because I don't ever want more than what our small walk-in wardrobe can store. You might like to re-read these posts:

http://youlookfab.com/2015/03/.....-wardrobe/

http://youlookfab.com/2011/08/.....principle/

9 years ago

Anonymous

For me, it's about 4 items per month. I'm pretty ruthless because I have small closets. If it's not getting worn, it gets resold or donated.

9 years ago

Anonymous

It is less than a monthly basis and more of a seasonal basis. I would say I easily donate at least 8 - 10 items per season. I live in a two season climate. Hope this helps.

9 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

I'm like sterling. It's a loose interpretation of 1in, 1out with me. Some mi that in summer (when I'm working), I bring in a fair number of garments and none go out. Since my life is very country and dirty, it will even out because I will get involved in some project that will destroy several outfits' worth of clothes, or I will evaluate at the end of a season and eliminate things I didn't wear at all.

9 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Hmmm- I trying to shrink my wardrobe do am trying to do 2 or 3 out for any 1 in.

In my aspirational and totally made up off the cuff approach, I might aim for an average of 3-4 in and out per month where that includes all items, from casual to work and even scarves, belts, unless I had a major life or health or climate change that completely re- draws what I wear.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I have not been able to strictly practice the 1 in-1 out but it does keep me from buying things that are just temptations. When considering a purchase I ask myself what is it replacing? If it actually is an updated or upscale replacement for something I wear often, I will buy it. If I'm not willing to give something up, I leave it. The happier I am with my existing wardrobe, the less I buy. I refuse to buy more hangers or storage furniture. What i buy must fit in my medium wardrobe space. Now my goal is to get all seasons in one place, although I have a storage closet in the basement. I want to try the all-in-one-closet knowing that I may end up not liking the practice. Then I hope to just store clothing for very cold and for very hot times and keep everything else in the closet.

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I'm bagging maybe 4 items a month now. I'm coming off years of massive purging as I keep moving to smaller and smaller digs and removal of just a ton of dead weight clothing.

Ok but here's the latest new problem: the bag lives by the front door for another 1-2 months, lol...

...Also, I have a microwave there too. It's so heavy I simply don't want to think about it even. I got it off the counter and then...

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I've never counted. It's more like Angie's practice -- I won't accumulate more than I can fit. I edit often -- big edits seasonally and smaller ones on the fly. I have extra hangers at the moment so I guess I am doing okay.

9 years ago

always trying

Veteran

I do seasonal with footwear only as we have only a few month of the year that I almost never wear sandals as there are fewer hours of daylight and mornings and evenings are always too cold for me to bare my toes or too much foot. The numbers vary with style changes, how much I actually wear them and foot changes. Most clothing items I just periodically go thru my closet and decide why I am not wearing some items. I have a fairly large closet so there is no space issues.

9 years ago

Veteran

I just went through a major purge. I now feel like I'm starting from a smaller wardrobe that might be made a little smaller by the end of winter as sweaters are nearing end of life. I typically made shopped a few times a year and "stocked up" -- but I never fully got a handle on styling. Everything worked well together but it wasn't furthering my style. And I couldn't see all my clothes. I'm excited to start smaller or even ultra small so I have more control to experiment with monthly purchases/management. I don't think I could begin 1 in 1 out without scaling down first.

9 years ago

Penny

Veteran

I probably donate at least five items a month, of which a few items tend to be replaced or otherwise retired clothing and accessories, and the rest are household items, etc. It used to be a lot more, but I think I've finally whittled my wardrobe down to where it should be . . .

9 years ago

anchie

Veteran

Oh, this is currently a big issue for me. I used to be very impulsive shopper, buying things for imaginary life, often seduced by sales and having lots of hits and misses in my closet. I was constantly purging and shopping. But last 2 years, thanks to YLF, I got much better at planning my purchases. I now love almost everything in my closet. I only purge things that are worn out and tired looking. And at the same time I am still adding new things. So my closet is now at the physical limit - I really can not add any more things unless I start purging again. I don't want to stop shopping completely and one in one out sounds like a very good idea. But how to purge completely fine, loved items in great condition just to make room for the new things?

9 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Anchor this is why I have to be so careful about random shopping.
Probably I'm not always even buying " love " items, and yet, it's possible to accumulate things that are good enough that you can't get fired up about purging, but you have Too Much Stuff.
To me it means shifting over to planned replacement -- where I say, these pants are a tad snug but I like the style, so as soon as I find something better, out they go. Or something that takes the place of 2 other things.

I don't mean I could never get a surprise fun item, but in trying to see how to evaluate that so it allows me to cull something of several things because it changes a style direction or quality bar.

9 years ago

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