Big Purge. And it felt wonderful. - YouLookFab Forum

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Big Purge. And it felt wonderful.

AM

Veteran

I pulled out several storage bins of spring/summer clothes and shoes. I looked at 80% of it and said "You can no longer stay here. You've been here too long. And I'm not sure I ever loved you to begin with." I know those sound like harsh words but it felt great! Off to the consignment shop tomorrow...with two huge laundry bags (1 of clothes and 1 of shoes).

ETA: Windchime, what really helped was documenting my capsules (a la Carter) http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-la-carter

I saw patterns that I liked and it served as a great guide for making decisions. I could picture the style I wanted for these seasons based on these boards...anything that didn't fit within the style I felt very comfortable with purging.

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Windchime

Veteran

That's a lot of purging; good for you! Did you find it easier to make decisions about clothing items you hadn't looked at for a while?

Now you have more space (or more room for new purchases), and your purged items can move on for others to enjoy this summer. Sounds like a win all around!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Good for you! I love a good closet edit! It freshens the mind!

carter

Veteran

Good for you. Out with the old...in with the new! My closet could certainly use a deeper purge. Easy? Hard? What made it happen this time?

frannieb

Veteran

Congrats - my closet wardrobe love grows the pickier I become about what I have hanging up - and really asking myself if I love it.
Just packed up a laundry basket of stuff that was in a holding space and realized if is in holding I don't love it so off they went.

Daria

That must feel wonderful! I'm eager to see what you are replacing them with. (80%, wow, I would be left with nothing. :))

AM

Veteran

So easy. And I'm going to go deeper in the purge in the morning.
Again, Carter, it was the capsule boards. They really helped me focus my style. I have a hit list of items I want vs. previously I rushed to purchase and wasn't as deliberate in my style. And I am planning concept outfits so this also makes me pause and think through an entire look.

frannieb -- You've got it. If it was in holding that it wasn't really love. Great insight. Thanks!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Brilliant. A closet edit is wildly cleansing, isn't it?

AM

Veteran

Suz: Sorry I missed your post. And yes. Great for the mind!

Daria: I'm okay with not having much and building back up gradually. I work from home and life is pretty casual in spring/summer. Thanks for the comment!

Angie: Wildly cleansing indeed. And so many lessons learned with each item. You rushed on that. You shopped with a friend for that. You bought a duplicate when you shouldn't have (again). You wanted change but perhaps it wasn't the right change. Etc. I loved the learning that came with this purge. And I'm so happy to not pack and unpack some of these things out of storage ever again...they weren't worn (enough) and they weren't going to be worn more.

Dimity

Win/win. It's great that others will be able to use your unloved items. You might make someone's day when they can buy something they want at a reduced price. And you get to learn and move on with a clean and fresh closet. Terrific!

Deborah

Veteran

Well done! I am a brutal closet purger and it is so liberating to be free of things you don't want, love or need.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Wow--great job!
I like your new profile photo. You look gorgeous! Is that your wedding? Or just a beautiful summer look? (okay, feel free to ignore--sorry to derail. . .)

Summer

Veteran

Well done with the purge, AM. I love your no-nonsense approach.

Anonymous

Wow, I'm impressed! Maybe I should give my wardrobe a good talking to as well

lyn67

Veteran

I've just did it for my DD's, to exercise for mine:-).

AM

Veteran

Dimity: Win/win for sure. Thank you.

Deborah: So true. And I'm going to become a brutal closet purger. It feels to good not to. Thanks.

Firecracker: Thanks. An elopement picture. And I debated on using it but we don't take pictures often so I don't have a "normal" picture. I also thought it would be good inspiration as I'm trying to get back on the horse with exercise and nutrition. I was in pretty fit for our elopement.

Summer: Thanks.

Diane G: Yes, give them a good talking to!

lyn67: Well done. Your turn now.

Sara L.

Veteran

Great job on your purge! I purge fairly often but have a hard time letting go of things so I put them in a holding area first. It lets me slowly get rid of things without too much trauma. It always feels good to get rid of unworn items so I'm not looking at them and feeling guilty for not wearing them more often.

Anonymous

Good for you. I'll be it feels really good.

Anonymous

I'm another ruthless purger - but didn't realize exactly the depth to which my ruthlessness lay until I did what you did ( I did my big purge in September, my first real season with YLF) and purged more than 10 garbage bags full of clothes, shoes, bags, and other assorted detritus of my wannabe life. I felt slightly sick looking at all the money and time spent and wasted but told myself that if I could help someone else, then that was my pleasure. That said - I will be doing a further big blowout of my spring and summer stuff just like you did. I am a couple of weeks away yet - and am slightly frightened as my S/S is not a huge collection to begin with.

I still need to chat with you about these boards and how it's done. When I have some time to articulate my questions and thoughts I will:)

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Good for you! I am continuing to purge my closet of unworn or past its prime winter clothing and will soon be dealing with a beginning purge of my spring items. It is refreshing to look in my closet and see items that are getting worn, not a bunch of "maybe I'll wear this someday" things.

rachylou

Veteran

That is so cool (!)