BR vest impulse, to return - YouLookFab Forum

Very mundane post about impulse wardrobe expansion vs. trying to focus and reduce. Not sure if it will empower someone else in efforts at restraint, or enable one to go out to buy the Find!

Upon making several trips to BR ( yay Sales Associate, because I had bought a different item full price, forgetting to use that annoying survey-20% off coupon from a previous purchase, so went back to apply that, then found that online price was reduced much more on a temporary promotion, which they then honored--good, but so complicated!).

Anyhoo, I found this sleeveless sweater, cropped-in-front but interesting high-low hem and loved the charcoal-salt&pepper knit and IT was also on promotion sale (only noticed when looked it up online), so I brought it home.

However, now am thinking I will return. The whole cropped-over shirttail thing is not really my style, though I think I could put together a couple of looks for work, it tends to be more casual than my work goals, and not enough casual days to wear the look often.

It would be more of a fall-winter item for me, even though it's shown with a T and shorts; I won't actually use it sleeveless for another type of look. I think I would get more use out of another type of vest, tailored or longer moto or something, if I were to "invest in a vest".

So, I conclude that it's fun but will not get enough wears --and will compete with other items and not earn its keep. I think driven a lot by the fact that I love the "color"--a great off-black or dark gray, depending on how you view it--and maybe more, the longer back length which works on me when a typical cropped style would not. If I were to wear a cropped sweater vest, this would be it.

I'm really feeling the need to focus and to do more one-in/two out so that I have smaller seasonal capsules and wear items more often, and am finding that hard, for some reason; items I'm not wearing very often still seem "stuck" to me, still seem useful, and I need more of the approach of, of these ___ items, when would I ever wear this instead of that? I think I need to include a "weather"-based approach, not just "tops" but season/temp. I am trying to make an effort to wear more items so that somehow the "winners and losers" will be more obvious.

Feel free to advise or give more tips on focus, culling, as I have enjoyed the ongoing stories of getting back on track, not adding something you don't need, how something can be fun, can fit, but still not be useful in wardrobe goals.

Banana Republic

Cropped Sweater Tank

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8 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Maybe you could try my approach of simply tracking your wears. I did it in a very low-tech way. I wrote down all my F/W items. Not in a spreadsheet or an App. Just on a note. And every time I wore an item I made a checkmark or line. At the end of the season I saw what I had worn and what I had not. With no judgement. Just observation. It allowed me to make some clearer decisions about future purchases and even about that season's purchases.

In some cases I made some notes (i.e. this pair of pants got a ton of wear over a three week period in the fall and then were not worn afterwards.) I had imagined they were a "wasted" item. But no, I learned -- they were a workhorse for a particular weather pattern that only lasts a short time where I live. I also learned I needed/wanted more variety in my winter silhouettes and would wear items that were a change.

It will be easier to get rid of items you see that you absolutely do not wear. Or at least to put them in a holding zone. It will be easier to try new trends if you see which other trends really work for you.

Good for you, for getting rid of something you probably won't use.

unfrumped

Suz, I think I should. In my head I imagine I am doing that and also obviously am doing "imaginary wearing", as in, this looks nice, I'm sure I am/will wear it. I might also do the hanger turn tip. I do hang small note cards with outfit plans on a few key items, but maybe need to put a small card on each hanger and do the checkmark.

Sveta

I second Suz on the tracking wears. Unfortunately our heads are not the best places to keep this information ;-( Having it all down - high or low tech - does help to see better what works and what does not.

I tend to be impatient, but I expect this needs to be a year-long project, else I'd possibly toss something out whilst forgetting I really wear it during this month or that season. Of course I think this applies to items I think I still like but somehow don't have proof of that, as in the wearing.

So it's for items that are not obviously in those other categories of, poor fit, bad color, poor quality and so on--yes? My problem "barnacle" category seems to be items that appear perfectly good but somehow are not proving to be necessary, or loved.

Anonymous

You know, this is the trouble with BR and Gap. All of these infernal sales, every week, every item - and you end up buying a bunch of stuff just because it's on sale and cheap! (well, relatively speaking). Half of what I buy there I would not buy at regular price because they've trained us to wait for the 40 off days and go nuts. Oh , sorry, that's just me But I think you've just answered your own question - leave it. It's super cool, I agree, but...

And Suz's advice is good, tested and true. I wish I had the mental fortitude to do it. I start these things, do it for 3 days, then get distracted and off onto something else. Hence the mess of my closet, still.

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