Can you help with my summer clear-out? (lots of photos)

Hi all, sorry for being so noisy on the forum this week - can you tell my youngest is in camp??

Thought I would take advantage of a quiet afternoon to look through my summer wardrobe and see if there's anything that should be cleared out before I start getting into fall planning mode. Overall, I was really happy with my summer wardrobe, but a few older pieces have not seen the light of day this year. Normally I would donate the lot, but I've over-purged in the past so am trying to be careful. Note: if you disagree with any of my keep decisions or feel any of my not sures aren't worth keeping, please be honest! I have PLENTY with what I wore this year - so I'm not scared to let things go. Just want a sanity check before I go nuts with the donation pile Thank you!

Not sure items:

Gray long-sleeve thin sweater. One of my last remaining gray items, and getting a little worse for wear, but I do like gray with white and it's good for transitional weather. Mind you, I do have a thin navy as well as a striped sweater. Thoughts? (photos 1&2)
Lavendar and navy tropical print shorts. Generally unsure about these shorts. They fit well but I'm never 100% happy when I have them on. Thinking purge as I have the gingham shorts if I want a print. (shown in photo 3)
Navy and white striped tee with the bell sleeve. Are we over these sleeves? (shown in photos 4&5)
Sleeveless tops - light blue body con (sides are ruched), black and white handkerchief top, electric blue swing tank. Good shape, fit well, never wear them. The light blue I'm not sure if it's dated. The other ones I'm a bit meh on ... thoughts? (blue one shown in photo 6; rest in photo 7)

Items to say farewell to:

mauve Aritzia bodycon dress. Too unforgiving. Love it in theory but I don't feel comfortable in it. (photo 8)
white H&M t with black stripes. Have had this for years. It's in good shape and fits well, but I just never wear it. I think it's too "neither here nor there" - too dressy (due to drapey fabric and sheer stripes) for casual; too casual to be dressy. Fare thee well. (photo 9)

Items to tuck away:

green sleeveless Gap t-shirt. Never wear this but I love the colour. It's classic and in perfect shape, and it fits well, so thinking I'll keep ...? (photo 10)
burgundy H&M t-shirt. Same as above. I'm wondering if it's the fact that they are summer shirts in more fall-ish colours? Our last few falls have been crap; maybe if we get a nice mild one, they might get some wear? (photo 11)
gray and white Lululemon t-shirt. Move this to the workout clothes drawer. (seen in photo 4)
royal blue linen t-shirt. Rarely gets worn, but when I'm in the mood for a bright, this is a good one. Confident keeper. (seen in photo 4)
striped Gap dress. This is one of those stripes that I'm not feeling this year. But the fit of this dress is so good, and it's so comfy for hot days. Tuck away and see if I look for it next season. I think I'm feeling more delicate prints lately. (photo 12) Unless you feel the stripe is dated?
gingham and blush shorts. Didn't reach for them much this year, but they are classic and fit well, so keep (shown in photo 3)

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6 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I agree with the tuck away group! I like the green in particular and the stripe dress.

I also agree with the donate. I think the tee is not quite the right shape on you. And the dress - it is nice but these dresses can be hard to wear.

I do like the bell sleeve tee but I have a sugar eye for this stripe and the sleeve. I don’t think the light grey is your very best colour but I think the top is a useful basic. I would probably keep. I like the shorts but I am over a pair of my patterned shorts so I relate to the feeling. I would pass on the pale blue top.

I loved your post about your Mom’s fashion- I will go back and respond as I feel ready to now. I feel very sad about my Mum right now.

Helena

Sal, sending you the biggest ever hug. Please PM me anytime if you want to vent ... Trust me, I'm riding the ups and downs like a roller coaster. Xx

Anonymous

It sounds like you're not stoked about any of your maybe's! If you're always passing things up in favor of other things, it's best to pass them on. I like the mauve dress, but understand about feeling its too body con!

SarahD8

My 2 cents:

-Agree with your keeps.
-Agree with your adieus.
-Not sures:
*Keep the gray sweater for now. Transitional clothes are so hard, because they are needed for such a short time -- but when you need them, you really need more than one option! That said, I think this shade of gray is a little too warm for you and I would aim to replace with something better before too long, especially as it is getting worn.
*Tropical print shorts: hmm, didn't you have a pair blue/white print shorts that you bought from BR this summer, and maybe returned? These seem very similar. Might be worth thinking about what's attracting you to this sort of thing. You mention wanting more delicate prints than stripes. Is what you really want a pair of print shorts with a smaller scale print?
*Bell-sleeve tee: I think this is darling on you.
*Sleeveless tops: get rid of them all. I don't think you'll ever choose the light blue ruched top over the BR tanks you bought this year*. Bandana print doesn't seem like "you." Electric blue swing tank seems like it fills the same role as the royal blue linen tee and it doesn't seem you'll ever choose the tank over the tee. Pass along with confidence!

*Gosh I hope it doesn't sound like I'm obsessed with your wardrobe. *awkward grimace emoji*

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love a good edit!

*toes are tickled*

I vote pass on the grey sweater. Neckline is too wide, and the colour is flat.
Pass on bold shorts. Keep blue gingham.
Keep the bell sleeved tee - move to hold.
Pass on body con tops & dress
Pass on H&M striped tee
Move all the "tuck away" tees to workout wear
Keep striped dress, pink shorts and blue linen tee.

Cardiff girl

Keep the things that you feel good wearing and anything you are hesitating about hold onto it and eventually all will become clear.I personally like all your patterned shorts and the striped dress.

Marilyn

I had the black and white BR top in pic 6. It was donated in my pre summer purge. I just wasn't feeling it anymore.

Honestly, I'd get rid of whatever you didn't wear this summer. I have a bunch of tees and such that are about to suffer the same fate. There is a reason we didn't reach for those items.

If you have any doubts, let go to make room for something you love. If you love it but didn’t wear it this year, remember that each summer is different. I did not wear much that was sleeveless. They were too breezy for this summer’s cool days. Next year could be the opposite. If you like wearing it, stow it away a little longer of put it in a holding zone. If you would rather shop for something else, it is time to let it go.

Jenni NZ

The ones I like best on are shown in pic 7- love the shape of that light blue tee- and pic 9- I’m a sucker for black and white and if that were mine think I would wear it often. I think it’s a shame to donate that but if you’re not wearing well maybe bye-bye.
I’m not keen on the long-sleeved grey. Checked your profile- I don’t understand preppy because it’s not a thing in NZ, but not sure it suits your style and it looks kind of boring compared with the rest?

Thanks so much everyone! Great advice, as I knew it would be! So right about the gray ... It really is flat and does nothing for me.
Angie, great idea about repurposing some of the like-but-don't-choose tees. Sarah, lol ... Not at all but I appreciate your sharp insights, all of which I agree with!

rachylou

I was gonna say pass on all the not sures, but Angie has be rethinking the bell sleeve. It *is* very Kate and Kate is you I personally also like bell sleeves.

Katerina

I also agree with you on the tuck aways and the farewells. About the not sures - I like the shorts, vote keep and absolutely keep the striped tee. Have you seen this newish picture of Kate? Made me think of you

Unsure about the sleeveless tops. The grey sweater looks like a good basic item, would you wear it with scarves to work with the color and the neckline?

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nemosmom

Agree with your keep and tuck away piles. If the tropical print shorts don't make you happy - let them go to a new home. Agree that the grey is flat. I don't love the bell sleeves, but should say I fight with fussy sleeves of any kind (I prefer ones that can easily slip under a cardi or jacket without bunching). I would pick a tee or two as sleep/chore/workout (not OITW) and let the rest go.

Suz

I'd do what Angie suggests except for putting the green and burgundy tees in the workout capsule. Those, I'd put away for the kind of weather you're thinking of -- hot fall. Can be useful when you just aren't feeling summer any more but the temps are still skyrocketing.

You've made some great decisions here. I love clearing out at the end and beginning of a season. Smart move.

JAileen

As much as I love grey, I don’t think it’s right for you. The color is blah and the vee looks too deep.

Okay friends, got it:
Bodycon items, tropical shorts, gray sweater, HM tee, bandana top, electric blue tank are in the donate/recycle pile.

Bell sleeve tee, pink and gingham shorts, and striped dress are back in the closet.

Fall coloured tees are with my yoga gear, but if we have heat in the fall, I'll see if they get pulled out for daily wear.

Thank you all so much for the great advice!! Xx

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