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Caught the purge bug ...

Helena

Veteran

Ok, Shannon and the rest, you have started me on the purge. I decided to start with purging anything I haven't worn in the previous appropriate season (or so far this summer), as well as anything tatty or that I just don't like and have no guilt about scrapping). I got rid of about thirty items, that I have categorized into two buckets:

- Time to move on - have had for a long time and they are just not looking or feeling as great as they did, have no use for, just plain over it and got enough wear out of it to justify moving on, have some design flaw (one top that I really like gets a huge watermark on it if so much as one drip gets on it ... moving on ...)

- Swing and a miss - Usually purchased during a phase when I feel like I need to change up my style and/or "start wearing color" (I need to learn to just buy a scarf! Excluding my beloved pinks/fuschias). Often bought with gift cards and then never worn. Often not tailored. Often cardigans in a color which I keep buying and then NEVER WEAR. Bye bye. This pile included several warm-toned pieces that I convinced myself I could wear. I did pack a few of these pieces that I really and truly like out of sight; if I am inspired to wear them, I'll take them out; if not, then bye bye for good in about a month or so.

- Conspicuously absent from the ditch pile - black (only one black t-shirt in a very dated style), jeans (I actually wear them all), bright pinks (except the water drip shirt).

My wardrobe now has about 75 pieces in it, including all seasons and basic tees, excluding outerwear jackets for all seasons, accessories, exercise stuff and layering camis that don't stand alone. Not too bad? I will set an arbitrary target of 50 and see how close I get. Next on the chopping block, duplicates that are not paying their way. Also need to hit the jammie draw but that's another project.

If anyone has advice, should I ditch or keep the hot pink sleeveless blouse below? Love the color and the fluid fit actually looks nice on; thinking the lingerie-esque look is too dated though? Thought?

Thanks for reading and thanks for the inspiration everyone!

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Helena

E

Veteran

Your purge pile looks so pretty! The pink blouse doesn't look dated to me, as I believe lace is back on trend (?), but I am not finely tuned to datedness, so I'm not much help there. If you love the colour & the fit, though, perhaps try wearing it out of the house & seeing how you feel in it before deciding to keep it or not.

Kristin L

Veteran

Bravo on your purge pile! I'm not sure about the pink top. Have you tried it on with a few different bottoms to see how it would work with different looks, like jeans vs black pencil skirt?

jackiec

Veteran

Way to go! I don't know....personally I'd hang on to the pink for a bit. I like to have a few go-to things for nights out (rare but it can happen!). You could always re-evaluate later....jeez there's my procrastination gene showing.

On another note - is that your side of the bed with the books stacked up? Made me laugh b/c it looks exactly like our bedroom - I always have a stack

Helena

Veteran

Thanks you guys.
E. actually some of the pieces would be quite lovely on you - it's a testament to the piece needing to fit the person, I think. The next time I am drawn to some more soft and romantic-styled pieces, I'll skip the mall and check out your WIWs!

K. great suggestion; I do like the top with jeans and I have a black pencil skirt I just ordered that I will try it with.

Jackie, yes, those occasional date nights, you do need something for, rare though they may be *sigh* ... this would be my only dressier top that has some color to it. I have a few things coming up over the summer; I'll see if it gets worn; if not, to the Goodwill with it. And YES that is my stack of books - the funny thing is, one of them is a Kobo. So there a virtual stack within a stack hah! Glad it's not just me!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Definitely not just you or Jackie. Exhibit A, below.

I am impressed with your purging skills! Also, your will of steel. You aim for 50 pieces across all seasons? WOW. That's amazing. I cannot go there.

I would keep the pink top if you enjoy wearing it. You can always reconsider at the end of the summer.

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Helena

Veteran

Ha, Suz, that is awesome

Please don't be impressed though. I am a small wardrobe person by nature, so I don't find it difficult or overly emotional to purge, as many people do - although I do struggle with letting my kids' toys go, strangely!
Anyways, as mentioned 50 is pretty arbitrary, I'm not worried if I don't get there, it's just for interest to see how close I can get!

I appreciate the support!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Way to go!
All theses posts have been very inspiring to me too. Only problem us between purging and reading about purging, I haven't had any time to post

I'd keep the pink for a while. If the lace bothers you, it might still make a great piece for under a topper.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh my goodness - what did I start? - lol!

Good for you! How do you feel?

I think I might keep the pink top if you will wear it and have room. I don't find it dated and it's very pretty.

Lisa

Veteran

Congrats on your closet purge. I'm hoping to get my around 108 item wardrobe below 100 next year, and to no longer have any items in a boutique (or on hold). Great job!

Anonymous

Oh man, you are on FIRE torontgirl! Good job! As for the pink and black lace top, here's a question to ask? Would one of your style icons wear this? Is it in line with that casual-glam celeb style you were talking about on your other thread?

Helena

Veteran

Claire, thou art wise. What a fantastic question - one I will be putting in my wallet and in my closet somewhere! I will have to give it some thought, but my initial thought is a no - it's not conventionally figure-flattering or highlighting to curves (such as mine are), it's a non-classic pattern, and the color is bright rather than rich. Admittedly, I like bright pink but I have other tops that fill that desire so I don't need it for that purpose. Plus I realize I have a few other tops that would work for similar occasions, and these are more in line with the Eva and Giada vibe. Given I go out somewhere dressy, oh maybe four times a year, those will do.

So, out it goes - and probably a few other things, if I apply this new criteria! Oh this is fun for me!

ETA - Down to 67 items now!

Gigi

Veteran

Great job, TG! My dream, once my style gets to be more concrete, is to have a small wardrobe like yours. It's so nice to have just a few well-loved pieces that you wear over and over.

I had to laugh at your description of the one top as the "water drip shirt." It sounded like something at Nordstrom: "'Torontogirl' Water Drip Shirt."

It sounds like Claire got you sorted about the pink top. I don't have any style icons, probably because I am so isolated from much of pop culture. Maybe I need to get myself some...

Helena

Veteran

Gigi, it's so sad too, because I loved my water drip shirt!!

Not sure if I'm dating myself, but it's like the Seinfeld when Elaine works for J. Peterman and has to come up with the descriptions for the catalogue ... "the Urban Sombrero" ha!

viva

Veteran

I am really impressed by your resolve and your ability to live with such a small wardrobe. Really amazing.

And Claire is something isn't she? She inspired me to go back into my closet and try on my work pants, and I have eliminated 5 pairs. There's no reason to have as many as I did, especially when those 5 included dupes and ill-fitting pairs. It felt great to pull them out.

Keep us posted as your work continues, Torontogirl!

jackiec

Veteran

This is so great! I spent a good part of my morning doing "inventory" and a bit more purging. I absolutely LOVE Claire's comment! Made it super easy to ditch a bunch of stuff from my closet!

I am up to over 20 pairs of jeans alone...got rid of 2 for sure but my numbers are up. And I still search for the perfect pair. My holy grail. Unfortunately I have a love affair with denim.

Neel

Veteran

You are on a roll torontogirl! 67 is wow! .... Especially for someone like me o_O .... I loved the pink top .. But if you don't .... Then good that its purged now!

Helena

Veteran

Thanks all! I feel like I need to say though, I don't deserve too many props as I didn't start with that high a number, it was still not far off 100 so I think I'm a bit that way by nature. I still haven't gotten to things I actually wear. I'm a uniform dresser by nature too (Catholic school ha!), whereas others, like you Neel, are so creative and expressive with their clothes and therefore it's also a true hobby in a way, which bears investment. In fact it would be interesting if we compared not based on a total number, but based on percentage of owned items that actually get worn ... I bet I would score very poorly on that one.

But I appreciate all the encouragement!

Good job Jackie on the jeans! Although I think having a love affair with a category falls into the realm of "hobby" as well in my opinion and therefore should not be purged TOO heavy-handedly ... I have the same "search for the perfect one" thing going on in my lipstick drawer, and I can assure you there are more than 20 in there