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Closet clean out how do you decide

Debbie

Veteran

I am doing a big closet clean out but I am stalled. If it's in good shape I want to keep it. Even though it is not getting worn.
I know there have been threads on this but I am stuck. Who knew I had this many jackets?!?

General

30 replies

Latest reply was from texstyle

Mo

(website)

Veteran

You know, I do this. Just this week I finally, finally, put some items in a bag that I had not worn more than once a year, if that. Why did I keep them? Sure, they may be 'fine', but if I'm not going to wear it, what does that matter? Broccoli is fine, but I don't eat it!

Debbie

Veteran

Mo thank you. That's the push I need. I was also thinking that I am going to turn some hangers around to and if it's not reached for it goes.

em

I give the business clothes--suits and blazers and such--to Dress for Success. They need--and want--them more than I do.

I feel like I am empowering my fellow woman. It is such a heady feeling. When I pack up the goods I feel certain some female will get a chance, or second chance, or third chance, or whatever it takes to go on an interview and blow it out of the water and in a few years become the next CEO of a Fortune 500. All because (well, not all, but you get the idea) some lady she'll never meet sent her off in style.

Debbie

Veteran

Em that is great. I usually give mine to battered women's but I might switch it up.

Nicole D

Veteran

You could always just pack them away and if you haven't missed them after a year (or another season), then donate. That's what I plan to do. I even have the storage containers ready. I'll let you know how it goes!

carter

Veteran

The best test for me is, "if I ran into Client XYZ (or ex-boyfriend ABC) while wearing this, would I regret it?"

shedev

Veteran

I use, would I buy it now?

Thistle

Veteran

Why let it take precious space if you aren't going to wear it? "Fine" is. Ot good enough for you. You deserve clothes you love, that you want to wear, and that make you feel fab.

If you haven't worn them in a year or more, and they aren't truly special occasion wear (like a ball gown) do you rally think you will wear them again? Or want to? Pass them along to someone who will love them.

Debbie

Veteran

I did jackets tonight I put several items in a give away back and put three in a holding zone. Tomorrow is dresses. If I break into sections it not so overwhelming. Thank you for the advice.

Staysfit

Veteran

Good luck! I recently went through a similar process and stalled when I reached my overly large collection of sweaters. I posted about the difficulty and now have so many great ideas. I don't know if they would apply to your jackets or dresses?

To keep track of how often I wear things I use small safety pins. I have found that turning hangers gets confusing, and it doesn't tell me if something was used once or ten times. You can put a new pin on either the garment or the hanger for the garment every time you wear it. At the end of whatever period of time you are measuring just count pins. I get rid of items I haven't used if they aren't special occasion items or if they have only been worn once. I am aiming to only keep what I love, fits well, looks great and makes me happy.

Arleen

Member

This is all great advice. I lost 100 lbs and went wild shopping. Now I look at things and wonder what was I thinking!?! But I remember the heady feeling of getting to fit into smaller/trendier clothes and can't let go. Now is the time.

unfrumped

Veteran

"Good shape" isn't enough. Usually if something is not getting worn, and I really look at it, the fit is off. If I can " see" that, then I can slap my forehead and toss it. This is especially easy if the fit problem transcends trendse, such as, it's really too tight,or it's too big in shoulders, or , I don't like it. It's harder for me if something fits in one kind of fit I like but just not trending. I will keep a sweater, say, that has an EASY tailored fit bug is not as loose as I might prefer this year. I can tell the difference between that and a too- tight fit that I never have liked in any decade.
If the fit is good, I'm in for a harder evaluation ; the next thing is something like collar or lapels. I have been churning 2 blouses in colors I like and great fabrics, but I sense the collars are dated. Then I'll go, but there are only so many ways to make a collar; these will be back in a year of so. So that can bog me down.
Are you honing a color palette? I was able to eliminate certain colors that were not as flattering and that I could see were interfering with versatility, or were demanding a separate set of footwear of accessories.

AJ

Veteran

Oh, good idea to declutter in small batches.

Mo mentioned in one if her posts that she is starting to ask herself why the item isn't working for her so she doesn't keep making the same buying mistakes.

You mentioned that you have a lot of jackets. Maybe you like the structure they provide, but they are too warm for your climate? So maybe vests might be a good thing to try? Perhaps linen blazers might work as well?

Maybe you just didn't have enough events to justify all the jackets? A monthly tally of how many events you actually will go to that requires a blazer/jacket might help you decide on how many you need to buy.

Hope that helps and I'm cheering you on!

2 weeks ago I purged 28 pairs of shoes and I haven't missed them at all!

Anonymous

I am ruthless when it comes to purging. I feel a sense or relief when those items are gone … like I am decluttering my mind.

bj1111

Veteran

Debs, i feel your pain. I'm about to do a huge cull and i jst don't want yo let things go.

Anonymous

I just moved to a new house (7 days ago) and hubs actually unpacked the master closet. I was dreading any comments he might make. To my surprise he said nothing except asking where long items should go, lol

After being able to view my entire summer, early fall wardrobe, I feel like it is too much. I didn't wear even half of it this year but I am not culling yet as we had several scruffy vacation days to move and pack/unpack (so not wearing real clothes). We also lived in a hotel for over 3 weeks so I only packed a wardrobe capsule.

I have a terrible time letting go of clothes, I feel like I will need them again or not find something as flattering

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, another thought for us who find it hard to let go. Wear the item you are questioning, and take a pic. 99% of the time, by the end of day I am so ready to let go just by feeling 'off' in it. And if not, usually the pic will tell me.

Amy

My last big closet cull involved putting my clothes into three different piles. Pile one was "love wearing this", pile two was " like this" and pile three was "don't like this anymore". I tried not to think too much as I sorted the clothes; went with my first gut reaction.

After I sorted them, the "love this" pile went right back in the closet. The "don't like " pile was put in a bag to donate. Pile #2, the "like" pile, is the hardest to deal with. Those are the clothes you need to ask yourself "what is it about this that makes me like rather than love it?". Is it the fit? Is it worth it to have it altered? Is it itchy? Does it fit with the style I'm going for? Etc. That's the pile I divide up into "alterations", "keep in box for a while", "return to closet" or "give away" piles.

If I'm not sure about letting something go, I'll put it in a large shopping bag/box and save it for however long I need to. Usually after sometime, I'm ready to let it go but occasionally I'll pull it back out and be glad it's still there.

Good luck with your culling

Debbie

Veteran

I did the dresses today and let go of a few. I am going to do this again in three months. I am definitely going to one in one out. I have not found any definite holes yet but I have found a couple of pieces that I absolutely love that I am under utilizing. I will post them later for styling ideas. It is just to hot.
Skirts and cardigans next.

fin42

Carter that's a great idea, I'll use that on my next wardrobe cull!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

One thing that helped me when I got stuck with too many "fines", was to do the numbers... Of that particular item, how many did I really realistically need, or could wear? Then I could pick the best of the category, even adding a few, and felt great about letting the excess go. I have a hard time getting rid of things that still work, fit, are current etc but are just not "me". And I don't see the point of getting rid of things just for the sake of it. But when feeling burdened by sheer volume, this worked for me. Ned to find time to do it with more categories!

Lisa

Veteran

Great advice here. Deciding on a color palette has really helped me to pare down my wardrobe. Also comparing a loved item with one of the 'do I keep or purge items' and asking myself, would I really choose this over that one? Often the answer is no and out it goes.

Julie

As I go through my items not getting much wear (or none!), I try to say to myself "I'd wear this if......" and fill in the blank...if I was taller, shorter, thinner, if it fit better in the waist, etc. Then think about the likelihood of that happening...I might alter an item, but I'm pretty sure my height is not going to change....

viva

Veteran

I love the safety pin idea. I've never figured out how to track wears before, and this I think I can do, if I decide to track to that degree.

When I did my closet clean out and wardrobe count, Claire talked me through what I think Elzabeth P is describing. I had 6 or 7 pairs of black pants, which are a work staple for me. And Claire simply asked, why that many? Why not 1 really perfect pair? So I went back and tried them all on and I realized that I could easily get rid of 4 pairs without blinking. I was keeping them out of habit, and because I know I wear black pants a lot when I travel. What I had forgotten to consider is that I tend to travel with the same 2 or 3 pairs. So I think Elizabeth P is right to suggest that next level of questioning. Within a category, which are the best of breed? And which are just taking up space? I still sometimes get a little panicky when I look and see just a couple of pairs of black pants hanging there, but then I remember that I LOVE how they fit, and they are all I need on a work trip, and when I need to I can get them cleaned, and when I am done with them, I can simply replace them.

Good luck!!!

Marlene

Veteran

Ack. Debbie I finally got motivated to sort out the closet...get ready for the fall season. I am dealing with all the same issues as you. What do I let go? Plus I am wrangling with the concept of what works for me? How does this reflect my personal style? I think that part of the process is hardest for me at the moment. I may try Mo's idea of just wearing the stuff and see how I FEEL in the item by the end of the day. OK...going in, see ya'll on the other side!

Glory

Veteran

I am quite bad at purging. Many reasons - I feel guilty, feel I wasted money, small items might fit again, spent time shopping etc.
I have purged quite a bit since I joined YLF 2 years ago but it was the easy stuff. The harder decisions are still in my closet. I have discovered that I need to sort in season to make good choices. This assumes you have purged/donated items that are stained, don't fit correctly etc.
Try to force yourself to wear the item for the day and see how you feel in it. I have found many of my tough decisions were pretty easy using that approach.
Good luck!

Debbie

Veteran

I am still at it as I am only doing one section at a time. I switched gears yesterday and did a section of tops instead of skirts and cardigans. I did that because I had convinced myself I didn't have enough tops to wear. Wrong, I have enough I am just wearing the same ones. I went through it and now I think I have a better idea. I donated quite a few but I think I will survive the season.
Viva when I get to pants I am going to have that problem too.
Glory I think that's part of it guilt.

Anonymous

Hi Debbie! *waving* @viva

I just this morning read an excellent post in the Wardrobe Architect series over at Colleterie (which is a sewing blog, but no matter). She addresses the mental hurdles of loss aversion and cognitive dissonance that spring up during a wardrobe edit:
http://www.coletterie.com/ward.....ng-hurdles

Believe it or not, I am editing more tightly than ever. Like you, it's not like I'm wearing the things on the chopping block anyway, so why not pass them on to a good home? Once I got rid of some weird End Of The World scenarios that used to play in my mind, I stopped feeling the need to save unworn items just in case. I know everyone is different, but I find paring down immensely freeing. Good luck to you!

rachylou

Veteran

All right. Let's make a pack. You put your jackets in the Out pile and the white boots I never wear and are so far from Quirky Waif, they aren't even a speck on the horizon... I'll, um, think about doing the same with.

Hehe

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