Closet Edit Part 1: done in spring/summer

This closet edit discussion is just perfect for me as part of "getting out my rut".

In spring and summer this year I did two “major” edits. I counted item type and reason for getting rid of. I do have limited space, but my biggest issue is holding on to things I think I like but never want to wear. My goal was to continue learning why I pass things on. Here are the categories and counts. I don’t have a good count of how many items I have total and am not focusing on that for now. 34 items total.

Poor quality (3 tops). Very happy that this number has gone way down from past edits. Seem to have learned my lesson!
Poor fit (2 tops, 6 pants, 1 bag, 1 workout) these were mostly purchased last year or earlier, and are part of my learning curve on getting a good fit most of the time with most items, which I feel I have accomplished! Yay!!
Not comfortable (3 shoes). I have developed a need for thicker sole cushioning, more support, and lower heels in the past two years. These three shoes (2 sandals, 1 sneaker) failed the test and had a snug fit that didn't allow for adding an insert. Not a mistake, just life.
Did not like to wear ( 2 tops, 2 pants, 1 skirt, 1 bag, 1 other) to some extent part of the fashion preferences journey, although again I bought all of these last year or earlier so I think I’m improving at recognizing what I want to wear.
Worn out (7 tops, 3 sweaters, 1 other) hey, it happens.

I am in the middle of a more focused edit now as I swap out summer clothes for fall/winter ones. I’ve made a conscious choice not to do another spring/summer edit now, I am just putting them away until spring. This includes two pairs of perforated leather shoes (grey booties and red loafers) which only work for spring and early fall. I have already made some huge realizations, and will be doing deeper edits in these areas.

My fall/winter shoe collection needs a serious overhaul. I’m just finishing up the planning and will start shopping this week. I’m trying to get over feeling overwhelmed by this, because I typically have to try at least 10 pairs of shoes for each successful purchase. I have some ideas of how to improve this ratio. I also want to break out of my pattern of buying simple classic shoes mostly in black and introduce some texture, pattern, color, and fun! Have some ideas on this too.
My pant/jean collection needs a moderate overhaul .

Looking forward to reading other postings about this challenge!

Comments, advice always welcome.

5 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

That’s a lot of letting go of items and a focus on what you need.
What’s your idea of how to improve your shoe ratio?

Chris987

Thanks Barbara Diane. My ideas for improving the shoe try-to-keep ratio are 1) stick with brands that have worked for me in the past 2) carefully review my copious notes on what sizes have worked in the past for those brands 3) always order a couple of sizes with one designed to fit an insert 4) try the order-and-ship-to-store thing at Nordstrom so I can filter out some before they ever go home with me 5) read online reviews 6) look for Angie top pics 7) look for shoes who's descriptions have something about an orthotic or ergonomic insert 8) see if I can try on more in a store like Nordstrom but I often don't find anything I like

Suz

(website)

Chris, you are so organized, thoughtful, and focused. Brava! What I love most is your self-forgiving attitude towards the edit. You realize there are bound to be a few losers no matter what (even as you do your best to reduce that number); you accept there's always a learning curve, and you give yourself a pat on the back for jobs well done.

Your plan for shoe shopping sounds excellent to me. It *can* be a monumental task...and the trouble with shoes is that some that feel fine in store or in the house end up not working anyway. But trusted brands are an excellent place to start and it's a great idea to get some items shipped to store so you don't have to have them in the house. I found that really helpful when Sveta and I did it years ago.

It sounds as if you naturally think in category capsules. (I.e. my shoe/boot collection; my pant/ denim collection.) I should take a leaf from your book here because I tend to be much more impulsive on this front -- I'll edit, and I do make a list of areas to improve, but then I end up going completely off list and still need the items on the list. In the past, this led to an unwanted and unintended expansion of my wardrobe numbers, so I veered into "large" wardrobe territory. There is nothing wrong with a large wardrobe but I prefer a moderate sized one for myself and briefly felt overwhelmed and guilty at how much "stuff" I had amassed.

Then I did a few big edits, bwa ha ha...

cindysmith

Wow! Lots of thought has gone into your edit, and I'm impressed! I just went in my closet and touched each item and decided keep or toss without wondering why I am tossing it. Which is why I probably won't learn from my mistakes, whereas I believe you have learned from yours
Well done!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

YAY. WELL DONE, Chris. You are going like a Boeing. Thoughtful, logical, organized and relaxing into it. Can I clone you?

As for the shoe overhaul - I GET it. I've been doing that for the last two years because I no longer wear heels. MAXIMIZE your shopping options. It's the only way to do it. Here to help and guide.

Thanks Suz! I am pretty good at the organization- analysis part, I just need to keep working at the finding-great-new-pieces part. I'm NOT always so self-forgiving, but I don't let myself write too many self-critical things on social media because it does not make me feel better or help anything :-). Yep I know what you mean about shoes. I now do a 2-hour wear at home test which is a pretty good indicator but NOT a guarantee. I find the capsule/category thing a great way to analyze but I don't always follow it when shopping. I get impulsive like you do, go "off list" all the time. Lately I'm doing lots of returns rather than letting my wardrobe expand, with dreams of the day when I make more better choices to begin with.

Cindysmith...thanks! Your edit probably took a whole a lot less time than mine, and wasn't necessarily any more or less successful. To each his/her own...

Thanks Angie! Sure go ahead and clone me, is that part of your fashion styling services now? My clone can stay in Seattle and shop with you and ship things to me. Wouldn't that be a hoot! LOL. I knew you would get the shoe overhaul thing. I've been watching yours with great interest and admiration.

Canada

Active Member

Chris987, your last post resonated with me. The shoe thing. I WILL NOT wear uncomfortable shoes; I have three tried and loved pairs with new duplicate buys waiting in my closet. And also the memory of a graveyard of newer donated rejects despite my guideline of testing them at home for many hours. Sometimes ya just don't know til you have worn the darn things outdoors for a few days and then, well, away they go. I've had luck with Ecco and Clark brands. The finding-the-new-thing can be tiresome but you will find it! Returning is better than paying for an item you don't love.

Canada you are so right about how some just don't fit right even after trying them out for a few hours. I've occasionally returned ones I had worn IRL for a day or so because they just did not work; Nordstrom and Zappos are quite lenient that way as long as you do it quickly so they have no reason to mistrust your intentions.

*cloning in progress*

Angie, I am laughing so HARD!! I envision you sitting with your feet up on your coffee table (the one visible in some of your footwear photos), with Sam at your side, punching codes into your laptop which is attached to some remote "machine" that is reaching across the internet to copy my genes into your "fashion cloner". I think I need to write a sci-fi short story!

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