I am on day 3 of COVID isolation -- no one else in my family has it and we're trying to keep it that way, so I'm stuck in the bedroom. I'm feeling a lot better and starting to go stir-crazy, so inspired by all the closet assessment/editing energy here on the forum of late I decided to tackle my own wardrobe.

I am pulling out items category by category and assigning each item one of the following labels:
-I like and wear this
-I wear this, but don't really like it
-I wear this, but it has problems (that aren't easily fixable)
-I like this, but don't seem to reach for it
-I like this, but it needs attention (like mending/alteration) that is preventing me from wearing it
-I like this, but it doesn't currently fit
-This doesn't work for me

(Just sharing in case those labels are helpful for anyone else on the closet editing train.)

For all of the labels except the first I'm also making notes about WHY an item gets that label. Hopefully this will help me make better shopping choices in future, as well as brainstorm how to get more wear from those "I like it, but don't reach for it" items.

I find it SO helpful to pull out all of the things in a category at once (a key aspect of the KonMari method). It really helps me see patterns that I would not otherwise and helps me let go of "just in case" items (because I can see that BETTER options are *right there*.)

As well as grouping things by wardrobe category, on a whim I decided to pull out all of my Breton stripes and assess them together. I love Breton stripes but find that sometimes, for reasons I've sometimes had trouble putting my finger on, they don't work for me. (I am not a high-contrast person, BUT I have large, dark blue eyes. So the blue-and-white pattern CAN be dead right and harmonious with my features -- or it can totally overwhelm me.)

So in photo 1 below the NOs are on the left and the YESes are on the right. What do I notice?
*Wider stripes of uneven width are more likely to work than narrow, even stripes.
*For uneven stripes, either the dark or the light color can be more prominent.
*When DO narrow, even stripes work? The two garments on the top of the pile are tank tops -- sleeveless means less of the busy pattern and I suspect that's less overwhelming. For the third garment from the top, I think it's that the blurry effect of the knit counteracts some of the contrast (I know that soft-edged prints are in general better on me than more graphic ones).

Also, look what happens when I unfold some of those sweaters in photo 2. These YESes all have a solid section at the top, with the stripes beginning lower, farther away from my face. I suspect that also counteracts the "overwhelming" effect.

This was a HUGELY helpful exercise and I've moved the three items on the left of photo 1 to my get rid of pile -- which I was having trouble doing before I looked at all the stripes together, to be honest.

Ok, if you've read this far, thank you -- gold star! Curious if this exercise sparks any thoughts for you, or if you also have "signature" patterns that don't always work for you. Grateful for anything you care to share!