Jessikams and all - My holding zone consists of three small suitcases in a high cupboard. One mostly consists of very wintery gear that I don't use except for outdoor winter trips, one is out of season storage and one is anything I am holding on to and unsure about. The last two in reality get a bit mixed up.

I also have about eight sentimental dresses hanging over two wardrobes that I am keeping for different reasons - a ball dress, a bridesmaid dress, a dress of my Mum's, and a few occasion dresses. I am unlikely to get rid of these. The holding zone gets reviewed every six months or less and currently has three or four pieces in it.

@jessikams my holding zone is two drawers in a dresser. One holds jeans that don't fit and out of season (high season) pieces. I evaluate fit when I change out winter/summer, but that drawer doesn't turn over as much as the other. The other drawer holds items I am on the fence about, but not quite ready to part with yet. I revisit the "over it" drawer when I feel the urge to aimlessly shop

My special occasion pieces hang with DH's suits on his side of the closet. Those are pieces that truly can't be dressed down, or that require specific other pieces in order to make an outfit. I don't wear them, but I would miss/want them in the event of an event In reality, I would be better off to let go of those kinds of pieces, but I haven't talked myself into letting them go yet.

Tough one. I’m not travelling light when it comes to clothes. The whole back of my closet is office wear and Christmas dresses with no real reason to see the light of day. But I’m not doing any big purging this year because with covid I just don’t know what’s up and shopping my overstuffed closet let’s me scratch the itch to shop when covid has everything closed. It may not be the wisest choice, but I’m wearing cashmere today in the bakery...

I have purged my closet & my house in general because (1) I’m retired & don’t need so many business clothes & (2) we’re moving to Mexico in 2 years, where the weather is considerably warmer (beach). That said, I have shopped for nice-looking casual pieces for the tropics because I don’t like wearing strictly casual clothes like regular t-shirts, for example. There are nicer-looking alternatives that are still very cool
& comfortable.

So interesting to hear everybody’s thoughts on identity and change, and how they relate to fashion!

I have recently got rid of a lot of things I was still holding onto from my student days. That was a relatively clear cut too, and it wasn’t always easy, but it felt freeing. I kept a lot of things over the years because of the need for frugality and because with weight gains and losses I never knew whether I wouldn’t be able to use them again. Now that I have a real job I have a lot more disposable income and quite a bit of it went into my wardrobe in the last three years. Not necessarily buying lots of things, but buying the more expensive fair fashion I’ve always wanted to buy in the past.

I get rid of items if they don’t feel like me anymore or if they look tired or something is wrong with them-condition, fit, etc.
I keep smaller clothes when I gain weight, but I get rid of larger pants. I often can have skirts and tops taken in. I try to discourage weight gain by not having larger clothing but I and am happy to see “old friends” when I lose weight.

I am hard to fit and quite picky, so having clothes to wear without shopping is a plus, especially during Covid. Also, often the quality of the older items is often superior.

My sentimental items that I don’t expect wear are in one spot. Holding zone items are separated into weight loss needed, alterations needed, and thinking about.

I often pull items out of thinking about. I even had a dress that didn’t sell at consignment turn out to be perfect for a wedding guest outfit-after spending a lot of time shopping for the right outfit.

I also don’t purge items if I still like them as I want to use up my clothes instead of shopping for new.

Have you played in your closet with the items you are considering purging. I often find new combinations I really like.

I would keep a few of each type of item or at least think through all the occasions that could happen in the next few years. A wedding guest outfit, a funeral outfit, etc,

Good luck!