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danger zones

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I looked into the closet to see what I had not worn in the last 3 months here. These I am considering my danger zones for future shopping. If I don't tend to wear these items, there is little logic in acquiring more of them!

Danger #1 - high heels. I do dress up on occasion and I have need for a select few pair. But I wear them rarely. I certainly don't need more. I have 3 pair unworn in the FL closet right now. Nude pumps, black strappy sandals, and my black patent booties (that may be more a climate issue). The ones I have worn each got only 1 wear so far. That would be my taupe shooties, Julia lace up boots, and MoHop sandals.

Danger #2 - jersey sun dresses. In theory, they are the perfect, easy breezy answer to hot weather dressing. In reality the worry over lumps and bumps negates any easy breezy feeling I may have imagined. I am forcing myself to wear my red drape jersey in lounge fashion today. The white maxi still has not seen the light of day, months after purchase.

Danger #3 - silk shirts. Again, in theory they are a great way to dress up my more casual bottoms, a denim heavy category. In reality I see them as much too precious to wear in an 'every day' kind of way. By contrast a poly blend feels indestructible and way easier to launder.

So going forward I need to remind myself that these fabrics and heel heights are dangerous waters to tread. If I find myself drawn to any item in these categories, it better really wow me or I'm likely to see it lined up alongside the others. Sitting pretty but not being used.

Did you discover any danger zones lately you weren't really aware of?

EDIT: I should add silk to my dresses category as well. I throw on the poly wovens without a thought but get very nervous at donning the silk ones . . .

Dressing

45 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Gracie

Veteran

Thank you for sharing, Mo. This has inspired me to make my own list of danger zones and I fear I have quite a few : ) On to start an analysis now.

qfbrenda

Veteran

This is a good idea! Your list sounds well thought out.

Here's mine:

1) long, drapey sweaters.... I'm enjoying the 2 I have, but mostly as loungewear.... I liked the idea for over leggings but find they mostly just overwhelm short me.... I'll use the ones I have but will let attrition remove them from my closet eventually

2) 98% polyester, 2% spandex dresses... I've liked the ones I bought but find that I am liking the feel of ponte knit 100% better... again, attrition will take care of these eventually but plan to not buy more

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I hear you on the high heels. For casual days I am gravitating way more to lower heels. This coincided with my purchase of the Fitbit and my subsequent fixation on walking as much as possible every day!

Skirts are a danger zone for me. So many appeal to me, but in reality, I rarely wear them, even dressed down.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Janet, yes! the walking everywhere sure does make one rethink one's shoe wardrobe, doesn't it? It's a good thing

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love this, Mo.

One of the most gratifying features of No Repeat November for me was seeing how I really do wear almost all my clothes. Exceptions are special occasion wear (yet I still need it).

Still, a few danger areas did come to light:

1. Button front shirts. I really prefer to wear these (especially crisp ones) as stand-alone items, not layered. That pretty much means I don't wear them on work at home days in winter, because on their own they don't provide enough warmth. Of my 13 shirts in seasonal rotation I only wore 7 during the challenge. (I did repeat two of them.)

I don't think I necessarily have too many (some of them get worn more often in the warmer transitional weather) but I also don't think I have any real reason to add any more. And I really need to think twice if I get the urge to buy one.

2. Higher heels/ pumps. Like you, I need a few of these, but the ones I have rarely get worn. They're more in the category of special occasion wear.

3. Skirts. Like Janet, I need to be careful of these. I love them, but have few occasions to wear them and find them much more difficult to style in winter (when the need for tights becomes so important.) I need to remember that in purchasing. I wear skirts as part of my work-at-home wardrobe in summer; in winter I pretty much only wear them when I am travelling.

minimalist

Veteran

Mo, great topic!

Silk. What about washing these items with the idea you'll either lose them forever or gain new wash-and-wear items? Washing will change the feel of the fabric, but that isn't always bad.

A black drapy rayon jersey evening dress I bought bc it's packable and flattering has seen the outside world exactly twice, but gets a lot of life at home. On days when I can't stand the thought of greeting bf in the lounge wear I've been in all day, a quick shower and change into a dress helps my mood. Sounds so 1950s, right? Especially when there's a roast coming out of the oven. No nude-pump or strappy-black-high-heeled-sandal confessions ensuing, no Ma'am.

Gigi

Veteran

Mo, this is helpful. This is something that I should do on occasion--look in the closet and see what I *haven't* been wearing. You have such good ideas for keeping a wardrobe within practical limits!

I have found that high heels are also a danger area for me. Part of it is climate related--I live where there is winter weather about six months out of the year, so heels just can't practically be worn that much. That would mean that boots and booties would be better--but even then, if there's quite a bit of snow on the ground, it's going to be snow boots, for practical reasons. If it's icy, booties with high heels are going to be dangerous. I should really observe my footwear choices this winter!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Amy K, no martini in one hand and vacuum in the other???
I definitely hear you on 'demoting' some items that just aren't right for wear in the outside world, for whatever reason, and making them instead elevate your at home capsule. I've done that with several shirts and a skirt or two.

Suz, you bring up a good point about seasonality, too. I don't mind jersey in my wintery dresses (perhaps because I can then layer tights or a slip or other 'armor' underneath).

Liz A.

Veteran

Oh thanks for this idea! It's so helpful to think about shopping pitfalls for the future. For me, it's...

Casual anything: Like jeans, casual dresses, sneakers, etc. I honestly wear lounge clothes 99% of the time if I'm at home. And I have so few other opportunities to go out besides work or coming from work that I can certainly make do with what I have.

Anything that requires ironing: Not sure why I haven't learned my lesson on this one yet!

Skirts: I love the ease of dresses, especially in the summer time, but skirts just feel like work. I end up forcing myself to wear them because they are there.

Scarves: I want to wear them, but I just don't except for warmth.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Love this idea too - I have quite a few things I tend to "repeat buy" without thinking it through enough. Like how many V-neck long sleeve tees do I really need? Don't ask how many I actually have. Tees are my worst offense. To be fair I do wear the heck out of many of them but some of the less favorite colors just end up taking space. And I can go for weeks without doing laundry if I choose. I'd really prefer to have fewer of them. Still need to purge a little.

Blazers are my other weakness. I thought I might need them for business meetings and such but it ends up that most of my meetings are way too casual to wear a blazer or it's summer and these are much too heavy for my climate (even indoors in the AC). I do love my linen blazer I got last year and a chambray one that is also very light weight (but very casual).

My crisp button downs never get worn. (the very soft ones do) I should move them on and never buy a crisp shirt, but it breaks my heart that I bought at least 4-5 of them that I never really wore. They look really nice on, but they don't feel nice and I always end up changing.

Basically I just have to keep reminding myself over and over that it's the FEELING of the clothes and how I FEEL in them that trumps everything else. Sure, I want to look good too, but if I don't feel good, well, you know.

Lisa

Veteran

This is a great topic. I have a few danger zone items.
1. Skirts-I eliminated them from my wardrobe two years ago, when I finally realized I never wear them. I'm always cold so why would I show bare legs?Jeans or trousers are more comfortable for me.
2. Dresses-For the same reasons as skirts, and also I find them harder to layer with blazers and jackets. I don't care to purchase cropped styles to coordinate with the dresses so I stay away from those too.
3. Three-quarter Sleeves-I'd rather have a full sleeve or a shorter sleeve and everytime I purchase three-quarter sleeve they just sit.
4. Odd Necklines-With my current DH closet challenge I've realized I own a few tops that have odd shaped necklines (half slanted turtleneck styles, or cowlnecks) that are neat on their own but do not layer with a topper well, this gives them limited use in my wardrobe.
5. Hoodies-I am not allowed to purchase anymore of these. I have far too many and only recently started wearing them as more than loungewear, just to start using them more.

carter

Veteran

Definitely high heels. Love the look of them and the idea of them, but my feet really hate them.

Washable clothing that has to be ironed. I have no problem taking dry clean only things to the cleaners, but if something is washable, I feel like it's a waste to pay for cleaning. Since I hate ironing, I tend not to wear these items so I don't have to iron them again.

Summer non-work dresses. Love them, but I only wore one this year.

Button down shirts. I wear them often, but I still have more than I need.

Bootcut pants. I've been moving away from heels when I can, so bootcuts rarely get worn.

Sharon

Veteran

Mo, I love the way you think about your wardrobe - I have learned so much from the post you have made about clothing use, so thank you for sharing your thoughts.

I haven't really considered this, but I now recognise that skirts are not getting the love they deserve. I will wait for high summer to see if that changes before I make any big calls about purchasing. And I know I have more jackets/jumpers than I really need for the climate I live in. But I do love them so!

Anonymous

Jersey knit dresses. I bought the original Bayley 44 and held onto it until I sold it, unworn and with tags attached, then bought the other Bailey 44 with the red stripes. I still have not worn it, ONCE.
( and I still have the Macy's knockout, which I had tailored and it is still unworn)
The horror.

Alassë

Veteran

Great post, Mo! Let's see. Low heeled shoes - dressy for me, tend to grab the walk anywhere flat pair. Blazers - too restricting even if they have stretch. Ivory tops - flattering, useful neutral, but more than 1-2 per season and I don't wear them enough. I'm sure there are other danger zones that I'm forgetting at the moment....

unfrumped

Veteran

Mo, this is a great thread and great way to improve decisions.
I hear you on jersey--it is so unforgiving. Flat woven fabrics can work better.

For me, button-front shirts! For whatever reason I have the poison eye for these on me but I like how they look on others and in theory, so I buy more. I can use a very select few for a couple of specific outfits--only work with certain pants or skirts. Also prefer covered placket or half-placket. Go figure.

I'm a bee for certain colors but am learning to limit in order to have more re-mixable and workable wardrobe. Am giving up red in favor of burgundies and plums. Yet, I still like dark reds and just bought a merino sweater in a flattering red. Then when trying it out, I can see it would nudge me me toward a different color scheme from what I've got, and so I'm taking it back. It's not that I can't ever wear that, but that that particular item would not really move things forward and so I didn't need to put the $$ there. (Also the fit was off, so there's that, but still it was interesting to see how the color didn't "fit" either.)

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'm nodding along with a lot of you. For me, it helps to think it backwards once in a while. I mean, obviously at some point I (we?) thought these items would be a good thing to get, otherwise we would not have bought them, right? But for various reasons that crop up, we discover they aren't right for us. Argh with life making me learn all these lessons and stuff ha ha ha.

E

Veteran

Oh great topic! I'm pretty good at wearing most of my closet but definitely have a few of these areas.

Mine are:

Scarves. I love them in theory, but in practice I have a lot of tops with decorative yokes/necklines, and I don't like to cover them up.

Blazers. In my mind they're not as comfy as cardigans so I only wear them when I'm going out, but I spend most of my life at home. I need to start wearing them at home to see if they're truly uncomfortable or if it's just a brain block thing.

Long sleeve heavy-ish cotton button down shirts. I'm good with my silk button downs, but I don't seem to reach for my cotton ones. I'm trying to figure out why, but until I do no more are allowed into the closet!

I only do woven summer dresses, not jersey, because of the cling factor. And if I owned a collection of heels that would be a danger zone too, but I know myself well enough that almost all of my shoes are flats!

I wear lots of silk blouses and just wash them and hang them to dry, I even stain treat them if I get something on them. Some change texture after the first wash, some don't, but I love silk too much not to wear it & don't really believe in dry cleaning. Oh and I like both silk textures so it's not a huge deal to me!

rachylou

Veteran

I should never buy another woven, button shirt ever again...

Anonymous

Great topic Mo.

Fancy strappy sandals.
Blazers
Trousers
Any shoe that is too office like or lady like.
Actually anything made for corporate office ladies. I love the look but it will never suit (haha- get it?) me.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Heels, cardigans, skirts & most man-made fibres are the obvious ones for me & I've pretty much stopped buying them.

I want a small versatile wardrobe. So the big one for me is finding my balance between classic items & more avant garde ones. Making sure they all play together is my big goal, because mixing them up hasn't always worked. This is a work in progress.

Great post

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Ah, yes, there are plenty of things I stopped buying (hi five to Tracina and all office wear). It's more the things I find I still buy but don't actually wear.

Thistle

Veteran

Blazers/Jackets - I lvoe them in theory but I rarely wear them. I love how they dress up an outfit, the structure they give, but they just aren't comfortable. And when I do wear them, they end up hung up once I am at my desk.

Skirt - I have more than enough. They look good on me, but I don;t reach for them in the bitter cold as much as I wish I did!

amiable

Veteran

Great topic Mo - I need to do this thinking.

Off the cuff, I've noticed lately that I have LOTS of jackets, and rarely wear them. I also have a lot more shoes than I wear. And more jeans than I can reasonably wear. I'm also overly attracted to sweaters, which are so bulky they fill up the drawer quickly.

Yep - I'd call those my most obvious danger zones - sweaters, shoes, jeans and jackets.

thinkingfish

Structured pieces: blazers, suits, straight/pencil skirts... I am a programmer so if I wear a cardigan and pants I already stand out among logo tees, don't need to push it any further.

Any dress/skirt that I cannot ride a bike with. I have two skirts like this, and I wear them about twice a year. The one dress that's tight at the bottom has been recently donated after a whole year of no use. I do wear skirts/dresses with woollen tights in winter a lot, though, they are both more comfortable and more commute-friendly than skinny jeans, contrary to many's belief. I love ponte and knits.

Silk. I hate hand washing items. I wear cashmere with a tee underneath to avoid washing them too often. I'm lazy.

Anything that needs ironing.

Floaty summer dresses/shorts: the weather in San Francisco is warm enough for bare legs maybe a week per year.

Marley

Veteran

Oh, great thread Mo! I hadn't really thought about my wardrobe like this before, but just off the top of my head are the following:

1) colored tank tops - I no longer wear them solo for tops in the summer time, so only need a few for layering purposes - and only need them in white, nude, and black! (all of those pretty colors are sooo seductive though!)
2) BF jeans - unless they are gray or black - I really want a pair of gray and a pair of black - but, no more blue denim! (I've already got 3!)
3) Black booties - I've got waaaay too many and not enough days to wear them. (I would really like a pair of navy-blue ones though - and would be willing to purge one of my black pairs for the perfect navy-blue ones.)
4) Like Carter, any washable item that is then going to need to be ironed. Instead of ironing it, I just let it sit on top of the dryer until we've moved onto another season and it is no longer appropriate to wear! (Yes, I'm lazy!)
5) I went on a pullover sweater binge this fall - I hadn't purchased any for several years - and so I went a little crazy with them - and now, I've got too many - I actually very seldom wear them in the winter because its never very cold here and besides, I'm always hot! So, no more pullover sweaters.
6) Scarves - good grief, I'm embarrassed at the amount of scarves I own - and almost never wear. And yet, when I make a stop at a place like Target, or Loehmanns, I am immediately enticed by all of the pretty scarves and before I know it I've bought another one to add to my collection - and I almost never wear them!
7) Necklaces - especially "statement" necklaces. I like them, but I don't wear them - and yet . . . what can I say? Some that I currently own, I haven't worn in years - and I always look at them when out shopping. No. More. Necklaces.

Ok - I think that's it for now! Thanks Mo!

Aida

Veteran

Great thread and great replies! I have been mulling this one over for a while now, but I'm not set on my list yet. Lots of food for thought here though, I guess I'll have to mull a bit further. Offhand, skirts and oversized things are the top culprits.

DonnaF

Veteran

Sandals; my feet run very cold and it's a rare day when I'm able or want to wear sandals from morning to night. Scarves; I have hundreds but tend to use only a dozen or so at most. Colored tights; sale or not, who really needs two pairs of orange ones? Anything that comes in multiple colors; I tend to want to buy more than one. The latest is leather fingerless gloves in both silver and gold studded versions.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

This is a huge problem for me. I have stopped buying high heels for my fantasy life but it was tough, and am trying to focus on what I actually wear most of the times but have a hard time ignoring interesting coats (coat season just started here like yesterday), and skirts (mostly only worn a few times a month), among other things.

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