Do you purge your junk jewelry... - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you purge your junk jewelry...

rachylou

Veteran

like your clothes closet? I'm looking at my chunky, clunky jewelry from years past and feel so over it. On the other hand, my dainty <ahem> dolphin pendant from the days of rainbows and unicorns... all of a sudden has become wearable again. 'Course, I only had to wait 30 years for that to happen...

What would you do?

General

54 replies

Latest reply was from Windchime

Dee

Veteran

I've started doing this in recent years. No matter how stylish they were at the time, the woven beachy-skater-chick necklaces I wore in high school probably don't need a place in my wardrobe any more

For other pieces, I keep my longtime favorites or ones with special memories (the necklace I bought at a craft market during a trip to Australia, for example) and let the others go when I haven't worn them in a few years. For costume jewelry, I don't spend too much and the pieces aren't necessarily unique so I'm probably okay with purchasing new ones should a trend come back around in five years.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I am way less likely to purge jewelry because it doesn't take up much room. But I think about it, this should go out, this stays, etc. But I end up just keeping it. I have necklaces on two "tree" type jewelry racks and it's fun to go through them now and then.

April

Veteran

Ha. I tend to purge everything, usually too soon. For a long time I was seriously into statement necklaces, then -- over. I've given most of them to my sister. I flirt with things like bracelets, then -- over. And off to my sister.

Maybe you should send your chunky, clunky jewelry to my sister.

Anonymous

I have purged a few items of junk jewellery from time to time yes. Sometimes if I'm just fed up with it and others if it looks a little worn as can happen to junk jewellery. Though I have to agree with Denise. It doesn't take up a lot of room so I'm more inclined to keep most stuff . I find that my urge to wear jewellery ebbs and flows, so I try not to get rid when I'm not wearing it that often as I may regret it when I'm in more of a jewellery wearing frame of mind.

dustt

Veteran

Some yes - some no - there is no rhyme or reason to what I purge except that sense that I'll "NEVER" wear that again. That being said I was never into Really edgy or big statement pieces. But I did have a serious short term relationship with a ton of bracelets a few years back - they are now in a shoe box with the ones I kept from my mother from the 60's & 70's - my girls LOVED to go thru that box when they were younger - so I'm keeping them in hopes of granddaughters to dress up in the distant future

Adelfa

Veteran

I purge it if I don't like it anymore. Otherwise I'll keep it for decades even if I don't wear it.

Diana

Veteran

I generally don't purge jewelry unless it's broken. Like Bella says, it takes up so little room so there's no reason not to keep it. I definitely have things I haven't worn for years though.

I am definitely in a minimal-jewelry phase right now (as opposed to a couple of years ago when I was layering necklaces, wearing piles of bracelets, etc) so most of my jewelry is not getting worn much. But I'm OK with that. I'm sure I'll come around to it again.

MsMaven

Veteran

I've purged a few times and later regretted some of the items. I do have two 30 year old Chanel necklaces (one I used to wear as a chain belt as well) and while I haven't worn them lately, I plan to.

Burglars purged me of a few beloved items as well.

unfrumped

Veteran

Ha, great question, rachylou!

I have trouble purging costume jewelry, and even though my excuse also is that it doesn't take up much room, at present I think I have too much that is unworn and likely not to be worn. It's a little like cami's and tanks--I worry that as soon as I toss one, I'll need just that color or neckline or something.

I'm trying to develop some criteria--questions--would I buy that today or something almost like it? Are there any annoying things about it that I forget until I wear it? Do I put it on and then take it off every time before leaving the house? Do I need to get a few nicer pieces, even "real" jewelry that will sub for many junkier items? I'm hoping these will help me let go of some.

I also have a clip-on earring purge crisis--I used to wear them because they were a good focal point, and well, I just did not have pierced ears and don't plan to. None are expensive or "real" jewelry, but I had collected many pairs to go with all sorts of outfits.
Then after awhile they just looked wrong. There might be a half-dozen pairs or so that have very minmal clips, or magnetic, and so look (almost) like the real deal.

I'm trying to get up the nerve for the big purge. Maybe save 10 faves or something as a safety blanket.

rute

Veteran

Yes, i purge! First every piece that is old and in bad shape must go out, then all the pieces I do not use anymore for at least an year

Dee

Veteran

Maybe I'm the odd one out, but I have quite a few statement necklaces/bracelets and they definitely take up room! Once it starts overflowing my jewelry box/dresser, it's time for something to go.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

yes, now I do. I didn't for the longest time and, like old clothing, it would just hang there unworn and become part of the background scenery. I mentally just 'looked past' those pieces and didn't really even see them anymore.
Also, my moving, and having to pack up said jewelry, makes me aware again of what I have vs what I need. (there is no good way to transport all of your jewelry by the way. It always gets all tangled up together and an earring manages to get lost from a set, etc.)

retailgirl

Veteran

I keep all of my old costume jewelry, unless it's broken or tarnished. I have some beaded necklaces that are 25 years old that get an airing every summer. I also have some of my mothers stuff from the 50's that I wear. It doesn't take up any room, so why not keep it?

retailgirl

Veteran

I keep all of my old costume jewelry, unless it's broken or tarnished. I have some beaded necklaces that are 25 years old that get an airing every summer. I also have some of my mothers stuff from the 50's that I wear. It doesn't take up any room, so why not keep it?

ironkurtin

Veteran

I go through things regularly, but I keep the not-nows stored in a separate place. You never know what the kiddo will want as she gets older.

Classically Casual

Veteran

Like MsMaven, a burglary took care of the situation for me...as if any of it had value for them...:(

I do peridically get rid of items I've come to actively dislike and haven't regretted any of those decisions.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

If I don't wear it within a year, it goes

always trying

Veteran

Always can get a few dollars for it at garage sales!

Lyn D.

Veteran

Yes- just did recently.
Like Mo, I was good with clothing but ignored my jewellery. Then I started thinking about when I am gone the stuff that other would need to sort through, and it spurred me on to purge!
I decided to keep only WIW and semi-precious and sentimental stuff.
Around 25 pieces went to the Salvos, and it felt really good

Echo

Veteran

Sadly, so much costume jewelry doesn't hold up anymore, so if it is left unused in a jewelry box it will often tarnish or discolour. I rarely wear costume because my skin tends to do a number on any shiny plating, but the few pieces I do buy I usually wear until they discolour or break. The exception is statement necklaces that are long and worn over clothing; sometimes those will last longer because they don't touch my skin as often.

Still and all, it seems to take much longer for jewelry to re-trend than clothing, so if I am tired of a piece or if it goes unworn I usually purge unless it is something I just adore (in which case I will probably wear it regardless of trend).

ManidipaM

Veteran

I am the odd one out in that I do this regularly. maybe because I am magpie enough to have loads more than 'don't take up much space'! yet I can't tolerate non-precious metals so don't wear them as much as I would like and nowadays never.

I have boxes and boxes of it. think a small cupboard is in order. Though like IK I am now starting to hoard a bit for future imaginary daughter or unusually tasteful son!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I don't have that much jewelry, costume or 'good', but I probably should go through it and see what hasn't lasted. I've still got earrings from high school and that was 20 years ago. Usually necklaces and rings don't last that long because the plate tarnishes.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Sadly no. I will be buried alive in it one day for sure. I just can't bring myself to get rid of it. It doesn't take up too much room, sometimes comes back in style and I think my daughter might appreciate it oneday. I treasure even my grandmother's junk jewelry because it is sentimental. I am a hoarder. I plan to one day make collages with them to preserve it all (when I hit the lottery and gain all that spare time I can devote to creative activities)

Laura J

I'm purging a lot of clothes and shoes at the moment, but I don't think I'll do that with jewelry. I'll wait to see if I have a family in the next few years (or lack of space). I can hardly see myself wearing much of it in the future, but it can be fun to look at. Crafting with it is a great idea!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I purged a bunch a few years ago, but it was mostly Target.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I did get rid of the serious junk a few years ago but I keep anything that might remotely interest DDs - they have already grabbed some stuff.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

I purge a little jewelry every now and then for any of the reasons others have given above, but most of it I keep--vintage costume, foreign costume (like Middle Eastern tribal-type items), or new, crafted pieces (like horn, ceramic, leather, or glass). But my most-worn jewelry tends to be sterling.

Maybe that's not your question, though...I rarely buy the new kind of "costume" from regular retail places.That's what I might put in the "junk" category? It's generally pretty low quality and doesn't really speak to me. I see it as trendy but not personal, ya know? I'd rather wear something I feel more of a connection with, and I have enough of that that I rarely feel the pull to add something of the other type.

rachylou

Veteran

I guess I'm not alone in my desire to purge!

ambergreen - a good question. I guess I think of everything that I couldn't use to buy my way out of a country as *junk jewelry* + pearls (I don't think pearls will buy you anything). Things bought purely for fashion reasons.

minimalist

Veteran

Nothing to purge, as I only have sterling knot earrings, and a sterling chain. Maybe it's not the freshest look.

I've bought a lot of diamonds over the years. All industrial, no jewelry.

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