Editing, end of season thoughts

I posted on the blog post about closet or wardrobe editing the other day but have a thought to add.

At the end of a season when I do take a closer look at the current options especially for every day wear, I deliberately choose to wear some items which have been neglected over the past few months. It’s usually because they weren’t my favorites anyway, or I’ve replaced them in the rotation with new items. Then I get a better feel about whether to keep them and rework into outfits, or just pass on. Sometimes I find a different mix or match and they find new use. Sometimes I discover they no longer fit in some way, either my body or my style preferences.

Today I picked a creamy sleeveless top - one of those probably bought because it matches everything and we all need a ton of those, right? Haha. It’s comfortable fabric, soft and fits well enough. But it’s so bland. So even though I never wear it, it does match everything! Because it doesn’t clash with anything. So I’ll keep it in case someday I am so behind on laundry that my other 25 sleeveless knit tops and 6 wovens plus their coordinating bottoms are all in the wash. Haha! And it’s too blazing hot to wear short sleeves.

Does anyone else do this last chance or decision making wear strategy at the end of a season?

3 months ago

The Cat

Veteran

Yes, I do the same.

Lisa

I also recently took a look at my summer wardrobe and saw a few items that have been unworn all season. I've been trying to incorporate them now to see if they are worth keeping. I'm fine keeping items I did not wear all season, if I have the room and it doesn't start to turn into clutter. Something I don't fancy this year I may suddenly love next season because style preferences are always changing. However, if I can't think of a way to style it by this time of the year, then it's time to let it go or make a list of what I need to create an outfit with those pieces.

One trend I noticed was that my summer formula this year of graphic tee, shorts, and sneakers, didn't give my solid tees and tops much use, especially those in olive green and black. But I'm going into fall which requires more layering (it gets cold morning, hot afternoon, cold evening for the next few months). Those darker colored hot weather items that went unworn all summer I think will turn into workhorses during the fall when I'll be craving darker colors.

JAileen

Okay, you made me feel better about my large number of sleeveless cotton tops.

Sal

I like to wear something and give it a try as well at the end of the season. I estimate about 50% of these pieces get donated and 50% get a stay of execution...

MsMaven

I've been saving some nicer knit tops to wear on a dressier occasion that never comes. Why? Because everything is so casual now. So why not just wear them? Even if I'm only going to the grocery store. Sometimes I buy tops that I love but they never get more than 3 wears and I put them out of sight in the guest room.

Of course this is the reason my guest room closet has a bunch of clothes hanging there "in case." How long will I wait to donate them? Especially when I just bought new items at NAS and end of summer sales.

Thanks for bringing up wardrobe editing. It's something I do need to work on.

Runcarla

Whenever I do a numbers crunch/wear review, I have a good hard look at the items that don’t get as much wear and try to figure out why? Often it’s because they are a niche item that is useful for specific occasions or situations - but are the exception to my day-to-day. I either need to think outside the box and style them so they can be worn in different situations, or accept that they serve a purpose, but just won’t be worn a lot. Usually dressier items.

Dee

Yep I'm guilty of giving some items a very long reprieve before eventually making a final decision. I've been hanging onto this one taupe- beige linen dress for several years now.. I wore it once when I bought it, fits well, nice length, good silhouette but I don't find the colour all that flattering on my me. I keep it thinking well, the summers are getting so much hotter now that I might regret getting rid of it. I guess I could try dyeing it but I'm not that incline and so it continues to sit in my holding zone, waiting for that one day when its the ultimate option for the scorching heat of summer lol.

cat2

I don’t fret about the lightly worn. I know that over time different pieces will have their day.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Well done, cjh! A good edit and organized closet is very satisfying

To answer your question, I don't implement that strategy, but am glad it works for you and others!

My strategy for fab pieces: If I like an item that's gone unworn for a while - I keep it. It's going to get worn again eventually. To cat2's point.

Star

For me it is the same strategy as Angie. I won't edit an item that has not been worn for a while. I edit damaged items or any I am sure that they really do not represent who I am any longer. Example; today I edited out my previously beloved camo pants. I used to live in these in Spring and Autumn. Since the war in Ukraine started 800kms away and we have so many refugees in our town it really felt off wearing them. Also I am a vegetarian and the association of camo and hunting only became clear to me from a discussion on YLF some time ago. I gather in the US the association is clear but where I come from not so much. But most importanty they were looking super-masculine to me on their last few wearings (a few years ago) and I realised this is not how I want to be perceived currently. I also let go of a floral skirt that was just way to girly and floaty. My DH liked it on the odd occasion I wore it but I never felt like me in it. It was passed on to me by my SIL. Go figure, one item is too masculine and the other is too girly. Going back to your original question, I do tend to do a review at the end of a season but using different criteria.

Jaime

I do often wear neglected items when they come to my attention during a closet re-organization or edit. I often see them differently after some time apart, for better or worse.

Jenny H

I really like the strategy of trying to wear an item as I decide whether it should stay in my wardrobe. I tend to do this at random times, rather than at the end of a season but I do like the idea of timing it better. So thanks for sharing!

Helena

Laughing cjh as I am so guilty of buying these "essentials" and then not wearing them because they are bland ... You're not alone! My trick is to keep at least one of said item because this prevents me from forgetting the lesson and buying another one at some future point

Suz

If I like an item, I tend not to edit it out at the end of season, even if I have not worn it much. I have noticed that my wear patterns vary depending on weather in a particular year (this is especially true for summer) and on my activities, which also vary from year to year. I made the mistake of editing out a few items simply because a particular summer's weather didn't really offer opportunities for wearing often -- and then I missed them dreadfully the next year!

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