Evaluating an item in light of an existing closet

kkards

I'm not every good at this. Honestly, I usually just ask myself if this will work with what I already have. If it's similar to something I already own, I try to assess if this fits better, or is more current in the cut.

11 years ago

Melaine

(website)

Active Member

I am terrible at this. Subbing to get better!

11 years ago

BethL

(website)

Veteran

I first ask myself how similar to anything else it is. If it is similar, I ask myself if there's a need for it, like if it would honestly help with laundry backlog, extend or create outfits based on what I have, or something like that. Then, I ask myself how many existing pieces it goes with. I aim for at least three. I'm much better at this with clothing than I am with shoes, bags, and scarves. I'm getting better with shoes, not so much with the others.

11 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I really do fill wardrobe holes -- deliberately and relatively often. But I don't think I avoid duplication much. In fact I tend to duplicate on purpose when I discover that an item has become a workhorse.

11 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

One thing I ask myself is whether a proposed item is going to keep me from wearing something I already own. And if it will, is that a good thing (an upgrade?) or a bad thing (an equivalent item that will just decrease the number of wears of something I love?). That has saved me from more than a few ill-advised purchases.

If it's a wardrobe hole, I generally already know about it. (Orange blazer, anyone?) In that case, I have to be careful that it's the RIGHT item and not just any old item that checks the box but isn't just right. I remember buying two pair of leopard shoes a while back because the price was right, and then not wearing them because they just weren't right. So I finally broke down and paid full price for the pair I wanted all along. That was an expensive but valuable lesson.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I think if I have a favorite piece, say a skirt, that I want to wear more of and lack coordinating pieces, I might shop with that skirt in mind. I might try to buy two pieces to coordinate with the skirt.

11 years ago

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

MsMary,

I'm going to tape this to my credit card: will this keep me from wearing something I already own? Is that a good or bad thing?

11 years ago

deb

Veteran

If I put it on and if I love it, it goes home with me. I found that it usually works perfectly in my closet and if I find it does not, it goes back. I use my gut a lot.

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm pretty good about trying something out at home to make sure it really fits, it's the right proportion( that's huge, and often why something goes back- too long for this or too short for that). So I make sure it works, unless its intended to be the start of a whole new capsule or outfit.
I'm not as good at , what does this replace/ what to toss if I keep it.
I've had wardrobe itemized before but not kept up. Angie's shown her closet
system where ther are just so many hanger slots. I don't have that, but am planning to renew my lists. In theory I can" look" in closet and go hmm, you're going out, but in reality some things are packed away for the season. So I think looking at the lists would really focus me on it. I'm not trying to do a certain number per se, but common sense tells me I don't need any MORE of any one thing- tops, shoes, what have you. So it then becomes, is it worn/ damaged, body change, style shift, lifestyle change.

11 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

My personal rule is don't buy any orphans. That is, the item in question must already go with something in my existing wardrobe. A skirt has to go with at least one top I already have, for example.

11 years ago

E

Veteran

For wardrobe holes, I have a little mental list that I'm always on the look out for: some of these are more essential than others (finally found some grey trousers! yay!). When I find a potential one, I try it on & as long as I love it it becomes my 'priority' purchase (i.e. I'll buy it even if it means giving up some other fun stuff to stay in budget). Like MaryK, I have to be careful not to settle for something that's almost there, just because I want to fill a hole. I still do this sometimes, but I'm getting better.

I duplicate favourite item types, like skinnies or full skirts, (in different colours or fabrics) and favourite colours (in different wardrobe items) a lot, because I enjoy having a bigger closet & that works best for my dressing style. Colour & fabric variety is more important to me than silhouette variety. I also do 'upgrade' duplications as I run across better versions of closet workhorses, and then do a one in/one out when I bring the new item home. But I don't buy the same type of item in the same colour/weight/fabric as one I already have & love...I guess I just have a good mental inventory, because I know what's in my closet & what's not. I don't even try those types of things on, because I'm happy with what I already own.

Like Deb, I've generally found if I try something on & really love it, it'll work well with the rest of my closet (I stick to a certain palette and silhouettes, from preference more than anything, but it does make for a cohesive wardrobe). So then it's just a question of whether I love it enough to make space for it! My space (and budget) is finite, so any new purchase I make is essentially limiting future purchases; I ask myself if I can imagine a better version that I'd buy instead tomorrow. As long as the answer is no, I bring it home.

Since becoming an active member, I also ask myself if I'll be excited to show it off on the forum! In the past, I was less picky about fit than I should have been, so imagining the forum's eagle eyes viewing an item helps me be fussier about that in the fitting room. lol

11 years ago

lari

Active Member

if item makes my heart bit faster and passes all the checkmarks (colour/material/fit) then I ask when/where will I wear it and how does it fit in my existing capsule. if it doesn't work with much in my closet - do I love it so much that I am willing to build the new capsule around it? the answer so far was no in each and every case. if it fits nicely in my current capsule - do I really needed or something I already own can do a job?

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I ask myself if it is similar to what I already have. If so, how similar? Similar enough that is will take the place of what I have? If so, am I upgrading or replacing? Or, am I duplicating to avoid a bottleneck? (Machine washable dress pants, anyone?)

I am not yet as good at this as I would like to be. I have also been working to try to reduce buying multiple colors of the same thing and then gravitating towards just one color. Duplicating the same style cashmere v-neck in multiple colors works. Turtlenecks as well. Just not everything.

11 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, I guess this is where it does pay to be trendy. Almost everything new I want is different than what I have.
Except now I have an overflowing closet.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

For me having a list of my clothes and tracking wears helps, mainly because it directs my focus and budget. So for example I run across a lot of tops that I love and want to bring home, but my tracking shows me that most of my tops have only been worn about 3-4 times this year, and one or two new ones haven't been worn at all yet. So Ms. Mary's axiom applies -- if I buy this, I won't wear those.

On the other hand, my five bags have all gotten used a lot, so adding another bag that covers another color range (I have lights, darks, and brights covered, but browns are iffy) makes sense for me.

I do a fair amount of upgrading before removing tags. So I find a floral shirt I like but don't remove the tags right away although I try it on quite a bit. Two weeks later I find a better-for-me floral shirt and return the first (this happens a lot).

Also I don't want to bring home anything that I can't wear with a significant portion of my closet (so a scarf needs to go with five tops minimum for example).

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Haven't read all the responses, but here are some of the things I do:

1. I try the item on with the wardrobe items that I would want to wear it with. Will I want to reach for the *new* item when I wear these other wardrobe items, or is there an *old* item that I already have that I want to wear just as much or even more?

2. I ask myself if I would be willing to let go of an equivalent item. (Even if you're not doing one-in-one-out, this shows what your happiness level is in relation to existing items that are similar.) Another way to get to the crux of this one is to ask yourself if the new item makes you as happy as other items you currently own.

3. I realize that there are only so many days in the year that I can wear all my clothes. If I buy this item, is it OK that I will be unable to wear items that I already have and love? (This is especially important when buying for smaller capsules, like special-occasion capsules, or for seasons that don't last very long.)

11 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I have two pairs of NAS black leather booties in my foyer waiting to be returned. I already have three pairs of black booties: Danskos with odd heels and dated style, leather Aldos and suede Aldos that are both three hour booties. I wanted eight hour booties and neither pair of NAS booties were a substantial improvement over what I have.

I also bought two Angie picks that weren't on my list: The blue floral pullover sweater and the gray polka dot pullover sweater. Tags will remain on until the first wear. I don't normally wear sweaters -- pullovers or cardigans -- and bought my first pullovers in years just last year. These should go with most of my bottoms and under a number of toppers, but I've been too lazy to play around much. [That's what Nordstrom's return policy does to me: Takes away the time pressure.] I decided these were *just different enough*. I also saw a black & gray jacket and a blue & black jacket that would probably look great on me but I passed them up because I already have three black & gray jackets including one similar as well as a blue & black jacket also similar to NAS one.

I should probably replace my black Halogen pencil skirt because it's a bit too loose on me, but I hardly reached for it even when it fit better. I didn't feel like ordering it during NAS (too boring!), but I may if it goes on sale during the regular sales cycle or during next year's NAS. I would probably do a one in, one out on this.

In most categories, I have reached the saturation point so I will need to do the one in, one out -- and I hate to part with anything. I find I also need to ask myself, "Do I really wear ____?" And no, I don't tend to reach for trousers. The jury is out on a couple of categories, so I need to be mindful.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Heh. I guess I just wait around for the tipping point, when I reach that point where I go, That's a stupid lot of ___. E.g., red and blue plaid shirts.

11 years ago

Anonymous

If I have a difficult item in my wardrobe, my biggest challenge is not to buy more clothes or accessories to try to make it work. Buying clothes for my clothes seldom works out in my favor. My next biggest issue is the constant urge to upgrade something (often said difficult item), thinking that if the fabric were just a little more flowy and less stiff, perhaps I wear it more ways and layer over/under it more easily, etc. etc. Add to that my propensity to want to impulsively try obscure or even "must have" wardrobe items that other forum members appear to be rocking (that I've sworn off in a more lucid mental state) and you have a purchasing minefield.

I have a long list of questions I'm supposed to ask myself before any purchase and I usually conveniently leave it at home, thinking it's all in my head. Yeah...right.

The ones I can remember are:

Does this work with the shoes and undergarments that I already have?
Will this require the purchase of other accessories?
Do the top lengths work with the rise of my jeans?
Will the sleeves fit under my blazer(s)/coat(s)?
Will the neckline work under my blazer(s)/?
If this is something I've said is "not me" and if so, what makes this one different?
Does this look suspiciously like something that will end up in a donate/consign bag by the end of the year?

These are in addition to all of the normal questions about style, comfort, fit, and fiber content that most people ask themselves.

11 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

If I only looked for true wardrobe holes I probably wouldn't be able to justify shopping for quite some time. I only need a very small closet but I like a moderate sized closet.

So, instead, and because I love to shop and wear new things, I often look for replacements to things that aren't my current favorites, but have some feature that I loved at one time. Color/pattern/type of fit is a big factor, but comfort is probably the biggest factor to me. Being "on trend" is also important but that mostly seems to end up feeling like comfort. Like slightly oversized, draped shirts are replacing more fitted button downs and knits in my closet and they have the bonus of being much more comfortable to wear. Same thing with jeans and pants - most truly "skinny" pants are in the holding zone or have been moved on unless there is something I still love about them (hello olive skinny cargos "rescued" from the holding bin this weekend). Relaxed straight pants or slouchy pants have replaced the body con pants for the most part.

I've also been trying to upgrade my everyday wear from regular tees to more interesting tops. This often does revolve around color and drape. So if I have a favorite burgundy tee that is mostly a favorite due to it's color I try to replace it with a more interesting, detailed burgundy top in an easily washable fabric.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Oh drat. So guilty of that, claire - buying clothes to make some item work.

Upgrading is an interesting concept that I don't think I think about. I must ponder this.

11 years ago

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Rachy, I am all about the upgrade lately.
I evaluate an item in basically two ways regarding my existing wardrobe - what does it go with and do I have x and y versions of this already. I commented just today on buying 2 soft drape button fronts yesterday. Got me questioning myself, as I so rarely do that.

11 years ago

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