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Finally feels like a French girl! ... or what I'd imagine they feel!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Dear YLF,

I can throw open my closet and within 2 seconds, pick out more than two outfits that I think will look fabulous for all of the occasions I have needed to in the last month! I added a blazer and a dotty dress today, but aside from that, my closet has really been in steady state (in a good way) because nothing out there I can find is better than anything on the inside! I feel so happy and liberated!

For those interested - I still have 35 dresses, 10 blouses, 10 skirts, 15 cardigans and 15 blazers, 1 pair of jeans; 5 pairs of boots; 3 pairs of flats; 2 pairs of booties; 4 pairs of pumps. 1 pair of ULTIMATE COLD winter boots, and 1 pair of runners.

Is this the point in my life I need to jump on the One-In-One-Out bandwagon to keep on this steady state of Awesome? I think SYC may be a bad idea, in case there is something that comes up in the upcoming month that will make my closet suddenly less fab.

When you ladies were at this stage, how did you maintain the Awesome?

PS: Thanks YLF; never could have made it to this point of Awesome without you! <3<3<3

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Debby

MNsara

Veteran

Yay! So happy for what you've accomplished here

I'm definitely NOT speaking from experience here but I think you have, indeed, reached the place of 1-in-1-out . . .

I can't see what SYC would accomplish here, unless you're wanting to curtail shopping as an activity or hobby.

Therefore, 1-in1-out makes perfect sense here. If something is excellent enough to gain space in your closet, it also should be worth displacing something else?

Laurenlaurielala

Sounds amazing!

I suppose just enjoy where you are! Maybe you can start saving your shopping budget for something else exciting - like beautiful designer pieces or an overseas trip or...you know, bills. hehe.

Too much choice is overwhelming, so if you've got everything covered in your wardrobe, the one in, one out policy could keep you in that happy place for longer.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

What a great place to be - well done.
If I were you I would:
1. Enjoy where you are.
2. Save part of the clothes budget for replacements &
3. Spend the rest on a big ticket item - something you would want to wear all the time.
I mentally ask myself the question is it better than (whatever item I have at home that this is going to replace)? If it isn't I leave it too.

Deborah

Veteran

I second Caro's suggestions, she is a wise woman:)

Congrats Lyn, that is so wonderful. One day I hope to be there too;)

fashionista

Veteran

Oh so happy for you. I would love to be in this bandwagon and at least once feel like a French. But alas I still have to go a long way. How can I sort all these clothes-

20 pairs of skinny jeans-mostly dark blue
3 tights and 3 warm leggings-all black
25 winter coats and blazers-different colors but mostly black.
5 down jackets- all main-stay colors
8 boots-mostly black again
23 flats(ballet, thong sandals)-mostly neutrals
6 pumps- mostly black again
6 sweater dresses-colorful here
more than 50 tees-colorful
some professional work wear and office uniforms.

Do I need all these. I need to feel like French chica too.........Help!!!!

Nova

How great! This is where I am hoping to get as well. I started out with little in my wardrobe and am slowly building into something like this (I hope). This is very inspiring for me.

rae

(website)

Veteran

High five! I hope to feel like you one day, when I combine my two opposing wardrobes for good. Your wardrobe sounds perfect - not teeny tiny, but only big enough to function and without the fluff that gets in the way.

I'm doing one-in-at-least-one-out right now... it is really tough. But it's great in that it turns every new purchase into a Very Serious Decision, requiring the sacrifice of more than just money.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Sounds like you've reached closet nirvana lyn - WAY TO GO!!!

Why don't you try a one in-one out rule and see how it works for you. Like Rae says, it makes you seriously consider each purchase.

Krista

Veteran

35 dresses!! Holy crap!! That is pretty awesome.
I would be enjoying where you are - are you sure you couldn't SYC until you see something? Then you could implement the one-in-one-out rule.

Sounds like you have "done the work" to achieve closet nirvana and now you can just enjoy!

Anonymous

That's awesome Lyn. Just the other day I was wondering if 8 skirts was too many but you have put my mind at ease. I'd say you should try the one in one out and see how it goes.

Thistle

Veteran

What a wonderful place to be! I envy you, and I look forward to working to achieve what you have.

I think SYC is not the correct path for you. You have your closet mastered. I do like the 1-in-1-out rule to help you maintain that mastery. That way, anything you purchase has to be nicer than what you have.

By saving your clothing budget, that something nicer might be a higher end designer piece. Also, it lets you save for any of next season's trends you may want to add a piece or two of, or it lets you have a nice budget for a piece here or there that you may feel has become dated.

Congratulations on closet nirvana!

cheryl

Veteran

Yay Lyn* Sounds like you have mastered the perfect wardrobe for your needs. Enjoy!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

If it ain't broke . . .
I'd say just continue as you are, unless you have either space or budget constraints that make a SYC or one in one out necessary.
I am sort of where you are. All that's left are desires, not needs, really. I am putting myself on a limited number of items purchase plan, but not a strict one in one out. I figure naturally things will get purged as other items come in.
Enjoy that closet of yours!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Thanks ladies, so much!

I have to take a few things in to get fixed, if they can be (a busted zipper and a torn lining in another) and if they can't be fixed, they will definitely need to be one-in-one out!

I think it was easier to consolidate things when I learned to use my work pieces for fun too - just a more polished casual look

Love ya!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Congratulations!! And thank you for posting your numbers. It is really helpful. Even if my items might be different (i.e. because I work at home I wouldn't need as many dresses, even though I like dresses a lot) it gives me a ball park to shoot for.

This is your four season wardrobe, right?

Mama Susie

Wow congratulations! What an inspiring post. Hope to make it here too one day.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Suz - Yup; all 4 seasons are accounted for, except for one pair of jean capris and a pair of cork wedge sandals!

ManidipaM

Veteran

Whew! That's quite the achievement, Lyn! Very impressive.

And I second Suz: thanks for the numbers, as anxious not-quite-theres like me take heart from knowing that a 'done' but manageable wardrobe doesn't have to look like a whole shop, nor like I could pack it all in a weekend bag with everything going with everything else (the most important trick I've never mastered!)

I think you should perhaps not make any 'rules' just now --- just live with it for a while and see how you feel when you hit a new trend you want to try or find you want to replace a piece. Then go with what feels most comfortable. There's no hurry to decide right now; it is enough to enjoy the moment!

rachylou

Veteran

Such a concise wardrobe! It's elegant just in the numbers

Anonymous

Congratulations on your wardrobe joy! This post made me smile and is so inspiring.

unfrumped

Veteran

That sounds ideal!

Here is where I think of SYC as a creative exercise to be done at intervals and not as a deprivation. It means, you don't have to spend as much time shopping to fill "holes" and in fact, as suggested, may aim to spend more time doing other things that are enriching and also allow you to use your wardrobe for lots of different activities. (More wearing, less buying!) And of course, if you try new adventures, you may get the fun of going pooh! to the saying (Mark Twain ?), "Beware of any venture that requires new clothes!"

By thinking of SYC more as "wear my clothes," you stay in tune with your style, changes in fashion & trends, your own taste, shape, whatever, so you're more poised to try new item, or an item that takes you somewhere fashion-wise, and you're more likely to know what item or items need to go "out". Or decide whether to shift the percentage of accessories vs. clothing, or any such changes.

As I try to move in this direction, I'm looking to do less duplication --but still enough for Angie's advice re: bottlenecks, maintenance, multiple outfits in a week or 2, and a few colors and styles I think I might wear for several years--and be more open to items that give me really different looks. Not so much outside of my style goals, but more nuanced capsules, so I can have some more fun with fashion for a range of events, rather than capsules with lots of the same silhouettes and fabrics.

35 dresses would be a lot of duplication if they're all variations on the wrap, for example, but since a "dress" can be almost limitless in how it is made (well, it doesn't have legs!) , then a great collection of dresses would span all kinds of styles, fits, fabrics, and so on and one really would look "different" in each of them.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the wisdom, ladies...

I suppose I can further divide up my dresses, but I'd estimate they are probably about 75% print; 25% solids; and 75% with an a-line on a flare and 25% more straight cut.

I find it's interesting to think of SYC as a challenge to wear more of my things more regularly. Very interesting! *nod nod*

krishnidoux

Veteran

Congratulations! Yay! I envy you.
It is just the best when you can be ready for anything.
It's very interesting to know how many pieces of each garment one needs to achieve this. Turns out, more than I thought. And that is probably the key.
And having what you need for your climate plays a big role too.
Thanks for sharing!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Congrats! It's great to be in a state of wardrobe zen! You look cool in everything you put on!

Debby

(website)

Congratulations! It must be so much fun to get dressed each morning, knowing you like whatever you choose that day. And 35 dresses...you are my heroine. I love dresses, and maybe have more than most, but 35...I envy you!