Following my tracks before they're cold - YouLookFab Forum

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Following my tracks before they're cold

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Today was the first day I was cold, for about 4 months essentially, Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb.It was helped by my first 10 days of November being on holiday (vacation) in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, which was warmer, so that by the time I got home it was warm here too. I've been tracking my wears for getting on for 2 years now, since May 2016, so have data for 2 full summers.
My "summer" clothing and shoes come in at 40% of my clothing. I feel this is overweight for one season which normally lasts 3 months, although this year was over 4 months due to an unusually warm November. Since I became aware of this about a year ago I've tried hard to reduce my summer buying in favour of transitional season clothing. I think I succeeded except for too many sandals. Bearing that in mind, I didn't end up purchasing the pretty cobalt sale sandals I asked the forum about as I realised I already had 12 pairs! I also have 6 pairs of other summer shoes which I've defined as needing to be worn without socks: my white mules, yellow loafers, beige low-heeled Maryjanes, gold vintage Maryjanes, crochet flats and lace sneakers. Summer shoes are 42% so even more overweight in shoes than in total clothing/shoes. Now it's cold I'm not missing the pretty sandals I didn't buy
Also because I have more, I haven't worn as many items 30 times ( #30 wears) as I have in the other seasons.
Of 56 clothing items, 8 worn over 30 times, 6 worn 20-30 times. Total 24%. Of 18 shoes, 2 worn over 30, 2 worn 20-30. Total 22 %.
As a reward if you made it this far, here are
1. The sandals I didn't buy.
2. Most worn summer sandals 41 wears, bought 2016.
3. Most worn summer jacket which you've seen before, the famous $30 floral bomber from 2016 now at 52 wears!
Look forward to any thoughts x

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Staysfit

Veteran

First, I congratulate you for your diligence. I have only been tracking wears since January, but it takes effort and time to remember to do it given my busy life, and I’m certain it must be the same for you! I find the number of times you repeat wears remarkable! You are getting good value from your purchases, and being kind to the environment in the process. Your floral bomber is gorgeous! If I owned something that lovely I would wear it all the time!

Did you go back and purchase those sandals? You definitely deserve a reward!

jussie

Veteran

Great bomber jacket! Love it with those yellow earrings. Great that your tracking your wears and getting more use out of your clothes.

cindysmith

Veteran

That. Jacket. Is. Awesome!

I've been having a similar problem: I have far more fall/winter tops than spring summer, which is utterly senseless for me because this is Texas. I have been thinking that it's probably sort of OK, because the laundry process takes longer in colder months (I air/line dry almost all of my clothes), and because I wear so many clothes at one time in cooler weather. But yeah, my numbers are out of balance for my weather patterns and I can't figure out what (if anything) I need to do about it.

Suzanimal

I can see why those green sandals are your most worn. Very nice and good for you keeping track like that. How do you do it? Spreadsheet or do you make a mark on the box? I just guesstimate.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

BOTH pairs of sandals fit well. They are best fitting sandals.

Maybe it's time to edit your sandal collection so that you can add the pair you didn't buy.

Kathie

Veteran

I’m impressed by your tracking. As you look at the most worn items, are you seeing any similarities? Same for least worn?

The bomber is wonderful on you- fabulous print!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I’m so proud of you, Jenni! It’s silly to think that deciding to cut consumption means that we’ll simply stop wanting new things, but it seems like that’s what we expect of ourselves. It’s a tough thing to do in moderation, as well, when we still enjoy fashion and want to have fun with it!

I’ve been thinking that a good goal for #30wears, for me is to have 30% or more of my items there at the end of any season. I’m basing that loosely on a 3-year average lifespan for my clothes. Some will last a lot longer and some wear out faster, but my gut feeling says that’s about right. By that measure, your 25ish% numbers look pretty good, especially since that’s the season you gravitate to. Mine would look opposite of yours, because I’m a magpie for winter layers.

Anonymous

As you may remember, I am a huge fan of tracking wears. I especially love when that data is evaluated and the knowledge put to use.

You did a great job of tracking over the course to two years. I see the slight disconnect between ~four months of warmer weather and 40 percent of your wardrobe being summer clothes. I say "slight" because seasons vary in length and magnitude of heat. Some summer clothes extend beyond the hot summer months by layering. You might actually have a pretty well aligned closet ... especially if you have been reducing your summer buying in favour of transitional season clothing.

We will always have that one wardrobe item that we can't seem to buy enough. For me, it is black slacks (fear that they will stop making them) and bags (leather seduces me). For you, perhaps shoes. Perhaps just being aware of the numbers will instruct you in future purchases. That is the first step. Awareness. So I consider this a WIN too.

Marlene1

I wash summer tops and shorts after every wear, so it makes sense to have more summer things. Helps to avoid laundry backups.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I m in awe of your analytical approach to your wardrobe.We have precisely 2 days of summer a year here yet I have loads of summer clothes because I am a summer person and I like summer clothes so I sympathise with your perceived wardrobe imbalance.Doesnt help you with the task but at least you know that you are not alone,oh and Angie says(see above) that it’s ok to buy more sandals.Yay!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi everyone, morning here now so I can reply! Thanks Staysfit, Angie and Cardiffgirl about buying the new sandals. I don't think I will, on review of my colours I wear the cobalts more in transitional or winter seasons and so I didn't have that much to wear them with. I wear more turquoise and brighter warmer blues in summer, that mix with my favoured coral or orange. I already culled the sandal collection with the forum's help last year. There is only one pair I don't like as much, a tan pair, too plain for me but bought when on a 70s jag. Beautiful soft Italian leather and cost $135, only worn 15 times so trying to wear more with anything with tan in.
Staysfit and Suzanimal, I track on paper. I decided it suited me well. I made a list of all my clothes in 2 sets, one for summer one for the rest, in sections like layering tops, other tops, shirts, pants, tunics etc. then I make a tally mark when I wear the item.
I have rewritten the lists every so often. I am busy yes but this is part of my relaxation and peppered with events I am dressing up for eg social events, the 1920s party etc.
Jenn, the average age of my wardrobe is over 3 years I think. I did some calculations and that's another post.
Cindy and Kathie, will reply tonight. Need to get ready for work now and actually wear some clothes!

Sal

Veteran

Good work Jenni- it was summer on Sunday and then autumn on Monday!! Kind of a shock.

I tend to overbuy for summer too and am trying to increase the transitional part of my closet as I am not the best at layering.

I also love that floral
Bomber and can see why it is a favourite.

rachylou

Veteran

The bomber is the bomb I wonder, do you vary your shoes less in winter? I think maybe I do...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Jenni, I am really impressed with the care and thoughtfulness you have put into this tracking and planning. It's paying off in great pieces (like the jacket) that you adore and that get lots of play in your closet.

I certainly sympathize with the wish to buy for summer. I overbuy for summer, too, because it is a lovely time here and I like the greater options for colour, silhouette, etc.

I think Jenn makes a very good point about the 30% on 30 wears rule. I have to return to tracking. I have not been doing it for a while but want to try it again this summer since I know it will prove useful to me. One thing I do know is that 3-5 years average is a good one per item in my own closet. Some items of course go 10 years or longer and some are one or two season wonders -- either because they are a trend item or because they are so often worn that they just plain wear out! But 3 to 5 is a good average and 30 wears within that ballpark is pretty easy for me to achieve with most items apart from special occasion wear.

Anonymous

Ok ladies- you are inspiring me to do actual tracking now! I only do laundry once a week so I don't feel guilty about having 2 weeks worth of clothes to rotate and give things a chance to rest. But that said, I guess it would effect the cost per wear ratio. Love the sandals and the jacket.The color palette is great!
I love hearing about summer clothes right now! They are usually more fun and colorful so of course we want more of them! I so want to burn all my winter clothes......but with the third nor'easter in 3 weeks bearing down on us tonight with more snow -aaauuuggghhh- I guess I better just keep them a while longer.

Staysfit

Veteran

Jenni, your tracking system sounds effective. I have been writing what I wear down each day in a calendar. At the end of the season, I plan to go through and review the information. I didn’t make a list of everything in my closet because that would have been too cumbersome. I have too much stuff! I am already finding that what I thought about my wardrobe before, was fairly true, I wear everything. I enjoy variety and I make good use of most everything despite having so much. I definitely don’t get as many wears as you in a year or even two, so I think I need to be extra careful as I make purchases that what I buy will have some longevity so it will stay relevant long enough for me to get good use from it before it is outdated. My current goal to purchase fewer high quality items to keep my wardrobe fresh seems to be in keeping with this goal.

I understand your decision to skip the sandals. I hope you do something else nice for yourself instead.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Answers for Cindy and Kathie: Cindy, if you want to do something about the imbalance, what I did was use the lists to help me wear less worn items thus increasing wears for those. I still wore my favourites but I interspersed them with less favourite items that I still liked OK. This helped me to get less bored as I had more variety than just the favourites. And with some gritting of teeth and a bit of avoiding shops, I managed a 3-month shopping fast over each of the 2 summers. Maybe you could try that with your winter items so you don't just keep buying more? I'm now not feeling as "gritting of teeth" about buying less. I'm able to see a longer term goal and progress so it doesn't feel like punishing self-denial. It's not like I bought nothing. Just less. I also used the help of the forum to help me cull somewhat, which I find difficult. I have been enjoying your "goodbye" posts.
Kathie, similarities in my most worn summer items are bright colours in tops, comfortable neutral cropped pants ( black, navy, pale green/grey), and flat comfortable sandals in bright or shiny colours. Least worn: too floppy in T-shirt material, one in polyester that I don't like the feel of the fabric, my 3 skirts ( all hardly worn, I obviously prefer pants), and any shoes that are "boring" ( to me), fussy, or a bit tight.