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Holding zone?

Anonymous

Up til now, I never really had a holding zone, aside from a few pairs of pants when I've changed sizes. But, now I've had to put away 1 little fabric bin full, and likely a second when I address my winter things. It seems excessive, but I do hope to use the things again- or at least be able to consign them next year.

Do you have a holding zone? If so, what are your rules for it? How much do you keep and for how long? Do you end up using the things again? Thanks!

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General

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Helena

Veteran

Suntiger, I do have a holding zone. I don't have any rules per se (I guess if it was full - it's a plastic storage bin - then I would go through and get rid of some things). I tend to revisit it a) when organizing clothes for the upcoming season and b) when I feel the urge to shop.

I've somewhat stopped putting time limits on things; I more go with, if something is classic or still current, and I like it, but I'm not using it currently, it stays. If its dated, or looks crap, or I have 10 similar items I rather and know I'll truly never reach for it again, then it goes. Truthfully, I use things from it very little, but I think there's a bit of psychology at play that makes me *feel* like I have more than enough and therefore don't need more (or am careful about adding, at least).

Paradoxically, by creating the holding zone, I believe I've reduced clutter and minimized shopping mistakes and actually have LESS (but more loved) clothing - because I don't churn things as much and can change things up on a whim without shopping.

Anonymous

Thanks! I should think of this sort of like a seasonal switchover-but it just seems like so much!

Anonymous

I have a small holding zone in the spare bedroom closet. I hold a few things that I want to consign but in the correct season.. I may hold some seasonal things until the season rolls around again to see if I need/ like them. Then get rid of them. Once I decide to remove something from the closet, it is seldom allowed back, I am finding that I should not really have a holding zone.

Anonymous

Consigning is tricky. By the time you realize you're not wearing the items, it's too late in the season to consign-even if the weather is still appropriate for them

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I keep a separate closet of off-season stuff, so in a way that is holding till next season. But more like what you mean: also in that closet I keep a shopping bag into which I put things that feel like they’re not working. If I wear a pair of pants one day and they’re pinching or itching all day, when I get home I launder them and put them in the bag. When the bag is full I glance through it quickly, occasionally rescue something for another try, but more often it all gets donated.

Carla

Veteran

Other than a basement closet where off season outerwear is stored, there is no real 'holding zone'. I have room to have all my stuff out. I experienced quite a bit of wardrobe churn in 2018 due to lifestyle change and after a half hearted edit, and six months later a big purge, I have a closet that I am very happy with. I could probably stand to grow my wardrobe a bit, but mostly practice 'one in, one out'.

Fall (October) is my style review and I will do a purposeful sort through my closet. I suspect there won't be much to edit this year.

FWIW, I do have items I haven't worn in a year or more - but they fill an important niche. I do try them on from time to time to ensure they fit and that they are not wildly out of fashion. Since I have lots of room in my closet and drawers, they live there.

nemosmom

Veteran

I have a dresser drawer dedicated to my "holding zone" items. I have only one rule that it cannot be expanded; once it gets full, I make myself edit it. I revisit the holding zone first when I swap out my spring and fall wardrobe and try to be extra ruthless about editing it at that time.

nemosmom

Veteran

Back to say that I keep my off-season items to consign in a separate space from my holding zone. Pieces that I like, but don't suit my current lifestyle (currently that's office wear) are also separate, as are jeans in a size or two off of my current size. My holding zone primarily has items that I found fussy, or that I've tired of - things I could easily pop in a donation bag and not truly miss them.

Ginger

Veteran

The way I understand the holding zone, it is supposed to only be items that you are not wearing now but are not quite ready to pass on. So off-season storage or items waiting to be consigned I store someplace else - the decision is already made for those items. If I have them mixed in, it's hard to see what I really need to make a decision about.

Liesbeth

Veteran

I have only last year started on a holding zone. That was in response to a couple of years of decluttering when the truth about ruthless culling started to sink in: that even if you momentarily need a size bigger, or lots of stretchy stuff (postpartum) or lots of button-ups (nursing) or anything else accompanying a sometimes temporary lifestyle change, you need to go out shopping immediately when only a year ago you may have gotten rid of just the thing that could have seen you through this time.
Last year especially I found that most of my pre-baby trousers no longer fit. I was also completely uninspired by most of the pre-baby dresses even if they were still in excellent condition and had not been cheap. I could not bear to get rid of EVERYTHING (knowing selling would not be worth the effort spent even), so put a lot in a holding zone (one box). I've made no rulesfor it other than I need to review it during seasonal swap-outs. I only put pretty classic styles in immaculate condition in there. And instinctively I would refrain from keeping more than one box. I do occasionally put something back in rotation. As for the too small jeans: I'm not trying to lose weight but have in the past unintentionally lost weight when starting a new workout regime or the likes, so my quality classic jeans are staying in holding a while longer.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I used to have a small holding zone in our old house. No I have zero room for one in our new loft.

I used to keep a few things hanging up in another closet. I addressed them every season. Some items I kept for years and became sentimental.

Anonymous

Thanks all! I don't think I'll put much if the cold weather things in the holding zone-as they can be consigned or donated.

I'm just keeping the things I've worn within the year, and are still in good condition. Unfortunately some of my favorite things will have to be passed on (goodbye post to follow).

And I already know I will need to adjust my goal numbers for the year-or just not count gear.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't count gear - it goes into my exercise budget, not my clothing budget. Because I don't wear it as fashion, only as my activity wear.

On the subject of holding zones...sometimes I have one, sometimes I don't. Like Joy, I do keep a bag of items I intend to take to consignment in their season. Rarely, I retrieve something from one of those bags. I did just retrieve a pair of jeans from one a few weeks ago.

The Cat

Veteran

In principle no. But in a few, rare cases, I'll keep an item I am unsure of, for a maximum of one year. Then, if I still can't make it work, I'll donate it.

always trying

Veteran

I either decide ti purge or not each season or when I clean out the closet.

ChristelJ

Veteran

Yes! I have a basket near on the stairway landing, where items are literally on their way out the front door. I can see the items easily when I pass by, which makes me feel secure because I can re-evaluate anytime. No rules - I could take things back if I wanted to, but in the 2 years I've been doing this, I don't think I've ever once taken anything back out of the basket.

I donate the contents of the basket about once a month. I usually feel relieved that a burden has been lifted.

Now on the other hand, there are a few fancy silk cocktail dresses and pretty jackets I'm not wearing, but am holding onto for a fantasy life and allowing myself to do so. I'm fully aware it is unlikely I will ever wear them, but they give me joy just as a sort of hopeful collection. The occasions are what's missing; I just need more dress-up events in my life!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I do have a holding zone,it's a large garment storage bag at the bottom of my wardrobe.If I haven't worn stuff for a long time I put it in there to have some time out.l tend to review it when I do my seasonal change over.l rarely get rid of stuff but if things have spent too long in time out they might go but often it gives me the kick to start wearing them again.Like Toronto girl said,l feel it moderates my urge to buy new stuff so I find it useful in that respect.

anchie

Veteran

This is mine holding zone, overflowing at the moment with items that don’t fit me currently. Because of my weight fluctuations I have a rule that something has to spend a full year in holding zone before donating because so far I was never able to be the same size for the whole year. When my size changes I rotate holding zone back to closet and not fitting items to a holding zone. Some items were already a few times in and out of holding zone.

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Sal

Veteran

It depends. I have my summer pieces stored away at the moment and in there are at least two items that I plan to donate (in a month or two at the start of summer). I use the winter-spring transition to evaluate winter items I want to remove and spring (and summer) pieces that I don't want to introduce back in.

Occasionally I have something that I do like but it is an orphan or I want a break from it. I store these for a year or two.

I do have about 8 occasionwear pieces that I don't consider part of my wardrobe that I am keeping for dressups or future DIL or something!!

Anonymous

I'm moving into Carla's house.

I used to have a cedar closet in my old home, and used it as a combo of out-of-season stuff and in-season pieces I didn't know what to do with. Now ? No room for a holding zone. It was just a luxury when I had one , and I don't think I ever took anything out of it to re-wear. Out of sight, out of mind etc. I'm getting ready to go through my summer clothes soon and do a MAJOR edit, as mentioned a few times before No hanging onto anything not filling a role.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am completely unqualified to answer this because I buy and sell clothing on the side and my whole world is a holding zone. But I do specifically keep good jeans or trousers that become a little too small or a little too big because my weight fluctuates, particularly around my waist.

Jane

Veteran

I have an old family leather suitcase which fits in the items that are both out of season and in a holding zone. I’m itching to go through it for autumn but it is still warm here so that will be a September job. I’d quite like to be braver in my approach. For example I have some long sleeved tops in multiple colours which are good but I’m not looking forward to wearing them again. I would donate if I were brave enough!

Style Fan

Veteran

I store out of season clothing in a separate area from my current clothing. I also have a holding zone for clothing that I am not wearing and probably will never wear. In my holding zone are pieces of clothing that have high sentimental value or have interesting designs or something like that. I put the holding zone items in a plastic storage bin in the loft over the garage.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Holding Zone as in a place for things I’m considering purging? No—I don’t purge often enough for that. By the time I realize something’s got to go, it’s been literally years since I wore it and there is no more equivocating.

I do keep things in sizes that don’t currently fit and things for other seasons. In the US, I’ve always had room for these in my closet, but they are in the cellar here.

Anonymous

Thanks all! Sounds like 2 camps-holding zone as "purgatory" before things get the boot and keeping to minimize future shopping (like size changes, dressy things).

cindysmith

Veteran

I have a holding zone that is one large storage bin (like one of those rubbermaid things, except screaming hot pink) that holds some of my favorite things from when I was several sizes smaller. I got rid of all the things from my super tiny days, because I will never be that little again without the aid of an eating disorder or some pharmaceuticals. I only kept things that are in sizes my trainer and I agree are reasonable to expect.

I don't think having one bin for summer and one for winter is unreasonable, especially since you probably live in a normal-sized house where I only live in a small house that's way less than 1000 square feet.

Anonymous

My house is a bit smaller than that-but just like to stay as minimal as I can. Plus-I have a good excuse for a total overhaul this year