Keep/Tailor/Toss: Dresses and Skirts

ETA: Sorry for accidentally posting this in Your Body Type! Duh.

I'm starting a very thorough closet cleanout and I'd really appreciate your help! My goal is to end up with a VERY tightly edited, multifunctional wardrobe that suits my style and lifestyle. I currently work from home and will most likely be a SAHM within the next year or so (my husband and I are adopting). I've realized I have many more dressy and office-y clothes than I need. They rarely get worn. I'd rather have just a very few dressy clothes that I wear frequently. I also have a few pieces that are almost duplicates of each other, which just seems redundant. What I need are more casual pieces that I love. To that end, I have an appointment at a local consignment store on Monday. I need to decide what to keep, what to potentially tailor, and what to take to the consignment store (or the thrift store).

I live in a very rainy city, and I like a pulled-together, fuss-free look with a few artistic touches.

I'm going to go through my closet by category. Here's the first batch: dresses and skirts.

I'd ideally like to end up with 2 casual skirts, 2 dressier skirts, 1 cocktail dress, and 1 casual dress each for fall/winter and spring/summer. I'm willing to replace items completely if nothing from a particular "category" is worth keeping.

I have one knee-length denim skirt (casual) and one sleeveless wrap dress (can be casual or dressy) which I am definitely keeping and which are not pictured here.

I know there are a lot of items here so if you want, just tell me what you think I should absolutely keep, or just what you think I should toss. I do not want to keep anything that would rank below an 8 or 9. I can get away with almost no dressy or even smart casual clothes right now, so I'd rather start from a blank slate and build an awesome wardrobe than hang on to so-so stuff.

Thank you SO SO SO much in advance, everyone!

Oh, and sorry for the black bra/light top combo and bralessness that's going on sometimes--I was in a rush and most of the laundry was in the wash!

You can see everything here:
http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....%20Skirts/

1. Black MEXX poly blend pencil skirt:
http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6171.jpg

2. Ann Taylor brocade skirt
http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6169.jpg

3. Nanna denim skirt
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6170.jpg

4. Gap tweed skirt with faux petticoat
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6161.jpg

5. Michael Kors tweed skirt
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6162.jpg

6. Gap pleated black skirt
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6167.jpg

7. Kensie black silk skirt
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6168.jpg

8. Nanna denim skirt (same one as before), 2 more views
http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....Medium.jpg

Showing trim detail:
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....Medium.jpg

9. Black satin dress with crystals
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6139.jpg

10. Dinh Ba dress, 2 views
http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6145.jpg

http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6141.jpg

11. Purple jersey dress
http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6150.jpg

12. Navy short dress (would normally wear w/ leggings or skinnies)
http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6157.jpg

13. Brown American Apparel convertible dress
http://s380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6158.jpg

14. Black linen Banana Republic dress (if I keep this, I'll shorten it to knee length)
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....G_6146.jpg

17 years ago

Steph

Veteran

Definitely keep the purple dress. I think you look great in it. I like the color and the shape, I think it's really flattering, and if you're only going to have one or two dresses, I think a solid is a good idea--a bold print would start seeming stale if you wore it time and again.

I think I would also keep the denim skirt--you look happy in it!

I also liked the idea of chopping the linen dress to knee length. I liked the way the top fit, but thought it was too long. I think it would look cute at the knee.

Violet

Active Member

Hi Brianna,

Here are my thoughts on what to keep and what to sell. I picked items to keep that looked like classic, versatile pieces.

Keep:
1. Black MEXX poly blend pencil skirt:
3. Nanna denim skirt
5. Michael Kors tweed skirt
7. Kensie black silk skirt
9. Black satin dress with crystals
11. Purple jersey dress
12. Navy short dress
14. Black linen Banana Republic dress

Sell:
2. Ann Taylor brocade skirt
4. Gap tweed skirt with faux petticoat
6. Gap pleated black skirt
10. Dinh Ba dress, 2 views
13. Brown American Apparel convertible dress

Hope this helps! Good luck with your closet cleanout.:)

Kyle

BLB:
Good luck on your closet cleanout!
1. Black MEXX poly blend pencil skirt: Keep.
2. AT Brocade: OK, but not fab. Sell.
3. Denim Skirt: Keep! Keep! Very flattering.
4. Gap tweed --keep, if you can find a funky way to wear it so it doesn't look to old for you.Otherwise, I'd sell.
5. Kors skirt: Don't love.
6. Gap pleated skirt: so-so on this one. Sell.
7. Kensie. Keep.
8. Satin dress. Keep. You will look totally fab with the right accessories. And perhaps shorten it a bit to add a little more flirtiness.
9. Din Bah--do not love this. Could be personal taste. I'd sell.
10. Purple dress is killer on you. Keep! The length is perfect for you (some of the other skirts/dresses feel just a tad too long). So, so flattering. Just gorgeous on you.
11. Navy Dress...might like it with skinnies. But when I compare the silhouette to the purple, my first instinct is to sell.
12. I like the overall effect of the American Apparel, just not the hemline. Again, this could be personal taste. I would sell.
13. Banana linen dress. Yes, if shortened. You could do a lot with it.
I would use the purple dress and denim skirt as your benchmark. They are so pretty on you. I would also love to see you in more vibrant colors. You are young and pretty and have a wonderful radiance. I think you would look amazing in jewel tones like reds, blues, etc.

Tanya

This is what I would keep:

1. Black MEXX poly blend pencil skirt
3. Nanna denim skirt
4. Gap tweed skirt with faux petticoat ( I would remove the petticoat)
7. Kensie black silk skirt
11. Purple jersey dress
12. Navy short dress ( would look great with cream skinnies)

The rest I would sell. Now you have inspired me to do a closet cleaning myself!

yublocka

(website)

Here are my opinions on each item (haven't read what others say yet so don't know if I am in agreement or not):

1. Black MEXX poly blend pencil skirt: good fit and classic shape, but if I only wanted 2 dressy skirts I'd want something a bit more interesting
2. Ann Taylor brocade skirt: love the shape of this skirt on you. keep as dressy skirt #1!
3. Nanna denim skirt: keep
4. Gap tweed skirt with faux petticoat: wouldn't keep it as 1 of only 2 dressy skirts. sell unless you want a business'y skirt too.
5. Michael Kors tweed skirt: sell
6. Gap pleated black skirt: sell
7. Kensie black silk skirt: keep as dressy skirt #2
9. Black satin dress with crystals: sell
10. Dinh Ba dress: sell
11. Purple jersey dress:my favourite dress of the lot on you. keep!!!
12. Navy short dress (would normally wear w/ leggings or skinnies): sell
13. Brown American Apparel convertible dress: if you want another dress keep, otherwise sell
14. Black linen Banana Republic dress: sell

Hope this helps!

BLB

Wow, ladies, this is so helpful--you have no idea! Thank you! I'm definitely surprised by some of the responses, especially the enthusiasm for the purple dress. I'll keep that one for sure!

I'm curious about why the Dinh Ba dress gets the thumbs-down.

Kyle--I really love jewel tones and adding more coloured items to my closet is a top priority. I have a few already (purple, cobalt) and love them. Thanks for affirming that and for your sweet compliments. They brightened my gloomy November day.

I think the shape of the Dinh Ba is very nice on you, especially the neckline and the length. It's the pattern that I'm not responding to...and that's a matter of personal taste.

Anonymous

Actually, I love the Dinh Ba and think you could use it as a casual dress as a SAHM with a cropped denim jacket or a cardi if it's a casual fabric.

That sounds like a fun idea, Joy! I need to find myself a denim jacket and a cropped cardi.

The Dinh Ba dress is actually a fairly dressy material to my mind--quite metallic and it has sheen. If I keep it I'm going to try belting it or wearing a black satin sash at the waist to break up the print a bit.

I had my consignment appointment yesterday and I was thrilled that they took almost everything I brought in! Many of the consignment stores I've visited have seemed to be run by snooty hipsters or crazy people. This place was like the boutique hotel of consignment stores. I'm in love. If you're ever in Vancouver, be sure to check it out: http://www.changesclothing.com

Here's what I kept in the end:

- MICHAEL Michael Kors tweed skirt. My husband, who sews, is going to try to shorten it for me so it's just at the knee. I think its main problem is its length. If it doesn't work out, no big loss--I bought it originally at Value Village.

- Black linen BR dress. DH will shorten it to knee length as well.

- Nanna denim skirt, because you all liked it!

- MEXX pencil skirt. Just in case I find myself needing to go on job interviews or something on short notice. I'm going to try it with one of my dressy silk tops too to see if it would work for dinners out etc.

- Dinh Ba dress.

The consignment store didn't take the Kensie silk skirt, so I'm going to see if I can make that work for me somehow. I suspect it might be too big on me, though. I might try taking it to another consignment store nearby.

I also consigned a bunch of blazers, tops, and pants that I do not wear or that don't fit right. I'll get 50% of their sell price as store credit if they sell, which is great because I love this store--it has new clothes and jewelry as well as consignment things. It's nice to feel like I'm on my way to a more functional wardrobe.

Thanks again for your help on this!

Nicole

Hi Brianna, Sorry I missed this post when you originally posted it. It looks like you got some great advice. I just wanted to say congratulations on your upcoming adoption!

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