K/T: 5 shoes + 2 anoraks + 1 sweater, pic heavy - YouLookFab Forum

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K/T: 5 shoes + 2 anoraks + 1 sweater, pic heavy

harmonica

Veteran

Closet cleaning is continuing... all of the shoes are pretty comfortable, but I havn't worn the them in quite a while. My legs are bare just to get the best view of the shoes and I havn't styled them, so please don't care about that.

#1-2 ecco work wear shoes - dated, boring, not my style?
#3-4 ecco sandals, chuncky heel - dated?
#5-7 high heel dressy sandal - dated, not my style?
#8-9 chunky heel, a bit masculine - fun, edgy, dated?
#10-11 spring / autumn shoe, folded - boring, unstylish?
#12-13 spring/autumn shoe, unfolded - boring, unstylish?

#14-16 long beige anorak, front/back/side - too big, baggy?
#17-21 shorter anorak, front/back/side - too pale colour? dye in a more saturated colour?

#22-23 Green sweater - unfittting, wrong neckline, wrong colour?

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Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from harmonica

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I would keep shoes in 1-7 and possibly the anorak shown in 17-19. The rest, I'd probably toss.

If the boots would come in handy for walks/hikes in the park, then keep them too.

harmonica

Veteran

Thanks Amy! One (silly) question: do you mean keep 1 and 7, not all between 1-7? (sorry for beeing slow...)

The boots are actually only used in the park / playground and occationally MOTG. ETA: Thank you for reminding me of that

christieanne

Veteran

I like the Ecco shoe in #1 myself and don't think it's dated but you have to decide if it is your style or not - seems like it would be a decent work shoe - isn't too femme, has a little punk feel.
I 'm not loving the chunky heeled sandal or loafer. Or the dress sandal - it does not look comfortable or in line with your style but again, you have to look at your dress up needs/style.
Boots are practical and maybe needed for outdoor play with kids?

I like the color of short anorak but the tan seems to drown you. How long has it been since you have worn them? Sometimes with an item like that, I try to mix in an outfit at least once more if I am undecided.
Green sweater - I would pass on.

You are really working hard on the purge and closet makeover!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I like the shoes in pictures 5-6-7, they seem the least dated to me. I would keep the boots only if you need something to quickly walk outside in, like to walk to get the newspaper. If you already have shoes for this purpose (I call them outside slippers), then I'd get rid of them.

As far as the clothes, the light brown anorak is very on trend. I just read a piece on these in In Style magazine. It's all in how you style it.

The orange jacket shape and length is less on trend but the color is very current this season, so it may come in handy.

The green sweater is also in an on trend color, if you can figure out how to style it, keep it.

Hope that helps!

Beth Ann

Veteran

I think the sandals (5,6,7) and the first shoes (1, which I really like) should stay. The boots look like they've been loved and may need to be replaced! I think both coats have some good points -- I think a little "styling play" might help you wear these more confidently. For example, the shorter coat will likely work much better with pants and leggings. I like the green sweater styled -- such an on trend color. I'd wear it for this season and pass it on then if you still don't love it.

You're a busy girl in that closet, but I'm sure it'll pay off in the end!

harmonica

Veteran

christieanne: how long has it been since I wore these items? Very good question!

Boots: today (not feeling stylish, though)
All the other shoes: several years ago, I think at least 4-5 years.
Long anorak: last autumn, but did not feel fab. No fab or happy feel this spring either.
Short anorak: a year ago maybe. No fab or happy feel to this one either, but feels better than the long one
Green sweater: tried it the other day, but couldn't figure out how to style it. It was an attemt to bring more colour and spring feel into my outfit.

CocoLion: I'm not sure if I have a replacement for them - maybe that is what's holding me back... Thank you for your knowledge on current trends!! Though I like to know about seasonal trends, I'm not that occupied with following all of them, and I'm a slow adopter to new trends I like to stay current with my outfits, but it's more about fitting, my style (which is in the mold) and happy feel (thanks jayne!!)

harmonica

Veteran

Beth Ann: Yes, the boots have actually been loved! -- but in my SAHM time. And I have no idea what I would replace them with
Yes, the shorter anorak has *always* been worn with jeans. Aha!!! I used to live in jeans and t-shirt, now it is only occationally (when I force myself to it, or it is because of practical reasons).

Your comments make me learn, remember and understand why I have hesitated with these items. And that makes it easier to let go. Thank you sooo much!

I just feel soo liberated when dead stuff leave the house! I have been doing this exercise for almost 3 years now and I only miss three items (1 non clothes) And now DH have torn down the closet + master bedroom, before redoing it again with new closet, bed, paint etc etc That gives another kick to get rid of unneccesary stuff. We don't have much storage space!

bj1111

Veteran

keep 1,5,10. not feeling the anoraks or the green sweater.

jayne

Veteran

Based purely on wear rate, I think you should get rid of all the shoes.

the beige is not making your happy, why keep it. and same for orange

And I didn't like the green sweater. Is there ANYTHING in all this, you would buy again if you had to start over?

Deborah

Veteran

The shoes I would pass on are #3 and #8 to me they are just not very flattering.
And I like the colored anorak and the green sweater. But the big question is do you??

If you are not wearing these items and haven't for some time, it could be time to move them on. Sometimes I find I have to part with things I like, because they are not liking me back, or I no longer have a need for them.

ManidipaM

Veteran

I was going to say they all look good and undated, and only the boots and loafers look worn --- which I'd expect for walk-in-the-park-in-slush-time shoes --- so keep them. But then, if you've not worn any in 4-5 years, WHY?
(1) Do you no longer *feel* like it?
(2) Or do you have others that serve a similar function?
(3) Or do you you no longer have the occasions to wear them?
If 3, let them go with no regret. If 1, give them a last shot for a week, and style them differently from before to see it that works --- I'm sure the ladies here can help with ideas. If 2, well, I'm an odd duck who would see it as a good idea to keep the perfectly good shoes as backup for when your current go-to set are worn out!

I actually liked both anoraks on you, and like Denise (CocoLion) suggest going on a styling spree. For the sweater, it's not your *best* colour perhaps, and ideally I'd prefer a lower neckline on you --- BUT you've already sorted that out with the scarf in the second styling, which looks great to me! How about wearing them together with the orange anorak? If that's not too ALGO for you... I think it might be a great fun look for spring.

Traci

Veteran

I'd keep the loafers and colored jacket.

harmonica

Veteran

@jayne & deborah: so true, I wouldn't buy any of these again, except MAYBE #8 - but there is a big maybe. As for wear rate, I do like the sandals in #5, but I realize they belong to a fantasy lifestyle. and the boots #10 - well, they need replacements - something that I can wear with skirts at the playground and in the park that are a bit more solid than sneakers. hmmm... maybe some kind of biker boots...

@manidipa: what great questions!!! I will incorporate them in this + future wardrobe cleanup. I think I've been holding the shoes because they were initially bought with love and confidence. The responses and questions here are really helpful to sort out the reasons for why they have survived in my closet.

As for the orange anorak and the green sweater, I will wear them as you suggest Manidipa. At least for this season. If I still don't *feel* them , I'll let them go.

harmonica

Veteran

I am so grateful for all comments and questions. They have enlightened me and helped me letting go of many items!

I'll keep the loafers and try to style them. I know some of you (most of you?) didn't like them because they weren't flattering, but if I can manage to style them, I'll go for non-flattering. Angie had a post on wearing an unflattering item on purpose, but I cant fint it right now

I'll also keep the orange anorak for this season to see if I can make it work.

The green sweater will have a last go, just to add some colour, but will be replaced (i agree with Manidipa that there is something odd withe that colour on me + I'd like a lower neckline.

The boots will be replaced, but I'll keep them in the basement for a while to see if I can live without them before getting another pair. The new ones have to be leather, flat (or almost flat) and go with skirt as well as jeans. They also have to be more solid than sneakers.

The rest is out of the house ASAP

Puh! I love closet cleaning!

harmonica

Veteran

I found Angie's link on "flattering vs edgy tradeoff": http://youlookfab.com/2012/03/.....-tradeoff/

Meredith1953

Veteran

I like the shoes in 5-7 if they feel like you! I would pass on both anoreks even though the coral one is a nice color. I like the green sweater when it is styled with the blue scarf. Closet purging is hard work isn't it!

catgirl

Veteran

I like the shoes in 8, the coral anorak, and the green sweater. I would toss the rest. Oh, except for the boots in 10 because I never chuck boots unless they are literally falling apart - you can always muck around in them.

harmonica

Veteran

@Meredith: Yes closet purging makes a lot of emotions pop up and it's so hard to let some things go, but after getting rid of it you wonder what all the fuss was about Anyway, comments, questions and suggestions here are making the process a lot easier and the final decision more reliable. Even if the decision is sticking with some unflattering items you will know *why* you still hold on to them. I find that I often have to split the process in stages and put an item away in a deposit box for a while before I make the final decision. If I haven't missed the item, it's easier t let go

@alaskagirl: thank you for supporting me on the loafers actually, I think they could possibly work with your British schoolboy look, but I'm not sure if I can pull that off...