Lessons from the purge - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Lessons from the purge

Traci

Veteran

I pulled all my cast offs out to consign and noticed some similarities in the clothes I bought but did not wear.

1. Pattern pattern pattern. I am drawn to buy patterns but I only really wear stripes and dots and very subdued textural patterns.
2. I buy pink because it's flattering, but I don't really enjoy wearing it.
3. I have nothing to wear with items that mix green and blue.

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

ClaraT

Veteran

Isn't it funny how we do that (i.e. buy the same kind of stuff that we already bought before but didn't wear)? Identifying the pattern will save you time and $ in the future, that's for sure!
ps I think with the green and blue (patterns?) maybe look to the background/accent bits (e.g. black or navy or white) for the 'wear with' problem.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Brilliant, Traci! Thank you for this analysis. I am about to do something similar. Take a good, hard, cold look at the rarely worn items and ask myself what the heck they share or what is is about them that attracted me enough to buy them - but not enough to wear them very often!!

Sometimes, of course, it is a fluke - you will buy items for your typical weather conditions and then experience a season of completely atypical weather patterns. But often it's something more...erm...psychological, shall we say. And shall we just also add that I am noting a little problem with items that DRAPE a certain way in my own wardrobe???

Oy. The mistakes we make...

Anonymous

Yeah baby, I feel you! I buy too many things that work on many levels, but not all of them. Time to fine-tune my buying process!

jayne

Veteran

Oh what a good anlysis...I will take a look into my closet with the same eye...but off the top of my head, I buy trend cuz I fall hard, it isn't me, and never gets worn

jenanded

Veteran

What great insights Traci! After starting YLF, I have started writing these insights into my little fashion notebook... I have caught myself about to buy more of the same a couple of times but it has been really helpful in trying harder. And wish I had done same before I found 5 pairs of black jersey or ponti pants in various hiding holes in my wardrobe/suitcases etc - YIKES - I may sometimes wear them travelling but 5 pairs that are never worn??? Maybe they would match your pinkies

JR

Veteran

Good for you for finding the problems. Here's to avoiding making the same mistakes in the future.

Traci

Veteran

Looking at the particular patterns I kept and tossed, I think it's about a particular sweetness that doesn't feel right on my body. I also purged quite a few ruffles.

This all explains why I only have one Boden dress that I wear often out of many orders I've placed. Those bold bright prints really do appeal to me strongly, but they just don't suit my style.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Don't you love learning these lessons through a purge? It never ceases to amaze me how obvious some things are as soon as you start to really look into your closet. Well done Traci!

celia

Veteran

It is great that you reached this conclusions.Sometimes what we feel attracted to are not the things we feel happy wearing.weird but true

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yep! I found myself purging a particular stiff cotton weave from my closet this summer, much of it patterned also.
Now to learn from what we've discovered!

Debby

(website)

I agree with Celia. Sometimes I'm drawn to buy things that seem so practical and will go with anything, but because I don't love them, I don't end up wearing them. Strange!

Queen Mum

Veteran

such great insight. It is always a great exercise to analyze what you are purging and why to keep from making the same mistakes.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

This is a great exercise - when I look at my "no wears" I'm guilty of buying more pink/coral than I wear too. I guess I wanted to put some cheery color into my wardrobe of mostly muted autum tones. I have at least 3 pink tops that I do not enjoy wearing - all bought last year. I do have a very deep hot pink tee I like and a fuschia button down that I wear. Lesson for me is that only very deep saturated "hot" pinks or raspberry in the future.

I also have various items in the wrong greens for me. The right greens for me are med. to deep olive greens, deep forest green or sometimes teal blue-green. The wrong for me is anything light green, spring green or true "Kelly" green. I'm definitely not a "clear" color gal.

Florals and prints are the hardest thing for me. In general I do not wear florals but have bought a few of them for various reasons. Usually because I "think I need" them. I have one patterned button down that is muted and not a "girly" print and I wear that. I also have two plaid button downs that I enjoy and didn't think I'd like as much as I do.

rachylou

Veteran

Ok. Now that's brass tacks insight!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

These are meaningful conclusions! Well done.