Mid-Year Wardrobe Numbers - YouLookFab Forum

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Mid-Year Wardrobe Numbers

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

February and August are my nemesis months, when everything I own seems dreadfully tired and, here in Colorado, we're generally faced with the coldest and hottest temperatures of the year. I like to do my wardrobe check-ups around these times, because seeing how much I have helps me to feel more content as I plan for a new season. (Ha! I do NOT feel content, but I'm trying!)

I went in and counted what I have right now, as compared to the last time I did this in August, and I'm definitely down a bit in some key areas. I've only purchased three items since the no-buy challenge in November, and nothing so far this year. To give you an idea of churn, I've retired seven items since October (I didn't track retirements before then). They ranged between 10 and 124 wears.

Current counts (all four seasons):

Dresses: 9 (up 2)

Toppers: 14 (unchanged)

Outerwear: 3 (unchanged)

Jeans: 2 (down 1)

Pants: 3 (down 1)

Skirts: 7 (unchanged)

Tops, including pullover sweaters: 24 (down 4)

Shoes: 11 (down 1)

Accessories, including belts, hats, and scarves: 14 (up 2)

Handbags: 7 (unchanged)

Gear: 16 (down 1)

Total Main Wardrobe Items: 94 (was 97)

With gear: 110 (was 114)

My pants situation is feeling dire, and it's amazing how losing just one pair of shoes feels like a true wardrobe hole. Looking at wear levels overall, I know I have quite a few pieces that will hit the end of their lifespan in the near future. I'm working on a wishlist, but I'm really not feeling shopping right now. Maybe when spring collections start hitting retail, I'll be more motivated. I'm not planning to purchase any more deep winter clothes, but it's pretty hard to think about summer when it's 6º out.

More than 25 wears: 47
5-24 wears: 57
Less than 5 wears: 6

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23 replies

Latest reply was from Jenn

Sal

Veteran

I know losing a key piece can leave a big gap, especially it is a favourite that has worn out. Whether now is the right time to shop for additions I don't know, maybe not until something really takes your fancy.

Shoes normally are fun and exciting to buy - is there anything you have your eye on? Do you have Allbirds - they have a great colour range at the moment.

You are doing well on minimising your shopping and being PPP so that is a very good thing.

ChristelJ

Veteran

I so admire you for the amount of wears you're getting. Extraordinarily well-tracked and planned wardrobe, it seems to me. I've never heard of tracking retirements before.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow. You are so amazingly diligent at keeping track with this. I am impressed.

Also -- completely agree that February and August can be the fashion doldrums months. Despite that, I am rarely tempted to shop in those months. Perhaps the no-shop August can be accounted for by NAS in July. As for February, I typically might add some knits in November/December and/or new gear/boots in January but can't be bothered to think about anything except wearing my clothes during the dull months.

I shop most in May-June (for spring/summer -- though I might move that earlier now I am in a more temperate climate) and then in July plus late September/October (for fall/winter). If NAS did not exist I wouldn't shop for fall until September.

I only really buy replacement items between then, unless a HEWI presents itself at an amazing price.

Sal

Veteran

FYI - I am sitting at 99 or 106 if I include bags. But I am not including scarves, belts etc.... I have 20 pairs of shoes and 15 dresses and 34 tops (sweaters, tees, blouses etc) so my numbers are higher all around at the moment.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Sal, I'm somewhat casually hunting for a pair of summer mules. I LOVED the look of the Nisolo ones that didn't fit and am trying several similar pairs, but haven't found my pair yet. I do have a pair of AllBirds...I'm actually on my second! They're my indoor gym shoes.

ChristeIJ, I actually got the idea to track retirements from others here on YLF. It's useful to see!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I track retirements. And the reason for retiring. Worn out, didn't like, fit issues, etc. If I also know the year of purchase, this gives me an idea of how well it wore.

It's all very informal -- I don't have a spreadsheet, just a list. And I don't track wears religiously at all so I don't necessarily know how much I have worn the item. (I did track wears for a couple of seasons and found it interesting and valuable but I don't think it's necessary for me anymore -- though I may revert to tracking again if my style shifts significantly.)

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Suz, tracking has just become part of my regular routine. I can hardly imagine not doing it now, and I love being able to look back at my calendar and see what I wore on a particular day or to a particular event! I do need some replacements right now. Three of the pieces I retired were absolute workhorse essentials. I'm not sure I want to do direct replacements, though, so I'm dragging my feet a bit trying to decide.

Sal, I'm actually feeling like my wardrobe is a little small right now...or perhaps just unbalanced. Some of that is intentional, because I'm not replacing certain things in anticipation of the move. I know my right balance will change with a temperate climate.

rachylou

Veteran

Yes... it’s like how two o’clock seems early to me and three o’clock late. It’s the tipping point. When do you make the move? I don’t know when’s a good time to shop. February doesn’t seem like it has much... and really, I only care about being warm right now.

Joy

Veteran

So impressive

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yes I only counted my retirements since March last year. I retired 42 items in 10 months, the most for many years. Only 16 of them had had 30 wears or over. Many were from the holding zone and were too small. I decided with the move from front house to back new house they had to go. The oldest item was from 1985.
It helped me having a list. Your wardrobe sounds a bit too small now?!

Jane

Veteran

Good tracking and understanding.

I do appreciate that you don’t feel like shopping but I’m also seeing that you don’t feel content. I’m wondering if a little look at accessories hats / scarves / bags might help you feel more content.

Helena

Veteran

Nice tracking Jenn, and smart to use the crap fashion months for planning and looking ahead!

Anonymous

You definitely seem short on pants-but I understand about not wanting to replace much right now!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

You are probably feeling the wardrobe hole acutely as you have a tight wardrobe that you get a lot of wear out of which is fantastic but it’s not a big wardrobe and therefore I think that you are going to notice holes a whole lot more than some one with a larger one.

Anonymous

Agreeing with Joy, your tracking really is impressive.

nemosmom

Veteran

Your tracking is truly inspirational! February seems like a weird time to shop - most of the winter stuff is picked over, and spring stuff hasn't really hit the shelves yet. Plus there is the rotten cold weather and blah feeling of being tired of everything at this point. I'm right there with you!

Bonnie

Veteran

I've been tracking for three years and agree that it's really useful. I think it makes me more aware of what I have and what I'm actually wearing as opposed to how I think I am dressing. February is my birthday month and because DH and DDs like to buy me clothes, I have to think about them in this bleak month.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

rachylou, we've had the weirdest winter. Alternating between absolutely frigid and, on one occasion, warmer here than in Burbank. And hardly any snow. I have no idea what to wear anymore.

JenniNZ, I dunno about too small so much as maybe unbalanced. It just feels...off. Too many statement toppers and not enough essential ones. Too many skirts and dresses and not enough pants. Too many neutral tops and not enough statement ones. It's going to take some time to get it back into balance. For once, I actually feel pretty good about my style direction. It's just a slow process, trying to build a wardrobe that will take me into this next phase of my life.

Thank you, Joy! It's really more habit than effort at this point.

Jane, I'm actually feeling a bit oversaturated on accessories right now, but I have my eye on some updated essentials!

torontogirl, yup, there's really not a ton to be excited about out there yet.

suntiger, I do have one pair of pants on order, added on a whim when I was buying yet another pair of mules to try. We'll see. They might not work.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Cardiff Girl, that's very true, and I accepted that (and the occasional boredom) as a tradeoff when I decided to keep my wardrobe small.

Thanks, Opaline. I really do find the numbers helpful!

nemosmom, plus, I just don't really love summer dressing, so it's hard for me to get excited about the upcoming season!

bonnie, I get it! My birthday is in August, so I'm the same way at the tail end of summer.

Runcarla

Veteran

Well, thank you for the 'Colorado Low' that has us snowbound up here on the northern shore of Lake Ontatario! 10-20cm snow forecast and double that for folks in Ottawa.

DH and I did a mall reconnaissance after dropping DS#2 off at work. Deep discounts on winter junque and nothing spring/summer. I haven't bought anything since Christmas. I'm filtering through Angie's trend report and trying to figure a direction before opening my wallet.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Goodness, runcarla! If that came from Colorado, it didn’t make it to us. We’re in a weird precipitation-free bubble here in northeastern CO.

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Smart of you to let numbers dwindle before the move, but I hear you that it'll be tough to hang on til then.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Fashintern, I’m not so much intentionally scaling down before the move, as acknowledging that there’s no need to replace things like cashmere cardigans and sweater dresses. I’ll need more summer and transitional pieces, but those aren’t available to purchase at the moment.