More lessons from the gradual wardrobe edit

As I've been rather slowly finding my favorites and culling things from my wardrobe ( as opposed to a rapid, intuitive, joy- based clothes- whispering process that for some reason I could not do) I learned something interesting:

--A lot of the items I'm removing are in my favorite colors
-but I still love and wear best and favorite colors- I don't want all neutrals.

So I'm even more convinced I'm very prone to buying " almost right" items when they are in a great color. And as Angie pointed out before, retailers don't offer as many color options in some of the good- quality designs and fabrics, so one can get a little desperate and FOMO when espying the right color, and overlook problems in the style or fit.

Anyway I got braver and let some lovely-colored items go. I could tell I was not wearing them and it was not going to be smart to build outfits around them.
I don't think I am trying to do neutrals- only, but I may have to be content with more of the scarf or jewelry trick ( as in Shannon's post) for some color happiness so I won't be as tempted to buy an item that doesn't quite pass muster for style and fit.

7 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

"So I'm even more convinced I'm very prone to buying " almost right" items when they are in a great color."

Yes. I'm guilty of that too. Some of my favorite colors to wear have not been trending for a while, so I tend to get so excited when I find them that I buy less than perfect items. I'm learning.

Joy

Unfrumped and Janet, me too. I buy too many almost right if the color is right. What is the cure?

Style Fan

I do the same thing. I get so frustrated waiting for my preferred colours to show up that I buy something when I finally see it. But then I don't wear it.

Staysfit

I think you make some excellent points here. I don't recall reading the posts of Angie's or Shannons to which you refer. I agree that there are limited offerings in any given color and that designers and retailers cater towards neutrals and a safe palette. It takes a lot of work to build up a wardrobe with your favorite colors, especially if those colors are not popularly shown.

My color palette is very narrow and I am sticking to it strictly. I often feel frustrated when I see what I think is the perfect dress, but it's black - a shade I abhor! I use your strategy of purchasing neutrals and adding accessories in my favorite colors. I make purchases in my colors when I see them and I pamper those items because they are so hard to find. I enjoy the hunt, and think it makes me even happier when I am able to wear them, like a rare treat!

linn

Active Member

I have Joy's problem too (oh! my color! gotta get that) especially as I shop at consignment shops. Or I hope that something will get me out of my comfort zone, but then I don't wear it. Big flowers? What was I thinking? I feel like my house's old wallpaper.

I'm trying to be really fussy these days, which helps my limited closet space & my budget.

Just found this site and joined as a member. The abundance of thoughtful advice is quite wonderful.

Anonymous

This was such a wise post. Your comment about letting some lovely-colored items go because you were not wearing them and it didn't make sense to build outfits around them really resonated with me. I think I would have tried to "force" myself to build capsules around them in the past. We are both learning.

LaPed

I love that you're allowing yourself to cull slowly. I've tried the intuitive/impulsive Kondo-style purge, and it doesn't work for me. I find it stress-inducing rather than cathartic. I am a planner and a listmaker. I'm also fine with having things hang out in boxes in the basement for months while I decide whether or not I really want to get rid of them. Even living in very small apartments, it was worth setting aside a "holding area" space.

I hear you on falling for color, too. Pre-YLF I used to do this a lot; recently I've become much about stricter perfect fit and only buying styles I'll actually wear. Honestly, Kibbe typing helped me a lot here. I don't adhere religiously to those guidelines, but in terms of setting limits on what I know I won't like, it's been very helpful.

Emily K

I notice that I gravitate to color first--maybe just because it is easier to spy the color hanging on a rack, while evaluating the cut and style require you to approach the item and view it up-close or even to remove it from the rack? And when I shop on-line, I often catch myself skimming over items that aren't shown in my preferred color--even if that color is offered as an option. So, I'm trying to train myself to look carefully at style even if color grabs my eyeball first. I think that I don't buy too many almost-rights based on color alone, but I bet I pass up many good things simply because the color didn't grab me right away.

approprio

This is such an interesting post! You've given me lots to think about, because I seem to have a few problems at the opposite end of the spectrum.

I very rarely, if ever, buy anything for its colour alone, which means that I'm prone to falling in love with things in "wrong" colours, and then face the problem of integrating them.
I should arguably purge some of these, because if they're in the closet I will wear them at some point.
Kondo clothes-whispering is never, ever going to work, because I will hold on to things I don't actually need.
Those treasures may make my heart sing, but they're not the things that make me swear when I can't find them in the morning.
Like LaP I've found Kibbe surprisingly useful. Really gave me some insight into what works and what doesn't.

Fascinating! What a great insight into how those not-quite-right items end up in our closets.

retailers don't offer as many color options in some of the good- quality designs and fabrics

I can relate to this right now as I'm shopping for tops in a particular silhouette that's surprisingly hard to find. I have the reverse problem and have to stop myself from settling for a color or print that isn't right just because the shape/fit/fabric are. But I do also tend to overbuy certain colors (purple anything) when it would be better to have just one really perfect purple top.

Lyn D.

I have done this recently too, and it is too late to return these items.
I think it is best if we try to learn from our mistakes and pass-on these pieces, otherwise they will haunt us!
Good job in recognising this for the future.

cindysmith

I think part of my reasoning for my very tight color palette of neutrals and pseudo neutrals is that it's so much easier to find perfection in those colors, and it stops me from buying an almost-good-enough garment in a color I like but a cut that doesn't work. Some days I miss purple, but then it passes LOL

Penny

This post really resonates with me - I have found myself left with many navy and black items after letting go of items in colors that I loved in silhouettes or styles that weren't quite right. Still have a few pieces in deep teal and purple, and plenty of handbags / shoes in burgundy, but not as many dresses as I'd like in those shades.

And like you, I've found that gradual wardrobe culling can be the most effective . . . as you prune things away, the bar raises for what to keep, and then it's easier to identify what's next in line to let go.

rachylou

That's a very good insight. I shall give colour more thought. I go back and forth with colour(s). I like colour, but seem to only like cheery colour in spring.

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