Eliza, I think this
For example, my excessive closet of too many unworn items wastes a lot
of time for me. It creates additional waste when I add unwanted
duplicates because I forget what I have. It wastes psychic energy to
sort through it all.
sums things up perfectly for me, and why I want to deal with the issue. Last winter I "picked up" a black cashmere sweater at Costco, only to discover I'd purchased the almost exact same one the year before AND HAD NEVER WORN IT. Forgotten all about it, obviously. Didn't need it, obviously. I want to be more aware, and more careful. I know that example may be more about the shopping than the culling, but I do think the two go hand in hand.

OK, I haven't got a hope of addressing each and every one of you. I've read all the posts about five times now, and there is so much good stuff here! But now it's almost time to leave work, I do actually have some stuff to do that I get paid to do and I have a busy evening ahead.

So once again, thank you all! And keep the musing coming, off topic or not. I think we are all learning from the thinking and articulating process.

What a thread! I was thinking of starting my own this morning....."Why I don't believe in Purge-atory." How about that for borrowing quasi-religious language? It sounds to me, Elizabeth, that you are making changes that will get you there. It's OK to take it slow. I think you've uncovered your core task yourself. You mention that your closet is "too full" and you can't see what's there. I'd suggest donating what doesn't make you happy, but perhaps trying capsule dressing for awhile -- rotating items in an out in large capsule that you wear for 2-6 weeks. Let your current capsule have the prime real estate in your closet.

I've been focused on on wardrobe building, and when I release an item, it's because it doesn't serve my larger purposes. It's like a builder taking unused bricks to Habitat's Re-Store because it doesn't work with the new foundation. I'm more focused on learning from what doesn't work, buying within my means (which is a tough challenge with my tastes), and creating a style that sends me out into the world feeling confident, comfortable, and ready to be my best self.

I'm well aware of some of the "original source material" behind some of our "stuff guilt." Matthew 19 / Luke 12:13-21 are important lessons for me. Not preaching here, just sharing. For me, of course, there is an effort to remind myself to seek God first, but all of us have goals higher than our stuff!

I have a small closet (but I kicked my DH out of it), although I do have several drawers for loungewear, underwear and gear. Right now, I have a holding bin for things that I love but won't wear, or that almost fit (I only keep these for a year), and I put out of season or probationary clothes toward the back of the rod, or the top of the shelves.

Because I tend to evaluate my wardrobe by outfit creation once or twice a week --- a half an hour or so playing around in my closet. I remove items that aren't serving my goal of a real wardrobe -- with a sense of ensemble, not just star players and cool clothes, as I play. I have a basket for Goodwill that I donate when it's full. Removing things slowly, and in the cause of having a better working wardrobe, makes letting go much easier.

I have mistakes. Even post YLF. I try to make these items work and, even when I fail, I often learn something in the process. I feel these mistakes are fewer now, but it took me a while!

I think 40 items is brilliant, it may not feel like enough but it is a fabulous start imo

My wardrobe which includes coats, jewellery, footwear & bags (so everything except underwear & sleep wear) is 191 items. When I started working on rationalising my wardrobe just before I joined YLF I had around 220. So the numbers haven't changed that much but my attitude has AND my wardrobe actually functions

IMO the only place to start is with tracking what we wear. Until I started doing this I had NO IDEA what I was actually wearing. Until I knew what I was wearing I didn't know if I "needed" something so it was difficult to let it go. Also tracking the CPW made me realise rather than buying clothes I didn't wear I'd rather have a holiday or go to the theatre or opera - in the clothes I did wear.

I track in Stylebook so it also forced me to take photos of everything I was keeping - whew. I tell you when it came down to trying to get a good photo of a meh piece of clothing or letting it go I was able to be ruthless

As Angie says remember to have fun

I could have written that part about hanging onto things just because they kind of fit, or I can wear it under something. Then I came to terms with the fact that I never do those things. I'm tired of feeling guilty over mis-spent money, and every time I opened my closet doors, thats what I felt. My editing has taken over a year. I'm done to a quarter of the clothes I used to have, and today I decided to remove everything from my closet I don't wear, and put it in a bag in the garage. If I miss it, I can retrieve it; but honestly, I don't see anything coming back in. I wish you much success with your editing - it really is freeing.

Wow Elizabeth! Thanks for mentioning this on tricia's thread. I had completely missed it. What a great post and compelling discussion that ensued. I have a lot of food for thought.
You did a great job getting rid of your first 40 things. I hope it gets easier and easier to move out enough things to make your closet your truly "happy place". I'm sorry I'm too pooped to write more, but I wish you the best of luck with this project. Cheers!

I haven't read all the responses, but I agree that it's helpful to analyze why you have a problem purging the unworn things in the first place. I know that my own issue with purging is guilt—I don't have a lot of money, so when I see something hanging in my closet that I can't wear because it doesn't fit right or doesn't go with anything, etc., I have terrible guilt and dread that I've done something absolutely awful and horribly wasteful. So for me it's about accepting that I'm limited and, quite frankly, that I'm not God and can't always know up front how something is going to work out. Of course, after you finish analyzing why you have a difficulty purging, then it's time to analyze why you bought the unwanted items in the first place, which is just as fun!

But hey, great job in getting rid of the 40 items! That is an accomplishment, yes?

OP I hear you on the Wartime thing
My Mother lived with rationing and should would go nuts when we were kids and used eggs to bake, "Oh so many eggs!".
But you know what we have to get over that as adults in our own houses and yes that was a horrible time and shaped who they were.

Anyway as I have posted here before, if you/we are not wearing stuff get rid of it and hopefully somebody else will get some use of it. Donate while the items are still in good enough shape and style while they can use it.

Stuff taking up space in one's closet makes you nuts and it is just one more thing to manage.

I too have been editing my closet these many months. It's just semantics, but when I get rid of something I call it "retired"- allows me to let it go with a sense of respect for what that item once meant to me and might mean to the next person who gets it (even if it's the rag bin!)

Wow, lots of great thoughts here. I am struck by the amount of guilt here. I get it to some extent but then I also don't. I tend to look at clothes as hypotheses. As in, my hypothesis is that this piece will work in my wardrobe. And if it doesn't, ok, out it goes. No guilt. But I learn from the pieces that don't work - analyze what specifically didn't work so I can avoid making or buying another one just like that.

Back on topic - 40 items is a great start. Good for you!

Thanks for the additional comments... yet more great fodder for my brain.

I actually don't have guilt over pieces that aren't working, if I know WHY they don't work, and if I know of a good home, it's not an issue. I seem to get stuck when the pieces DO work, but maybe only 60% :). If that makes any sense. I feel they may as well keep hanging there. Just in case. And I don't feel bad about having a large wardrobe at the moment either, I'm just tired of feeling overwhelmed by it all, and not loving it all.

Generally when I buy pieces, I love,or at least like them. Rarely do i get a piece home and regret it. I just have too much to enjoy them. I do feel annoyed at myself at pieces that end up languishing even thought I DO like them - the "buy for your life now" issue which we all seem to have. Like the sun dress I bought two summers ago that is still unworn... we joked it was my "Maui dress". Little did I know it was going to actually wait until I was in Maui to wear it! (still no plans ) It was/is a victim of too dressy for work, and not enough date nights.

I think the strategy that makes the most sense to help ME get unstuck is the "what is the worst that can happen" question. Well, I won't end up naked. I may have an outfit combo I can't experiment with. I may generate an orphan. Whoop-tee-doo.

DH is taking the DD's away for a week, so I am dedicating some time to spread things out and go through some of the tougher areas. And it's going to be GREAT. I can tell. You lot have all really really helped me keep my momentum and interest going, given me approaches, things to think about. And for that I thank you, immensely.

Here's to the next 40!

Ah! Okay. Well, I think I understand your issue better Elizabeth. (And isn't it interesting how different we all are on this? Fascinating what clothes reveal...)

Anyway. For you, it's just plain: Too much stuff, can't keep track of it, can't wear it all. And that feels like a burden.

I think that once you have the space on your own, with the questions you've got here in mind, you'll be much more efficient.

Do I love it and want to wear it right now? Or is it just an "okay" piece that completes an outfit (maybe) but not in a very satisfactory way. That's become my standard.

If the former, keep.

If the latter -- possibly keep for now but make a list -- go looking for the upgrade.

And if I don't want to wear it now, maybe I truly don't need it. Except if it is for the opposite season. Edit in season or at the end of the season only. Don't go tossing stuff out of season. (I have made that mistake in the past.)

And I love love love LOVE Sadie's word "retire." From now on, I am retiring my clothing.

Yes Suz, as you described, with a dose of "but it might be useful someday" thrown in that makes me keep the "meh" stuff. I think I'm someone who needs the better replacement before I can purge... OH!! LIGHTBULB!! This probably stems from my pre-DYT and YLF days when I shopped twice a year, at three stores, and if they didn't have anything I liked, or that fit, I didn't get anything new. So what I had had to continue to serve me. And life went on. And I spent my money on traveling or camera gear :). But now the on-line world has opened up, and my interest has opened up, I'm shopping the same way, but every week! And buying what I like... constantly. Can't sustain this! Nor do I want to, obviously, or I wouldn't be "talking" about it. And it would make a whole lot more sense to determine my holes rather than trying to fill them first - could be they aren't even holes any more.

So, I'm going to go through spring (still fresh in my mind, and still out for cool summer evenings) and summer things, and set aside pieces I don't love. And make a list if there is a true hole left by that. Which I WILL NOT FILL UNTIL NEXT YEAR. I can do that.

Yay! I'm actually excited to have arrived at this, simple as it may seem. Thanks esp to you Suz for somehow getting to me with that last post.

All this talk of purging has me thinking a lot as well. I went through this whole exercise 5 years ago when I moved from San Diego to Seattle-area. I went from a walk-in closet to a small not-walk-in closet. I had to reduce my inventory by 3/4. Now I am settled on a set number of hangers and a firm one-in-one out strategy. Its working and I feel like i control my closet, rather than the closet controlling me.

Reading your posts makes me relive the state of mind I was in 5 years ago. Lots of mulling and mulching about clothes and how much or how little. I think the biggest score of the process was really pinpointing what my personal style is. What I like, what I like to wear. That is definitely a part of the process. Once you know what you LIKE, its easier to get rid of stuff that doesn't fit that scheme.

I still have several "just in case" items in there. Things I like that I think IN THEORY should work. Those items I force myself to style into an outfit to actually wear. If I can do it easily with what I have and I FEEL like the outfit is works with my style then I give it a hanger. If I try THREE TIMES to make it work and it just is too stubborn, then I pass it on. It's that whole "everyone NEEEEEDS a crisp white shirt" concept. I get one because I am supposed to have one but I just HATE wearing them. Last fall I got rid of all the crisp white shirts and substituted flowy white blouses and it works for me. Again, it is easier once you know what your personal style really is.

I agree Marlene... and part of the reason I've been trying to nail down descriptors, monkiers etc for myself (without much success I might add)(should get back on that). I think if I could stand in front of a mirror, or a photo, and say "Is this x and y" that the process would be easier. Because I can definitely love things that aren't "me".

And I totally get the white shirt thing LOL.

This post from Recovering Shopaholic seems very relevant: http://recoveringshopaholic.co.....efinition/

Thanks Laura! That was super illuminating, and actually kind of mirrored what I'd been going through, buying near multiples at the beginning of a style shift or wardrobe building, wanting to a race to a new look all at once instead of pacing it, and she has good tips.