One in - One out - just starting!! UPDATE: I counted - YouLookFab Forum

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One in - One out - just starting!! UPDATE: I counted

Sal

Veteran

Hi all

Through YLF and some tweaking I feel my wardrobe is now about the right size and I am well set up for conceivable occasions in the near future. It is not perfect - I have a couple of gaps like a decent puffer (mine is looking tired) and black boots that I like. I have not counted this year and I suspect it has crept up from about 100 to more like 115 or so... I am not so much buying more (about 25-30 pieces a year) but I am buying better, more suited for my lifestyle.

However I do have some essentials on their last legs (three black summer tops, some cognac sandal boots, my camel ankle boots, pewter high tops, the puffer jacket, white pants - and a couple of pieces I am wearing but not enjoying quite as much (cobalt sleeveless tunic, black moto boots). But I feel the time has come to say -one in-one out.

I am not quite on a shopping ban - I did add a floral bomber two weeks ago on heavy sale - but we have some big plans so I need to be very prudent with my budget at the moment. So I think it will be replacements mostly for the rest of this year - not exactly strict replacements - but pieces that fill the same need.

I know Angie does one in-one out (but she has many wardrobe superpowers that I don't have) - anyone else doing it successfully?

Cheers
Sally

ETA: I had a spare hour in the car with a laptop and no WIFI so I counted my closet - then got home and checked. It is possible there are one or two summer pieces in storage that I have forgotten about.

Winter coats 3
Jackets and Blazers 9
Cardigans 2
Dresses and tunics (Incl occasion wear) 18
Tops and blouses 24*
Sweaters 5
Skirts 2
Pants and jeans 11
Shoes, Boots and sandals 20
Sunglasses 2
Bags and clutches 9
Loungewear and gear (about 35) **

* Blouses, tanks, shirts, tee shirts, knitted tops etc (long, short and sleeveless)

** includes leggings, sweaters only worn at home, raincoat, rain boots, running, gym, cycling and swimming gear

*** not counted - hats, scarves, lingerie, sleepwear, jewelry

Shopping

34 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Staysfit

Veteran

I think it’s possible for you to maintain a wardrobe this way. I have tried to do it, and I am mostly successful. Sometimes I remove two items for one in, sometimes I add two instead. All in all, my wardrobe isn’t growing, it’s staying constant, but it’s still larger than most. I keep looking at everything and thinking about what to eliminate, but I seem to wear most everything. The least used items are in my dressy capsule, which is fine.

Sal

Veteran

Yes that sounds how I want to do it too Staysfit.

I have five black summer tops (two tees, two tanks and one blouse) of which four are pretty tired. I plan to get rid of three and replace with two.

My dressy capsule also gets the least wear but I love it and am in no hurry to get rid of anything......I also don't need anything unless I come across the perfect sparkly or faux fur topper!

Joy

Veteran

My experience has been much like Stayfit's. My dressy and very casual capsules do not get much wear, but are good to have when needed. I try to keep them especially minimal. What helps me most is having a limited number of hangars and space. I refuse to buy more hangars or storage containers. If I am not ready to get rid of something, I do not shop. Please keep us posted on how one in-one out is working for you.

Sal

Veteran

I will do so Joy - wise advice.

At the moment my dresser is pretty sparse but my hangars are full - as I have moved into more wovens and jackets and away from cardigans and tees.

jussie

Veteran

115 pieces sounds like a fairly small wardrobe overall. Well done! I haven’t counted mine but I suspect it’d be at least 150. Some of those are high summer things that are packed away though.
Do you find it much easier to have a smaller wardrobe?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I’m not consciously practicing one-in, one-out, but my wardrobe size is staying pretty stable, so I guess that’s what I’m doing. At the size of your and my wardrobe, things do get worn out, so that helps. The hardest for me is when I’m pretty sure I’m over something, but it’s not yet unwearable. Thinking about one/in, one-out can help with the mental hurdle of passing something on that still has life in it (just not for me.)

Becky

Veteran

I will be watching your thread with interest. I am not consciously trying to either increase or decrease the size of my wardrobe, but do look to upgrade and replace on a one-in, one-out basis if items get worn or just don't work for me for whatever reason.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I don't do this strictly but I am trying to reduce the size of my wardrobe and I edit a lot. Especially my winter wardrobe because Autumn/Winter fashions excite me more and I tend to overbuy. I also have in the past bought way too many knits and knit dresses, given my mild climate, and I am gradually trying to reduce their number. But I am getting much better at not buying for my fantasy climate!

Bonnie

Veteran

I finally feel like my wardrobe is the right size (about 150 "out and about" and dressier items including shoes) and I should be starting to implement a one in one out system. Most of my items have been added in the last three years and because my wardrobe is so large, they haven't gotten much wear. I've decided to go on a wardrobe fast until next year for these categories and focus on sport, loungewear, and sleep wear for the next 6 months. That means putting off one in one out decisions until January but I know I do want to try it to keep my numbers at least stable or even lower. I'm curious to find out how the system works for you and others.

Elly

Veteran

I have a small wardrobe (I only hit 100 pieces if you count every bag/shoe/scarf/public-appropriate gear and everything in my 2016 bin of items that no longer fit). One in one out is "attrition" and my attempt to avoid being a ratty lady. I find I wear stuff out fast enough that I rarely have to think about purchasing too much . . . Except black long sleeve tees

Anonymous

One In - One Out is a brilliant strategy. I am currently practicing it. My wardrobe is currently on the smaller side and I am being careful in terms of how I rebuild it. That means implementing a one in - one out strategy.

I am currently evaluating each top for (1) fit, (2) appropriateness relative to defined wardrobe plan and direction, (3) comfort, (4) life style, and (5) joy. I am shopping for replacement pieces (one in) for those that are being donated (one out). Slow, measured process.

The size of my closet is not growing at this time. But I am pleased with its development.

cindysmith

Veteran

O tried a strict "one in, one out" rule, but it didn't work for me. I always had trouble deciding what went out. I keep that mentality in mind, though. I will either

A) wait until I'm really low on a certain type of item, and buy some new ones

or

B) buy a bunch of new things (like when my preference or size changes), then purge a bunch of old things

It helps keep my wardrobe manageable, which helps keep me sane.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I have kind of been doing this Sally. But I still have too much and have not stopped buying altogether. Last year 18 items was the smallest number for years. This year by halfway through ( tomorrow) there are 14, two are exact duplicates which is unusual for me. So I have to slow down or edit more. Shoes are down from 52 a year ago to 44 now. Total wardrobe is 183 currently including shoes. It still feels too big and I'm using the forum to help me edit.
I would like to get to one in one out.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Just curious - do you count exact duplicates in your numbers (or maybe you don't duplicate that way). I have several duplicates at this point - on purpose because I loved the item enough to know I'd want to wear it more often than I do laundry, or I didn't want it to wear out too quickly. My style prefs don't change dramatically year to year.

Here are a few items I've duplicated (exact color/item) and have been very happy that I did.

View Info

Caslon Twill Shorts

View Info

Top Pick

5

Supplies By Unionbay Norma Camo Cargo Crop Pants

View Info

Top Pick

2

View Info

Top Pick

4

Flannel Courier Shirt in Stripe

View Info

Top Pick

2

KUT from the Kloth Gidget Denim Shorts

View Info

Top Pick

4

Anonymous

Although the practice sounds good , it assumes you are buying a piece purely to replace a worn-out or outdated version. I'm not necessary getting rid of a corresponding piece every time I buy a new item, but I have definitely stopped buying duplicates or the same thing, over and over again. I ruthlessly edit at the beginning, middle and end of each season, and have now reduced the size of my wardrobe to something I can manage. It's still a little larger than I would like, with too many unworn tops, but I'm getting there.

Liz

Veteran

Unlike lisap, I"m not a ruthless editor, so I use a one in/ one out to force myself to edit or give myself permission to edit. I do it very loosely: if a hanger item comes in, a hanger item goes, but they're not one-to-one replacements. So, a top for work might come in, and a weekend hoodie might go out.

@JenniNZ, a very loose approach like this might be useful for you. I find it "forces" me to edit. I stand at my closet and ask, "OK, if SOMETHING has to go, what will it be?" And that pushes me to get rid of that thing I've been waffling about whether to keep or not.

Anonymous

No, LisaP. There is much more flexibility built into my system than just replacing worn-out or outdated garments with new garments.

I am evaluating each piece against a set of specific criteria. What I loved in previous years may not work for me today. I am choosing t replace it with something that is more suitable. But the reasoning is that I am only buying one garment to replace a garment that no longer meets my needs. Slow and steady.

Like the Season

I've never been able to make one-in, one-out work for me. Maybe it's because I think of my wardrobe as one entity, like the Blob. It easily absorbs new items, but extracting individual pieces is difficult.

I have better luck with major closet assessments at least twice a year. I pull everything out, consider what's been worn and what hasn't and why, then purge the excess. Over the course of the year, I'm able to maintain decent equilibrium.

Christina F.

Veteran

I always try to do this, but don't always succeed. I have limited closet space, and I always have to purge items that are less than when I find better ones (even though it's not always a strict one jean in, one jean out kind of thing).

anchie

Veteran

I am finally at a point where I can do one in one out. It took many seasons to work out how many items I need in each category and to reach those numbers by purging or shopping. And not just broad category like pants, but how many summer casual pants for example I need. From now on it will be one in one out in the exact same category. So if I want to buy something I need first to identify what it is replacing. If I am happy with the whole category, I will not look for items in that category at all which I hope will simplify my shopping and wardrobe management. I just hope I don’t sound too crazy but I am engineer and very numbers driven I even have excel file to prove it.

Sara L.

Veteran

It sounds like a good strategy for you. I do better with a major purge at the beginning and end of each season and adding as I find stuff. I think it comes out about the same because my wardrobe is staying at around the same size (I don't count but I have limited space and it still all fits).

Vix

Veteran

Wishing you good luck, Sal!

I tend to do the seasonal Evaluate --> keep / donate / consign / demote to sleep/loungewear / textile recycling thing more but try to layer the In/ Out strategy on top.

This spring I was very smug as I didn't buy a secondhand silk jersey wrap dress with berry, dark neutrals, and light tones til I consigned a similar but higher-contrast one. Fast forward 3 months: no one bought it so I brought it home to decide its fate.

Ended up dunking it in a silk dye bath when I was doing other pieces and now like the color scheme much more even though the print's not ideal.

1 IN 1 OUT FAIL

I have faith you can do better!

Toban

Veteran

I’ve generally taken a more of a seasonal edit and review before purchases, with a small to moderate size wardrobe. I tend to be a heavy repeat wearer within a season, rarely duplicate items, but have a moderate-high turnover of bringing in new items each season. This is in part because of size fluctuations.

If your wardrobe is at your ideal size and all your occasions are covered, a one in/one out strategy seems a reasonable approach. Is your plan to stay within the same clothing category?

LaPed

Veteran

Over the course of the past few years I've had a lot of wardrobe turnover as I lost baby weight. For a while it was more "one-out, scramble to find one-in" than "one-in, one-out". But now that my size is pretty stable I'm having to train myself to slow down and churn less. From an ethical standpoint, having items with high longevity is probably more important to me than sticking to a predetermined number. I find that keeping my standards as high as possible within my budget is keeping new acquisitions to a reasonable number.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks for all the responses and the comments. It has been a crazy (cold) day here and I am only just getting to them and dinner is calling (hold up teenage boys at your peril!!)

Sorry about the group reply - it is interesting to read both the successes and issues with this approach.

My theory behind trying this is
- I want to be a bit more accountable for additions - since my closet is in a good shape I might be more reluctant to add pieces if I have to remove one.
- I have been adding better quality/more realistic/more my style pieces over the last 12-24 months so I am only removing pieces that are either worn out OR older than that - mostly more like 36 months or older. I am really happy about that.

I am not an exact duplicator (have done so once in my life) but I do have a few approximate duplicates (two long sleeve black tees, one short sleeve B&W tee and one long sleeve B&W tee). I do one load of laundry pretty much every single day and often 2-3 loads (it is relentless). Laundry bottlenecks are pretty rare for me - so I just don't really factor that in to decisions I make. And repeating does not worry me - so I don't factor that in either.

However I do love occasion wear and dresses so have some pieces that are lightly worn but I compromise on work wear/ weekend attire and repeat all the time to fit these special pieces in.

Generally I edit at the start and end of the season (and mid season if it wears out OR I suddenly know I am over something). I plan to keep doing this but just keep a note of the pieces I edit out and replace them. I just removed a skirt and coat (suit) that I have owned for 18 years - the coat is just too tight in my shoulders and while the skirt fits well but is an exact match I decided to pass them on together as I wear the skirt rarely (once a year at the most). I added a black floral bomber two weeks ago (lemming to several forum members) and the only addition I am considering this winter is new oxfords. Two in - two out - but different pieces.

There are some like for likes though - my black and white short sleeve tee has a stain on it - and this is a real workhorse as was the previous (different) iteration. I suspect I will look for a new similar or maybe even exactly the same tee.

With my cognac sandal boots these have done four years and I will probably choose quite a different style - not sure. But replacement is approaching over the next few months!!

It might not work for me as I am not the best person with rules:) And I do have some areas I could reduce (tops) without increasing others....

Best go as the teenagers are lurking.....

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I am more of a seasonal edit, and at any moment edit person. Like suddenly I’m over a piece. While shopping I ask if I would wear this new item or something already in my closet. And some of my favorite items are older.

Anonymous

I have never gotten the hang of one in one out. When I get my one in I move more worn item to lounge wear or dirty duty ( cleaning, gardening, volunteering - animals, used bookstore etc). Went things get real bad then they go to the rag pile. If there are good things I edit because they no longer suit me I consign or give them to my local women’s shelter.
But I too keep things forever ( remember KATERINA ‘s oldies challenge- lol?

Sal

Veteran

I think we are all different - I also move things to rags or gardening - but not all. My edits this year include a grey sheath dress, a cream polyester pretty blouse and a dressy tee - one became rags and two to the thrift shop. My brown tweed suit will go to the thirteen shop - someone could definitely make it work in a hipster way!!

I also love older pieces- and keep them as long as I can- I think a blend of old and new makes the best kind of outfits:)

3style

Veteran

I try to take categories and items within categories in a case by case basis. For example, I have three pairs of to-the-knee boots, all of which are six years old. I have lightweight (mild weather) medium weight (moderately cold weather) and heavy weight (very cold weather). Which ones get worn more which year depends upon the weather and activities and so forth. The heaviest ones are in the best shape, because they are waterproof by design. However, I tend to find them too warm for indoors and not as warm as my chunky shorter boots for outside. My medium weight ones end up being perfect under bootcut pants in moderate weather, but not usually warm enough for skirts. The lightweight ones, I tend to have issues with comfort, meaning sometimes they are loose and sometimes they are tight, and since they don’t have zippers, it limits what I can do with insoles. I’d love to replace all three of them with one pair to do everything, but I don’t even know what technological innovation exists which might make it possible to do so. Maybe some kind of waterproof Allbirds type technology will be developed for boots, and that will solve everything. I’m just content to evaluate by category, since I tend to buy the whole category in one season and keep it for years. Different seasons I focus on different categories.

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