One in, one out strategy - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

One in, one out strategy

Isabel

Veteran

Do you have strategy on how to manage one in, one out ? Do you have a list of "outs" that will go as you bring in new things or do you buy a new thing and THEN stand in front of your closet to decide what goes ?
I have a hard time hanging on to something that is on the "out" list.

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from LaPed

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is what I do, Isabel:

http://youlookfab.com/2011/08/.....principle/

Great to see you again. Much love to you.

Anonymous

I employ both methods.

As I buy new items in a given category, I am expected to donate one item in that exact same category. This hasn't always worked out so well because I am buying in categories I never bought for in the past (e.g., cardigans or leggings). So for every cardigan purchased, I am donating one topper (either a blazer, coat, or robe). Ideally, one day it will be cardigan for cardigan.

Meanwhile, for items that I purged earlier this year (like jewelry), I made a list of the items purged and if I should ever come across jewelry I love I'll buy it knowing I already purged jewelry earlier this year. Again, I might have problems matching category to category. For example, I purged all my watches. I don't intend to buy any watches in the future so "one in, one out" won't work for me. But I love earrings and I might buy new earrings as my "one in".

I have also purchased a new sweater and then stood at my closet and tried to decide what sweater-like item will be purged. This was painful.

As I gain more experience with this method, I assume things will match up better.

always trying

Veteran

I sometimes have a hard time even putting something on an "out' list. But I am trying just one category at a time, so mine is footwear. And for me things work best if I take a really good look at something and figure out why I am hanging on to it. Sentimentality is the first one to be addressed. these are usually things that were once special, but I ask "are they still" -and if the answer is yes then it goes into a storage area.

now I am also taking a longer time to buy replacements of things I still have but am not wearing. Does this really need replaced or eliminated is a good deciding factor. Also maybe replacing an item with something that serves the same purpose, but is entirely different. This has not been a good idea the first time I tried it, but I am finding that maybe it was not really a wardrobe hole after all..

Buying new before getting rid of an item, for me is best, as the new has to be something I really love. This way the old will not be worn any more and easier to let go.

Liz

Veteran

I use one-in / one-out more as a shopping check than a hard and fast rule. When I'm buying something, I think, "If I buy this, will I happily get rid of ____ [the thing that I have that's similar to this] and start using this instead?" If the answer is "no," it usually means the thing I'm buying isn't quite right and doesn't really do what I need it to do.

Or, if I think, "No, I'm not ready to get rid of anything," then it's a sure sign I don't need anything new and am just adding to the stuff already in my closet.

abc

Veteran

I'm more like Liz. I use it as a way to keep myself and my small closet in check.

Sometimes I review the closet and purge, but more frequently I hold on to an item bc it fills a hole in my wardrobe and without it I would be in a pickle. When I find the replacement, happily the old one goes out and the new one comes in.

This works better when I'm in a more stable place in my closet. When I was in a phase of building, it wasn't really possible. A LOT more was coming in than going out. Now that my closet is more stable and I know my style better, it's easier to execute a plan like one in one out.

Good luck.

Lisa

Veteran

I do one in one out and have both focused on the same type of item as well as just removing an item. As long as I'm managing my numbers so my closet doesn't increase in size, I think one in one out works.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I've only reached this stage recently but what seems to be working for me is looking at a group of clothing, say coats or exercise wear, as a whole & working out which items need upgrading or replacing. I also do what Liz does when I'm shopping for their replacements.

carter

Veteran

No solution from me because I'm still trying to find the "perfect" wardrobe balance. This year has been more like 8-10 out to 1 in, with no category relationship. We're planning to move next Summer, so I WILL get to the right sustainable wardrobe for me. From there, I hope to do one-in-one out in some form.

LaPed

Veteran

I generally get things out first, then replace, unless it's an absolute essential that I only have one of (running shoes, winter coat, etc.) in which case I'll make sure I find a great replacement first before jettisoning the old one. If I hang on to things then I just end up wearing the old stuff I intended to take out of rotation and "saving" the new stuff.

I tend to wear my clothes to death, though. Usually they are not even donate-able by the time I'm through with them. They go from street clothes to chore/lounge clothes, and then to the rag pile or trashcan.

When I do donate/consign things, it's usually related to sizing and/or fit, and I often just replace with the same item or as close an analog as I can find in the correct size, so those are pretty easy one-in one-outs.

unfrumped

Veteran

What Liz said. Or I wannabe.
So if we talked sweaters (pullovers)--I'm attracted just like the moths and yet I have enough in numbers. I have got to a point where I must say, what is the point of this new sweater? Who does it replace, what does it do that can't be done with what I've got? Or better if it replaces 2 items.

I also do seasonal edits and pull out items that I'm ready to toss, and for these I don't aim to go add back items.

I keep a notebook with one side of page for "ins" and one for outs and somehow hope that the outs are winning.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Lovely to "see" you, Isabel!!

I don't really follow the one-in-one-out guideline. Or rather, I don't follow it strictly. I do more what Caro in Oz says and examine a capsule or category. For example, this year I would like to buy a new puffer if I can find one. It won't replace my current puffer (i.e. no "out") but will supplement it.

Meanwhile, I might edit out 6 knits and purchase only 3, depending on my needs and what appeals.

Anonymous

My wardrobe is at a holding stage right now. I've only purchased a couple of items in recent months, and have only gotten rid of 2 or 3 things.

Dee

Veteran

I mostly only do one in one out for specific items that are placeholder pieces. Good enough (fit, reasonably flatter, etc) but that I don't truly feel fab in. When I find *the one* in whatever category, I easily let things go.

The rest of the time, I mostly try to keep my overall numbers about the same, even if there is variation by category.

Anonymous

For me, one in, one out has to be something that I want to replace. If 'm not ready to give up the original for a replacement, then i don't buy. I am no longer letting myself buy placeholders until the right piece comes along. Now if I want, say red flats, and find some that are just ok, I don't let myself buy them. Something I like better is bound to come along and then I won't feel that I can buy it because I have something like it already.

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm feeling a big like Joyin that placeholders can be a real pit for me-- but worse than not upgrading, I'll get a " better" item but the placeholder may have grown roots, because often it isn't bad, and there is something I liked about it in the first place, so I'll keep it and the wardrobe expands. .
Which really means it's harder for me to cull unless something just doesn't fit, so I have to remind myself of that and use a higher bar for adding something new.

Penny

Veteran

In the last couple of years, I've let go of many items with the intention of a one-to-one replacement, and yet I've let go of say, five dresses and only added one, which has ended up working out fine. I'd rather let things go and realize I'm fine with fewer things that I love than keep any items that aren't up to par. Although now I am at a very stable level, so I probably wouldn't buy anything new unless I identified the specific item that it would upgrade.

Isabel

Veteran

Thank you so much for all your responses. I am embarrassed to admit that I wasn't looking at it item or capsule specific....and that apparently is the problem. Ah-ha moment !

The placeholder concept is also not something that I had considered. But that is so true.

My winter capsule is also in a great place. : )

Eliza

Veteran

I recently did a giant purge; more than half of my closet went out. Got way behind on editing due to injury and recoveries; online shopping was possible, however...

I am now aware of several wardrobe holes, as well as the type of pieces that might just add to my overall happiness. There is probably more refining to do, and that will take place as I do the last step of organization.

I am poised for one and one out, yet I won't be completely literal about it. I know what I tend to accumulate and will be mindful. I will take Angie's advice and take a look monthly for what no longer works. If you know your wardrobe, it becomes easy to notice redundancies and keep it workable.

Thanks for this thread, Isabel.

Sal

Veteran

Interesting read. I try not to buy placeholders. However I will make do with something not perfect for budgetary and waste reasons- not always though.

I

LaPed

Veteran

Kiwigal, I agree that placeholders are a source of frustration; I do not like having less-than-awesome in my closet!

There have been times in the past when I was forced to compromise -- needing to build a work wardrobe on a very strict budget and timeframe -- but these days I try to avoid buying things that are "just until I find a better version" -- it feels very wasteful, especially when I think of the human labor and environmental resources that each garment embodies.

I also find that when I visit thrift stores I'm more likely to bring home a placeholder or something that is good-but-not-fab. When it's secondhand, proceeds to charity, and just a few bucks, it's harder for me to be fully critical. Once I get home, I find I'm back to the drawing board searching for the "perfect" version of that item, and once I find it the not-fab version goes right back to Goodwill!