Planning Tops on the Bed project

It may not be fair to talk about what I’m “gonna do” instead of what I’ve done, but I won’t have the spare time for another week or so and I also need some mental prep to see if it’s a good idea.

I’m gonna do a Tops on the Bed project to see how many tops I have that line up for each of 4-8 “seasons”—probably a Suz Six, which for me would be the 4 seasons plus Cold Spring and Hot Fall, or maybe 7 for Heatstroke Summer or 8 if I add Coldest Days Ever. All of these will be work-worthy tops or critiqued with that in mind; I won’t try to deal with casual, lounge, etc.

My idea is that I have a lot of tops, yet I still still tend to buy tops because they’re easier than most other things overall, but I don’t have a good handle on whether I have too much for one season, or not enough changeup of style, or where the holes are. I do think about CPW in that I know I’m not so minimalist that I wear a sweater or top twice a week or even once weekly, that much—more that 2-3 week cycle. So I really do have to think whether I am collecting items that won’t be worn or, as another YLF’er said, if I’m not wearing it why am I buying another one? Wear or toss or identify if it’s special somehow for occasional use.

This is not a capsule or outfit creation, though I’ll be thinking of that. It’s a focused review of just what is there in the tops category.Somehow I think if I see them all out there, I’ll have an epiphany about some of my seasons or categories.

I’ve done reviews before where I line things up in the closet, shift to different rods, or move items by season—so I do have an idea of whoops, too many cardigans,--but now I’m going to try piles next to each other in sequence and get most everything out there. I think I will need to use the whole bed and the bench and maybe something else—hence some prep to clear the decks and make it more likely I’ll get enough put back away in order to sleep!

Of course there will be overlaps or ditherings about which pile, since they’ll span seasons or defy categories altogether; that will be part of the exercise. Perhaps with a nice sauvignon blanc.

Are there some pile-er’s out there?

11 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

It sounds like you have a great plan!

pil

You are so analytical, it sounds like a very useful approach. It still sounds like a lot of work though! I'm afraid if I tried the pile approach the clothes would never again see the closet

Pawprints

Active Member

Unfrumped, you're planning a visual real-life spreadsheet, with wine as your snack! May I come to the party? It sounds like fun.

You're right, we're noodling on the same stuff today. How much is enough? Of what we have, what is going to be used? How should that guide our shopping now?

It sounds like a basic set of questions. But right now it's as confounding as issues like proportion and trendiness.

Speaking of trendiness, you know that's an issue that plays right into this question, at least for me. I shoot for including enough contemporary trends to feel current and, well, unfrumped, but not so many that I get caught up in the whole "OMG this look is out, whatever shall I do because I've only had it for three months?" problem. I couldn't go there in high school, I sure can't go there now. But by avoiding getting too caught up in the trends, I can wake up one day and go, "Oops. How did I get so dated?"

Buying short-lived trends is a dread for people like me who want to get use out of things before I feel like they need to go away. Balance.

Back to tops on the bed and wine. Brilliant.

Janet

(website)

I missed this earlier, but I wholeheartedly applaud this project and can't wait to see what realizations you have as a result! My shoeseum (thanks, Rae!) project was very helpful.

Joy

Unfrumped, this sounds like a great idea. While you have things gathered and after you have gone through the tops, I'd advise also grouping them with bottoms, especially skirts, to be sure that you keep the lengths you need.
I just did Angie's small casual fall capsule...just one...and it was lots of work trying everything on, but I learned a lot and identified some wardrobe holes.
I put everything that I might use in the capsule on the bed. Now I have lots of outfits that can be grabbed in a hurry.

shedev

I'll be watching with interest. My tops would more than cover my king sized bed.

DonnaF

Ha, ha, ha, I avoided opening this because I thought you were talking about bedspreads, comforters, quilts, and the like! Sounds good. I'm wondering if machine washable vs. dry clean only factors in anywhere?

Category