Questions about "one in, one out" practice...

devon7

I am feeling overwhelmed by my closet and the fact that I've bought too much in recent months, so I am strongly considering the "one in, one out" practice espoused by Angie and others. I have a few questions which I know will be expertly answered by the wonderful members of this forum.

1) Is it better to buy first or eliminate first? For example, if I decide I no longer like a jacket, do I put that item in the donate pile and then go out and buy a new jacket? Or if I buy a jacket, do I then go home and take one out to eliminate?

2) Is it best to eliminate WITHIN categories or just adopt a one item for one item philosophy?

3) Logistically, how you do manage the process? Do you always keep a donate pile and put items into that pile (or bag) as you buy new things? Or do you get the donations out of the house ASAP so that you're not tempted to bring them back into your closet?

I'm sure everyone manages the process differently, but I would like to get feedback so that I can decide what will work best for me.

My problem is that I have mostly good stuff in my closet, but I love to shop and so I buy too much. Few items are older than 3 years and everything fits me (my weight/size are fairly stable), save a few pairs of pants that are tight due to a slight weight gain (excess weight always goes to my hips and thighs, so even 3 pounds can make a big difference!).

I have been doing the "hanger trick" since the beginning of the year and also tracking how often I wear everything I own. There are some things which have not been worn, so maybe those are candidates for tossing since it's now September. We don't have drastic seasons here (San Diego), so many items can be worn most of the year. I do have some dressier items that don't get used often because my life is casual, but I do want to keep a small number of such items for when the need arises.

Please help me to manage my overloaded closet! I just got back from a trip and as I was unpacking, I sighed a heavy sigh because there is just too much! I have some time today and tomorrow to work on my closet, so I am ready, willing, and able. I anxiously await your tips!

14 years ago

Shopping

11 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Take my words with a grain (or ten) of salt, but it sounds as if you need a purge before you can practice one-in-one-out.

Gaylene gave some great advice for this on this thread, and others have equally good insights: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....g-question

As far as one-in-one-out goes, I think the answer to all your questions would be "it depends." Not terribly helpful, I know!

Example: Is it better to buy first and then eliminate? Well, if you have duplicates of the item, there's no real reason to buy first (or buy at all, for that matter!) If you wear this type of item every day, and you don't have similar items, you won't want to toss it until you have a replacement. But if you rarely wear items like this anyway, then why not let it go.

For donations, I keep a bag in a separate closet and once it's full, off it goes. If I'm doing a major purge, it gets full in one go. If I'm doing "editing" it might fill up over a year. But if you are consigning, you'd want to take those things to a store much sooner, probably.

14 years ago

HeleenH

Veteran

Maybe you should be stricter with yourself when (or even if) you go shopping? Only buy something if it fills a hole or is waaaaay better than a similar item you own (which will therefore go out). Use your closet size as the boundary. Since the closet sounds too full, you probably shouldn't buy anything before you have decluttered and made an inventory.

14 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

My closet purge has been a long, slow process. Having 4 seasons means too many items for each season!

I've also been doing the rotating hangar trick. Since I have 4 seasons, every 3 months what was not turned around and fit that season goes into a donate bag and right out the door. For example, summer is ending here, items that are for summer and I have not worn are ready to donate.

Now the harder part. In a closet, certain items are always favorites. You wear them often. Look them over, are they still in good shape, if so keep, if not, toss them. Pick a favorite item, now take questionable items, items in good shape but don't jump out at you. Compare them, would you be willing to give up the item you love for an item that you feel "meh" about? Probably not, so that also can go to donate.

For new items, if it does not fill a wardrobe hole, do not buy it until your closet is the size you prefer. Then replace items with the same purpose as one in and one out. For example, perhaps you purchase a new blazer, you can either remove one blazer, cardigan, or stand alone top. All 3 are toppers, so only one topper has to go. For myself I enjoy layering so a new cardigan/blazer is removed when one of these is purchased. Good luck!

Edit to add: I keep one donate bag that continuously is filled, when it is to the brim off to the donation bin it goes. This helps me put aside items I like but if I forget about them, then they are good to donate. Once in a blue moon I grab an item out of the donation bag, but it's pretty rare.

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I am finding myself doing the purging first and then buying to replace/fill the void. The interesting thing is, I am doing this unwittingly! 2 nights ago I did some midnight tailoring (ahem) and ruined a black skirt. I also decided the next morning to donate a white top. The next day I found myself buying . . . a white top and black skirt! Not necessarily to 'replace' those because the cut and styles are different, but there you go! Oh, I also donated a blue jersey knit dress and in the mail arrived my red jersey knit dress instead. Hmmm, I must be sleep shopping lol!
But I wouldn't hold onto an item just to wait for it's replacement . . . in my mind if it's ready to toss or otherwise move on from, it's ready. If you then feel a gaping hole - fill it!

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

here's how I do it.

#1) I tend to buy first. For instance, I know that I am wanting to spiff up my winter pullover sweater collection, so I mentally note which need to go, but don't actually remove them from my closet until the replacement arrives. The reason for this is I will be more discerning on purchasing the new items if I don't have that gaping hole waiting to be filled. If the old items are still fairly wearable, and I don't find new ones right away, I still have something to wear when that random cold snap hits.

#2) I replace within the same category.

#3) I have a Nordstrom bag sitting on the floor of my closet at all times to collect donations. And there are times I do rescue an item..and that's not a bad thing. But of course, if I make a rescue, something else has to go....

BUT... Suz makes a good point. Is your wardrobe currently at the size you want or do you need to downsize first?

14 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

For me, how I handle it depends on whether or not the item is an "essential". I have certain things I that I wear over and over.

I keep a box in my bathroom. If I put something on and I don't like it, it doesn't fit and so on, it goes in the box. If the item is an essential, then I shop for a replacement or I write it down. If it is something that I like but not a core part of my wardrobe, I won't replace it. For example, I am loving some red skinny jeans that I bought last Spring. If something were to happen to them, I would not replace them, they are fun, but I feel I can function without them just fine. I would replace my skinny blue jeans, though.

If I buy a non-essential, then another non-essential needs to go. If I can't let go of it then the new one goes back. I often get rid of non-essentials. This leaves me a little room for impulse buys.

ETA : If I find that there is a hole in my wardrobe, then nothing goes out when I fill the hole. For example, I want a warm, casual dress for the Winter. I have found one that I like. SInce nothing like this exists in my wardrobe, there will be just be a pure addition.

14 years ago

Anonymous

When shopping I try to ask myself if I like an item I'm considering enough to eliminate a similar item from my closet. If the answer is no, I don't buy it. If yes, then it's because I really love it. I too have a closet full of things that fit in good shape.

14 years ago

Elly

Veteran

Here is what I do when I am dealing with closet purging.

First, I take out all of the things I wear often or absolutely need for certain occasions. For example, my jeans are a staple in my daily life, and I often wear black dress slacks for non-jeans occasions. I would never get rid of these frequently worn items that serve as "basics" in my closet until I have a replacement in hand.

However, beyond those favorite/frequent fliers/basics I don't sweat it and over-think the logistics. I try clothes on, I see how they fit, how they lay, look carefully at them and consider if they flatter and the materials and conditions. Then I ask myself what I like about a garment and whether it could serve a role in my wardrobe--- if it isn't functional, practical, or fabulous in a situation where you have problems limiting what is in your closet, it should probably go. Sometimes you need to go out shopping (you can leave the cards at home-- no buying) and try on new things--- sometimes it is easier to be objective about things you haven't committed to and note what flatters. Try on things that you might not normally. This also will give you an eye for the differences in dated and new styles (especially the subtler things--- I see many ladies locally that have wardrobes that still have plenty of stuff from the 90s and they will go right out and buy the newest thing-- but it will still look dated because they still want/like the 90s proportions with the short tops with slacks, ect).

I don't think there should ever be a desperation to fill up the closet so long as what you are currently wearing often is still sufficing. Sure, you want to change or find better versions, but if you have the time and like to shop sometimes it is better to do it slowly, at your leisure. Eventually what you are looking for will come along and you won't have settled.

On the other hand--- I don't believe in PERFECT and don't like to here that someone is hunting for the PERFECT this or that because it put pressure on the situation. Plus, nothing lasts forever and bodies and "perfection" changes.

I think you need to think about how often you realistically are willing/want to wear an item like a jacket each week and then decide on the types and colors you will wear most often. Then you can think about occasional but important needs.

For example-- I like to wear cotton wovens in the summer. I recently looked at my stash. I tried a couple on and I had to trash one because of wear and two because my chest size has changed since I wore them last and they look a bit dated. Since it is the end of the summer and I have plenty of other options (one or two wovens that work, and I can always wear a T) I would rather have them out of my closet (even if they were still "functional but not flattering" or whatever). On the other hand, if I had no wovens and no t shirts and was beginning of my season, then I might keep them (if they buttoned, ha ha) so I don't feel pressured to replace. That is where having a larger closet to begin with is an advantage for you.

I just think is important to remember that the clothes aren't doing anyone any good if you don't love them, truly need them, and wear them.

14 years ago

devon7

(website)

Active Member

Thanks SO much to all who responded! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to reply!

You all gave me a lot of wonderful ideas and words of wisdom and I'm very appreciative. Here's what I've done and what I've decided...

I went through my closet and have a large bag of donations ready to go. I also decided to sell a few rarely worn pairs of shoes on Ebay, as I've had luck with doing that in the past.

My closet is still quite full, but I've been doing "the hanger trick" and tracking how often I wear everything since the beginning of the year (my husband and I hung little string tags on each hanger and I put an X on the tag whenever I wear something). At the end of the year, I will re-evaluate what should stay and what should go. I live in San Diego and we don't have very pronounced "seasons" here, but after a full year, I should be able to determine which items are getting good wear and which are sort of "dead weight" in my closet.

From now on, I will use the "one in, one out" rule. If I buy something new, I will eliminate a similar item from my closet. I will follow this for ALL items except those which are not well represented in my closet (i.e. pants - I have a difficult time finding pants due to my tall height, so I will keep pants until I am not wearing them). I think that with this rule and with regular closet culling (which I definitely do), my wardrobe will become more manageable. Simply knowing that I will have to get rid of something whenever I buy a new thing will keep me on the straight and narrow. I am sure that I will also eliminate more at the end of the year, too, when I look at the hangers and tags and see what I've worn and how often.

I am pretty much on SYC for the end of the year, but I've cheated a bit by returning things are buying new things and shopping at consignment stores (i.e. paying cash for items using my "pocket money"). SYC plus what I've outlined above should get my closet to more manageable territory by 1/1/2012.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like a good plan, Devon. Keep us updated about how things go!

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I, too, am interested in hearing how this goes! I'm roughly doing this right now but not strictly. Too strict of rules and I go off the deep end, but guidelines serve me well

14 years ago

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