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Dressing

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Rotating Clothes

jag923

How do you ensure that you wear all your clothes and do not have repeats? I don't want to place items in the back of my closet because that disorganizes my arrangements. Do you alternate pants, skirts, dresses, etc? Do you have any rules about how often an item can be worn? Just looking for ways to expand my looks and not feel like I am wearing the same thing over and over again.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

lady

hmmmm...this is going to reveal my crazy obsessive organization disorder but here goes...

I keep an Excel spreadsheet. I started it several weeks ago and now I have no idea how I functioned without it. It was an idea planted by Sal over at AlreadyPretty who keeps an outfit list.

So originally it was just a log for outfits but I listed an inventory of all my cool/cold weather clothing and it has grown into a fantastic tracking tool to help me design outfits and for your purposes make sure I dont keep wearing the same thing over and over.

Before i started the spreadsheet I simply would not wear anything that was just washed...presuming that if i just washed it I must have recently wore it, but that was kinda hit or miss. I find keeping a list helps a lot better bc if I do rewear something I wore recently I can make sure it's styled differently and worn with different pieces therefore creating a whole new outfit.

clearly, you dont need a spreadsheet for this. Sal simply uses a notebook and her system has been working great!

her posts about it:

http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....-list.html

http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....hlist.html

lady

I forgot to add.....I still write stuff...like if I'm at work, I'll write down a few outfit ideas if they come to me and just add it to the spreadsheet later.

The whole 'workbook' is currently made up of the following sheets:

-An outfit log where I record daily outfits and enter in what I'm wearing the next day (helps me plan the next day's outfit)
-A cool/cold winter wardrobe inventory
-Formulas (created in the same vein as Angie's MOTG formulas. I did this to give me a launch pad of creating outfits if I'm stuck)
-Outfit ideas: Outfits I think up as well as inspiration that I've seen online or in magazines that I can recreate with my own wardrobe.

ok...i'm done. lol.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I tend to look at the clothes hanging in my closet at night when I cant sleep and sometimes figure out combos I think would be great....unfortunately by morning Ive already forgotten them! So I do NOT recommend my method! lol....

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I keep a small wardrobe, so it isn't an issue for me. Everything gets worn regularly.

Louise

Veteran

I wear most things regularly. But occassionally I do turn all my hangers the wrong way round then as I wear something it goes back the right way round x

Carole

Veteran

Such inspiration! Maybe this is what I need to do as well, keep a notebook, or picture notebook of outfits. I tend to wear the same things over and over, because they are tried and true, not being creative enough for sure. For me it's a lack of confidence to try something new. That's what I love about YLF-you gals give me inpiration and courage to experiment.

catgirl

Veteran

I have no system. In fact, like Carole, I repeat the same outfits - not necessarily from safety, but from LAZINESS. I mentioned to a good friend that I needed more work tops, and she said "Oh, you mean one black shirt isn't enough?"

Lady, I need you to come over and get me organized!

MsMary

Veteran

Wow. I already log my food, exercise and money. I don't know if I have it in me to take on my wardrobe! LOL

But now, of course, I am challenged and I may have to give it a try...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I also keep a small wardrobe and everything in one place. No swapping out of seasons. At a glance, I can see what I have so duplication is not an issue - unless I deliberately want a duplication of course

catgirl

Veteran

For those with a small wardrobe, can you give a definition of "small"? I am aiming to streamline...

Marley

Veteran

This is a great thread - I am loving hearing about everyone's methods and thoughts on this topic! I'm in the process of cleaning out/editing/ etc. my closet so I'll be anxiously checking this thread periodically to learn the secrets of those who are so much more experienced YLFrs than what I am! (Wow that was an awkward last sentence

Yes - like Alaskagirl, I too would like to know what constitutes a "small" wardrobe!

MsMary

Veteran

I'll bite -- I consider my wardrobe "small" because it fits into one closet and one dresser.

That, and the whole closet full of shoes.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I finally trimmed down my closet so it only contains items that fit me right now and that I can see. This makes it a lot easier to ensure I rotate better, and those that don't get used stand out like sore thumbs. I like Louise's method of flipping the hangers; I am OCD about making sure all my hangers are facing the same way, so if I use the idea of turning them to keep track of what is getting worn more, I will be able to tell everything apart easily. Plus, my OCD-ness will encourage me to wear everything if only to be able to flip the hanger direction. LOL!

lady

hmmm....so subjective....i dont consider my wearable wardrobe 'large'. Cooler seasons clothes fit on one side of the closet (i think its a standard "double closet") Warmer season fits on the other side. I have a dresser drawer committed to knitwear and that's it. but i'm unsure if this qualifies it as 'small'. My spreadsheet is on my home computer (at work, shhhh). So I can't give an exact rundown. For cooler weather I think I have in the neighborhood of
5 pants/trousers
2 skirts
2 jeans
10 items of knitwear
6-8 buttondowns (incl blousey bd's)
10 jackets/blazers
a host of camis in several colors and trims.

I remix like crazy and rely on my camis and accessories to really change the look of something. I usually will only buy something that I can style for work, fun, and church. So there is very little difference in the clothes I wear daily. Im just more outrageous and bold with accessories and makeup when not at work. more conservative and 'dressy' for church.

i've got other stuff that doesnt fit but that doesn't count, does it?

as for my clothes tracking spreadsheet. thanks guys! I'm only slightly embarrassed to say I find it fun. I LOVE to organize data. so its not a burden at all. i'd gladly catalogue someone else's outfits and wardrobe! LOL! its a sickness!

Queen Mum

Veteran

One thought for trying to wear everything in your closet is to pin a clothes pin to each item and remove it when you wear it. You can even get tiny plastic ones so that you don't have a closet full of clothespins catching on everything. Even if you repeat an item, you can make it a goal to wear at least one "new" item every day until all clothes pins are removed and then start over again.
Hmm.. I think I might try that myself!

Anonymous

Keeping a small wardrobe in one closet and a couple of drawers is the best way. It also means that an item won't stay in the ironing basket all season unworn because you don't take time to iron. (Been there) If you don't have much, you tend to keep it all ready to wear. As the seasons change I tend to be most ready to edit out what hasn't been worn as much and also take a good look at what I've got for the new season to see if it still makes me feel fab.
I also keep a notebook of outfits I've liked or need tweaking. When in a rut, I look back at what I was wearing last year. It's usually the older items that get ignored in favor of newer ones.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

alaskagirl- I have about 5 (or less) in each category- summer dresses, woven tops, pants, denim, jackets, etc) My entire wardrobe fits in half of my closet- one hanging bar about 3 feet long and a stack of shelves, and one dresser.

catgirl

Veteran

Marley - sounds like you and I need a support group to stop buying randomly and downsize what we have...

Chewy, Joy, Lady: that is exactly the answer I wanted to know. Thank you so much. I am SO impressed with you.

Marley

Veteran

Oh my goodness - this thread has been sooo helpful for me. Lady - will you please come over to my house and do an inventory of my wardrobe/spreadsheet? Thank you for all of the tips everyone - I'm headed upstairs to my closet right now. Wish me luck!

Kristine

Veteran

I try to mix it up, but I also don't mind if I duplicate. If something works well, why not wear it again? I generally wear every basic once a week, with others rotating in about every other week or so.

I think my wardrobe is on the small side. 4 pairs of dress pants, 4 pairs of jeans, 4 dresses (including summer, cocktail, black), 3 long sleeve shirts (one more on the way thankfully!), 2 pairs of boots, 4 pairs of flats, 2 pairs of heels, 2 pairs of sneakers. It fits in a 3' closet (including shoes and bags) and a dresser, but I rotate out of season clothes into a suitcase to save on space.

Anonymous

I'm in the process of downsizing my closet from a large walk-in style to now only having 2 4-foot rails and some shelves where I can put shoes and sweaters. it's been a major project but now that it is all out in front of me, I am actually finding that I am more creative and wear more of my stuff than I did when I had a "big" wardrobe. Its really been like peeling an onion. Each time I go through and purge, I get rid of more and more of the stuff that isn't really meeting my needs. This fall, most of my clothing budget will be going into alterations and replacing my wardrobe workhorses. I am selling a bunch at a local consignment store and that money I am using towards my alterations bill. I am at the point where now I need to really evaluate what I actually wear and purge the stuff I don't. I may try the clothes hanger trick or the clothespin trick.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Alaskagirl, my husband and I share a very small walk-in wardrobe. Everything is in it - no swapping out of seasons. Coats are in the closet downstairs and underwear is in a separate chest of drawers.

Is that descriptive enough?

A follow a one in one out principle.

Lisa

Veteran

I'm in the process of streamlining my wardrobe, so right now I have squished all seasons into one closet (previously they were spread out among two closets and a couple boxes). And also two drawers. I have all the hangers rotated. As items are worn, I flip the hanger back. Since my seasons just switched, all the summer items got moved to the side and any items not worn all summer were donated. I plan to do the same with fall/winter. At some point I'd love to have everything in one closet and free up the drawers but I find some sweaters are not happy hung up.

One idea I have discovered from reading YLF was to purchase more season-less clothing. This allows mixing and matching as well as layering to be a lot easier if you have multiple seasons like I do. I kept one "summer" looking dress but others are less season specific now. I can switch them up with wearing short sleeves or no sleeves but layer with shirts and turtlenecks for cooler weather. I plan to streamline my wardrobe this way. I suspect it will take a year to see how much I really wear, learn NOT to purchase as often, and learn how to mix up my outfits.