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Season switch and closet edit

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yesterday after a hike in the woods and a shower, I went to get dressed and pulled out three separate tops, intending to wear one, and each time I rejected it, feeing annoyed with some aspect of it. One: love the print, hate the way it stands out from my body making it look like I have a tummy. Two: like the style, except the length is too long and tunic-y. Three: sleeves are uncomfortable when pushed up, which I do a lot for cooking and working.

These are all several years old, and I suspect it may be time to let at least one of those go — as well as some other closet annoyances. I kind of fear a big edit because I’ll be tempted to do more shopping, but I realized that one or two of my essentials could stand to be updated.

For instance: washable knit or jersey black tops are a necessity for me. My current long sleeve black tops are all a bit older and feeling not quite so fab anymore, and it makes me sad because they are all styles that went a little beyond a basic tee or sweater — one has an asymmetrical neckline/shoulder detail, one is a drapey wrap style (see second and third finds). My current favorite is a simple V-neck Rag & Bone with a easy fit (the first find). I actually sometimes stop myself from wearing it because I don’t want to wear it out quickly.

Is the change of seasons making you want to edit? Do you fear editing because it can spark a new round of purchases?

Rag & Bone / Jean rag & bone Hudson Tee | Nordstrom

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Latest reply was from The Cat

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Janet, it's always interesting how items fall in and out of favour for a myriad of reasons. A change of seasons bring a new energy and outlook on many things. Spring is especially a good clean-up season. Rejuvenating somehow. My clients tend to have their most energy in the Spring!

I vote pass on at least two tops. Hem the too tunic-y top shorter?

The way I see it, if you are thoughtful about your purchases, have some type of shopping plan, don't cram up your wardrobe storages places, stick to a budget, and can manage the size of your wardrobe, there is little need to fear a round of new purchases. I know you've got this

The black tops you are describing are wardrobe essentials. Replenish!

SarahD8

Veteran

It kind of sounds like you need to duplicate the rag & bone tee!

Sorry to be an enabler. But then it might be easier to let go (if still a bit regretfully) of the two tired tops.

Maybe a one in-two-(or three)-out rule would help you avoid the big shop that you fear would come along with a big purge, while still enabling you to fill in those genuine holes.

I’ve had my eye in a couple of spring items that I suspected weren’t quite right, but I was waiting to pass them along until we got into the season and I could actually try them out. So now to realize: yep, this can go — it’s kind of satisfying!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Angie, yes — I’m kind of surprised at how some of my old beloved items are all of a sudden feeling tired. I have quite a full closet even though I have been editing little bits here and there. I have bought less in the past year than in my previous years of shopping, and that’s good for the budget. But maybe after a year of wearing a lot of the washable essentials around the house, I’m more acutely aware of what is not feeling so great anymore. And spring definitely makes one feel like starting fresh!

I was wondering about getting the long top hemmed. It dates back to when everyone was wearing all skinnies all the time, and it just doesn’t seem to work as well now. It also occurs to me that I’m not super fond of 3/4 length sleeves and this top has those as well. I do like the fact that it has the unique appeal of a top that looks good under a jacket but also has some visual interest when you remove the topper. Hmm. I may take it to my tailor and see what she thinks about shortening it — perhaps curving the hem?

Sarah, yep! I feel guilty when I look at my closet and see old favorites that I’m starting to feel tired of, even though they are still in good condition and look nice on me. Like it’s wasteful to let them go, even if I feel like I’ve gotten my wear out of them. I need to be more ruthless.

rachylou

Veteran

My personal problem is I never edit, never remove anything, and still shop! Ahem! But jokes aside, no, I hear you. I fear thoughtless buying sprees, because it does happen... I’ll decide for instance I need a pink sweatshirt and then I buy five and a couple of other things that caught my eye. I do think Angie’s advice of reviewing your whole wardrobe, making a list - and then sitting with it a little bit to sort of fix it in mind helps. Being truly thoughtful makes purchases go a longer way towards satisfaction.

Anonymous

Editing mg closet doesn’t make me want to restock or shop to fill it back up , thankfully . I’d really really love not to have so much . I have a jammed closet and far too many pieces which are really holdovers from my sales days . I am so tempted to ruthlessly cull my spring stuff - especially my shoes . Something is holding me back though - not sure what . My spring sneakers especially are really not exciting me and feel tired .

nemosmom

Veteran

It is tough to let go of essentials that have that "little" something extra. If black knit tops are an essential for you, you should have ones available that you actually LIKE to wear - not ones you fight with. I vote for mindfully replacing them.

Runcarla

Veteran

I did something different this year, and shopped for some warm weather summer items. I won’t be able to get them into rotation (except the white jeans - which I’m wearing a lot) for another 4-6 weeks, but it scratched the shopping itch. On the other hand, the crispness of the new items makes some of the older items stand out as somewhat faded and shabby. I actually ironed (!) some t-shirts in an attempt to improve their texture and smooth out rolling hems, etc.

Although my closet served me well this past year, and I did not fall into the trap of pajamification during the activity restrictions and lockdowns, I’m feeling a sense of excitement and optimism as the weather improves, vaccines roll out, and the choice of extra curriculars starts to increase. Yes, I feel like doing an edit!

I want my style to reflect this optimism that I feel, but I’m struggling at the moment while figuring it out. Usually a wildcard item picked up while shopping B&M is the catalyst, but B&M is still a limited occasion and shops are lacking inspiring stock and inventory due to distribution problems. S/S seems to be dropping now online, but the delivery isn’t inspirational without all the sensory experiences that comes with B&M.

Funny aside. Last summer DH and I rented a dumpster when DH decided to re-shingle the garden shed. We did a big house and yard/garden clear out before the dumpster was hauled away. Today the dumpster company *pinged* me with a ‘spring cleaning’ promo!

Anonymous

Carla , can you send the dumpster over to my place when you’re done ? I’m now so motivated to clean out my wardrobe , thanks to Janet

JAileen

Veteran

I weed out things that annoy me. Like Carla, I bought a few new summer items - sleeveless tops. So this morning I went through my sleeveless top drawer and pulled several tops that had too low of a neckline.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Carla, good point about old items sometimes looking shabby once you see them with crisp new things.

Well, it’s a beautiful sunny Saturday here and normally I’d be out hiking, but instead for the last hour or so, I’ve pulled most of the tops out of my closet, category by category, and more than a dozen things have gone into the giveaway/sell box, and a couple more in the holding zone. I am going to take that asymmetrical top to the tailor and see about hemming it to a more flattering and versatile length because otherwise I quite like it.

I think it’s essential to pull all of these things out of the closet and look at them individually, in good light — so maybe I’m not wasting the sunny day after all. I have discovered that most of my sleeveless tees look a little ratty. Faded, worn, twisted seams or edges, etc. I demoted two to sleepwear and the rest are going. I also realized that I still own the one cold shoulder top I thought I’d already gotten rid of. It looks nice on me and is in good enough shape, but I feel like there are too many photos of me in it because it was such a default piece for a few years, LOL. I think I now could use one or two new black sleeveless summer tops.

I’m also trying a new way of organizing my tops. I’m hanging all the solid colors together, then plaids, then other prints. My plaid shirts tend to have a really specific kind of wear — they’re super casual — so it makes sense to give them their own section. I also went from seven down to four — I am realizing that I like plaid shirts roomy for the most part and won’t stand any gaping anymore.

So...progress made! And I have a little shopping list for a black long sleeve knit top, and a black sleeveless summer top!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Sounds like good progress. I do wonder if your feeling means that your wardrobe is slightly too large *for you* for your comfort. I feel a lot better about mine after last year of buying 12 items and editing 24. I have better space, I am wearing things I love, and there is little left that I don’t like as much. Some of my editing was for wear, and the space sort of means that I have enough to wear but if I find something really good I can happily buy it- eg for me it would be dark blue pants with a subtle pattern, for you it would be interesting black tops.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Jenni, I think you are right. I’m accustomed to having a large wardrobe, so it’s always been easy to justify having lots of variety. And in truth, I *like* having variety — I am not a minimalist, as much as I admire those who are. But when the closet is overly full, it’s easy to forget what you have.

For the last few years, when I have edited, I take out the hangers that were holding the cast-off clothes, so I’m not tempted to fill them. My closet is definitely not as stuffed as it used to be. But I still have a lot. Here are my tops — summer and winter all in one rail — after today’s edit. This does not include most of my sweaters and long sleeve tees, that are stores folded on a shelf. Those are pretty well edited at the moment because we are just finishing the winter wearing season and I know exactly what got worn and what didn’t.

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cat2

Veteran

I would not worry about a spurt of Spring cleaning; the clear daylight is showing me what we wore out this Winter; it was quite a bit because we were wearing all the washable things in constant rotation. We donate to a local thrift that is always happy to hear we have a pickup. I agree with the suggestion of making a list of what you actually need; I find it disastrous if I shop without one! I did number counts for each category and could see I needed long sleeve Ts, etc.

cat2

Veteran

At the end of the season I keep the pieces that are still in good condition; putting them away for the season means they don’t take up mind share.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Cat2, I have found it useful to hang my stuff in the closet divided by season (see pic in my response above) — and I also use the black hangers for knits and tees, green hangers for wovens like blouses and button-front shirts.

In looking at my closet closely today, it’s clear that when I count my sweaters too, I have a LOT more long-sleeved and cool- to cold-weather tops than summer tops. Duh! I’ve never really processed this before. I obviously like shopping for cool weather items a lot more. And most of my summer tops are t-shirts — I don’t know how I would have gotten dressed for the last couple of summers without the Madewell V-neck tees. BUT it also occurred to me that I make up for that by also wearing dresses in the summer, which I don’t in the winter, so it all balances out and I don’t feel the need to go out and buy a bunch of summer tops!

kkards

Veteran

I have thoughts..many thoughts. Let’s see if I can get them together. Personally I feel like I’m coming out of a long hibernation and I’m not quite sure where I am or what I want...but I’m awake, looking around, & looking back at what I have and wondering if it’s going to work going forward, but not clear what I need to going forward. Also at least for me, finally I feel some optimism and relief, and I want some thing that reflects that. Perhaps you are feeling some of the same? Out with the old, time for something that feels more forward or less tired.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Kkards, yes, I can relate. Not like I want to throw everything out and start anew, but definitely like I’m not willing to keep trying to wear stuff that I don’t love, just to justify it’s place in my wardrobe. I’m feeling pickier, and less inclined to chase trends. I feel open to new items but staying true to me. A lot of the spring trends I see while surfing the online retails sites leave me totally cold — puff sleeves, high waists, pink, etc. So I’m feeling a bit like I may have to dig and be patient to replenish the small holes I will have in my wardrobe, but that’s ok!

Anonymous

I wish I could get both summer and winter on one rail ! Ugh- I have some work to do .

LaPed

Veteran

I think this thread speaks to how challenging it is to cull and refresh essentials. You know you need black knit tops, you know you don't want them to be completely identical to one another, but you also end up reaching for certain versions and not for others, and being precious with the ones you like best. I get frustrated easily with the not-quite-perfect versions as well, but I'm very resistant to exact duplication/back-ups. Often, by the time I wear out the first one, I've moved on and want something slightly different... it's all so hard to predict! I bet the longer tunic-y top was perfect when jeans were almost universally slimmer and lower-rise. And I bet the one with hard-to-push-up sleeves was much better for out-in-the-world, not so great for stay-at-home life (endless dishes!).

cat2

Veteran

Hey Janet: I think there are retail seasons one just has to skip. Mine were many during the low rise and the skinny jean years; maybe it’s your turn while I buy all the high rise wide leg jeans?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I’ve been looking at my closet recently and thinking that so much of my stuff is looking tired and worn. I think it’s a combination of not buying much over the past year and Carla’s point about wanting my closet to reflect a new optimism.

It’s hard to get rid of things that have served you well, though, especially when you don’t know if you’ll be able to quickly find a replacement. On the other hand, maybe it’s an exercise in embracing change and opening yourself up to new possibilities.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Jenn, that’s a good point. And it’s early yet to see what my “new normal” will be post-covid. So much is up in the air. Will I give up my studio space? (Still pondering that) Will the ranch sell? (It’s on the market but could sell next month or take a couple of years) Will my husband amp his company back up, or will we go into semi-retirement? (This will drive whether we spend more time camping and I’m not home so much to wear my nicer stuff) So while the answers eventually shake out, I do have plenty to wear that I enjoy. A couple refreshers — the bags I posted about, one or two new pairs of sandals, and a couple replacement black tops, and I should be good for a long while. Please remind me of that when I get a case of the wantsies!

Sal

Veteran

Autumn here but I am also in editing mode. I think sometimes you get clear eyes for tiredness or a need for change, and I like to seize the moment.

I agree with La Ped re essentials replacements. It is not as easy as you might think (boat necks are impossible for me to find). And with Cat2 that there are seasons when nothing much appeals at all!

cat2

Veteran

Hey Sal, have you tried searching Bateau? The Talbots T’s apparently went French this year.

Sal

Veteran

I am in NZ so rarely find US brands cat2. But a good tip because that might bring up what I want!!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Ok with so much up in the air, I would say only get rid of things that are becoming shabby looking. But I am a hoarder not an editor, obviously.

The Cat

Veteran

Usually, I edit when one season ends and another starts. And I make notes to myself about what needs to be replenished for each season. I don't fear editing.