Some post spring closet cleaning and SYC conclusions - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

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

Some post spring closet cleaning and SYC conclusions

Tanya

Veteran

I have spent most of my weekend spring cleaning my closet. While I have achieved a lot, I was very depressed with the conclusions. After over 1.5 years of mostly SYC, my wardrobe is getting *worn out* and *old*. So many pills, little holes, unraveled seams, inexplicable stains... I am going to try and fix some of those, but most of the stuff I am getting rid of. So far I have done the following:

1. I have two trash bags full of items for donation and a big shopping bag full of items that are in pristine state, but I do not wear anymore, to be passed on to friends (or donated if they do not want it)

2. There is a big pile of items, 20-30, that need some kind of fixing. If the fixing attempts don't work, they will be out too.

3. I have gone and consigned a bunch of things aws well. These were all things that are in great condition, they fit and are flattering, but somehow I do not love them anymore - I wear them only couple of times a year. I have earned about $80 to be used towards much need trendy updates. I might even do a second round of consigning, but I want to wait till my head cools off - do not want to regret it later.

4. I have decided to switch from SYC to a very modest budget SYB (plus consignment money, gift cards etc.). This long SYC has been making me feel very unhappy and I think that this will make me feel much better - I love to hunt for great deals.

5. I have used the consignment money from 3. to get two H&M items: this jersey blazer in navy http://www.hm.com/us/product/9.....le=96893-B and these skinnies in emerald. http://www.hm.com/us/product/9.....le=96893-B
No photos for now as I am currently pretty sick with high fever, but will post them later. I wore the skinnies yesterday and couldn't stop smiling, despite being called a leprechaun at work

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from mrseccentric

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I agree that a prolonged SYC, past say 3 months or so, seems more detrimental to us fashion minded gals. Although a strict budget can also be hard, it seems a more reasonable and sustainable way to approach this, I believe. Thanks for sharing your very prolonged SYC experience, and I hope your new trendy buys bring you much joy!!

Anonymous

Wow, a year and a half at SYC is very long. You deserve a break. Hope it works better for you. Love those skinny jeans.

Anonymous

Wow Tanya, kudos to you for being on SYC for so long! That is tough on morale. I've done it before YLF, only I didn't know there was a name for it, lol! Tell me, are the items that are wearing out mostly knits? I'm curious to know which items hold up better on the long haul. And brava for doing a closet clean out with a fever....I did one of those last fall! It was exhausting but exhilarating at the same time. You might want to hang on to your clothes just for a bit...or not.

I think consigning some items to get some fresh life into your wardrobe is an excellent idea. That navy blazer is terrific and I'm smiling just thinking about your wearing your green skinnies! I hope we get to see pictures when you're feeling better.

christieanne

Veteran

I applaud your efforts Tanya! You seem like you are ready to move on to next step in building a sustainable closet/wardrobe habit and the SYB concept you have seems like a good idea. I would imagine after so much hard work you will pretty thoughtful about adding something and the blue knit blazer and green jeans are a good omen.

Feel better soon!

wendyraye

Hi. I'm new to this website and already in love with it. Please tell me what SYC and SYB mean.
I have never shopped H&M, but they're opening one close to me. Based on the pictures from this conversation, my wallet may be in trouble!!

fashionista

Veteran

A 1.5 yrs of SYC, I can't think of it doing myself. Kudos to you. And best of luck for your SYB.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hope your newly edited closet at least feels orderly and clean -- that's always a good place to start! Feel better soon, and post those leprechaun pants!

BTW -- Wendyraye: SYC is "shop your closet" and SYB is "shop your budget" Welcome to the the forum!

Anonymous

@wendyrae, SYC means "shop your closet" and SYB means "shop your budget".

ManidipaM

Veteran

Tanya, SYC can be hard on our stuff and our style morale, can't it? I know how you feel, coming out of SYC ever so cautiously after two years and just starting to shake a stick at SYB --- especially as I find the wear and tear sometimes makes orphans of old favourites!

Like Claire, I wonder if you noticed a trend in what wears out faster? Is there a fabrication issue at all, or is it simply a case of what you wear most takes the worst beating? Even on SYB, this would be valuable information.

Hope you feel better soon! Can't wait to see your leprechaun pants. FWIW, I also wanted to add that every WIW I've seen from you looks so good in terms of fit and style both, that I'm hoping the strain of SYC *is* what's making you unhappy with your closet. You have quite a few great pieces, and you will never be short of innate style I think.

If I may ask, since I'm relatively new here, why did you originally choose to SYC?

Emily

Veteran

Oh my goodness, 1.5 years? I admire your dedication. I bet you have a really good idea of what holds up and works for you now. I am loving the Navy blazer/Green pants, can't wait to see pictures.

harmonica

Veteran

SYC 1,5 years is IMPRESSIVE (and depressing)! I've done it before I knew the term due to pregnancies and being a SAHM living in a baby / toddler world. I didn't feel that bad about it because I knew deep down that this was a limited period (though I panicked a bit when I wanted to take a step out of it, but that's another story)

Cleaning your closet like this is a major step and really, really great for you. Now you can get an overview of what you have and what you need. I think starting with a strict SYB would be beneficial since you say that your clothes are starting to get worn out.

My goal was to build a new wardrobe that fitted my lifestyle, my body shape and my fantasies. I said to myself that I needed time (abt 5 years) to complete a basic wardrobe and that I was going for quality and versatility. After about 2 years, I now feel that I've build a basis for further steps on my style journey.

My point is that you now have the possibility to make a new start! You are probably much more conscious of your own style and preferences (and YLF will support you) which will lead you to better buys.

Start by taking small baby steps, no over the budget shopping and then your wardrobe will slowly, slowly start to be more of what you want. But I think it is wise to settle for slow and long-term progress if you don't have a large budget to blow at once. For me it was great to start with the basics, like getting one trouser and one jeans that fitted, before moving on.

All luck on your closet building journey. This is a fresh start, so don't be depressed!

rute

Veteran

hope you get well soon!
1,5 years! well done!

MNsara

Veteran

Wow, Tanya! 1.5 years of SYC is impressive! I can imagine that you're more than ready for some updating

I like your H&M choices - they're current but also look like they'll have style staying power.

I always find closet purges exhausting because there's SO many decisions, trying on, second guessing my future moods, second guessing future style trends, etc. The results are rewarding, but when you get there you've really earned them.

I hope you're feeling better soon to enjoy the fruits of your hard work!

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

Wow , a year and a half of SYC, well done. Like harmonica, I've SYC when I was having babies/looking after toddlers (and I didn't know the name for it then) and I remember the feeling of looking in stores and actually buying stuff, finally .... lovely and scary all at once!

I hope you feel better soon.

Jjsloane

Veteran

You've done a great job and are thinking it through beautifully. I love your new chosen items (I have those same skinnies in orange)
It's sad when things wear out that you still like but it's a fact of life and I find it's much easier to get rid of something in less than good condition than when it's in great condition but just never got worn.
Now we need another meetup shopping trip!

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you all for your thoughtful input. This has been a very enlightening exercise.

Claire, the items that have held the worse have been knits ( as you anticipated) and shoes. I am very hard on my shoes, and they scuff easily, so I have learned to ignore a scuff or two, even though it theoretically bothers me. But some of the favorite shoes that get worn a lot ( mostly closed toed ballet flats/lower wedges) to work, look really bad and need replacing. The items that have held up the best were my premium jeans. Most of my jeans are premium, when was buying I decided to invest int hose as I wear jeans most of the time, and it has been a great investment ( I did buy them heavily discounted though). All of them, even 8-year old pairs look good. I did not the closet cleaning under fever though, I was perfectly fine over the weekend and I don't think I would be capable of such endeavor. I admire you for doing so .

ManidipaM, of course you can ask! The main reason for going on such long SYC was of financial nature. Also, I had a huge wardrobe and did not want to add to it. After one season it stopped being fun though.

It turns out that I did take a picture of my Tuesday's outfit with emerald skinnies, so I will post that one soon. (Funny how fever makes you forget simple things).

Despite my complaining, I am actually in good shape, I think. A couple of basics need replacing and a few trendy items would make me happy, but that is pretty much it. I am pretty comfortable about my style/what I want to do next so no huge changes are needed.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Aww, I hope you feel better soon Tanya! Sending hugs. I can't wait to see your emerald skinny jean outfit!

anne

Veteran

Very interesting Tanya! I guess if anyone could weather SYC it would be you, as you had a well picked thought out large wardrobe already (You were one of the very first to post weekly WIWs here I think)

But not shopping for that long, when it was something you enjoyed so much, must have been hard. Any wisdom to add about how you stopped yourself?

Also, were there particular styles you can identify that you don't want to wear anymore?

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I can't even begin to comprehend what SYC for 1.5 years would be like. I've tried SYC twice and failed miserably and realized that I enjoy adding new things to my wardrobe, even if it is through thrifting or consignment. It keeps me from being bored with my clothing as well as extends the life of the things I have because I'm not wearing each item quite as often. But I totally admire your commitment and think you should be really proud of yourself.

I agree that after being on SYC for so long, SYB is probably a good idea. The two new pieces you've added will infuse some new life into your wardrobe and you can pick up the odd piece here or there inexpensively through thrifting. I think you've accomplished a lot Tanya!

ManidipaM

Veteran

Tanya, thanks for sharing your story I find my SYC reasons were/are very similar to yours, so it is very inspiring to see that it can be done and so very stylishly to boot, over such a long term! (Which means I need to stop moaning and pull up my own socks already :-D)

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you all for your comments!

As I have mentioned previously, my SYC wasn't 100%, more like 90-95%. If there was something I really needed, I would buy it. For example, I had to attend some events with cocktail dress code, but on a more conservative side, and after struggling to make stuff from my closet work, I went out and bought appropriate dresses-twice. I had two birthdays during that time so each time I treated myself to something nice. I had received some gift cards, so I spent those. I have even received a couple of pieces of clothing as gifts. And a couple of times I allowed myself a break, for occasions like YLF meetings, or a visit from a dear friend from Europe who wanted (and did) to shop up a storm as everything was so much cheaper for her here then in Norway. The trick was to set a strict budget for such occasions and immediately go back afterwards.
Also, in February, right before I came back to YLF, I thought that things have changed so I can afford to shop a bit again, so I bought some stuff throughout that month. But than I was hit with and unexpected and ridiculously pricey dental procedure which forced to me SYC again.

Anne, I found that it is tops I get bored of easiest. Unless they are basics (e.g. simple layering tees) or classics (e.g. white shirt, black turtleneck) I have realized that I like my tops to be on trend more than anything else. There are some that I absolutely adore and will always wear regardless of trends, but that is not the case with most. So it is mostly tops I have been consigning. I have once read that some image consultant suggested to treat tops as accessories and it sort of makes sense to me. If I wear my old bootcut jeans with a current top, I feel great. Same jeans with the top that was popular 3 years ago - not so much.

Shannon, I have absolutely horrible luck thrifting. I have tried many times, and never managed to find anything. A part of the reason is that I am relatively small and consignment stores do not carry many size 0s. But I do have decent luck consigning my stuff.

Diana

Veteran

Tanya, the fact that you've managed to do SYC for 1.5 years is mindboggling to me. I am very hard on my shoes also... I'm pretty sure I would not be able to not buy any new ones for that long! I think doing a SYB instead is a good idea - much more sustainable in the long run.

Re: the consignment. I find that certain types of items (premium denim, name brand shoes, certain designers) get me more $ when I ebay them, but other things never sell on ebay. So you might want to try ebay too... at the moment, it's free to list things anyway and you only pay a fee if they sell. My consignment store only gives 40% back to the consignor, so I often try to ebay before I consign.

I tried that H&M blazer on a few weeks ago and liked it a lot! I didn't want navy though so I didn't get it, but now I see it's available in lots of colors! Might have to go back to see...

And, finally, I am wearing my emerald dress today .... waves at my fellow leprechaun. =)

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Tanya, just WOW!!! Awesome to see living breathing proof that SYC can be done long-term and quite stylishly!

i think that SYB is a wise idea in your circumstance. Also it's a great idea just generally, in order to develop discipline which will serve you throughout your life, closet-and-other-wise.

I've been concentrating on finding the right small size wardrobe for me the past couple of years. As far as boredom and variety i could work with a pretty small closet! However, i'm really hard on clothes and shoes, it's difficult for me to find replacements, and i don't like to do laundry three times a week. Taking all this into consideration, turns out that something about double of what i *could* work with makes more sense and is far less of a hassle.

It's fascinating how your ideas work out (or not) when you try them out in real life! Thank you for taking the time to report back and answer questions, it is really valuable information

re: shoes and scuffs. That's why i focus on smooth-leather shoes that can take a shine Thank you again and have fun with your fab new pieces! steph