Spring purge (keep or pass on?) - ETA conclusions in comments - 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

Spring purge (keep or pass on?) - ETA conclusions in comments

Christina F.

Veteran

Hi all! Now that I have all my clothes on hand again, and warmer weather is approaching, it was time to start making choices about things I had thought about passing on.

Most of these items fall under one or the other of these considerations:

Over the past year or so, I've tried some pants and jeans that are higher in the waist and fuller in the leg. I also tend to bloat very much (my attempt at a low FODMAP diet was abandoned when the pandemic started). Over the past year, I've also been strength training, which has changed my shape subtly, except for the belly issue. High waists are tricky on me anyway, and there's usually pulling around the thighs. The upshot of all this is that I think some things either don't fit me as well as I thought, or stopped fitting me so well as they did before.

The other thing I realized that even though I love stripes, SHORT SLEEVED stripes may not be flattering on me if the sleeves are too tight. My upper arms are wider than my tiny shoulders.

I don't need to make room per se, but I don't want to keep unflattering stuff around. (FYI, I took these pics during a more bloated day.) I have made some preliminary decisions already, but here are the items:

Pics 1-2 Madewell green pants - I feel like these used to be more comfortable. Pass on?

Pics 3-4 Madewell white pants - ditto the above

Pics 5-6 Madewell jeans - The fit across the thighs is better and they feel and look less tight. The rise is less high, I think. I am happy to keep these.

Pics 6-7 LOFT rust jeans - I think these feel and look slightly better than the first two. I am happy to keep and reassess in the Fall but am open to other opinions.

Pic 8 - BR Knit top - looks slightly tighter in the arms than the next two. Not sure if I should keep, leaning to no.

Pic 9 - BP top - hard to tell, but the sleeves are less tight and the fit a bit more fluid. Keep.

Pic 10 - BR knit top - I flt okay in this, maybe since the sleeves are longer. I know the neckline is not for everyone, but I don't mind and I'd probably keep unless you all think it's unflattering.

Pics 11-12 - J Crew sweater. Obviously I love the print, but I think the fit is less fluid than what I'm accustomed to these days... or is it just too tight now? Unsure what to do with this one.

This post has 13 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from smittie

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I say anything like the first two pairs of pants that isn't comfortable should go. Life is too short to feel uncomfortable in your clothes. High waists are especially hard to wear, IMHO.

I like stripes too but try to be careful of them -- high necks + stripes + big chest means that they can be unflattering enough on me that I should stay away. However, there are exceptions. I'm wearing the sweater in Finds below today, and the fluid fit makes it work. Low-contrast stripes can be more flattering too. I prefer the top in 11 to the one in 9, just comparing the two black and white striped tops. I really like #10 -- the low contrast stripes in nice colors for you make it work, to my eye.

Vince Camuto Stripe Sweater

View Info

Top Pick

4

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I like long pants on you, so the dark blue or red. Also love the top you’re wearing in the first half dozen pix here. I think the fit of the sweater in the last two is great, because it avoids the “waterfall effect” which I didn’t know had a name until an article Carla posted to the biweekly thread. But I can’t say anything about how your body is changing or will change.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

If it's uncomfortable now, let it go. You can find (and already have) better, so no need to stress about it. (I love the "try on" top, by the way!)

It's hard to tell about the tops, but if you're wavering, I'd say -- time to say goodbye!

Christina F.

Veteran

Thanks everyone! The pink top from the try-ons is this from Madewell, BTW. Pink was my color for the year and it seemed fun for my Spring refresh, which I will eventually post about.

Janet - good thoughts on the stripes, thank you! I also purged some others for similar reasons before I moved, but I had no way to take good pictures then. I agree that the second of the two black and white tops is better, as is the green and purple.

FashIntern I certainly do love the length of both those pants. The red ones feel better on at the moment. I will have to look into the waterfall effect!

Suz, you're right about discomfort. My tolerance was low before the pandemic and is even lower now! As for the tops, I needed a proper mirror to assess them better; I had already purged a few before I moved and wanted to be sure I evaluated ALL my striped short-sleeved tops after I had that realization. I think I am okay with all but the first one.

Rainbow Jacquard Full-Sleeve Top

View Info

Top Pick

1

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Anything that causes discomfort can make its way to its next stylish home.

#5/6/7/8 = Keep

You have great striped tops, and many of them. Keep the ones you feel your best in, and pass on the rest. Of these, I like scooped #11 best.

As for the cherries......soooooo cute! Does the body con fit work with some of your skirts? I love it

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Bloating is a bear; it makes me want to get rid of things and then non-bloat days make me want them back! I have less of an issue at this point in my life, but I still have fluctuations that are hard to dress around, and my solution is to aim for comfort on all days. Which means that sometimes I am wearing clothes that fit a little bigger than I would like.

I really like the white jeans on you, but discomfort is a no-go. I would pass on the first two pairs that are not comfortable. I agree with your impulse to keep the jeans and pants that feel better; they look great, too (5-6 and 7-8). Also agree with Janet's assessment on the striped tops; keep 10 and 11, and pass on 9.

I like the patterned sweater, and I wonder if it can become a layering piece for cold weather. Would you wear it under a blazer or a vest?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

So it turns out I got the name wrong. But this is the article, and the comment I’m referring to is the one by Carley Scortino towards the beginning of the article, just before the line about hauling things up from deep underwater (that one made me giggle) in this article https://www.elle.com/fashion/a.....big-boobs/

Bonnie

Veteran

The new pink top is fab and so versatile. I think how pants feel on is the most important factor so keep the comfy ones. I like all of the tops, the last one does look a bit snug. I like striped tops to wear under my jackets for cooler spring/summer days and you have a nice variety.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Nothing worse than uncomfortable trousers so get rid.l like the scoop neck of the stripy top on you,l think it’s the most flattering neckline out of all of these.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I like the look of all of it really! I especially like the white jeans, but agree to get rid of uncomfortable clothes. I can’t see the difference in fit between one pair of pants and another in these pics.
The tops all look good too, not tight. Scoop neck is also my favourite- I do have a scoop neck preference though anyway, for myself.

LaPed

Veteran

I think you can bid adieu to any pants that are uncomfortable, unless your size fluctuates a lot and you expect you'll be able to wear them happily again in the near future.

Of the tops, I prefer #s 10/12/13 over #s 9/11. But I could just be having a crewneck moment; scoop necks and high necks have both been looking a bit "meh" to me lately.

unfrumped

Veteran

I like the dark blue striped SS top with the jeans for a column of color. The darker tops look great with your coloring and kind of intentional. White background striped tops are more common and “ classic “ and do seem like they are supposed to go with everything, but also more random with different bottoms.
I do like the scoop neck stripe also.

Glory

Veteran

Everything is gorgeous- you have an excellent eye and wonderful taste. But - I don’t think you should wear anything that makes you uncomfortable.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I agree with laPed on the collars—both turtle and scoop necks look to me like A Thing to notice, so they make the tops busier. I like the crew neck on you because it doesn’t call attention to itself.

Helena

Veteran

I think all looks great, except the first two pairs of pants do look a little uncomfortable (which I probably would not have noticed except that you noted it), so I say, pass those along as there's no time for uncomfortable pants But I like all the rest!

celia

Veteran

If the pants don't feel comfortable just pass them on. I like the fit of 5/6 and wouldn't loose hope on 7/8.
I am going to be the outlier here and I actually like the contrasting stripes on 9. You have to be comfortable with being body con but the same way it might emphasize chest area it also shows the waist more. I would say that the sleeve length is more of an issue than the neckline type.
The last top might work better with a full skirt(didn't you have a navy one from BR?)

rachylou

Veteran

I wanted to say I do like the short sleeve on you... but no to discomfort!

slim cat

Veteran

I like 5/6 the best fitting/flattering and the top in #10 looks great with low contrast stripes. Some things just start feeling off on some days
( bloating, water retention, heavy dinner, etc..).

Star

Veteran

I really like the last top on you as well as the scoop neck, and the low contrast stripes in 10. The last is my absolute best, as Angie said, so cute and very flattering.

Anonymous

I like the rust pants, the top in 10, and the last top the most on you. Yes to trying the last top with skirts!

lyn67

Veteran

Hah, high waists are always tempting BUT so very hard to fit well, I would let the pants nr 1-4 go and am amazed how well the others fit!! You provided me hope and encouragement to never give up on searching for pants which DO FIT WELL!! (I amso have a tummy:-() Aklso love top nr 10 for keep and just try to make it work again the one in 11 looks promising!

Liesbeth

Veteran

I like firecracker's comment. Are you sure you won't miss these on less bloated days - maybe they'll happen more frquently when the pandemic ends and you find a diet solution? I don't want you to keep uncomfortable clothes in an aspirational way, but if they were comfortable pre-pandemic they might become so again post? Just a question. I myself own hardly any clothes any more without a stretchy waistband because of this same issue :p.

Christina F.

Veteran

Thanks everyone! Sorry for disappearing - I had my second vaccine in the interim and it made me a bit tired.

As for my bloating, my conclusion from the low FODMAP diet was starting to be that too many things I love contribute to the bloating. (Garlic, for one. I’m Portuguese!) Also it’s possible these pants were *never* as comfortable as I thought, my tolerance is just lower now. I do hope to slim down but that’s been a struggle for a long time. I love the first pair of pants, so that’s the only one I would be tempted to keep in the holding zone. I think I could probably find another pair of white ones that works better now.

I think I love the last top too much to let it go, even if it’s more of an “archival” piece aware just a couple of times of the year I probably have some skirts it will work with, but I’m going to move away from wearing skirts in general. Too tricky. I’m sure I’ll never be without a skirt or two though. I have some bottoms that will work with it, they just haven’t been the ones I’ve been reaching for during the pandemic. And that’s OK.

Celia, I too have concluded the sleeve length is the issue there. The scoop neck top’s longer sleeves provided enough contrast for me to see that. It’s not that bad, and I don’t mind the shape otherwise, but as Angie pointed out, I have other options!

Lyn67 - they took some work to find! Never be afraid to size up and/or tailor (though I didn’t in these cases, I have in others).

Christina F.

Veteran

Update!

I decided to put the green pants aside now. I’m less bloated today and they felt better. The white ones felt better to, but they still looked like they were pulling across the zipper a bit. I also just got these white jeans which I think may be better. They are snug but comfortable enough when I sit. (I will post separately about new purchases once I receive some more packages.) So I think I’m passing the white ones on.

Rust pants and blue jeans stay.

I passed on the high next striped top; it may not be as bad as I thought but it’s not my best either! I will keep the rest of the tops. The green and purple one is fun, and I think the scoopneck one is flattering. The sweater with the cherries may be one of those pieces I just never pass on, but wear only occasionally.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Cali Demi-Boot Jeans in Pure White

View Info

Top Pick

4

smittie

Veteran

The last look is great on you, Christina! My favourite of the bunch.
I love the cherry top too, and am glad Angie said it was a keeper

ETA: come to think of it, I think I might have the exact same striped shirt/white pants/loafers outfit! I like what I like!