To everything churn, churn, churn... - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

To everything churn, churn, churn...

nemosmom

Veteran

Inspired by Torontogirl's post about purchases, and Suntiger's post about 2020 forecasting, I took some time to crunch my shopping stats for the year so far, and figure out what pieces were hits and misses.

In January, I committed to 12 total purchases for the year. By June, I was already up to 16 (10 new; 6 thrifted). Somewhere late summer/early fall the wheels completely fell off (I partially blame the abundance of earthtones and my hatred of midwestern weather); to date I am at 63

A manageable wardrobe size for me is around 150 total. In that count I include tops, bottoms, toppers/outerwear, and shoes; I EXCLUDE gear, loungewear, and accessories. I started the year with 162 pieces, and to date have edited out 74. Since I purchased 63, that leaves my wardrobe at 151. I feel a bit sick at the thought of so much churn.

I feel good about my style direction (for the most part), and happy about the state of my wardrobe (which I certainly should be, given that I have replaced nearly half of it). I am trying not to beat myself up too much. It's our second winter in Chicago, and that is evidenced by my increase of coats and jackets. Being in a new climate, I expected some churn, but this really feels like a lot...I took time to put my current wardrobe (and some edits) into Finds, so hopefully I will be able to shop a bit smarter going forward...

I am grateful that I have been able to update my loungewear and special occasion capsule, replace essentials, and add a couple of fun pieces that have already earned their place. Most of the new purchases have been great (42/63); 15/63 are TBD, but expected to be good. 6 of the 63 purchases have turned out to be total duds (anyone want a Boden wrap dress??!)

I wish we were all neighbors; then we could have clothing swaps... how fun would that be??

Shopping

25 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

notsaf

Veteran

"I wish we were all neighbors; then we could have clothing swaps..."

Bless you: yes! That would be fun!

notsaf

Veteran

But in all seriousness, I'm not sure how I feel about numbers and churn. I enjoy newness and I don't think clothes are investments: they are to be used and used up. I'm all for buying better and wearing well, but I'm not sure that that translates to numbers per se, since it's a qualitative not a quantitative question.

Anonymous

Yes to clothing swaps I like your finds, they look very consistent, and good work putting them all in there!
It's my goal to do too...eventually...
Some years there will be more churn than others, especially with a new climate, or other life changes. Some years many things wear out and need replacement. And some years the retail powers that be are in our favor

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Don’t feel bad. I did great for the first half of the year with my goals to limit new pieces, but fell off the wagon this autumn. And yes, that does result in churn, but I realized that I was over some of my old pieces and edited a bunch out. I probably need to do an even deeper edit. My nieces would be thrilled, because they were the main beneficiaries!

I brought a bunch of old things to the ranch, but once I got here, I realized I have stuff at the ranch that needs to go to charity — things that I didn’t want to wear at home, but they don’t really suit ranch life either. It seems they are not right for grungy ranch life, but they are not what I want to wear when we go out. They feel a little outdated. Last night I wore a pair of “nicer ranch jeans” and they drove me nuts because they are low rise and I kept feeling a draft down my back. I’ve gotten used to mid and slightly higher rises, and it was a bit of a shock!

Churn is hard to avoid if you seek to stay current and participate in trends. I don’t have a firm numbers-based goal for limiting my closet — I know I have a more generous wardrobe than many here, and that’s fine with me. I have actually been considering using my holding zone more generously and “shopping” it when I feel some boredom setting in, in place of going shopping for new stuff.

As for “using clothes up” I don’t like wearing things once I’ve tired of them or they show visible wear. I would rather pass them along in a responsible way than wear stuff that makes me feel unfab.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YOU DID GREAT, Nemosmom! A big pat on your back is what is in order. That you are happy with your wardrobe is an excellent achievement. Well done.

Nostaf, I really like your second comment!

Suntiger, exactly.

Janet, you did great too. Your comment makes a lot of sense to me.

gentle reminder: it is because of the wardrobe churn of some wardrobes that others can shop secondhand.

Kathie

Veteran

Your wardrobe looks very cohesive, from what I see in finds. For me, moving from a more temperate West coast climate to the mid-Atlantic did result in more purchasing over the past 4 years. In Seattle, there were summers that I never put my jeans away and lots of my clothes were in use year round. It took me over a year to make peace with my new climate, and three more years to have enough clothes to get through 3-4 months of high summer. So, please do be gentle with yourself about your change in climate- those mid-West winters are brutal compared to California! Kudos for identifying a wardrobe size that works for you, and managing within that. And, I hope you have some fun events coming up, for your special occasion capsule!

Bijou

Veteran

I have had periods of relocation, change in body shape, change in work environment, change in colour preferences - that have caused greater churn in my wardrobe than in other years.

I am pretty relaxed about it, as long as I have items that I want to wear and they meet my needs and I am financially responsible. I see fashion as my hobby, so whilst I could spend less, I enjoy wearing and owning the clothing that I have.

I don't count the number of items in my wardrobe, but it is on the larger scale. I try to buy for the longer term and so have many items that are over 5 years old.

Gretchen

Veteran

Nodding along with a lot of this. I didn't set a buying goal, but I have been actively tracking what I'm buying and donating. And as of now, my wardrobe is 2% smaller than it was in December of last year, but the value has increased by 15%. (I suspect I'll end up with both those #'s going up - there are some big purchases on the way from the NSale!)

But more importantly, my wardrobe is more FUNCTIONAL than it was at this time last year. I still have some wardrobe orphans that need help, but I'm getting more positive comments on my clothes, and they feel more "me" - and isn't that really the overall goal?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Gretchen, FUNCTIONAL is key.

Bijou, I love your approach.

Kathie, it took me a while to get my wardrobe for a Seattle climate right too.

rachylou

Veteran

Well, you did shrink your closet actually... I’ve been on YLF for eight years. I’d say the first four years, my churn was stratospheric - that it took me that long to reshape my wardrobe and now things have settled... the question is, will I have to do a big phase-out-phase-in ever again and when?

cindysmith

Veteran

I think we are our own worst critics and should give ourselves a break. Yes, fashion is a polluting and exploitative industry, and all that other bad stuff is true too; yet it is a means of expression, a creative outlet, an appreciation of an underappreciated art form. Here we are, beating ourselves up because we didn't limit our purchasing to some arbitrary and often unrealistic number that we made up in our heads instead of just enjoying these new items. I say 'we' because I am definitely guilty of it too.

It sounds like there are actual REASONS here, not just some random binge. Things like not freezing to death in winter and not dying of heat stroke in summer? Kinda important.

It sounds like you've been rather thoughtful with your purchases, and that only a few have been unsuccessful. That sounds like some pretty mindful or intentional to me, unlike me who just cleaned out garments that I don't even know why the heck they were in my closet to begin with (anyone want a silk twill juicy couture cami, because I never ever wear camis, yet here we are). Perhaps you should try thinking in terms of the "french" wardrobe concept? Rather than limiting oneself to 12 garments a year, maybe a goal of only 4 to 6 new pieces per season? Clothes DO wear out, so we will need to keep from getting arrested for indecent exposure. I think the key to combating our contribution to the unethical side of the fashion industry is to shop more purposefully, which you seem to be doing; once you have adapted to the new climate and regional style, THEN you can worry about limiting your purchases to X number per year or season. You're doing fine, girl; it's ok to allow oneself the luxury of being comfortable and feeling fab!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I think that you set your intial limit far too low so you really set yourself up to “fail”.As long as your budget can stand it and you are purchasing mindfully I wouldn’t get too hung up on figures.It s good to think about how we shop but it’s affected by so many different things that numbers can seem rather arbitrary.l have found that cataloguing my clothes and tracking wears has really helped me to cut down on the shopping and get more wear out of my existing wardrobe.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi there Nemosmom, first thing to say is great title! I loved the Seekers song- and while you have adapted it, the next line is...there is a season, turn turn turn- which is kind of relevant since your big climate move.
I agree with Cardiff girl, you really did pick an exceedingly low number. Suppose you can do your 150-ish item wardrobe, which is what I am also aspiring to. (I’m still in the mid 170s). Maybe consider how long you hope much of it will last?- in general terms. I keep many of my clothes for 5 years at least. Of course some wear out before that if heavily worn. That made me think that maybe turning over about a fifth of it per year may be worth considering- which is 30 items. This year I have retired 33 so far and last year 42. I have a few more I need to retire, mainly shoes I am not wearing due to comfort but still like. I need to stop kidding myself and replace them.
What you can hope is that these great purchases (which you already know many of these are) can be worn well and/or last well for those specific times they are needed.
The tracking and cataloging has helped me so much, I can’t tell you.

Helena

Veteran

NM, I too had set a one per month goal and failed miserably *high five* ... What I learned is that the goal was not realistic! You had multiple factors at play: a new climate alone is huge, presumably that move upheaved some of your activities and social circles, you have a job AND young kids (an ever changing time for body and mind) and started participating in YLF. Add to that, everyone once in a while we need a bit of an overhaul. You did fine; learn and grow from it and it's all good!

I think this is a very caring and compassionate community and we probably all carry a bit of conflict about the ethical issues around clothing (as indeed there are ethical issues in every aspect of life). I read something helpful lately, that a million people trying to do better, imperfectly, is better than one person doing everything perfectly. The reality is we could stress all day and still be getting half of it wrong. Focusing on getting a little better on what we CAN do ( donate responsibly, recycle, reduce, use up, trade, etc) is not nothing just because it's not perfect.

Speech over, yes to the clothing swap please!!! I'll host the first one with prosecco, Italian soda, charcuterie and something deliciously sweet!!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I will bring along my new fave Vietnamese coffee to the party! Caphe sua dac- which is strong coffee mixed with condensed milk and poured over ice. It sounds weird but is really yum. I just had one after dinner

SarahD8

Veteran

Nemosmom I relate very strongly to your post. I have not had time to assemble similar information on my own purchases this year but I suspect my numbers are similar to yours.

In my case the reasons for churn include weight gain (inevitable at my age it seems — i sometimes say that so far my 40s has been an iterative process of mourning my 3 pounds ago body); a history of underbuying in certain categories that left some things beyond worn out; and just generally getting closer to figuring out how I want my style and my wardrobe to work.

My aspirations are similar to JenniNZ’s — 150ish items, items remaining in wardrobe for 5 years on average, yielding a replacement rate of 30 per year. Sometimes the hard-on-myself part of me wonders if trying to build a wardrobe that could support that is just another version of chasing the “perfect” wardrobe. So I’m really heartened to see Jenni’s comments that she is getting closer to that goal.

I am 100% there for the clothing swap. I’ll bring a Swedish coffee bread that I’ll make using a recipe from a book I got from a neighborhood swap group, and the jar of lingonberries that is languishing in the back of the fridge from last Christmas. In the spirit of sharing things around and using things up!

Anonymous

Can you imagine how much fun a clothing swap party would be ?? I've really enjoyed reading this thread this morning over breakfast. This is a topic close to my heart, and one I constantly wrestle with . Someone above wrote the phrase " buying for the long term" , which really stood out for me. That is my goal - but yet I don't make it happen.

Helena

Veteran

Oh I love that goal though Lisa ... It demands walking that line of current bit not trendy, and staying true enough to your style that it doesn't matter if 'everyone' stops wearing it ... The holy Grail for sure!

Sal

Veteran

Great title! I am coming to the swap party too with Crisps and Onion Dip - a NZ classic.

We all love style here. We all need to stay clothed and dress for occasions. Bodies change. Clothes wear out. And we get it wrong sometimes.

I too have gone over my goal for the year. Mostly because of taking advantage of churn by increased thrifting.

I am all in favour of handing pieces on that are mistakes - that don’t make us feel great.

I might also bring the champagne to the party!!

Anonymous

This is a GREAT post. I love all posts that are numbers-related.

I subscribed to the theory that "clothes were an investment." Buy the best you can afford and expect them to serve you for years to come.

I want to emphasize the past tense of the above statement. Over the past year and half, due to weight fluctuations and other reasons, there has been a lot of wardrobe churn at my House.

After careful consideration, I evolved to believe what Notsaf wrote: Clothes are to be used and used up.

There are so many reasons to account for your churn: new climate, availability of colors that suit your coloring. I think you are doing GREAT.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Would you believe that your 63 new garments this year is right about average for Americans?

I agree with others that 12 items was probably unrealistic, given your recent move and new climate. I live in southern California now, but I grew up in Illinois, so I can attest to the vast difference in both needs and norms. See Jenni's post above for how I calculate the amount I should aim for given natural churn. My wardrobe is smaller, so I only count on keeping items for about three years on average (many of my shoes only last one, outerwear and occasion pieces last much longer).

It's hard for me to say that even average American amounts of consumption are responsible in the long-term. However, having a big churn year doesn't make you a bad person. Treat yourself with grace and compassion, realize the reasons this year turned out the way it did, use and enjoy your new purchases well, and don't give up on being mindful and setting reasonable goals.

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Anonymous

I don't even remember what my goal number was anymore. I went off the tracks sometime in July.

nemosmom

Veteran

Oh my gosh, what lovely responses from everyone! I agree that 12 was a very unrealistic goal, even if the number was arbitrary... I have been taking good notes this year about purchases, purges, and outfits that I feel good in, and I know that alone has meant more than the numbers themselves...

notsaf - "clothes are meant to be used..." is a great way to think of it. I do tend to "save my clothes for good" and then feel guilty when I get rid of things that I didn't wear... I need to wear them! Thank you for the reminder.

suntiger - retail powers! Yes, the earthtones got me gooood this year...

Janet - "Churn is hard to avoid if you seek to stay current and participate in trends." I think that's part of my rub... I don't consider myself trendy, nor do I jump to adopt the latest 'thing'. I feel guilty for shopping when I have perfectly good clothes in my closet and need to sort those feelings out. Shopping the holding zone is a great idea; I thought about doing it before and really should give that a go again.

Thank you, Angie - "it is because of the wardrobe churn of some wardrobes that others can shop secondhand." that is a really great way to look at it, and helps relieve a bit of the guilt that comes from edits. It's nice to hear that you took time to adjust to new climates, too.

Kathie - the change in climate has been a challenge! I am glad to hear it took you some time to adjust, too.

Bijou - "as long as I have items that I want to wear and they meet my needs and I am financially responsible" Yes!! That is a good goal.

Gretchen - Yes to having a FUNCTIONAL wardrobe! And especially to feeling like yourself in what you wear...

Thank you, Rachy ! It is nice to know I am not alone!

cindy - yes, letting go of the guilt is my biggest struggle. I am sure there is more to that issue than just clothes, and hopefully I will figure it out. It's not like I literally have nothing to wear; I need to stop being such a spoilt twat about it. I like your suggestion for the French Wardrobe...

cardiffgirl - I started logging my outfits and #of wears last month (I am on day 42! Go me!) I think that will help.

nemosmom

Veteran

Jenni - HA! Glad you liked the title! I DID pick an unrealistic number... I do have some investment-type pieces that I purchased for the long-haul; maybe shopping with that in mind is one approach going forward. I admire the way you track your wears! The Vietnamese coffee sounds delicious!!

TG - *high-five*! I felt so sick of shopping in January; I really should have thought that number through... "a million people trying to do better, imperfectly, is better than one person doing everything perfectly." That is going on my pin board! YES to the swap! I will bring Mt Tam cheese, toast points, and creamy spinach artichoke dip!

"walking that line of current but not trendy, and staying true enough to your style that it doesn't matter if 'everyone' stops wearing it" = #lifegoals

Sarah - "getting closer to finding my style and how I want my wardrobe to work" is spot-on. I HAVE gotten closer to figuring it out, and that can only mean good things going forward, right?! See you at the swap - the coffee bread sounds delicious!

Lisa - A swap would be amazing. Re-homing items to friends could feel so much better than throwing things in the Goodwill bin...

Sal - I love your outlook! YES to the champagne and crisps with onion dip!!!

Sterling - thank you I used to subscribe to that theory, too. And, I do still have some investment pieces in my closet; a few of them are nearing 10 years old. Then things went wonky. July/August was around the time I fell off, too.

Jenn - that is a great article, thank you! The influx of "stuff" needed in our hot summers and snowy winters has been tough for minimalist-minded me. Adding several items (and often dupes of) snow gear, pants, coats, jackets of various weights, gloves, hats, base layers, etc. for all four of us has been a nightmare. Things. Are. Every. Where. *screams silently* I will make a point to use AND enjoy my new things.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read my sob story and respond so very thoughtfully. I am so grateful to be a part of such a gracious, supportive, and kind community

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Nemosmom this was an inspiring read this morning and thank you for posting. I agree with all the points that you highlighted above. I have a very large wardrobe of mostly second hand clothes and that is my imperfect contribution a la torontogirl above. I also "save" clothes from the landfill by finding them at charity shops and reselling them, which also conveniently feeds into my clothes hobby (and finances it). I think it is important to take a step back and realize that we all have complex lifestyles and our own solution to ethical issues like overconsumption and it is important not to overly focus on one detail or aspect of our lives - particularly one we enjoy mindfully.