Tomorrow is wardrobe editing day! - YouLookFab Forum

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Tomorrow is wardrobe editing day!

louisea

I have an appointment with my wardrobe tomorrow morning. I'm actually kind of excited! My plan is to start by editing my hanging section, then move through my folded section, then drawers. I'll be trying every piece of clothing on and appraising it. I've read Angie's tips about piles so I hope I'm set with my plan!

Any words of wisdom, hints or tips?

If there is anything I'm unsure about I'll be bringing it here for a 'yay or nay'!

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

HeleenH

Veteran

Have fun! My wardrobe was changed from 'summer' to 'winter' Yesterday. While doing that I binned some stuff and put some in the bag for goodwill. I still have some intermediate clothes in my closet, hoping for a nice Indian summer, but now that I have put the stuff for really hot weather away, I have space for my warmer clothes.
I don't know the size of your closet, but putting the autumn/winter stuff in front and the summer/spring stuff away or to the back would be my tip.

Nadya

Veteran

Have fun and be ruthless! I just purged my closet last weekend and it's been so great getting dressed when everything fits, flatters and doesn't need work. This weekend I need to attack the pile of things I need to fix: hems out, missing button, etc.

I also recommend movie or trash TV. I'll confess to having a Charlie's Angels marathon running while I worked. Some of the clothes on that show you really could wear right now.

Let us know how it went!

Queen Mum

Veteran

ooh, what an exciting day! Have fun.. post pics for us of your newly organized closet.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I'm doing this too! I just donated a bunch of clothes and shoes yesterday to Goodwill. Goodbye mom jeans! And I'm being a lot stricter...there's stuff that still fits me and looks OK, but I don't wear it very often...that all goes. If you don't love it, get rid of it! I got rid of several crew-neck cardigan twinsets that I bought to match my skirts years ago...I hope I don't regret it, because they were perfect color matches (baby blue, purple, brown, etc). But whenever I saw them I was reminded of my old style and felt kind of frumpy, even though I did use the pieces separately. It was a huge step for me, I have had those for over 10 years and they were a major part of my old wardrobe (I had at least five or six in all different colors). It was more of an emotional thing...freeing myself to go in a new style direction. Making room for the new me!

Good luck with the closet purge and let us know how it goes!

cobaltblue

Veteran

Goldenpig - what inspiring thoughts! I have been hanging onto some things that still work okay and fit okay, but you just nailed the negative feelings I've been having about them. They represent the frumpier me, and even when they work okay in an outfit, they hold me back from feeling totally fab. I need to get to work on my closet, too! You are looking so great, by the way.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I am on the precipice of moving home this fall and am thinking I need to do a fairly ruthless cull of the warm weather pieces. I already passed on 2 dresses and am thinking a pair of short shorts should stay behind. It's so hard to let go sometimes even when you know you should. Sigh.

ironkurtin

Veteran

The sense of freedom and lightness that comes from shedding items is amazing. Enjoy!

Anonymous

I'm struggling with my closet and have been for quite a while. I had everything I own hung up. I like the IDEA of having everything in front of me but in my real life, its overwhelming. Everything was crammed together and I couldn't see anything...even though it was all right there.

So this morning I went ahead a boxed up all my summer stuff. All that stuff that is CLEARLY only summer stuff...sundresses, linen items etc. What is left is winter stuff and what I call transitional items...things that I can wear year-round. I also removed all the newly empty hangers so that I am not tempted to just fill them back up with new stuff. I have been really great about only keeping in my inventory that which fits in the available space. So by taking away the hangers, I am not tempted to re-fill up the closet. I'm already feeling calmer. Yay!

I think my next step will be to go through what is left and see if there are any seasonal "holes" before my next shopping expedition. And to see what I need to bring to the tailor. I know there are some things that will be more useful once they are tailored/hemmed. Hopefully this new "system" will be better for me and my lifestyle.

Scarlet

Veteran

Good luck! I am mentally gearing up for one myself.

louisea

I'm almost through my hanging clothes and I have purged a lot! Mostly skirts, dresses and pants that are unflattering or too big. All my dress pants are too big and too short! So I will be on a mission to find the perfect fitting dress pant. I am having a bit of a hard time with some clothing items I like, but I am not sure if they are flattering on me. I will take photos of the clothes I am questioning once I'm done.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice!

Anonymous

Thank you for posting this. It's time to edit my closet for fall/winter even though there will be days in the 90's next week. A good purge will feel so freeing and benefit a friend's daughter who likes to go through my donate pile.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Louisea, good for you! I'm in a purging mood now too, so I went crazy at the mall returning stuff today. A big bag of jeans & stuff from the 50% off Gap sale, the full priced premium jeans to Nordstrom, and two necklaces and the handbag to Kate Spade. It was a really nice bag, but for some reason the color felt too light for my tastes and I knew every time I looked at it, it would bug me a little bit. So I decided to let it go and wait for something that really makes me 100% happy.

I know I've done a ton of shopping lately, but I have returned about half the items I bought after re-evaluating how I feel about them. I've kept all the best things that you liked and that make me feel fab when I wear them, but if I am not totally sure, I'm bringing it back. I even was able to return some "final sale" items to Kate Spade that I wasn't happy with, like the flowered cardigan and the necklaces (they just didn't feel like "me"). The SA was really nice and took everything back, yay!

Louisea, please do post your questionable items! After posting my embarrassing pictures today, was able to shed even more items from my closet. Whoo hoo! I feel soo much better about my wardrobe now!

Carole

Veteran

Such inspiration ladies! Your making me want to clean my closet, yet again. I just got rid of loads of so so stuff, and relate to your methods, goldenpig. It does feel good, doesn't it?

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Yeah Carole, it totally changes how you feel when you walk into your closet! My new motto--no settling when it comes to clothes. Love it or leave it! It's fab or it's out!

Mac

Veteran

Be sure to take "before" photos so we can ooh and ahhh all the more enthusiastically over your "after" photos.

louisea

Well, I'm finished purging my clothes... for now anyway! It was liberating to give myself permission to get rid of some things. It took me a few hours to try everything on, but I think it was really worth it to look at each piece critically. I came to to the realization that some of the clothes I wear every day really aren't flattering! I dress a lot for comfort and 'practicality' - I don't plan to change that, but I now plan to dress in a flattering, stylish and comfortable way

I decided I will hold onto all my dress pants for now because I need something to wear while I search for the right pants. I think this could be a struggle because having long legs I always battle with PPL but I'm up for the challenge of finding the perfect pants.

I have before and after photos but I'm not sure how to post them? Can anyone walk me through it?

anne

Veteran

Below the box where you reply to posts there is another box which says add photos to your Post, In greyed writing in the box it says Add a photo. Click on that and follow the prompts
(that is presuming you have got the photos on the computer)
Congrats on your wardrobe edit!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Hi Louisea,
You can't post photos directly until you are an Active member, which takes about a week after joining I think.
Here is the link with instructions:
http://youlookfab.com/backstag.....ng-photos/
When I first joined and before I was an Active member, to include photos I just made a Picasa album and pasted the link to the album in my post.

louisea

Thanks for the tips ladies. I just did a search and found the same info. I will upload to photobucket and post a link

louisea

These are the 'before' pictures
http://i289.photobucket.com/al.....rl/105.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/al.....rl/107.jpg

Here are the 'afters'
http://i289.photobucket.com/al.....rl/156.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/al.....rl/164.jpg

I'm feeling very proud! I think the next steps for me are to fix my 'repairs' pile and try on what I am keeping in whole 'outfits' then make a list of what I need to replace or find to fill gaps in my wardrobe.

Thanks for your help and encouragement today

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Good job! Looks much better! Keep up the great work!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am ridiculously excited by the prospect of closet purging these days. Thanks for the inspiration!

I think I've received a sign from the universe that it's time for another serious purge, as I prepare to change out summer for winter items: the shelf/rod assembly in our basement closet, where I keep out of season garments, completely collapsed last week. We now have garment storage bags and winter coats draped about our TV room. Considering my recent weight loss, I have a feeling many of those items will be going to new homes.

I have also been eyeing a stack of little-worn tees in my closet from the summer that I've had for years but now seem blah and sad. I think it may be time to part with a lot of those. Is it strange that I'm really looking forward to having a free day to do this?!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Janet, your collapsing rod sounds just like the scene someone already mentioned here on last week's Breaking Bad where she's hanging up Space Bags crammed with money until her rod snaps!
Louisea, can I just say you seem to already have a manageable wardrobe (color palette included) *before* your purge! Mine is a kaleidoscope even after several purges with removal of years of clothing that collected.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Haha, Mo! That was me who mentioned the BB scene! Forgot all about it until now. Too funny.

Ladies, if you want to feel better about the daunting task of closet cleaning, think of my friend. I helped her move last weekend, and I am not exaggerating when I say that her wardrobe literally filled two cars, jam packed, and spilled over into the moving truck. And thats not counting shoes! She has items I remember her wearing in high school, 30 years ago. I told her I'll happily help her whittle down her clothing museum.