Wardrobe Limbo Garments - YouLookFab Forum

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Wardrobe Limbo Garments

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

New year, more tidying and more re-evaluating.

I have a few pieces that every woman "should" own, blazers in particular. One black, one grey, one grey. Unexpectedly, I've rarely worn them because they are a bit uncomfortable under winter coats, and buildings are so overheated that I stick to cooler tops or lighter sweaters.

Having sunk the money in these blazers, I've tried selling the NWOT tag one for months, but haven't succeeded. The others hang reproachfully.

Once (and if) I land a teaching job, I could incorporate them to look more professional. Or I could continue to wear what I wear now, which is equally acceptable.

When you have limbo garments and can't recuperate costs, do you force yourself to wear them, thinking you'll like them more than you thought before, like trying to overcome sartorial inertia? Or do you ditch the garment, and make vows of never buying it again? Note that I've given a lot away so far, but these items seem harder to part with because of the cost and their supposed centrality in the wardrobe,

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from Makrame

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have some dresses in this category. I have sunk money but tags are still on 2 of them, so I'm loathe to 'make' myself wear them when I can resell. Thing is, I need to reverify acct's blah blah blah to get eBay account running right to sell, and the consign shop up the road will give me mere pennies on the dollar. so they still hang. I put them in the corner back of the closet, though, where I don't have to see them

Gaylene

Veteran

I think limbo works as long as (1) the item fits properly and is of reasonable quality, (2) the item will theoretically work with other items in your wardrobe, and (3) you spend some serious cash on it that you won't be able to recoup.

But I also think limbo has to have a definite time limit; my rule is that anything that hangs around for a couple of years without an outing deserves to be set free from closet limbo--for my own sanity if nothing else. I also keep limbo items in a garment bag at the bag of the closet so I don't have to see them everyday. And, oddly enough, enough of my limbo items do wend their back into my main closet to make it worthwhile to keep the limbo bag.

Freckles

Veteran

Could you wear these items in the Spring and Fall so you wouldn't be putting them under a winter coat?

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I could in theory, but I suspect I would always choose my awesome light leather jacket in favour of the blazers.

Deborah

Veteran

If I know I am absolutely not going to wear an item as you describe and will relist on Ebay until I sell it. Sometimes it's just timing. In the event that it hasn't sold after a few attempts, I then consider who I know who might like it and I will pass it on to them:)

jenanded

Veteran

One day, in a fit of cleaning frenzy, one needs to just give them away... says she who needs to move jacket from bed after its second unsuccessful trip to consignment store.... Alas nothing ever makes these pieces lovable and they just keep hauntin one with guilt...

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I think it depends on space available plus the nature of the item. I have a couple of fancy suit jackets (probably considered vintage by now) that were bequeathed to me by my Mom, and have been more or less in limbo for at least a decade. They are just too formal for my everyday life. However, I have worn them on a couple of unexpected occasions -- funerals and interviews -- so I keep them.

Although come to think of it I should probably pull out the Chanel-inspired black bouclé jacket and see how it looks with jeans.

Missey

Veteran

I would suspect that you do love these jackets in theory, however, in practice you just are not really a blazer gal. I do this myself, where I envision a gorgeous look with a blazer, so refined! But that is not how I dress and when I do dress in a more refined fashion, I do not feel like myself. I too have blazers that I have done this with and I have 2 that I have held on to "just in case". I seldom wear them, but they are timeless in style and I continue to keep them without guilt. Maybe wear them as a topper in the warmer months? I say if you really do lke them, keep them, but if you have no attachment, get rid of them.

Anonymous

I have garments that are in limbo in my closet. I don't use them for a multitude of reasons: blazers and coats that are no longer climate appropriate, briefcases that are too heavy to carry around all day.

I just can't seem to let them go because I paid so much for them and can't stand the idea of not being able to recoup at least a small portion of that cost. Some of these items have been in my closet for more than 10 years old and I still can't seem to get rid of them.

Someone in this post mentioned giving them to a friend. Perhaps if I gave them to a beloved friend, I would feel better about it then if I just donated to a nameless stranger? I like that idea.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Would you feel better about donating them to someplace like Dress for Success?

"The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life."

http://www.dressforsuccess.org.....thing.aspx

Anonymous

I vote purge. It is hard, but I don't like items giving me the evil eye in my closet for not wearing them. I donate to Salvation Army or goodwill so I feel like perhaps they will find a good home. I don't like feeling like money has been wasted, but I just try to continue to be more picky about what comes home and stays in my closet.

MRL

Veteran

I get rid of things. I have come to accept the fact that we all have things that we buy and then just don't seem to wear. It's just more of a bummer when the items are expensive! I don't even look at blazers anymore because at one time I bought a few very nice ones and almost never wore them, I held on for a long time and then just gave them away.

Since you have spent a bit of money in your blazers, is there a resale shop where you live? You could recoup some of your investment that way.

karymk

Veteran

Ok, I had this black satin Chanel smoking jacket. I went cold on it because I thought it made my middle look wider than it is, which is wide anyway. I listed it on Ebay a few times, with no bites, so this Christmas I decided to wear it again. I loved it! For some reason it works. I think its a keeper.

daisy5

After a couple years of not getting any wear, I purge it. But I also have very limited closet space in my house so I simply don't have space to store clothes that I'm not wearing.

shiny

Veteran

I force myself to wear it once or twice, before purging. On many occasions when I've done just that, I realized it was my own lack of style confidence. One or two wears and I got over it, and the item became a favorite. This works especially if you receive compliments.

But yes on some occasions I felt horrible the whole day wearing said item -- it was uncomfortable, it just wasn't "me" or whatever... so I purged immediately and as soon as I got home and without any reservations whatsoever.

Turtlenecks, unforgiving jeans and skirts, and white starchy button downs thens to fall into this category, along with killer footwear that literally kills my feet.

If you do this test and decide to purge all three blazers, I might suggest saving just one - may come in handy for surprise interviews, funerals, and other blazer-appropriate occasions. Better than scrambling to find appropriate item for a particular occasion, knowing full well you'll rarely ever use it again.

Anonymous

I say purge whatever you're not wearing on a fairly regular basis. I don't have a really small closet or anything, but I still don't like anything I'm not wearing to take up valuable real estate. That space can be used to store something I really love and wear more often. If I don't wear something often enough to justify what I paid for it, it gets purged.

Makrame

Veteran

I generally tend to keep "not-favorite" things around for a while (at least a couple of years) even if not worn a lot, mostly because I have storage room so I don't feel the urgent need to get rid of things. Sometimes they suddenly start working (for example, when combined with a new item). I will say that I changed my style significantly when I started teaching (more jackets, fewer sweaters on teaching days) and changed it again when my teaching schedule changed (the course shifted to a different season). I do struggle with the temperature control issue - I like jackets for teaching but have to make sure they are not too warm.