Wardrobe purges--how often? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

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

Wardrobe purges--how often?

Velma

Veteran

I just hauled a small bag to the Salvation Army yesterday: not too much, maybe 10 items. I would say that I pull out a few unworn items every couple of months (six times a year) for donation. Our house is small, with only one closet, so this is a necessity more than a virtue! I would like a leaner wardrobe--maybe a one in/one out policy--with less frequent donations, but I'm not there yet . . .

Last night I was talking with a dear friend, who is sentimental and maybe a bit of a packrat. She told me that she just donated three giant trash bags of outgrown clothes from college. I have known this friend for 20 years, and her size has not changed a smidge--and college was before that. We celebrated! But I got to thinking: she must have moved these clothes three times across country + twice locally.

Where do you all fall with wardrobe purges: small and frequent? large and infrequent? Have you stored clothes for long periods and later decided to donate them?

General

17 replies

Latest reply was from

Steffie

I did one monster wardrobe purge a couple years ago, getting rid of most of my clothing- all of which was leftover from college. (I was 29 at the time.) Now I do a moderate purge once at the beginning of autumn and summer. This is usually done for size issues more than anything as my size keeps going up and up. I follow a strict 1 in 1 out rule and this system works pretty well for me.

JenT

I purge whenever the urge hits me. An item out here or there whenever I have decided it's too worn or I don't like the way I feel in it. I keep a donation bag in the garage, and once it gets full, I drop it off. I have a tiny closet so this helps sort of keep it all manageable.

rute

Veteran

I do it all the time! Normally when I buy something new..

LeahJanes

I purge when I run out of hangers or the drawers have to be packed like suitcases to close.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I toss as the urge hits. Spending the past few months not shopping, I've settled on how many of each wardrobe item I need to have, and so will be following the one-in, one-out rule come January.

Becky

Veteran

My purging is ongoing. I purge as soon as I know something doesn't fit right, is looking tired, etc. However, I set these things aside (bag them up in my basement) and actually take them in for donation every 2-3 months.

Kate

Veteran

I prefer constant editing to infrequent purges, but I think that going though everything at least once a year (and before moving!) is important.

Vix

Veteran

The last couple of years I've really tried to get on a regular schedule (a few months before a seasonal change, I'll get rid of/put aside what won't seem to work) in addition to my "whenever" purges.

I find this forces me to be more realistic about what I have...and what I need (or more realistically, WANT!).

Overall I guess you can dump me in the "smaller but more frequent clearouts" category.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

For me, moves and seasons precipitate a purge. Other than that, I tend to just push unworn stuff aside or back further in the closet or drawer. It's not until a year or two later when I still haven't worn it that I realize it should have been tossed! I'm trying to change this to be more aware of what I have and actually use but I still tend toward a larger wardrobe with more options than a small one to be reworked many ways. So I will probably always have those items that should go, but still hang around a season or year too long. I have the room, so it's more of a personal comfort thing than necessity.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Closet editing is on going for me. One in one out principle.

Louise

Veteran

I lost weight a couple of years ago pre YLF. I reached goal weight and found YLF about the same time, due to the weight loss I got rid of pretty much EVERYTHING. So far if I notice I'm not wearing something I make a effort to include it and if I can't it goes in the charity bag, we seem to have a bag come through the door every week x

Anonymous

I do a major edit in spring and fall when I reorganize for change of seasons. But since moving into a smaller closet, my philosophy has become one-in-one-out so the process has become more ongoing. I have a finite number of hangers so if I want to hang something new, something else needs to go. My challenge/issue is the non-hanging items since I keep stuffing until I cannot close the drawer. I need to be more firm with myself in that department as well.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Since YLF has influenced me, I find myself with constantly purging. I have a box in my bedroom, and as soon as I try something and cannot get it to work, into the box it goes!

This year I've probably done 1 major purge of going through everything, but I think by getting rid of individual pieces as I'm dealing with them, it keeps it pretty under control.

I've just put away all my washing and folding, and was quite happy that there is very little hanging in my *everyday* section that isn't worn frequently... perhaps too frequently!!

Still some gaps though!

Mac

Veteran

Fits and starts. Try to do it in an ongoing manner, but sometimes I'll go months without purging and some months I'll do it several times.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I'm just like Mo.

Barbara

Veteran

I try to use Angie's one in one out system for closet editing (editing - I like the sound of that). And I think it SHOULD be ongoing.

I just completed a major closet/storage container purge after losing the dreaded belly fat (aka menopot). It's nice to be forced to buy new stuff!

Anonymous

I am in the process of a major purge, I haven't really done one in the last 2 years. Once I'm done I'll fill in any holes and start a one in one out policy.

Looking at these 30 items, 30 days challenges is making me think I don't need as much as I think I do. Perhaps once I'm done my purge I'll do a count . . .