WIW: Closet purging - YouLookFab Forum

I'm enjoying the process of a closet purge (found surprisingly few items that I love, and way to many that are 'pretty good'). So I've been wearing my 'pretty good' items to help me decide whether they're worth keeping.

#1-3 Dark gray trouser-cut jeans, black/tan print top, tan cable-knit zipper cardi. All three of these are maybe-keep/maybe-go to me, your thoughts?

#4-5 The skinny jeans are on the alter pile - they'll get lengthened and be fine to keep, I think. And I like this long sweater, but I'm not sure if it's dated, or if the weird shape of the arms makes it really strange...

#5-6 I've decided these are among my favorite colors. Maybe they're 'muddy brights'? Or 'earthy brights'? The mustard T isn't well fitted, but I think it will stay as a layering element and be on my 'replace' list. The green is so comfy, and the pants are micro cords - I'm considering skinny-ing them - would they be better skinny? Do the colors work together? Are the boots this color worth keeping? (I still haven't decided whether to try dying them)

On all of these, I generally keep the sleeves long (rather than scrunch them), because I work at a computer and my hands FREEZE

Thanks a bunch for your input and your tips! I love suggestions for improvement too!

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13 years ago

Veteran

On an entirely subjective level, I like the last outfit the best. It just feels right, and I think those elements are keepers. The quirky sweater depends on how much you like it. If it doesn't make you feel like a million bucks, you probably shouldn't keep it. Things that are off the beaten track should be worn with a lot of joy, or not at all, at least according to my philosophy. Feeling like you're standing out, and not feeling good about it, is no fun. As for the first outfit, it's fine, but it's not exciting me. But that might be just because I'm not overly fond of that kind of print.

Again, these are just my individual reactions. Throw them in the mix for what they're worth, no more.

Kristin L

The sweater in pics 4 and 5 does look a little awkward, Could keep it as an around the house sweater?

I like the print top. Could you pin the pants into skinnies and try them? That way you can kind of test drive it before you start cutting.

Suz

(website)

Your expressions are priceless. Whatever you do, don't purge your smile!

I like you in the mustard T and agree it would be fun to add some new items in that colour if you can find them. The green sweater also appears to be a good colour for you.

When it comes to keeping or purging, sometimes it's tough to advise without knowing what else you have in your closet to put on. It sounds as if in your work you require some "cozy" items. In that case, removing these sweaters might put you in a huge bind, and so maybe you want to proceed with caution.

It also depends on your style goals. What kind of a look would you like to cultivate?

If you are aiming for a more modern look, you can probably improve on these. But maybe you can switch each for something new and fresher one at a time?

Re scrunching: I think you can have it both ways. Sleeves down when you are working. Sleeves scrunched when you are out and about.

Also: I wonder if you are one of those who could get wear from some of those cute fingerless gloves?

For the pants: If you like skinnies, sure - try narrowing and see how these work out!

Re the boots: They look quite good with the T; not sure how they work with the rest of your wardrobe. What colour would you dye them if you did that?

amiable

Thanks so much for the input! I'm still working to determine my wardrobe goals and my style. I think purging my closet is helping.

So far I've noticed that my favorite colors are earthy brights and jewel tones - but I wonder if that's just the season. I've also noticed that I wear almost entirely solid colors. Only two prints and one stripe made it into my 'LOVE' pile. But lots of textures did. I suspect I'll wear more prints in the spring/summer.

I have quite a few sweaters, so I don't think I NEED to keep any of these. But I probably will keep the green one, and maybe too the long brown one (it feels 'prairie' to me, and I like that style and feel at home in it.) I think the tan one is 'meh', it'll probably go. But then I worry that it'll create a wardrobe hole. This is where closet purging gets harder.

I also noticed that I have three tops with a black/tan print (like in #1-3) and I barely wear any of them - perhaps it's too high-contrast for me - I'm not sure. Maybe if they all 'go', I won't have need of a tan sweater....

Re: the expressions - that's the price I pay for having my kids take pictures, they don't wait for me to stop yawning or talking, or start smiling. I figure, that's real - right?

Re: fingerless gloves - do those need to work with an outfit? I have a wonderful set of red and orange stripes ones (I call them wrist-warmers), but they're kind of clown-ish, and don't work with hardly anything I have clothing-wise.

I'm considering dying the boots burgundy. Don't know yet if/when it'll happen though

Liz

You're doing a lot of good closet work! Have you done any work on figuring out what colors look good on you? That would help give you some direction on this purging. The colors of the tops/sweaters in #1 and #2 are neutrals that often wash people out unless you have a specific coloring that lights up in these tones. In the same way, mustard and that warm-toned green in #3 are also hard to wear for most people.
From a distance, you seem to have cool undertones in your skin/hair — but you are drawn to that mustard shade, so I may not be seeing correctly.

Sveta

Here is what I think but I am really ruthless with purging.
#1-3 don't cut it for me. The trousers fit is OK but they are too short even for the flat shoes you war in the pictures. I don't like the color of the cardigan for you, it washes you down. The top maybe OK for layering though, you may use it for some fun pattern mix.
# 4-5 I am not a fan of the cardigan with the sleeve shape and the empire waist. The jeans may be ok lengthened, I cannot see the fit well though.
#6-7 These are nice colors on you. The cords will definitely work better tapered down, then they will not be too short. BTW, they have mustard yellow t-necks and sweaters in Banana Republic now so check them out if you like this color.

Thank you Liz and Sveta, Kristin, Suz and JR- I am trying to be ruthless!

Liz: I think my colors are warm, but I'm honestly not sure. I can tell what I'm warmer than some (my husband) and cooler than some (my mother), but I'm not sure where I quantitatively fall on the warm-cool scale. I know that I'm drawn to and look better in fall-winter colors more than spring-summer colors.

Sveta - I hadn't realized the pants in #1-3 are too short - thank you! Out they go. The tops in 6-7 stay, and the cords get slimmed down. I agree with you that the color of the cardigan in 4-5 isn't a great one for me either. It might have to go even though I like it.

Here's some more pics of the skinny jeans. They have a full 3 inches to lengthen, so I think they'll be fine once I get to them.

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Okay, another question for Sveta - I just looked up at the photos - how can you tell the pants in #1-3 are too short? How long are they supposed to be? To me they look the right length - they touch the vamp of the shoe in the front, and almost touch the sole in the back. But I'm seriously a novice and want to learn.

Anonymous

I think to be PPL they need to be touching the ground at the back, and touch the vamp with more slack. I think narrower legged trousers can be shorter and scrunch at the ankle, but wide-legged need to basically be touching the ground, as I understand it.

Thanks Ceit! Somehow I'd thought that an inch above ground was PPL. I compared those jeans to my others, and they're definitely the shortest. Out they go!

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