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Would I buy it now?

Star

Veteran

In the last bi-weekly linkups post Suntiger mentioned a blog 'Fullifereflections'. When I went to check it out I found quite a few interesting ideas on various topics. One in particular resonated with me a lot, and that is looking at an item of clothing and asking 'would I buy it now?' Now I have a way too big closet that I would love to pare down to a third of it's size. I have an up-to-date list on my computer of all the items I own which I am using to track wears. So, I made another column and very quickly was able to assess each item; Would I buy it now? and if No, why not? I found this logical method so much easier for me than 'Does it spark joy?'. Interestingly, I only would buy a third of what I currently own, it actually matches my long-term goals. Also very helpful was to see patterns emerging of where my current style preferences are, ie. neutrals for tops and pants, colors for toppers and patterns reserved for stand alone dresses and mid-summer tops, also with regard to fit, and styles I no longer favour. Alot of the items are old but in great shape - some were on my Yes list still. Most of the items I have purchased in the last 2 years are on my Yes list too (a good sign that I am making less purchasing mistakes). This is not to say I am about to purge 2/3rds of my closet, as some of the No's I do still like and wear even though I would not buy them now. Some Yes items are actually a bit worn out and should be purged. However this exercise has produced some valuable insight into my style evolution and will help with future purchasing. Also maybe I will try and live with only the Yes items for a while and see if I can really get by on that smaller sized wardrobe. Has anyone else ever used this method?

Dressing

39 replies

Latest reply was from Star

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

How cool that the portion you’d say “yes” to again is the same as the portion you had already abstractly thought you’d keep! But I’m a little confused about how you wouldn’t buy some things again, even though you enjoy wearing them.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Haven't used this method, am intrigued but also, one thing comes to mind. I do have some stuff that is high quality and that I love and hold onto, but that I would probably not buy now because it's not trendy. A hip-length blazer comes to mind - I'd pick an oversize style if I bought now. Is that the type of stuff that's in your no-list but that you won't get rid of?

Star

Veteran

Fashintern, those ones I only like, not love. So eventually some emotional reasoning comes into it No seriously I have quite a clear picture of what I want and don't want in my future smaller closet. Eg. Pattern-wise I only want stripes, dots or geometrical so I will steer clear of others I like (not love), such as some florals. Or some items fit but are a bit off or a little unflattering, I can still wear them but now I know better. Another example, I have a great fitting pink pair of skinnies, the best fitting skinnies I own and comfortable, but I am not loving pink on the bottom - so I won't purge them because some of the qualities I love. I just realised that those on the No list have some redeeming qualities but I still would not buy them now. Thanks FI, I analysed this even more for myself after your question, ha-ha.

Star

Veteran

Liesbeth, yes some of those on the NO list but not purging definitely fall into the not so trendy now category but have some kind of redeeming factor, mostly about quality. I also have newer items that although I love their style/colour/etc the quality has been so bad I had to say No I would not buy it now (if I knew it was going to pill like crazy - you 2 polo sweaters that are only 2 years old). This also can help that I will review what they are made of and try and steer clear of same in the future.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sounds like a good method. Glad it’s working for you! Thanks for sharing.

I just passed on the last of my Theory and Smythe blazers. And black moto. 10 and 13 years old. No, I would not buy them now. Black, grey, stiff, too structured, strict, not playful. I kept keeping them for “just in case”. They haven’t sparked joy for a very long time. They went to a great second home. That sparked joy

Liz

Veteran

Such a useful question! Over the past few years, I've had a list of new items I brought in and about once a year have gone through it asking, Was it a good buy? The "no" answers are usually because of quality or some kind of fit or comfort issue that didn't show up until later. A few are because I was buying for some emotional reason that didn't have anything to do with clothes.

But I can see that asking, "Would I buy it now?" would get me different kinds of answers.I can see there are obvious ones where it was a good buy at the time but I wouldn't buy it now because what I want to wear has changed, and my lifestyle has gotten more casual. (I wouldn't buy those pewter pumps again, or the little ballet flats, or the pencil skirts.)

I'm guessing there's another set of items that this would highlight. Marie Kondo has a question that I find more helpful than "spark joy," which is, "Is this something I want to carry forward with me into the future?" There are clothes that were good buys in their day, which are still fine to wear, but I'd have to answer that, no, they do not speak to where I want to be in the future. So if I were "buying" a wardrobe out of my current closet, to go from here forward, these wouldn't make the cut. (There was a forum member who talked about that -- wasn't it Gaylene? -- she was downsizing and had to figure out which of her clothes she would "buy" again to take with her into the next season.)

Joy

Veteran

Star, this is a good question for making decisions about what to keep.. thank you got posting this.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think this can be a useful question, and it's one I try to keep in mind when editing too.

However, sometimes it's not quite enough to say that I wouldn't buy it now, because current circumstances still feel very much subject to change. For example, no, now I wouldn't buy the sequined blazer I bought right before the pandemic started, but ask me in another year when we have social occasions again and my answer may be very different. So even though it still has tags on and has never been worn, I keep it. I also apply this to other of my dressier pieces that are not getting worn now but I think may come in handy when the world opens back up more.

Star

Veteran

Janet, totally agree with your thinking. There is no way I will be letting go of my 2 pairs of leather boots that I absolutely love but have higher heels and have not been worn for over a year. I would not buy then now either. This question probably does not include the pandemic situation.

Angie, I so get that finding a new home for a pre-loved item can spark joy!

Joy, pleasure, happy you will find it useful.

Liz, interestingly in Jan 2015 I relocated continents and had to choose only half of my closet to bring with me. That time around I based it on quality, ie; my all cotton items, branded jeans, etc. Basically difficult items to replace as I was moving to a place where fast fashion rules.

Irina

Veteran

Yes, I ask myself this question sometimes.

There are obvious mistakes especially when I buy something that doesn’t fit but looks like it can be altered.

But there is part of my wardrobe that doesn’t reflect my current preferences. In the winter months I used to wear mostly dressy pants to work and have only 2 pair jeans suitable for the weather. I bought and enjoyed wearing these pants. I like like them and I don’t plan to get rid of them now but I’m not going to replace once I wear them out. I would rather wear more jeans.
Asking myself this question helps me to understand changes in my style and plan better future purchases.

nemosmom

Veteran

Oh this is a super-helpful question to keep in mind while editing! For me, it's one of a few questions I have to ask as I go through my "maybe" pile. There are pieces I love that I wouldn't necessarily need to ask myself if I would buy again, and there are pieces I would buy again, but don't necessarily wear. Editing is tricky!

Since the pandemic, I find myself laughing at the method, "get rid of anything you haven't worn in the last year"... I would be left with one pair of sweatpants, a pair of jeans, three tee shirts, and a pair of slippers....

Star

Veteran

Irina, the way you feel about your dressy pants articulates exactly how I feel about some of my No items. They are not going anywhere, I enjoy them, I will wear them out but would not buy again. This is why I will not purge every No item, but as you say the road map ahead is clear.

Star

Veteran

Nemosmom, too true! I actually did not include this past year in my thinking, as you say I would not be left with much;) Your comment makes me think of this velvet maxi skirt I own and love, just the right cut for me (straight column), a rich rusty burgundy color. The thing is I have only worn it once in the last six years. The climate here is just not conducive to skirts 8 months of the year, and the colour and texture is just not for Spring. So this is an odd piece, I will not purge it, I love it and I did dither a bit with is it a Yes or a No but I must remember never to buy a velvet skirt again!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I don't use any organized method to keep track of my wardrobe, but I do use this question to help determine if it's a keep. It really helps you think about it in a different way.

Star

Veteran

Chewyspaghetti, it sure does.

texasgal

Another way to look at this: would I return it if I could? (Obv tags on, unworn, etc)

unfrumped

Veteran

What Star said.
Good wardrobe evaluation question which I do use and find helpful.

What Star said because: the items I wouldn’t buy again but don’t think I should remove , I believe fall into a certain category of still having many of the “ right” features AND I will wear them, but want the next iteration to have some different qualities.
Examples for me include some silk shirts and cashmere sweaters that are the right fit, color but I believe moving forward I will do better with more easy- care items or fewer such.
This attitude requires my saying that I will wear my gray silk shirt even casually, not save for “ good”, and decide at some point whether it gets stained beyond repair or doesn’t hand wash well or is not worth dry cleaning costs or I find I’m not actually wearing it much . Which also means I am not trying to think, “ I should give this away because someone will cherish it beautifully and get 5 years of use from it” , because I don’t bank on that.
Another simple example might be color palette shifting but not needing to make any clean sweep. I have some burgundy items that now I’m thinking are darker than I like going forward, but are in the right style, fabric so I will wear but have fun seeing if new preferred shade turns up. So this type of item might be part of a wardrobe evolution strategy in which I have to like the new item so much that I will then toss the other, rather than hold on to both, split wears, or be covering up the real deal that it’s an item I somehow like to BUY but not WEAR.

But I have removed items for which my impression is, “ what on earth was I thinking?!” and realized it was an emotional or impulsive buy or had my inner voice was nagging me about problems, but my instant gratification voice was saying, oh, these shoes will loosen up, this top will shrink a size, etc.

Anonymous

The practicality of this question really appeals to me.

I think the same expansiveness of definition and blurred borders can be applied as would be applied to the virtually completely subjective concept of "sparking joy".

Love it, plan to use it

Star

Veteran

Unfrumped, so many good examples. And oh my, 'these shoes will loosen up' - I have finally learnt mine never have and never do!

Phoebe, yes I was thinking while reading some of these comments, that if it is a No that it is not a hard and fast rule that the item has to be purged, and the reasons for not purging said No item will vary not only for different people, but even for different items within our own closets. I believe the original blog post I read about this stated the same thing. No does not necessarily = instant purge. It just sure helps for one to see things logically for a future path, and prevent me from repeating mistakes, and acknowledging personal style changes. Glad you love it

unfrumped

Veteran

I also live the “ would I return it” question and see it for somewhat different situations, but useful, in its own variations.
Especially for: shoes that seemed to fit but after several wears, are impossibly uncomfortable. I have not returned this type, typically, though I know some people return with reason that, your shoes hurt my feet. Similarly, sweaters that only start to itch after several wears or certain circumstances.
Also, too much muchness. Maybe buying things that really are great but can’t wear it all , in that category.
The difference in this question is that one could get the money back for something better, wardrobe or other.
That overlaps with “ sunk cost” guilt over truly unwearable or disliked items, but an alternative mindset, for some of my would-I-buy-again keepers, is being grateful for what I have and watching out for “ wardrobe perfection “ rabbit- hole.
That doesn’t mean wearing what I hate, and for me now means, do more “ eenie meenie” choosing to admit I prefer this over that, so don’t need that.

Star

Veteran

Unfrumped, where I live returns are not really an option, seriously! Very different to when I lived in South Africa and could return anything up to three months later. I learn't this the first time I came here on holiday and the handle on a bag I purchased broke off in 24 hours. When I took it back the sales assistant shrugged her shoulders and said it was not broken when I purchased it. Purchases here are keepers so I am becoming very selective, as you can imagine. It is probably fortunate my closet is over-stocked

rachylou

Veteran

I have to have a long think... the first thing that comes to mind are all my black sweaters, because my dog is a blondie!

Anonymous

This has been my editing method for years . And so often the answer is “no” , which reflected my poor buying habits and lack of choice / availability in the market at that time .

JAileen

Veteran

This makes a lot more sense than “does it spark joy.” The only thing that sparks joy in me is the ice maker on our refrigerator. Every time I fill up a glass of water I think, “I absolutely love this!”

Sal

Veteran

Haha JAileen!

I like this process a lot and may do the same thing. And I agree with not removing immediately pieces that still have function or you like, such as the pink jeans.

I even have things that I like but feel that I have scratched the itch with one piece.

Anonymous

I feel that way about my heated steering wheel , JA

Jenni NZ

Veteran

That blog Suntiger points us to is very good. It was Debbie Roes’ previous blog Recovering Shopaholic that led me to YLF in the first place, as she mentioned it/Angie on there. I got to Debbie via Googling “ What is a normal sized wardrobe?” in 2016 when I was feeling desperate in my older home at the time where my clothing was in 3 different bedrooms! Thankfully things have improved. Downsizing the wardrobe...well in 4 years I have only downsized it by about 40 items from about 200 to 160. I was aiming for about 150 so not too far away now. I feel I need around 120 clothing items and 30 pairs shoes to meet my needs for variety and fun.
Are you sure you need to downsize yours so drastically to only one third? How big is it?!

cat2

Veteran

I am on Team Wear, not team wardrobe purge and binge. I ask if it is in good condition and if it fits and if so I keep it and over time find a way to wear it. Today I am wearing a denim dress I bought last summer with a six year old linen sweater. The sweater is fuchsia colored, and for the last two years I was not really in the mood for it, but this year it’s again in heavy rotation. Under a lot of systems I should have tossed it — didn’t wear one year, wasn’t currently in love with it, etc. However, I know that I like variety, and having it in the closet provided that without any additional spend. I also don’t think asking if I would buy it again makes sense — of course I wouldn’t, time passes and the next time I go sweater shopping there will be something else that draws my attention.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Well cat2 I certainly don’t do the “if I haven’t worn it in a year I should edit it out” system either, and for me it takes some ?5-10 years of not wearing something much before I am really sure that I won’t want to wear it ever again. I have slowly done it with a few items though in the 4 years I have been on YLF. Because I feel it’s more sustainable to wear stuff at least #30 wears then I do try to push myself to wear whatever, and sometimes that can work. I had some greeny-grey trousers like that from 2012 where the cuff was a bit wide and they were a bit short, by letting down the cuff a little I solved both issues. The wears increased to now 60, but not worn much this past NZ summer. If I decide I am over them, which I think I may be, then I feel much better about editing them out now. More sustainable and got my money’s worth! They did go really well with a couple of particular tops so I enjoyed them for those, it wasn’t forced to wear them all those times.

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