STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

flknight24 · Dooney & Bourke

Another ? about closet cleaning (sorry, long)

Elle · Hermes

Honestly, I think purging all the "Don't like but wear anyway" work items all at once would be a big mistake. It would only leave you standing in front of your closet every morning saying "I have nothing to wear!" and you'd be absolutely right.

My suggestion is to take an inventory of all of those don't-like-but-wear staples. Make a list and put it in your purse. Then I'd start shopping for replacement items - that way you can still slowly add items you love to your wardrobe without leaving yourself in the lurch. So if you have a button-down that you wear all the time, start looking for a button down that you love, maybe in a beautiful color, or with interesting details, etc. When you buy a replacement for one of your don't-like items, remove the don't-like item from your closet and put in a bag for later donation or something.

HTH!

laken1 · Hermes

What is it that you have that you don't like? Here's what I would do (I don't have this problem,but I used to) - Say you wear black pants but don't like them -but if you are like me, you can't throw them out yet because you have to have them to wear every week. I'd put that item- black pants - on a list of "need" items. After you find some that you absolutely LOVE, throw out the old. Same for white shirt. Or shirts in general. I'd also find a shirt that I really loved the fit & buy it in a few colors (like button downs with stretch). Change up your accessories for different looks. Not sure if that helped, but that's what I would do. I hate having to buy work clothes!!!!!!!

ETA: exactly what elle said - we were posting at the same time but she articulated it so much better!

-- Edited by laken1 at 11:27, 2006-01-12

atlgirl · Gucci

I agree with Elle - don't dump it all at once, because that will induce panic shopping for replacement items when the goal is to only have items you love to wear in the closet. It's self-defeating.

Keep your list of things you want to replace with you at all times, and when something speaks to you and you have the funds for it, start replacing. Slowly. Eventually you'll have a closet of items you always want to wear, and how fun will that be? *s*

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I have the same situation with my work clothes. I HATE getting dressed for work, my work clothes I have had forever because I came to a point where I refuse to spend money on work clothes when I hate wearing black, tan, and white! It's getting to the point where I wished I worked somewhere else so I could wear some damn color to work! Don't they realize I could look so much better wearing my other stuff? Anyways, don't toss it all out, purchase new things you like gradually.

flknight24 · Dooney & Bourke

Thanks ladies for all your WONDERFUL suggestions! I go through a phase about once a year when I feel like I need to purge everything from my closet. Thanks for keeping me in check. I love the idea of a "items to repurchase" list. I already carry a little notebook with me at all times listing things I need to buy (keeps me focused when I'm shopping) but I've now added a new section to my notebook listing "items to be repurchased" to replace the items I already have but don't really like.