Breaking up is hard to do
by Susan Wagner

Off the top of your head, tell me this: how much of your wardrobe do you REALLY wear, on a regular basis? Half? A third?

Or, as our own Chris guessed when I asked about her closet, ten percent?

Be honest.

Stylists estimate that most women wear about a third of what is in their closets. There are a lot of reasons for this: we are crunched for space and wear what is accessible, we are crunched for time and wear what is clean, we are crunched for ideas and wear what is safe. But while we are consistently falling back on the same outfits over and over, we are constantly shopping, because we know we need something else to wear.

And then we bring those new pieces home and stick them in the closet and continue to wear the same things over and over, all the while declaring "I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR."

Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to look at what constitutes a functional basics wardrobe, and at why we are so nervous about letting go of that huge mass of things we never wear. I am in the process of paring down my own closet, and I challenge you--yes, YOU, I see you over there pretending you don't hear me--to do the same. Get in there and figure out what you have and what you need and what you don't ever wear. And get rid of everything in that last category.

How do you know what to keep? Marie Claire gives us one starting point, with a list of wardrobe essentials for any budget. Ten pieces, including gold hoop earrings, that we all need in our closets. I would recommend a wrap dress over a sheath dress, but that's just me; the list is basic and useful and still chic.

Now imagine that your closet consisted ONLY of the ten pieces on the Marie Claire list. Could you do it? Or would you find yourself naked and worried on a Wednesday morning? Are there pieces on that list that you would take off? Others you would add? Why?

If you're still not sure where to start, Catherine at [my] style files reminds us to choose basics in neutral colors, and to invest in these core pieces (black pants, for example). She also offers a good strategy for breaking up with the unwearable (or unworn) parts of your closet:

Once you have gathered your essentials together, stand back and take a long, hard look at what is left. Probably 80% of your closet! If you are having a hard time putting these items into piles such as (1) consignment, (2) good will and (3) “too good to go to either but I still don’t wear it” – this becomes your sisters/friends pile, have your friend, family member or spouse take a look at your non-essentials to give you their opinion of how often (never) you have worn these pieces. It will become easier to part with these things after soliciting another’s opinion, I promise. Now, take a deep breath . . . don’t you feel better?

Parting with the 90% of your clothes that you honestly never wear can be difficult, for a lot of reasons. Catherine's idea of having a pile that you go through with a trusted friend is terrific, because it takes the pressure off of you; someone else will help make the final decision.

Could you do it--could you pare your closet down to JUST the things you really wear? I'm trying, but it's hard. On Saturday, we'll talk about why it's so hard, about what our investment is in our wardrobes. What do we get from a closet full of clothes we never wear? And starting next week, we will look at what you really need in your closet, how to choose basics that fit your lifestyle, and how to make your minimalist closet work with the trends for Fall '07.

Susan Wagner writes about fashion at Friday Style and The Working Closet, and about everything else at Friday Playdate. She is wondering how she wound up with so many pairs of khaki pants in her closet.

Submitted by Susan Wagner (view blog) on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 08:56

Comments

 

clothes in my closet

I definitely agree. I don't wear the majority of my clothes (or shoes for that matter). However, I save those that I really like. For instance, I have a dress I bought 3 years ago that I've worn twice. I had a wedding to attend last weekend and this dress was perfect! Had I parted with it, I would have gone out and bought another that would have sat in my closet, ignored, until required. I keep anything I really like. They save me when I'm in a pinch.

----------------------
www.counterfeithumans.com

Submitted by Keli on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 08:51
 

I'm doing this. I swear.

It's going to be hard, because, wow, there's a lot in there. But also, gradually, I've been weeding out the old, too. And I have a personal rule. Anytime I bring home something new, I HAVE to get rid of something lurking at the back of the closet.

Ouch, the pain.

Nerd's Eye View

Submitted by Pam on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 09:17
 

I'd say that ten percent is

I'd say that ten percent is a dead-on guess for my own closet. Mainly because there are these clothes that no longer fit that I can't bear to part with.

No wonder I can't deal with separation anxiety very well!

Submitted by Dana J. Tuszke on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 09:28
 

The one in, one (or two or five) out rule

Pam, I also do the one in, one out trick; it's a good way to keep things simple. It's also a good way to realize that you already own whatever it is you just bought.

Keli, we'll talk about what really IS worth keeping, because there are things that we don't wear every day but still need. My personal philosophy is that shoes and bags are almost always keepers (unless they are worn out) because they offer an easy way to change your look.

And Dana, get a box and pack up the things that don't fit. But ONLY the pieces that are in good condition, and that you will honestly wear again some day.

You can do it, I promise.

Friday Style | The Working Closet | Friday Playdate

Submitted by Susan Wagner on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 10:01
 

Exception to the rule

I'm one of those women that really doesn't enjoy shopping or fashion. The idea that I have to buy something that is "in fashion" and not wear somethin that is "out of fashion" simply because some designers say so, drives me mad.

My ideal is to have clothes that can last a minimum of ten years without looking out of date. Recently, I was talking to a friend who loves to shop -- if she could shop every day she would. Her rule: she is a bargain shopper and doesn't believe in paying more than 20 or so dollars for anything.
She was admiring a pair of pants and I said they were reasonably priced. She asked how much. I said about $75. She looked at me like I was insane. Of course I will keep those pants for at least 5 years. She likes to wear her clothes several times, then gives them to charity so she can buy new stuff.
My closet - I wear 80% of what's in there.

elana
Blogher Contributing Editor,Business&CareersFunnyBusiness

Submitted by Elana Centor on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 12:24
 

It's so refreshing

to know I'm not the only person who has great pieces I've never worn but can't get rid of!!! I'm working on pairing things down and hope eBay will make the outcome that more positive!
Helene

Submitted by moddivorce on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 13:20
 

Hooray for Elana!

I wish more women were doing what you describe: spending money (and yes, $75.00 IS a reasonable amount for really good quality pieces) on clothes they REALLY WEAR.

At the end of this, you will ALL be able to say that you wear what's in your closet. RIGHT?

Right.

Friday Style | The Working Closet | Friday Playdate

Submitted by Susan Wagner on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 19:29
 

More than I can handle - I'm taking the
plege.

I'm not a clothes shopper. But I have been know to buy something cuz I didn't do the laundry. I hardly throw any clothes out and it has gotten out of hand. Waay out of hand.

Seriously - between the books and the clothes something has to go. I nominate the clothes. And maybe a few computer magazines from 1989.

I gotta do this. I can't get near the closet for one thing. And I'll do anything to reduce the amount of laundry that I should be doing. Not my favorite thing, happy when it is finished but a major effort to get me started.

But I couldn't ask a friend to help - they would die laughing at sight of the mountain of "stuff" Somewhere in that pile are some old "MC Hammer" type pants and a 1980's style catsuit that I've have never been able to wear.

I don't even know how I got it! It is six sizes too small ;-)

Gena - Out On The Stoop

Submitted by Gena Haskett on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 19:27
 

Another exception..

Since I am home almost all the time, my wardrobe is really 5 tank tops, 10 short-sleeve ts, and 3 long sleeve (it's summer). Plus 2 pairs of jeans and 2 pairs of knit pants.

Yes, there are 3 dresses for special occasions and one red wool blazer. Period.

But I've been losing weight and unwilling to invest in a new wardrobe until I got close to the end.

Every season, I pull out the stained shirts, give them away and replace them. But I wear almost everything in my closet every 2 weeks or so, or it's gone. (we have a truck that comes to our neighborhood every Thursday. Just put it out and it disappears.)

However, I'll admit that my wardrobe is a bit spare.. and I do need to start considering adding some of the basics to it. Now that I'm almost through with the weight-loss thing, I'll feel OK doing that.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

Submitted by debra roby on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 19:41
 

I'm going to be honest with you

Today, I bought a shirt just because the shirt I was wearing had makeup on it. Not completely visible but it was there and I didn't want to go where I was headed with makeup on the collar so I bought a shirt at the gap. I'll probably wear it a million times because that's what I do, but really, there was no good reason for it.

When I move in a few weeks, I'm doing a final weeding out of things, because I'm sick of staring at my closet every morning saying "I have nothing to wear" only to spend two hours ironing the next day.

Heather B.
Personal Blog: No Pasa Nada
BlogHer CE: Business, Career & Personal Finance

Submitted by HeatherB on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 23:45
 

I am doing it too

Going through my closet and drawers and getting rid of 80% of it.

Part of it is being honest about what I really do wear. It is ridiculously cold here in the winter and I have so may items that never see the outside of my drawer once october hits.

Also, I need that black sweater. I'd wear that in subzero temperatures.

Submitted by chris on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 12:19
 

EVERYONE needs a black turtleneck

Unless, of course, you live in San Diego, or Hawaii. In which case, can I come visit you, say in February?

A black sweater, either a turtleneck or a crew neck, is a Wardrobe Must Have. More on that soon, I promise.

Friday Style | The Working Closet | Friday Playdate

Submitted by Susan Wagner on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 13:29
 

weight gain and my closet

DaisyI've gained a great deal of weight in the last few years, and I'm just now giving up my "slim" clothes. If and when I lose this excess, those pieces won't be in fashion anyway. sigh.

Submitted by Daisy on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 14:00
 

Clothes Horse...

Ok - I'll admit it, I am a clothes horse. Of course, my friends would tell you that admitting it is no problem for me. They say when the word shopping is mentioned the color of my eyes changes :)

Yet, you are right... I do often wear a small amount of my wardrobe. I have my favorites - the things that I'm truly comfortable in. The difficulty is that I love outfits and when I go shopping I just love to pull an outfit together - it's just fun! The problem is that it is more about pulling it together than "will I wear it?" So, alas I have soooooo many things in my closet that I truly have never worn (shhhh, they still hve the tags on them...ouch).

So, I will take the challenge. It would be nice to have a bit of space in my closet and would also be satisfying to know that I actually wear what is in there (is that normal?)

Ok - two weeks and counting....it's only fair to start from today, right? :)

Robin Ogden
http://www.firedupcareers.com

Submitted by Robin Ogden on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 23:50
 

I'm with Elana

I don't like to shop, so I have about 15 shirts for summer, 15 for winter. Same with pants, and about 5 summer dresses and 5 winter dresses. I don't wear a dress very often, but at some point or other I wear nearly all of it.

Inspired by Susan, I cleaned out my closet yesterday getting rid of everything I knew I'd never wear, it was only a handful of stuff. Can't vouch for how fashionable I am, but at least I'm practical. That counts for something, right?


Sheryl

Submitted by paper napkin on Fri, 08/24/2007 - 15:14
 

I don't wear 95% of what is

I don't wear 95% of what is in my closet because it is all pre-baby clothes and I haven't gotten back to my pre-baby size. So I have a couple shirts and 2 pair of jeans that fit me now and that is what I wear.

All.the.time.

*sigh*

Submitted by Kian Yamaguchi on Fri, 08/24/2007 - 16:02
 

Postpartum is tough

We'll talk about getting through the post-baby window soon, I promise. And while you shouldn't give everything away right now, keep in mind that once the baby weight DOES come off, you may be ready for a whole new wardrobe anyway.

And I always went with the theory that everyone was looking at the baby anyway. Right? Right.

Friday Style | The Working Closet | Friday Playdate

Submitted by Susan Wagner on Fri, 08/24/2007 - 16:08