Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    SASM is offline Diamond level (5000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Happy place :)
    Posts
    5,245

    Default Cleaning out my closet...how much should I keep??

    How do you purge your closet? I know the general rule of thumb is if it hasn't been worn it in a year, toss it. I have no problem getting rid of a TON but do people generally keep a certain number of articles of clothing??

    xx Pants
    xx Denims
    xx Long Sleeved tops
    xx t-shirts
    etc

    The only thing I am clear on is workout attire...keep enough to get me through until the load of laundry is washed. Do you do the same with everything else or do you keep a bunch for variety?? TIA!!
    Mom to:
    1 BLUE (03) and 2 PINK (05 & 07)
    ^i^ 10.01 & 12.03

    Pardon my typos...blasted Auto-correct!!

  2. #2
    anonomom is offline Diamond level (5000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    5,105

    Default

    I keep enough to get me through about a week and a half without doing laundry. (I HATE doing laundry). For each of my summer/winter wardrobes, I aim for 4 pairs of pants, about 10 tops, etc. But I'm a SAHM and I pretty much wear the same thing every day. When I was working, I think I had a little bit more variety.
    DC1 -- 2005 DD -- 2009 DS -- 2011

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    3,991

    Default

    As long as it still fits, is in great condition, up-to-date and I actually do wear out it then I keep it. I wouldn't keep pieces that you have to buy something else to go with it to make it work or the fit is off in anyway. I'm pretty ruthless at keeping a closet that I wear 100% of, but I've got a ton of denim and skirts. I wear it all so I'm fine keeping them.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    1,110

    Default

    i try to do laundry every day. if not, every other day, so im not much help to you. i keep 4 pairs of pants, 4 shirts, 4 tank tops (my pjs), 3 shorts.
    glib-gabbety puke stockings.
    ds 11/09
    dd 10/13

  5. #5
    jennilynn is offline Platinum level (1000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    1,705

    Default

    Have you read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up? I used her method last year and it really helped cull my wardrobe. Since the major purge I'm able to look at what I have just before each season and think about what I need (I also implemented a color scheme so everything coordinates.) We do laundry once a week so I like to have about 5-6 pairs of slacks, 2-3 pairs of jeans, and enough tips to get me through two weeks. But a wardrobe is so personal because it depends greatly on not just y what you like but whether you need workwear, your climate, etc. The blog Unfancy helped me a lot too. She has lots of info on capsule wardrobes and how many items are enough.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Slightly crunchy mama to three awesome monkeys

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Posts
    5,504

    Default

    I would recommend not clearing out clothes from any season other than the most recent. I have done several closet purges over the years, and have definitely eliminated items and then regretted it. This usually happens when I am purging winter clothes in 90 degree heat, or summer clothes when it's snowing. Start with summer clothes now. Then move all your fall and winter clothes to one end of the closet and see what you use over the next couple of weeks. Don't get rid of anything expensive or classic that might come in handy for a special occasion like a wedding or a funeral.
    Green Tea, mom to three

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    4,469

    Default Cleaning out my closet...how much should I keep??

    I usually do laundry every weekend, but I like everyone to have enough clothes to go 2 weeks. This allows me to skip laundry occasionally on a busy weekend, and lets us go on a week plus travel days vacation and still have clothes to wear the day before and after!

    Edit: This includes things like assuming we can wear a pair of pants or shorts 2-3 days, so DH and I don't need 14 pair of pants. DS however needs a new pair every day.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    Last edited by gymnbomb; 09-17-2016 at 09:34 PM.
    DS 2/14
    DD 8/17

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    3,991

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Green_Tea View Post
    I would recommend not clearing out clothes from any season other than the most recent. I have done several closet purges over the years, and have definitely eliminated items and then regretted it. This usually happens when I am purging winter clothes in 90 degree heat, or summer clothes when it's snowing. Start with summer clothes now. Then move all your fall and winter clothes to one end of the closet and see what you use over the next couple of weeks. Don't get rid of anything expensive or classic that might come in handy for a special occasion like a wedding or a funeral.
    So true. I enforce the 1 year thing, but at the end of each season not before the season.

  9. #9
    goldenpig's Avatar
    goldenpig is offline Sapphire level (2000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    2,863

    Default

    Here's some tips on closet editing from YLF:
    https://youlookfab.com/2015/08/13/the-big-closet-edit/

    I don't think it's a certain number to keep, or a certain length since you've last worn an item which is important. That number is going to be different for everyone and also depend on your available space.

    It's more important whether your item of clothing still fits and is in good condition and whether you love it and feel good wearing it. If it doesn't meet all those criteria, it needs to be either repaired/altered, go to a temporary holding zone (maybe for a few months) or purged.

    I live in a temperate climate so I don't pack things away and everything is out all year (except long coats in a coat closet upstairs). I've been doing regular purges every year or so, but it's still a little too stuffed at the moment so I need to do some more purging. I've gained some weight after baby #3 so I need to go through and re-try everything on.
    Party of five!
    Double big sister
    Big brother
    Little brother

  10. #10
    lizzywednesday is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Central NJ
    Posts
    13,754

    Default

    I live in denim and t-shirts.

    When I was working I also lived in denim and t-shirts. (I didn't have a customer-facing position & the "business casual" dress code wasn't exactly enforced.)

    I'll be the first to admit that I dressed a lot better when I was pregnant!

    Right now, I have 2 pairs of jeans (washed every 3rd or 4th wear, depending on grubbiness, weather, or stink level) but would prefer to have another pair or two. (Ideal world scenario for me: 4 pr jeans)

    I like to keep a variety of dresses on hand. My current wardrobe is 3 spring/summer dresses (2 sleeveless, one cap-sleeve), 4 wrap dresses, and a couple of stretchy pullover types. I wear all of them frequently, except my "gig dress," which is solid black. (This is because I kind of hate the way I look in black.)

    I could probably cull my shoes, considering how few pairs still fit my feet, especially the ballet flats that are super-cute but give me blisters.
    ==========================================
    Liz
    DD (3/2010)

    "Make mistakes! Get messy!" - Miss Frizzle

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •