Nosey Nancy: wardrobe edition
It's been a long time since I did a Nosey Nancy. This time I want to know about your clothes.
- Do you "rotate out" clothes from your closet based on the season or do you keep everything in one place?
- Do you buy clothes seasonally? Meaning, "Oh, the weather has changed! I should assess my wardrobe." Or do you buy willy-nilly?
- What is one thing you have too much of in your wardrobe and need to stop buying lest others think it's your new uniform?
- What is your favorite piece of clothing you currently own?
- What do you do with clothes that no longer fit or are looking beat down?
18 comments:
1. Do you "rotate out" clothes from your closet based on the season or do you keep everything in one place? Rotate. Not enough room otherwise. I put the out-of-season clothes in the attic, but then that's a pain on days like today when it's suddenly 20 degrees colder, and I have no boots or scarves in my bedroom!
2. Do you buy clothes seasonally? Meaning, "Oh, the weather has changed! I should assess my wardrobe." Or do you buy willy-nilly? I do both. I buy myself clothes throughout the year, but I do one big haul for each season. (Usually after I switch out the closets & see what I'm going to need/not going to wear from last year.)
3. What is one thing you have too much of in your wardrobe and need to stop buying lest others think it's your new uniform? Black shirts. I have far far far too many.
4. What is your favorite piece of clothing you currently own? Right this minute it's a tie bewteen this glorious sweatshirt/sweater/wrap thing and my new Fall scarf. Luvs. As in, we're all running away to get polygamist married because I can never live without them again.
5. What do you do with clothes that no longer fit or are looking beat down? I usually let my girlfriends go through the ones that are in good enough condition, take the remainders to Goodwill, and/or throw out any that I don't think anyone would even buy secondhand.
Do you "rotate out" clothes from your closet based on the season or do you keep everything in one place? Our weather is so dramatic I need to rotate. In the spring I pack away all the wool pants and sweaters; in the fall I pack away the sundresses and light skirts. I keep layering pieces out all year. I like the opening up the bin and rediscovering my clothes every six months.
Do you buy clothes seasonally? Or do you buy willy-nilly? Almost everything I buy is second-hand, so willy-nilly is the only way to go. You've got to grab it when you see it.
What is one thing you have too much of in your wardrobe and need to stop buying lest others think it's your new uniform? For some reason, I currently own 5-6 black and white print dresses. And they are all fairly distinctive, so I can't wear them too much. I don't know what the draw is...but I love them all.
What is your favorite piece of clothing you currently own? Black and white print dresses, obviously. Also this super soft shawl/scarf thing my sister knit me that is perfect for chilly days in the office.
What do you do with clothes that no longer fit or are looking beat down? If it's decent, I keep the donation circle going. If it's just a little worn, I repair it or demote it to around-the-house wear. If it's truly far gone, I throw it, use it for rags, or toss it in the pile of scrap fabric.
1. I never rotated clothes until I moved to Minnesota (and started sharing a closet with John, which actually may have more to do with it, ha!), but I definitely put some fall/winter stuff in bins in the basement last spring. (Also some summer stuff that will HOPEFULLY fit again next year but was totally useless over the bump. But that was not your question.)
2. I'm not, like, a Formal Seasonal Shopper or anything, but I have found that the move from Texas to MN necessitated some serious season-prompted clothes shopping. I'm guessing this will mellow out over the years, though?
3. The Merona perfect v-neck tees from Target. I think I have...nine.
4. My maternity yoga pants. No shame.
5. Donate, if they're in decentish shape, or toss if they're not. ALTHOUGH, I did have a hilarious triumph of sorts last fall (before I got pregnant, ha!) wherein I had been carting around a pair of pants I bought at Express in HIGH SCHOOL for years just sort of on a whim and I put them on and they FIT. So that was fun.
1. Nope. All of my clothes fit in my dresser so I just leave 'em in there.
2. Nope. I mostly wear PJs at home and uniforms at work regardless of season. If I have to go somewhere I have a couple of decent shirts that I augment with a jacket if it's cold, a pair of jeans that fit, and a long skirt that goes with almost everything in case I'm too fat for my pants.
3. The only thing I maybe have too much of is neckties. We're allowed to wear any necktie we want at work (the rest of the uniform is set in stone) and I keep finding ones I can't live without (Van Gogh paintings on ties, rubber duckie ties, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish ties, etc.).
4. Don't really have one. In case you hadn't already noticed, I do not care about clothes.
5. Beat down doesn't generally bother me unless there's a hole in the crotch or over a boob, but if it doesn't fit it goes in a bag that goes in the nearest clothes/shoes bin for the needy.
1. Do you "rotate out" clothes from your closet based on the season or do you keep everything in one place? I live in Texas. It is mostly warmish here, like all the time. I bring out a winter coat and bust out the boots, but they're only in an upstairs storage area. Everything else just gets layered with tights and sweaters.
2. Do you buy clothes seasonally? Meaning, "Oh, the weather has changed! I should assess my wardrobe." Or do you buy willy-nilly? I guess willy-nilly. Again, the only things I need to actaully replace for myself (and kids, too, except that they grow so darn fast) are winter coats and bathing suits. Those are bought as needed. Everything else is willy-nilly or an as-needed for kids, when they need new shoes and such.
3. What is one thing you have too much of in your wardrobe and need to stop buying lest others think it's your new uniform? Hmmm. I think maybe maxi skirts? But I have several different colors and I love them. It's like wearing a public-acceptable nightie.
4. What is your favorite piece of clothing you currently own? A watermelon pink maxi skirt from Banana Republic. I was just thinking yesterday that I should have bought two so that I'd have a spare when one is worn out. I love it that much.
5. What do you do with clothes that no longer fit or are looking beat down? I'm a huge Goodwill donor. Anything that's completely worn out gets tossed; if it has life left in it, it goes to Goodwill.
1. I rotate out my clothes based on season. The frustrating part is now - where it's still a little like summer, and also a little like fall. So I am living out of my closet, and my fall/winter bin of clothes. Good times.
2. I don't really buy clothes seasonally, I sort of buy them as needed. This becomes difficult when I find my daughter has outgrown her swimsuit and it's no longer swim season in the store.
3. Hmmm. A few years ago I went through this phase of buying about a dozen different colors of the same shirt. I realized this year that not only do they no longer fit well [I've lost some weight, huzzah] but they are also starting to pill and get ratty. So, back to the store I will go.
4. My favorite item is probably my running clothes. I've got the most comfortable pair of compression capris and my sneakers are broken in just right. Work clothes are kind of meh and home clothes are acceptable but nothing rave worthy.
5. When my clothes, or my family's clothes, no longer fit they go to the Rescue Mission. When they become to ratty they hit the garbage, or the garage, depending on the need for cleaning rags in the garage.
I do not rotate my clothes. I tend to wear much of the same stuff year round...just in layers or I add tights/boots to dresses, etc. I have a huge walk in closet so I have plenty of space.
I will usually buy a few new things in the fall and then again in the spring. I don't set out specifically to do it, I just see all the fun new stuff in the stores and shop!
I have cardigans in every color and I keep buying more. I love them!
Currently my favorite item is a mustard color cardigan that I pair with a whole slew of things. I adore it!
I typically just donate my no longer needed clothes. If they look really bad they likely get thrown away.
1. All clothes are in my closet all year round because I'm blessed with a big closet. Also, our temp doesn't fluctuate all that much.
2. Back when we lived where there were real season (and even now), whenever it gets cold I stare at my closet and think "What did I wear last year? I have no warm clothes!" and then do the opposite in the summer. Mostly I buy willy nilly.
3. Tshirts, hands down
4. My comfy pants - I'm a lounger and totally unfancy
5. Donate
Oh! Good.
1. I kind of rotate, but not TRULY. We have very distinct seasons up here in the Tundra, so I do need access to Warmer Stuff about this time, but I want to never see another sweater again come May…June. FINE. AUGUST. The kids clothes I swap out because they won't be wearing the same shorts next year anyway.
2. I usually buy willy-nilly, but I'm trying to be better. I wait for the seasons to change to assess what I have, but I don't go out and buy a whole new Fall Wardrobe at once.
3. Hmmmm. Honestly - tank tops/sleeveless tops. I always think I'll layer them and wear them, but I don't. And lord knows I don't what to show off my arm flab come December.
4. My Everlane U-neck shirts. SO comfy. And much more flattering than typical lounge ware.
5. I used to hoard everything. No I purge my closet on the regular. If I hang on to something one time but don't wear it before the next purge? It's a goner.
Do you "rotate out" clothes from your closet based on the season or do you keep everything in one place? I used to rotate out & keep a giant storage bin or 2 in the bottom of my close with the off season stuff. But I did a huge purge in the last year so everything I have fits in the closet now (my closet is pretty giant)
Do you buy clothes seasonally? Meaning, "Oh, the weather has changed! I should assess my wardrobe." Or do you buy willy-nilly? - Usually a bit of both. I always try stuff on when the seasons change, assess what might not fit so well anymore (pinchy pants!) then make a list of what I need to fill the gaps. Right now I need some sweaters. I have one. Heh.
What is one thing you have too much of in your wardrobe and need to stop buying lest others think it's your new uniform? Yoga pants. Ha. But in my defense, I've lost weight so I needed to buy more in a smaller size! A good reason to buy more of something :) (Old Navy foldover yoga pants FTW.)
What is your favorite piece of clothing you currently own? My new jeans. Rock & Republic, got them at Kohls on sale, they are comfy with just the right amount of stretch & they don't get saggy butt by the 2nd wear. Plus they have gold sparkles on the butt. Fancy!
What do you do with clothes that no longer fit or are looking beat down? Donate, usually! We have a giant donate bin thing at the gas station nearby, so I'll stop & drop a bag or two now & then.
1. We have a small house without much storage space, and George and I share a tiny master bedroom closet, but we manage to keep everything in one place (we also share a dresser with six drawers, but that's for underwear and socks and misc). The up side to this is that it forces me to be picky about what I keep--and buying something also means purging, i.e. "new item in, old item out."
2. Willy-nilly but based on need... My body has gone back and forth in size between/after 3 babies in the past 8 years, but now that our family is complete and my weight is stable, my purchases are finally things I can plan to use more than 1 year, heh. So more "staples" than seasonal, I guess?
3. T-shirts. But I can't quit them. :)
4. A tunic dress from Boden. Super comfy and cute!
5. I kept a bunch of great-condition, next-size-up jeans and pants from last year because I did not expect to drop a size this year and I'm sure I'll gain back a little padding as I approach my 40s, lol. ;) I've been able to take in some tops with my sewing machine, which helped a lot! But I donate other stuff that doesn't fit, or is too complex for me to alter, as long as it's in decent condition.
Rotating clothes isn't really necessary down here, and even when I lived up north, I never really had enough storage to do it.
I usually buy one or two new things each season. But it's never that thought out. I tend to go on shopping sprees then go months without buying anything.
Pencil skirts, but I refuse to see the problem.
Favorite piece? Hmmmm. Maybe those yellowy-green ankle pants? It's so hard to choose.
Worn clothes get donated unless they're really beat down, then into the trash.
After I got home yesterday, I realized I forgot to tell you I have a laundry basket in my room dedicated solely to "Clothes I Shall Never Wear Again; Who Am I Kidding?"
I periodically drop things in here, and when it's full, I take the basket with me to a girls' night or home happy hour or local clothes drive and get rid of that stuff because, seriously, who am I kidding?
Hey Nancy!
To answer your questions:
I do not rotate. I have a decent enough sized closet and I don't have many clothes and I live where the weather doesn't change too terribly drastically each season.
I SORT OF buy clothes seasonally. I always get the new clothes itch at the beginning of the season (the itch for Fall hit me this past Saturday and none other than our beloved Target.) But recently, I've been trying to be more deliberate in what I buy. At the beginning of summer I bought new shorts and some new tees and they lasted me pretty well. I think this Fall, I'll hit up LEC for a few new cardigans, Old Navy for new leggings, and Target/ON for new t-shirt or sweater dresses. Even though my jeggings are in good shape from last year, I may buy a new pair this year just for S's&G's. I am also in the market for some fall-ish tops. Something flowy, with a sleeve, more coverage than a tee but not as heavy-duty as a sweater. (And now that I've given you my shopping list...)
Black clothes. While I have a lot of color in my wardrobe, I always gravitate towards the black.
My favorite clothing is currently any kind of scarf. It's cold as you know what in my office, so it's nice to have a little extra warmth. ALSO, if I do wear all black, I feel like I can punch it up with a colorful scarf. It's basically jewelry that keeps you warm, when you think about it.
Goodwill! I try to go through the closet once a season (usually after a shopping trip) to assess what needs to go. For the past few seasons, though, I haven't had a lot to give away because I did a major purge awhile back. Now I don't have a ton of clothes, but what I do have fits, I wear it, and it's (mostly) good quality.
When I started this new job, I did an experiment where I tried to wear a new thing every day. And I succeeded! For like 5 or 6 weeks! I wore the same pants twice (three, four, five, ten times), but I tried to shake up the top section. That was super helpful in getting me out of my rut of wearing the same thing all the time. I may try it again for the Fall, when it's not 90 degrees outside and I can start busting out the cardigans and sweater dresses with reckless abandon.
1. Everything in one place.
2. Other than a few necessities here and there, I tend to do the bulk of my clothes shopping once a year, after I get gift cards for my birthday in the Spring. I try to get good staples -- pieces that I can wear in a variety of ways throughout the year.
3. Stripes. So many stripes. So much so that sometimes it limits my options (ex: I have a really cute striped skirt, but have to dig in my closet for a non-striped shirt to pair with it. It's a problem.)
4. An insanely comfortable pair of canvas flats in a pink/coral floral print. Love them.
5. Toss them in a pile to be donated, unless they're completely ruined, in which case I throw them away. I like other commenters' idea to use them as cleaning rags, though. I'll have to keep that in mind.
I live in Florida, so the "colder" months mean throwing a sweater on top of what I would wear year round.
I don't buy seasonally, but I sometimes have seasonal clothes because despite the lack of seasons here, stores like to be seasonal. I don't get it.
Stripes. Polka dots. Dresses. But I don't care.
I have a newish top that I love. It's navy with a print that's *almost* polka dots but kind of cross things? sleeveless with a neck-tie-leave-untied thing. You know. That shirt.
Goodwill. I can't seem to bring myself to bother with attempting to sell anything.
1. Rotate out? No. This is NC. Layering for all seasons. AC is cranked in the summer, there are 70-something days in the winter. I have a dresser and a walk-in closet, so it's all good.
2. I buy clothes as needed. I hate spending $, I prefer classic looks, and know what I have already. I don't shop sales for sales sake, I (as my friend calls it "Quest." ShoeQuest 1993 still lives in infamy. Brown shoes with a silver buckle eluded me. After going to 4 malls in the DC metro area White Mtn brown shoes w a gold buckle had to do. If I see something I love, I wait a bit to see if it sticks with me. And I never buy online unless I've tried it on first.
3. Gray turtleneck sweaters. I don't have too many, but I'm always talking myself out of buying them. They are my favorite winter staple.
4. Favorite piece of clothing? Hmm. I have an off white wool coat that I am devastated is stained beyond repair. I won't part w it. I also have several completely unflattering sweatpants/shirts from hs & college that I will never part with. They look and feel like I'm wearing blankets and I LOVE them. I have some great dresses that I've worn to too many weddings, but won't get rid of, just in case there's another one.
5. Donate. I always donate. I like the tax write off and the ease. "Here's stuff." Bam. Done.
Unrelated-ish: I really miss my grade/high school friends sharing a wardrobe with me. I had a wedding a few years ago & my bff mailed me dresses. None of my friends are my size/shape/style anymore. :(
I keep all my clothes where I can see them all the time. Except for tights, which have their own bin and are pulled out in October (usually) and put away in April (usually).
xox
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