Ideas for Streamlining Wardrobe

[midwest07]

It takes me too long in the morning to get ready. And a big reason is my wardrobe. I have way too many clothes. I tend to pick probably the same rotation of 10-14 outfits, yet I still look through everything. I tend to cheap out on clothes that don't last that many wears and start to look bad quickly. I end up ironing almost every morning because I fall for the "ease" of things that don't have to be dry cleaned, but then they are a pain to wash, hang to dry and iron (eg, ankle length work pants that still need a crease down the middle). Right now, I am still pumping so all of my dresses are out of rotation, but that will change soon.

I really liked wearing my maternity clothes because I had a limited wardrobe and it took less thought. But I can't seem to carry that over into regular clothes.

I work in a business casual job. I like variety, but wouldn't mind having more of a "uniform" of sorts so less thought went into things. I feel like even when I spend more on clothes, such as pants at Banana, the quality isn't what it used to be.

Any advice for me? Has anyone overhauled their closet? How did you do it? Where do you shop? Do you do more dry clean or wash and wear? Any blogs you follow?

[ijack]

I would take an entire day and try on EVERYTHING in your closet. Toss anything that doesn't fit or that you don't like or isn't in good shape. I put aside things that I would like if they fit right or need a repair and deal with them after. I would try to start ironing when you wash clothes because it makes the morning a lot easier.
This is a pretty good guide
themomedit.com/2016/01/no-stress-guide-cleaning-closet/
Do you want to replace everything or just get rid of the stuff you don't like?

[tacom]

I've developed a basic uniform - black ankle length skinny pants (love the limited exact stretch), pointed flats, and a blouse from Ann Taylor, LOFT, or banana. We have three small closets in our apartment so H has one, I have one, and then the third is household storage and my work clothes/shoes. It is so nice being able to see all my options quickly.

[midwest07]

Sept 1, 2016 11:15:37 GMT -5 ijack said:

Do you want to replace everything or just get rid of the stuff you don't like?

I need to probably do both. But I know I need to go through what I have before I buy more. And then when buying staples I need to be more selective and probably spend more.

[mbcdefg]

I basically wear the same things, too. I have black pants, a long black skirt, jeans for casual days, a few tops, a bunch of cardigans in different colors, a couple of long cardigans, and several versions of a the same fit-and-flare dress. That's pretty much it.

My non-work wardrobe is basically all of those things plus a couple of t-shirts and leggings. I've just never liked clothes that much, and clothes shopping is not a fun experience for me so I don't do it unless I absolutely have to. I buy stuff because it fits, not necessarily because I love it. 

I try to donate things once I know for sure that they don't fit or they're not comfortable. I also get rid of things if they have a stain that I cannot get out. I have a few things with rips in them ... if I can sew them up and it's not too noticeable, I'll keep them a while longer if they're things I really like but I make an effort to replace them eventually. I usually purge at least once or twice a year, once I get into housecleaning mode. 

Lately I've just been donating anything where I pick it up and think, "Well, I don't really wear this but maybe I should just hang onto it," because 99% of the time I don't wear it. Again, I know my routine ... I'm going to stick to the same few favorites until they wear out or until they don't fit anymore. 

Most of my clothes are from Target. The F&F dresses are all from Lands' End. I've picked up things here and there from Dress Barn, Lane Bryant, Nordstrom Rack, and even Costco. 

If I know something needs to be ironed then I'll do it the night before. Or I'll get lazy and hang it in the bathroom during a hot shower, or spray Downy Wrinkle Releaser on it. Most of the time I just ask MH to iron it for me since he's better at it and enjoys it

The trick I heard for cleaning out your closest is to have all the hangers facing the same way. When you wear something and then go to hang it back up, turn the hanger the opposite way. Set a time limit for yourself (maybe 2-4 months?) and then purge anything that is still facing in the original direction because that means you haven't worn it. 

Or box up the "maybe I should hang onto this" items, stick them in a closet or the attic, set a time limit of a few months, and if you don't go searching for it in the box then you won't miss it and you should therefore donate it.

[Deleted]

I wear the same style to work daily. Skinny pants, flats, blouse, and cardigan. I have 3 pairs of pants, ~10 blouses, 6 cardigans, and 5 pairs of flats. A lot of it is the exact same style/brand, but different prints and colors. It makes getting ready for work pretty easy.

[keweenawlove]

When I'm motivated, I'll pick out clothes for the week on Sunday and set out each outfit together. Makes for a lot less time in the mornings.

[mbcdefg]

Sept 1, 2016 12:32:37 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

A lot of it is the exact same style/brand, but different prints and colors. It makes getting ready for work pretty easy.

That's what I do, too ... if I find a piece that works, like a sweater or a shirt, then I buy the same thing in different colors/patterns if they're offered.

I have to start doing the same thing with pants.  Just buy doubles or even triples if I find something I like. Shopping for pants is a real bear :/

[Deleted]

I have gray or black dress pants. I have tops that go with most of them (some gray tops obviously can't go with gray pants). On sundays and wednesdays I pick out outfits and group them. I even toss my panties and bras over my shirt's hanger so I just grab on put on.

I also limit my hangers. So if I buy something new, I have to toss/donate something.

[explorer2001]

First stop ironing. Get yourself a steamer it takes less time and is so much easier. Plus you can't scorch things with a steamer and can still get creases.

Google my little steamer. It's great. I can imagine traveling without it. Get it online
Or at Target or Bed Bath and Beyond

Beyond that I'm noting to come back myself. My closet is a mess of clothes that don't fit right now - Some too big, some too small...

[sadlebred]

I'll add a MM suggestion to cleaning out your closet. If the clothes are in good shape (not faded, no holes, you'd wear them to work still), take them to a local consignment shop. I have an account with a mid-level consignment shop that I've been dealing with for years. They take designer & couture items but specialize more in Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and other "nice" middle retailers. It's nice to get a little extra cash or to be able to use the credit for something I want.

I clean my closets out at least twice/year. My rule is if I haven't worn it in 2 years, it gets tossed in the consignment bag if it meets the above criteria. The donate bag if it's a bit older or I know the consignment shop won't take it, and the trash if it's passed it's useful life. The only exceptions to this are equestrian clothing (I ride occasionally but not regularly right now but plan to again in 2017), cycling clothing (has it's own closet & drawers that get cleaned out seasonally or when my team gets its yearly clothing allowance), and formal/cocktail wear that I'll keep for 5-6 years or til it's out of style.

I also wear a "uniform" to work when I go to the office: grey or black dress pants, a short or long sleeve cardigan, top, and comfy casual shoes (not sneakers). I lay my clothes out the night before the save time. When I work from home I wear a tshirt, shorts or yoga pants, and my bunny slippers. If you Google wear uniform to work, you'll find some interesting articles.

[cjeanette]

It also helps me to lay out clothes at least for the week. I typically gather about 2 weeks worth of outfits. Then I still have options but fewer and already complete outfits.

[moolarkey]

IF you really want to streamline, a co-worker wears black slacks every day and the either a white top and a jacket or cardigan or a twinset. I'd guess she has 5-6 pairs different pairs of slacks and 5 or so jackets. Probably 6-8 sweaters and 10 white tops. I've known her about 15 years, she's always done this. It makes getting dressed very easy for her and it saves her a lot of money.

[midwest07]

Sept 1, 2016 12:59:14 GMT -5 explorer2001 said:

First stop ironing. Get yourself a steamer it takes less time and is so much easier. Plus you can't scorch things with a steamer and can still get creases.

Google my little steamer. It's great. I can imagine traveling without it. Get it online
Or at Target or Bed Bath and Beyond

Beyond that I'm noting to come back myself. My closet is a mess of clothes that don't fit right now - Some too big, some too small...

I really like this idea. And at first I was like, ok please tell me the name of your steamer instead of just referring to your little steamer. ha!

[midwest07]

Sept 1, 2016 15:07:01 GMT -5 moolarkey said:

IF you really want to streamline, a co-worker wears black slacks every day and the either a white top and a jacket or cardigan or a twinset. I'd guess she has 5-6 pairs different pairs of slacks and 5 or so jackets. Probably 6-8 sweaters and 10 white tops. I've known her about 15 years, she's always done this. It makes getting dressed very easy for her and it saves her a lot of money.

Is it literally the same pants and same white tops? I have seen articles about people wearing an actual uniform like this where it is the same item.

I don't think I can quite go there, I do like clothes and some color and variety. I just don't have as much time to shop or stand in my closet as I did before having my DD!

[drloretta]

I want to do this

bemorewithless.com/project-333/

I think it would be a good way to start. My only concern is dealing with "shoulder" seasons, as I suspect my November wardrobe would be quite different from my September wardrobe

[tacokick]

I only wear dresses. In cold weather with cardigans and tights. It makes getting dressed and buying clothes really easy

[explorer2001]

Sept 1, 2016 15:17:38 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I only wear dresses. In cold weather with cardigans and tights. It makes getting dressed and buying clothes really easy

You and @kirkette amaze me with this. I can't imagine dresses/skirts everyday. I like them sometimes but not daily.

[tacokick]

Sept 1, 2016 16:39:31 GMT -5 explorer2001 said:

Sept 1, 2016 15:17:38 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I only wear dresses. In cold weather with cardigans and tights. It makes getting dressed and buying clothes really easy

You and @kirkette amaze me with this. I can't imagine dresses/skirts everyday. I like them sometimes but not daily.

I hate finding pants that fit! I made the switch a year ago and love it. It makes getting dressed so easy.

Plus it generally ends up being cheaper in the long run, a dress is often the same price as pants and I don't have to buy a shirt too. I can wear the same dress year round for the most part by adding a sweater.

[Deleted]

I agree with pulling everything out and only keeping the things you love. And maybe one or two "special" outfits (special occasions or going out for the evening)

If that's too daunting, a friend of mine turns all of her hangers backwards at the start of the year. Then when she wears it she turns the hanger right way. At the end of the year, anything that's still backwards goes.

I try to only buy good quality basics (dress pants, black sweater, etc) and if I cheap out, it's for something trendy that I'll probably only wear once or twice. And stop shopping just to browse. Only buy what you need. Like you think "I'm missing x in my wardrobe"

I also do One in, one out. So if I bring something new home I get rid of something else.

[soso]

Here's the process I went thru:

Try limiting your color palette so everything goes together and instead focus on quality, fit, shape of the garment and texture. I really only wear ink blue, black, cream/white and grey. I have "interesting" shoes (patterned, textured etc) in these same colors. For example, kitten heels with a silver cap toes, black stripe and nude base.

Find out what your style is -- spend time on pinterest and learn what your aesthetic is and then ID what about each piece make it so appealing. Remember to consider accessories and go thru those too. Then try mixing the things you do like and new items in new ways. Try on stuff too that you may not think will work -- you may be surprised!

Then get rid of anything that doesn't fit that aesthetic... or doesn't fit or you put on and go eh. Then stop mindless shopping and instead fill holes. I like Nordstrom for what I call better quality basics.

Good luck - I'm finding the process fun and only having stuff that I like in my closet, that fits, and that is the style I am going for, to streamline my mornings. I have varying levels of business-business casual- casual but it all goes together and I don' have many I hate my outfit days.

[samanthamkm]

I had this problem then I read the book Life changing magic of tidying by Marie Kondo. It talks about having stuff that is joy sparking. I got rid of half of my wardrobe by doing this. I could probably get rid of more now that I'm looking at less clothes. I also got rid of my clothes that I had to wear with khakis. I know if I have the choice between black pants or khakis I'm picking black. So what was the point of keeping shirts that only went with khakis.

[shevacc]

Sept 1, 2016 21:56:57 GMT -5 samanthamkm said:

I had this problem then I read the book Life changing magic of tidying by Marie Kondo. It talks about having stuff that is joy sparking. I got rid of half of my wardrobe by doing this. I could probably get rid of more now that I'm looking at less clothes. I also got rid of my clothes that I had to wear with khakis. I know if I have the choice between black pants or khakis I'm picking black. So what was the point of keeping shirts that only went with khakis.

I did this too and it helped immensely. Apart from pregnancies, I've been the same size for 18 years and was still hanging on to some things that weren't worn out but weren't stylish when my mom bought them for me back in 2000. I actually got rid of about 2/3 of the clothes that I had been hanging on to.

I also used to buy random stuff from clearance racks that didn't fit well/didn't last. But now I do basically what @lauralynne suggests and highly recommend it. I don't go shopping myself, practically ever (having young kids helps with this). Instead, I've done 4 major trips 6-9 months apart with a Nordstrom personal stylist. Over 2 years, I've now gone once per season and have a modest number of pieces that work together and that I love. He works with my budget (basically half my yearly clothing budget since I'm only going twice per year). I definitely end up spending more per piece that I would on my own, but I end up with things that look great on me and have been much higher quality.

[sfy]

I've mentioned this on here a few times, but last year, I started paying attention to my Pinterest and realized that I am really drawn to all black, all white, and black and white outfits. Occasionally, I like gray, too. So I started implementing that in my wardrobe more. I think it's one of the best things I ever did. I don't do it as much in the summer, because I do like more color in the summer, but even in summer, I still do it to some extent. I also mostly wear dresses in the summer for the reasons cited above--super easy and often less expensive than purchasing 2-3 separates per outfit.

I have a few black or white blazers, several black or white tops, along with some black and white patterned tops, black or gray sweaters, and I usually pair these items with black leggings or denim. I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of black pants for years, but fingers crossed that this is the year. That will go such a long way for me. I also have a few black and gray dresses, black heels, black boots, gray heels, black flats. I wear mostly gold jewelry, and it gives a nice pop. The whole thing has made packing and getting ready a breeze. My husband is a big fan . Plus, I rather like having a signature look, and it helps that it's clean and timeless. It's also nice that pretty much everything I wear goes with everything else. Lastly, I can spend more on nicer items because I need far fewer things. Either way, I only buy what I love at this point.

I dry clean almost everything. I think it makes me look more pulled together and it's well worth the cost of the convenience to me.