How much do you like your clothes? How well do they fit?

[gdl203]

As some of us here, I've accumulated a lot of nice clothes over the year. I've recently started to be more focused on assessing fit and styling of my closet, and I'm trying to do that in a rather analytical manner.

Every day, I update a note file in my blackberry. There are categories there (dress shirts, suits, casual sweaters, etc...) in which I add what I'm wearing today, the brand, size and an honest grade for fit, style and quality.

Here is the grading system:

Fit
A Perfect fit
B Works (can be improved to A)
C Works (cannot be improved)
D Issues to fix
F Divest
---------------------------------------------------
Style & Quality
1 Love - favorite item
2 Really like it\t\t
3 Like it enough
4 Actually don't like
5 Divest\t

I plan on drawing conclusions on what to keep, divest or alter based on that. For example, all the F and 5 will be sold, maybe some D and 4 as well.

I'm usually not that anal but I realize too often that I pull a shirt and am not that happy with the fit but goes back in the hamper and a few months later pull it out again.

Questions for the group: what's your estimated breakdown of your closet between things that fit great, OK and not so well? What about things you love, like and actually don't like any more?

How often do you re-assess your sartorial portfolio?

 

[Manton]

Things that haven't been worn in a while get moved to the attic, and eventually to Goodwill. I don't get much more scientific than that.

 

[Jacksdad]

I don't buy or keep clothing that doesn't fit well...just my personal preference. However, most would argue that my sweatpants are too big, but I like them hanging low rather than look like I'm smuggling plums.

 

[dopey]

I appreciate what you are trying to do, but this is like watching a first draft being written.

Please sit down with the Foo over lunch somewhere and work out a more thoughtful and precise system for us to review.

I do think you are on to something and look forward to the next iteration.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by dopey

Please sit down with the Foo over lunch somewhere and work out a more thoughtful and precise system for us to review.
Not sure that would work. Foofoo has one shirt, one pair of pants and one shoe. Stats will not be very significant

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Manton

Things that haven't been worn in a while get moved to the attic, and eventually to Goodwill. I don't get much more scientific than that.
I get that. When and how do you do that? You pull something from the closet, are not very happy with the fit and take it straight to the attic every time? Do you go through a semi-annual spring cleaning and assessment?

 

[Nicholas]

Why would you keep something that doesn't fit? Seems to me you should either get it altered or get rid of it.

 

[voxsartoria]

The second law in the Code of Hammurabi tells you all that you need to know about how to assess which clothes to keep, and which to condemn to the SF Re-use...I mean, B&S...subforum.

Read carefully:

"If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser. "


- B

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Nicholas

Why would you keep something that doesn't fit? Seems to me you should either get it altered or get rid of it.

Some things fit better than others, people's weight and measurements change, people's own definition of a great fit changes... It's a continuous exercise for some of us


I've only just started to keep track. So far this week, here are the stats, based on 21 items.

And only one item graded A1

 

[Nicholas]

Originally Posted by gdl203

Some things fit better than others, people's weight and measurements change, people's own definition of a great fit changes... It's a continuous exercise for some of us

Naturally, I can appreciate how weight fluctuates. But I'm not sure the definition of how great fit would change; isn't great fit synonymous with something that is comfortable and fit according to your body?

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Nicholas

Naturally, I can appreciate how weight fluctuates. But I'm not sure the definition of how great fit would change; isn't great fit synonymous with something that is comfortable and fit according to your body?

Yes, but that changes too. You might love a slimmer fit right now but two years later prefer a fuller fit. In that case, two years from now, you won't like how today's clothes will fit and won't feel comfortable in them.

Also, people get better educated about fit and what they thought was fitting really well, may after all not fit that great later on.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by gdl203

I get that. When and how do you do that? You pull something from the closet, are not very happy with the fit and take it straight to the attic every time? Do you go through a semi-annual spring cleaning and assessment?

No, just every once in a while it will occur to me that this or that item has been dormant so long, that it will never be worn again.

I tend to keep things for a long time because I just never know. I have had things sit and sit, and then one day suddenly I want to wear it. I would hate to purge something and then realize I want it after all and regret it.

Sometimes I deliberately get something new to "replace" something I already have for whatever reason. When that happens, then the supplanted item goes to the attic as soon as the new one comes home.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Manton

I tend to keep things for a long time because I just never know. I have had things sit and sit, and then one day suddenly I want to wear it. I would hate to purge something and then realize I want it after all and regret it.

Sometimes I deliberately get something new to "replace" something I already have for whatever reason. When that happens, then the supplanted item goes to the attic as soon as the new one comes home.

I'm very much like that too. But I have this strange feeling on days when I'm wearing something I'm not loving... I guess I'm just trying to bring all of that subconscious stuff to the surface with this anal organized system.

According to my list, what % of your stuff would you say is A1 ? I was surprised to see that I only gave this grade to one item this entire week

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by Manton

I tend to keep things for a long time because I just never know. I have had things sit and sit, and then one day suddenly I want to wear it. I would hate to purge something and then realize I want it after all and regret it.

I do this too. Some of my favorite things were items I was uncertain about at first, or that went unworn for long periods. Wish there were an easier way to determine what will become a favorite and what will be just OK.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by gdl203

I'm very much like that too. But I have this strange feeling on days when I'm wearing something I'm not loving... I guess I'm just trying to bring all of that subconscious stuff to the surface with this anal organized system.

According to my list, what % of your stuff would you say is A1 ? I was surprised to see that I only gave this grade to one item this entire week

I don't know. My shirts should be pretty good, since I have bought a lot in recent years, and they are all fine. Some of the older ones still hang around, even if they are not quite as good they are good enough.

My shoes are all fine.

Suits and jackets are a mix. There are definitely some that could be better, but they are still good enough.

I have a handful of ties that are stylistically just not what I am into any more.

I have been pretty good about only buying stuff that I like, for the most part, and my taste has not changed much. To the extent that it has, it hasn't made me want to get rid of my older stuff, I just wear it less, but I still wear it.