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The Nuts and Bolts of Wardrobe Tracking

In my last post, I outlined the value of tracking your wardrobe.  If you’ve decided you’d like to start tracking, today’s post will help to point you in the right direction.  The methods outlined below range from a simple technique you can start immediately to more detailed options that require a bit of planning and set-up time.

I understand that many of you might not be as detail-oriented and “anal retentive” as I am, but you really don’t need to be in order to see some great results.  Even if you choose to only take on the first method, I promise you’ll gain increased awareness that will help you better manage your wardrobe and guide your future shopping.

I’ll do my best to explain my tracking methods and will use some photos to illustrate my points, but please feel free to ask questions if there’s anything you don’t quite understand.

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Why Track Your Wardrobe?

In a number of my posts, I’ve made reference to how often I’ve worn various garments in my closet.  I’ve even coined some new terms, such as “wardrobe benchwarmers” and “wardrobe all-stars” to describe rarely worn and frequently worn pieces.  Such information has elicited a number of questions from readers, asking how I track my wardrobe.

Track Your Wardrobe

Do you know what’s in your closet & how often you wear your clothes?

But before I outline the specific methods I use to track my wardrobe (that will be my next post…), I first want to discuss why I feel it’s important to do it.  After all, some of you may not be convinced.  You may feel that wardrobe tracking is too difficult or time-consuming to even consider.  In truth, it doesn’t have to be either of those things.  Although the initial set-up may take a bit of time, I probably spend less than a minute each day in tracking what I wear.  In my opinion, the benefits far outweigh the time and effort involved.

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Project 333 Week Seven Update

I’ve now officially passed the halfway point for Project 333!  When I started the challenge, I had my doubts about whether I’d be able to complete it.  Now I definitely feel I will make it to the end of June.  I’m sure I’ll still experience some struggles along the way, and I may even have to do another swap or two, but I’m confident I’ll be able to see the challenge through to completion.

The Easiest Week So Far

Week seven was actually a fairly easy week, perhaps my most relaxed week thus far.  Perhaps it’s taken me this long to build a workable wardrobe capsule and adjust to getting dressed with fewer garments to choose from.  I actually commented to my husband the other day that “Project 333 isn’t all that hard.”

In fact, the most difficult part for me is posting my outfit photos each week.  If it wasn’t for that part of the equation, I think my stress level would be low and I’d really be enjoying the pleasure of a streamlined closet.  Posting the outfit photos does have a positive effect, however.  It pushes me to wear better outfits and dress a bit nicer, even if all I’m doing is running out to do a few errands.

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Buyer Beware – The Dangers of “Fast Fashion”

The following is a guest post by one of my loyal readers, Deby.  This story was originally submitted as a comment to “Why Continue to Shop?”  Since it’s such a powerful story with some excellent points, I asked if I could use it as a guest post for wider exposure.  Deby graciously agreed!  

If you have an idea for a guest post on “Recovering Shopaholic,” please connect with me to share your thoughts. 

I have a recent shopping story to share. Always interested in new trends, I read several fashion magazines each month. Most recently, I thought it might be fun to have a sheer shirt to layer over a camisole for summer. Since I began downsizing my wardrobe, I decided I was only allowed to have one sheer shirt and it had to coordinate with at least three bottoms. Placed floral prints are very popular now, so this was what I was looking for (I often focus my shopping expeditions to look for very specific items).

Beware of "Fast Fashion"

Looks pretty, but sometimes looks can be deceiving…

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Shopaholic Lies and Covert Operations

Awhile back, I wrote about the “The Reasons We Shop Too Much” and recently shared a more personal perspective in “Why Continue to Shop?” Today I’d like to look at how our compulsive shopping affects our spouses and loved ones.
Secret Shopaholic Behaviors
Many shopaholics, who may be honest and trustworthy in other areas of our lives, engage in lying and hiding behaviors to cover up the fact that we shop too much.  In “The Serial Return Phenomenon,” I wrote about how compulsive shoppers return items we buy as a means of extending our shopping.   The returns fund future buying excursions and allow the shopaholic to get another “fix.”  The following are some other duplicitous behaviors commonly committed by compulsive shoppers, myself included.

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