The start of a new season is the perfect time to switch our wardrobes and store those pieces that we know for sure won’t be needed. Unless you have the space to display and have on hand all your belongings, storing away your winter clothes and accessories not only is the perfect way to give you some space for season appropriate garments, but it’s the perfect excuse to go over what you have, purge, declutter, organize, and assess your closet’s needs. There’s nothing like starting the season with everything in order, so let’s pack-up winter, do a closet clean-out and evaluate what’s in our wardrobe 🙂
Here are some tips on making the switch-over to avoid starting a new season with an overstuffed closet:
1. Lay all the clothes you’re storing on your bed and organize them by the category (I like to stick to 4 main ones: coats, sweaters, accessories and boots). Before putting anything away, make sure that everything is CLEAN. If you need to hand wash an item, do so, take something to the dry cleaners, go ahead; just don’t store anything that has a stain or is not 100% clean (like that sweater you wore a couple of times without washing it). Not only it preserves the item’s condition but your future self will appreciate it once the next switchover is due.
2. Before packing, evaluate what you have and make sure that what you’re keeping is worth doing so. If you no longer like the style, doesn’t fit properly or you didn’t wear it much, then probably is time to let it go. There’s no point on keeping pieces you no longer like, so take advantage of the changeover and purge. Toss, donate or give away, but don’t store something you’re not sure about.
3. Don’t forget that there are certain items that can be worn year-round. Sweatshirts is one category, booties another one (they go great with dresses, shorts, and skirts), cardigans are great for layering and those crisp mornings, and lightweight turtlenecks come in handy on those first transitional days as you can layer your Summer dresses for some extra warmth.
4. Use garment bags, plastic boxes or under the bed bags to store your winter pieces. I like to keep mittens, hats and scarves together in storage bags (or those handbag dust bags I’m not using), winter boots in shoe boxes, sweaters in under the bed bags (like these, these and these), and jackets in garment bags.
5. Just as you’re assessing what’s going in for storage, take the time to go over what you’re bringing into your closet. When our clothes are stored and out of the way for so long, it’s easy to forget what we own (Sometimes feel like I’m rediscovering my own closet!), so instead of having all these clothes taking up unnecessary space (and making you believe you have more clothes than you actually do), take the time to assess them. If you’re no longer sure about a piece, try it on, see if it fits, make sure there are ways to wear it, and if not, donate, toss or give away to friends or family depending on its condition. It’s important to make sure that what you’re putting in your closet is something that is in good condition, fits you, and you love. Remember those 3!
6. Once you have stored all your heavyweight pieces, organize your closet with season appropriate clothes. This way you will be able to visualize what you have for the season and if there are any gaps in your wardrobe that need to be filled. Ask yourself, do you have too many of “this”? should I replace “that”? update key items? invest in season staples? buy some fun trendy pieces? By knowing what you have you’ll be able to make better purchasing decisions regarding your wardrobe and you’ll avoid buying duplicates, and spending on pieces you already own.
I believe that taking the time to simplify and organize will help you start the season fresh and with a clear vision of your belongings. You’ll be able to spot needs and visualize how new additions would fit in with what you already have. You don’t want to go on a shopping spree before doing the switch-over as you don’t want to end with duplicates nor spend money on pieces you already have enough of, right? Good luck!
