It’s March 1st! And the temps are warm enough for us to start thinking about Spring.
So while we might not be ready to put away all our winter gear since I’m sure there are still a few cold temperatures in our future, we can start to think about how to thin out our winter wardrobe. Transitioning our closets from one season to the next provides a great opportunity to be selective about the clothing that we chose to pack away and keep and the clothing that we decide to put in our closet.
While you still have your winter wardrobe in your closet, start pulling items out that you’re ready to retire. If an article of clothing has been sitting in your closet all winter and you haven’t’ worn it once, it might be a really good indication that it’s time to let it go. Be critical of what you have in your closet. Sometimes, we are afraid to let go of things. We might need someone to push us to really scrub out our belongings. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend to come over and help you be selective.
It’s not just the items that we never wear that might need to be purged. Also, consider the items you wear all the time. Are they worn? Do they have holes where they shouldn’t? Are they faded or frayed? You want to keep things that are in condition and can last for another season.
A great example of an item that you might consider removing from your closet due to wear is a pair of shoes. If you commute to work you might find that you wear through your shoes fast. The soles get thin, the leather can stretch, and zipper can break. In this case, it’s absolutely worthwhile to move on and prepare to buy a new pair when you need them the next time around.
Another example of a worn article of clothing can be a coat. I have coats that I’ve had for years. A good coat can be built to last a long time. But they don’t last forever. It’s a good time to be critical of those coats you’ve been wearing all season. Is the lining torn? Do you spot any stains? Is the zipper working properly? Any of these problems can be remedied with a trip to the tailor which would be totally worth it for your favorite coat. But only you know if that coat is worth salvaging.
Another category that you might not think to spring clean would be your accessories! Bags, gloves, hats, scarves, even socks can get worn and it may be time to remove them from your wardrobe. These can be small items but they take up space. Be selective about the accessories you want to keep. I know that sometimes we can feel obligated to keep an accessory that was given to us as a gift – even if it’s not our style and the likelihood of us wearing it is very low. I’ve been the victim of this as well. Maybe keep it for a season or two (doing your best to incorporate it into a few outfits) and then like the other items, let it go!
Remember to be just as selective about the items that you take out of storage and place back into your closet! Pay attention to items that may have faded, stained or developed holes. Also do your best to try things on! Your body can change over time and things don’t always fit the same as they did before. The best way to figure that out is to try it on! Think about putting outfits together while you do this. This can save you a lot of time in the future. If you think of your wardrobe in outfits, you will not only be able to get dressed faster, but you will also be able to know what you really need when you go shopping. If you invest a little time in putting your closet together it will save you money, time and energy next season!