Seasonal change-out of clothing is a terrible idea. I know you think I’m crazy but let me lay out my argument. I’m going to tell you why I think I don’t think it works well and what to do instead.
My goal is always to make people’s lives easier and changing out an entire wardrobe is not easy. Plus, very rarely are opposite season items stored in a way that makes much sense, which means that a lot of clothing gets lost in the seasonal shuffle. use the weather is so back and forth, and my personal favorite - 3) sometimes I don’t do it and just end up buying new things.
What do you propose instead? I’m glad you asked. I propose a 2–step process of closet de-cluttering paired with a partial change-out. Here’s what I’m talking about:
Step 1) De-clutter your closet (for how to, check out this link). Let go of the 30 – 50 percent of clothing you don’t like/ don’t wear/ are waiting to fit into/ feel guilty about getting rid of because someone gave it to you and you’ll find that you have much more space. With that space, you can keep more of your clothing available to you year round. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you were able to grab a t-shirt on a warm November day?
Step 2) Now for the partial part: heavy winter sweaters, scarves, winter coats and boots, bathing suits, cover-ups and shorts are all very seasonal and if anything needs to go up/ away it should be them.
How you store these items is dependent on the space you have to store them. I like these Weathertight Totes from the Container Store because they keep your items protected from moisture, dust and pests. If you have limited space, you could use SpaceSaver Storage Bags, Under Bed Storage Bags, or these Ziploc Flexible Totes. It’ll take getting creative but remember that wherever you choose to store your items, they receptacle needs to have a cover; otherwise your items risk getting really dusty.
The most important part of the change-out is labeling. And no, you don’t need a label maker (but let’s be honest, you want one). You can use any type of paper and put it inside the bin facing out – you don’t even need to stick it on because it will be held in place by the clothing. Be very clear with your labeling so that when you’re searching for your bathing suit in December, you can look at all your bins and easily establish which one is holding it.
A partial change out takes less time and effort than a full seasonal change out and while closet de-cluttering takes time, it’ll allow you to establish what you love versus what you’re holding onto just because. And yes, there are exceptions to every rule – I’m looking at you fashionistas – but for the most part, if you were honest with yourself you’d realize that you only wear a portion of what you own.
Try my tips and tricks above and let me know how it goes! You can email me at toritheorganizer@gmail.com and follow me on Instagram @toritheorganizer.
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