Seasonal Wardrobe Storage.
A quick method to make room in your closets
The weather may still be mostly crumby, but it’s definitely not Christmas anymore, so why do you still have that buffalo check dress taking up valuable real estate in your closet? (Asking for a friend).
We’re all guilty of keeping items in our closets well beyond their season: Flip flops on the floor in January “in case I need to run out to the garage real quick”… meanwhile, the garage is 40 degrees (at best) and you also have slippers… for example.
Of course there are exceptions to any rule… you may live in SoCal or Florida where the weather never drops far below “cheery”, but for the rest of us? Move it on out, friend.
Question everything then reduce
As a long time wardrobe stylist, (and budget conscious Mom) I have learned to look at my own clothing with a discerning eye. Is it appropriate for my lifestyle? For the season? More importantly, do I even want it clogging up my closet for another year?
Often the answer is no, but even for a seasoned pro, the answer sometimes is “Yeah! Maybe i’ll have a place to wear it (or the right shoes to wear it with)” Meh. We can come up with SO MANY excuses to hold on to stuff.
Sometimes we all need a little extra motivation. So use the change of seasons (and end of holidays) to propel you forward and EDIT YOUR WARDROBE. Quickly pull out the obvious offenders (I see you Buffalo Plaid), and ask yourself these 3 easy questions:
Did I wear it this season/year?
Does it fit/flatter me?
Do I love it?
If you answered NO to even one of these questions, i’m happy to inform you, you now have THAT MUCH more space in your closet. Buh bye.
Now, the buffalo check is an extreme example, but follow these guidelines at the change of each season and you’ll have a lovely, unburdened closet throughout the year.
2. Repurpose
Step two is straight forward. Donate it. Don’t trash it. It’s better for the environment and offers a tax write-off, some warm fuzzies, and an occasional store discount.
To donate or recycle what isn’t serving you anymore, here are a few resources I use often:
Goodwill (easy, but arguably least directly beneficial to those in need) (tax write-off)
Womens and Children’s Shelters (tax write-off)
Foster Placement agencies (these are GREAT places for gently used backpacks and tote bags as well) Wash/sort kids clothes by gender/size before donating (in that surplus tote bag) and they will be easy to pass along to officers when kids have emergency placements.
Many clothing stores now offer future discounts if you donate denim/textiles to their bins (h&m + Madewell to name a couple)
** Bonus: H&M accepts all textiles (old dishrags/single socks etc.) as well.
Refresh
Now that you’ve whittled down a few (or more) pieces, you probably are left with more space in your closet/drawers. Take a few minutes to look at your donate pile and your remaining wardrobe with a new perspective and new questions… how much did you discover you could part with? A ton? Just a few pieces? By sorting everything, did you discover old items you forgot you had?
Personally I feel lighter when I have less in my closet, and the quarterly practice of going through my entire wardrobe gives me the opportunity to mindfully evaluate what works for me, see where I might have been wasteful, and it also shows me where I might need something thoughtful and new. Happy clearing and I hope this helps!
If you’re in the Greater Seattle Area and need a hands-on assist, book a complimentary call with me to set up an in-home consultation.
And don’t forget to bookmark my Donation/Recycling resource page for future reference.
Good Luck + Have Fun!
Hilary
