The Seasonal Switch

Spring has finally sprung! This time of year it’s always so fun to venture around the city and see all of the new fashions and the bright colors of the spring. Unfortunately, then I go home and see all my sweaters and the dark colors of winter glaring back at me. It is time folks! It is time to swap out those dreary winter clothes and bring out the brights! 

A seasonal switch is the perfect time to evaluate your current wardrobe and see what is worth keeping and what should never return. A little tip I try to follow is, if you haven’t worn it this season, odds are you’re not going to next season and it might be time to hand that one off to the donation bin. 

Often times I find myself hanging on to old and outdated clothing because there’s no reason to throw it out {well, it still fits and it will come back in style someday, right?} But holding on to items like this takes up space in my closet and actually stresses me out when I'm trying to find an outfit to wear. If I’m looking at a stack full of tops that I'm never going to wear again, getting dressed takes more time and makes me very unhappy with what I see in my closet.

{Has this ever been you?}

When switching out my fall and winter clothing and replacing it with spring and summer clothes, I try to separate them into Keeps, Debatable, and Give Away. Keeps are pretty self explanatory; clothing that you know you do not want to part with and will wear again next season. However, storing the Keeps can be a real issue {especially for those of us in NYC} 

What to do with Keeps?

Remember those catalog and Pinterest images I was talking about in my last blog? The ones that make you say, "Why can't my things look like that?". {If not, see below.} Not to say that having a closet system that looks like this is impossible... It's just... What person only has 8 hanging shirts?! 

IKEA closet system {While I love this modular design, keep in mind that unless you only own eight hanging shirts, it probably won't produce the catalog look that's displayed here}

Realistically, this is not what our closets look like. However, removing clothing that you're not going to wear during the current season can really open up space in your closet and give it a fresh look. So what if you don't have a place to store your off season clothes? Living in NYC, unless you're willing to pay a pretty penny for a storage locker, storage is minimal. But you can still create the seasonal closet, it just might take some creativity. An under the bed storage bin can be a lifesaver for people without much storage space. It gets things out of sight while still keeping it organized. Space saver bags also are a great way to reduce the amount of space that winter clothes take up. Some closets have really high, hard to reach shelves. Those spaces are also great for storing items that you aren't going to be using for several months. 

The Debateables: 

I always have a handful of items I'm not sure I want to part with and I am not certain I should bring them back out again next season. I will put these aside {typically try to hid them in a large bag so that I can't see them} and then come back to them in a week. At this time I reevaluate again whether or not I REALLY NEEEEEED them {I find I do best after I've watch an episode of What Not To Wear or something like that}. I am usually stunned by the amount of clothing I am willing to part with! Once you make the break with one article, the next one is easier, I promise! 

This year, I went through my Debatable pile TWICE and I came up with all of these items that I am willing to part with! Not only am I saving a bunch of storage space but I also feel great knowing that all of these clothes will be going to someone who really needs them!

Pants (11), tops (15), blouses (3), shirts (10), skirts (3), dresses (13), coats (2), sweaters (6)

Sometimes "sentimental" items can fall in the Debatable category. Sentimental items are ones that you probably will not wear again but you are not ever, ever, going to part with because of where they're from, what you did in them, or how long you've had them {athletic or school memorabilia, etc.} I like to put these in a place where I know I'll still stumble upon them someday but they are not going to clutter up my closet and take up space. {Mom and Dad's place works great for me} Other places like under the bed or in bin tucked away are great remedies as well. As long as they're not overwhelming your closet space. 

The "Give Away" of the Day Season!
With the Give Away clothes, I like to bag those up right away so I’m not tempted to get into the stack of clothes and reclaim some belongings. Sometimes I can find it easy to justify keeping items out of this pile. What motivates me is how much someone else might need clothing. Then I typically feel selfish and purge my closet {and always, always feel better!} I typically donate to Good Will because it's easy to get to from my apartment, but there are tons of great places out there. Do you have any favorites? What are some things that work for you when trying to sort through possible give aways?

This year I was even able to convince Brit to donate FOUR of his suits! Now I just need to convince him to let me tackle his closet! 

{When donating items, don't forget to get a receipt for everything you giveaway. The tax deduction is nothing to sneeze at!}

Now that EVERYTHING has been meticulously looked over, again and again. Here is my new spring/summer closet!! It's so bright and airy, and so much less of a hassle trying to find something to wear in the mornings!

So fresh and bright!  

Love my no slip hangers! They keep all my light clothing in place and take up little space.

What kinds of things do you do to get ready for the spring and summer seasons? Any advice for those who struggle with the Debatable and Give Away piles?

Stay tuned! I just got super motivated to update a chaotic cabinet shelf in my kitchen {with a little help from my friends at The Container Store}. 

Thanks for visiting!