The time is upon us for the seasonal wardrobe switch. After Labor Day, the weather will remain warm for quite awhile (maybe for a long while depending on where you live), but wearing summer prints and colors somehow feels dated and out of place. 

My advice is to create a small transitional wardrobe category in your closet. Maybe add a few pastel, winter white or bold spring colors in the form of a sweater or jacket to wear in February and March when the weather is brisk, but you feel “blah” wearing colors like dark brown, wine or forest green. For transitioning to fall, you can take some of your summer items and add a few earth tones or neutrals to move from summer hues like baby blue and pink or prints like florals and gingham.

In late August or early September, it’s the time to switch out your clothes, but of course it’s the last thing you want to do; you’d rather be outside enjoying the sun and soaking the final days of summer, but there is no getting around it. So let’s get to it!

To make things go more smoothly, I have put together some important tips for you to avoid disaster in your future! You can sabotage yourself without meaning to simply by the way you store or do not store your out-of-season clothes and shoes. 

A few things to consider-
    •    Did you know that moths and other insects love cardboard? Even shoes don’t do well stored in cardboard boxes for months. 
    •    Fashion is about change-changing seasons, changing trends, even our bodies change. Because of this, you really need to TRY ITEMS ON before you pack them up, or hang them up after storing them. 
    •    Plastic coverings like dry cleaning bags are terrible for your clothes! Use instead hanging bags in breathable fabrics. 

The treatment of the clothes coming out of storage is just as important! If you put items in storage clean but unironed (as advised), steam or iron BEFORE putting them in your closet. Try them on, check for any stains, do any mending necessary so they are ready to be worn. 

I could write more, but instead I’m including a tutorial video in which I walk you through the steps I believe you need to take while changing clothing out for the upcoming season.

As we have grown older and wiser, the conversation has changed from needing constant “newness” and the desire for owning “the latest thing”. We have collectively realized it’s exhausting to try and keep up the pace, and worse, it has created a global problem of waste. Instead I encourage you to think about the quality of items, to be thoughtful about what stays and what goes, along with what purchases you make. Is this item versatile? It is showing wear and tear? As a general rule, well made clothing may be more expensive, but with care will last MUCH longer. There is no expiration date on timeless pieces. If an item is 10 years old, but in emaculate condition, there is no reason not to wear it! This is the case for some of my most treasured pieces. Think of your wardrobe as you would an art collection, your body being the canvas.