The Spring Seasonal Wardrobe Switch
It’s May in New England, so it’s time to swap out winter coats and gloves for raincoats, shorts, and tees. As I write this, it’s significantly colder than it was just 2 days ago, and I regret putting my winter coats into the laundry pile. I’ve had to wear long sleeves and a coat to walk my dogs and then change into a tank top to go to work. With this much fluctuation in a single day or week, seasonal wardrobe switching requires strategy and planning.
Getting Started
Start your seasonal switch with a clear plan. Set aside a dedicated day or two to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Be careful not to get started too early in the season; April is too early, even if there are a few warm days. Mid to late May is best. Begin by emptying your closet and drawers completely—this gives you a blank slate to assess your wardrobe. Sort items into four piles: keep, donate, trash, and pack away.
Deciding what to keep or let go of is a critical step. If you didn’t wear an item during the most recent spring/summer, and certainly if you haven’t worn it in the last two springs/summers, it’s time to part with it. If an item is worn out or is no longer your style, add it to the donate pile if it’s in good condition, or discard it if it’s stained or torn.
Clean your closet before putting anything back; a quick vacuum is a must. Make sure to wipe down shelves and baseboards. Gather up the trash and take it out; this includes wire hangers (especially those with foam on them, which can disintegrate and ruin your clothes). Put bags of donations in the car so you can drop them off at a donation center next time you are out.
It may be tempting to do some fancy organizing, like hanging clothes in order of the rainbow, but it’s not practical for most people to maintain or find what they want to wear. As you put things away, group similar items by function or style (e.g., t-shirts, sweaters) to make finding things easier, and use drawer dividers (shoe boxes are great for this) to corral unruly items like socks, underwear, and athletic shorts.
For us in the Northeast, wild weather swings require flexibility. Don’t pack away all your cold-weather gear. Keep a few lightweight layers out—a sweatshirt, long-sleeve tee, or a mid-weight jacket. This will save you from having to dig through storage on the days that start at 40°F and climb to 75°F. Put these items towards the back of your closet or drawers so that they aren’t taking up your prime real estate.
Make sure to store your clothes properly so they will remain in good condition during the next 5-6 months. Start by only packing away clean clothes. If you aren’t sure, run them through the wash again and make sure they are fully dry before storing them. If you’re short on storage space, use vacuum-sealed storage bags. Store your off-season clothes in a cool, dry place, if possible, but if all you have is a hot attic or damp basement, invest in air-tight storage containers and silica gel desiccant packs to protect your clothes. Avoid using cardboard, no matter where you store them, because cardboard does nothing to protect clothes from insects, rodents, or mold. While storing things on floors is not my preference, if space is tight, consider under-bed storage containers on wheels. For delicate items like wool or cashmere, add cedar blocks, lavender sachets, and/or dryer sheets to deter moths.
Before you wrap up, label your containers clearly so you know what is in each container.
Final Thoughts
In a world of small closets and large wardrobes, switching out your seasonal clothing is a chore that many of us must deal with every 6 months, but it’s a great opportunity to declutter and spruce things up. By organizing things well when unpacking your clothes, making smart choices about what to keep or donate, and storing off-season items properly, you’ll streamline your seasonal clothing switches and reduce the time it takes to tackle this recurring project. Pretty soon, what was previously an overwhelming and massive chore will just be a mild annoyance or an easy weekend morning project.
