Set your intentions:
Swapping your seasonal wardrobe over? Are you doing a spring clean, or moving house? Maybe you are starting a new job or you are entering a new phase in your life (exciting!); or maybe your style has evolved (always). Whatever your motivations are, it's always good to take a pause and get clear on why you're ready for a clear-out.
Define your personal style:
It's great to have a curated Pinterest board / visual mood board for fashion inspiration, including a mix of visuals that a) mirror your daily wear and b) identify your style aspirations.
Think about people whose style you love, and how that might translate in your life, and your wardrobe. What do you reach for on the days you don't know what you want to wear? What makes you feel comfortable, and what makes you feel confident? What have you most enjoyed wearing in the last year, and what trends are you still excited by? What colours do you love to wear? Who do you want to be? And, of the above: what is practical, and what is purely aspirational.
Clear it out:
Time to actually go through your wardrobe. Pull everything out (this is a good opportunity for a little clean and vacuum) and then start by setting aside your 100% “go-to” or “keep” items. These are your most-worn pieces, and those that align best with your personal style. Next, pick out any items that you didn't wear in the last 6 – 12 months, or that you're just ready to part with. With each item, ask yourself: does it fit? Do I reach for it? Do I love it? Do I have something similar I wear more? Would I miss this if it was gone? Is it fun? Is it functional? Is there an event or occasional that I might need this item for? If in doubt, try it on. If that doesn't convince you immediately you can put it to the side to mull over while you tackle something else. Also, if you've got the time, play dress ups with your own clothes. Try out some different combinations, try
Seperate everything into piles: to keep, store, consign/resell, donate/give away, your "maybe" pile, and repair. If you have items that are ready to go to textile heaven, make sure you recycle or discard the pieces appropriately.
If you're sentimental or have items you want to pass down or know you won't wear but are not willing to part with (yet) you can have a "long term storage" pile, too.
Stow away out-of-season pieces and occasion wear:
For those with spacious homes, transfer these items to a guest room or garage storage area if available. For smaller spaces, the top of a wardrobe or tucked away under the bed are suitable options.
If your wardrobe space allows, separate your clothes by season. If space is precious, prioritise the pieces that transcend season, such as your capsule wardrobe items.
Organise:
If you're also unpacking season specific pieces from storage, this is a great opportunity for another cull. Anything you unpack that no longer sparks joy can be added to the resell or donate pile.
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Upgrade your hangers: Switch to slim, uniform non-slip hangers (like velvet ones) to save space and keep clothes from sliding off.
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Group by category: Hang items together by type (shirts, pants, dresses) or function (weekend / casual, workwear, formal) and then sort them by colour.
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Hang your pants: Hanging gives you a better view of cut, style, colour and denim wash. You can use hangers, alternatively some people use metal S hooks and hang up pants by their belt loops.
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Fold knits and tee shirts: Store heavy sweaters and denim flat on shelves or in drawers and fold tee shirts so the shoulder seams don't stretch out. Plus this way, you're able to see prints and patterns at a glance.
- Storage: depending on your wardrobe layout and needs, add stackable baskets, hanging compartments or drawer inserts for compartmentalising socks, smalls, belts etc. and speciality storage for things like watches, sunglasses and jewellery - if you can see it, you are more likely to wear it (and remember you own it!)
Using uniform, good quality hangers, colour coordinating, and merchandising your wardrobe not only makes your clothes and accessories look beautiful, it also makes getting dressed in the morning easier and more fun.
The Hanger Tracking System:
You can also use this as an opportunity to set up the hanger tracking method: place all your hangers backward at the start of a season, and turn them forward each time you wear an item to easily spot unloved pieces later
Ready to sell? Let us help:
Selling with Trading in Style is easy. We sell 90% of our consignments within 24 hours of the items going live. From curation to styling, marketing, photography, client liaison and shipping, we'll take care of everything for you. Learn more about consigning with us here.
Update your wish list!
During this process you might have noticed that some of the items in your wardrobe need replacing or updating, or maybe you've identified some pieces you would like to add into your outfit rotation. Make a wish list. Revisit and update your mood board, and remember to shop pre-loved!