Your wardrobe and the change of season

As the days get shorter and a little cooler here in New Zealand, it is a good time to prepare our wardrobe for the cooler months. Of course, this does not have to involve a complete overhaul, and it can actually feel quite satisfying – leaving you with a wardrobe that is manageable, current, and genuinely useful.

And once it is done, getting dressed on those cooler mornings becomes a whole lot simpler.

Start with a proper wardrobe sort

Before you even think about new-season trends or adding anything new, take some time to go through what you already own. Pull everything out if it helps to see it all in one place.

As you go through each item, ask yourself a few simple questions:

• Have I worn this in the last year?
• Does it still fit me comfortably or well?
• Do I feel good when I wear it?
• Does it suit my current lifestyle or needs?

If the answer is no, it is probably time to let it go. This often includes pieces that:

• No longer fit properly.
• Feel dated or no longer suit your tastes.
• Were bought for a specific occasion that will not be reoccurring.
• Just don’t feel like ‘you’ anymore.

Be honest, but also practical. Holding onto clothes just in case can make getting dressed more complicated than it needs to be.

Keep an eye on current trends

As you sort, it is helpful to have a general awareness of current fashion trends, but don’t feel like you need to follow them all. They most certainly will not all be appropriate for you.

Instead, use trends that suit your taste as a guide, such as when deciding if:

• Any of your existing garments tie in with what is coming through this season.
• You can wear something that you already own in a more current way.
• There gaps that could be filled later with one or two updated pieces.

This approach keeps your wardrobe feeling fresh without needing a complete overhaul.

Rotate your wardrobe if you can

If you are lucky enough to have a spare wardrobe or extra storage space, now is a great time to rotate your clothing. Pack away your lighter summer pieces, such as:

• Dresses and tops in lightweight fabrics
• Sandals and summer shoes
• Lighter jackets and outerwear
• Out-of-season accessories.

Keep a small selection of transitional items handy (like layering pieces), but moving the bulk of summer clothing out of sight creates space – both physically and mentally – for your cooler-weather wardrobe.

Take stock of what you actually need

Once you have reviewed and organised your wardrobe, it becomes much easier to see what is missing. You might notice:

• A lack of good layering of warmer items.
• That you do not have a good general wear jacket or coat.
• That there are basics that need replacing.
• That your colours that no longer seem to mix and match well.

This is how you can sensibly decide about any new purchases, rather than buying willy nilly.

Make it suit your everyday life

Most importantly, your wardrobe should reflect your actual needs. The goal is to make getting dressed easier, not more complicated. So get started on streamlining your wardrobe choices and reap the daily benefits.

And don’t forget that a wardrobe editing session with me can cover all this, plus you receive advice on what suits your shape and colouring.

Photo credit: Jeremy Thomas, Unsplash