In this article: Beat the heat and learn the quick & easy steps for how to get your closet Summer wardrobe ready.
Seasonal weather changes provide the perfect opportunity to clean out the closet.
Screech!… Back up the train. Who are we kidding??
“Seasonal weather changes”? Nope! That’s not real motivation in my world.
Real motivation is when I’m about to be late for work and I’m frantically digging through the closet trying to find a shirt that won’t make me sweat all day!:)
A few of those heart pounding moments is almost always what gets me in the mood to organize my closet.
I’ve finally developed a process that doesn’t take too long, and is so helpful. I did this same method last winter when I refreshed the Master Bedroom.
If you are wondering how to get your closet and your Summer wardrobe all organized, here’s the simple formula I use.
How to Get Your Closet Summer Wardrobe Ready
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Pull everything out of the closet & drawers
Trust me. Things will get worse before it gets better. But, it’s worth it!
Stack everything on the bed in categories, and go through them category by category. The fun part of this exercise is that you’ll find items of clothes you completely forgot you had. (Or am I the only one?)
I was delighted to discover yesterday that I already have 3 dresses that are completely appropriate for the weddings I need to attend this Summer. (So ends the hunt for the “perfect” dress!…)
I also found items that made me question what exactly I was thinking when I purchased them – (Like the lace shirt that looked like a bad set of curtains…)
Try every item on
Pretend for a moment that your closet items are selections in a great clothing store and you’re hunting down your favorites. Try on every. single. thing. Then as you look at it in the mirror, ask these key questions:
- Does it fit the body size that I am right now?
- Is it comfortable?
- Is it flattering?
- Do I like it?
If you don’t answer a resounding, “Yes!” to all of those questions, throw it into the donation pile. (If I’m really on the fence about something, I may keep it for one more season, but if I don’t wear it in a year, it goes…)
**Remember, the goal of your wardrobe is to have items that you wear, love, and feel confident in.
Start a shopping list
As you try on items and discover things that need to be replaced or purchased, write it down. It will be so much easier to pull out a list when you’re out shopping the next time.
Keep in mind accessories as well. If you notice an outfit looks great, but just needs an accessory ~ write that down, too.
Arrange the current season’s clothes front and center
I don’t pack away my clothes that aren’t for the current season (#smallspaceliving), but I put them in the areas that are harder to reach. It’s a rotation system that works well. The Winter items are hung in the farthest part of the closet, with the Summer items close at hand.
Fold clothes in drawers or baskets like “file folders”
Years ago, I read Marie Kondo’s book titled The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I find I still use many of the systems I learned from that book. One of the most practical and helpful pieces of advice was to fold clothes so that they could be viewed like file folders in drawers.
It works so well! Instead of that pair of shorts being totally forgotten at the bottom of a pile, they can all be viewed and seen at the same time.
Get some help if you need wardrobe assistance
My Instagram friends have requested that I do a series on “How to Choose a Wardrobe that You Love”. I look forward to working on that. But, in the meantime, let my give you my number one piece of advice: Join Alison’s Style Challenge.
I took Alison’s Style Challenge years ago, and I kid you not ~ it was an investment in myself that totally changed my life. Alison does all the hard leg work in researching clothing and trends. Then, she puts together seasonal challenges. Once a person signs up, they receive a:
- list of mix and match clothing items (you may already have many of them in your closet!),
- descriptions of which items are “closet staples” (which can be used season after season, year after year) and which are trendier pieces. (This helped me learn what was valuable to invest in.)
- a calendar of exact outfits to put together with those items
- access to a private facebook group where you can ask questions and see how other women style their outfits (I learned SO MUCH from this!)
- AND really fun bonuses like how to mix patterns and packing lists!
I’m beyond excited that I’m taking this Summer’s Style Challenge and have already received the clothing item list and calendar of outfits. It has given me a fresh excitement to “sizzle up” my wardrobe for the Summer!
If you are interested in joining, too, you can find all the information by clicking on this link. And, yes, it is an affiliate link. That means, that if you join the challenge with that link, I will get a commission from your purchase ~ at no extra cost to you. (And, I thank you very much!)
The challenge is open for registration until June 7. But, if you register before then, you get immediate access to all the information. If you feel discouraged about your wardrobe and wish you could have a good friend help you, I strongly encourage you to click here to join this fun, encouraging ~ and practical ~ challenge!
Thanks so much for all these helpful tips. I also need wedding attire this year so the first place I need to look is in my closet.
♥