The beginning of March means that Spring is coming soon!
If you’re anything like me, you’ve been dreaming of warmer days, buds on trees, and a daily wardrobe unencumbered by sweaters and coats. This is the time of year when I start planning my wardrobe for the warmer months. Even if I can’t wear my spring wardrobe yet, I want to be prepared for when the warm weather hits.
I like to start planning my spring and summer wardrobes by checking out what I have, big picture. It can be hard to figure out exactly what I have to work with when I have pieces that aren’t working for me, however. So I begin by sorting through what I have and pulling out what I don’t want to take with me into the future seasons.
I also begin making preparations to store my winter clothing over the warm months. I like to have everything cleaned and ready for fall before I store it away.
Here is my handy guide on how to plan your wardrobe for spring and prepare your winter wardrobe for storage.
Identify what you have to work with
Do a mini Konmari
First, take a little time to do a mini Konmari. Pull out all of your warm weather clothes – tee shirts, tank tops, shorts, capris, sundresses – and lay them on your bed. Reaffirm if these garments spark joy. You may discover a piece (or a few) that for whatever reason aren’t going to work for you in the coming season. Feel free to thank it and donate.
Assess what you are keeping
Now that you are down to all the pieces you want to keep for the upcoming seasons, assess them. Is everything in good condition? Make sure everything has the buttons in tact and does not have holes. Maybe you have two dresses you really love, but they are starting to look a little worn and stretched out. Consider adding a new one to your wardrobe if you find one that sparks joy.
If you’ve gone through any body changes over the last few months, try on your pieces. Make sure everything still fits properly. This isn’t a moment to be negative about your body, however. Be realistic about what fits properly and what doesn’t, so you can add anything you need to replace to your list of wardrobe holes (see below). After all, we want to feel confident in our wardrobe choices moving forward, not constantly uncomfortable because our waistbands are too tight because we didn’t want to admit it.
Identify any wardrobe holes
Are there any pieces that you need but don’t have? Do you have a few garments that don’t fit quite right that you need a better version of? Check if anything that didn’t survive your mini Konmari or your quality assessment needs to be replaced. Also check to make sure you have the pieces you want to round out your wardrobe – such as a light jacket, sandals, light scarf, etc.
Make a list of what you need, and be specific. I.e. “a pair of medium blue denim shorts with a 5″ inseam” or “a gauzy scarf to match my blue and white dress” or “an olive green field jacket with functional pockets”. Being as specific as you can will help keep you from being distracted when you’re shopping.
Don’t forget about outerwear
If you don’t store your outerwear with your main wardrobe, be sure to assess those pieces as well. Maybe sure your lighter weight jacket is also still in good condition. If you didn’t clean it before the end of fall, now is a great time to have it cleaned before the weather warms.
If you don’t have the proper outerwear for spring in your wardrobe, now is a great time to shop for clearance deals. Retailers are already rolling out their summer products, so you may be able to get a great deal on a jacket from a fall or winter collection. The same applies to winter coats as well, if you need a new one.
Plan your wardrobe
Plan for the weather
Don’t plan your wardrobe for “Fantasy Spring”. Sure, all the catalogs and Pinterest pics show ladies frolicking about outdoors in gauzy dresses. Are you able to do so as well, or is Spring still a mix of freezing weather with the random warm day here and there?
Keep your local area weather in mind. If Spring is still relatively cold where you live, make sure you include some of your winter sweaters and plenty of layering pieces. You may not be a happy camper if you go out dressed for Pinterest Spring and end up freezing off your tuchus.
Try a capsule wardrobe
If you want to create a capsule wardrobe, now is a great time to start. (Here is a link to my post on how to create a capsule wardrobe from an existing wardrobe.) You don’t have to necessarily pick a strict number of pieces, but you may find it helpful as a starting off point. For example, pick your ten favorites that you want to wear every day, and if your wardrobe is still not rounded out, choose a few more.
With the weather in mind, decide what kinds of pieces you want to wear in the upcoming season. Pants and a tee shirt? Dresses every day? A tee and a skirt, paired with cute sneakers? Pull those types of garments out. I find it helpful to lay everything out on my bed (I’m a visual processor). Don’t be concerned with making your wardrobe “well-rounded”. Pick out the pieces that work for you and your daily life. If jeans and a tee are your default, don’t bother to add a skirt – unless wearing skirts more often is something you really want to do.
You can also read my post on my Fall Ten Item Wardrobe for any additional information.
Search for your new pieces
Start shopping for the things on your list of wardrobe holes and only those things. Don’t get distracted by all the other goodies for sale – that’s how you end up with a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. Keep your eyes open for the pieces on your list while you’re shopping, and start looking now. Don’t wait until that random sudden hot day and realize you still have no shorts that fit you.
Tip: make things easier for yourself by browsing online first. You can make a list of potential pieces ahead of time and then try them on in the store if you like. Also don’t forget online consignment, such as Poshmark.com and ThredUp.com. You can search those sites for the specific items on your list, and you may get a great deal on a gently used piece that fits the bill.
Prepare your winter wardrobe for storage
Once the weather looks like it’s staying warm for good, prepare your winter clothes for storage over the warmer months. Hand wash or dry clean all your sweaters and pack them up. Also now is a great time to clean your coat.
Make sure your winter boots are clean as well. Even the fashion boots, give them a wipe down. Lay them in a box or stand them up in your closet with some kind of support.
Wash (or dry clean) your winter accessories as well. You may not even be thinking about your winter hat, scarf, or driving gloves, but they all need to be cleaned before you store them. I find that hand washing works just fine for these items.
Don’t forget to take care of your kids’ winter gear while you’re at it. They’ve been wearing those coats, hats, and mittens all winter to those germ factories I mean schools and can really use a good cleaning. (I actually do a mid-winter clean on all the kids’ winter coats over a long weekend, if I’m able to, and then a second clean once they weather warms up.)
Make sure everything is completely and 100% dry before storing!
What do you do to prepare your wardrobe for spring and summer? How do your store your winter clothes and gear? Leave a comment below!
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