Spring Cleaning

My sustainable, non-breakdown inducing, emotionally-friendly, anyone-can-do-it process for editing your clothes season over season

There is nothing quite like the change of seasons to make me want to empty my house and build it from the ground up. I simultaneously want to have NO STUFF and ALL THE STUFF (can anyone related to this feeling??)

Shopping impulse control aside, this is the time of year where I am ready to rotate my seasonal clothes. I don’t want to jinx myself, but I’m thinking that within the next few weeks it will be safe to put away my winter boots, heaviest jackets and sweaters, and other various winter gear and pull out my spring/summer items. Not everything gets fully rotated, but I live in a small enough home, and in a place with true (enough) seasons that I just don’t need to see or shove my giant winter coat out of my way when I’m getting dressed April through October.

I LOVE a closet cleanout. Like, a full, empty it all out, tear it all apart, get rid of a ton of stuff, and put it back together situation. However, even as someone who loves this, I recognize that this takes time, energy, and the right state of mind. Nothing worse than starting a closet edit and next thing you know you’re sitting on the floor of your empty closet with all your clothes on the floor and fully out of steam. There are times when you do need a full closet cleanout. For example, when you’ve gone through a major life transition, you have a new job with a new dress code requirement, you’re moving and want to review before packing, you had a baby, or you had a major body change, the list goes one. These types of edits require the right circumstances, the right state of mind, and the right resources (eg: you might need a friend, or an expert). (PS: Not only do I love closet edits, I also love helping other people edit their closets. If you need help, reach out!)

But, there are also ways to edit your closet on an ongoing basis - without tearing everything apart, without dedicating an entire day to this exercise, and without making yourself crazy (if, unlike me, this isn’t something you enjoy doing - I get it, not all of us do!)

Today, I thought I would share the things I do on a seasonal basis that help to systematize my editing process. Not only does this help me keep an edited closet that is full (mostly, I’m not perfect!) of the things that I love, wear, and feel great in, but it also makes it easier and less emotional to get rid of things that no longer make sense in my closet. Depending on where you live, and how your life and clothing needs change over the year, you might do this more (or less) than I do! Even though we experience all four seasons, I do this two times a year — once as summer is ending and we shift into fall, and once as winter is ending and we shift into spring. My preference is to do this in a single day - I will typically dedicate a Saturday or Sunday naptime - meaning, I can do this in approximately two hours (I probably should have led with that - You don’t need a full day!) But you could also split this out into smaller chunks (and I’ve had to split it out before) - you just do each step on it’s own.

What you are going to need :

1. Plastic bins - I like big plastic ones with snap tops (like these), I usually buy from Target. I store clothes in them in our fieldstone basement with no issues.

2. Post It Notes

3. 3 Bags (nothing fancy here - I usually use reusable shopping bags)

4. Airpods + your audio book or soundtrack of choice! May I recommend The Idea of You, The Magnolia Parks Universe, First Lie Wins (if you love thrillers) or Beyonce’s latest!

Step One: Corral the old season

The first thing you are going to do is identify the pieces that you are not going to wear for the next season. For me (as we enter spring), this means I am packing up coats (parkas, wool jackets, down anything), winter boots (my true snow boots), accessories (gloves, scarves, hats), gear (ski clothes, long underwear, winter running tights, winter running socks, etc) and my heaviest sweaters (not all my sweaters, but I have a lot of heavy wool ones that I just won’t need in the warmer weather.

You’re going to pull these pieces out of your closet and put them all in one place - it can be the floor of your closet, it can be your bed, it can be a chair - truly, whatever works.

Depending on how you are planning to pack things, you can sort into piles. I have a decent amount of “gear” so I use one plastic bin for my gear/athletic items, and one for my winter clothes. So, I sort my items into two piles.

Note - I don’t keep coats in my normal closet, so I typically tackle coats on a separate day and have a bin where I put coats (it is a large bin, and most of my coats can lay flat in it). But, if you want to tackle coats as part of this exercise, you totally should. You should have as many (or as few) bins that make sense for you (and your storage capabilities).

Step Two: The Edit “Lite”

Now that you have all the pieces that do not need to physically be in your closet pulled out, we are going to do a quick edit in a way that will not lead directly to a meltdown or overwhelm.

One key thing to keep in mind - While trying things on and getting creative are things that I ALWAYS recommend, I encourage you to try to put your laser-focus glasses on and not get distracted by that while you are doing this exercise, especially if you are slim on time, or you have a history of not being able to edit your closet at all. Save trying things on for another time when it can be all about creating looks that you are excited to wear. This means that you will likely not spend a ton of time analyzing fit when you do this exercise - that’s the point - this is meant to be low-stress and emotional-hangover free. If you do decide to part with something based on fit, it will be because you know it doesn’t fit right (eg: you don’t even need to try it on).

Now - back to the editing. As you pick each item up to pack it away in its relevant bin, you are going to look for a few things.

1. The Low-Hanging Fruits: This is anything that very obviously needs to go (you might have none, very few, or many). It might be because a) you just don’t like it (for whatever reason), b) it is old & unsalvageable (stains that won’t come out, unfixable rips, stretched, out), or c) does not fit or suit you and there is no complex emotional response tied up in it. These are the easiest things to clear out - you will put them in your “Recycle” bag (if unwearable) or “Donate” bag if salvageable. [A brief note on fit, especially if you are postpartum - do not beat yourself up about fit. If you just had a baby, don’t edit pieces based on fit, it’s not the right time - read this instead. There is nothing wrong keeping something in your closet that doesn’t fit right now AS LONG AS it doesn’t make you feel bad. If it makes you feel bad, take it out of your closet. You can give it away, or you can keep it somewhere else - that’s your call. Bodies are meant to change and bodies are FREAKING AMAZING. Be grateful for yours.]

2. The “Didn’t Wear” aka the “Parking Lot": Next - (and this is an IMPORTANT STEP - because, if you follow the process, you will see how this system helps keep your closet edited!) you are looking for anything that you didn’t wear for the whole season. Ask yourself, “why.” If the answer is, “I don’t like it,” then go immediately to step 1 above and put the item in the relevant bag. If the answer is something other than, “I don’t like it” - like, “I’m not sure,” “I don’t know how to style it,” “maybe it’ll fit someday,” or, “I used to love it,” or anything along these lines - no worries, you are not going to stress about this right now. Instead, you are going to grab a POST-IT and just stick it on the item. And then you will pack it up. What you are doing is deferring the decision. You don’t have to make it now, but you are setting yourself up to address it in the future when you have a little distance and can make a less emotional decision. (We will get into how you can do this when I talk about how you unpack the new season).

3. The, “Your Future Self Will Thank you”: If you feel extremely up to it - your future self will thank you if you take the time to make a pile of anything that needs to be professionally cleaned or repaired before you pack it up, but, this step is optional!

Once everything is packed up, you can close up your bins - you’re ready to move on to the next step.

Step Three: Clear the Palette

Technically, this step is also optional, but I highly recommend it. How often do you organize your closet? If your answer is “often,” then, you should skip this step and I commend you. But if the answer is *scratches head* - here are a few simple things you can do, because getting ready in and browsing an aesthetically pleasing, organized closet is one of the ways you can make getting dressed easier.

Just think of browsing in a boutique vs. a thrift store. Both are fabulous, and yes, I know there are people who LOVE to hunt through a thrift store. But I think we can agree that one requires way more of a hunt that the other. And, let’s be honest, none of us need to be hunting every morning when we’re getting ready for the day.

A few things you can do (regardless of the size or shape of your closet:

• Use hangers that match - I like the velvet ones because they are softer on clothes. I know you can get them at the container store or target. I usually buy them at TJ Maxx!

• On that note, actually hang things up! And by that, I mean both that you should pick anything up that’s falling on the floor, and that you should hang as many pieces are you have physical space to do because it’s so much easier to see the things that are hanging vs. tucked away in drawers.

• Create sections - there are a lot of ways to do this, and there is no right or wrong way. Your closet space will dictate what makes the most sense (for example, I only have one part of my closet with hanging space tall enough for dresses, so that’s where my dresses have to go, otherwise they would be dragging on the ground. I like to organize by item “type” - so, a section for tops, pants, dresses & skirts, and then within each category I organize by color. You could go deeper into sub-categories (blazers, shirts, blouses, sweaters, blazers), you can go fully by color. Truly, no wrong answer - whatever feels right for you.

• Re-fold drawers - if you have time, refold the items in your drawers - this will especially help to make room for the seasonal items you are about to unpack.

Step 4: Bring in the New!

Now that your closet is primed and primped, it’s time to get your bin(s) of items for the new season and get ready to UNPACK. This is the fun part, because I guarantee you are going to unpack things that you forgot you have, that have a great memory associated with them, or you are super excited to wear. It’s a good feeling - doing this always leaves me bursting with excitement to wear the pieces I’ve had packed away for a season! I will remind you again that if you are trying to stay on task & operating under a time constraint - put your focus glasses on and restrain yourself from a fashion show.

As you unpack items, you can put them right into the appropriate spot in your closet. You are going to look for a few things:

1. The Low-Hanging Fruits: As you did when you packed things up, you are going to keep an eye out for anything that very obviously needs to go. With the perspective of a full season under your belt, I find that this often yields some things that you can part with. Anything that you just don’t like (for whatever reason), you just know that you won’t ever wear (for whatever reason), or is old and unsalvageable can go. Put them in your “Recycle” bag (if unwearable), “Donate” bag if salvageable, or “Resell,” if you want to try to go that route.

2. Create Your “To-Do” List: Anything that you are unpacking that needs to be cleaned (by you or professionally), repaired or tailored goes into a pile and then a bag that you can put by your door to be ready the next time you have the opportunity to run those errands.

3. Revisit the Parking Lot: Now, obviously, this will not apply if it’s the first time that you are doing this, but, it will the next time you do, and it’s the magic part. The parking lot, if you recall, is the pieces that you didn’t wear at all throughout the last occurrence of this season (if you’re doing this in the springtime, it would be anything you didn’t wear last spring/summer). These items all have post-it notes on them. As you pull these pieces out - ask yourself - Are you excited to wear it now? Can you think of how you’ll wear it? Does it feel like you? Does it fit? Don’t stress out too much about these questions - you don’t have to turn them over for a long time (I will say though, if you didn’t wear something for a whole year and then you’re still not excited to wear it, that is a pretty strong case to let it go.) The point is that there should be some pieces that stand out as no longer making sense in your closet, making the decision feels easier and less emotional, and so you let them go (donate, recycle, resell).

4. (Optional): Create your “Not Right Now” Pile: If there is anything that you are pulling out that you are just not sure about - for whatever reason - leave those pieces IN the bin. They are there if you decide you want them, so you don’t have to make a decision about them right now. But you can also use this as a way to defer decision making (or maybe if there is something that doesn’t fit right now, but you don’t want to get rid of it, you can store it away so you don’t have to look at it every day, and save it for when it does). I often use this for clothes I won’t wear because of life circumstances. For example - last summer I left most of my shift dresses packed up because I was nursing and just wouldn’t wear dresses unless they were nursing-friendly. I didn’t need them in my closet to shove aside every day, but I also didn’t want to give them away (or make extreme clothing decisions when so newly postpartum). I also left a ton of things that straight up didn’t fit and weren’t going to fit for awhile b/c I was postpartum in the bin. When you pull this bin back out at the end of the season, to pack things up, you can look at these items first and decide - will you hold on to them, should they go in the parking lot (then you put a Post It on the piece so you have a visual reminder for next season), or are you getting rid of it.

Step 5: Enjoy Feeling Organized!

You did it! You have a closet that is organized, clean, and ready for the season ahead. You probably have at least a few items that you’re ready to donate, recycle, clean, tailor or sell. AND, you’ve set yourself up to build editing and review into your closet turnover process - hopefully making it feel less daunting. Now, when the next season rolls around, you will unpack your bin complete with items already flagged for potential give-aways, making the editing process easier and easier as time goes on.

Is this going to identify everything in your closet that no longer makes sense for you? Probably not. Will you get the same outcome that you would get if you did a full edit with me (or another wardrobe consultant or stylist)? Maybe not (although some people are very good at doing this on their own!) But, I can basically guarentee that you will feel lighter, more organized, more focused, and you will have set yourself up for more ease and success in getting dressed in this upcoming season.

I hope you will try it, or leave a tip about your favorite ways to clean our your closet, or prepare it for a new season!

Lastly, I can’t possibly send a letter without sharing just a few things that are making me go all heart eyed right now. I mentioned in my letter last week that I was going through a few weird weeks, which included a bit of a creative rut. Well, I think that just writing about what is going on lifted just enough to help me feel a little better - that, and dilligently going to bed early, going for as many walks as humanly possible, and eating super healthy (ugh, so annoying when the experts are right, isn’t it?). Regardless, a few things on my radar right now.

Mango (at the time of publication) is having a big promotion - 30% off when you spend $220 or more. Annoying to have a limit, but they do have a lot of great stuff! Worth it to load up your cart to hit that minimum, get the discount and return anything that isn’t perfect! I ordered this linen blazer and I need to exchange it for a larger size (finding that it runs a little small - I ordered a Medium and need a Large), but it’s GREAT. More of my Mango picks are highlighted here.

Raffia and straw are not only going to be everywhere (again) this spring and summer, they are timelessly chic and practical. I love this giant bag and the price is incredible (looks like it has been a major reader favorite this month!)

Maybe it’s Easter, maybe it’s that Spring (and by Spring I mean actual Spring weather) is on the tip of my tongue, but I am obsessed with pastels, and this sweater is no exception. So ladylike! Also, at time of publication, it is 25% off as part of And Other Stories Friends & Family Sale.

Credo just launched their spring sale, and they sell my holy-grail cleanser, the One Love Organics Cleansing Oil. I’ve been using this for years! I talked all about why I love it when I was featured in

Amber Katz

Substack - you can read that here.

This is just a hot dress, and sometimes you need a hot dress. I love that you could wear it with white sneakers, or a sexy mule.

Cute (reasonably prices) kids PJs! These too. And an adorable matching set for little girls.

Another great Mango item - if you are on the hunt for an elevated denim jacket, this is it!

I got this bag for myself for my birthday, but in the green (called khaki) colorway. I adore it. This is my first BAG. And, honestly, one of my all-time biggest purchases. I thought about it for nearly a year, and I really love it!

I just got this cute little Uniqlo sweater jacket and I am THRILLED with it. I took a medium, and it nice and fitted, so if you want more room, or are really in between sizes, you might consider sizing up.

Still thinking about these gorg earrings. They remind me of something my grandmother wore.

If you got all the way to the end (thank you!), and are looking for more, some other pieces you might enjoy are below. Also, be sure to subscribe, because I have SO MUCH GOOD STUFF on the docket for the next few weeks - including spring trends and vibes, my spring/summer wishlist, and a refresh of my pregnancy guide!

• How to Make Getting Dressed Easier - Part 1

• Too Many Open Tabs - Bags I’m Obsessed With

• Shopping for Clothes for All Your Getting Dressed Needs

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