My Fall Wardrobe Refresh / Audit
Along with the change in seasons always comes a feeling of wanting a fresh start — especially in my closet. Although I’m not one to condone buying an entirely new wardrobe each season, I do love adding a few key pieces to inject a new energy into my style as well as replacing any of those foundational items that may be looking a little tired.
My usual ritual is unpacking the pieces that I’ve stored away in the off season (I highly recommend doing this, even if you have the space — it helps to eliminate those options that don’t fit in with the weather when you’re getting dressed in the morning), and doing a quick purge of both the previous season’s items that I’m putting away, as well as the items I’m bringing out for the new season.
Some things I keep in mind while doing this quick audit:
- Did I wear this often last year? If not, why? Does it need to be altered/is the fit is off, or is it just not my style, or is it something I don’t need altogether?
- If I did wear it and love it, is it still in good shape? Should I replace it with a new version this year since I got so much use out of it?
- Is there any obvious gaps in my wardrobe? Are there outfit-completers that I’m missing? Are there items in here that I do love but don’t have the right pieces to pair it with?
- Is it something I look at now and feel like I’ve moved past in terms of my own personal style? Does it feel like it was a trend that’s now over (not a core foundational wardrobe piece that never will go out of style)? And if so, why did I purchase it?
I think it’s really helpful to ask yourself these questions to better inform your purchasing decisions in the future. Seeing the things you love and get a lot of use out of, and those purchases that you regret, is a great lesson in what you should be looking for/avoiding in the future in terms of adding pieces to your wardrobe.
After doing this quick run-through, I make a list of the items that I think are missing for the upcoming season. I feel very strongly that a grocery list of sorts of the items you really are needing can help redirect you if something very tempting comes up — like a great sale, or maybe it’s an item that you are drawn to but wouldn’t go far in terms of mixing into your already existing wardrobe. I also sort out any items that I think could use a tweak with tailoring, which can truly transform an item that feels just sort of “off” to something that I can’t stop wearing.
This process shouldn’t take more than 2 or 3 hours (depending on how large your wardrobe is) and always gets me feeling inspired for the season to come.
How do you prepare your closet for the change in weather? I’d love to know. And as always, I’d love to hear your feedback and what other topics you’d like for me to cover.
