Storing your summer wardrobe
Monday, October 18, 2010
As October is upon us it’s time for many fashionistas with overflowing closets (I won’t name names), to pack up their summer wares in order to make room for their fall/winter wardrobes. Unseasonably warm weeks like this current one can make doing this switch a tricky task, as there will still be many random warm days or weeks ahead. But even with the weather's unpredictability at the very least it is the time to do a thoughtful edit of your closet’s assortment, as there are some things that just shouldn’t be worn year round and a large assortment of warm-weather clothing is no longer needed.
When going through your wardrobe, deciding what to store and what to donate to charity, a good rule of thumb is if you didn’t wear an item last season it’s more than likely you will not be wearing it next year so get rid of it! There are some exceptions to this rule, like those items that you’ve invested in that you know may have been out of style this year but will mostly likely come back into style within the next. Some suggestions of items to put into storage for the next couple seasons are: short shorts, sundresses, strappy sandals, summery prints, anything linen, cropped and/or lightweight cotton pants and summer-weight jackets or blazers. By following this list you’ll probably clear out enough space to not only transition in last years’ clothing, but have space for a few new items as well!
A few tips for when you’re ready to start packing:
1. Make sure your clothing is clean. Subtle stains left on clothing are sure to be not so subtle next year as they will most likely set to become permanent ones by next spring.
2. Do your best to store your clothing in dry, even temperature and low to no-light space.
3. Store your folded clothing (don't hang your clothes to avoid months of stretching) in clean plastic containers that are sealed properly and that are lined with some sort of cotton sheet or acid-free tissue between your clothing and the plastic. Another great storing option for those with little space and/or little control of the elements is to use something like these travel space saving bags. They’re perfect for storing clothing/bags/shoes you care about for months because they are airtight and give you “75% more storage room” (and they really do.)
4. Make the time to donate your clothing, as there are many women in need. To find suggestions on where to donate your clothing log onto citysearch.com or yelp.com, they’re sure to list a variety of resources within your city.
Jennifer Bakken is a San Francisco based wardrobe consultant, for more information check out www.cabinetdenvie.com.
