While in a lot of place it still feels like August, as September is winding down we’re bound to start experiencing some cooler temperatures sooner rather than later. This means we’ll slowly need to begin storing away the jean shorts and pulling out the blanket scarves!
Here in San Francisco it’s unbelievably warm, as it usually is this time of year. It is cold and gloomy all summer long and then BAM, September rolls around and just when we’re getting excited for PSLs and beanies we’re hit with a heat wave. What’s up with that, San Francisco?
Despite it being in the 90’s I know that this Indian summer won’t last for long so I’m already beginning to get my closet ready for the autumn season ahead.
1. THREE PILES
This is a tried and true tip I’ve heard from many sources, and it’s a great way to purge your closet and make room for new clothes! Yay!
When going through your current closet begin removing the summer items you won’t be using during the fall and separating them into three piles.
The first pile is for clothes that are in good condition but that you don’t want anymore. A pile for donating! If you’re like me and can talk yourself into keeping any item of clothing (I’m talking to you, stained SFSU t-shirt) just ask yourself realistically “when was the last time I wore this?” and if it’s been more than 6 months toss that bitch!
The second pile is for clothes that are like the college t-shirt I mentioned above. (clearly I need to take my own advice because I am currently wearing that article of clothing as I type this). Clothes that are not in good enough condition to donate and just need to go to clothes heaven aka the garage. A good question to ask yourself for this one is “would I feel comfortable donating this or giving it away as a gift in it’s current condition?”. If the answer is no, then to the trash can it goes!
The third pile is for clothes that you still love and wear all the time that just aren’t seasonally appropriate. So shorts, tanks, swimwear, cover ups, and all of those fun summer pieces can be stored away for the winter.
2. STORE AWAY FOR ANOTHER DAY
Now that you’ve dropped off your old clothes at a donation center and thrown away the ones with holes, it’s time to put away the rest until next summer. I personally loved to us the Rubbermaid flexible totes because they come in several different sizes, are easy to fill with clothing because they’re not bins and are flexible and can be easily stored under your bed if you have a tiny living space like me.
3. CREATE A CAPSULE WARDROBE
I don’t necessarily mean a capsule wardrobe for your entire collection, but more so one to keep separate that is just for the fall season. That way you have a curated collection that you know you love and can pull from easily to create your autumn inspired looks. If you want to reach for something in your main collection obviously you’re able to as well, capsule wardrobes just take the guesswork out of getting dressed in the morning.
A good capsule wardrobe will involve key basic pieces, like a camel cardigan or a white bell sleeved top, with a few bold, hero pieces. The key here is to narrow it down. So 2 pairs of jeans, 3 dresses, 2 skirts, 5 tops, 2 jackets, etc. Keep it simple and customize it to make every piece exactly your style so when you walk out the door you feel confident and exactly like yourself.
4. UPDATE YOUR ACCESSORY GAME
Obviously during the summer season we go a lot lighter on the accessories, but fall is the season of scarves! Pull out your scarves, belts, larger totes, and anything else that feels too heavy or bulky for the summer heat. Using a scarf organizer like this one can make keeping them accessible in your closet easy. Statement necklaces are also huge for fall, so adding a few key pieces to your collection or just reaching for some old favorites that don’t get as much love during the summer months is a great way to update your accessories for autumn.
5. PLAN OUT YOUR LOOKS
If you’re feeling unsure if something belongs in your fall wardrobe or how you want to style it, play around with it! I’ve seen a million posts from different fashion bloggers and stylists who use their polaroid cameras to take pictures of their outfits and I have to say, it’s pretty genius. I tried it myself and found it really useful for figuring out which pieces go well together and also to have an archive of pre-styled looks that I can refer to when I’m feeling uninspired. Even if you don’t have a polaroid camera, try it with your phone!
What are your favorite fall pieces? Tell me in the comments!
Xoxo,
She
