get your closet ready for fall

The idea of not wearing white after Labor Day is not so much a rule, but a gentle reminder that our Spring/Summer wardrobes are ready to hibernate soon. In San Francisco, our warm weather begins in September and goes through mid-October, so Labor Day signifies the time for us to take OUT our Spring/Summer wardrobes.

No matter the weather, every Labor Day weekend is a good time to audit your closet and prepare for Fall. Make it a tradition for your household and get everyone involved; it can make a somewhat overwhelming task, fun. Here are some tips to get your wardrobe organized and ready:

• Take everything out of your closet. If you have a rolling rack (they are great to have and cost $30 at the Container Store), now is the time to use it. If no rolling rack, your bed will do. Do NOT look at every little thing and reminisce while you do this. Right now, the most important thing is just to get everything OUT.

• As you take things out, organize them by category on your bed or rolling rack: pants, skirts, tops, sweaters, jackets, dresses, etc.

• Dust and vacuum your now perfectly empty closet.

• Get and label three bags or boxes: Donate/Sell, Repair/Dry Clean, Spring Clothing

• Edit your clothing. Start with one category such as pants and go through each item to see if it is worthy to go back into the closet. If it’s outdated or you haven’t worn it in 18 months, donate or sell it.  Make sure it is clean and in no need of repair — if so, place it in your “Repair/Dry Clean” bag.  If it is a seasonal item (shorts, sundress, etc), place it in the “Spring Clothing” box.  Move through the editing process as quick as you can. Make it a contest if you have to or try and finish by the time your favorite CD is done playing.

• Hang everything on nice, uniform hangers.  Please throw away the wire ones — they ruin your clothing.  Some sweaters you can hang — super heavy knits and very delicate knits should be folded.  But try and hang the turtlenecks and crew necks — they don’t stretch out — that is an old wives tale. The reason I say to try and hang your sweaters is because if it’s out of sight, you forget you have it and won’t wear it.

• Once an item is deemed okay, put it back in the closet. Organize your closet by placing pants and skirts in the bottom section (a double rod hanger is great for this) and tops and jackets on the top.  Heavy sweaters should be folded.  Jeans can be too to make room if necessary.
• Take your shoes and jackets to the cobbler and dry cleaner respectively at the end of each season for a mini tune up and cleaning.