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The Weekend Read✨From Sunhats to Scarves: The Joy (and Power) of a Seasonal Wardrobe Edit

August 29, 2025

The Weekend Read✨From Sunhats to Scarves: The Joy (and Power) of a Seasonal Wardrobe Edit

Jenny Goldsmith | Read in about 9 minutes

Hello!

There’s a moment at the tail end of summer when the air changes. Evenings draw in a little earlier, your morning coffee suddenly tastes better hot than iced, and that sundress that once felt essential now feels a touch flimsy. The seasons shift and with them, so should our wardrobes.

Now, this isn’t simply about swapping sandals for boots or trading linen for wool. The seasonal wardrobe edit is much more than that. It’s a ritual – part practical, part emotional and wholly transformative. Done right, it brings clarity, confidence and joy to getting dressed everyday.

Today, we’re looking at how and why you should do a seasonal wardrobe edit. We’ll explore not just what to keep and what to let go of, but also how to lovingly pack and store things properly, evaluate your lifestyle and plan for the season ahead.

Why a Seasonal Wardrobe Edit Matters

First things first: why bother at all? Surely we can just shove the sundresses to one side and pull the coats to the front? Technically, yes. But a wardrobe edit is about so much more than rearranging hangers.

Think of it like this: your wardrobe is a personal boutique, curated just for you. Would Selfridges ever leave last season’s stock cluttering up the rails? Of course not. They make space, reset the mood and bring in the new. Your wardrobe deserves the same respect.

Here are three reasons why a seasonal edit matters:

Clarity: You’ll know exactly what you own, what fits and what sparks joy. No more mystery piles at the back of the wardrobe.
Confidence: With only things that work for your colouring, style and lifestyle, every outfit feels like an easy win.
Space: A clear, seasonally-appropriate wardrobe means you can actually see your clothes and use them. It’s like a breath of fresh air every morning.

And perhaps most importantly, editing your wardrobe helps align your clothes with your life as it is now. Not as it was five years ago, or even last year. Because life changes and your wardrobe should move with it. So let's make a start with our 6-step plan to get your wardrobe to work hard for you this AW25/26.

The Weekend Read✨From Sunhats to Scarves: The Joy (and Power) of a Seasonal Wardrobe Edit

Step One: The Great Wardrobe Try-On

This is the big one, the bit most people avoid. But trust me, it’s worth every second.

Take everything out of your wardrobe and drawers. Every dress, every jumper, every shoe, scarf, belt and blouse. It’s time to face the lot. My stylist tip for you is to do this in daylight with a full-length mirror and your favourite playlist on in the background. Make it fun, not a chore.

As you try things on, ask yourself:

Does it fit me today? Not when I lose a stone, not if I wear a safety pin. Today.
What condition is it in? Is it crisp and lovely, or bobbled and sagging?
Do I love it? Is there that little spark of excitement when you try it on?
Does it fit my lifestyle? Be honest. If you’ve retired, do you still need six blazers? If you’re a new mum, does a dry-clean-only silk blouse fit your daily routine?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, then the item needs to go, or at least move to storage.

Step Two: Sort by Colour and Style

Once you’ve weeded out the no’s, it’s time to sort the yes’s.

By colour: Group your clothes into colour families. This is where your seasonal colour palette really works. You’ll instantly see if you’re overstocked in one area (ten navy tops, anyone?) and lacking in another (where are the wow-colour knits?).
By style: Break things down into categories. Workwear, weekend casual, evening out and occasion wear. This helps you spot if your wardrobe is balanced for your actual life.

This stage is a revelation. You’ll see your wardrobe with fresh eyes and start to notice the gaps. Maybe you’re missing transitional pieces (that light jacket you reach for in September), or you realise all your jumpers are neutrals and you crave a pop of colour.

Step Three: Re-Evaluate Your Lifestyle

Clothes are for the life you live. Not the life you once had.

Ask yourself:

Have you started a new job that needs a different dress code?
Have you retired and no longer need corporate/workwear?
Are you a new mum craving stylish but practical daywear?
Have you taken up new hobbies such as hiking, painting or dance classes that demand different clothes?

Your wardrobe should support your current lifestyle. If it doesn’t, it’s time to release what no longer serves you and plan for what will.

Step Four: Pack Away Summer

Here’s where the magic happens. Instead of leaving summer dresses to languish beside your wool coats, pack them away properly. Why?

Clarity: Out of sight means out of mind – no more distraction from clothes you can’t wear right now.
Care: Proper storage protects your garments from dust, fading and damage.
Excitement: Opening a summer box next spring feels like Christmas morning. Forgotten favourites feel brand new again.

How to pack away summer clothes:

Clean everything first. Moths adore a tiny splash of perfume or trace of sunscreen. Wash or dry-clean before storing.
Repair now. Fix that loose button or tiny hem tear before storage, future you will be grateful.

Choose smart storage:

Breathable garment bags for delicate dresses.
Clear, stackable boxes for folded clothes.
Vacuum bags for bulky items (though not for natural fibres like wool or silk, you need breathable garment bags for these).

Don’t forget shoes and accessories:

Wipe down sandals, stuff with tissue paper and store in boxes or cloth bags.
Summer hats should be stuffed and boxed to keep their shape.
Jewellery should be cleaned, stored in anti-tarnish bags and kept away from damp.

Label everything. Trust me, you won’t remember which box holds what.

Step Five: Storage Solutions for Autumn/Winter

A seasonal wardrobe only works if it’s organised. Here are some practical ideas:

Clothing: Use slimline velvet hangers to maximise space and prevent slipping. Divide hanging space by category, for example, coats, knits, dresses and trousers.
Shoes: Clear shoe boxes are brilliant, you can see what’s inside without opening every lid. For boots, use boot shapers or rolled magazines to prevent sagging.
Jewellery: Drawer dividers or stackable trays stop tangling and make your accessories feel like part of a boutique.
Scarves and belts: Hooks or dedicated hangers keep them visible and easy to reach.

Good storage is about being organised. It’s about making your wardrobe work like your favourite shop: easy to browse, beautifully presented and inspiring every time you open the doors.

Step Six: Plan for the Season Ahead

Now comes the fun part: shopping with purpose. With your gaps identified, you can now create your shopping list. For example:

One wow-colour coat.
Two knitwear pieces in accent shades.
A pair of boots that work for both work and weekend.
A great day bag in your seasonal neutral.

By planning ahead, you avoid impulse buys, overspending and the dreaded nothing to wear moments. Instead, you build a wardrobe that feels cohesive, stylish and you.

The Emotional Benefits

Let’s not overlook the psychology here. A seasonal wardrobe edit isn’t just practical, it’s deeply emotional. Letting go of pieces that no longer serve you is liberating. Rediscovering forgotten gems is uplifting and creating space physically makes space mentally too.

It’s about stepping into the new season with clarity and joy, ready to embrace what’s ahead.

Your Seasonal Wardrobe Edit Checklist

Here’s your step-by-step list to keep you on track:

Take everything out of your wardrobe and drawers.
Try on every item. Ask yourself: does it fit, is it in good condition, do I love it, does it fit my lifestyle?
Sort into keep/donate/repair/store piles.
Group your keepers by colour and style.
Identify gaps in your wardrobe.
Pack away summer items: clean, repair and store properly.
Organise your Autumn/Winter wardrobe with good storage solutions.
Re-evaluate your lifestyle needs.
Create a focused shopping list for the season ahead.
Pour yourself a celebratory drink, you did it!

Final Thoughts: Refresh, Reset, Rediscover

A seasonal wardrobe edit isn’t just about clothes. It’s about caring for yourself, honouring your present life and giving yourself the daily joy of opening a wardrobe that feels like it belongs to you.

So this weekend, grab a cup of something warm, turn on your favourite music and dive in. Because the shift from sunhats to scarves is more than a seasonal change, it’s a chance to reset, refresh and rediscover your style.

Remember, your clothes tell those around you more about you than you realise. How do you want to be perceived by others? Make sure what you wear this season reflects this.

Enjoy your weekend! In next week's The Weekend Read, we will be giving you an inside peak into how and who determines what colours and styles make it onto the catwalk and into the shops every season.

Best wishes,

Jenny & Judi xx

Click Here For Your Autumn/Winter 25/26 Shopping Inspiration