Build a Wardrobe That Changes With the Seasons

#Fall arrived a bit early at The Organizing Blog’s headquarters last week. Rain blew in, and the daily high temperatures quickly tumbled from the 80s to the 60s, just in time for the official first day of #autumn.

While it’s offering a pleasant enough respite from the #summer heat, the sudden change had many of us scrambling for the sweaters, jackets and flannel sheets. Were we really ready for summer to be over — and are we equipped to handle the cooler weather?

One thing that can help cope with #seasonal changes in the weather is a wardrobe that converts easily to the climate realities outside your door. When you can #streamline the contents of your closets, #drawers and #storage bins, it becomes much simpler to dress for the weather.

A “capsule” wardrobe made up of a small number of versatile garments can help, says Charlie B. Concentrate on quality staples that work year-round — five pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, five sweaters, 10 tops, three jackets and a warm winter coat is a good start.

“The key is balance — enough variety so you don’t feel bored, but not so much that your closet becomes overwhelming. Each piece should be able to mix and match, giving you casual and dressy looks without requiring constant shopping or seasonal overhauls.”

Layer and accessorize to cover multiple seasons and all kinds of occasions. You’ll soon find that much of the #clothing in your closet is redundant — and that you need to buy fewer items when you concentrate and high-quality, versatile pieces.

Granted, you may need to #declutter before you can go full-on #minimal. As you bring more fall items into the rotation, says Living a Life More Organized, take Marie Kondo’s advice and examine one category of clothing at a time: coats, knits, pants, dresses, etc.

Does each item still meet your needs, or is it too worn, loose, tight, boring or trendy? Do you have other things like it that you enjoy more? Did you wear it in the last year? Is it just taking up closet space, or does it truly “spark joy”?

Let go of the also-rans by #donating them to ClothingDonations.org, and you will instantly create #space for your ideal capsule wardrobe and personal style while helping the nation’s #veterans. And you’ll face fewer #fashion dilemmas with a wardrobe that changes just as fast as the seasons!

Junk Hides in the Most Obvious Places

In a consumer society, household #junk tends to build up. You go out and buy the latest fashions, gadgets and gewgaws, and they either become a part of the daily routine or your personal style, or they don’t.

Lots of that #stuff is probably packed away in boxes or hidden in the backs of #closets, with only a dim memory of their purpose remaining. But still more stuff is likely hiding in plain sight — and making your home a #cluttered #mess.

Think about it: Do you have stacks of #clothing where they shouldn’t be — anywhere outside your closets and dressers? Are mail and paperwork piling up on your desk? Is the kitchen table or entryway littered with new purchases or decorative items?

You are not alone. Most homes have “dump” zones where new stuff or stuff that hasn’t been integrated into the everyday lands. The trouble is that sometimes this stuff doesn’t find a spot for months or even years, especially if you have a smaller space.

All of this piled-up #clutter can easily make you feel overwhelmed. “It usually isn’t until the walls are closing in or someone brings those things to our attention that we do something about it,” says California-based Organizing Concepts & Designs.

What can you do? Find ways to tame those piles and places for those things. Go room to room and make an honest assessment of what needs to be in sight and readily accessible, and what can be hidden in storage or dispensed with altogether.

You might find that you need more shelves to display your knickknacks, a filing cabinet for your office, an underbed box for your extra linens or a new #storage system for your #closet. Don’t hesitate to install them; cost-effective solutions are available.

As you take stock of your stuff, you will find things hiding in plain sight that you no longer want or need. #Donate them to ClothingDonations.org by scheduling a free #donation #pickup for your #purge. Keep at it, and soon you’ll enjoy a #clutter-free, #organized home.

Keep Clothing Fresh Without the Chemicals

Downy Unstopables revealed the “mystery celeb” whose face was obscured by a fresh-scented hoodie in teasers for its Super Bowl ad on Sunday: “Downy” McBride. The over-the-top Eastbound and Down and The Righteous Gemstones actor takes to the streets in a souped-up golf cart, firing containers of the product to neighbors with a modified T-shirt cannon. For those who want to keep their #closets smelling #fresh with fewer chemicals, however, The Organizing Blog recommends first #decluttering to give your #clothing some space to breathe, then placing natural #deodorizers such as dried herbs, homemade potpourri, cedar blocks or essential oils inside. #SuperBowlAds

E-Commerce and Clutter

A Super Bowl ad for e-commerce giant Rakuten debuted Sunday, featuring Alicia Silverstone revisiting her star turn as Cher in the 1995 rom-com Clueless. Focusing on fashion, the spot shows her getting cash back on her many #clothing purchases. While Cher is able to magically #organize her wardrobe by color and cut using a giant motorized turnstile, the rest of us aren’t so lucky. If your #closets are #cluttered with unfortunate purchase decisions and sizes you no longer fit into, stop living in the past! Take an hour to sort out those garments that are only taking up valuable space — and contact ClothingDonations.org for a convenient #donation #pickup. #SuperBowlAds