It’s almost that time of year - time to get ready for a new season!
Spring is generally regarded as the re-birth season where everything starts its cycle all over again, and your wardrobe is no exception. Get ready to bloom like the flower that you are with these six easy steps to sprucing up your wardrobe.

1. Purge, purge, purge

This is the hardest part. Getting rid of clothes takes some time and you can easily rationalize why everything could be kept, but if you haven’t worn it in over a year, there’s probably little reason to retain it.
Whether it has sentimental value, if it’s motivational clothes (the “once I lose 10 pounds this will fit perfectly!” type) or “even though it’s so worn out it fits so damn good,” you’ve got to cut the cord at some point. This is the time when you have to be strong and realistic with yourself. Look to keep pieces that are timeless and versatile, which means your 80s patchwork “ugly Christmas sweater-esque” top can be put in the discard pile. Get rid of anything you’ll never really wear again and anything that is stained or damaged beyond repair.
If you’re having a hard time letting go, keep reading…we’ve got you covered in step six.

2. Go shopping… in your closet

Now that you’ve narrowed down your inventory to the best of the best, its time to get that shopping high without draining your bank account. The best part about cleaning out your closet is that you may find things you haven’t worn in a long time. You can get that “almost new” feel again from the clothes that have been relegated to the back portion of your closet.
Try everything on to ensure a proper fit and get a fresh new perspective on your wardrobe.

3. Organize, organize, organize (but don’t micromanage)

Now, you should be left with a wardrobe full of clothing you like, which fits and is in good condition. Break this down into categories – bottoms, tops, dresses, skirts etc. You can even get really fancy with it and break it down further by colour coding. The possibilities are nearly endless! Don’t get too caught up with this step – keep in mind that the organization will help cut down time spent getting ready because you’ll know exactly where everything is.

4. Take inventory and perhaps a quick trip to the store

We can’t talk about refreshing a spring wardrobe without doing a little shopping. Knowing what you’re working with can help to identify gaps in your wardrobe. Consider your lifestyle; do you live the corporate life? Are you more casual? Do you need more versatile items for going out? Look at what you have and make a list of items you feel you are lacking. Simply adding a few new pieces can re-invigorate your style. With all the online and in-store options available, filling the gaps has never been easier choice-wise.

5. Utilize modern technology

Anyone who grew up in the 90s and watched Clueless could only dream of having Cher’s virtual closet stylist. For those unfamiliar with Clueless, imagine an endless buffet of clothes.
Now that we’re in the future, anyone can have this! Take some time to take clear pictures of every item of clothing you own. Load your images into a fashion app such as Cloth, Netrobe or Stylebook. Most of these apps allow you to keep a virtual inventory of your entire wardrobe. You can plan outfits on the go, tag favorite outfits and see what you actually have in your closet when you go shopping. It’s like having a personal stylist in your pocket.

6. Re-use, re-do and recycle

By now, your wardrobe should be fabulous and your outfits on point. But what do you do with all the clothes you purged? There are some great ways to send your clothes onto their next adventure and give back to the community.

Consider selling your wares in a local virtual marketplace like Varage Sale. Post your items online, price them and sell to other buyers in your neighborhood. Kijiji and Craigslist are also hotspots for finding your clothes a new home.
Organize a swap party with friends, family and colleagues. Exchanging clothes is a great way to change up your wardrobe while connecting with in person at the same time.
Donate to a local shelter, causes such as Dress for Success, or Value Village that help people gain confidence through appearance. Look good, feel good, right?

For everything else, I like to hold on to clothing that has interesting fabric that I could use for sewing projects. For example, your favorite worn out sweatshirt could be transformed into a gym bag, old jeans can be turned into an apron, and an old sweater can be turned into a pillow case. Check out this site for a plethora of great ideas…you’re only limited by your creativity!

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