How to prepare your spring and summer wardrobe

As the days get longer and sunnier – and there’s less chance of a last minute snowfall, it finally feels time to put away the chunky sweaters, and give your spring and summer wardrobe a proper airing.

But if you’re anything like us, ‘preparing’ for a new season simply means buying more clothes to add to an already stuffed-to-the-limit-wardrobe. And many of the clothes we do buy often remain unworn.

So how can we prepare more cleverly? The idea is not simply to buy things on a whim, but prune down our existing hoard of summer and winter clothes, and buy strategically to fill the gaps.

This way you’ll have a manageable wardrobe of clothes you love and will wear. Here are some tips to help you achieve this.

Get rid of any clothes that don’t fit

To start, get all your clothes out of your wardrobe and try them on. If any don’t fit (maybe they never did, or perhaps you’ve put on weight or your shape has changed), then be brutal and get rid of them.

If they’re sellable, consider putting them on eBay or giving them to a charity shop. Otherwise, take them to a clothes recycling bank or bin them.

Get rid of any clothes that don’t suit you

One of these easiest mistakes to make when buying clothes, is to buy an item that looks amazing on a model, mannequin or even a friend, but just doesn’t look right on you.

It could be a cut that doesn’t flatter your shape, or a colour palette that doesn’t do your colouring any favours.

However much you love this piece, if it doesn’t suit you, you probably won’t wear it. And if you do wear it, you probably won’t feel as comfortable in it as an outfit that does suit you.

So, if you have any clothes that you know don’t suit you, then add them to the throw/sell/give away pile. If you’re unsure about an item, ask a friend you trust for their honest opinion.

Get some inspiration

Once you’ve trimmed down your existing wardrobe, it’s time to get some style inspiration.

But make sure your inspiration comes from the right places! Here are some tips to help you:

  • Know your body shape and colouring, and look for inspiration that matches these.
  • Find your style ‘heroes’ – people whose style you love. These can be friends, celebrities, or style influencers.
  • Scour through fashion magazines, Pinterest and Instagram for latest fashions you like.

Start buying new pieces

Once you’ve got some inspiration, start shopping around for new pieces to fill the gaps in your wardrobe. Try to find standalone pieces, as well as items that will work with clothes you already own to put together outfits.

Here are some new pieces you may consider for spring and summer:

  • A lightweight coat, like a mac, for cooler spring days and showers.
  • Floral midi dresses – these can be dressed up or down, and can see you through spring into summer.
  • A comfortable pair of linen pants – again look for a pair you can dress up or down.
  • A pair of cheap wedge sandals, to go with your floral dresses or jeans.
  • A versatile jean jacket.
  • A cross body bag – just big enough to contain everything you need for the day, not big enough to become a walking skip!
  • A basket bag, to throw summer essentials in for a day at the beach… or the shops.

Ready to prepare your spring and summer wardrobe?

We hope you’ve found these tips helpful. Have fun preparing your spring and summer wardrobe!

Photo by CHAN Y