Down jacket, go: How to prepare a wardrobe for the warm season
Text: Ksyusha Petrova
What is happening outside the windows so far does not look like spring, but we believe that warming is not far off - and bad weather days can be well spent preparing for the summer. Despite the fact that modern fashion thinks outside the categories of the time of year, everything is not so simple with our climate - but in the near future we will not need some things like winter boots and hats. We offer to arrange a wardrobe audit right now, so that later you can spend as much time as possible outside the home.
Wash and clean away everything is definitely winter
Wait until the snow and rain are over, and feel free to clean down jackets, warm hats, gloves and scarves on the far shelf. The main thing is not to get carried away and not to throw absolutely all warm things on the mezzanine: practice shows that in summer a thick sweater and wool socks can be very useful. If you have a thin windproof jacket or waistcoat, leave it within reach and in case of a sudden cold snap wear a raincoat.
Winter shoes can and should be shoved away, but before that you should clean the dirt, wash it properly, dry it, process it with cream and fill it with paper so that the shoes keep their shape - in the fall you will be very grateful for it, as well as for the pre-washed down jacket. Before cleaning the winter jacket, you should treat the cuffs and the collar separately if they become soiled and put a pair of tennis or rubber balls in the washing machine so that the down does not get stuck together. Do not forget to pull all the contents out of your pockets - or make yourself a gift, intentionally leaving a hundred rubles in your pocket for your winter jacket. Next fall, find them and buy a chocolate bar.
Winter clothes can be stored in boxes, containers, unclaimed suitcases and vacuum bags - the latter will help save space, but are best suited for unwilling things (for example, winter blankets and knitted sweaters). In an ideal world, natural coats and sheepskin coats are stored in a special fur refrigerator, but they will survive the summer at home without any problems: let them hang on hangers in the far corner of the closet, and zipper covers will save them from moths, dust and moisture. There are hundreds of instructions on YouTube for folding different items of clothing that save time and space - followers of Marie Kondo and her “magic cleaning” roll everything into rolls, but there are other ways you can find your own among them.
To conduct an audit of summer things
Saying goodbye to the winter things, proceed to the analysis of summer: by the way, this is a great moment to once and for all get everything out of the closet and wipe the shelves from dust. To quickly remember what you have, and get rid of unnecessary things, you can use the "three boxes method": put one box (or a pile on the floor) what you are going to wear, and another box that needs repair or dry cleaning in the third - that can be distributed or disposed of. Do not forget to make out what lies on Tom Himself the Chair next to the bed.
Take a close look at the first two piles and find something that can be easily adapted to the trends of this season: perhaps, for the coveted trendy kit you lack something one and it will not be difficult to buy. While disassembling things, think about what and what you will wear, and if possible, photograph the possible combinations. Documenting your wardrobe on Pinterest can be useful not only for Tatler heroes, but also mere mortals: pre-designed combinations of your belongings can greatly reduce the time for fees in the morning. Collect items in need of repair or cleaning, and take them to the studio along with the winter ones.
Make a shopping list (and stick to it)
After the revision of summer things, make a list of what is needed, what you need and want to buy: if you do not have comfortable sandals for hot weather or there are not enough basic T-shirts, it makes sense to start a quest. Do not forget the typical summer things like a swimsuit or a headdress - both can be useful even if you are not going to the sea.
To protect yourself from impulsive purchases, keep a list of necessary things in the notes on your phone and keep on hand when you are dangerously close to stores. Is there a "T-shirt with a funny inscription or print" item on the list? Welcome, Husa. And "the stiletto shoes that I wear to the wedding if I am invited to the wedding"? If not, most likely you do not need them. A thoughtful shopping list reduces the time you spend searching online stores: if you don’t want to spend a few hours sticking on the endless pages of ASOS, it’s better to drive a specific query into the search - for example, "light white sneakers, 37 size."
Have a swap party
Exchange of clothes in the company of girlfriends and a bottle of wine, perhaps the most fun and inexpensive way to replenish your wardrobe. Take everything that was postponed to the third pile, and ask the girlfriends to bring what they don’t wear: the readers of the “Wardrobe” column probably already noticed that our heroines get the most spectacular outfits at swap parties. A big plus of this format is the opportunity to purchase something completely insane if the soul asks, and not to suffer the pangs of conscience, as after an unsuccessful purchase. In addition, swaps ideally fit into the concept of responsible consumption: in an era of overproduction, clothing is always nice to feel like a reasonable and responsible person.
Sell and give away the remaining things to charity
Anything that does not fit her friends can be sold through thematic publics on social networks, Avito, or its competitor Yulu. Expensive items from respected brands like Acne Studios or Céline are accepted at the Second Friend Store and other similar stores that specialize in well-known brands. The best way to get rid of what you can’t or don’t want to sell is to give it to those in need: for example, take it to a charity shop (in Moscow there is a “Shop of Joys”, Charity Shop and “BlagoButik”, in St. Petersburg - “Thank you” ), to give to the center for help to the homeless or to take to the church. Elegant dresses and accessories can be presented to girls from orphanages and low-income families (the action “Let's help prepare for the school ball!” Runs in Moscow until April 30). Things that cannot be worn at all can always be recycled - for example, at H & M or Monki stores.
Photo: shutswis - stock.adobe.com, Maria Mitrofanova - stock.adobe.com, Africa Studio - stock.adobe.com, Olga Kovalenko - stock.adobe.com