With autumn/winter 17 well and truly upon us, it’s time to think about what you’re going to do with last season’s essentials. Rather than leave your summer clothes and accessories to clutter up your wardrobe for half the year, follow these five IDEAL tips for dealing with your out-of-season items to free up space in your home for this winter and beyond.
Store them
As summer fades into autumn, you’re left with a half a wardrobe’s worth of clothes that you aren’t going to wear for six months. While the seasons are changing, gather all the summer clothing and accessories you want to keep for next year and make room in your cupboards by storing them in the loft or garage.
But, let’s face it — the Great British weather might have you reaching for your swimming shorts oone final time as the unexpected Indian summer blesses us with sunshine just when we thought autumn had settled in for a long stay. Store your summer wardrobe in airtight, clear plastic boxes, like the Wham Crystal boxes you can get with free delivery from Plastic Box Shop, so you can find your summer wares at a glance if there’s a sudden burst of sunshine. Make sure these boxes aren’t too hard to get to and you’ll be beach-ready in minutes.
Sell them
If you come across an out-of-season item you think might be valuable, it can be well worth your time selling it. Retailers are often willing to pay you a surprising amount for vintage jewellery, old watches, and designer clothing and accessories, and you could be sitting on a goldmine without realising. Just make sure to go through a reputable vendor like H&T, which has stores all around the country where you can sell your items after you’ve received an online valuation through its sell your unwanted items service.
Donate them
If you come across any items you know you’re never going to wear again, take your cue from the minimalist trend and get rid of them. So, if you’re sorting through your summer wardrobe at the end of the season and realise you only wore two of your five pairs of shorts this year, think about getting rid of the other three.
If your clothes are threadbare, by all means throw them in the bin. Otherwise, use the Charity Retail Association’s charity shop locator to find a local branch you can donate your unwanted clothes to.
Don’t forget your friends and family, either: if you think one of your nearest and dearest might like something you know you won’t wear again, ask them if they want to lend it a new lease of life.
Save them for fancy dress
In thirty years’ time, skin-tight jeans and snapbacks might well seem as ridiculous as shoulder pads, flares and shell suits do today. Hold on to your more outrageous fashion statements and they may very well help you put together a fantastic fancy dress costume in years to come. At the very least, your kids are sure to get a kick out of them when you bring them out of storage in thirty years’ time. We recommend buying some vacuum packed storage bags for clothes you know you won’t be wearing for ages . They are perfect for packing items away with minimum fuss and the ideal way to maximise your storage space.
Wear them
Instead of investing in new Autumn and Winter clothes to wrap up warm in, why not just wear all of your summer clothes at once, guaranteeing a toasty feeling that keeps out the winter chill. While that may be absurd, layering up can be a good idea if you don’t to shell out on a new wardrobe every season, only to met with storage conundrums as the seasons chop and change seemingly at will.
Next time you’re switching over your wardrobe, keep these tips in mind to make the most of your out-of-season items. Whatever you choose to do with them, you’ll free up space in your wardrobe for the next six months.
