I’m sure it’s no surprise to regular readers to learn that I have a lot of clothing. However, at the beginning of a new season, I always feel like I have nothing to wear, even with a closet full of clothes. Normally, when my wardrobe was feeling a bit stale, I’d go shopping, but with the return to my office, the start of school, and fall activities gearing up, who has time? Also, there’s been a cultural shift to edit our wardrobes, as well as buying less and buying better. The influence behind these trends is the impact of overconsumption, which has surpassed overpopulation as the leading cause of climate change. Fast fashion, while budget-friendly, easily accessible, and an instant source of that dopamine rush when getting new clothes, is a big part of the overconsumption issue. So, instead of a quick browse and click at H&M or Old Navy’s websites to spruce up my wardrobe, I’m going to shop my closet.

Shopping your closet is also a great way to transition your wardrobe for the coming season and clean out things you no longer wear or have use for. So, before you begin “shopping,” put away your summer clothes, and get out your winter wear. Next, examine your clothes and set them into piles of wear often, wear occasionally, and never wear. From those piles, determine which pieces are underused and which should be removed from your wardrobe. You may find a few gems that have fallen to the back of the closet, but make sure you still remove the items that no longer serve your needs. How can you tell if something needs to go? Ask yourself the following questions: Does it fit poorly? Is it too hard to clean? Is it a loner (i.e., is it hard to match with anything else in your closet)? Is it faded or stained? Is it so uncomfortable that you’re basically tearing it off once you get home? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to part with that item. Of course, some pieces will have sentimental value, but you don’t have them take up space with your day-to-day clothes, go ahead put them into storage. Once you’ve switched out your seasonal pieces and cleaned out what’s not working, it’s time to “shop” for items that look flattering, are seasonally appropriate, and fit your lifestyle.

There are several approaches to shopping your closet. I like to “browse” everything first, much like I would in an actual store. Get a feel of the pieces, see what catches my eye, and set it aside to “purchase.” In keeping with the question theme from above, when perusing your clothes, ask yourself: Does this go with other pieces in my closet? If so, how many? What types of events or places can I wear this to? Does wearing this item make me feel good? Do I get compliments when I wear this garment? Again, if the answers are positive, that piece will be a big part of your seasonal wardrobe. If you’re unsure of how to answer these questions, try mixing and matching everything up. Try every top with every bottom. This can be overwhelming if you have a huge amount of clothes, but at least you’ll have tried new combinations and discovered different outfits.

An alternative approach is to shop your closet by color. Mix and match pieces based on various color combinations. Some color sets that work well together include primary colors (red, blue, yellow), complementary colors (colors on opposite sides of the color wheel), and neutrals with pops of color (gray and cobalt blue, or beige and hot pink). Experimenting with new color combinations with your existing clothes can make them feel fresh!

Don’t forget to “shop” your shoes and accessories. A chunky wedge and bright bag can make a basic outfit stand out. You can wear the same top and pants but are able to create different looks by rotating and mixing accessories. The same goes for cardigans, jackets, and blazers. A simple button-up and jeans can be worn dressed up, down, or for any season with the right bag, shoe, jewelry, etc., and outerwear.

If you really want to be organized and innovative, take quick pics of your clothes and outfit combinations, then upload them to an outfit app like Closet Space, Stylicious, or Stylebook. These apps will track how often you wear an outfit or garment, give you suggested outfit combinations, and act as a general inventory for your wardrobe. Of course, you have to do a lot of uploading to take full advantage of these apps. After a day of cleaning out clothes and shopping your closet, it is not for the faint of heart.