Summer’s days are numbered.  Her fire-breathing, energy sapping days will shortly come to an end.  Maybe your summer closet is in need of a bit of tidying.  Perhaps you’re wondering if your old cool weather clothes that are stored away will be appealing when you unpack them in a month or two.

I often check out a clothing blog called Un-Fancy which emphasizes simplicity and minimalism. Recently I printed out a wardrobe worksheet from that site because I’ve made a commitment to improve my appearance.  Since dieting isn’t working (!), I’ll have to camouflage the rolls with clever clothing choices.  My seven tops and four pants/jeans are looking a bit long in the tooth, so it’s time to think about replacing them.  Wearing my few clothes in a short rotation for over a year has worn them out.

Allow me to walk you through the worksheets I downloaded from Un-Fancy and then suggest some helpful guidelines of my own for your next purchases.

The first worksheet was key for me.  I wrote down the pieces that I wear constantly- tops, pants, shoes.  The directions said to write down eight pieces one or two from each category; tops, bottoms, shoes, dresses.  I only had three pieces to write down:  favorite top in several colors, fav skinny pants in two colors, tennis shoes.  Oh, my.  I need to diversify.  Here’s what made the list useful.  After each item, I wrote why it works for me.  This is the criteria I will use for future purchases.  My fav shirts work because they don’t show the rolls very much since they are not too tight or too thin, but they aren’t baggy either which would add bulk to my small frame.  Unlike some of my other long shirts, they are short enough to make my legs look longer.  I read that short ladies shouldn’t wear long tops because they cover too much leg, adding to the perception of short.  I stood in front of the mirror and tried two shirts on.  Sure enough, the top that ended at my crotch had the effect of making my legs look longer than the top that hit in the upper thighs.  Sigh.  Another top to pass on to the thrift store. The skinny pants I wear over and over because they have a comfortable high, wide, stretchy waist that doesn’t cut into my ample middle.  What I like about my tennis shoes is that they keep my back happy.  The support and cushion have reduced my back pain from major to minor.  The shoes and better posture have been life-changing for me.

What are your favorite eight pieces you wear often?  Why are they favorites?  Writing it down will help you see a pattern.  You’ll clearly see what your keys to useful clothing are.

The second worksheet was a list of my clothes that don’t serve me well.  I’ve been wearing them for lack of other clothes, but now I’m taking them out of my closet.  Why wear uncomfortable, unflattering clothes?!  One on this list was a pair of jeans that are too short.  They shrank and now make me look awkward.  They’re work jeans only from now on.  Another two pairs of jeans are simply too tight in the waist.  I get a stomach ache when I wear them.  A top that is made from thin fabric that shows my rolls made the list.  The other item on this list were shoes that don’t support and cushion.

Which clothes sit in your closet month after month?  Write down why they don’t serve you well.  What should you avoid next time you shop?

From these two lists from Un-Fancy, I made a list of my own.  I wrote down my priorities in clothing.  Just to remind myself exactly what is important to me the next time I purchase clothing.  Here’s my list:

1. Comfortable- modest, not binding at the waist, cotton blend fabric, stretchy

2.  Slimming- not loose, not thin, semi-fitted (darts are my friend), simple and smooth lines without pockets, ruffles, and foo-foo.

3.  Can be worn with supportive shoes- I don’t wear dresses because I’d feel dorky wearing my comfy tennis shoes with a dress. This made me realize a roadblock in my wardrobe was shoes.  Tennies only look good with super casual, so I only wear super casual so my back doesn’t hurt.  Argh.  Sure would like to be able to wear something besides jeans and pants.  After pinning down the cause of my pathetically narrow wardrobe,  I went on an internet hunt for cute supportive shoes that could be worn with dresses.  I think I found a pair.

4.  Feminine- I don’t want to look like a guy.  I like being a woman.  Sometimes I choose an article of clothing because it’s practical even if it isn’t feminine.  From now on, I’m going to hold out for practical and pretty.  Often times just color makes the look pretty.  My practical side says buy things that are dark, basic colors.  This is fine for bottoms, but tops can be pretty colors.  And don’t get me started on scarves!

What are your priorities?  Writing them down will help you get a clear picture of what you want.  What are your roadblocks?  What are you wearing that you wish you could improve?  What is missing in your closet that would increase your options or complement some unused pieces making them useful?  For instance, do you have a filmy shirt you don’t wear because you don’t have the right color tank top to go under?

Finally, I made a list of what I need for the Fall/Winter season here in the chilly, rainy, windy Northwest.  (After I checked my storage tote where my winter clothes are stored.)

I included the characteristics of the clothes I wear now that are comfortable and flattering but worn out.  My goal is to buy only a few pieces that I will wear often and happily.  I now know that it doesn’t take many pieces to make an efficient wardrobe.

First are the workhorses of my closet; 2 jeans and 2 pants.  They must be high-waisted with a wide, stretchy waistband and no or small pockets in denim, navy and brown.

Then another workhorse; a zippered, fitted sweatshirt.  I wore one to death last winter, found a new one cheap during the Summer and am looking for one more.

I don’t own a dress, so a pretty and versatile simple dress is on my buy list.  Or maybe instead, a feminine long tunic (the length of a short dress) to be worn with leggings

Three semi-fitted long sleeved tops that are crotch length in a cotton blend and are Raspberry, Teal, and Navy

A pair of shoes that can be worn with a dress or tunic and leggings

What’s on your list?  The more specific it is, the less likely you’ll randomly buy something that doesn’t serve you well.  Do you need to weed through your closet in anticipation of the change in seasons?  Come Fall, don’t store summer clothes you never wore because they didn’t fit, weren’t comfortable, or weren’t flattering.  Pass them on to someone who will use them now.  Then you’ll be ready when it comes time to pack away summer clothes and get out cool weather clothes.  (With what didn’t work fresh in your mind, you’ll make wiser choices at end-of-summer clearances, too.)

P.S.  This is a fun exercise to do with another person.  One of our teen granddaughters and I did this in her closet. Sometimes a team effort makes it fun instead of a chore.