Spring is finally here, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to clean out your wardrobe and refresh your style. As the weather warms up, it's time to say goodbye to heavy coats and bulky sweaters and hello to light jackets and breezy dresses. Chicago is known for its unpredictable weather, but with a little effort and some smart wardrobe choices, you can be prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store. In this article, we'll provide 10 tips and tricks to help you create a chic and functional spring wardrobe that will keep you looking and feeling great all season long!

Step 1: Purge

Start by going through your closet and removing anything you haven’t worn in the past year. Donate, sell, or recycle items in good condition, and dispose of anything that is worn out or stained. This is a great time to donate any unused items to a Goodwill, get a tax return and feel good about giving back sustainably. However, if you're looking to get a little money for your nicer items, make use of sites like ThreadUp, where you get repaid the resale value of your clothes without having to put in the reselling work.

Links: https://www.thredup.com/

A List of Top Best Goodwill Drop Off https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Goodwill+Drop+Off&find_loc=Chicago%2C+IL

Step 2: Group by Category

Separate your clothing into categories such as tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, etc. This makes it easier to see what you have and what you need. This will also be helpful if

you like using organizers for your clothes, allowing you to gauge how much space you need.

Step 3: Evaluate Your Needs

Consider your lifestyle, work, and activities when deciding what items to keep. Do you really need five black blazers, or could you get by with just two? This is my favorite part of the process, you must be brutally honest with yourself. Pretend as if you are helping a friend (with clearly amazing style but a bit of an overflowing wardrobe) clean out her wardrobe, it may help you separate emotional attachment or judgment of the boomed keep or toss. Below is a great reference sheet to use when evaluating your items by The Silver Kick Diaries.

Step 4: Store Off-Season Items

Store winter clothing, bulky sweaters, and heavy jackets in vacuum-sealed bags or under-bed storage containers to free up space in your closet. Below, you will find a link to one of Amazon's top-rated vacuum seal storage bags.

Amazon Vacuum Storage:

https://www.amazon.com/HIBAG-Storage-Bedding-Comforter-Pillows/dp/B075ZT41PR ?th=1

Step 5: Maximize Storage Space

Invest in closet organizers such as shelving, hangers, and storage boxes to make the most of your closet space. There are several places you can buy closet organizers online and in stores. Some of our suggestions include Amazon, The Container Store, IKEA, and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Step 6: Color Coordinate

Group items by color to make it easier to see what you have and create a visually appealing closet. This step increases efficiency, it's faster and easier to get dressed in the morning, saving you time and reducing stress. You could go further and organize the colored sections starting with short sleeves to long sleeves.

Step 7: Keep it Organized

After you have purged and organized, make a habit of putting things back in their proper place to keep your wardrobe looking neat and tidy. It's proven that organization, especially in the places we live in, increases our mental health and well-being!

Step 8: Repair and Clean

Go through your items and make necessary repairs, such as fixing buttons or replacing zippers. Be realistic about what you can fix and what you're better off replacing. Also, take the time to clean and refresh items that have been stored for the winter. For readers residing in Chicago, here are some repair shops we recommend.

Yelps List of Top 10 Best Clothing Repair Shops in Chicago:

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=clothing+repair&find_loc=Chicago%2C+IL

Step 9: Accessorize

Don’t forget about your accessories. Sort through your jewelry, belts, bags, and scarves to see what needs to be repaired, cleaned, or replaced. Do you really need that necklace that was a gift from your sister-in-law that you “like” but never wear? The answer is probably no, but instead of feeling guilty for disposing of jewelry, reframe it as someone will be enjoying this piece much more than I currently do. Chances are from our last step you will have found many missing treasures that need proper cleaning or sorting - now you can evaluate any pieces you want to add to your collection.

Step 10: Plan for the Future

As you go through your items, make a list of what you need for the upcoming season. This will help you stay focused as you shop and avoid impulse purchases. By following these tips, you can create a clean, organized, and functional closet that will help you start off Spring on the right foot. Happy cleaning!