How I Organize And Curate My Wardrobe Seasonally

Everything you need to know to create your ~dream~ wardrobe.

Curating and organizing your wardrobe seasonally can be both fun and overwhelming. As a freelance writer who has been covering fashion for years and is an avid shopper, I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful things all the time ( I am forever grateful for that). Still, living in a studio apartment in Manhattan, there is not enough storage for all those stunning items year-round. Full disclosure: My out-of-season items are stored at my parents' place, which gives me an excuse to visit them and my good girls ( my dog, Roxie, and my cat, Anna).

In the past couple of years, I've been trying to create the wardrobe of my hopes and dreams ( which you can see via my Pinterest) that has longevity.

Organization

To keep my clothing curated and organized, I do something called a clothing inventory. This concept was inspired by acteevism, who I've been following for years on social media.

My seasonal clothing inventory is an incredibly long and grueling process where I try on every single piece of clothing I have in storage for that season (even if the item has been part of the previous season’s collection). I make an Excel sheet quarterly, where I keep track of countless bits of information about each piece I own.

As I try on each and every piece, I make a note if I like how it fits, how long I've had it, and if it needs more wear. I also like to track the colors, clothing types, and more. Additionally, the sheet tracks whether the item was gifted by brands/friends/family if it was purchased new, or if it was thrifted. On average, I find that typically, at least 30% of my wardrobe is thrifted, but that’s something I would like to improve.

This incredibly long process ends with me doing some girl math and figuring out the numbers, which I often share on my Instagram. However, I might share that information on here instead, so make sure you subscribe!

These data points teach me a lot about everything I own. It shows me what category I have the most of. What colors do I own the most of, and of course, if my clothing is getting the wear it deserves? (The answer most of the time is no, but that's something I've been working on for the past few years.)

For those who are curious, here's a sneak peek at what my inventory sheet looks like.

Curation

Curating my wardrobe as someone who loves fashion is something that I am deeply passionate about. I, being the Virgo sun, Capricorn moon, Cancer rising, and Libra venus (more on this in a future post), that I am, I, of course, have a plan and system for making my dream wardrobe my reality. Here are some additional insights into my process, and it starts where many beautiful things start: Pinterest.

Every season, I make a Pinterest board where I keep all the inspiration for that season. P.S. You can also do this with your Instagram saves! The board is full of everything that inspires me, which includes beauty, hair, clothes, art (I'm a sucker for this artist’s work), color stories, or overall vibes for that season.

When it comes to pinning items, I like to pin outfit formulas or outfits that I know I can recreate with my wardrobe. I do not often recreate things exactly, but I take inspiration from what I find. Of course, I do include aspirational pins and outfits with pieces I don't have, like everyone else. I also love seeing how different people style different trends; as a bow lover, I've really enjoyed seeing all the different ways people incorporate them into their lives.

Above are some pins from fall and beauty boards. Credit to all the creators.

After I feel like I'm done pinning, I go through everything and make notes on my phone about common themes I see. ( My notes app is unhinged.) When it comes to common themes, sometimes, it's color, and sometimes, it's a silhouette or a formula that I've decided to make my new personality. Occasionally, it's a brand. I can't even tell you how many times I've pinned this specific Celine RTW FW 2022 look or this Gucci RTW FW 2023 look.

As I go through my clothes, I can easily see what I already own that hits those briefs. Most of the time, I already own trends I am interested in, which is a nice bonus for me. If there is one thing I am, it's consistent.

On the flip side, This technique also helps me identify gaps in my wardrobe, which leads me to make smarter decisions when it comes to purchasing or working with brands.

If there is something new or different that I'd like to try out, I consider if it will work in my pre-existing wardrobe or if I would have to buy additional items to try it. If I have to purchase additional items to make it work, chances are I won’t make that purchase. Most of the time, this does a great job of saving me from myself.

Another technique that helps with curating my clothing is following the three-word method, coined and created by Allison Bornstein. My first word is ~casual~ because this is what my everyday pieces consist of, and I prefer to wear comfy and casual pieces. My aspirational word is Parisian, which needs no explanation. Last but not least, I want to feel soft in my clothing, which is why you'll often find me leaning into mohair, fuzzy anything, or overall soft colors.

Let me know in the comments what your process is like for curating your wardrobe.