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Everything Closet vs Seasonal: pros and cons

Joy

Veteran

I moved from a house with a small non-walkin closet to a house with a medium walk in closet. I intend and have tried to keep all my clothes in the new closet at once, not knowing how I would feel about that.
After nearly 2 years, I find pros and cons. Pros: I mix clothing more and cross seasons, There is less temptation to repeat buy as I see it all, all the time. There is less confusion and work at changing out seasons. Less stuffed closet.
Cons: I miss the excitement of bringing back old favorites for a new season. I think I may be tiring of my clothes faster since I see them all the time. I use clothing out of the season I bought it for, so tire of it early.
Anyone else had experience with this? What do you prefer? Packing away or one big closet?

General

51 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

jussie

Veteran

Well I’ve always kept all of my stuff jammed into one closet- so I can’t answer your question. But lately I’m really starting to think it might make more sense to take out the off-season stuff, and work with a much smaller working closet. Sort of like a large capsule. I’ll be interested to read peoples replies.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Team seasonal over here. I have had a small closet for a couple of years, which was the practical reason I started storing away off season items. Now I prefer it so much I think I’d still do it if I bought a bigger closet. Yes, you have a couple of hours work cut out for switch outs and the time in between seasons with unpredictable weather can be challenging. I agree with all of your pros and cons but the most important pro for me is that I find it easier creating outfits when I see only seasonally appropriate options. Storing everything together in plain sight is distracting to me.

rachylou

Veteran

Well, I have a stoopid amount of clothing, so I change out seasons. It *is* work and I run into problems like the one I had this year - obnoxious weather, winter one week, summer the next. But on the whole, I don’t like having off-season stuff in the way, so I like having it stored away. On the other hand, I’m having shoulder problems, so that may kabosh eventually my bin stacks...

Style Fan

Veteran

I have seasonal closets but I keep all my clothes available.

I have two closets. One only has shelves in it. The other has hanging racks in it. I also have a set of drawers.

In the closet with shelves, I store all my jeans, sweaters, jewellery, handbags, footwear, scarves, belts and make-up. I don't do a seasonal changeover. This is a small walk-in type closet and has good lighting.

In the hanging closet, I store all my toppers (blazers, jean jackets, utility jackets) regardless of the season, T-shirts for the current season, non jean bottoms for the current season and all special occasion wear.

In my set of drawers, I store my basics such as undies, bras, socks and camis.
I have a separate set of shelves for my Yoga clothes.

I store the out of season T-shirts, cardigans and bottoms that are not jeans in large plastic bins.

I live in a place that has 4 to 6 seasons. Our winter is very long. It is also hard to predict when I might need warm clothes. That is why I keep my jeans and sweaters available.

I like the change over of a seasonal closet. It gives me a chance to clean out my wardrobe and to reorganize everything.
I don't like mixing my summer things with my winter things. I would never need a summer skirt in winter. I also don't have the room for it.

anchie

Veteran

Joy, you expressed exactly how I feel. Last 4 years I keep eveything together in my walk in closet, while before that I always had to do seasonal switch. I miss excitement of discovering forgotten stored items and now when I see them all the time I think I am tiring of my clothes more quickly. Even if I don’t wear them, I look at them every day and I get bored with them. But I agree with your pros too. It is easier to shop when you know exactly what you have already and I don’t duplicate anymore.

bridgie

Veteran

I do the seasonal switch. I tire of things sooner if I look at them everyday. But I am always pleasantly surprised when I bring out the stored items at the beginning of a new season. And on rare occasion I am able to let something go. Also, I am better able to decide what I need to buy in order to refresh.

Suzanimal

I keep everything in one closet and rotate the current season to the most easily accessible shelves and bars. I like being able to see what I own year round. It prevents me from too much duplicating.

Anonymous

JOY- The last time I did a switch was when I rediscovered my "normal" wardrobe after a very very long pregnancy (really? it was 9 months?) I was so over the moon ecstatic that it felt like a whole new wardrobe.
So I get how the packing away and unpacking can bring a fresh eye and excitement.
I have a small closet and an armoire type dresser so except for outerwear- it is all in my face, all the time. That said... I have the shelves split up with medium weight sweaters and turtle necks on one and short sleeve /sleeveless tees and light weight sweaters on shelf two. I do rotate them (eg- just put turtlenecks etc on high shelf and brought SS down to eye level.
I have my closet hung tops by SS, 3/4, long and heavier weight/darker pants grouped to one side and lighter weight/color to the other side.
I agree with the other Friends that spoke of easy in dealing with change of seasons, as where I live in NY weather can be all over the map anytime. Yes it keeps me from duplicating and yes it challenges me to try new combos.
What I do that reflects an unpacking-of sorts- is that I do a season cull. I do a fall/winter cull in both September (asking is it dated, do I still like it) and April (? ha this yr) (asking is it too shabby to continue). I do the spring/ summer cull at the same time asking the same questions.
This allows me to update and take advantage of season end sales on basics but also allows me to see if I can easily add an interesting new trend that I like. I can see if it can easily slip in or will it take work and money.
I get that you can feel bored with seeing it day in and day out. I guess it is easier for us classic types than other styles but that is also why my accessories collection is really ridiculous
Hang in there- you will hit on what is right for you.

Anonymous

I have lots of closet space and could accommodate my entire wardrobe in an "everything" closet.

There is a tremendous and exhausting amount of work that goes into a seasonal switchover, yet I choose to do two switchovers every single year.

It all comes down to how my brain works. I cannot bare to see winter sweaters/coats/pants during high summer (and vice versa). There is a disconnect in my brain. I would not be able to sleep until I sorted everything out, had it all cleaned and pressed, and then packed it away.

No sleep. Am I OCD? I say no. Do I like order? Yes.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have been switching out seasonally for years now, and even when I can fit everything into one space, I like taking out the most extreme seasonal items each spring and fall, to give my remaining clothes some space, and to avoid the sight of shorts and flimsy sleeveless tops in the dead of winter, or dark coated jeans and heavy wool sweaters in the height of summer. It doesn't take me long, maybe an hour?, and allows me the chance to look at things with a fresh eye and do an edit. I do this with footwear too -- put up the tall boots for the summer and get out the sandals. It also prevents the unused shoes from getting dusty over their season of rest.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Joy, this move must have changed your life in terms of dressing up in the morning. Good for you to reassess after a couple of years what you like and don't like about having all of your clothes together.

I recently heard of this show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rQG4yGu2os
Although the examples might seem outrageous, there is certainly inspiration for our own more modest versions.

As much as our basements and garages have become the domain of our husbands, I think we should put more thought (and allow ourselves more space!) for not just the storage but also the dressing, trying on, ironing or steaming, beautifying, walks in front of a miror, taking pictures for record, etc. In other words, space (and enough of it) to be in with our clothes. We should call it girl-heavens or maiden's chambers or attire attic or___?

In this episode the woman has a champagne bar in her "closet"!!! (Lol a closet drinker). But here's an idea: why not have parties and meet our girlfriends in that space, instead of being stuck in the kitchen near our stove all the time? The men have their cooler-fridge in the basement to stock up on beer, why not a little drink bar upstairs? Am I completely insane? I think this should be granted, not just for the super rich. Guys did not wait to win the lotery to have their mancaves.

I find the pompus appellation "Walk-in closet", cooked up by some obscure real estate agents in a moment of ambitious stupor only known to them, for these often reduced, dark recesses (in which one could never actually perform the walking motion) completely insulting.

When my mom moved for retirement from an older house with multiple small broom cupboards to a more modern one she kept boasting about her "Walk-in closet". That was the first time I had heard the term. When I saw it I was rather let down: a long storage area with sliding doors along a hallway. Sure, one could "walk" in it... when it was empty!

I think it's time to start devoting more space to our hobby, and as Joy beautifully illustrates, more space doesn't equal to more clothes and more buying, au contraire.

Thank you for posting this, Joy.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

You could keep them in the same space but change the organization. Organize everything by season, then get some kind of dust cover or garment bag for the things that are out of season. They’ll be close enough that you can raid other seasons when you want to, but you won’t have everything staring at you.

unfrumped

Veteran

I keep wagging g back and forth. Angie has often described her all- in closet.
I was working toward a sorta all- in closet in order not to buy things when I already had something but couldn’t “ see” it, and to hone wardrobe to be more versatile across seasons. I had been experiencing wardrobe creep by having extra closet space ( when DD’s move out) to put things so that it currently would not be possible for me to get my entire wardrobe into my main closet without crowding.
I do NOT need the experience of joy or surprise at rediscovering items during switchover.
But, I run so cold tgst I have winter things I don’t wear for 5-6 mos and woolen items that I need to store carefully. Hence I end up having to do some switching eventually.

As I’ve gotten a little better at editing, I’m now thinking of benefits of more “ breathing space” in my main closet and running loose “ capsules” as Jussie noted. Not the described rigid seasonal capsule but being willing to say, these are the colors and weights of tops and jackets and combinations I’d like to get a lot of wear out over next 6-8 weeks or whatever.

That again is based on trying to work toward, if it takes me 12 different topper choices to get dressed on any given day, I probably need more versatility or more focused outfits or color palette or something, to avoid decision fatigue and morning madness.

That might be worth removing them from wardrobe for a few weeks even though I could go get them from the spare closet.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you for your closet stories and challenges. You have given me some ideas and reminded me that seasonal assessments, reorganizing and editing are valuable and easier to put off if everything is together.
Maybe packing away the extremes, at least, would help. I tried doing this with heavy woolens last summer, only to find that, when I brought them out, I did not have a good place to put them. Over the winter, they have gradually been culled or worked their way into their proper color section.
I have had the added problem of needing summer things available for a tropical vacation in winter and winter things needed during more mild seasons for trips into the mountains. I welcome your suggestions and hearing about your solutions.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

For the problems you just mentioned, Joy, I like Fashiontern's solutions -- put the very wintery (or summery) things in garment bags. Out of sight but not completely out of mind.

I do a seasonal switch for all the reasons given: opportunity to edit and reconsider, pleasure in rediscovery, not liking to see fabrications of vastly different weights jammed next to each other, wanting air and space for my things.

But if I lived in a more temperate climate I wouldn't switch. How do I know this? Because it was true when I lived in BC. My wardrobe was much more cross-seasonal and there were fewer items that did not work in any season. I did, however, move things around in the closet, putting front and centre what I was wearing/ using, and moving other things to the side and back. And I stored some sweaters on a higher shelf in warm weather. So I still went through a seasonal editing and checking process but kept everything together.

Bijou

Veteran

I have an all-in closet but I live in a temperate climate where the temperature never goes below 0C - we have never had snow where I live. I agree with your comment that with an all-in closet you are likely to tire of your clothing more often.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I keep a year-round closet because of travel, mixed-up weather, and frankly, just having plenty of room for everything. This year, though, I did purchase some canvas zipper bags for storing my wool sweaters over the summer. They’re still readily available on my closet shelves, but I wanted to give them some extra protection from moth damage when the house is more open and I’m not wearing them regularly.

Bonnie

Veteran

My experience is very similar to yours. I also went from a small closet to a medium size walk in. For the first three years I kept everything together in one closet. I have a good sized year round capsule and this worked for me. Last fall I decided that I'd like to try putting away about a quarter of my wardrobe, the clothes that I only wear in summer, in the guest closet. Somehow, it made a difference freeing up space in my closet and in my mind. When the weather warmed up, I put away about the same number of cold weather clothes and returned the summer items. So, I guess this is a kind of seasonal switch but I'm lucky to have the extra closet space which makes it easy to do. I did experience the joy of rediscovery that Suz and others mentioned but without all the labor. However, I still need to do a complete closet clean up, but that can wait until fall.

Runcarla

Veteran

All my stuff is out and in my closet and drawers with the exception of outer wear in a shared closet by the front door. I just did the seasonal switch out with the family and the heavy winter stuff has been packed off to the dry cleaners and the basement storage closet.

My clothes are hung with colours together and though I wear all colours year round, the winter clothes are darker. I do a seasonal switch putting the black clothes at one end graduating through to lighter itms. Come winter, I rotate the colours again.

I like Krishnidoux's idea for a woman's play-room!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

In my last walk-in closet, I might have had room for everything if I worked at it, but it would have been tight. Personally, I prefer doing a seasonal switchover, and did even when I lived in a not very extreme climate. It's a built in reason to go through everything, sort and cull, and start making outfits. I do have things that stay out all or most of the year, if they can be worn in multiple seasons or layered. But I still pull out and look at everything at least twice a year.

LaPed

Veteran

Most of my closet stays out year round: we had unseasonably warm days in February this year, and I inevitably need sweaters, jackets, and lightweight puffies for summer evenings, unseasonably cool days, and windy summits. I do put my shorts away for half the year, and have a few sweaters that aren't useful summer layers so those get put away for just a couple of months, mainly, as Jenn mentions, for moth protection.

Even items that I anticipate being seasonally specific often turn out to be more versatile -- summer skirts that work in cool spring with tights or leggings underneath, cotton sweaters that turn out to be substantial enough for winter wear when layered properly, etc.

Jane

Veteran

I put a few things at the end of the season (shorts, heavy winter scarfs, very summery blouses) and then enjoy coming across them next time around. Largely most items stay in my wardrobe. I like to keep my wardrobe numbers quite compact. Maintaining a smaller collection also helps keep my happiness factor with each item up at a reasonably high level. Last year we have new wardrobes made and that has added to the enjoyment.

Lovely to hear everyone's views, and I do have a little wardrobe envy for those with lovely walk in closets.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I keep everything out, and I have a typical walk-in bedroom closet plus drawers in bureaus. Coats live in either the hall closet or are stored in garment bags in the basement. Shoes mostly rotate out of the mud room into basement storage in the off-season, but dressy occasion shoes live in boxes in the walk-in closet.

I like to see what I have, which is especially useful in bridge seasons.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I do rotate my clothing.l started mainly due to lack of space and a moth problem but I actually find it does help avoid the problem that you mentioned of getting bored of your clothes just because you are seeing them all the time .l really enjoy the seasonal switch over .There is always some item I ve forgotten I owned so it’s a bit like having new clothes again.It doesn’t mean that I m not desperately jealous ofpeople with large walk in wardrobes because I am but like you said there are pros and cons to everything.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I started switching a few years ago and I liked having breathing room in my closet. However, although I live in a moderate climate, we have occasional spells of unseasonal weather. And we had cold mornings and evenings and hot days. 40 degree weather swings. As a result I have almost all of my clothing in my main closet right now.

I also don’t have a record of my clothing so I don’t know what I have or need when clothing appears in stores before the weather changes. I thought I had more spring/summer clothing that wasn’t black than I do.

I also tend to come up with new ideas of where to put what, and then I forget.

I am right now trying to figure out what I want to do. Ideally I would like to empty a closet in another bedroom and put out of season items there. That would make them easily accessible while giving my clothing room to breathe. But I have to cull through the items in that closet first. And figure out where to put the remaining items.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Regarding our weather this year, this winter we had such a prolonged warm spell that we had to switch out to hot summer bedding for a while.

Helena

Veteran

I do something of a combination - the majority of my clothes (probably 90%) hangs in the closet year-round because I find it hard to be strictly seasonal about most of it. Things that are truly only useful 6 or 8 weeks of the year (really heavy sweaters on the one hand; really light tanks on the other), I keep on the less convenient to reach shelf.

As to the excitement of pulling things out, I have an 'over it' bin, where I keep things that are still up to date, in good condition, and fit well, but that I'm sort of sick of - then when I feel the urge to change things up anytime during the year, I 'shop' the bin to see what's there before actually shopping.

kerlyn

Veteran

My method is similar to Suzanimal's. I keep everything in my shared medium sized walk in closet (except for workout clothes, PJs, camis, loungewear...they go in the dresser). I do rotate my current season items to lower shelves and more accessible bars. For instance, a couple weeks ago I moved heavier sweaters up to the top shelves (which I access with a small step ladder) and moved lighter tops to the lower shelves. Today after washing a load of jeans, I moved some to the back of the closet and pulled forward my linen crops, capris, and lighter colored or lighter weight jeans. I do like having everything accessible so I don't forget what I own and overbuy! OK, that doesn't always work!;)

Style Fan

Veteran

It seems that where we live influences how we organize our closets to some extent.

I like Krish's idea. I think Ms. Mary did something like this.

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