5 Steps For Seasonal Wardrobe Maintenance

fall/winter edition

It seems to be a common misconception that expensive clothing and accessories last longer. While I do believe most luxury items are made extremely well, this doesn't mean you don't have to take care of them. Your wardrobe will go a lot further, no matter the price tag, if you do these steps outlined below a few times a year. This is especially important for accessories.  Shoes and handbags see a lot more use and physical contact with the elements than clothes do. I also believe putting effort into maintaining your wardrobe instills a sense of pride and confidence that spills into how to wear and feel in the items. This doesn't have to be a long process. Just a few hours when the season changes can make a huge difference in the life and appearance of your accessories and wardrobe for years to come. 

I’m going to outline the 5 steps I go through when I switch over my wardrobe during the seasonal changes. As a Floridian, my wardrobe switches aren’t as dramatic as parts of the country that actually see all the seasons but switching over and refreshing my wardrobe at least twice a year is a must for general maintenance and detoxing.

Step 1: Repair/Dry Clean

The first thing I do is go through all my sweaters, coats, pants, and Fall/Winter accessories like boots and scarves. I check each item to see if anything needs a repair (buttons missing, holes in sweaters, pants with loose hems, etc) or dry cleaning. I also check if my shoes need new soles, protectors, toe tips, etc. I like to get these out of the house first because you never know how long it will take. I like to have coats dry-cleaned at least once a year after the season is over, but if you didn’t, now is a good time.

Step 2: Condition and Clean

This step is crucial for your leather goods. Boots, shoes, and handbags get so much usage and contact with the elements. It’s imperative to clean and condition them. Use a clean white cloth (be careful of color transferring with a colored cloth) to dust the handbag or shoes and remove any debris, dirt, etc. Then using a leather conditioner (I use this one) on the cloth,  gently rub it onto the surface using circular motions. This will make the leather look new and reduce the appearance of lines. 

For sneakers, a magic eraser works like…well, magic. I cut mine up so they last longer but also make it easier to get into the soles. I use the eraser on the rubber soles. For laces, I remove and wash them in stain remover or put them into the washing machine. There are a lot of videos on youtube about cleaning sneakers.

Step 3: Protect

This is pretty straightforward. Most sprays will tell you how to apply. This is a must for fabrics such as Suede and Nubuck. You can also protect leather goods, as any good sneakerhead knows.

Step 4: Steam

A good steam cleaning on your fall/winter outwear is a must for keeping them looking like new. If you’ve had any coats or jackets dry cleaned, you won’t do this. Make sure to steam using downward strokes to keep the fabric laying flat. It can be a bit time-consuming so set up a little station and make sure you have a steamer that’s suited for more than travel. You don't need a stand-up steamer (they take up a lot of room). Just make sure you have an area to hang a coat that’s secure where you can easily access all sides of the piece. 

Step 5: Shave

A fabric shaver has been in my arsenal for years and years. I’m sure you've heard of the benefits, but this one step can single-handedly make all your sweaters/coats/jackets look like new. It’s a misconception that pilling is a sign of poor quality. It is not. Most high-quality sweaters will pill too. It’s a common characteristic of all fabric. 

I have an electric shaver (I’ve been using this one for years) and a cashmere comb for more delicate fabrics, like cashmere. It’s important to know what fabric your sweater is before shaving it because delicate fabrics can be ripped if they get caught in the shaver. 

Now that you know what to do, I would suggest getting all the supplies together, putting on a good movie, podcast, or playlist, making your favorite beverage, and enjoying taking care of all those beautiful pieces that bring you so much joy. Maintaining the things we own isn't talked about as much as consuming them. It’s definitely a sign of the times, but there is an immense amount of pride I feel in taking care of my material possessions. It’s a huge factor in their sustainability.

jodi xx