Seasonal wardrobe swaps sound simple in theory. I mean, think about it: you just pack away the clothes from the season you’re not in anymore and unpack the ones you are, right? In reality, it’s just pure chaos falsely labeled under the name of “organization.”
First, there’s the sheer amount of stuff you have to go through to begin with. There are shoes, jackets, shirts and pants that all need your attention. I’ve got a twenty gallon tote full of seasonal clothing, and that’s not even touching my jackets or shoes. Also, none of the items even fit the way you want them to. That’d be too easy, right? Instead, hangers keep getting tangled up, your drawers end up getting overly full and you’re finding items you forgot you even owned in the first place to deal with. Every year, I find a pair of socks that I convinced myself had disappeared into the void.
Then, there’s how long this whole endeavor takes to complete. It takes hours to sort, fold and store everything properly. I try to convince myself it’ll be quick and easy, just put on some music and get her done. By the time I am done, though, it’s been hours. I end up exhausted, a little annoyed and slightly amused at my own overconfidence.
Seasonal swaps also force decisions I’ve been avoiding making for a while. Do I keep this sweater with the material that makes me itch after awhile even though I never wear it? It makes me look nice for a bit. Should these old jeans be donated or saved just in case? You never know when they’ll come in handy, right? These choices are just the cherry on top of all the chaos when you’re already knee-deep in a pile of clothes. Sometimes I make quick decisions just to get the process over with, even if I later regret them.
Finally, once everything is sorted to where it needs to be, the closet feels nice and organized. You can see the clothes and find what you need to wear easily, even while feeling a small sense of accomplishment that you got it done. Seasonal wardrobe swaps are messy, time-consuming and sometimes frustrating. Still, they can also be satisfying in their own way.
In the end, the chaos ends up being worth it despite how much you might not see it at first. A closet that’s organized makes getting dressed for each day feel easier. It’s not perfect by any means, but it is progress.
