When to switch your wardrobe

Short answer: Do not change your wardrobe by the calendar but by the morning temperature. When mornings have stayed steadily above or below ten degrees for a week, it is time. Change gradually, with a small transition box for the weeks when the weather has not made up its mind.

The morning is the measure

Midday temperatures swing too much from day to day to plan by. A warm afternoon in October says little about the rest of the week. The morning temperature is far more stable and shows which season you are really in. Watch it for a week before you decide. See bamboo sweatshirts for women.

A week, not a single day

A single warm day in March means nothing. A whole week does. It is tempting to bring out summer clothes at the first ray of sun, but a few days later you are often cold again. Wait until the pattern has held for a week, then change the first items. See bamboo tops for women.

Keep a transition box

Put the thin layers away last and bring them out first. A small box with pieces that work in both seasons makes the change smoother. It can stay within reach for the two weeks the change takes. Socks in different weights belong here too. See socks for women.

What changes first in autumn

In autumn the shortest sleeves and thinnest pieces are packed away first. Warm layers come out gradually, starting with a mid layer for the morning. Thick outer layers come last, because you only need them once mornings are properly cold. That way what you use is always close at hand.

What changes first in spring

In spring the order is reversed. The thickest layers go away first, once the frost has left the mornings. Mid layers stay out for a long time, because spring evenings can be cold. The thinnest summer pieces come out last, when mornings have been mild for a whole week.

Make the change a calm task

Set aside an hour to go through the wardrobe when you change. Take everything out and put back what you know you wear. Anything unworn for a whole season can be passed on. The wardrobe becomes easier to see, and you find what you need faster in the morning.

Storage between seasons

Wash clothes before you put them away, so stains and smells do not set. Store them dry and loosely in boxes or bags that can breathe, and avoid pressing them together too hard. Soft fabrics keep their shape best when folded rather than hanging on a hanger for months.

Small adjustments day to day

Even after the change there will be days that do not match the wardrobe. That is where layers do the work. A thin layer under a sweater, or a sweater over a top, handles most surprises. You will not need to bring out the boxes again just because one day is warmer or colder.

Frequently asked questions

When should you change your wardrobe

When the morning temperature has stayed steadily above or below ten degrees for a full week, not by the calendar. That way a single day does not make you switch too early.

Why use the morning as the measure

Because the midday temperature swings too much from day to day. The morning is far more stable and says more about which season you are really in.

Should you change everything at once

No. Keep a small transition box with the thin layers, so you can adjust during the two weeks the change takes if the weather turns.