Autumn Winter Closet Swap

I'm taking a little break - it's been over 6 years since I started this blog and I need a rest. However, I wouldn't leave y'all in the lurch, so I've lined up a few little posts (including a Shoe Shine and my birthday link-up party) to keep you amused until I'm back. 

And I will be back, I promise!

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Every 6 months, at the end of September and at the end of March, I clean out my custom-built walk-in closet, and I pack away my past seasonal clothes and bring out my next seasonal items. I love rediscovering wardrobe items, although some of them don't make the cut. 

I recently did my autumn/winter reset, and packed away my spring/summer goodies. Here's what it all looked like. Really, it's barely managed chaos! 

I used to work in a gift shop that had to be dusted constantly. I loath dusting, but I did learn a good trick for it: start on one wall and just work your way around, bit by bit. If you look at the entire task, it's far too daunting, but one small piece at a time is okay.

So, starting on the left, I went through all of my blouses, longer/full-length skirts and trousers and pulled out those that are too light-weight for cool weather. 

And I cleaned off all of the 3 shelves above those, and dusted them with a little lemon Pledge, which reminds me of doing chores when I was a kid.

Next, I pull out all of my summery dresses. I have a LOT of them, so this area got very thin - count the hangers!

I deliberately kept a few of my light-coloured dresses out for possibly fun-time outfits.

This is all of the items I packed away, not including belts, scarves and purses.

I pulled out 18 pairs of shoes.

My small bag collection.

I try not to keep purses that I don't actually use, no matter how pretty they are!

The chaos of hangers on the left, and my 3 tubs of fall/winter clothes that have been living under the bed for 6 months. I also have at least 6 bags of shoes, boots and more clothes there, ready to be unpacked.

I still have a few hangers. Heh, I guess I need to go shopping!

I needed the space for my purses in the closet, and I'm starting to get a bit of a hat collection (I did week out two that I haven't worn very much over the past 6 months).

I cleared off the top of a bookcase in the den (where my closet is), and gently stacked my fun hats. I need to be able to see them, or I forget I have 'em.

There's one shelf above this that has my very fancy purses (you can see the black bead fringe hanging on the left). These are my more frequently used bags, and a couple  more hats and a fascinator.

I'm feeling very jacket-y this cold season. I don't do sweaters that well, and I got rid of nearly all of my cardigans.

My lowest shelf of sleeveless and short-sleeved sweaters for wearing under jackets.

And my filled-up blouse section and crammed long/full-length skirt section.

I had to actually move my very small trouser assortment to the "long hang" area where I keep my dresses.

I don't have a ton of winter dresses. I tend to do more tops/skirts.

Speaking of skirts...

All my shorter ones. After I took this photo, I found more in the hall closet! Yikes!

And my jackets. I've been doing well lately with finding some good ones.

The "not yet worn" items are on the right side. Once the weather is cooler, those will go into rotation.

I tried to be ruthless with my shoes. I did get rid of 2 pairs of sky-high ones that I just can't wear any more. Why was I keeping them? They were taking up valuable real estate!

The top shelf are my seldom-worn Fluevogs and my party shoes.

There they are again...

Then the shoes I'll be reaching for daily.

I was so happy to unpack my bootie collection!

I rediscovered some old friends, like the Best Shoes Ever there on the right.

I always rearrange my shoes so that my eyes don't get used to seeing them the same way. It helps me rotate them in my wardrobe.

More daily wear shoes. I think there are about 55 pairs there, and on the floor, including my boots, which live down there as well.

I see empty space!

I think I need some new shoes... 

I hope you enjoyed my little closet tour!