How to do a new season wardrobe changeover

Until this year, I couldn’t see the point of changing my wardrobe over with the seasons. What seasons? Like most of us, I pretty much wore the same thing all-year round. In my case, lightweight separates in wools and silks.

But some of my friends, who have a ritual ‘changeover’, persuaded me to give it a try. For them, the unzipping of the summer dust-bags is as much a part of the season starting as barbecues and rosé.

Silk blouse, £320, Goat; Isabel Marant corduroy trousers, £340, Matches fashion.com

The big sell was that come autumn, after six months’ absence, unpacking my cold- weather stalwarts would be like discovering a stash of new clothes. Or that’s what my friends told me. So even before the heatwave, I decided to try it out. I’d already pared my wardrobe down because I had no space and I wasn’t wearing a lot of things because they’d emerge too crumpled. It had got to the point where there was nothing left to get rid of apart from what I really like.

How to make space? At first I only packed away the heaviest pieces (I do mean pack. I used some of the lovely but impractical luggage I’ve been given). As the days grew warmer, I stowed away velvets, most of my jackets, the heavier knits, even if they were in cotton. Would I miss them? Maybe, but it wasn’t for ever (and actually, I haven’t. Next time I might be more ruthless from the get-go). The continuous weeding means I wasn’t overwhelmed by the task and could scrutinise everything for wear-and-tear.

 Sunglasses, £195, Joseph; Cross-body bag, £25.99, Zara; Leather shoes, £99, Uterqüe 

Now that the deadheading’s done, I can see things in a different light. I realise there are some items I’m never going to wear again and others I’ve underestimated. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I’ve been dressing differently – in all those dresses that were previously inaccessible to me.

Inevitably, there are the items that I can’t do without and did not make the dust-bag, but come autumn, I’ll introduce the warmer stuff slowly and they’ll seem exciting and fresh. Well, that is the theory.

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