A Spring Wardrobe Refresh in Five Simple Steps
Written by Artemis Clo
A spring wardrobe refresh is not about buying a whole new wardrobe. It is an afternoon of clearing, rediscovering and a little bit of colour, so that getting dressed on a bright morning feels easy again. Here it is in five simple steps.
Step one of your spring wardrobe refresh: empty, look, decide
Start by taking everything out of one section at a time: tops first, then trousers and skirts, then dresses. It feels drastic, but you cannot see what you own while it is squashed on a rail.
Then sort into three piles. Love and wear goes straight back. Not sure gets tried on today, with honest eyes and good light. Done with goes into a bag to pass on. If a piece needs a repair or alteration you have put off for a year, be honest about whether it will ever happen. Our guide on how to declutter your wardrobe without regret has more on the tricky decisions.
As you try things on, note any gaps you feel. A light blouse for warmer days, for example, is a common one after a winter of knits. A ditsy floral button-front blouse with a notch neck is the kind of easy piece that fills that gap, and works with jeans, trousers and skirts alike.
Blouses to start with
A few pieces that fit what you have just read.
Notch Neck Blouse with Petal Sleeves
Ditsy Floral Button-Front Blouse with Notch Neck
Watercolour Floral Button-Front Shirt
Step two: put winter away properly
Do not rush this one. A sunny week in March is often followed by a cold snap, so keep one warm coat and a couple of jumpers within reach until the weather settles.
For everything else, clean before you store. Small marks set over the summer, and moths are drawn to worn knitwear. Wash knits gently, brush coats, and let everything dry fully. Fold heavy knits rather than hanging them, so they keep their shape. Our guides on how to store winter clothes and washing jumpers without shrinking cover the details.
Once winter is out of sight, your wardrobe immediately feels lighter, and you can see the pieces you will actually wear for the next few months.
Step three: lighten the layers
Spring is a season of layers, just lighter ones. The chunky cardigan steps back, and a finer one steps in. A light cardigan over a blouse or dress gives you warmth in the morning and nothing to carry by the afternoon.
A wildflower print cardigan with a crew neck looks cheerful over a plain top or dress, and it buttons up into a top on its own on a warm day. Our cardigans include fine knits, kimono shapes and button-fronts for every kind of spring day.
Swap your heavy scarf for a light printed one, and your winter coat for a trench or a lighter jacket. Small changes, but they make getting dressed feel completely different.
Step four: bring in colour and print
After months of navy, black and grey, spring is the time to let colour back in. You do not need to change everything: one or two pieces in a fresh shade or a pretty print lift the whole wardrobe.
Blouses are the easiest place to start, since they sit next to the trousers and skirts you already own. Look through our blouses for soft florals, stripes and pastel shades. A dress is the other quick win: a floral puff sleeve dress with a shirred waist is an instant spring outfit with a cardigan and flats. There are more in our dresses.
If you are unsure which colours suit you, hold each one up to your face in daylight. The shades that make your skin look brighter are the ones to choose.
Step five: check your shoes for the spring wardrobe refresh
Shoes are easy to forget, and they change an outfit more than anything. Get out last year's spring shoes, check the soles and heels, and give them a clean. Anything that needs a cobbler should go this week, not the day before you need it.
A pair of loafers or flats bridges the gap between winter boots and summer sandals. Colour-block penny loafers with a low heel bring a little colour to your feet and go with dresses and trousers alike. The full shoes collection has flats, trainers and low heels for warmer days.
That is it: five steps, one afternoon, and a wardrobe that feels new without starting from scratch. Open the window and enjoy the first bright morning.
Next, from our dresses
Something from a neighbouring rail, for the same moment.
Floral Puff Sleeve Dress with Shirred Waist
Spotted Tiered Midi Dress with Frill Sleeves
Pink Midi Shirt Dress with Botanical Hem Print
Your questions, answered
When is the right time to switch to a spring wardrobe?
Usually when the mornings stop needing a heavy coat, which in the UK can be anywhere from March to May. Do it in two stages: bring spring pieces forward first, then put winter away a few weeks later. That way a cold snap does not catch you out.
How do I know what to buy for spring?
Try on what you already own first, then write down the gaps you actually feel, such as a light layer or a pair of shoes for warmer days. Buy for those gaps rather than for a trend. One or two well-chosen pieces usually make the whole wardrobe feel new.
What should I do with clothes I no longer wear?
Pass good pieces on to friends, a charity shop or a local clothes swap. Anything worn out can often go into a textile recycling bank. Keep a bag in the wardrobe so the next clear-out is easier.
Join the Journal
New guides and styling ideas by email, now and then. No clutter, and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.
