Spring is the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe, but a traditional closet clean-out can feel overwhelming if you don’t have a clear strategy. Maybe you’ve tried out different methods before. There’s the Marie Kondo method of assessing what “sparks joy” and getting rid of anything that doesn’t. There’s also other methods that have you edit your closet down to a minimalist level.
These can all be useful if that’s the end goal you’re after - but for most of my clients, the goal is to have a wardrobe of clothes that they really like wearing. Not so many clothes that its overwhelming to put together an outfit, but not so few that you feel unlike yourself in minimalist pieces. Just the right amount, curated to feel just like them.
Instead of using these methods that don’t take into account your personal style and colors, using personal color analysis and style discovery as a guide can make the process more intentional, helping you build a wardrobe that truly suits you. If you want to have a go at this yourself, this step-by-step guide will walk you through how to edit your closet based on your seasonal color palette and personal style, ensuring that every item you keep enhances your natural features.
Want to get started right away? Check out the free Style Discovery workbook:
Why Color Analysis Matters in a Closet Edit
If you’ve ever put on a color that made you look tired, washed out, or just “off,” it likely wasn’t in harmony with your natural tones. Using 16-season color analysis, we categorize individuals into Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter and their respective sub-seasons. By curating your closet around your best colors, you ensure that everything you wear enhances your complexion, hair, and eyes. Another benefit of using color as a driver to organize is that it almost ensures that your pieces will all go together if they share similar color qualities. Not to mention - it helps a lot with the emotional side of a closet clean out and letting go of items that aren’t in our best colors.
A closet edit with color analysis in mind means:
✔ Less decision fatigue when getting dressed
✔ A more cohesive wardrobe
✔ Avoiding items that clash with your natural coloring
✔ A streamlined shopping list for future purchases
Step 1: Determine Your Seasonal Color Palette
Before diving into your closet, confirm your best colors through a personal color analysis. If you haven’t already done so, you can take a seasonal color analysis quiz or schedule an in-person or online consultation. The benefit of a professional color analysis is that someone with an unbiased eye can help you assess your best colors. For a DIY approach, compare yourself against color analysis drapes or try a color analysis quiz or DIY kit (P.S. I have both of these ;))
If you already know your season, refresh your memory on your best hues:
Spring: Warm, bright, and clear colors like peach, coral, golden yellow, and turquoise.
Summer: Cool, muted, and soft tones like dusty rose, powder blue, and cool gray.
Autumn: Warm, rich, and earthy shades like mustard, olive, terracotta, and deep teal.
Winter: Cool, bold, and high-contrast hues like royal blue, emerald, true red, and black.
🔹 Not sure where you fall? A professional analysis, such as a 16 season color analysis can provide clarity.
Step 2: Pull Everything Out & Sort by Color
To get a clear picture of your wardrobe, remove all clothing from your closet and lay it out by color category (e.g., neutrals, warm tones, cool tones). This makes it easier to visually assess whether your wardrobe aligns with your best color season.
As you sort, ask yourself:
✔ Do these colors compliment my skin tone and natural coloring?
✔ Do I feel confident when I wear them?
✔ Are there colors I never reach for?
✔ Do I have multiple items in shades that don’t suit me?
If you have clothing in colors that clash with your season, set them aside for donation, resale, or reconsideration (we’ll come back to this later)
Step 3: Assess Fit, Fabric, Style, and Personal Aesthetic
This step can be really in depth and goes beyond color. If you really want to revamp your wardrobe, doing a style discovery makes a huge difference and helps you for the long term. Skip this step if you’re not ready or if you’re cool with sorting your closet by color alone (both are valid and effective options!)
At a glance, here are some of the things to consider during a style discovery:
✔ Fit: What body shape best describes you? Which silhouettes enhance or take away from this type of body shape?
✔ Fabric: What types of textures and drapes align with your personal style? Do you prefer structured, flowy or something in between?
✔ Style: Do you have a certain aesthetic or vibe you’re going for?
✔ Wearability: When was the last time I wore this? Does it still feel like me?
If an item isn’t in your seasonal color palette but you love the fit and style, consider pairing it with accessories (scarves, jewelry, etc.) or other items in your best colors to make it work.
Defining Your Personal Style
Your wardrobe should reflect not just your best colors but also your overall aesthetic. If you’re unsure about your style, try these methods:
✔ Create a Pinterest board of outfits that inspire you.
✔ Identify pieces you love wearing most and look for patterns.
✔ Think about lifestyle: Do your clothes match your daily needs?
✔ Try the “Three Words” method: Pick three adjectives that define your ideal style (e.g., elegant, effortless, minimal).
If an item no longer aligns with your style, it may be time to part with it.
Need help sorting this out? Get your free workbook below or sign up for a style discovery service
Step 4: Managing Emotional Attachments to Clothing
Okay, this step is an important one and can bring up some feelings. We often hold onto clothing due to nostalgia, sentimental value, or a scarcity mindset. Here’s how to let go mindfully:
The ‘Just in Case’ Trap: Ask yourself—when was the last time I wore this? If it hasn’t been worn in over a year, chances are you won’t reach for it. This also plays into our scarcity mindset and “what if” thinking. I know I’ve been there - holding onto professional clothes that weren’t really me “just in case” I had an interview. Or a formal dress from 20 years ago “just in case” I had a special occasion to dress for. Assess the likeliness of these just in case scenarios and if what you have would even serve its purpose. For example, using an old professional outfit during an upcoming interview might make you feel unsure and doubtful - vs. going out and buying something new (or borrowing from a friend) that makes you feel like yourself and super confident.
Guilt from Money Spent: While this may be hard to hear, the money is already gone; keeping the item won’t bring it back. Instead, think about how it could be useful to someone else. You could resell the piece or donate it.
Sentimental Attachments: If a piece has deep sentimental value but isn’t wearable, consider repurposing it (e.g., framing fabric swatches or turning a special T-shirt into a pillow cover). This one can be highly emotional and its of course fine to hold onto things you won’t wear, especially if they belonged to a loved one or remind you of a special time. If you’re looking to clear up space in your main closet, it may be worth moving these items to a storage closet or area of the home if you’re comfortable doing that.
Aspirational Dressing: This is the number one reason I see for buildup in a closet. If you’re keeping clothing for a ‘future version’ of yourself, focus on building a wardrobe that fits your lifestyle now. Remember that cleaning out and refreshing your wardrobe can be something you do more than once - when you hit a certain goal or feel like your aesthetic has changed or evolved, you can always add in pieces that feel like you when that time comes.
Letting go can feel hard, but creating a closet filled with items that truly serve you will feel liberating.
Step 5: Organize in a way that makes sense for you
Now that you've sorted through your clothes, it’s time to put everything back in a way that makes getting dressed effortless. You’ll also want to have a plan for anything that you don’t want to keep. My recommendation is to work on this quickly, as our emotional hoarding brain tends to want to hold on to stuff even though we just did the work to let go of it!
For the Items that are staying:
Group clothing by season or function. This will be highly dependent on what your wardrobe looks like. I’ll give an example based on what I do with mine:
- For all my “stylish” outfits, items are sorted by type. Sweaters, tops, dresses, pants and skirts. I hang them cleanly without being packed in too tight so I can easily see everything I have available when I open my closet.
-For all my casual clothes, these are folded in one of my drawers. I have them separated in piles: tank tops/camisoles, casual pants and leggings, casual tops like t-shirts and pajamas. Pretty much if something is stretchy, cotton and most likely black - it’s in my drawer!
You could also group by outfits or by seasons. If you’re someone who likes to store your seasonal outfits and do a switch, it may be worth sorting by cool weather and warm weather items. The biggest thing I advise is making it easy to see everything you own at a glance. This doesn’t mean it has to be a minimalist or capsule wardrobe - just enough space in between pieces that you can easily see what you have and what goes together.
If you’re missing essentials in your best shades, create a shopping list for future purchases.
For the Items that are going:
Like I mentioned before, have a game plan for these! Are you repurposing or donating? Have a different pile and different storage method for each. If you’re donating, I highly recommend washing and putting everything in a storage tote or bag and either by your door or (even better) in the car - to really help ensure that you’ll actually donate the box. None of us need an extra storage box cluttering an area of our home.
Step 6: Plan for Future Purchases
A well-edited closet makes future shopping easier. Use your seasonal color palette and your style discovery as a guide for intentional shopping.
✔ Carry a swatch of your season’s colors when shopping. I have one that can easily downloaded onto your phone so you never forget it!
✔ Have a game plan when going clothing shopping. The method of just browsing and seeing what catches your eye is not helpful for anyone. And besides, that’s what the malls want you to do to overspend. Make things easy on yourself and have a plan to look for particular items or styles. You can also work with a personal stylist who will curate links or put aside clothing at stores for you.
✔ Avoid trendy colors that don’t align with your best shades. I know this one is hard - the fashion industry and social media really have a grip on us (rant for another day).
✔ Invest in core wardrobe staples in your top seasonal neutrals or wow colors if you know them. This can help minimize decision fatigue and keep you ultra focused on buying only what will suit you best.
Final Thoughts: A Closet That Reflects You
Cleaning out your closet - or the act of a closet edit is hard for all of us - whether its our first time or we’re a seasoned professional. Go easy on yourself. And if you need help you know where to find me.
By following this guide, your spring cleaning won’t just be about decluttering—it will be about refining your personal style in a way that makes getting dressed more enjoyable because you will truly feel like you with every outfit you put on! That’s the real goal :)
Happy editing!
