A Fresh Start for a New Season: Beginning A Wardrobe Inventory

Hope it’s beautiful wherever you are.

Where we live, the fall foliage is past its peak right now, but we just returned from spending the weekend about 200 miles south. It’s amazing to me that the trees are so green just a few hours away! It’s been warmer than usual this year, but we’ve had snow in October before, so you need to be ready early for winter in my neck of the woods.

Seasonal Shifts and Fresh Starts

We’ve already had a couple of frosts, which has meant pulling out gloves and hats for early morning walks in the woods with our dog. Maybe you’ve done the same recently; those first chilly mornings when you reach into storage and realize everything smells a little stale.

Giving things a wash and a fresh start is such a satisfying ritual. There’s nothing like reaching for pieces that feel clean and ready for a new season. So, hats and gloves were laundered last week and coats are next on my list!

Starting a Wardrobe Inventory

This week also marked the start of the wardrobe inventory system that I mentioned last time. If you’ve ever thought about doing one, this is a great time of year to start. It can feel daunting to catalog everything you own, but knowing exactly what you have could pay off in many ways.

Have you ever gone shopping—online or in-store—and felt completely overwhelmed? You may not be sure about what you actually need, can’t remember what’s already in your closet, and end up frustrated and empty-handed. This happens to me all the time.

I’m hoping that having an inventory will help to turn that around.

One Step at a Time

I’m taking it slowly (who has time to do it all at once?). In the spirit of small steps, I started with just hats and gloves to test the process. Handling smaller items helped things to move along quickly and gave me an easy way to build momentum.

If you want to dip your toe in like I did, it’s a great place to start.

How to Track Your Closet

Once you’ve decided to start, the next question is: How will you keep track of everything? I’m experimenting with three options, so I can share them with you here—a small notebook, a spreadsheet, and the Stylebook app.

The Stylebook App

I’ve had Stylebook on my phone for quite some time, but have never used it until now. I’m really impressed!  At $4.99, I think it's a good investment (just know, it’s only for iOS right now). I was surprised at how quickly I could upload photos, remove the background, and categorize them. Details like price, fabric, size, and season can also be added.

If that kind of organization appeals to you, I highly recommend it so far. If you want to know more about Stylebook before you give it a go, you can follow the co-creator on Instagram and see all the ways she uses it.

The Spreadsheet Option

If you want to go digital but would like more control, a spreadsheet might be a good fit. You can move columns around, add notes, and customize it however you like. If you already use spreadsheets for other things, and you’d rather not add another app to your phone, then this is a solid choice.

The Notebook Approach

Then there’s the notebook—a simple purse-sized one that’s always handy when you’re out shopping. I could’ve spent too long hunting for the perfect one (I do have a thing for office supplies!), but I just picked one up at the grocery store to get it done.

The nice thing about a notebook is the total freedom to lay it out however you like. If you enjoy having blank-slate creativity, then this option might be for you. I’m keeping it very simple for now.

Each system took around 15 minutes to set up. Laundry time was extra, but that’s part of the seasonal reset. If you want to explore more options, here’s a review of Stylebook that includes additional alternatives.

First Impressions

In this first round, I’ve already discovered something: I have way too many duplicates. I’ll be doing some editing and hope to add a little variety to my wishlist. Winter is long where I live, and we’re outside every day in all kinds of weather; so having a few fun choices sounds like a good idea. Just having a better sense of this is progress.

I'll keep the process updated in the weeks to come. Next up is going to be refreshing and categorizing outerwear.

Ready to Start Your Own Wardrobe Inventory?

What about you? Have you ever tried keeping a wardrobe inventory, or does the idea appeal to you? Which system—app, spreadsheet, or notebook—sounds like the best fit for you?

Hope you have a great week!