The Case Against Seasonal Closet Swaps

A creative take on a lack of storage

This could be me justifying sharing a closet with my husband at 29 years of age. Or it could be my misdirected jealousy at the sprawling closets of suburbia that whisper a siren song ever time we tour an open house.

But here’s my take: what if the twice-yearly ritual of boxing up half your wardrobe is actually sabotaging your personal style?

Fashion advice everywhere tells us to rotate our closets seasonally. Pack away winter coats in May, store sundresses in October. It seems logical, even necessary for space. But this ritual assumes we know exactly what we'll want to wear months in advance, and it disconnects us from pieces that could spark unexpected outfit combinations. We limit our creativity and our connection to our closets by boxing them into strict seasonal appropriateness.

Season-less sophistication

The Problem with Seasonal Thinking

Personal style doesn't follow a calendar. Maybe you work in a tundra of an office or thrive in a sauna-like existence in your fourth-floor walk up. Some of my best outfits have come from "off-season" combinations—a lightweight summer cardigan over a long dress, winter boots with spring midi skirts.

When we lock away half our wardrobe, we lose these serendipitous moments. We also lose sight of what we actually reach for versus what we think we should wear. That cashmere sweater you carefully stored in May? Maybe you never really loved it. But you won't realize this until next October, when it sits untouched again. Seasonal swapping lets mediocre pieces hide from honest evaluation.

Year-Round, Baby!

Keeping your full wardrobe accessible year-round forces accountability. You quickly identify the pieces you love and reach for frequently. You also discover creative layering possibilities: that silk slip dress becomes a layering piece under chunky knits, those linen pants work beautifully with wool sweaters.

This constant interaction with all your clothes develops pattern recognition about your preferences. You start noticing that you always skip certain textures, or that you instinctively reach for specific silhouettes. This real-time feedback is invaluable for future shopping decisions and honing your personal style.

But picture this nightgown with a massive cashmere knit and boots…

Practical Solutions

This doesn't mean cramming everything in front-row closet space. Keep seasonal extremes (heavy coats, swimwear) in less accessible spots. Honestly, I store mine in a massive checked suitcase and swear every time I have to get them out, but it works. Use high shelves or under-bed storage for less frequent pieces while maintaining year-round access.

Use a long sleeve shirt as a belt over a midi skirt! Wear a silk scarf as an evening bag after watching a Tiktok tutorial. Layer your silk cami over a tight turtleneck and toss a blazer on top! Personal style is about building an intimate relationship with your wardrobe. Rigid seasonal categorizing interrupts this relationship just when it's getting interesting.

Honorable Mentions

Try this perfume set and you’re guaranteed to fall in love with one…or four.

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I get my sister too many gifts, but if I was in the market I’d do these pants, this top, this book, and this chocolate.

Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can preorder my romance novel, Exit Lane, on Bookshop or Amazon. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, and shop my Notion template. You can book my Office Hours to talk shop here. Get matched at EV Salon. And if you want to partner on a future Long Live, email evan@communite.co x