The seasonal wardrobe swap for spring and autumn

When should you swap your wardrobe?

In the Norwegian climate there are two natural moments. In spring, around March–April, when the frost lets go and the heavy winter gear – down jackets, wool coats, thick jumpers – can be put away. In autumn, around September–October, when the summer clothes in linen and thin cotton go out and the warm layers come back in. Do not rush it: the weather swings, so wait until the season has properly turned, and keep a few transitional pieces out. Pick a dry day if you can, so you can air the garments while you work.

Step by step: how to do the swap

The swap itself is easy when you take it in a fixed order. Set aside an hour or two and finish the whole season in one go:

1. Take all the season's clothes out of the wardrobe and lay them on the bed, so you see what you actually have.
2. Sort into three piles: keep, repair or alter, and pass on.
3. Be honest with the 'pass on' pile – a garment you did not wear all season, you will rarely wear next year either.
4. Wash or clean everything in the 'keep' pile before it goes away. Never store dirty clothes.
5. Handle repairs and alterations now, not in spring, so the pieces are ready when the season turns.
6. Put the clean season's clothes in breathable packaging somewhere dry and dark.
7. Bring out and hang up the new season, and note what is missing or needs fixing.

Do repairs now, not when the season turns

This is the most valuable move in the whole routine. The seasonal swap is the one time you actually handle every single garment, which makes it the perfect moment for a check. Fix the broken zip on the winter jacket in April – not the first cold morning in October when you need it. A loose button, a hem that has come down, a seam starting to give, or a fit that has changed: sort it before the garment goes away. Then it is ready to wear when its season returns, and small damage does not sit and grow through half a year in the cupboard, where moths tend to seek out exactly those worn spots.

Use the swap to edit your wardrobe

Twice a year the seasonal swap forces you to see the whole wardrobe at once, and that is a golden chance for a light clear-out. Ask two honest questions of each garment: did I wear it last season, and does it still fit and suit me? Sorting into keep, repair and pass on turns storage into a natural edit – over time you are left with fewer pieces, ones you actually wear and have looked after. Usable garments you are done with can be given away or sold, while fully worn-out textiles go to textile sorting rather than residual waste.

Let the swap be the moment to ready your clothes

Most of the swap you do yourself. But the two things worth handing over both land right at the seasonal changeover: cleaning the pieces that cannot be washed properly at home before they are stored – wool coats, down, silk and suits – and clearing the repairs and alterations you found while sorting, so nothing waits until the season turns. Get them ready now and they are clean, protected and wearable when you pull them out again. If a garment needs cleaning, a repair or an adjustment before next season, we can take the job. You order online, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions