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WARDROBE

The Autumn Wardrobe Changeover

The autumn swap is easier than spring because the direction of travel is clear, but it has one specific trap: assuming last year’s winter clothes still work.

Seasonal Rotation1 min readPublished Maya Elliot

In short

  • Try everything on before you need it. Bodies change over a year.
  • Check for moth damage immediately. Look at the fold lines and underarms first.
  • Reproof waterproofs before the rain. Technical outerwear loses its finish over a season.

The autumn swap is easier than spring because the direction of travel is clear, but it has one specific trap: assuming last year’s winter clothes still work.

Try everything on before you need it

Bodies change over a year. Discovering a coat no longer fits on the first cold morning is a bad time to find out.

Check for moth damage immediately

Look at the fold lines and underarms first. Damage found now can often be repaired; found in December, it cannot.

Reproof waterproofs before the rain

Technical outerwear loses its finish over a season. Reproofing takes an hour and restores most of the performance.

The process

The process

  • Bring out winter items and air them for a day
  • Try on everything, especially coats and boots
  • Check knitwear for moth damage at folds and underarms
  • Reproof waterproof jackets
  • Get boots resoled before the season, not during it
  • Wash and store summer items
  • Note gaps and buy before the first cold snap

Frequently asked questions

When should I swap to winter clothes?

When the forecast has held below your autumn range for about two weeks — usually late September or October in a temperate climate.

What should I check before winter?

Coat fit, boot soles, waterproofing and moth damage in knitwear. All four are fixable in September and painful in December.

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